Chapter 12: Where There's Smoke...
Hesperia found an outfit for clubbing. Currently it was 6pm and she had a gig lined up for her at BDSMKlub.
She could giggle at the name, as if it couldn't be anymore obvious. But at least it wouldn't leave surprise on what people were getting themselves into.
"I do wonder how kinky Prague can get." .
She looked herself in the mirror, her outfit consisted of a black latex thong leotard and a black leather tube top over it.
She accented the outfit with a fingerless gauntlet, chains around the waist and heeled thigh high boots. Black in design.
Her karambit was on her hip, her other knife at the thigh bracelet.
The outfit was complete with a black leather trenchcoat.
"Kurtis would have a coronary if he saw me wearing this.." she said, putting her hair in a high ponytail, fixing up her makeup; black eyeliner, mascara, lipstick.
"I wonder what Tomáš would say if he saw me wearing this.."
Part of her wished he would show up, so she could give him a private show, but then she also thought, he might be too innocent for a place like this.
But did she really know him? They did have a one-night stand, he had an ass, probably a thigh kink and enjoyed spanking her in bed..
She remembered how she writhed on top of him, her hips moving and swaying with each thrust, his breathy moans as he thrust upwards trying to keep up with her wild moves.
It was a great performance, she thought. But this time, she wanted to give Tomáš a better show. One that really showcased her flexibility and danger.
Love was one thing, but she couldn't deny her sexual attraction to him. She wanted to feel it again. His hands, his lips on her body, his amazing cock...his throaty accent against her neck growing more husky with arousal..
"Hmm..can't get too aroused or I'll miss the show." she said with a smirk. Grasping her karambit, she said a small prayer and left the hotel.
"Forgive me, Kabal, Kurtis. But Peri's gotta work. A vigilante never has an off day."
Not only was she a guest dancer, performer at BDSMKlub, but she was also working undercover. A sex fetish club would be a perfect hideout for sick trafficking fiends.
She was at the ready, always ready.
Kampa District, 6pm
Bi Han, Sektor and Cyrax stood upon city square as night fell upon Prague. Children were inside with their families, and party-goeres woke up for the day, ready for the festivities.
Businesses closed for the day, except for clubs and bars that stayed open all night.
The three were dressed casually as if to fit in, Bi Han wearing a blue muscle shirt and jeans, Sektor and Cyrax wearing yellow and red Polo shirts and pants.
"Klub Stráhov was a no go, they were closed, so she wasn't there." Cyrax said.
"We're in the party district, if she's here, she's going to show up." Bi Han said, observing his surroundings.
The three checked another nearby bar, L'Fleur, keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of the Swiss woman.
None were there, but they did notice curious eyes on them.
The worker at the entrance of the bar asked if the three were looking for a table, Cyrax and Sektor looked at Bi Han.
"Maybe a shot or two at the bar couldn't hurt." he said.
One shot became three, as Cyrax and Sektor began talking to some women, causing Bi Han's headache to grow larger.
Rescuing Hesperia wasn't the only reason why he was chasing after her, he was legitimately angry with her and demanded answers for leaving Tomáš the way she did.
Despite the prince's words, he had no doubt she was partially to blame for his attempted suicide.
A cumulation of everything, Tomáš said, but no doubt she had a part to play, Bi Han already saw him cry over her. Then again, he saw how sad she looked in the forest on her way home.
Still, he needed to talk to her. He didn't want to believe that she could be so heartless.
Now that the Vrbada royal family had their eyes on her, she was in danger. Bi Han believed she was still in Prague. That she wouldn't just leave before seeing Tomáš one more time.
Castle Vrbada, 7pm
Tomáš groaned as he lay on the floor in the dungeons at Castle Vrbada. The floor was damp, wet with bathwater and..blood...he looked down at himself, it was his blood.
He rose up to his knees, groaning at the pain in his stomach, running his fingers through scratch marks across his abdomen.
There was blood everywhere, his clothes were torn, defensive wounds on his hands, blood caked under his nails...whatever it was, he tried to fight back.
His head felt heavy, his eye sight blinded by the darkness in the room, the copper smell of blood and sweat around him.
As he tried to move, he found he couldn't. A soundless gasping scream left his lips as he realized he was chained by his ankle to the wall.
His voice dry, he tried to call out for help.
"Kuai Liang!" he tried, but no sound left his lips.
He was bloodied, beaten, black eyes, busted nose, bloody lip, ears puffed up, fingertip ligatures around his throat, his hands cut up, legs heavy, stomach in pain..
Who would hurt him like this...?
"H-help!"
Nothing but squeaks left his lips.
Terror ran through his body. Who put him here? Why?
Tears ran down his eyes, stinging the wounds on his cheeks, the pain at his sides causing him to collapse back to the floor.
"Please help me.."
Curled onto his side, despite the pain, he winced and cried, trying to scream for help. For Kuai Liang to save him.
