-CHAPTER 1-
It was the bad side of the Daraean riverside. The kingdom of countless brothels and disreputable taverns. The sanctuary of thieves and murderers in all the eight kingdoms.
A young girl of sixteen calmly makes her way through the vast throng of people on the street. She was almost invisible because her heavy blue cloak hid her abundant brown hair. This rough neighborhood didn't seem to faze her one bit. She pulled her cloak closer to her.
She reached the door in a small alley where a man blocked her path. "Ello there luv." He twirled her hair. "What brings you here?"
She took a dagger from the folds of her cloak. "I don't really think that's any of your business." She pressed it close to his cheek.
He visibly began to sweat. "Now take it easy luv. Old Rufus didn't mean notin by it." He opened the door. "Com on in."
She stepped gingerly into the doorway. She was greeted by a man in gaudy gold livery. "Ah welcome Ms. Varcia. The master has been expecting you," he said as he parted the black velvet curtains.
"Thank you Hobbes," she said as she stepped through to reveal the hidden splendor of the place.
Marble statues at each corner of the rooms, plush red couches filled with waiting men and lush Mrinkom carpets decorated all the rooms in the building. She gave a curt nod to the men and ran up the staircase to see "The Master."
She came to the white painted door edged with gold. She knocked twice. "Just a minute!" he called out.
But she didn't wait even a second before she came in the room. "Ahem. Ahem," she coughed as a voluptuous blonde tried to get her undergarments on. When she was clothed she shamefully left the room.
The blonde, blue eyed gentleman, with his undone shirt and trousers turned to her. "Didn't I say 'Just a minute'?" He fastened his clothing.
"I had an appointment," she answered evenly.
"Were you able to acquire what I asked?" he inquired excitedly.
"Did you have any doubts?" she said and put a box carefully on the table where the other young lady used to be.
He eagerly approached the object and opened it. He gasped as he took out its content. He held a spectacular jeweled bird in his hand. They were called gemirds and were very rare. "It's exquisite!"
"It's also exquisitely expensive," she said as she took back the bird.
The young man's crystal blue eyes glistened with glee. "You wouldn't lower the price Varcia?" He was behind her and he held her close. He turned her to face him. "Not even for me?" He leaned in closer to her till their faces were only moments apart.
"Not even for you Felipe," she answered quickly and untangled herself from his embrace.
He leaned on the table and laughed. "You know you really are such a strange little girl."
"How so?" she asked replacing the bird in its box.
"Most women usually couldn't refuse any request I make," he said. He got out his pipe and started to smoke.
"I'm not most women," she said simply. She grabbed the pipe from his mouth and killed it. "Don't smoke in front of me. If you want to kill yourself don't drag me along."
"How demanding! So what's your price?"
"1000 gold raelis."
He began to choke. "1000 gold raelis? How did you come to that amount?"
"Well of course I added service charge," she clarified. "I mean it's not easy scaling noblemen's' homes and stealing their rare gemirds."
Well he had to admit that the task really wasn't easy. "It's still a little steep," he said.
She began to wrap the box with a cloth. "Oh well. I shouldn't be surprised you're only my first stop after all."
"What?!"
"I mean I didn't really expect to sell it immediately," she said innocently. "I haven't been to the OTHER art collectors yet..."
"That will not be necessary." He strolled over to his safe and took out 1000 gold coins. "Here." He handed her the money; she handed him the box. "You're quite expensive," he said softly, whether to Varcia or the bird it is uncertain, "but you're worth it."
She put the money in her bag. "As always it's a pleasure doing business with you." She bowed to him and was about to go out the door.
"Var wait!" He opened a drawer and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. "This is for you."
"For me?" She took the object from his outstretched hand. "What is it?" she asked.
"Open it," he said, anticipating a joyous response.
She unwrapped the cloth to reveal a carved wooden box. "A jewelry box? Are you sure this is for me?"
"Now it is. We found it in the basement this morning. No one can get the blasted thing to open," he said pointing at the lock. "I naturally thought of you."
"Thank you. It was actually a sweet gesture." She smiled mischievously. "Are you getting sentimental on me, Felipe?" she joked.
