8. Chapter 8

Chapter eight

" S o, where are we staying?" Gecko asks.

"I have no idea." Corvu responds, readjusting his holster as we walk. Our silence makes him realize why we were confused. "Well you can go back and ask for a place to sleep if you want, but I can't stomach the stew or the smell for long." He had a fair point. I can feel my skin turn green as I think about it.

"I don't think I can stomach it at all." I comment, looking ahead as the sun begins to set behind the buildings and houses in the distance. "So where do we go?"

"Let's eat something first, most taverns know of places to stay that has a bed instead of dirt." Staying somewhere with a bed was music to my ears. I didn't think I could ever miss the springy broken mattress I used on the floor of my apartment, but these last few days have proven that trash can actually be a treasure.

Before I knew it, we were already out in front of a three-story building. This one however had a slightly red tinge in its bricks and each window was yellow stained with black frames. It kind of freaks me out. Diligently following Corvu inside, we're greeted by a woman with fair blue skin, but who otherwise looked completely human.

"Hello there. How can I assist you?" There's a bustle of people inside as I realize this Inn was also a place where people ate their dinner and drank their fill. There was even a troll on a nearby table passed out with a few large jugs around him.

"Do you have any room?" Corvu questions. I'm so glad he's here. At this stage, I'd be completely lost without him, especially since he was willing to go with me all the way to the other side of the country, which would have been an impossible ask of the family from earlier.

"Hm, I'll have to check in and see, we've had quite a few last minute stays. Have a seat, grab some dinner – I'll find out as soon as I can." She nods and wanders off into the crowd. The Inn was full of life, it was clearly a place for all sorts since there were not only the ruffian kinds but families as well. We sit on a square lopsided table, at least this time there were stools available. As we sat, I could really start to smell myself. It had been a while since taking a decent shower, and lakes don't provide a lot of cleanliness. Corvu doesn't pay it much attention. I suppose it wasn't abnormal in this world to smell like a dumpster. Gecko plays with the splinters sticking up from the table, pulling them out one at a time while we sit quietly. A few moments later the blue woman comes back with a pitcher. "Water for the table. Can I get you anything else?" She questions, her white apron is tarnished from overuse and she seems particularly wary of Corvu, standing closer to Gecko and myself.

"Do you have cake?" Gecko asks without a moment of hesitation.

The lady laughs, "We do. I'll get you some. For yourself or the table?"

"The table." Corvu responds. She nods and disappears into the crowd. I look at Corvu, who is just staring into space, completely stoic. What was he thinking about? Without movement in his body, his eyes dash to me and I startle. "What?" He asks, looking back away toward where the maid had disappeared.

"I was just wondering," I begin, not really sure if there was an appropriate way to ask the question or if I should just come out and say it, ", why are some people so weird around you and others aren't?" The question seems to take him by surprise as his ears lift slightly and pull back. I didn't even know he could do that.

Then he smiles warmly, "The ones that know me personally know I'm not a threat to them." I ponder that response for a moment. "I used to live in this town, but I haven't been here in some time. There's a lot of new faces that wouldn't know me." He only somewhat answered my question but part of me wondered if that was on purpose or not. He sees me bite my lip and lets out a sigh, "And the ones that don't know me just recognize me as a Trickster. Nothing more than that."

"You know I don't know what that is."

His eyebrows raise. "Oh, I thought you would have people in your human world you call Tricksters."

"Unless you're talking about Loki, then no."

"What's a Loki?" Gecko interrupts.

"Uh, a non...person, don't worry about it."

Corvu clears his throat and leans up when he answers, "A Trickster is someone, usually of Elf relation, born of magic that's known to drag a curse along with them wherever they go. We're apparently bad luck and because of that we're usually tormented as children, by the time we're older we usually hate everyone and everything so Tricksters are widely known as the worst Daemonaria to put your trust into." He finishes with a wicked snicker. It was a lot to take in but I could appreciate why he didn't want to get into it previously. We certainly don't have anything like that in my world. It sort of made me understand why everyone was so wary around him. Being known as a bad luck charm is almost as bad as being known as a klutz. We're interrupted by a bit of yelling that starts nearby a small lift in the corner of the room. I see a piano and what looks a little like a guitar placed on top of it. I'm actually happy to see a musical instrument I recognize. "That Snout seems to be in a bit of trouble." Corvu sighs, pouring water from the jug into one of the plaster cups I didn't even know were on the table.