He heard footsteps, and he gasped, struggling to turn over and look at who was coming, groaning in pain.
"Prince Vrbada..."
The feet did not belong to Kuai Liang, neither did the voice. He rarely, if not ever, used formalities with him.
"Look at you, pathetic.."
The voice was deep, scratchy. A smoker's deep.
"W-who are you?" Tomáš asked, coughing, spitting up blood.
"There were go, finally found your voice after all that screaming..what a nice voice you have.."
"Again, I ask, who are you?! I am your prince, you will not treat me-" Tomáš began, but a harsh slap across his mouth shut him up and caused him to fall back, blood pouring out of his mouth.
"Fuck you!" Tomáš yelled, spitting blood at the man in front of him.
"Shut up, you haughty bitch!" the gravely voice said, growling.
"Why are you doing this...who are you?" Tomáš whimpered, following another backhand to the face.
"We've been tasked with getting your little French girlfriend's name out of your mouth."
"Hesperia.." he thought to himself. Never. He'd never let anyone get to her. He promised her on the dance floor that he would protect her, and he'll continue just doing that here.
No matter the torture..
"You'll have to kill me first." Tomáš said.
The man before him smiled. "That would just be a bonus..luckily for us, you said her name in a drugged out haze. We force fed you cocaine, figured it would make the daring prince talk."
"No! You won't get to her!" Tomáš shouted.
"One of our men is already looking..we'll bring her back here so you can see her, and watch her die."
"No.. no! I won't let you!" Tomáš yelled, fighting against his chains.
Suddenly, he found himself splashed with something, covering his face in sheer horror as the two men before him laughed.
"That'll shut him up..good job, Firefly.."
Tomáš could only kneel in horror and anger as a piss filled bucket was kicked in his face. He was furious, fighting against his chains, reaching out to attack this Firefly person before him.
"Thank you, D." the man named Firefly said.
"Pathetic, look at you, pissboy prince. We're gonna kill your woman and there's nothing you can do about it. You'll sit there and watch as our boss skins her alive piece by piece. And we have you to thank for it.."
"Where is Kuai Liang..?"
"Looking for your ninja? Next cell over. He's sleeping. We drugged both of you..but you, Prince Vrbada, put up quite the fight. He went down like a light."
"Kuai..." Tomáš said sadly.
He felt hopeless. Who were these people, Firefly and D..and why were they hurting him? Who sent them?
He had to escape. But how? He closed his eyes..of all the times for that smoke demon to not come out and rescue him..
That's when it came to him.
A way out.
"I surrender." Tomáš said.
Both men looked at the prince, who was kneeling before them.
"I know where she is. If you release me, I'll bring you to her."
His voice was defeated. He could only hope they would believe him.
Acting was something Tomáš had grown to enjoy, watching Johnny Cage's movies. Cheesy as they were, he found he liked them. Spiderman was another one him and Kuai Liang liked. Occasionally, and for kicks, he found himself watching porn with Sektor, Cyrax and Bi Han, laughing at the actors.
He hoped his acting skills were to par today.
"You'll just bring her to us? Why should we believe you? Weren't you just saying we'll never get to her?"
Tomáš was rendered silent, he had to come up with an excuse, and quick! "What do I do...?" He had to find a way to outsmart these two hired goons.
"It's useless to struggle..she doesn't feel the same way I do. I..don't want to fight anymore."
"You'll really give her up?"
"Yes. Her name is Hesperia Sverre. From Switzerland." Tomáš replied.
"Good prince. I knew you'd find your way."
Tomáš smirked. "I want that bitch dead."
As he was speaking, Kuai Liang finally began to come to. He was awake to hear Tomáš give out Hesperia's name, eyes growing wide. "What is Tomáš doing..?"
Tomáš noticed Kuai Liang waking up, praying that he wouldn't blow his ruse.
The two men freed Tomáš from his ankle chain, helping him up.
"Alright, let's go bag us a Frenchy.." the man named D said.
"I don't think so." Tomáš said, smiling as he struck D in the nose with his palm, using enough force to break his nasal bone. With the man dazed, he took his knife from his thigh holder, and stabbed him in the throat.
"Stop him!" his last words shouted as he gurgled and choked on his blood.
Tomáš kicked Firefly's knees, making him kneel, before slicing his arms off, then jamming the knife through the man's chin, into his face.
"Always a sucker." Tomáš said, wiping the blood from his face.
He held the knife to his heart, "I will protect you, always, Hesperia."
"Kuai!" he yelled, rushing out of his cell and over to Kuai Liang's, slicing through the keyhole, opening the cell door.
"Tomáš!" Kuai Liang yelled, embracing him. "I'm so disgusting, you don't want-"
"I don't care.." Kuai Liang said, embracing his friend tenderly. "Oh Kuai..." Tomáš said, returning his embrace.
