Building a Criminal Empire

by Logan Jacobs

  If he was here on his own, why wouldn’t he bring a few friends with him? I guess it wasn’t too odd, but still, my gut, or maybe the keys were telling me something was off.

  Was Hebal really that smart? Was he playing us this entire time, somehow?

  As I thought about that fucking dwarf, my fists clenched, and my heart raced within my chest. I needed to find and end that asshole, soon.

  “There you are,” Penny said as she touched my shoulder. When she did, her touch pulled me from my rage. “Do you think we sold out?”

  “Wow, I-I …” I stammered as I turned to see the stunning pixie next to me. The outfit clung to every one of her delicious curves like it was painted on her skin, and I just wanted to run my hand down her flank so I could feel if the slope from her narrow waist to her hip wasn’t just an illusion of perfection.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” She asked as her emerald eyes narrowed.

  “That dress…”

  “Ahhh, shit,” she chuckled as she looked down. “I prefer the ones with the billowy petticoats so I can hide my blades and picks, but it doesn’t hurt to switch things up a bit, eh?”

  “You steal that dress?” I cleared my throat and remembered to close my mouth. My skin felt incredibly hot, and I’d almost forgotten about Hebal’s grunt.

  “Aw.” Penny pretended to wipe a tear away from her eye. “I stole it. You know me so well.”

  “Yeah.” I kept my eye on the dwarf so I wouldn’t keep staring at her.

  “Whoa,” Penny snickered as she nudged my arm. “You okay?”

  “I could be better,” I said as I nodded toward Hebal’s goon. “Burly dwarf in the second to last row, next to the bald guy, see him?”

  “Ehh,” Penny tilted her neck and stood on her tippy toes. “Yeah, yeah, I seem him. Did he not pay to get in or something?”

  “He’s one of Hebal’s thugs,” I breathed.

  “Fucking elf balls.” Penny clenched her jaw. “Does Cimarra know?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  “Are we still serving the whis--”

  Before Penny could finish her thought, a group of dancers that weren’t in the show blew out the lanterns throughout the entire theatre.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the count’s magically enhanced voice boomed. “Welcome to the future of entertainment!”

  Suddenly, a shower of golden sparks fell onto the sand stage like a waterfall. Then, the count appeared directly in the middle with his back facing the crowd.

  “For centuries, we have all yearned to be dazzled,” the count raised his left arm, and then a firework burst in the air above him and unleashed a flock of magical butterflies made of light.

  The crowd “oohed and awwed” at the sight.

  “How much we spend on production?” Penny whispered in my ear.

  “Not sure,” I said with a shrug. At this rate, it was probably a lot, but it would be worth it. I was already impressed with how the count started the show.

  Although I wished I could enjoy it and not have to keep my eye on an ugly dwarf at the same time.

  “And entertained!” The count raised his right arm, all the while sparks continued to drape over him. When he raised his other arm, another firework burst into the air and released another flock of magical butterflies. “And tonight, we will do just that!”

  Then, the count lowered his arms, and the swarm of butterflies vanished, the sparks stopped, complete darkness filled the auditorium, and the crowd murmured with anticipation.

  “Welcome to the greatest show in the realm!” The count bellowed, and the magical lanterns lit up the stage at the same time. “My name is Count Kieran, and I will be your host and guide throughout our evening together.”

  The crowd responded with claps and more murmuring. I’m sure their expectations for the show were only getting higher. Little did they know what was about to happen.

  “Before we get started with tonight’s festivities, I have an announcement to make …” the count turned to his left and opened his hand. “Why don’t you come out here and join me, ladies!”

  Then Rindell’s five girls strutted onto the stage, and the men in the crowd all began to whistle and cheer.

  “As we heard earlier from an officer of the empire--”

  The crowd cut the count off with a stream of “boos!”

  “I know, I know,” the count gestured for the crowd to settle. “As we heard, Madame Rindell’s famous hall was destroyed earlier last week, so we brought on her five best performers for you all tonight!”

