Here is another chapter
Mina begins to struggle with her emotions in this one, and a new familiar face appears
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Chapter Four, Sing a Song for me, and Hope I Make it Down the Stairs
When Lita awoke, she had no clue where she was. The landscape infront of her was white, white for as far as the eye could see. Then she realized, something was tied over her eyes. She was blindfolded. The roguish girl tried to reach up to undo the blindfold, but her hands wouldn't move, someone had tied her hands behind her back. She soon found that her feet had suffered the same fate. Growling in annoyance the girl began to thrash against the ropes that held her. Suddenly her blindfold was lifted off of her face, and in front of her stood Nephrite.
"Well, look at what I have here, a little rat, caught in my trap." Nephrite then drew his trademark silver barreled pistol.
Lita began to fight again, fear filling her eyes. She tried to call out for help, but couldn't find her voice. She wasn't gagged, it was if her mouth just wouldn't work. Tears formed in the normally brave girls eyes. She somehow knew she was going to die. Nephrite cocked back the hammer on the flintlock and shoved it into Lita's mouth. Lita began to weep as the man smiled at her.
"Maybe you shouldn't have paid so much attention to that blonde girl." He grinned, "So long you little piece of gutter filth." There was a burst of smoke and flame.
And Lita shot up straight in her bed, a cry escaping her throat.
Her breathing was erratic and ragged, her body was trembling, and beads of sweat had formed on her body. She brushed a few loose strands of hair from her face and sighed. She looked to her right, somehow the blonde sleeping next to her hadn't been awakened by her cry. Standing up, Lita walked over to her cupboard and pulled out the same bottle of wine she was drinking earlier. She looked at it, and quickly put it back in the drawer, pulling out a bottle of gin instead. She chugged down few gulps and dropped the bottle to the table with a sigh. Sun was just starting to filter through the windows, and morning was breaking.
The sun made another hours progress into the sky before Lita finally stood up from the table and snapped from her grim thoughts. The dream had haunted her since she had awoken. If this job was botched, she knew that her real fate would parallel that of her dream. She figured she should have never started thieving on Nephrites land in the first place. Lita walked over to the slumbering girl on the bed and shook her awake. It took a couple of seconds, but the girl finally stirred, her long blonde hair mussed and tangled, and her dress was wrinkled terribly. She groggily opened her eyes and looked up at Lita, recoiling with a startle for a moment.
"Aye…wow...I forgot where I was for a moment." Said the blonde. Lita couldn't help but smile at her a little.
Mina looked up at her "captor", "Why do you smell like gin?"
"You've got a hell of a nose on you ya know that?" said Lita, sighing.
Mina shrugged, "Perhaps it's something all of us upper class people are endowed with." She then gave Lita a rather concerned look, "you look very….ill….if you don't mind me saying so."
Lita nodded a bit, "Aye, I feel ill."
"Bad nights sleep?" asked the blonde.
"Naw, well, not until the end that is." Said Lita, grabbing her brogans and sliding them onto her feet.
Mina watched the girl, "We going somewhere?"
Lita nodded, "Aye, Cuckfield."
"Cuckfield? Why?" asked Mina.
"I gotta meet someone at the Wheatsheaf inn." Lita grabbed her belt and buckled it around her waist, slipping her pistol and rapier into it after she clasped it.
"Really? What about the whole ransom business?" Mina asked, feeling rather confused.
Lita simply sighed, "I got six more days to worry about that, and I've got other business that needs attending to before I give Nephrite his money."
"More debt?" asked Mina.
"Not to sound rude, but it ain't really none of yer business luv." Said Lita, tossing her cloak on.
Mina grumbled, "Then why are you bringing me along?"
"Because I can't trust that you'll be here when I get back." Said Lita in a matter of fact tone.