"I..I had to make sure they were dead. I had to make them believe me, then kill them so they'd never get to her..I've never killed like that before!"
"Shh...it's ok, it's ok.." Kuai Liang said.
Tomáš was in a daze, a rush after his double assassinations, heavily breathing in Kuai Liang's arms, tears falling from his eyes.
"I had to do it.. l had to kill.."
"Breathe, Tomáš! Breathe!" Kuai Liang yelled, as Tomáš began hyperventilating through his tears.
"I couldn't stop.."
He dropped the knife, sobbing in Kuai Liang's arms. "It's ok, Tomáš, it's ok, come on, we gotta get out of here.."
Still in a daze, Kuai Liang grabbed Tomáš and put him on his shoulder. "They'll pay for this, whoever is responsible, for harming the prince."
"Jindřiška and Václav are involved..I just know it...those scum!"
Together, the two escaped the dungeons, on their way back to Tomáš' bedroom when they bumped into Queen Jindřiška, who was currently entertaining her court.
She noticed them in the halls and excused herself from the people, approaching the two. "Bi Han? What are you..what's wrong with my son?"
"I'm Kuai Liang, my lady...Prince Tomáš and I were thrown into the dungeons, Prince Tomáš is injured, I have to get him-"
"Injured?! What has happened..who hurt my son?" she demanded.
"Zlatíčko..?" she asked, reaching out to touch him, only to pull back when she noticed all the blood and the wretched stench around him.
Kuai Liang put him down, Queen Jindřiška noticed Tomáš was not looking at her, but seemed to be staring into space.
"Tomáš?" she asked.
Kuai Liang looked on in worry. "What is wrong with him?" she asked. The younger Lin Kuei looked at the prince with concern.
"He's gone catatonic.." he said. Queen Jindřiška looked on with confusion. "When someone sees or experiences something traumatic, sometimes the brain shuts itself down to rid itself of the memory..my lady, someone hit and tortured the prince...I don't know how we ended up on the dungeons, but whomever kidnapped us hit him, kicked a bucket of urine at him and chained him to the wall."
The queen held her hand to her heart.
"My son..my zlatíčko.."
"Please take him to get cleaned up. We have more royal engagements to attend to, I would like Tomáš to be there."
"But..my lady, the prince, he cannot.."
"Then get him ready, Bi Han. We are to meet with a very prestigious family. I am introducing Tomáš to their beautiful daughter. I will not have him at the dinner table smelling like a city sewer."
Before Kuai Liang could correct her on his name, she stomped away, meeting back with her court.
"...introducing Tomáš to their daughter..this can't be good.."
"I will hide you, my prince. You're in no shape to meet with anyone right now."
He picked Tomáš up bridal style, carrying him back to his bedroom, undressing him and placing him in his bathtub.
He wanted to make sure he wouldn't hurt him further, looking for wounds when he saw a curious scar on Tomáš right inner thigh.
"Tomáš..I am your loyal servant, your best friend..wake up and say something.."
"..K-Kuai.."
Kuai Liang looked up as he finished cleaning his chest with a cloth, cleaning all the blood, sweat and grime off his friend. His hair was down, he was in the tub with his friend, scrubbing his body with soap and water.
"Yes..Tomáš?"
Though his eyes were glazed, Tomáš blinked and tried to focus on Kuai Liang. "You're..in here with me.."
"It's a little tight, but.."
Tomáš chuckled. "Well, yes, bathtub is one person, two is too much."
"Forgive me, you were unresponsive, I had to clean you.." Kuai Liang said.
Tomáš only groaned, cringing at his pain.
Kuai Liang looked at him sadly, exiting the bathtub, grabbing a towel for himself and Tomáš.
"Listen..get yourself ready..your mother..she wants to see you."
It hurt Kuai Liang to say this, it hurt that he couldn't hide the prince like he wanted to, but he understood his place. Understood that Tomáš had a life apart from him, he couldn't keep him away from his fate.
Tomáš watched as Kuai Liang went into his closet, picking out some of his fanciest clothes, fine silks and nearly ironed pants.
"Don't..say anything, Tomáš..just put these on, I'll brush your hair, then, go see your mother.."
"Kuai..what's happening..?"
"A prince does not question...please, Tomáš..just make this easier for me.."
Kuai Liang left the room to give Tomáš the privacy of dressing. He looked down at the floor, feeling a wave of despair.
He pitied Tomáš. A royal's life is never truly their own. Tomáš' suicide attempt was a way out of it. As Bi Han told him, Tomáš held the knife to his throat and exclaimed that no one could control him anymore if he was dead.
Those words hit hard.
But Tomáš was wrong. Even in death, his family would still have control. His funeral, his burial spot, words said of him and about him, still under Vrbada rule.
There was truly no escape.
And now, Tomáš must meet with a prestigious family. With their daughter.
