My best friend and I were walking arm in arm through the streets of New Orleans. The sun had already climbed above the horizon, and the setting sun dyed the pebbles red. So brave, two young women went out without anyone else!
"It's so nice of you to come, because I wouldn't dare do it alone!"
"Don't worry, Constanza. I have a very good reason to come to this ball too. It is said that Madame Le Moyne opened a winery in Haiti and has great business acumen. She is so lucky to be here tonight, miss this I wouldn’t be wise to take the chance.”
Blond hair brushed my shoulders and I found myself staring into a pair of smiling chestnut eyes.
"Ah, my poor Ariana, are you always talking to me about business? You should pay more attention to finding a husband. Then he can open the brewery you want, and we can live happily ever after! "
"Psssh! Slutty woman, you can't seduce me like this! Besides, men can't be trusted. Even dad said so."
"Ah, my dear, your father is not here tonight, and I really understand now that I must find you a more mature suitor."
"What do you mean?!"
"Hahaha, don't worry, look! This is a new competitor!"
I followed my best friend's direction to the entrance of the house, but took a few steps back in fear. In front of the double doors stands a monster from the scariest stories.
It's higher than anyone else. Its skin is as white as the moon and completely hairless. The colors of the abyss penetrate my soul. I wanted to run; I tried to run, but I was paralyzed. My best friend had a death grip on my arm. There was a deep gash on her pretty face and a crazy light in her eyes.
"No, don't leave, he's the one for you." For a guy who wants to get ahead, it's a perfect match. "
I couldn't move or even blink. I had to watch the monster get closer and closer. It grabbed my head and exposed my throat. The last thing I saw were eight merciless fangs.
I woke up in a bedroom that wasn't mine. The memory slowly came back to me and I found myself confused. I have hope now, I have found an ally in Ximena, but I have no doubt that she is telling the truth.
I am indeed suffering from some unknown disease. The realization almost broke my spirit, and for a moment I sat under the velvet canopy, stunned and unable to move. But that won't last long because Ximena wants me to join her and I must obey.
I stood up and got ready. The ill-fitting dress I wore yesterday was still clinging to me. A few drops of blood stained the front and back, but I don't remember being injured. curious.
The equipment of this room was similar to the previous one, so I quickly took another shower after making sure the door was locked. No matter how thirsty I was, it took all my willpower not to lose myself in the sensual feel of warm water on my skin.
After drying myself off, I noticed someone had left a strange gray suit at the door. I put it on. To my surprise, it was very comfortable, except for the area around my hips, which was too tight.
However, it does not limit my range of activities in any way. What a great find! Oh, if only I could wear this in high society, but it has pants, which is a no-no.
The difficulty came when I tried to sort out the bird's nest my hair had become. There wasn't even a mirror in front of them! I wonder how they could expect a lady to look her best without a mirror to look at herself? Mrs. Moore...oh. She probably had servants or something.
Luckily, my hair parted easily under the fingers of my devil's claws, and I believe I'm at least somewhat presentable. They don't expect me to appear in high society anyway!
Once everything was done, I left.
Luckily, it didn't take me long to find the training room. I walked down the stairs and walked for a while until I found the double doors.
During this time I met only one maid, who avoided my eyes as she hurried by. She has an alluring scent, but I won't let it distract me. After all, I was expected. I just wish Ximena would have something to drink, I'm so thirsty.
I found her sitting at a table, cleaning elaborate fencing foils. Next to her was a short, fat woman in peasant clothes. She had short black hair, frowned, and stared at me with worry in her black eyes.
As I got closer I realized she smelled delicious and why, I just couldn't stop myself
Ximena stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Oh, I'm sorry, where are my politeness!" Good morning, Jimena, and you too, ma'am. Well, it’s morning now, isn’t it?”
Jime
a nodded and smiled in response to my greeting.
"Not exactly. This is Ancha. She is a retainer of the Cadiz family."
"Oh, hello, Antza."