Mina shrugged, she really couldn't argue with that logic. She quickly stood to her feet and straightened her dress and adjusted the bow in her hair. Mina had a terrible nights sleep, all things considered. It was odd having someone else in the bed with her, and she was stuck in her dress all night. She really needed more clothing, but was pretty certain she didn't want anything that Lita had. So, she would just have to grin and bear it for the time being.
Mina couldn't help but think back on her inner thoughts from the night before. The whole idea of being attracted to Lita was ludicrous. It had to be! Maybe she was just stressed, maybe her emotions were taxed from the whole experience. After all, she was a lady, she wasn't a barbarian like her captor. But, Mina looked up at Lita and watched as she fiddled with a stubborn tie on one of her fingerless leather gloves. She watched as Lita bit her lip in frustration and growled a little as the tie kept slipping. Mina smiled a little, Lita was cute when she was frustrated.
"GAH! Damnit anyhow!" cried Mina in frustration. She quickly covered her mouth, ashamed that a curse had come from it.
Lita looked up at Mina, shock on her face, "Wha? What was that all about?"
Mina sighed, her emotions were getting out of had, "Nothing, nothing at all, just something is frustrating me."
"Care ta share it?" asked Lita, finally finishing with her glove.
"No, I don't care to share it." Said Mina in a huff, "Now, if we're going lets go!" And with that, the confused blonde walked out the door, leaving Lita staring confused at the door.
Lita gathered her wits and followed the blonde outside. The girl was weird, very weird indeed. Earlier in the morning she had been so kind and concerned about Lita's condition, now she was angry and huffy.
"Oi, mind telling me what the hell is wrong?" asked Lita angrily as she strode to catch up to the blonde who was walking at a rather fast pace.
"Yeah, you're what's wrong." Said Mina, not turning around.
Lita threw her arms up with exasperation, "What the hell did I do now? I thought I was being rather well mannered this morning!"
"I know, stop it." Growled the angry blonde as she quickened her pace.
"Wha? Why?" asked Lita, "You don't want me to be nice to you?"
Mina looked over her shoulder at Lita, who was starting to catch up, "No, I don't want you to be nice to me, besides, it's not like it's genuine, I know what your motives really are."
Lita snorted a little and rolled her eyes, "Really, and what are my motives then?"
"You want to trick me into falling in love with you, well it's not going to work!" yelled Mina.
Lita almost stopped dead in her tracks, she boggled at Mina, "I want to what now?"
"You're trying to turn me into one of your kind!" yelled Mina, almost jogging now.
"What in the hell are you talking' about you silly little fuck, what KIND am I?" yelled Lita, her voice swelling with anger.
"You're a barbarian, and you're trying to turn me into one too." Said Mina flatly.
"My ass I am, I think yer turnin' into one on yer own accord, and it's scarin' ya." Lita ran up behind Mina and grabbed her arm roughly. She spun the blonde around and glared daggers at her.
"Don't start this shite with me luv, I ain't turnin' you inta anything, yer just startin' to live, and ya don't know how ta handle it." Said Lita, fire in her eye.
Mina gulped a little, the rough girl was certainly…enthralling…when she was angry. The passion and fire that shown in her eyes was amazing, she was very intimidating to say the least. Mina shook her head free of these thoughts quickly, The brunette was doing it again, twisting her thoughts. It was like she had some sort of power over her.
Mina huffed defiantly and pulled away from the brunette, "Get your hands off of me, you have no right to stop me, and no right to touch me!"
"Well," Lita glowered, "Yer goin' the wrong way."
Mina blinked, "….I knew that!" Mina turned on her heel and started heading off a different direction.
"Jasus mary and joseph…yer still goin' the wrong way." Said Lita, covering her face with her hand, frustration taking hold of her again.
"Just follow me ok?" demanded the rogue.
Mina snorted and followed defiantly, "You know, you really need to learn how to speak correctly."
Lita growled. "What does that have ta do with anything?"
"Just pointing out a fault." Said Mina.
"Well, let me point out one of you're faults, You're snoody, yer sexually confused, and yer odd, there, happy now?" said Lita angrily.