He thought of Hesperia. She would be beside herself.
What if he hits it off with this woman? What if they like each other? Kuai Liang would lose his best friend. And Hesperia? She never had a chance.
A commoner and a prince? Vrbadas would never allow it, that's why they're trying to kill her.
That's why Bi Han is out there trying to save her life.
He could only hope that he's successful.
BDSMKlub, 9pm.
"What. The. Fuck."
Cyrax said, as soon as the three walked into BDSMKlub.
First thing he saw was a woman on a circular couch getting her ass fingered and eaten out, while another man put his toes in her mouth, forcing her to suck. There were other couples beside them engaging in similar sex acts, and Cyrax and Sektor looked at each other in disbelief.
"It smells horrible in here!" Bi Han yelled, shouting over the loud industrial dance music. The smell of sweat, of sex, leather, and whatever else, Bi Han did not want to know.
"We've checked every club in this area, this is the last one. If this woman isn't here, then she went back to France. For her sake, she better be gone." Sektor said.
Cyrax watched all the dancers, all the people engaging in their personal sexual activities in the club, when a couple, a woman walking a man on all fours like a dog, walked past him. The woman licked her lips at Cyrax, winking at him.
"Uh uh. No way." he said.
"Find this bitch quick. I don't want to be here any more than we should be." Sektor said, "I'm a pretty sex positive guy, but this is way out of my league..and-" he looked over to the left, "Are those guys just pissing on each other?!"
He looked up at a sign that said, "Watersports" all lit up.
On the right side of the club, a woman in a black cat suit blindfolded a man, whipping him as his cries were almost as loud as the music.
Bi Han ignored Sektor's complaints, ignoring all the sexual deviance around him, looking towards the dance floor.
Sure enough, he found her.
"Hesperia, you fucking bitch.." he said, glaring at the dark plum haired woman in the black latex leotard dancing in a cage across the room.
He knew those back muscles from anywhere by this point. She had her ass out, and Bi Han watched her kick her legs out, bending over, dancing to the beat of the music in the background.
"Yo, Bi Han!"
Cyrax snapped his fingers at the bewildered Lin Kuei, getting his attention.
"You looked like you were in a daze staring at that woman." he said. "Wait, that's her! That's Tomáš' girl!" Sektor said, "I know that ass shaking from anywhere."
"That's her?!" Cyrax yelled, "I'm gonna applaud that motherfucker next time I see him, she's gorgeous!"
"Stay focused, perverts." Bi Han growled, narrowing his eyes as he began to approach her.
"H-hey Bi Han, wait!" Sektor said, groaning as they followed him.
The room was dark, red velvet carpet, purple and black Victorian like walls, the dance floor was filled with couples grinding and dancing against each other, some making out, touching each other, some of the women were topless, some in lingerie, some were completely nude, some with duct tape around their breasts and nether regions, some men in jock straps, briefs or some fully nude, Bi Han made sure not to let any of them touch him.
He wouldn't deny that he liked the music though. It was enjoyable. Despite the darkness, strobes and small lit up disco ball, his eyes watched Hesperia's every dance, every move of her body.
That's when he realized that she was watching him too.
"Bi Han..?" she said to herself, "What's he doing here?! Does this mean Tomáš is here too?"
Anger ran through her veins. She didn't want to be known or recognized. Even though her associates tasked her with infiltrating the club looking for Black Dragon activity, she also wanted time to dance.
If she looked like everyone else, she could blend in and investigate.
And here was stupid Lü Bihan here ruining everything!
The two locked eyes as he approached the cage she was dancing in.
"Found the elusive little kitten." he said, grasping the cage.
Angrily, she opened the cage door, grabbing Bi Han, forcing him inside with her, throwing him against the wall.
"Damn, you're strong!"
His eyes looked her up and down and she fought the urge to kick him in the face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, "dance with me, people are staring and I'm trying to give them a show. Can't have you sitting there."
"D-dance with you?!" he stammered, "Tomáš will kill me!"
"Why? We're working, we're not doing anything wrong." she said.
"You call this work? Prostitution?" he asked.
"Prostitution?!" she snapped.
This time, she swung her leg at him. She was aiming at his head, trying to kick him. She didn't realize their height difference, and he grabbed her leg, placing it back down.
"Don't fight me. I'll freeze you out."
She hissed at him, sneering. "Easy, kitten..I'm not here for violence...you want to dance with me, I'll dance.." he said, holding his hands out, trying to calm her down.
He took her hand, similar to how Tomáš did, gently spinning her close to him.
"What are you doing here, Bi Han?" she asked. He came close to her ear, cold breath sending shivers down her spine. "I'm here to warn you, and to scold you." he replied.
Her hips swayed with his, the two of them moving to the beat of the music in the background, gently grinding against each other.
"Hesperia..wait." he said. "Oh uh..sorry. I'm not really trying to touch you..but I gotta stay in character." she said. "I suppose it's a little hard when you take up this much room in the cage." he said.
