The Cytokine Storm
Chapter 6
Anna opened her hand and looked at the small object Jarlaxle had given her. Anna wasn't sure if she should laugh or be insulted. Lying in the palm of her hand was a piece of soap molded to look like a leaf. Smooth and lightly scented, it brought to mind springtime flowers. Anna scowled. Was he telling her that she smelled? Walking over to the copper tub in the corner of the room, Anna saw that it was filled with fragrant steaming water. Did he actually expect her to bathe?
"If you require help, I would be willing to oblige." Jarlaxle's voice said from the other side of the door.
Momentarily struck speechless, Anna's mouth dropped open. As the door knob turned she found her voice. "NO!" She shrieked in alarm. "I..I..am perfectly capable of bathing myself." She finished in a calmer voice.
"You're sure?" The elf almost sounded wistful.
"Quite!" Anna said firmly. There was a dramatic sigh, and then the elf said, "Very well." Anna waited until the clicking of his boots faded before turning back to the tub. Anna really, really wanted a bath. The blood and gore of the war had dried, making the wool of her uniform stiff and uncomfortable. Wool was itchy normally, add blood, dirt, and several days worth of sweat and it was unbearable. Anna scratched her thigh. Oh, who was she fooling? It would take something far more threatening than the elf to keep her out of the water. Setting the soap beside the tub, Anna checked the door. No lock. That wouldn't do. Pushing a heavy wooden chair against the door, Anna wondered if there was a better way to secure it. Glancing around the room, she didn't see anything that would work better than the chair. Oh well, it would have to do.
Quickly shedding her clothes, Anna grabbed a towel that had been set on a nearby table and stepped into the tub. Stifling a moan of pleasure, she sank into the warm, fragrant water. She wondered where the elf had taken her. Judging by the lack of smell they weren't in the city any longer.
Dismissing her unease, Anna grabbed the soap and set about scrubbing off a week's worth of grime. After soaping and rinsing her hair twice, Anna stood up and wrapped the towel around herself and stepped out of the tub. Walking over to the bed, she fingered the neatly folded clothing lying on the coverlet. The cloth was wonderfully soft. Silk? Toweling herself off, Anna picked up what appeared to be a dress only to find several more items beneath.
"What do I put on first?" She mused, holding up a rectangular piece of embroidered material. There were several pieces of cloth left over when she was done, but Anna decided if she couldn't figure out how to attach them to herself then they weren't important.
"Ah good, the dress fits perfectly." Jarlaxle said from behind her. Anna shrieked and spun around. "Exactly how long have you been there?" She demanded, clenching her hands. The elf gave her an innocent look. "I knocked several times. When you didn't answer I became concerned." He said, not answering her question. Anna narrowed her eyes. "I didn't hear you knock." She said.
As if he didn't hear her the drow proceeded to walk around her studying the gown from all angles. Nodding in approval, he asked. "Have you seen how it looks on you?" Momentarily distracted, Anna shook her head. Jarlaxle grinned and offered a hand. "Come, see for yourself." Against her better judgement Anna took the drow's hand. Leading her towards one of the tapestries hanging on the wall, Jarlaxle pulled the heavy fabric back exposing a doorway. The first thing Anna saw was a bed.
Gasping in shock, Anna jerked her hand out of the elf's and backed away. "What is it?" The drow asked, his brow wrinkling in confusion. Following Anna's gaze, he saw the bed. The elf's bright eyes darted between the bed and Anna, and then he burst out laughing. "You thought I went through all this trouble just to bed you?" He managed to ask through his bouts of laughter. Anna watched him suspiciously. "What else am I to think?" She asked.
Abruptly, his laughter stopped. Closing the distance between them, Jarlaxle backed Anna against the wall and placed a hand beside her head. Anna swallowed nervously, staring at him out of wide eyes. The drow grinned and leaned towards her.
Bringing his lips close to her ear, he whispered. "You have nothing to fear." Anna jumped as his warm breath brushed along her ear. His lips parted in a smile as he told her. "I would never lower myself to something as mundane as rape." Anna looked at him doubtfully. "I did, however, promise you a kiss." He remarked.
Anna opened her mouth to tell him there was no need to keep that particular promise, only to have the words cut off by the elf's mouth. Holding perfectly still she tried to ignore him. She didn't succeed for long.
Jarlaxle laughed softly against her lips, his warm breath caressing her skin. "I won't bite, unless you ask." He murmured. Anna's mouth dropped and her eyes flew open. The drow's lips were hovering just above her mouth. Anna stared into his red gaze.