"That was more than one…."
Lita wanted to pull out her own hair, "Aggh! Shut up! My lord this is going to be a long walk."
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Lita was right, the walk had turned out to be a long one indeed. Lita had simply resigned to not speaking, because every time she did so, the blonde would come back with some snotty retort. Lita had pretty much had enough of the girl's attitude. In truth, the rogue was actually sort of sad, she was starting to wonder last night and early on this morning, if maybe the blonde had some sort of feelings for her. She was hoping, that if nothing else, she could make a new friend out of this dilemma. But now, that was looking rather grim, and it seemed that Mina hated her.
Lita glanced back at Mina momentarily, she was walking with her arms crossed and a very angry look on her face. If she hated her so badly, Lita wondered, why didn't she just try and escape?
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Mina wondered why she didn't just try and run off. Why was she continuing to follow this rotten brute? A little voice in the back of Mina's head told her it was because she was attracted to the rogue. But she quickly shoved these thoughts out of her head.
"I am a lady, I was raised a lady and I will continue to ACT like a lady." She thought to herself.
But, Mina really DIDN'T want to be a lady. She had already come to this conclusion, she absolutely hated her life back home. She was just torn between the way she had been raised to act, and how she WANTED to act. Her family would certainly disown her if they ever found out how she was thinking. Her entire cultural upbringing had conditioned her against this, and it all felt so unnatural. But, why was she worrying so much? She didn't want to be like those old toady hags that her mother associated with. Acting all stuff and drinking tea, wearing silly hats and wigs and talking about senseless stuff that didn't interest her at all.
Mina watched Lita as she continued to walk along the path in front of her. Mina wouldn't lie, she envied the girl, Lita could do as she pleased, there were no restrictions placed on her life, no meetings to keep, no silly hats to wear, just the excitement and wonder that came from waking up each morning to a new day. Mina simply sighed, she was an emotional wreck, and she needed to get over it.
Lita looked back at her, "Wow, that's the most noise you've made in thirty minutes I'd say."
Mina sighed again, "Yeah, well…how much farther?"
Lita looked back down the path, "It's actually just around the bend here."
After about another five minutes of walking, the two found themselves in Cuckfield. It was a nice little town, and it was rather busy at this time of day. It was about noon on a Wednesday, so the vast majority of people were going about their business. Mina followed Lita around all day as the girl went about all sorts of assorted business, talked to many different people, and had a couple of drinks. The two found themselves in the Wheatsheaf inn at about quarter after six in the evening. The Wheatsheaf inn was much nicer that the Black Jug, and it seemed a bit emptier as well.
When they entered the door, Lita told Mina to say put as she went to the corner of the bar. There sat a black haired girl, very beautiful Mina had to admit. She looked rather mysterious, and was dressed in a bright red and purple robe. She looked very, VERY out of the ordinary for certain, and something about her seemed almost supernatural. Lita talked to this girl for a moment before motion to Mina to come over. Mina obliged and joined the two at the table.
"Mina, I want ya to meet Raye, Raye this is Mina." The black haired girl simply nodded at Mina and smiled a little.
"Pleasure to meet you." She said, her accent was very hard to pinpoint, it was almost like a cross between Irish and Welsh.
"Raye here is a pikey." Said Lita smiling, Raye didn't seem too amused however.
"Excuse me, she's a what?" asked Mina, rather confused.
"A pikey, ya know, a gypsy." Lita laughed and looked at Raye, who still looke flustered.
"That's an unflattering way to put it Lita, really." Seethed the black haired girl.
"What does a pike…err…gypsy do?" asked Mina. She had heard the word gypsy used before, but wasn't to clear on it's meaning.
"Well, miss Mina, I read the future." Said Raye, smiling a little, "I can see it in the stars, in the cards and on palms."
Lita nodded, "Aye, she is very well versed in foresight, I can attest to that."
Mina simply huffed, "I don't believe you."
Raye held out her hand over the table, "Let me see your palm."