"Excuse me?!" she snapped.
"Uh oh. Uh..what I mean to say is that-"
"Shut up. Don't make it worse."
She turned to face him, his hands grasping her hips, bending her over, as the music slowed. To balance herself, she lifted her leg, placing it over Bi Han's head. He looked on in awe at her flexibility. "Do you really need to throw those things around like that?" he asked. "I don't want to fall over." she replied. "I won't let you fall." he said. "And you, do you need to put your hands here?" she asked. He had his hands on her hips, his long fingertips brushing against her ass.
"Just keeping character." he said, "I am sorry, though. My fingers are a bit long." He took his hands off her. "Won't happen again, kitty."
Cyrax and Sektor watched Hesperia dance with Bi Han, and Cyrax said. "This night goes to our grave. Tomáš will never, ever know about this."
"Eh. Bi Han might tell him. He's got a conscious."
"Tell me, Hesperia, how does..." he looked between her legs. She growled. ".-that- breathe in such a tight outfit? You, for that matter?"
"Are you serious? You absolute, fucking pervert." she growled. "Hey, hey, I'm just curious. I wore leather pants once, and the crotch ride was terrible." he said. "Aren't you Lin Kuei? What need of leather pants do you need?" she asked. "Infiltration. Sometimes I have to go undercover for missions. Some of those involve places like this." he replied.
She snorted, rolling her eyes. "You don't look like a leather sex club kind of guy." "I was very different before meeting Tomáš. Some tendencies never truly leave." he said. "I suppose that boy has that kind of effect on people." she said, "is he here? And your brother?"
"Hell no!" he yelled, making her flinch. "I would never let either of them come to a place like this. I brought Tomáš to a brothel on his birthday in April, but that's as far as it goes. He was so scared when a prostitute grabbed his dick that he ran into the bathroom and refused to come out until Sektor carried him back home."
"I can't imagine why. After what he told me about the Black Dragon, I can't imagine him not feeling any other way about non-consensual touching.." she said to herself.
"Anyway. Don't worry about my outfit. I'm just keep-"
"Keeping character in that thing? Well, it certainly helps you move."
She groaned.
"Your concern is touching, Lü Bihan."
"Trying to melt me with your sarcasm?"
"Shut up. You and your puns are utterly disgusting."
They danced some more as a faster, harder beat came on, it was louder, she couldn't hear him talk. The two moved, dancing with the beat, eyes only on each other.
While they danced, Havik quietly walked into dance floor. He looked at Hesperia and Bi Han, licking his lips at her.
"Found you, bitch. Now I'll skin you alive."
Unbeknownst to Hesperia and Bi Han, they were being watched.
She couldn't hear what he was saying, so she took a break, exiting the cage.
Walking beside Bi Han, she brought him into a private room, locking the door behind her.
"Yo what are they doing?!" Cyrax yelled. "Relax, it's nothing. They're not even holding hands.." Sektor said.
"I can't hear a damn thing you're saying out there, Bi Han. Why did you say you're here?" she asked, now that they were in the quiet, private room.
"Do people have sex in these rooms?" he asked, cringing as he was about to sit on the red velvet seat behind him.
"Probably. I advise against sitting." she said, crossing her arms.
The two stood in front of each other, when he said, "I'm furious with you, Hesperia."
"Furious? Why?" she asked.
"For leaving Tomáš the way you did."
"You said it yourself, Bi Han, I couldn't stay. That queen, for whatever reason, wanted me dead."
"He's been upset since you left. He cried over you, Hesperia."
"What?" she looked at him in surprise.
"Why? I'm not even worth.."
"He's a wreck lately.."
"One thing we both have in common.."
Both looked at each other. "What's up with you?" She sighed. "I miss Tomáš...Bi Han..I think I might love him."
Bi Han looked at her in surprise.
She held her hand to her heart.
"I never wanted to leave him like that. He asked me to stay, I wish I could have. After all the shit I went through as a child, that I finally met someone nice...and of course I fucked it up."
"How is he?"
"Like I said, a wreck.."
She looked away sadly.
He declined to hell her about his attempted suicide, instead kept it vague.
"Tell him I'm sorry. It's better this way. Girls like me don't get to have nice things, we don't get to meet nice men..but..I can't stop thinking about him."
"He misses you, too."
She sighed. "Tell him to get over me."
"Why hurt yourself like this?" he asked, "why keep hurting him?"
"He can just put a bandage over this. Tell him to move on."
"None of this makes sense! Hesperia, you have no idea what you're saying!"
"The more I push him away, the easier it will be..please Bi Han, I can't take this.."
"You say you love him, yet you want to push him away. Make it make sense."
She crossed her arms, looking away, hiding her face.
"Why deny yourself happiness? Why hurt yourself like this? You're a fool." he said.
