(She's hella jealous of Natiselle bc she is in love with Strisen. ) My computer is about to die so sorry if its rough!!
~Edited~
Aelina
Her dark curls shone even here in the dim lamplight of the outer district. It baffled me how even now her features could be this stunning and it somehow justified my plan. No one could be that perfect–suspiciously perfect. We rounded the corner and the street, now little more than a rocky alley way took a turn for the worse. Grime crept down the brick walls of buildings and debris littered the ground. In the distance I could hear the yowls of fighting cats and screech of black birds.
She did not even seem to notice the sudden change in scenery. Natiselle continued to titter on about some gown she had seen at the dressmaker’s and how it was so unfair that her color choices were so limited by the Pravaci Court. She was utterly unconcerned that we were steadily approaching some of the worst parts of the city.
Then, as if on cue, a dark figure stepped out of the shadows. “Two pretty ladies. Bless Archanie. Looks like a win tonight, eh lads?” I turned around and saw two more ruffians behind us. Something was terribly wrong. It was only supposed to be Jatil; he had assured me that he would do it himself. The man in front of us was decidedly not Jatil, he was much too tall. The bottom of my stomach fell and my hands began to shake, the full weight of my mistake dawned on me.
Natiselle took a step forward and looked the man up and down. I wanted nothing more than to yell at her for being a fool but my voice seemed to have deserted me
“Now, what would you lovely gentlemen want with us?” She played with the ribbon at the front of her dress as she moved. “Surely it would be more prudent for you to escort us to our destination and be rewarded handsomely upon our arrival.” She dared to flutter her eyelashes at them. “Our purses are much too meager to satisfy the three of you.”
“Hear that? We’re gentlemen now,” the stout one snickered.
“She speaks such pretty words, but oh how stupid,” the leader leered. They started to circle us, like predator around prey, like the hyenas from my books. “You see lovely, a nice clean toss is so hard to find in the out parts. There is so much more than your purse to be had.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen such a delicate lady in my life,” the thin one panted.
The leader cocked his head and looked at Natiselle, “What do you think lads, I think darkie over here can take two of us.”
“I don’t care as long as I get blondie.”
The air seemed to shift, like a cloak falling away, revealing the world as it truly was. I looked at Natiselle and gone was the frivolous girl who cared only about her jewels, in her stead was a steely eyed creature with a lip curling in rage. “Wrong thing to say, ‘lads’,” disgust dripped from her voice, a full octave lower than normal. She pulled at the ribbon she had been fiddling with and her skirt and petticoats fell away, revealing tightfitting trousers and flat soled boots. Somehow she had managed to secure two forearm length blades and a whip to her thighs. “I can take all three of you.”
My skin crawled as if the claw of death had trailed down the length of my spine. I could hear the blood rushing to my ears, a throbbing beat like war drums that drowned out everything else. She strung into action and if I had not been too terrified to move, I would have shielded my eyes. With a flick the whip wrapped itself around the main thug’s neck and his eyes bugged as he clawed at his throat. The stocky one ran at her and she nimbly slid out of the way, turning and pulling at her whip in the same motion. He missed her and she kicked out the back of his knees as he ran past her and sent him sprawling.
“Natiselle, behind you!” I yelped as the last remaining ruffian approached her back, knife in hand. She turned at the last moment and drew one of her blades. She blocked him with her forearm and ducked under his swipe. Figuring that she needed both hands, she let go of the whip and threw the blade at the leader. It found its mark in his stomach and he looked down in shock. With a yank he pulled it out and immediately blood bloomed across his shirt. I could feel the bile rising in my throat.
She did not even pause. Natiselle had pulled her remaining blade and was ducking and weaving around each swipe he tried to land. She danced around him, slicing at any opening–his back, side, cheek. Every cut she landed caused him to roar with pain or anger.