Eyes alight with laughter, Jarlaxle cupped her face with slender black fingers and kissed her. Anna was amazed at how soft his lips were as he slid them across her mouth. He kissed her top lip, gently sucking on it. Slipping one hand behind her head, Jarlaxle wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Tilting his head to the side, the drow ran the tip of his tongue against her bottom lip urging her mouth open. A soft sigh escaped from Anna as she responded to the sensual touch and opened her mouth. Trailing a series of small kisses along her bottom lip, Jarlaxle moved across her mouth exploring the soft curves. A low moan escaped Anna as she leaned into him. Opening his mouth against her, the elf slid the tip of his tongue between her lips. Deepening the kiss, Jarlaxle fitted his mouth to hers and brushed his tongue against hers. Teasingly flicking her tongue with his own, he invited her to play. Anna hesitantly imitated his action. As she uncertainly extended her tongue to touch his, Jarlaxle caught her tongue between his lips and sucked it into his mouth. Moving his head back a little, the elf let her tongue slide through his lips. Anna moaned and pressed closer. Starting at the corner of her mouth, the elf traced the curve of her lower lip with his tongue, and then caught it in between his teeth. He sucked on the lip for a moment, and then released her and stepped away from her.
Anna stumbled, bumping into the wall behind her. Raising her hand to her lips, she stared at him out of wide eyes. Anna had been kissed before, but nothing could have prepared her for the drow's kiss. Teasingly sensual, Jarlaxle had stolen her resistance with ease. His effect on her was frightening. She wasn't sure she would have resisted if he had wanted more. It must be part of the elf's glamour. Her grandmother had told her that the Fae used glamour, a type of magical illusion, to seduce you. It was the only reason that Anna would exhibit such a lack of self control.
Jarlaxle cocked his head to one side, watching her curiously. He was tempted to kiss her again to see her reaction, though judging by the stunned look on her face he decided it would be prudent to wait for a second kiss. It would inconvenient if she passed out and he had to carry her back through the portal.
"You….you…bewitched me!" Anna pointed an accusing finger at Jarlaxle. The drow raised a white eyebrow. "I would hardly need to resort to sorcery." He said dryly. Anna straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. "What else would cause me to act in such a way?" She demanded. Jarlaxle slowly smiled. Anna's mouth tightened. "You took away my free will by using some kind of dark art."
The drow laughed; a dark, foreboding sound, and moved towards her. Anna shrieked and tried to dart away. Unsuccessfully. Easily catching her, Jarlaxle pushed her against the wall. "Am I using any magic now?" He demanded. Anna tried to hide her growing fear. "I don't know." She said. Suddenly she was surrounded by absolute blackness. The drow's voice came out of the darkness. "If I used magic on you, you wouldn't have to ask." His warm hand felt hot against her skin which had suddenly gone cold. He laughed and let her go, leaving her alone in the darkness.
Panic flooded through Anna. Shaking uncontrollably she reached out, trying to find the elf. What had she done? Her grandmother had warned her about how cruel the Fae could be. Why hadn't she listened? A sound of pure despair erupted from her lips as she collapsed to the ground. A moment later strong hands were pulling her out of the darkness.
"Was that really necessary?" Artemis' disgruntled voice said from above her. The drow didn't answer. He was too busy laughing. Dragging her across the room the assassin pushed her towards the bed. "Sit" He commanded. Anna sat on the edge of the bed. Her lip began to quiver.
"If you start to bawl then I will leave you here. With him." The assassin said sharply, pointing at the still laughing dark elf. Anna sniffled bravely and tried to get hold of herself. "He cast a spell on me." She cried. Artemis scowled at her and then at the drow. How had he gotten himself into this predicament? A fat tear threatened to fall. The assassin's scowl deepened. "Your choice. Control yourself, or I leave you with him." He threatened. Anna sniffled once more and nodded, wiping away the tear. The assassin tried to ignore the feeling of relief that came over him. How did the drow keep putting him in these situations? Maybe he should just kill her. That would solve the problem. It would be easy enough. Too easy. Artemis sighed. Killing a fish in a barrel would be more of a challenge. He glared at Anna and then at Jarlaxle. How had he let himself be reduced to this? Maybe he should just kill Jarlaxle.
"Are you done?" Artemis demanded, glaring at the drow. Jarlaxle wiped his eyes and straightened. "Quite." He answered, still grinning.
"There's a problem." The assassin said.
Though the smile never left Jarlaxle's lips, there was no humor in it now. "What problem could you possibly have finding an orc in a human city?" He asked.
"None." Artemis growled.
"Then what's the problem?" Jarlaxle asked, moving in front of a long mirror to adjust his hat.