He raised his eyebrow. "Don't count on it. So I will see you soon I hope."
"As soon as you fancy another's possessions, my lord." She bowed and really left this time.
"Ah Ms. Varcia," Hobbes said seeing her come down the stairs, "finished already?"
"Yes. Our business today did not take as long as usual. Goodbye!" She put her cloak back on and once again joined the mob outside. ***
"This is stupid!" a red haired teenage boy barked at his brunette companion in his late twenty's.
His companion sighed. "What is it now Joen?"
"Why do we have to do this Mikhel?" he grumbled as he stepped in a mud puddle. He grumbled some more.
"What? You mean look for her? Isn't it obvious?"
"Of course we should look for her!" he said impatiently. "I mean why do we have to do it on foot?"
"Well maybe if you had been at the council we would not have to search for her!" Mikhel replied shortly.
"For the last time I'm sorry but I had other matters at the time." Joen defended.
"You were with the human females right?" he responded.
"Oh shut up! Let's get this over with. Where did you say she was?"
"If I knew do you think we'd be out here looking for her?" Joen rolled his eyes at his elder brother.
"Do you have the sketch of her?" Joen asked. Mikhel waved it in the air.
They spent most of the night searching high and low for the girl in the portrait. They had no luck whatsoever. Finally deciding on resting the night they asked around for the best inn.
"Ah that would be 'Master's Place'." most of them replied. So that's where they went.
"Gud evenin gents!" a semi-toothless man greeted them at the door. "What can I do fer ye?
"You can let us in," Jeon said.
"Do ye have money?" They raised their eyebrows but jingled their purses anyway. He looked satisfied and let them in.
Shades of red met their eyes as they entered. "Hello boys," a sultry voice said behind them. They turned around and stood face to face with two women aptly showcasing their...assets. "May we assist you gentlemen?"
Joen smiled and was about to...avail of their assistance. Mikhel's warning look stopped him. "No thank you," said Mikhel. "We just need a room for the night."
The women looked shocked. Then later they seemed intrigued by the men who had just refused them.
"Master's Place" was very noisy. The fiddles were on full blast, the ladies showing their...merchandise, and the men showed they appreciated it, noisily.
All of a sudden the noise stopped. Not a single sound was made. All eyes turned to the staircase where a handsome young man stood in full glory. He had on a gold embroidered cap and regal blue robes. His face was full of the innocence he had so long ago lost. "Welcome gentlemen! I bid you a pleasant evening," said he in a syrupy voice that compelled you to listen. "Now, as is custom here we must get the money details over with first before you have your fun." He flashed them an impish grin. "Now gentlemen I will see you one by one in my office. After that you will be free for your entertainment." He turned his back and walked up again.
Apparently most of these men were in a hurry. They crowded at the base of the stairs so no one could get through. However somehow Mikhel and Joen were able to get through. They were the first to arrive.
They went through the door. "Ah! A good evening to you gentlemen," the man at the desk greeted. "Forgive me if I do not stand but I have gotten quite comfortable here." He certainly looked it. He was leaning back on his chair and his feet were on his desk.
Mikhel was not in the mood for idle chatter tonight. "We'd like a room."
"Of course you would! Now how do you want it furnished?"
Mikhel was baffled. "Furnished? Normally furnished. You know with a bed."
Joen shook his head disbelievingly at his brother. "He means what kind of woman you want. You know blonde, brown, doe-eyed etc."
"You're obviously a connoisseur," the man commented.
"I know some things on the subject," Joen replied modestly.
Mikhel rolled his eyes. "No such furnishings. Just a room."
"Well it's not very often we get pious ones in here. Not that I mind." His head got buried in some papers. "So that's just one room, right?"
Mikhel nodded and smiled as an idea occurred to him. "You know a lot of people here don't you?"
"Yes..."
"Good." He whipped out the sketch in his pocket. He put it on the table. "Have you seen this girl?"
He gave Mikhel a strange look before complying then laughed. "What's so funny?" Joen inquired.
"You must really be foreigners," he said looking at them.
"Why is that?"
"Because everyone knows Varcia," he responded. "It means 'great thief' around here or more precise she made it mean that. Almost everyone has hired her for one job or another," he said taking in their confused faces.
