Rose sat in front of the fire, staring at the dancing flames but her attention was mostly focused on replaying the events of the evening. An unlit cigarette was perched between her lips and she fidgeted with an inactive linkpearl, rolling it between her fingers as her mind combed through the events. Images flipped through like pictures in a book, examining the details of it.
Her purple, silk Ao Dai lay in a heap on the floor with the under skirt crumpled next to it. Her sandals were also tossed to the side and, presently, she wore an just a men’s oversized shirt. Her bare legs were tucked beneath her and she leaned against the arm of comfortable upholstered couch. An empty glass of whiskey was at her left hand with the bottle nearby for easy refilling, the ice in it already partially melted. The alcohol hummed warmly in her veins, but did nothing to relax her.
Once more, she stuck her neck out. As she had told Katalin, that smuggling merchant Hatiel now held the rope of the guillotine. The vial of blood that she had surrendered to him for the collateral payment for some incredibly important information that the Black Garden needed...well, it set her on edge. His original bargain of a drop of blood from each member of the team -- she didn’t even have to look over her shoulder at Mafrea to know that he would have rather fought a Primal than to do such a thing. She had felt him tense and grip the back of her chair.
There was no way she would have let any of them, especially not Eme or Mafrea, put any of their blood in the vial. No, she kept the price solely focused on herself and did so at her discretion. A’kata did put her in charge of this little ‘outing’, therefore it fell on Rosette to supply what was needed and bargain. A vial of Rosette’s blood later, a linkpearl to assure direct contact, and the promise of two favors at a later date...they had the first bit of information that they needed. Luckily, Anhashy seemed to have knowledge of the drop spots that were listed and more information would be en route as the favors were completed.
Mafrea had educated the family enough about blood magic and the implications of using another’s blood against them. It was a demonstration of control. Rose had read enough of that cultist’s journal to know what could possibly be done to her if Hatiel sold her blood to a mage or if he employed a blood mage. She would be utterly fucked.
She reached for the box of matches on the side table, striking one against the box and lit her cigarette with the resulting flame. She took a long drag, letting the smoke fill her lungs before removing it from her lips, then she blew out a long trail of smoke. She let it dangle between her fingers, looking to the smoldering end of the stick.
She glanced to the window, knowing the sun was rising a little higher in the sky and she had yet to sleep. Mafrea had left immediately after the mission was completed and she assumed he was pissed. She knew she was likely in for an earful later, but she would have to discuss with him the eventual fact that he may likely be the only one who would be able to circumvent a spell against her.
She placed the cigarette once more between her lips, drawing on it and then reached for the bottle of whiskey, pouring more of the dark amber liquid into her glass. She would finish this and then catch a few hours of sleep, she thought as she flicked some ash into the the ashtray, then sipped the whiskey. She closed her eyes and let her head rest back against the couch, savoring the burn of the whiskey and the scent of her cigarette.
She couldn’t avoid him or the Company for long.
mentions: @katalinhunter, @oroete, @healeremeline, Anhashy, @blackgarden-fc, @gunslingermiqo
Screenshot taken by @healeremeline