"Because I don't believe in happy endings. When all your life is a tragedy, there can be no respite."
"You think Tomáš can't make you happy? Me?"
"You?"
"I don't have a sister. I..wouldn't mind having you as a sister. You don't think that Tomáš and I won't do everything we can to make you smile?"
"It's not worth it. I'll be gone soon anyway."
Castle Vrbada, 7:30pm.
Queen Jindřiška angrily stomped down to the dungeons as both Prince Tomáš and Kuai Liang were distracted upstairs.
"I told you idiots not to harm Tomáš that badly! He was bloody and beaten! You were supposed to-"
The smell of blood halted her in her tracks.
She gasped when she saw both Havik's henchman Hotaru and Darrius dead and dismembered on the floor.
Both Hotaru's arms were gone, the bottom half of his face was gone, blood pooled around him, beside him, Darrius' throat was slashed, blood around his mouth, having choked on it.
"They're..dead!" she yelled.
There was a knife on the floor, where Tomáš' cell was. "That Lin Kuei..he ruined my plans!"
Two hours later, she, Václav and Tomáš met with the prestigious Dvorak family from Eastern Prague.
The two families were at the dinner table, engaged in conversation, except for Tomáš who looked terribly bored.
The daughter of the Dvorak family, Veronika, tried to speak with Tomáš. He was already familiar with her, she put her hands on him inappropriately a few weeks before at one of the masquerade parties.
She was unfazed by his indifference, yet kept trying to talk to him. He just nodded and hummed.
Kuai Liang was outside the dinner room, looking for any threats. He wondered how Bi Han and the others faired. He hoped they were alright.
"Lady Veronika, mind your manners." Tomáš said, clenching his teeth as the woman placed her hand on his thigh, moving upwards, towards his crotch.
"Why should I? Our parents are friendly, you'll be my boyfriend soon. We should get to know each other." she said with a smile.
"Over my dead body, miss. You'll never be my girl." Tomáš replied coldly.
She smirked, drinking her wine, giving him a seductive look.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." he said.
A sinking feeling ran down his stomach, and he held his hand to his stomach. Gas pains? Something he ate? Nervousness?
He rose up from the table, gathering everyone's attention. Looking at his mother, he said, "If you'll all excuse me, I will be retiring for the night. I am experiencing some mild stomach discomfort."
"Prince Tomáš, is the food not to your liking?" Queen Jindřiška asked. "No mother, it is fine, just sometimes I deal with stomach discomfort. Nothing serious."
Lady Veronika could only watch on in amusement. King Václav watched on with concern, muttering a curse under his breath.
As everyone bid Tomáš goodnight, he walked past his mother's seat on the way out of the dining hall.
She reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards her. "Tomáš, what is the meaning of this?! You are the prince of the Vrbada family, you must stay for royal engagements!"
"And I said that I have stomach discomfort, mother. I would like to leave. I am sure that everyone at this table would not like me to leave the product of this irritation on their plates." Tomáš replied.
Queen Jindřiška growled at him. "Do not act so childish with this kind of humor, my son, I am not impressed."
"We will talk later." he said, leaving the room.
"Lady Veronika, escort my son to the washrooms? You two should get to talk with each other." Queen Jindřiška said.
Immediately, the woman left her table, chasing after Tomáš, only to be stopped by Kuai Liang.
"I advise you stand back, miss. The prince is feeling unwell."
"I do not need a chink's orders, I am more powerful than you, step aside." the woman replied.
Kuai Liang swallowed his response. Yet more verbal abuse from Czech society..
"You do not have power in these halls. I am Prince Tomáš' personal bodyguard. You will not step further." Kuai Liang said, as deadly as he could, causing Lady Veronika to flinch.
"Thank you, Kuai Liang. But that is not necessary. If the lady would like to talk, we will talk." Tomáš said, returning to the two.
"Excuse me for a moment." Kuai Liang said, pulling Tomáš aside. "What are you doing?" he asked. "She will speak to my mother if I do not at least entertain her. Stay close, if she steps out of line, stop her." Tomáš said.
"As you wish." Kuai Liang said, defeated.
"Lady Veronika, in the future, cease your racist demeaning of my bodyguard. It is rude and unbecoming. And I will not stand for it." Tomáš said, turning to the lady angrily.
"My apologies. I did not want him getting in between us." she replied. "There is no us, lady. Cease your delusions. I'm not interested." Tomáš said.
"You would rather that French prostitute then?"
Tomáš froze. As did Kuai Liang.
"Excuse me?" Tomáš asked.
"Oh come on, don't play stupid, Prince Tomáš. Everyone saw you on the dance floor with that whore. I guess you just prefer her then, right? A commoner. A whore." she said, challenging him.
"Watch your mouth, Veronika. She is no whore, don't you dare slander her in front of me." he snapped.
"Be nicer to me, or I'll tell your mother everything about you dancing with her."