"What?!" they both exclaimed. "A thief?"
He nodded. "In fact she just finished a job for me."
Mikhel grabbed him by the collar. "Take us to her now." ***
The crowd had gotten much bigger in the few minutes that she had been gone. Well that was just normal. It was late.
"Silks! Furs! Gems!" you could hear the vendors yell to the passers-by. Varcia didn't really pay attention to them.
"You look troubled dear," a kind voice said behind her.
She turned around sharply. "What?"
A kindly old face looked back at her. "Your eyes are dark and hollow." He placed his hand on her head. "I sense that once, some time ago, they shone."
"They haven't had much to shine about lately." Her face fell.
"They will soon." She lifted her head to smile at him. But he was gone. He left a small bag on the floor. She picked it up and looked about for the owner. When she finally gave up she put it in her bag and went back on her way.
She reached a ramshackle old building and hurriedly entered. The outside of the building gave no hint to what was inside. Though outside it was falling apart inside it was warm and homey.
She plunked down on her bed. For awhile she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. "Varcia!" Someone was knocking on the door.
She grunted but got up anyway. "I'm coming!" She opened the door. "Felipe?" she said surprised at the three men at her doorway. "What are you doing here? And who are they?"
"Customers. This is Mikhel and Joen. They had a sketch of you," he answered. "May we come in?"
"Sure." She opened the door wider for them to enter. "So what can I do for you?" she asked when they had gotten comfortable.
"You must come back home with us," Mikhel said matter-of-factly. Jeon shook his head at his brother.
"Huh? Why?" she asked.
"Because...we have a special job for you," Jeon supplied.
"Really?" she said. She was very interested. "You do know that special jobs cost special fees?"
Jeon smirked but Mikhel frowned. "Of course. But it's extremely important so we'll have to leave soon," Jeon said.
"What exactly is 'soon'?"
"First light of day," Mikhel answered.
"First light of day? Couldn't it be slightly later?" she wheedled.
"No. We have to leave as soon as possible."
"If that was the case why don't you just leave tonight?" Felipe joked.
The brothers looked at each other. "That's actually not a bad idea! Can you be ready to leave soon?"
"Remind me to kill you after this job," she muttered. "And by the way...you're coming with us."
"What?! Why?"
"Because it's your fault that I'm going to suffer so you have to do it too." She turned back to her new clients. "I'll just go in my room to pack." And that's what she did. ***
"So...about this job," Felipe said, "is it dangerous?"
"Oh not at all...for her. We're still not sure about you though," Jeon said with a smile on his handsome face.
"Exactly what does that mean?" Were they implying that he was weaker than Varcia? Inconceivable!
"Nothing...much."
"Jeon! Is this what you teach them? To bully those weaker than them?" Mikhel scolded. Felipe (though fuming like mad!) remained silent in the background. He offered a prayer to the forgotten goddess Daramil that Varcia would hurry along so he wouldn't have to spend anymore time with these insulting...children!
His prayer was answered. She came out with a bulging brown carrier bag. "So shall we go?" she asked grumpily.
The clients stood up and started to walk out the door. "Ugh!" she grunted but followed them out with Felipe trailing behind her.
They were leisurely walking through town among the late shoppers. "You do have horses?" Felipe asked about to enter a stable.
"Yes." Mikhel gestured to 2 white and black mares. He turned to Varcia. "We have one for you too."
"Really?" she said, distracted. She was dazzled by the horses. Their short coats seemed to glow from within. Their eyes seemed to bore into her making her turn away.
"Really." Jeon was leading a beautiful gray mare with silky black hair to her.
"She's lovely!" She started to pat the horse lovingly. "What's her name?"
"Pearl."
"How pretty!" Felipe scoffed.
"Enough talk!" Mikhel ordered from atop his horse. "Let's not waste precious time."
The stern command compelled the others to get on their horses quickly. After doing so they swiftly rode away. ***
"Where are they?" a tall, old man bellowed.
"Patience brother. I'm sure they're on their way here as we speak," a younger man answered.
"Humph! With Jianes? Are you joking? He'll probably have a million side trips!"
"Calm down. I'm sure everything will be fine," the other responded.