"What?" Looking back over I can see the back of a large man with his hands on his hips and a tail that reminded me of the lions in Central Park Zoo, the one he was talking to was similar to the bandit that attacked us with the nose of a pig. The maid comes back to us with a large plate and a few empty small ones. The biggest one had what resembled a cake but somewhat looked like bread. She looks over her shoulder at the Snout.

"He's going to get that nose of his lobbed off if he doesn't have his singer again." The maid comments.

"Doesn't have his singer?"

"He's the one that plays on the chime, his friend in the hole at the moment is the strings. Unfortunately every time the boss pays them, they show up the next night without their singer. So the boss will probably take his nose as compensation." She huffs, walking away. The Snout looks terrified.

I don't know why I did it, what made me feel obligated to help in some way, but before I knew it my feet had moved and I was side by side with the Snout facing the Innkeeper, whose teeth looked so sharp they could probably cut you just by looking at them too long.

"Did you need a singer?" I whisper to the Snout, who looks me up and down with confusion, followed by surprise, then hope.

"Ah, here is our singer. Told you, just running a bit late." He snorts his apology as the Innkeeper glares at me, then turns away back to the bar without a word. The Snout turns to me, "Can you really sing?"

"I'm not the best, but it's better than nothing." I smile. He brings me over to the piano, where he asks which songs I know. His companion returns from the hole, which I had learned from Gecko a couple of days ago was just another word for a toilet - an experience I wish to never discuss. The Snouts friend is a bit confused but he shrugs it off when he's told to pick up the oddly shaped guitar. "I don't know any of your songs, any chance I can just get you to play a beat?" As I quietly instruct them on the style of the beat with the preferred keys to play, slowly people begin to quieten down. I was a little nervous, after all this wasn't like regular busking on the side street near my apartment in New York, and I usually played my own guitar. Noting there was nothing similar to a microphone I would need to do my best to project my voice across the room. As I turn to face the crowd I see Corvu is eyeing me, probably concerned as to why I suddenly got up to do this, but Gecko just waves at me. Shyly waving back I nod behind me at the Snout.

As he plays the tune in the beat I asked for perfectly, I open my mouth to sing my own acoustic version of Stuck On You, a favorite song of mine by my world's King. Many of the Inn's patrons ceased their activities and conversations to listen to me, it was probably the biggest audience I ever had, and one by one they started tapping their feet to a beat I was relieved to hear they picked up. I see Corvu staring at me with each word. He looks completely surprised now, perhaps even expecting to hear the worst noise come from me. I keep eye contact with him, it helps me feel less like I'm being watched by thirty or forty Daemonaria and humans.

It wasn't the only song I sang, but it was the one I was happiest with. The Innkeeper was quite pleased and insisted we had the cake for free, as it was the most engaged in the entertainment his customers had been in the longest of times. I'll admit, I was a little bit excited to hear that. Once I stopped I returned to the table and ate with Corvu and Gecko. The kid was beside himself with my performance, he clearly enjoyed it. However, Corvu remained generally quiet for the remainder of the evening.

The bar maid comes back to the table, grinning ear to ear, "What a performance! You must be proud."

"Thank you, thankfully I got over my stage fright when I was a lot younger." I smile. She tilts her head slightly and it makes me wonder if the term 'stage fright' would even be known here.

"Well, anyway, about a room, I'm sorry but we're completely booked up for the night, I asked around and it seems most of the village is full. Mostly all traveling back from the coronation in Aynor I'd say. But, I do have a friend that says she can put you up for the night."

"That's very fortunate." Corvu comments.

"Halla is more than happy to put you all in a room, if you make your way over there."

"I don't think I've met Halla."

The bar maid raises an eyebrow and smirks, "Didn't you live here for a year? You never met Halla?"

"No."

" All the boys your age have met Halla." Corvu looks at me, as if thinking I would somehow know what she's talking about.

"No, really, I don't know them. What street?"

"The building is called Shades of Red, it's on the East end, near Bellium."

"We'll find it." He says finally, standing up from the table. Gecko and I follow in turn, thanking the maid very much for her help, before turning to leave.

Walking down the dimly lit streets at night with Corvu and Gecko makes me wonder about the safety in a world like this one. In New York, police officers occasionally patrol the streets, but here? It's eerily empty. As we turn down a secluded alley, I hear the faint bustle coming from one of the taller buildings, a four-story structure with lights glistening from all the windows. The building itself is an imposing sight, its facade a mix of weathered stone and ornate carvings, reflecting a blend of old-world charm and an unsettling allure.