"They're dead." The assassin said. Jarlaxle turned away from the mirror and looked at Artemis. "All of them?" He asked.
The assassin gave a short nod. "How?" The drow wanted to know.
"Same as the village." Artemis' emotionless reply sent chills down Anna's back. Surely that wasn't coincidental?
Jarlaxle frowned. "You saw the bodies?" He asked. "Not yet." Artemis answered. Jarlaxle turned back to the mirror and tilted his hat so that it sat at a rakish angle on his head. Striking a pose in front of the mirror, he nodded in satisfaction and addressed the assassin. "You know the location of the bodies of course." He said, absently smoothing the huge feather decorating his hat. "Of course." The assassin sighed. "Shall we bring the mirror with us?" Artemis asked dryly.
"I do believe that was an attempt at a joke!" The drow cried in delight.
Sitting on the bed, Anna stared in confusion at Jarlaxle. The constantly changing emotions were difficult to keep up with. One moment he was frightening, and the next a ridiculous fop. He didn't fit any of the Fae her grandmother had told her about. Lifting her hand, Anna touched her lips. They still tingled from the drow's kiss. He had said he hadn't used magic on her. If that was the case then why hadn't she fought him like the heroines in those romance novels her mother liked so much? Her reaction had been just the opposite of what a heroine should do. For that matter she hadn't reacted like a lady should either. Good Christian women were supposed to be chaste and pure. Her reaction hadn't been that of a Christian woman. Oh dear…did that make her a bad Christian?
Lost in thought, Anna started when Jarlaxle waved his hand in front of her face. "Ah good, you're still with us." He said cheerfully. Anna blinked as the drow extended his hand. She hesitated a moment then took it, allowing him to pull her off the bed. Anna suddenly had a horrifying realization. She wanted him to kiss her again! Yanking her hand out of his Anna rubbed it trying to erase the feel of his skin against hers.
"Something wrong?" Jarlaxle asked, watching as she massaged her hand. "No! I'm fine." Anna said, quickly stepping away from him. The elf watched her out of calculating red eyes.
Pulling a slender wand out of his cloak the drow extended it in front of him and spoke an unfamiliar word. Like before, a dark portal appeared in the room. Anna took one look at it and started backing away. Oh no, not again. Surely this was the work of the devil.
Unexpectedly, Artemis grabbed her arm and started dragging her towards the portal. Anna shrieked and dug her heels into the floor. "There are more convenient ways I could get you through that portal." Artemis snarled. Anna immediately stopped fighting. Whatever ways might be more convenient for the assassin would be probably not be enjoyable for her. Closing her eyes Anna stepped into the portal. There was a moment of weightlessness and then they were out.
Rotting flesh was the first indicator they had left the portal. Nothing smelled like a decaying body. Anna was all too familiar with the sickly sweet smell of death. Opening her eyes she saw that they were in a small building. Unlike the first building she had seen in London this room was more traditional, with heavy dark beams crisscrossing the room. The walls were wattle-and-daub, a sticky combination of things like straw, soil and dung placed over a wooden lattice work frame. It was oddly comforting to see something she recognized.
The room would have been cozy if not for the rotting orcs covering the floor.
"They died quickly." Jarlaxle noted, motioning to a table laden with food. "And recently." He said, picking up a roll.
"It does look the same as the village." Artemis confirmed, crouching by one of the bodies.
Jarlaxle set down the roll, a frown settling between his pale eyebrows. "If these were humans, I would say a plague had befallen them." Anna walked over to him and asked. "Why don't you think this is a disease?"
It was Artemis that answered. "Because plague is a human disease."
Author's Note: Everyone like the first kiss?
Alicelouise58: Thanks. I love when reality and fantasy collide. The year is about 1330, give or take a little. So I think this would fit into Plantagenet times.
Musingsage: Hmmmm….Interesting. Confusing…but interesting. Unfortunately, it will all fit neatly together once I am done. It might not seem like it, but there is a method to my madness.
Sushi-san85: Once again thank you for pointing out specific parts! I had considered having Anna act more rebellious, but she is in a precarious situation and she knows it. Having been in a war, it seemed more in character to have her be a little more world wise and cautious. You liked stinky London? LOL. I liked Artemis observation too.
Surreptitious Chi X: I am glad you are enjoying the story. It's funny but Jarlaxle never seemed like a monster. A con artist…definitely, but a monster? Well, maybe, but the good kind! Lol
Anon: Ancient London is really interesting! I love bringing a little history into my story, and Jarlaxle probably does know more than one devil. Hehehe Poor Anna.