Last time, chapter 2: Lita and her companion put on an act in order to escape from their fates. They both had their reasons for taking the risk. Lita left to fulfill her obligation to protect Princess Serenity, who had somehow vanished. Her companion needed to escape from the palace to embark on a journey to find his niece. The chapter ends when the slave drags Lady Lita into the forests...
Chapter 7: The Depths of These Hearts
The one night after the quick escape and after the long journey through the forests, Lita had caught a fever. Her new found partner, originally a new P.O.W of the slave taskforce had helped sneak her into an inn willing to take them free of charge. She was surrounded by a pleasant crowd that even her new friend seemed well acquainted with. It was just a bit of foggy memory when the doors opened to them. Her scarred friend, having carried her bridal style into the warm den, continued to treat her with gentle care.
The first night, they passed the bar filled with drowsy eyes and ascended the stairs to one of the upper rooms. Then, within their room, Lita just slept in the straw mattress that offered her more comfort than the hard forest floors. She slept for three straight days.
"Achoo!" Lita sniffled. She sat hunched on her barstool, looking better since her fever had pretty much subsided. All that was left was the headache and the runny nose. Her friend was standing by her side.
He had just come back with some medicine from the pharmacist.
"You know," she croaked. "You shouldn't go outside. The streets are swarming with soldiers and I wouldn't be able to help you in this condition. I wouldn't know what happened to you, anyhow."
He was silent. She couldn't even hear the rustle of his movements as he set the medicine and a glass of water in front of her. Lita tipped her head back to look up at him.
"I woke up often, wondering where you might be. Don't worry me okay? You need to take care of yourself."
"Hey, there's no reason to worry, Darling!" Cried the bartender behind the counter. The bartender was also the owner of the establishment who took Lita and the slave in without question or hesitation.
Lita blew her nose in a wet hanky. "You two related?"
The bartender slammed a drink in front of Lita. The heavy, leaky stench of rum only made Lita feel queasier.
"What's the matter with you? Don't like a free drink—Madam Sheila does not give too many of those often you know. What do you want, Neph?"
Neph? Lita just realized that she didn't even know her companion's name.
Lita rotated to face him. "Hey, I'm Lita."
'I am Nephrite,' her companion beside her spelled out the name with the flourish of his hands.
"I'm Sheila. Neph and I used to play together when we lived in the city as children. We go way back." Sheila leaned over the counter and wrapped an arm around Nephrite's neck.
Lita sneezed. "Where are we? What part?"
"You're at Madam Sheila's Nowhere Inn. I just hung up a new sign. This is Jon Wire, a tiny village on the outskirts of the capitol. You've slept for three days. It's light outside now."
Lita wobbled onto her feet. "I must get going, then. I had no idea so much time has been wasted."
"In your condition, darling, you're not going anywhere. Sit tight until you get better. You're one tough cookie, I bet, but you'll only be a burden to Nephrite if you just wander away like that."
"But I can't stay for too long. I have a mission."
"You seem like a lady from the palace. I can't imagine, what a lady has to accomplish. Why would a noble have to do anything? You don't seem like you're fit to…"
"I'm fit! I can show you my worth! The others need me!" Lita cried as she stood on her two feet and glared at the other woman.
"I didn't say anything like that—what's that you gave her, Neph? Some kind of drug that causes delusions or impaired hearing?"
Nephrite shook his head grimly. 'I don't think there is any point in rushing right now. I think it's best if we stay with my friend, Sheila, until you're better. Besides, the army is probably looking for you. We should wait a few more days for the soldiers to disperse.'
"You don't know my situation." She laughed. "If the army is looking for anyone, they're probably out for Princess Serenity."
'I thought the princess was at the palace.'
"I wish that was the case. Then, I wouldn't be out here in this godforsaken situation." Lita held her pounding head between her hands.
'But you said you wanted to get out.'
Lita grunted. "I said that, yes. This is the best excuse to leave, though, am I right? I don't want to lose the good terms I have with the queen. I've managed life at the palace so far just because I have learned to get along with the crown."
'We go our own ways from here on out? I'll find my niece by myself.'
Lita grunted again. "You wouldn't know where to start looking. I thought we were going to partner up? Wasn't that agreed upon?"
'Not really.'
"Come now, I thought I said I'd help you out."
'You helped me enough.'