By the front door, a woman with long, pointy ears and scale-like skin turns to face us, her red dress catching my attention as it shimmers under the candlelit streetlights. The building's entrance is framed by intricate ironwork, hinting at a place that caters to the unusual and the illicit.

"You must be the Trickster." She smirks at us, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm Halla. You just need a place to stay tonight, right?"

"That's right," Corvu answers for all of us.

"I don't usually allow children into my establishment, or Tricksters, but I've been asked to make an exception for you." Halla turns and uses her finger to beckon us inside. Gecko grabs my hand tightly as we follow Corvu through the door.

Inside, the air is thick with the mingled scents of perfume and something more primal, almost animalistic. The interior is dimly lit, with flickering candlelight casting long shadows that dance across the walls. Plush red drapes hang heavily from the ceilings, their fabric rich and opulent, absorbing the faint light and giving the room a seductive glow. Velvet-covered furniture in deep shades of burgundy and black is scattered throughout, creating an atmosphere that is both luxurious and decadent.

What meets my eyes instantly makes me turn Gecko's head into me, hugging him tightly so he can't see. The sight before me is a tableau of debauchery and hedonism. The humans and Daemonaria are all naked, their bodies gleaming with sweat under the dim lights. Some have majestic wings, feathered and bat-like, extending and fluttering as they move. Others have tails that twitch and curl, some smooth and scaled, others covered in fur. Horns of various shapes and sizes adorn their heads, adding to their otherworldly appearance. Their varied forms blend in a scene that is both surreal and obscene .

The room is filled with low moans and laughter, the sounds of pleasure and pain mingling in a cacophony that makes my stomach churn. Bodies are intertwined in ways that speak of both ecstasy and desperation. Couples and groups are draped over the velvet couches, lying on plush rugs, and leaning against the walls, their limbs tangled in a twisted embrace. The flickering candlelight casts a warm, almost intimate glow on their faces, but their expressions are a mix of rapture and something darker, more primal.

The floor is littered with discarded garments and empty glasses, the remnants of indulgence and excess. The walls are adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of myth and legend, their intricate patterns and vibrant colors a stark contrast to the raw and carnal reality of the room. The air is heavy, almost suffocating, with the scent of incense and sweat, a mixture that clings to my skin and fills my lungs.

Doing my best to face a wall, I hear Corvu groan. "We're not staying near any of this," he states firmly.

"Don't worry your pointy-ones, pretty boy, you can stay upstairs, away from the fun." Halla chuckles as we continue to follow her around the room and up a flight of creaky, wooden stairs. The stairs creak under our weight, and the sounds of the room below grow fainter with each step, though the lingering scent follows us.

"Is that what you call it?" Corvu retorts.

"What do you call it?" Halla asks, a teasing lilt in her voice.

"Disgusting? Messy?" Corvu stops just before we reach the top of the stairs and turns to face me. "Smelly?" he whispers directly to me. I can't help but smile; there is an interesting…smell here, a mix of sweat, incense, and something else I can't quite place.

"That way are the baths," Halla points down a dark hallway. "They'll be empty for another hour, but when we close up they get full, so don't be too long. You lot can stay in this room. I don't have many girls working tonight, so you'll be on your own." Halla swings a door open, revealing a modest but clean room. She leaves us with a swagger in her hips and a roll of her eyes.

The room is a stark contrast to the chaos downstairs. Simple wooden beds with clean sheets and a small window that offers a view of the dark alley outside. It's a small refuge from the overwhelming strangeness of the place. Gecko leaves the room, excited at the prospect of hot water and a much needed bath.

"I'll take the bed next to the door." Corvu says, throwing his satchel on the ground beside it and begins removing his weapon sheaths, holsters and pouches. I hadn't planned on sleeping in the same room as anyone, but since it was somewhat cold, I didn't need to worry about the idea of fully undressing either way. Removing my boots and the vest that holds my tunic down, I fold the scarf Bella gave me into my backpack and stand back up. It was actually really good to get the weight off, I don't even know how long it's been since my body felt so relaxed. Stepping over to the stained glass window I make note that it's not clear enough to see anything through it, especially with how dark it is outside. This was nothing like New York. Beyond this window was dead silence.