The woman didn't answer. Instead, she swallowed nervously, and I found myself mesmerized by the movements of her neck. What a beautiful neck, so charming.
"Ariana".
"Um?"
"I need your attention. Look at me."
I turned to her and realized she was uncomfortably close to me. She held my hand. Her skin was soft and cool.
"Do you want to be closer to Ancha?"
"Yes."
"Are you feeling thirsty?"
"Yes, it is. It's almost unbearable."
"Close your eyes. Okay. Now, I want you to think of a place where you are safe. The safest place you know."
"But I don't remember my past..."
"Your mind can't, but your heart can. Do you remember what I said to you yesterday?"
"I'm mine. I'll always be mine."
"Good. Let your heart speak, Ariana. You are safe. You can see around you. What do you see?"
"I don't know. I'm thirsty. I just need a few drops-"
"No! Stop! OK. It'll work better because you're thirsty. Now, try again."
At first, I thought the whole exercise was silly.
Why, does it feel like one of those boring meditation exercises that scammers claim can cure blindness? However, Jimena was not relenting. She guided me with a soothing voice.
When the thirst became too strong, she held my neck tightly, which helped me maintain control.
Finally, I felt it.
On the edge of the sugar cane field stands a small wooden house. It was barely big enough for a single bed, a cupboard, and a small fire pit. It was never meant to be lived in. It is just a shelter without decoration and decoration. The only thing that matters is that it's safe.
I climbed up on the straw mat. It smells like soap and sunshine and I know I can wait here for him to come back. The cool wind blew through the trees outside, carrying the smell of rain to the fresh soil.
Now that the weather is nice, he will be back soon and hopefully bring me something to drink. In the meantime, I’ll just hug Mr. Bear. Sc
uffybea
What a gentleman sir.
"Good. Now, doesn't it smell nice?"
"Yes."
"Good, now lick it."
I lick something delicate. This must be the best candy in the world. Someone was cheering, and I knew I should be shocked, but couldn't bring myself to care.
"Good, it will turn pain into pleasure. Now, follow your gut."
I took a careful bite. Something soft and warm flowed under my teeth, like the sweetest fruit, delicious nectar quenching my thirst once more.
ecstasy.
Awesome, awesome.
Yet, somehow, it feels duller. It cannot be compared to before.
It felt like there was a barrier between me and me. I had a great time, but part of me was also sitting on the bed in my cabin with Mr. Scruffy Bear.
"Slow down and listen to me."
There are two main things I can hear. The first is a woman dressed most shamefully. I'm not too
aïve don't understand her…
Ha, I can't even bring myself to finish that thought.
The second is the heartbeat, which is beating faster and faster.
"The heart is beating too fast. If so, you have to stop. Stop now."
I'll do it right away. The "thirst" has subsided and the desire is no longer so strong. I still remember my master's instructions. I must obey Jimina in everything.
"Great. Now lick the wound clean."
This is what I did. I was overcome with an intense feeling of intimacy that I'm sure I would have blushed had it not been for my strange state.
After a while, I opened my eyes. Ximena hugged Ancha like a princess. I dare not say how out of place all this is, let alone Ancha’s rosy cheeks! Hey, if someone comes now, I will definitely be embarrassed to death!
"Ariana".
"Really? Human Resource Management".
"Do you know what just happened?"
"Well, you told me to find a safe place, so I did, and then..."
I frowned in confusion. What happened then? I can't seem to remember.
"I don't remember. Is it this damn pain?"
"Yes. Don't worry, the veil will be lifted from your heart when you next see your master, at least that's what he says."
"Oh, this happened so fast..." I replied in a dreamy voice. Before I could embarrass myself any further, Ximena turned around with a sad smile.
"You shouldn't be too hasty. Not all knowledge is worth learning. Ah, I'm not good at this. Stay here while I take Ancha to a safe place. While you wait, I want you to remember what you found That safe place. You may find it again when you suffer from thirst, or when you quench your thirst. This is important Ariana. If you must remember one thing, remember Live this.”