Suddenly, I could feel a grimy hand at my throat, pulling backwards. The stocky one that had fallen, I had forgotten about him. I could feel his hot breath on my head, smelling of rot and his last meal. His sweaty shirt clung to my back and I could almost feel it through my bodice. A gasp escaped me and Natiselle’s face whipped around. Her eyes narrowed as spots danced in my vision. She raised her hand and her dagger flew through the air. Space seemed to hang still as it came towards us. My knees buckled and only his hand was keeping upright. Then I could feel wetness in my hair and on my forehead. His grip fell away and air flooded my lungs.
I turned to look at him and saw the hilt protruding from his thick neck. My stomach heaved and I fell to all fours. The gravel bit into my palms, but the stable ground comforted me. I lifted my head and saw Natiselle behind the last one, her elbow in line with his jaw and her legs wrapped around his waist. She was clutching on of her fists and looked to be pulling up with all her might, her teeth gritted in the effort. Her lips were moving, almost as if she was counting. He clawed at her arm for a moment before pitching forward.
She did not let go for what seemed like an eternity. When she finally rolled off of him, her heaving breath the only sound in the night. She stumbled to her feet, cleaned her hands on her now filthy trousers, and started to retrieve her weapons. I watched as she wiped the blood from her blades on each victim’s clothes before sheathing them again.
“How –” I started, “How did you do that? You met your mark every time.” She looked at me and I realized my mouth must have been agape. I dragged my sleeve across it in an effort to remove the bile.
“I was aiming for their foreheads,” she said, her face flushed but otherwise emotionless. Her eyes narrowed and my heart sank as if I knew what the next words out of her mouth would be. “You knew this was going to happen did you not? This is why you brought me here.” Her voice was so quiet and fear shot through me. “There is no ‘delicious dining hall’ in this region is there?”
“I – I did not expect for this–” I stumbled over my words, “my friend was –”
“To what? Jump out and scare me?”
“I, yes, but –”
“Why?” she spat.
“I was jealous.” It was not until the words left my mouth that I realized my true motivation. The look in her eyes seemed to turn from murder to something like pity. To my surprise she offered me a hand. “Are you not going to kill me?”
“Why? Are you trying to kill me? She asked, a singular eyebrow quirking up.
“No.”
“Then why in three hells would I kill you?” she cursed.
“I know that you are not what you seem. You are more than just some lord’s daughter, here to find a wealthy husband.” Finally my voice seemed to find its footing.
“You owe me now, three times over. You are too useful to dispose of now,” she said, “and I am not an animal. I would never kill an unarmed man or woman." She shook her hand at me. Are you going to stay on the ground in your own filth?”
I took her hand and she pulled me to my feet. She collected her skirt and refastened it to her waist, but not before I noticed the cuts on her arms and legs. “I am so sorry. You are hurt!” I exclaimed.
She turned to look at herself. “Hmm, so I am.” Natiselle looked down at her skirt and swore at the now stained mess they were in. “I want my clothes mended and laundered by Wednesday.” I nodded vigorously. Satisfied, she started back the way we came.
A puff of air escaped me and I was overcome with relief. As the adrenaline left me, exhaustion took its place. I followed after her, trying by best to keep my fatigue at bay. After a while, we made it back to a main street. “Let me see your house gem.” She thrust her hand at me and without a word I pulled the ruby from its place next to my heart. She closed her hand around the golden chain and said, “Follow my lead.” She stumbled toward an approaching carriage, her fist outstretched with the ruby swinging and glittering in the lamplight. I did not need to pretend to be tired, my legs felt like lead.
“Help!” She cried, managing to be both breathless and loud. We must have been a sight, Natiselle with her tattered and bloody sleeves and me with bile and blood in my hair.
The carriage slowed and the alarmed lord and lady peered out. “Please, we beg your help to the Pravaci District.” The lady looked at her husband and put a gentile hand on his arm. “House Toulerin will reward you greatly”. He nodded and the door swung open. I sunk into the cusions gratefully and promptly fainted.
