“What about the other one? You still got lots.” He tried to reach for the other bottle, but Lady Lorelei snatched it away from him.
“No, I’m cutting you off.”
“No, I want one more! One more!” Commander White cried.
He acted like a small and whiny child. Shaking her head in embarrassment, she reached for her glass, but it was snatched away before she could grab it. She looked ahead and saw the culprit. Commander White stole her drink and chugged it before anyone could react. He finished and stared at Mara with glazed over eyes.
“What is this?” He looked to Lady Lorelei. “Why did you give her the better drink?”
Lorelei’s face contorted in confusion. “What are you talking about? The only difference is the colour.”
“No, this one is sweeter and more fragrant,” Commander White slurred. “Why did you give this savage half-breed the better drink? What makes her so special?”
Mara stared ahead and tapped her fingertips on the table. It was bad enough her dinner was marred by the commander’s rude comments, but there was no hope of salvaging the rest of it. She got up and looked at Lady Lorelei. “Don’t mean to be rude, but I’d like to go to my room now.”
“Very well,” Lady Lorelei sighed. She beckoned some servers to take Mara to her room.
***
Entering her room, Mara saw the luxurious suite she was given. It contained two bedrooms and a washing room in between. How generous of Lady Lorelei—this had to be very expensive, but a good night’s sleep would help her forget the lousy dinner. After a few moments, she heard shouting and knew who it was.
“I refuse to sleep in this filth!” Commander White yelled.
“Come on!” Boyd shouted back. “It’s not that bad!”
“Not only did you invite those whores to our table, you also brought them here?”
The commander was livid.
“What’s going on?” Lady Lorelei confronted Commander White.
All this yelling had to be disturbing the other guests. Even through a closed door, Mara could hear everything.
“I demand better accommodation! I refuse to sleep in this dump!”
“I apologize, but we just gave our last room away,” Lorelei said with a lowered voice.
“To who?” Commander White demanded.
After a moment of silence, Mara heard three loud knocks on the door. With hesitation, she answered. She was greeted by the commander’s glare. His eyes were glazed over and his face remained flushed. He stormed past her and inspected the suite. To her surprise, he could walk around without staggering.
“What are you doing?” Mara questioned.
Commander White looked around. “This will do,” he murmured to himself. Then he turned his head and scowled at her. “You! Get out!”
Her jaw dropped. As if her night couldn’t get any worse! But she stood her ground. Mara no longer took him seriously.
The commander stormed up to her. “How dare you? How does a savage half-breed get—”
She swung her hand across his face. The palm of her hand slammed against his left cheek and he tumbled to the ground in an instant. Mara stared down at him. This was like that incident in Hema, but the roles reversed. She saw a profound red mark where she slapped him. At first, Commander White barely reacted. He sat there stunned before sneering at her.
“You dare hit me?” Commander White barked, the rest of his face turning red.
She nodded. “Yes, I think you deserved it.” Mara admitted this was a much better punishment for the time he hit her, rather than chomping on his neck. She then pointed to the door and said, “Now, get out!”
“She hit me! She hit me!” Commander White raged while trying to get up. He snapped his head around and scowled at her. “How dare you? You heathen! Vile creature! She-devil!”
Mara was unsure to be offended or amused. He was still drunk out of his mind.
Lady Lorelei stepped into the doorway, placing her hands on her hips. “I swear you two fight like a married couple,” Lorelei said in a tired tone.
The two frowned at her.
The commander rose to his feet and stormed up to her. “Why did you give her the better room? She doesn’t deserve this at all!” Commander White raged.
“You deserve better?” Mara argued. “You tried to claim my kill as your own, threw insults at me, and ruined my dinner!”
“It matters not what happened!” He gazed at her in anger. “You’re a low creature!”
“At least I’m not like you,” Mara hissed in a low tone. Her right hand tightened into a fist. “A petty and shallow noble, and a drunk who hides behind his men. I bet I’ve slain more monsters in the past few days than you ever had in your career.”
“Stop fighting,” Lady Lorelei interrupted. The two stopped and stared at her. Lorelei addressed the commander. “I apologize for any inconvenience this caused you. If you wish, you can stay here.” Mara couldn’t believe her ears. The inn owner was going to give her room to him. Lorelei paused and looked at Mara. “But I gave this place to the young lady and I won’t force her out.” She addressed Mara. “Do you wish to stay? The choice is yours.”
She stared at Lady Lorelei, and then to Commander White. He wanted her gone, but Mara wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. She stood her ground and folded her arms. “I’m staying.” Mara glared at him. “And I’m not changing my mind!”
The commander scowled back at her.
Lady Lorelei shrugged. “Well, I guess that’s final. You both can share the place.”
He whipped his head around and frowned at the inn owner. “What?”
Lorelei began to walk away. She had enough of him. “You have two bedrooms. You don’t need to look at each other. I’m sure you can make it work.” With that, she left them alone and closed the door.
Mara stared at the door in silence. Commander White took a step forward.
“Very well,” he began. Mara gazed back at him. Commander White gave a nonchalant look and held his hands behind his back. “I’ll inspect the rooms and decide which will be most acceptable to me.”