"Ha!" he scoffed then grew somber. "I hope you're right." ***
"Now how long is this going to take?" Felipe asked. Barely two hours on the trip and he was already saddle-sore.
"Not long," Mikhel answered. Indeed it wasn't. A few moments later he got off his horse and headed to the stone face of the mountain before them.
"Ah! I understand. You wish us to hibernate!" Felipe said. He marveled at his revelation.
Mikhel gave an exasperated look. "Are they all like you?" He turned to glare at Jeon. "It's your fault they're like that."
"Do you find it annoying? I find it quite refreshing," Jeon answered.
"You would," Mikhel answered back. He started to inspect the wall.
"Begging your pardon," Varcia interrupted, "but what are you looking for?"
"A hole."
Felipe raised his eyebrow. "A hole? I can see a LOT of holes on that thing."
"Not the right one."
"Did you know there was a RIGHT kind of hole?" Felipe whispered to his colleague.
"No," she admitted. "It's just a little eccentricity. We've seen much worse back in the city."
Felipe nodded. "True. So true."
Suddenly Mikhel touched a spot on the wall and smiled. "Do you think he finally found the 'right one'?"
Jeon glared at Felipe which made the other man keep his mouth shut. Mikhel took something out of his brown, dust-stained, coat. He put a blue colored stone in the spot.
The wall moved! The supposedly solid wall moved to reveal a large cave. Jeon rode right in. Mikhel's horse followed. Felipe and Varcia remained outside, disbelieving everything they just saw. "Are you coming?" Jeon poked out his head.
"Yes..." So they did. ***
"You sayin that Felipe left?" A large, burly and insanely hairy man held up Rufus by his dirty collar.
"Yes. That's what ol' Rufus said alright, Lat. Left late last night with two fine lukin gents."
A dark figure behind Lat whispered something to him. He nodded. "Do you know where he went?" Rufus shook his head. "Do you know where he keeps his pet? That bloody thief Varcia?"
"Naw. And ye won't be findin anyone who does. He's always been a keepin secrets on that one he has."
He dropped the old man. "Damn. What will we do now?" he asked his companion.
"Simple. We just follow his tracks..." ***
"Ugh. It's a little dark in here. Isn't there a lamp or something?" Felipe said.
From the utter darkness a spark rose. When their eyes adjusted they saw a bright flame... from Mikhel's index finger. "Any better?"
"Aaahhh!" Varcia screamed. "He's on fire!" She started searching in the saddle bags. "Where's that canteen?!"
Mikhel grabbed her waist to stop the search. "Calm down little one."
She stared up at him. "Why did you call me that?"
"Did you mind?"
"Not really I just haven't been called that for so long."
"Five centuries to be exact," Jeon interjected.
She just stared at him. Felipe's reaction was incredulous. "Excuse me!" he yelled. "Does anyone find it odd that his finger is ablaze?!"
"Oh that? He's just showing off. I can do that too. With more than one finger too," he added and was about to do so.
"Please," she covered his hand with hers, "don't."
"She's right. We don't have time for it anyway. The others are waiting for us." The flame from his finger turned blue and began to smoke. The smoke surrounded Felipe. It closed around him slowly finally rendering him unconscious.
Varcia rushed to his side. Strangely the smoke that enveloped Felipe's body had no such effect on her. "What did you do to him?"
"Oh. He's perfectly fine. He's just... sleeping right now." Jeon looked serious now.
Mikhel offered her his hand. "It's time little one."
"Time for what?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"Time to go back home," Jeon said as he made green fire. The two colored smokes intertwined and were surrounding her.
She could feel herself slowly suffocating. The air around her becoming thinner and thinner until it seemed that there was none left. Slowly her eyelids closed. Her final vision was of the blue-green fog. ***
Where am I? Felipe opened his eyes. His mouth dropped open and he blinked several times. "I'm in a dream." He was surrounded by scantily clad women around the huge bed with red silk sheets he was on. "An absolutely wonderful dream."
He leaned back into the bed. "Am I back home?" he asked as the women started crawling to him on the bed. They started kissing him on the neck, on the chest, on the lips, and on the face.