"I see."
"good".
Jimina left and I was left alone. I can already feel the call of sleep, even though I haven't woken up for less than an hour. To distract myself, I checked out the training dummy.
I was absolutely stunned when I realized some of them were robots! How rich must those princes and ladies be to afford such complex machines to do such trivial things? I can only assume they were from Europe , as duels remained a way of resolving disputes between nobles.
My musings were interrupted by the sound of the door opening and closing behind me. I turned from my inspection to greet Jimena as she returned, only to recoil in surprise.
There were two people in the room now, just a few steps away from me, and I had never seen them before.
How come they are so close! This is impossible! Unless...
I blinked.
What was I thinking? Hmm. It doesn't matter. There are people in front of me and I haven't said hello to them yet.
I curtsey, even though I'm not wearing a skirt. Master told me to stop running away and obey the rules, so I will obey the rules.
I waited.
The woman on the left wears a richly embroidered cream gown and has green eyes and shocking red hair. She was very pretty, and her aura and posture reminded me of Mrs. Moore. At least there was a younger Mrs. Moore. Maybe a relative?
The dark-haired man on the right is wearing a cream-colored jacket that went out of style a century ago, but I would never blame him.
With his chiseled jaw and handsome face, he was a perfect fit for a Shakespearean role in London's most luxurious theatres. His own aura is mild but similar to that of his companions. While she was mocking, he seemed to be the victim of the most horrific form of boredom. His blue eyes sent me away almost immediately.
I didn't grow up to be nineteen and not learn how to spot trouble. Whatever they wanted, I had to wait until Ximena came back to do it without making them angry. So, I stayed silent.
Time is on my side and the newcomers know it too. When it was my first turn, the woman's sneer turned into a scowl.
"Let's see the newest egg. Tell me, bastard, can you talk?"
Ximena, I beg you, no matter where you are, come back quickly!
"Are you referring to me?"
"Obviously! Who else did you see living in this shabby house?"
I have to walk a fine line between aggression and passivity. Too gentle and she will escalate. Be too clever and she will get back at you. I let the silence draw on until I dared to continue.
"If you're still waiting for my answer, yes, I can talk. Is that any wonder?"
"It is. You know, Lord Nirari rarely picks sharp ones, he prefers... other qualities."
Everyone thinks I'm a fool, what's going on?
"But he might have made an exception this time," she said, looking at me critically.
Did she expect me to lose my composure so easily?
"Are you related to Mrs. Moore?"
Looks like I hit the target. Her face froze and her eyes turned calculating.
The man turned his head toward the door, warning.
"itself……"
She continued nonchalantly.
"Why do you believe that?"
"You have talent but no taste."
I can't help it, hahaha. oh.
"you dare!"
She was just waiting for an excuse. She moved, I could see it. Something sang in my veins, like the aftertaste of a good dream, and so, too, I moved. I went to grab her backhand, but instead caught her fist.
This is a bad idea.
She's not very fast, but the power behind her strikes is unimaginable. I was thrown into the air as if I weighed nothing.
By chance, I managed to roll on the ground without hurting myself too much. Her strength is inhuman! If she hits a backhand, I have to pick up my molars from the farthest door. How could a little girl like her...
Wait, what was I thinking? I didn't know; but I knew I was in danger.
I groaned and knelt down. Somehow I got caught between two robots.
"Time is short, Melusine," the man said, as cold as ever.
Melusine strode towards me, a pained expression on her face. Their urgency must have come from Jimena's imminent return; therefore, I only had to delay for a while.
However, I was exhausted.
The pain drained my strength. My limbs are heavier than they were a minute ago. I just can't beat her. I won't be able to escape. In desperation, I did something that I can only blame on my muddled mind. I grabbed the side of the nearest automaton and pulled its lever.
Best case scenario, I'm expecting the dummy to spin around and buy me some time. Instead, the unthinkable happened.