"You're being hunted down," she protested.
'Thanks to you.'
"I'm sorry. I thank you for helping me out."
'Obliged. I thank you for giving your neck to save me.'
Lita laughed quietly. "I guess we're back to square one again. Maybe it is best if we separated. I'll give you directions to the convent where they keep the orphaned girls. I don't know how else to help you."
'You're in a bit of a loop yourself. Don't worry about me.'
"I can't help worrying about my comrades, you know."
"Can I say something to intercede?" Sheila asked gruffly.
"You've already interrupted haven't you?"
"You're right, Lady Lita. Let me say it, then. Wouldn't it be practical for the two of you to be traveling together? Since you're both being hunted down, it seems much more planned out to join forces and flee. You two can protect each other better that way. Take turns looking out for each other. Lita you wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for Neph. And Neph you wouldn't be free right now if it weren't for Lita. Just being the logical third party here."
Maybe she should have just kept quiet because Lita and Nephrite both turned to glower at her. Sheila's thinking was logical, though aggravating it was to Lita and Nephrite. Dealing with more responsibilities was something they were willing to endure, but the problem was they would just bring more harm to one another if they traveled together. If half the army was looking for Lita and the other half was hunting Nephrite down, working together would bring the entire army upon them. Lita did not want any more trouble for Nephrite. Nephrite did not want any more trouble to come her way either. It was enough that they were alive. What happened next was up to fate.
Sheila snorted. "You two are two peas in a pod, I'd say."
"What?"
"Same boring expressions and same irrational thinking."
Lita turned to Nephrite, her eyes sparkling in the shadows cast by the drunks wandering about. Lita made the slightest movements of her hands, fluid flicks of the wrists and twists of the fingers to convey her thoughts silently. 'My friend, I leave tomorrow because I must.'
Nephrite did not move or hint anything. He just sat like a stone statue as if waiting for her to say some more.
'If either of us survive this day and age maybe we can meet up again.'
Nephrite only glanced at her before getting up and mounting the stairs.
Sheila snorted.
Lita turned to her. "Will you stop that? It's annoying, woman."
"Pardon me, Lady. I'm usually not like this if people would just be honest with themselves."
Lita shrugged. "Nephrite's a thinker and I'm a fighter."
"That is why the two of you should get together."
Lita froze as the heat rushed to her face. "You're really persistent. Have I told you I can't stand boring men? Nephrite fits that category."
"Excuses, excuses…Come on, Lady Lita. Let's go to the hot spring. It will be good for your cold and we can have a woman-to-woman talk."
Lita perked up immediately. "The hot spring part sounds fabulous."
Sheila was relentless. Lita could not stand that side of her, but the woman reminded her a bit of her leader back home. Lita did still wonder about Mina and the others. Where were they and were they safe? They were all a long way from happiness, but it was healthy to hope.
Lita wrapped herself in a towel when she met up with Sheila already lounging in the steamy bath. Both women sighed.
"Feels good, ne?" Sheila asked.
"Yes, much better than the palace."
"The palace… I always wonder what life would be like in there."
"The palace is a prison, except you're well fed and well accommodated." Lita mumbled dejectedly.
"What kind of crazy lass would give that up and chase after runaway royalty? Sounds like a story that's bound to end in tragedy."
"Stay out of my private life, woman."
Sheila's frown faded to be replaced with a sly grin. "Women," she grumbled distinctly, her irritation at the gender apparent in her voice.
Lita scowled at her. "Aren't you one, too?"
"I wish I were, so I can get under their skin," She murmured. After that answer, Sheila slid over in the water until her chest hit Lita's shoulder. Lita turned bright red when she felt her flesh bump a rock-hard, flat chest.
Sheila was physically built like a man.
When that fact suddenly hit Lita full-force in the head, the doors to the changing room burst open. Nephrite stomped out, red-in the face with a dry towel in his hand.
"Hey, buddy," Sheila greeted casually
Nephrite shot him a venomous glare.
"Why the face, Neph? She knows."
Nephrite looked back and forth between them. Then, with a resigned sigh, he tossed the towel in his hand to Lita, who caught it easily. She turned a death glare to Sheila as well.
"Your real name," she ordered.
"Sheila is my real name. No one has called me anything else."
Lita's heart constricted in humiliation.