He relaxed even more into the bed. "There's just one thing that would make this perfect."
"Well. Well. Well." Felipe lifted his head and he locked eyes with Varcia staring disapprovingly at him. "What's this?" She lifted something that looked underwear.
He cursed under his breath. This is not what I had in mind. I wanted to see her in lingerie not for her to chastise me, he thought.
"It's so much bigger than mine!" What?! His eyes widened as he caught a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Now this is more like it." He relaxed once again into the bed. ***
Why can't I remember my childhood? I'm certain of when I was thirteen but I can't remember anything before that, Varcia thought as she drifted into the black hole that was her memory.
She could remember moving to Daraean when she was thirteen. She couldn't remember anything before that. She had been found by the raiders, a band of nomads, and had been raised by them in all manners of unsavory... hobbies. You know stealing, deceit, lying, seduction etc. "I don't really use the last one though."
She was framed for stealing in a tavern and then sent to an orphanage. She escaped a week after and had been on her own ever since. She had changed her name and became a thief for hire. Her first job was for a self-indulgent, sixteen year old named Felipe.
Now he was twenty and he was still a brat. And now she was unconscious in a strange cave with two even stranger men. How did she end up here?
"Awaken!" She snapped out of her dream world and back into reality. Or so it seemed... ***
"We've been walking for hours. I haven't seen any tracks. What the hell are we following?"
"I've already told you Lat. We're following his tracks."
"What tracks? There are no tracks you loon!"
His companion turned to him and lifted a thin hand. Lat was suddenly suspended in thin air. The hand began to ball into a fist. Lat began to choke. He felt the air gush out of his body.
His companion closed in. "Now listen to me you fool. If I were you I'd be careful on who I was insulting. You never know what they might do."
Lat's face turned blue and as the hand dropped so did Lat. He fell on the floor desperately gasping for air. "Just a reminder, I keep you alive only to suit my convenience. Should you prove to be more of a liability I will terminate you. You know I can very easily do it."
Lat's whole body began to tremble and shake. After recovering a little he stood and meekly followed his dark friend. ***
Varcia hesitantly opened her eyes as if frightened by what she might see. When she did fully open her eyes she was frightened by so many men staring at her.
"Do not be afraid. We will not harm you." the man with white hair said comfortingly.
A small child with golden air and crystal eyes jumped up beside her. "Hello," he greeted as he stared into her eyes. "Welcome home sister!" He hugged her tightly.
Her eyebrows shot up. "Well that's very nice." She started to tear herself away from the boy's embrace. "But you're mistaken. I'm not your sister. I'm not even anyone's sister."
He looked up at her with sad eyes. "You're not my sister?" She shook her head. His eyes began to glisten. "Alykrise!" He ran to the old man and cried.
"Alykrise? As in the god, Alykrise?" she asked.
"Yes, and these are my brothers," he answered.
Varcia began to count. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. "Seven brothers named after the seven gods I presume? Your parents must really be religious fanatics or jokesters."
"We are not named after the gods," Jeon said, "we are the gods."
An uncomfortable silence settled in the group. Suddenly Varcia burst into laughter. "That's funny Jeon. Really it is." Jeon looked at her with a stony face. "Oh by the gods! You're serious."
"Yes. I am insulted that you'd think otherwise," he replied huffily.
"You... are... I mean you can't possibly be..."
"Must we prove ourselves even to our own sister?"
"I'm not your sister! Do I look like a goddess? No, of course not. Do you know why that is? It's because I am not a goddess!"
"Did she hit her head on the way here Mrinko?" a middle-aged man asked.
Mikhel shook his head. "I don't think so Chanael. Jianes did you do something to her when I wasn't looking?"
"Why is it when anything goes wrong you always blame me?" he complained.
"Because it's always your fault," they all answered. Jeon scowled at his brothers.
"Someone please tell me what's going on?" she pleaded. She was near tears now.
"Ha! That's not my fault!" Jeon said with childish glee.
"No. Please don't cry. I've always hated it when you cried." A graying haired man started to fuss.
"I never cry. Much less in front of strangers." She brushed away the tears quickly.
"If we prove that we're gods... will you listen?" She nodded. "Fine. Behold!"