"I don't see how…"
"Just let me see it." Snapped Raye, cutting the blonde off.
Mina reluctantly offered her palm to the strange, mysterious girl. Raye took it and began to trace the lines of Mina's palm with her finger.
"My my, you're very rich, you were raised in a very well to do manner." Raye looked at Mina.
"Bah, you could tell that by looking at my clothes, I'm not impressed, I assure you."
Raye looked at the girls palm again and grinned wolfishly, "Then how about this one, you're very sexually confused and frustrated."
Mina quickly pulled her palm out of Raye's hand, "Nonsense!"
"Then why such a harsh reaction?" asked Raye, raising an eyebrow and smirking.
Before Mina could answer, Lita intervened, "Mina, would you like a drink?"
"Wine please, I am rather parched." Said Mina, happy that Raye's inquisition had been cut short.
The entire time Lita was getting the drinks for the group, Raye stared at Mina, an arrogant smirk on her face. Mina shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the black haired gypsy.
When Lita returned, Mina almost wanted to sigh in relief. Lita quickly downed the stout that she had gotten for herself, and Mina did the same to the wine. Soon, Lita had gone up and ordered another round, this time she brought back two wines and two stouts, and a meade for Raye. Raye simply sipped her drink, Lita downed both of hers in world record time, and Mina worked one of the mugs of wine down. She simply stared at the other one,
Lita raised an eyebrow, it was obvious that the beer was having an effect on her, "Gonna drink it or stare at it?" she said in a rather loud voice.
Mina sighed, "I really shouldn't have drank more than one, let alone three."
Lita slapped the Mina on the back, "Aww c'mon, just drink up, mum and dad ain't here to scold ya!"
Mina sighed and reluctantly took a sip of her mug. Lita simply laughed and ordered yet ANOTHER pint of stout. And now Raye seemed to be in the swing of the night as she drank back the rest of her meade and ordered another. Soon Lita just resigned to putting a handful of florins on the table, instructing the barkeep to keep the drinks coming.
Mina couldn't help but giggle as she listened to the rogue and the gypsy talk about old times. Apparently they had known each other for years, and they had even had a brief romance before resigning to becoming just friends. Lita was rowdy and full of hell, she was laughing loudly and telling story after story about her exploits as a crook. As the night wore on, a few minstrels had mad their way into the bar, pikey friends of Raye.
As the music picked up, Mina couldn't help but get swept away. She ordered another mug of wine, and soon she found herself feeling rather odd. She didn't seem so worried about being lady like anymore, and she just wanted to have fun. This was Mina's first experience with alcohol and all it's wondrous effects.
Soon, a very quick song rang from the fiddle of one of the minstrels, and Mina found herself being pulled up out of her seat. Lita had her by the hands and was smiling goofily. Suddenly Lita spun Mina to the beat, dancing and reeling like crazy. Mina simply cried out in fear and amusement as her world spun out of control. Lita then let go of Mina and started dancing with Raye, the two laughing the entire time. The whole pub was doing the same, dancing and laughing, celebrating for the sake of celebration. Mina giggled at Lita and her friend, for the first time in a long time, Mina was enjoying herself. As the speed of the song slowed down to a waltz, Mina saw Lita set Raye back in her seat, the two laughing loudly still.
But Mina stood to her feet, she knew this song and didn't feel so out of place. Maybe it was the booze, but Mina wanted to dance with Lita. She stopped the tall brunette before she could sit down and pulled her into the middle of the floor again.
"Dance this one with me." Said Mina smiling.
"Ah, but I thought ya didn't like me." Said Lita with a grin.
"It's just the wine talking, trust me." Smiled the blonde.
And the two began to dance slowly across the floor, both seeming to comfort in one another's closeness.
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Well ok, there we go. Another loopy chapter. Im having fun writing from Mina's perspective. Im trying to illustrate the confliction emotions she would be feeling in this situation, and I hope I'm getting the emotions across clearly.
R/R