Sheila stared back at her through the steam. Her face a total mask compared to the jubilant front she always placed on for her guests. "I'm not a man or woman. I haven't been anything since I was fifteen-years-old when I was caught stealing from a vendor."
"You…"
"Some palace guards poking their heads around caught me taking an apple off a vendor when I was just trying to survive. As punishment, they took off the part of my anatomy that made me who I was."
Lita's hand flew to her mouth in horror. Sheila sent her a menacing glare. "If it weren't for what you did for Neph, I would have turned you away."
Nephrite pulled Lita out of the water, lifting her by the under arms like he would a baby. He set her on her feet and shielded her from Sheila.
'Leave her alone. You shouldn't blame her for anything that happened so many years ago,' Nephrite's frown deepened.
"A little overprotective of some sassy palace lass, aren't you Neph?"
Nephrite pressed his lips together until they turned white. 'It's not fair that you're using her like this as an outlet for your anger.'
"Neph, what about your family? Your mother and your father? Your sister and her husband?"
'We all have our grievances, but none of them because of her. You know that.'
Nephrite turned to Lita and asked if she was alright.
"Don't you fret. I know how important she is to you, so I didn't take advantage of her if that is what you're worrying your head over," Sheila said this as she looked past the pair to the new person standing at the entrance of the house.
"Guards," said the dazed girl in the potato sack. "Thought you guys would want to know since you're housing him." She waved her rum bottle at Nephrite.
"Nancy, did you get that bottle out of the cupboard? Didn't I tell you to keep away from it?—Excuse me, you two…" Sheila grabbed her robe by the pool and threw it over her naked body as she climbed out. Her movements were quick and elegant. The robe just fell perfectly on her slim shoulders. "I'll handle these bitches," she sent a wink in their direction.
"She has a dual personality," Lita whispered once Sheila was out of earshot.
Nephrite placed a finger to his lips, a motion to silence her.
"Why, Ladies! What brings you to Madam Sheila's?!" They both heard Sheila theatrically cry out. "Just a moment, where are you going?"
Nephrite's arms suddenly circled Lita's waist. His hand that was pressed to her belly was like fire seeping through her towel. Lita gasped in shock as they both plunged into the steamy water.
The guards stepped outside and circled the perimeter. Nephrite tried to stare through the steam underwater, but he could not make out anybody. His safest bet was to remain under. He knew he could hold his breath for at least twelve minutes. He knew this for a fact, since he was a strong swimmer.
Lita struggled against his sturdy arm trying to get his attention. Her air supply was low because he had just thrown her into the water without warning. After a minute he finally turned to her.
Nephrite saw the terrified look in her eyes, but he didn't even realize what was wrong with her until he saw the blood flowering from her nostrils. Realizing that she was running low on oxygen he turned her face to him and held her mouth against his. If they had to share the same air, his air, they were down to about five minutes of oxygen. They had only been under water for three minutes. Would eight minutes be all the time the guards needed to scour the area? His chestnut gaze aligned with her terrified forest green eyes. He tried to relay his message to her to save their air and relax. Every breath they took counted, but every second counted even more.
Atop, Sheila was ready to tear some heads off. "I don't like it when people storm in here when I'm in the middle of a bath."
The captain glanced at her. "We're just doing our jobs."
"Piss off. Do it elsewhere. I don't house fugitives."
"I don't like your tone."
Sheila pulled her robe on tighter. "We're on my turf. I set the tone."
The captain seized her by the collar and shoved her toward the edge of the pool. "Then, I'll just brush it off this once." She gave her a menacing smile before shoving her into the pool. "Enjoy you're second bath."
Sheila plunged towards Nephrite and Lita. She almost laughed at the sight she beheld in the depths. One hand moved to flip the hidden switch as the other tapped Nephrite's shoulder. Before Nephrite could look his friend in the eye, a gaping hole swallowed Nephrite and Lita. They were tossed into a dank tunnel followed by the sound of clunk and thud… The secret door closed and Lita was on cold stone, spewing water and inhaling needed air. Nephrite was on top of her, rubbing her back and humming a comforting note in her ear. After catching their breath, the two of them followed the tunnel out to the opening. More forestry was up ahead. Sheila was left behind to face the mockery that she merely gotten used to after long years of putting up with it.
I think I like Sheila. Because I do, she's getting an encore in later chapters.
Please review!
MistyWing