She stared at the middle of the ring of smoke. "Is that Felipe?" ***
Lat approached his partner. "Begging your pardon, but exactly what do you intend to do now?"
Part of the floor was quickly covered. "That's none of your concern, but if just to silence you. I'm going to contact my employer."
"Oh. I see." He nodded.
There was a few moments silence. "What are you still doing here?"
Lat stared at his companion. "Can't I see him too?"
"No!" it screamed. Lat stood quickly. "Get out!" He scrambled out of the small tent.
"Such a foolish mortal," a voice with a strange accent said.
"Master?" It looked around, wondering where the voice was coming from. The covered portion began to shake violently. It was gingerly thrown off. The servant gasped at the sight of the master's head on the ground and kneeled in homage. "Master."
"Yesss. It isss I. How is everything coming along? I wish to be free soon. To roam the world as I once did."
"Coming nicely. We are hot on the trail. We shall find the key to your prison. No matter what." ***
"Varcia. You look as stunning as always." Felipe was very comfortable on the bed. "Won't you join me?"
"It doesn't seem like there's much room on that thing sweetie," she replied with a smirk.
He smiled. "Oh, is that all?" He snapped his fingers and all the other women disappeared. "Well? What do you say now?"
"Hmm... Impressive." She walked over to the bed and lay down. She put her weight on her arms as he looked at her.
"Comfortable?" he asked.
"Very," she answered.
"Really? I think you could be more comfortable."
"Oh?" She raised her eyebrow. "How could I do that?"
"You don't have to do a thing." In one quick motion he rolled on top of her making her lay down completely on the bed. "What do you think?"
"You may be right. This is more comfortable," she agreed.
"What? This? This is nothing compared to what I have in mind for us tonight," he said mysteriously.
"Really? And what do you have in store? Don't keep me in suspense any longer."
That put him over the edge and he pressed his lips against hers. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He smiled and kissed her with even more force. ***
"Oh dear." Varcia said as she stared at the images in the small ring of smoke. "This is what he's dreaming of? He has such a one-track mind!"
"How long have you been acquaintances with this revolting man?" her brother, Alykrise said with disgust.
"Three years." She couldn't take her eyes off it.
"Alykrise," Mrinko interjected, "don't you think that we have seen enough?" He turned to Varcia. "Have you seen enough?"
"You've made a believer out of me," she affirmed.
"So you believe everything now?" Bronpe said with his eager eyes.
"Um... not exactly. I am allowing myself to believe you are gods, but as far as being your sister is concerned... I am still doubtful."
"Why are you so fearful?" Chanael asked with growing concern.
"You never used to be this way," Kaltro said.
"Um... Alykrise," Drakae said uncertainly. They all turned toward him. "Can you please take away the dream. Bronpe might have nightmares." Drakae shuddered.
"Why will I get nightmares?" Bronpe squeezed in between them to see the ring of smoke. "What are they doing Jianes?"
Varcia raised her eyebrow as Alykrise waved the apparition away. "You do not seemed surprised at your traveling companion's thoughts."
"Surprised? Why should I be? I know Felipe very well. I had pretty much guessed he was attracted to me, but I never realized he was dreaming about me," she answered bluntly.
"You knew? How could you know something like that?" Mrinko demanded.
"I just do."
"And you don't care?" Jianes asked, shocked. "Note to self, get her to introduce me to girls like her."
She shook her head. "No. Should I? Felipe is my friend. He's harmless. He'd never hurt me in a million years anyway. Are we through? Can we get to the fact of why am I here?"
"We brought you here because we want you back home with us and to save the creatures you gave your life trying to save, a creature you yourself have turned into," her brothers said ominously.
"Why do you call human beings creatures? And stop saying stuff like that. You're scaring me."
"We apologize," they answered. "Now it is time for you to go."
"Wait a minute! You can't just drop this bomb on me and send me away. I want- no- I need to know more about this," she screamed.
"All in due time..."
Her head started to swirl. "No! Please wait!"
"We will always be with you..." She was falling. Falling into the darkness of her mind again. The light fading as her eyes closed with her mind. Closed to the family she never knew she had. Closed to her brothers... at least for now.