He turned his back and Mara sighed. It meant which ever was the better room, he would take it and leave her the inferior one.
Chapter Fifteen
Human Nature
To be frank, even the inferior room was great. The bed was comfy and there was plenty of space. Realizing she hadn’t bathed yet, Mara headed into the washing room. She planned to clean her clothes as well.
However, it was already occupied. Commander White began to remove his garb. His sword sat at the side of the tub while the coat came off. He wore a white shirt under a dark grey vest. The commander rolled up his sleeves before cleaning his coat. The lower half of his garb stayed on. He didn’t acknowledge her at first, but her relentless watching finally drew his attention. He turned his head to frown at her.
“What do you want?” Commander White demanded.
She stared at him in silence. His drunkenness wore off and he became sober enough to hog the washing area. “Why are you washing your coat?” Mara asked. “It doesn’t look dirty.”
The commander gave a sour expression. “I see you’re still bragging about the Siren.” He turned to his coat and continued to wash it.
“I’m not bragging. It’s just a question.”
He stopped and scowled at her. “You fail to see the grime defiling this garb of mine. Then again, I don’t expect a low creature to understand.”
She shrugged. “It was just a bunch of courtesans.”
Her reply earned her the commander’s scorn. “Is that all you have to say?” He folded his arms. “Maybe you should join them?”
Mara ignored his cruel remarks and asked, “Are you at least done? I’d also like to clean my clothes.”
“No, I’m not,” he replied coldly. “I must also perform a cleansing ritual upon myself.”
To say the least, Mara was surprised. She never heard of this before and it sounded ridiculous. B
ut judging from the commander’s face, he was very serious.
“Okay, what is this ritual?”
Commander White turned to face her, holding his hands behind his back. “It is sacred to the followers of Kallikratés, so I doubt you’d understand its significance.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I hope this isn’t going to take all night? I don’t want the stains to be permanent.”
“I’ll need at least an hour for adequate cleansing. Besides, you lasted this long. I’m sure you can wait another hour or two.”
The commander lifted his right hand and gestured for her to turn around. He was about to strip down. Turning around, Mara shook her head. She wasn’t too thrilled about having to wait.
“Might as well go to a nearby river,” she muttered.
“Maybe you should. It’ll be more appropriate for you.”
She rolled her eyes. Before leaving, she took the key on the table. If he got the chance, the commander would lock her out. Mara left the room.
***
Searching for a place to clean her clothes, she ran into Lady Lorelei.
“Ah, fancy meeting you again,” Lorelei began. “What are you doing out here?”
“Looking for a place to clean my clothes,” Mara explained. “Where’s the nearest river?”
“What are you talking about?” Lady Lorelei paused for a few seconds. “Oh, let me guess. Your roommate hogged the washing area?”
“He’s also doing a cleansing ritual. It’ll be an hour before I can use it.”
Lady Lorelei sighed. “Oh dear, I’m sorry. Didn’t realize he’d be so difficult.” She beckoned Mara. “Come, I’ll see to it your clothes get cleaned.”
Mara followed her to another room. A few servers were called in to clean her clothes. In the meantime, Mara obtained new attire. She received a white shirt with a low collar, showing much of her chest and shoulders. A black corset covered much of her torso and chest. She got black pants as well as brown boots and gloves.
After getting dressed, Mara walked out. She spotted Lady Lorelei speaking to Morgan. Mara was surprised to see her still here and thought the older woman left for Désir. Morgan took notice of Mara and stared back at her. Her face was unreadable. She didn’t appear happy or upset.
Lady Lorelei turned around and saw Mara. “Oh, my dear! Don’t you look charming,” she cooed. She glanced back at Morgan. “Don’t you think she looks charming?”
Morgan stared at her. After a few seconds, a smile began to spread on her big and full lips.
“Yes, she indeed does,” Morgan replied. Mara stared at her. Morgan’s smile seemed forced as if something was bothering her. Mara wanted to say something, but Morgan interrupted, “I hear you were kicked out?”
Mara nodded. “He’s doing some sort of cleansing ritual.”
Morgan looked intrigued, to say the least.
Lady Lorelei looked back at her. “You know what that means.”
Morgan gazed back with a smile, and then the two watched her. Mara looked puzzled.
Lady Lorelei smiled. “Are you coming with us?”
“Where are we going?” Mara asked.
“To see Commander White.”
Remembering the key, Mara retrieved it from her pocket. “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.”
“He won’t even know we’re watching him,” Morgan told her.
“I have some secret corridors,” Lady Lorelei revealed. “They’re accessible from the outside, allowing one to peer into a room without the occupant being aware.” She looked back at Morgan. “We’re going to use them to watch him bathe and…” Lorelei gazed at Mara. “We want you to join us.”
Mara shook her head. “I don’t think I—”
“Don’t you want to see how beautiful he is?” Morgan interrupted her. Mara was speechless. Lorelei looked amused by her silence.
“Why do you want to see him like this?” Mara finally asked.
Morgan grinned. “I’ll explain if you come with us.”