An intricate mark flickered across the robot's chest, soaking it in crimson. It shuddered, descended from its wooden stand, and stretched out four arms, ending in evil blades. Its eyeless head finds the nearest moving target, Melusi
e.
I was so scared that I couldn't move. Witchcraft! The most evil witchcraft!
I had barely noticed the man pulling his astonished companion behind him when a voice swept through the room in a loud roar.
"hold!"
Ximena walked in with the confidence of a lioness. Her eyes found the dummy, which somehow moved forward a little and settled on Melusin with an amused sneer.
"It's nice to see the Lancastrians trying to make up for their severe lack of military prowess. Having said that, you could just ask me instead of running around like rats on a proving ground."
"Speak politely, squire."
I jumped as both doors closed without any apparent intervention.
"You should take your own advice."
There was a deep silence in the room, Jime
a narrowed the distance between the two outsiders. Before she could reach them, the man took a step forward and bowed formally.
"Squire Jimena, it seems we are in the wrong place. Perhaps you would agree to open the door?"
Ximena stopped and thought for a moment.
"I'll take care of the chick, you leave it alone."
"very good."
Is that all? After all this, are they free to leave?
We should cut off their legs and let them crawl on their stumps!
No, this is a completely legitimate outcome of this farce and I'm glad to see them go.
They left without saying a word.
"I think I should start training you to protect yourself." After the door closed, the woman sighed.
"With all due respect, Ximena, I don't think so" I disagreed. "I need to understand who these people are and the reason for their hatred. Why weren't you inspired by Ogodei to attack me when we first met?"
Jime
a will dodge.
"You're right, little Ariana. But I'm not good at this. Where do I start?"
"You can tell me first, why I am a newcomer and you are a squire, and why Mrs. Moore looks down on me so much."
Ximena paused to consider it, then nodded quickly in agreement.
"That's fine, but please remember that I'm going to be intentionally vague so you don't confuse some of the information."
"I thought I would not know more pain until I saw my Master again."
"Indeed. Now, here goes. Freshly transformed...tortured, to begin with as drones. They are mindless pathetic creatures that only respond to the voice of their master. Most of them are in this terrible state It only lasts a few weeks at best. Others never get beyond it."
I tremble with disgust, what a terrible fate!
"When the drones regain enough self-awareness, they'll get, ahem, their masters to help them, and then they'll be just like you, a fledgling. A fledgling is essentially a fledgling." Tortured young man.”
"Jimena, dear, you read that right, right? I haven't received the help you mentioned yet! Am I still a drone?"
"Yes and no. A person who has rebuilt his sense of self is always seen as a fledgling. Accepting help is just going through the motions."
"if--"
"No, Ariana, don't think about it. Your master will help you when the time comes."
"He told me to behave...I-"
I didn’t give in to the Lancaster Hound. Don't worry, Ariana. "
"Thank you, Jimena."
Her rare smile made me happy.
"Ah, what a refreshing young lady, let us go on. Once a fledgling is considered an adult, after a few months - after a time -"
Did Jimena almost say decades? My ears must have deceived me, I don’t want to wait until my hair turns gray to be liberated! It doesn’t matter, I want to go home as soon as possible.
- They became courtiers. This title is earned by the grace of their clan and is generally recognized by other clans. The previous two, Melusine and Lambert, were courtiers.
Ah, those who can control their pain become masters. The Master does not need the clan's approval. Their status is obvious.
The owner who controls a territory is usually called a lord. Above them were the clan monarchs and their councils, which we will discuss later. "
"Where are the squires?"
"Ah yes. The knights are the military arms of the clan. They are trained and fielded by a separate order and enjoy a degree of autonomy. The squires are both knights in training and knights in disgrace."
Ximena looked at me expectantly. It can be seen that this is a test of my character. I'd only known this woman for two days, and I could already tell she was honest and forthright, perhaps a little too forthright.
"Ugotai and later Melusine were looking down upon you when they called you squire, weren't they?"
"Correct. They deliberately provoked me and I fell for it."
She steps forward and I step back. My reaction hurt her, I could see it.