  Again, the men in the crowd began to cheer and whistle.

  “With that being said, the girls will not be dancing--”

  The stream of “boo’s” returned.

  “We have something even better in store for you all,” the count cleared his throat and adjusted the bowtie around his neck.

  I could tell he wasn’t sure if he should say it or not, once he did, there was no going back. The theatre would change forever and soon the entire realm would follow.

  “These wonderful entertainers will serve up the most sought after drink in the realm,” the count announced, and the crowd seemed confused. “A drink banned for many years, but a drink we all need, especially as we enjoy a show.”

  I noticed Hebal’s goon perk up his ears and then look around the theatre as if he searched for a friend.

  “So, for only two silver, you can taste the forgotten and forbidden whiskey cocktail!” The count extended his arms out again, and sparks began to fall from the ceiling.

  The crowd erupted into a frenzy.

  Dwarves stood on their seats and stomped. Humans raised their hands and reached toward the count as if he held a barrel of whiskey, and the halflings looked confused but went along with the positive reaction.

  “Settle down, settle down,” the count chuckled, and the sparks stopped. “If you are interested, please have your coin ready as these lovely ladies come around and take your order. Now, before we serve it, listen, listen!”

  The crowd quieted as everyone hushed each other.

  “We ask that you respect our theatre rules as you indulge in the forbidden drink,” the count began as he dismissed the girls off the stage. “We have a two-drink limit per-person--”

  Again a chorus of boos rained down upon him like the sparks.

  “I know, I know,” the count padded the air. “But I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to end up on the gallows like the four poor people from yesterday’s executions.”

  The crowd quieted once more.

  “So, for your own safety, we have implemented a two-drink limit, along with that,” the count said as he pointed directly above his head. “We have installed that bell as a warning system. So, if you hear the bell ring during the show, you must immediately place your drink in the troughs at your feet. Please take a second and look.”

  The count waited as everyone in the crowd touched, kicked, and looked at the newly installed troughs.

  “Bring on the whiskey!” A dwarf shouted, and then the crowd erupted into another cheer.

  “Is that what you want?” the count played back and beckoned another cheer from the crowd. “You hear that, ladies? Serve the whiskey!”

  Suddenly, the backstage door opened, and the five Rindell girls, along with the Madame, waved to the crowd. Each of them carried a tray, and people started to toss coins at them.

  “Oh shit,” Penny muttered and then looked at me with wide eyes. “We don’t even need a show, we can just serve this and call it a night.”

  “I know,” I replied as I watched Hebal’s goon remain sitting. “He’s not amused.”

  “Hmm.” Penny narrowed her eyes. “What’s the plan with him?”

  “Whenever he leaves,” I said as I faced Penny. “We follow him and have a nice chat.”

  “Got it,” Penny replied.

  “You have a dagger hidden somewhere?” I asked as I glanced at her impossibly tight dress.

  Penny didn’t ans
wer. She just raised one of her eyebrows as she smirked at me, and then she turned back to watch the whiskey get served.

  Then we both watched as Rindell and her girls worked the crowd and sold glass after glass of our whiskey. At this rate, we didn’t even need Hebal, but that didn’t mean I’d let him sell his own version of our drink.

  No fucking way.

  We needed to end the dwarf as soon as we could. But like Cimarra said, we needed to be smart about it at the same time.

  After about twenty minutes of the crowd erupting over the whiskey, enjoying it, and passing it around for others to try, the count returned to the stage.

  “Now, sit back, relax, grab another drink, and enjoy the show!” the count bowed out, and the dancers rushed onto the stage.

  “He’s getting up,” Penny nudged me. “We moving, too?”

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “Let him leave first.”

  “Okay,” Penny replied.

  Then we watched the dwarf walk up the center aisle, open the auditorium doors, and leave.

  “Wait,” I said as I grabbed Penny’s hand. “The lobby is empty, let him leave, and then we can follow.”

  “Okay.” Penny nodded. “Ten-seconds?”