Mara was reluctant, but decided to go. She put the key away as she followed them. Lady Lorelei guided them to a door hidden in the bushes. She opened it and led them in. Mara followed the older women through the dusty old space. They kept going until they find her room. Once there, Mara found the hole that allowed one to peer into the washing area. Lorelei and Morgan were the first to take a look. They kept their voices low so he remained unaware he was being watched.
“Oh my, he’s really something else,” Lady Lorelei murmured. Morgan was silent while her eyes took in his image. They both gazed at Mara and gestured her to take a look as well.
“No thanks,” she whispered, shaking her head. The two women stared at her.
“If you look, I’ll explain,” Morgan whispered back.
Mara stared back at them. She thought if she came with them, Morgan would explain why they were doing this. There was no mention of having to look at his naked body. She wasn’t one to cave into peer pressure, but was a little curious. She approached the hole in silence, hoping not to blow their cover. Just a tiny peek.
Commander White was laying in the tub with his head tilted back. His thick hair swayed back as his eyes were closed. The water rose to his muscled chest. His strong arms rested on the edge of the tub. He had a very nice body to go with the handsome face. Oddly, there was nary a scar or blemish on his skin. Not a single scratch, which was something many hunters possessed. Even Mara had quite a few. She suspected he didn’t get his body from hunting monsters. Maybe it was true—he hid behind his Holy Blades.
“What do you think?” Lady Lorelei asked.
“He’s handsome, but I still think he’s an ass.” She looked at Morgan. “Why are we here?”
The older woman stole another look at him. “He is very special.”
Mara looked at her with curiosity.
Lorelei leaned in to whisper into Mara’s ear. “He’s the sort of man she’s seeking.”
Mara glanced at the inn owner, and then stared back at Morgan.
“Oh, so you’re interested in him?” Mara asked.
“Yes, but not for the same reasons as you,” Morgan replied, looking back at her.
Looking confused, Mara folded her arms. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen how you look at him. You think he’s a prince and I don’t blame you. He’s definitely prince material. He takes care of his appearance more than most men. He has a nice body, but you try to see his worth on the inside,” Morgan explained.
Great, another one saw her ogling the commander at the first meeting.
“And I’ve yet to find,” Mara grumbled.
“True…” Morgan smiled.
“What about you?”
“It’s not so much the inside I care about, but the outside,” Morgan said. “I want him whole rather than the sum of his parts.”
They were like opposites. While it was no secret Mara was attracted to him, she was astounded to know Morgan wanted him too. Mara gazed back at him. The commander opened his eyes and tilted his head forward. He rose from the tub. Mara looked away. Both Lady Lorelei and Morgan kept looking, not wanting to miss the show.
***
They had enough to see and left. Mara was approached by a server who had her black Silver Thorn armour. Most of the bloodstains were removed, though some remained. Then again, the attire was black so they weren’t that noticeable.
“I suppose you want the other outfit back?” Mara asked Lady Lorelei.
“No, keep it, dear,” Lorelei replied. “It was an old attire I used to wear when I first came to Ardana. It no longer fits me. I think it will suit you better.”
“Okay…” A thought crossed Mara’s mind. “Can I ask you a question?”
Lady Lorelei looked intrigued. “Sure… what is it?”
“I used a tunnel within the Dark Labyrinth to return and came across all these crates and barrels. What are those?”
Lorelei froze. The inn owner knew what she was talking about. After a while, th
e older woman relaxed. A wry smile formed on her face. “I’ll tell if you promise to keep it a secret.”
Judging by the look on her face, Lorelei appeared serious.
“Okay, I won’t tell,” Mara replied.
“It’s a smuggling operation.”
“A what?”
“As mentioned before, Thoron is currently blacklisted by the Faith. Travelling there is forbidden and heavy taxes are imposed on any imported goods or people. So, I helped create this to bypass Kallikratés’ unfair laws, but the Siren interfered with our operation.”
“What?” Mara felt confused. She had her reasons for killing the Siren, but now it seemed others had their own ulterior motives.
Lorelei looked at her indifferently. “I made myself clear. Besides, she was a monster and all monsters are to be slain. You, of all people, should know that.”
Mara clenched her teeth as her hand curled into a fist. She felt angry, intense hatred swelled from within. She then stopped, wondering why she was angry. Mara could feel her canines elongate, ready to tear into flesh. After calming down, her fangs shrank down. Mara saw the worried expression on Lorelei’s face and with good reason. She felt like killing the inn owner on the spot. Mara trembled, but regained control. She stormed up to Lady Lorelei, having one thing to say to her.
“I… I apologize if I scared you, but the Siren was no mere monster—her name was Aria.” With that, she walked away from her.
“Wait,” Lorelei called out to her. Mara turned around and gazed at her. The inn owner began to approach her. “Maybe I was a little insensitive. Nobody asks to be cursed.”
“Wise words,” Morgan said, appearing beside Mara. The older woman witnessed their conversation. “A monster may be a monster, but no one should ignore the capacity of evil in every human being.”
Mara looked at Morgan with curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Humans are more willing and capable of committing more atrocities to their own kind than monsters,” Lorelei explained. “Aria is an example.”
Mara looked back at Lorelei. “You know Aria?”
The Lost & Cursed Page 19