"She already knows."
Lady Veronika hummed.
"There isn't anything you can do, Veronika. You will not coerce me into anything."
"I don't know how you even liked that woman. She was hideous. Too muscular, too tall. The way she was dressed, showing her vagina and ass to everyone in that slut dress."
"Shut your mouth, Veronika. I like what I like. You will not change my mind."
"She has charmed you, my prince. Charmed by a commoner, it's pathetic. She will never be your bride, Prince Tomáš."
"That is for me to decide when the time comes." Tomáš said, walking away. "You are dismissed. Please leave."
Kuai Liang followed behind him, leaving the fuming woman behind.
"If she speaks with your mother, then what?" Kuai Liang asked.
"She doesn't know I slept with her, there's nothing she can say to mother that she doesn't already know." Tomáš replied when they were in his room.
"What's taking Bi Han so long?" Kuai Liang asked, looking out the window.
"Think he found her?" Tomáš asked.
"They might be having fun, the four of them. It was a party we weren't invited to." Kuai Liang said. "Let's go join them, then. It's late, no one will see us leave. Grab your Lin Kuei gear and smoke bombs."
"R-really? I can be Smoke tonight?"
"Yeah. Let's be Smoke and Scorpion tonight. Bust in on that party."
Tomáš smiled deviously, putting on the newest uniform that Kuai Liang made for him, consisting of a grey hood and armor. A promotion, as the Lin Kuei brothers called it. Plus, it looked badass. Tomáš grabbed his mask, joining Kuai Liang out the window and into the night.
"Where there's smoke, there's fire.."
BDSMKlub, 10pm
"What are you here to warn me about, Bi Han?" Hesperia asked.
The sound of glass breaking outside the room caused both to gasp, and Bi Han immediately to step in front of Hesperia, holding her protectively.
Sektor and Cyrax readied themselves for a fight when a man with a comb-over, chest and face armor snarled, knocking tables over, breaking glass.
"Where is she?! Where is she?!"
The two Lin Kuei looked at each other, cringing when he took his arm off, beating security guards to death with it.
"This motherfucker just took his arm off!" Sektor yelled. "He's going after Bi Han and Hesperia!" Cyrax yelled, when they saw him going towards the room that were in.
The door to the room they were in broke down, and Havik ran into the room, sniffing the air.
"French! Come out, little lady, I'm here to kill you!"
Bi Han stood in front of Hesperia, placing her behind him, when Havik stood in front of them, snarling like a rabid dog.
"Who are you?! What do you want?" Bi Han asked. "Step aside, Lin Kuei! I'm here for Frenchy.." Havik snarled.
"You'll take her from my dead, cold hands, you freak!" Bi Han yelled, freezing the assassin in front of him.
With a few seconds to spare, Bi Han shouted, "Hesperia, run!" as the two exited the room.
"What about you, Bi Han?" she asked.
"Don't worry, just go! Run!" Bi Han yelled. She ran towards the exit of the club, grabbing her trenchcoat, readying her karambit just in case.
Havik unfroze, ripping off his head, throwing it towards Hesperia. It flew past her, slamming against the front door as she was about to leave, and she screamed, jumping in fright.
People ran out of the club in fright, screaming, as the police showed up.
Dead, unfortunate souls who could not escape lay on the dance floor, Havik stomped towards Hesperia who was now surrounded by Sektor and Cyrax, in their Lin Kuei outfits.
"Hesperia, no! Stay away from her you freak!" Bi Han yelled, sliding across the dance floor, stabbing the man with an ice spear.
He then knocked the man down, looking into his eyes, gasping at recognition.
"You..you're Uncle Vojta!" he said.
Havik laughed, ripping the ice spear in his chest, dissipating it.
"How observant, Lin Kuei...I've been tasked with bringing her back to the castle, where Tomáš will get to see her die."
"Never.." Bi Han said, freezing both Havik's arms, "You will not get her!"
Using Sektor and Cyrax as shields, Hesperia was able to escape, running anywhere, anywhere to safety.
Everything was dark, Hesperia kept running, until she ended up in a forest.
"..."
She held herself against a tree, breathing heavily, as she tried to calm herself down.
She knew this forest, was she back by Castle Vrbada? The very place she was going to be taken to by force. How did she end up here? Damn her and her lack of direction!
With Havik incapacitated temporarily, Bi Han began running towards the direction that Hesperia ran in, towards the forest outside Castle Vrbada. "Stay with Havik, you two, I'm gonna find Hesperia and get her to safety." he yelled out towards them.
With sweat running down her body, she held her karambit to her heart, breathing heavily. She was on heightened alert, when Bi Han approached her.
"Hesperi-!"
"Get away from me!" Hesperia shouted, swinging the karambit at the one approaching her.
"Hesperia, stop! It's me, Bi Han!" Bi Han yelled, crying out in pain as she slashed across his chest.
