Chapter 28: Reilin: Berating a Bath-House Attendant❤
Reilin:
I sat alone with an ache. It hadn't been real, just a vivid dream, but I felt it. For the first time I'd felt that place, felt her inside it. Serica's office was dark, dim streetlight bounced through her window and against the ceiling.
I was in a daze, still half-way buried in that imagined place. Stockings clung, but they weren't there. My leathers weren't comfortable, they'd been drenched and dried, not oiled, and were stiff.
Something nagged at me, something I couldn't recall, a thick grit beneath my fingernails.
Shit.
It was Serica's skin, I felt them them drag down her neck and scrambled to to a corner, tucked myself into it.
Why did I-
I knew. it rushed back, and pushed me to my feet. It was morning when I'd fallen out, now it was night.
They were asking about her-
Areli.
"No-no-no," I was out her door, clipped down the stairs, and made my way to the Society's entrance.
If they got involved, got themselves killed.
I couldn't forgive myself. He wouldn't forgive me.
My stupid fucking mouth.
I threw the locks on the entrance double-doors, saw dawn-light in the distance, and threw myself against a dark form I hadn't noticed.
We spiraled and fell. I struck a heel to ground and the twist burnt it bad. My back lay on cobblestone and I clutched my leg close.
"S-sorry," came a feminine voice I didn't recognize.
"Watch where you're going!" the pain only bloomed, "It's sprained you bitch..."
"Oh-oh no, let me see..." she perched above me on her knees, her long hair caught twilight and gleamed blue, or green. She had on a fucking Bloom bath-house attendant's uniform.
My sleep peeled a step further, I recognized her, she was the one that watched as Serica fucked Cora on the tile floor and dressed me down.
"What the fuck are you even doing here!?" I kicked at her with my good foot, "Back off!"
"No, I didn't mean to... I was just waiting..." she stepped back, her hands rose to her mouth, and she looked like she was about to break.
Urgency pressed back at me, I had to get out of here. Avoiding any pressure to that leg, I rolled myself up to my ass and pushed up with my arms. As soon as I ambled forward I was back on my ass. It couldn't support any weight, "Damn-it help me up!"
"Of course, sorry!" she rushed back and hooked an arm under mine, hoisted me to my feet. She was soft, no muscle, and submissive as hell, typical Bloom bath-bait.
"I need a carriage," If I was going to get up-town in time, if there was time, a fast horse, or team of them, was imperative. The streets were empty.
She looked about, desperate to help. Of course she'd noticed my hair, thought this interaction would make or break her career. She couldn't manifest what wasn't there, "Let's get you to a bench..." she said.
"I don't need a damn bench," I kicked my other leg forward and used her as a crutch, "Let's go!" If we could make it to center-square some industrious driver would have a stage-coach waiting.
"Okay..." she matched my pace and carried my weight, then proceeded to yammer on with apologies and please I couldn't be bothered to court.
Shut the hell up, I need to focus.
We made it two blocks, each step worse than the next. My blisters on our cabbage-field excursion were a cake-walk compared to this indignity.
"Fuck, just stop," I plopped onto the ground.
She reached for my foot, "Can I please, I'm taking a kinesthiolog-"
"Knock yourself out," I lifted it and groaned, held it aloft for her. Everything was falling to shit, I locked my arms to my sides, tried to breathe and ride out my fire.
Her hands locked to my calf and she began to mutter. I turned a vicious gaze upon her.
Why won't you just shut up...
Drool rolled down her chin, dripped onto me. I would have yanked myself free if it didn't mean agony. Then, cool numb spread across my foot.
"Enough, we need to move." I rocked onto my feet, my ankle rolled, didn't scream. She, however, winced as she pulled herself back up to standing.
Empathetic magic...
"Why did you," she'd stolen my pain, "I didn't ask for that!"
"I'm alright, it was my fault," she hobbled to a lamp-post and held her leg aloft.
"No it wasn't! I barreled into you!" That wasn't her burden, it was my failing. I followed, "Give it back."
"Please, you're in a hurry. I'll see if I can catch Serica tomorrow."
Good luck.
The sun had risen. I thought on it. How was I going to find her? If she'd already ruined everything, revealed my break.
He'll eat you alive.
And somehow, that was okay. So was her busted foot, but I couldn't leave her stranded here. Each side of my bra held a platinum Bell in a hidden pocket, my escape plan. Each was worth three months of Serica's mentorship. I fished one out and held it out to her, "Just go home."
She balked at the coin, "No-no."
"Just take it. It doesn't matter anymore," the girl was too kind, with me it'd just go wasted, I grappled at my tit for the other, wrenched it loose, "Take them."
The implication wasn't lost on me. These things were all minted with serials, recorded in my father's ledgers. If she was caught with one it would result in a lost hand or death, but they could be melted, sold for a third of their value to a fence. Either way, I didn't want them. They were his money. He probably already knew they were missing, knew I had them. They were just another ploy.
I grabbed her wrist, "Take them."
They slid into her palm, she looked ready to gag.
Just make good use of them.
She didn't fight, just watched as I continued up the street.