  “Sure.” I counted in my head as I watched the girls perform their new routine on the stage, and a few dwarfs held their drinks up in the air as if they were offering it to the Ancients.

  We created a paradise, and now we had to do anything to protect it.

  “Let’s go.” Penny moved first, and I followed close behind her.

  Then we stepped into the empty lobby just as the main entrance door closed.

  “Where you guys going?” Dar asked as both he and Skam stood next to the alert system.

  “Ya need help?” Skam started to follow us.

  “No, we need you here to make sure the auditorium and the servers are safe, and Dar to keep watch like you’ve been doing,” I said as Penny moved over to the entrance, opened the door, and waited for me.

  “Got it.” Dar and Skam both nodded.

  Then I hurried outside to the empty streets, and a few homeless humans gathered around a fire looked over at us. Other than them, it was quiet.

  “You see him?” I asked the pixie as I turned in every direction.

  “There,” Penny pointed near the gallows as the dwarf just passed them.

  “Let’s go,” I said as I picked up my pace, followed, and tried to keep the dwarf in my line of sight.

  “What’re we gonna do?” Penny asked. “Are we just following, or are we doing something else?”

  “I haven’t decided that yet,” I snickered as we continued to trace the dwarf’s steps past the gallows, and down the road to the right that led to the Dwarf District. “Still see him?”

  “I do,” Penny answered as she nodded ahead. “He put on one of those floppy dwarf hats.”

  “How are you running in those shoes?” I asked as I looked down into the darkness at her black shoes with the pointy high heels.

  “Because I am amazing, ya dunderhead,” Penny hissed. “Don’t lose that fuck.”

  “Got him,” I said as the dwarf walked down the road about thirty to forty yards ahead of us.

  Then we continued straight for a few more minutes until we were on the same road Hebal’s store was on.

  Part of me wanted to have the dwarf lead us right to Hebal, but I wasn’t sure if that would be the smartest decision. For one, there could be an entire gang of dwarves with Hebal, and that’s a fight we would lose. Plus, I didn’t want Hebal to even get the slightest whiff that we ran the theatre. That would put a giant target on our backs until we could confront him. So, we needed to take down the goon before he could tell his boss anything.

  “Alright,” I panted. “Let’s go have ourselves a chat.”

  “I’m right behind you,” Penny said as she slid off her small heels so she could run faster.

  Then we both jogged down the damp cobblestone streets.

  “Be on the lookout for any dwarven guard,” I muttered as I glanced behind my shoulder as if they were following us.

  “I will,” Penny answered.

  Then I jolted toward the dwarf, and he didn’t hear me until I was about ten yards away, but that was already too late.

  “Aye, what’re ya--” the dwarf grunted as I caught up to him and then shoved him into an alleyway off the main road.

  I knew dwarves were strong, so I wasn’t surprised when he pushed me away, but that wasn’t going to stop me from getting the info I needed and then killing this fucker.

  “Didn’t like the show?” I asked as I pulled out my blade for him to see.

  “What show, human?” the dwarf questioned as he brushed his vest off. “And if you lay your hands on me again, I’ll kill ya right where ya stand, got it?”

  “Don’t be stupid, goon,” I spat as Penny moved next to me and pulled her blade out from… well somewhere.

  “What kind of date are ya on, Wade?” the dwarf chuckled as he glanced at Penny and then back to me.

  “What were you doing at the theatre?” I asked as I stepped closer.

  “Tonight is my night off,” the dwarf began. “I was only enjoying the show. I saw all the advertisements for the re-launch, and I wanted to check it out for myself.”

  “Why’d you leave so soon?” Penny chirped.

  “Why do ya care so much?” the dwarf narrowed his eyes.

  “I think you can take a guess,” I sneered. “Don’t be stupid, dwarf. Where are you headed now?”

  “I think ya can take another guess, human,” the dwarf chuckled. “Where do ya think I’m goin’?”

  “To tell Hebal the news?” I guessed.

  “What news?” the dwarf played dumb.

  “That we are selling whiskey in the theatre,” I breathed. “The same theatre where I had his nephew and bride killed.”