"Jimena, I'm sorry, I..."
"Don't apologize, Ariana. I raised my hand against you yesterday. I have only myself to blame for your arrest. I'm going to explain to you now why your situation is so precarious. Ah, where to begin. Well. We Now in Louisiana.”
At least I wasn't moved to an abandoned corner of the earth.
"This area changed hands several times. As a result, only a few people live here now: the original Chitimacha, Choctaw and Coushatta people, French and Canadians, Spanish, Africans, and Anglos now.
Typically, clans don't mix together, and these unique circumstances require some degree of adjustment. You see, tribes are very territorial. "
I almost scoffed at the idea. Why would sick people be territorial, and why would savages and slaves be included in the decision-making process? Unthinkable.
"The tribes who called this place their tribe came together to negotiate spheres of influence. There were four families: the Cadiz, the Lancastrians, the Roland, and the Aiken, from Spain, England, France, and the Gulf of Guinea."
"You include slaves in your discussion?" I scoffed.
Something flashed across Ximena's expression.
"Ah, yes, I forgot to mention that. We were tortured and didn't care about each other's skin color. You'd better remember that."
"Okay! You are so...progressive."
"You'll understand then. For now, I want you to respect others, regardless of their race and gender. This is for your own good."
“Understand Jime
a. "
I will do what she says; I must obey her in everything.
"The problem comes from your master. Lord Nirari is your guarantor, so to speak. You are with him no matter what."
Jime
a led me to a comfortable bench and held my hand. I found this Amazon lady’s gesture very touching.
"Lord Nilali was like the monarch of a clan. He was a bit naughty and his arrival was unexpected. Still, he was welcomed with the utmost courtesy. You see, insulting him was considered a peculiar way to commit suicide. "
My surprise must have been reflected on my face because Ximena decided to explain a little more.
"Your master's ways are those of the ancients. He holds the rules of hospitality sacred, but every slight is met with ruthless revenge. Everyone fears him and reviles him, and his reputation is reflected in you."
"What!" I interrupted in shock, "He is a beast, a kind soul! A refined gentleman! How dare they slander him like this?"
Ximena didn't interrupt my rant; instead, she looked at me sympathetically. How I wish I could convince her.
"Nonetheless, his reputation was well established and he was known to be unconcerned with the fate of his companions."
"Jimina, I'm confused. Does he have a family? Me?"
"He, well, everyone calls him 'The Devourer', and as far as I know, only one of his descendants is still alive besides you. You are the third member of his family."
I...what?
"I'm sorry Ariana, your legacy will always be known and Lord Nirari's suffering was very unique."
Her attention flickered to my mouth.
"I don't understand! It doesn't make any sense!"
"You will sooner or later. I'm sorry."
I was so surprised that I was speechless. None of this makes sense. A mysterious disease? Clan and politics? A family of three?
"Ximena, please tell me the truth. Am I hysterical? Is this a lunatic asylum where people are allowed to continue living their crazy lives?"
"Ariana, trust me, you're not crazy."
I'm not crazy.
"This is a difficult moment for you, but if you are tenacious, if you show better political acumen than I do, I believe you will succeed."
"Thriving? I don't want to thrive! I want to go home! I just want to go home..."
I tried to hold on to it, but despite my best efforts, I started crying.
"Ariana?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I...can I drink your tears?"
Nothing that happens in this madhouse will surprise me anymore. I nodded in agreement, but screamed again when Ximena pulled me into her arms. Before I could react, she licked my cheek! How brave!
We stayed there. Otherwise I would have been offended by her familiarity, but I realized how much I owed her.
If what she said was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then my master was a bit of a pariah. Our acquaintance tarnished her reputation.
Her honesty and loyalty cost her, but she defended me. I can only be grateful that I met her.
"You cry more for the poor"
"Oh, shush!"
I felt so comfortable in her arms. I was already tired before confronting that nasty old witch, and now my whole body felt heavy. I think I should take a nap.
Just a few minutes.