I turn around and halt immediately. Corvu had been standing right behind me, shirtless , and I had no idea. It was clear that having this kind of lifestyle pays him well in body image. My attention is caught by the odd light blue markings around his shoulders. They weren't discoverable while he was dressed, but the celtic knots were in full view now. I don't move as he touches the amulet dangling around my neck, brushing my skin gently with his fingers. Leaning down to face me closer he asks, "So where did you acquire this, exactly ?" It took me a moment to process the question with how close he was to me. I've had a boyfriend before, but I wasn't used to guys being this space invasive previously.

"Uh," I begin, stepping back toward the window, letting the pendant drop against me from between his fingers, ", a homeless woman."

He tilts his head curiously, "You took it from a homeless woman?"

"What? No. She gave it to me."

"Why did you take it?"

"I told her I couldn't accept a gift like that but she insisted. I didn't know what to do. In all honestly I'd like to ask her if she knew what it was when she gave it to me."

"So you didn't know what it was at all when you transported yourself here?" I shake my head and he takes a step back, turning to go and lie down on his cot, leaning up against the planked wooden wall. "Why did the homeless woman give it to you, exactly?"

"Because I was nice to her." He raises an eyebrow at me,

"Was there a reason for your gracious behavior or are you always nice to strangers?"

"Well," I sigh, sitting at the end of my cot near the window, ", we weren't exactly strangers. We met nearly a year ago. I hadn't been able to make the deadline for my assignment that week so I asked for an extension. The teacher agreed if I handed it in before midnight later that week. It was really late but since I didn't see any cars on the road-" I saw his face scrunch up out of confusion, "-I'll explain what those things are later, but to continue, I crossed the street in a hurry and didn't see a speeding car come around the corner. It was actually a car being chased by police, so of course it didn't care that I was on the road and it certainly didn't see that I had dropped my headphones and was trying to pick them up off the snowy street. It was so quick, but the homeless woman had jumped into the street to push me out of the way. I really thought I was going to die but I didn't. The speeding car ending up swerving and crashing, which is when it really got interesting." He's intently listening, trying to keep up with the new terminology I'm using. I feel bad that I can't explain everything, but I feel the same way when he speaks sometimes. "The man that was being chased by the police got out of the car and grabbed me, put a gun to my head and insisted that the police let him go. It was even scarier than the idea of the car hitting me. But that woman, she was brave and clogged him across the head from behind. She saved me twice . I owe her a lot." At this point he sits up and faces me, his interest in my story is rising, unfortunate it was ending. "After this I decided to visit her as often as I could. I work at a convenience store so I would buy lunches and bring them to her by a fountain nearby the park where I lived. That's when she decided to give me this amulet. She told me never to take it off. I guess that means she knew what it was." I lift the amulet up off my chest and look at it. I wonder why she chose me to have it. Did she intend for me to end up in this world? Was it all a rouse? I hope not.

"Hm," he begins, ", what's a convenience store?" I laugh at his response, I truly didn't expect that to be the first question he asked me.

I know a lot of people feared him, or at least feared what he was, but Corvu didn't seem like someone I should worry about. Despite everything, he's gone out of his way to help me. Although I do wonder, what would he do if he was able to use the amulet for his wish? Would he still be willing to help me get home or would he just disappear? Thinking about it makes me feel lost inside.

Gecko returns from the bath, I almost don't recognise him without being head to toe covered in some kind of dirt. He's actually a lot paler than I thought. Ignoring the question that Corvu had asked me I decide to tell him something that had been plaguing my thoughts,

"I can't make the amulet do things, I don't know how others do it, but it's magical ability is useless on me. I don't think I'll be able to help you find, well, whatever it is you're looking for Corvu." He returns to leaning back on the cot, preparing to sleep as he responds,

"That's alright, I'm pretty sure we will get killed long before we reach the capital city." He smirks, "After all, you have no fighting capability and the flightless fairy over there will probably fall off a cliff on the way." In response to this, Gecko casually throws the boot he was removing at Corvu, who evilly chuckles about it.

"What's that?" Gecko questions as I lie back in the bed, lifting my feet up.

"What's what?" I respond,

"There's something on your foot."

"Oh." I lift my left foot up to face me, which probably faced Corvu more than it did myself. "That's a birthmark. I've had it since I was born. Nothing special. Kind of looks like a tiger, though."

"I don't know what a tiger is, but it sounds scary." I chuckle and Gecko makes himself comfortable. Corvu is looking at my foot but otherwise says nothing, then turns his head to fall asleep.

I know there is every possibility I won't make it home. I know that any friends I make might actually have their own agenda.

But I had to at least try. Didn't I?