Dazed with wild bloodlust, Hesperia charged at Bi Han, wildly swinging her karambit at him, cutting him across his body.
"I won't fight you back, but stop! It's me, it's Bi Han...stop!"
Bi Han attempted to subdue her, but he was met with a backhand, one that temporarily stunned him.
Hesperia climbed up a tree for safety, unable to see or tell who her assailant was, all she knew was that she needed to keep fighting to save her life.
Hearing all the shouting and commotion, Kuai Liang and Tomáš ran towards the noise, Kuai Liang gasping when he saw Hesperia kick Bi Han, then jump at him, wrapping her thighs around his neck.
She held onto a tree for leverage as she began to choke Bi Han with her thighs. The eldest Lin Kuei coughed, blood pouring from his previous wounds, as his consciousness began to fade.
"Bi Han!" Kuai Liang shouted, throwing his rope spear at Hesperia, attempting to stop her from potentially killing his brother.
"K-Kuai! Don't..get involved!" Bi Han choked out.
"I won't lose you!" Kuai Liang shouted.
Tomáš could only watch on in fright. Here was the woman he missed, the woman he coveted ever since that wonderful night they spent together, the woman he cried over, the woman he thinks he might be in love with, choking the life put of his friend, his beloved bodyguard.
"Stop! Stop!" Tomáš shouted, as Hesperia dropped Bi Han, turning to Kuai Liang. His rope spear was thrown in her direction, but she bent into her back, spreading her legs, the spear going right through her.
"You will not take my brother from me, you bitch." Kuai Liang snarled, charging at her. In his anger and grief, he slugged her in her stomach, causing her to fall to her knees.
Subdued, he grasped her neck, fist on fire, ready to burn her when Tomáš yelled, "That's enough! Stop!", throwing a smoke bomb at them.
The distraction was enough to allow Kuai Liang to jump to Bi Han's rescue, but in doing so, he left Tomáš vulnerable.
To his horror, he watched as Hesperia ran through the smoke and dove at Tomáš, leaping at him with a kick to his sternum.
"You want to take me, too?!" she yelled.
Tomáš screamed, panicking when he flew back from Hesperia's kick, hitting the ground. He rose up from the ground as she kept on with her attack, kicking at him with her powerful legs. Tomáš blocked and attempted to parry her kicks, but the oncoming force caused him to slip backwards.
Then he remembered her words from the dance floor. That fighting and dancing were the same thing, he attempted to mimic her moves as she ducked under his punches, blocking them with her good arm. He teleported into smoke, dashing at her, trying to kick her, but she lifted her leg, blocking his attack.
She then kicked him in the head, her kicks fast and powerful like lightning all over his body. He nearly absorbed every kick despite his pain, trying his best to block what he could, until the pain became too much.
With one final kick, she sent him flying and he hit a tree behind him, groaning in pain. She chased after, taking out her karambit, holding it over his head, when Kuai Liang yelled, "Prince Tomáš!", throwing his rope spear at Hesperia knocking it out of her hand, tying her wrist with the rope.
With Hesperia again subdued, though she tried to fight against the ropes, she was approached by Bi Han and Kuai Liang.
"Are you finished, Hesperia? Goddamn psycho.." Bi Han said.
Though he was previously bleeding, he used his cryomancer powers to freeze the blood, stopping further blood loss.
Kuai Liang ran to Tomáš side, worryingly checking for injury. "Tomáš.. I'm sorry..I shouldn't have-"
On her knees, her wrists tied up, Hesperia was surrounded by the Lin Kuei; Bi Han behind her, Kuai Liang holding Tomáš at his side, standing in front of her.
"Kill me then. Isn't that what you're supposed to do to a defeated opponent?" she said, her head down in shame.
Tomáš, despite the pain in his chest and ribs, his body, approached her with trepidation.
"Hesperia..." he said gently, kneeling down to her level.
"Be careful..she might still be rabid." Kuai Liang said.
His hand then cupped her chin, tilting her head towards his.
With his other hand, he moved her hair out of her face, looking at her tenderly.
He ached to kiss her, to hold her.
She looked up in fear.
Gasping, she tried to move away from him. She didn't recognize him, and she instead shouted, "Get away from me!"
"Hesperia?" he asked, his heart sinking.
"She doesn't recognize you, Tomáš." Kuai Liang said.
"Tomáš...?" she asked.
Her surroundings began to come back into focus. Bi Han cut the rope from her wrists and helped her up from the ground.
She blinked, realizing she was in the forest outside Castle Vrbada.
She saw Kuai Liang, then Bi Han came around to her front. Standing in between them was the grey assassin who rescued her in the halls in the castle.
"Hello, Hesperia.." he said, removing his hood and mask.
Her eyes grew wide, and he said, "It's me, Tomáš. Prince Tomáš of Castle Vrbada."