  “You’ve got quite the mouth, human,” the dwarf sneered. “Ya know he’s been looking for ya?”

  “Hebal?” Penny questioned.

  “We’ve been looking for him, too,” I replied. “Is he at his store now?”

  “And why would I share that information with ya?” the dwarf asked. “You should’ve just followed me if ya wanted to know.”

  “And let you tell him everything?” I scoffed. “That wouldn’t bode well for me.”

  “I think you're fucked either way, laddie,” the dwarf smirked.

  “I will fucking gut you right in this alley,” I hissed.

  “Will you, now?” the dwarf laughed again and grabbed his belly. “You and dis tiny red thing in the tinier dress?”

  “Where is he?” I asked again. “Did he send you to the theatre?”

  “Lookie here,” the dwarf sniffed as he composed himself. “We got ya all riled up, don’ we?”

  “You’ve got nothing on me,” I said through a clenched jaw. “Answer my question, you fuck.”

  “Alright, Wade,” the dwarf said as he stepped back, pulled out a rusty hooked blade, and spat on the ground. “I’m not answering anything. I’ve been waiting to do this since the first time you walked into the store.”

  “Ditto,” I said as I readied my blade.

  “Then what’re you fucking wait--”

  Before the dwarf finished his sentence, I charged forward and swung my blade toward his throat only for it to be deflected away at the last second.

  “Die,” Penny hissed as she leaped onto the alley wall to our left, pushed off with her leg, and aimed her blade right at the dwarf's heart.

  Again, the dwarf deflected her knife while he rolled backward from Penny’s attack.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” I asked again as both Penny and I walked toward him.

  The fucker didn’t know who we were and what we were capable of, and that pissed me off.

  “Fuck off,” the dwarf spat toward us as he stood to his feet. “If it’s a fight ya want, then that’s what you’ll get.”

  “Good,” Penny hissed as
she ran toward the dwarf full speed and looked like she was on fire as her red hair blew behind her shoulders.

  The agile pixie faked jumping on the wall again, and instead went low and sliced the dwarf's leg with her blade, then she dodged his retaliation, and swiped at his leg again. But this time, he jumped over the attack and slanted his blade down toward Penny’s exposed neck.

  Just before the knife struck, the pixie covered her neck with her own blade and deflected the attack away.

  Then I sprinted toward the burly dwarf, tackled him to the ground, and rolled down the alley. It felt like I was wrestling with a giant sandbag, but I still managed to slam my forearm against the dwarf’s throat, pinned both of his arms to the ground with my knees, and went for the kill. But the fucker was strong and bucked me off like a wild bull.

  I somersaulted over his head, landed flat on my back, and that caused the wind to leave my lungs. I stood up just as the dwarf did and noticed he was favoring his wounded leg. The dwarf turned to the side so he could keep both me and Penny in his view.

  The pixie’s hair dangled in front of her face as she panted, looked at me to check if I was okay, and then focused on the dwarf again. Then she lunged forward, but the dwarf timed her move perfectly and swung his blade at the same time.

  Anyone else would’ve lost their head, but Penny was too agile. She leaned back, and the blade passed over her face. The move left the dwarf exposed, and the pixie took advantage. She dropped to the ground, swung her foot around, and tripped the dwarf’s wounded leg.

  “Argh!” The burly fucker moaned as he fell like a stack of logs, lost the grip on his blade, and landed on his shoulder.

  So, I quickly made my move and tried to pin the dwarf to the ground again. I wanted to see if I could get any more information out of him before we killed him.

  “You’re done!” I kicked the fucker's face, and a loud crunch echoed down the alley. Then I stood over him and stomped his wounded leg and kept my foot on the open gash.

  “Fuck!” the dwarf yelled, and I hoped there weren’t any guards nearby.

  Penny then slid over and placed her blade across the dwarf’s neck and looked up at me with her emerald eyes.

  “Don’t move,” I hissed at the dwarf who squirmed underneath my foot. “Is Hebal alone at the store?”