A Journey of Black and Red-Novel

I wake up in a bedroom that is not my own. Memories slowly come back to me and I find myself in a turmoil. I have some hope now that I found an ally in Jimena, and yet I have little doubt that she speaks the truth.

I am indeed afflicted by some unknown condition. The realization almost crushes my spirit and for a while, I sit under the velvet canopy, too stunned to move. It does not last though for Jimena bids me join her and I must obey.

I stand and make myself ready. The ill-fitting dress I wore yesterday is still clinging to my body. A few drops of blood have stained the front and back, yet I do not recall being wounded. Curious.

This specific guestroom is similarly equipped as the previous one, so I quickly take another bath after making sure the door is locked. It takes all my willpower not to luxuriate in the sensual feeling of warm water on my skin, despite how thirsty I am.

After drying myself, I find that someone left a strange looking grey ensemble by the entrance. I put it on. To my surprise, it is extremely comfortable, with the notable exception of the area around my, hmm, posterior, which is too tight.

Nevertheless, it does not limit my range of movement in any way. What a great find! Oh, if only I could wear this in polite society, but it has trousers, and this simply will not do.

Difficulty strikes when I try to sort the bird's nest that my hair has become. There is not a mirror in sight! How do they expect a lady to show her best without a mirror to attend to herself I wonder? Does Lady Moor… oh. She probably has servants of some sort.

Fortunately, my hair easily parts under my tAloNs fingers, and I believe I am at least somewhat presentable. They do not expect me to appear in polite society in any case!

With everything done, I leave.

Fortunately, it does not take me long to find the training room. I take the stairs down and wander a bit until I find the double doors.

During this, I only come across one maid who avoids my eyes as she rushes by. She has an enticing scent, but I do not let it distract me. I am, after all, expected. I only hope that Jimena has something to drink, this Thirst is killing me.

I find her at a table, cleaning an elaborate fencing foil. Next to her is a short and stocky woman in a peasant dress. She has short black hair and stares at me with a frown and worried black eyes.

As I come closer, I realize she smells divine, why, I just cannot stop myself-

Jimena halts me with a hand on my shoulder.

Jimena returns my greeting with a nod and a smile.

The woman does not answer. Instead, she nervously swallows, and I find myself fascinated by the movement of her neck. Such a pretty neck, so very fetching.

I turn to her and realize she is much closer than I am comfortable with. She takes my hands in hers. Her skin is soft and cool.

At first, I find the entire exercise silly.

Why, it feels like one of these hogwash meditation exercises those charlatans claim can cure blindness? Jimena, however, does not relent. She guides me with a soothing voice.

When the Thirst becomes too much, she grabs my neck in a firm hold and it helps me remain in control.

Eventually, I feel it.

On the edge of the sugar cane fields stands a log cabin. It is barely large enough for a single bed, a chest and a small fire pit. It was never meant to be lived in. It is merely a shelter, unadorned and unpolished. The only thing that matters is that it is safe.

I drag myself up on the straw mattress. It smells like soap and sunshine and I know I can wait here for him to return. A cool wind rustles the trees outside and carries the smell of rain on fresh soil.

Now that the weather is better, he will come back shortly and hopefully bring me something to drink. In the meanwhile, I will just hug Mr. Scruffybear. Mr. Scruffybear is such a gentleman.

I lick something exquisite. It must be the world’s very best bonbon. Someone moans in pleasure, and I know I should be shocked but cannot make myself care.

I bit down delicately. Something soft and warm parts under my teeth like the sweetest of fruits, and once again the delicious nectar comes to sate the Thirst.

Rapture.

It is so good, so very good.

And yet, it feels duller, somehow. It does not compare to before.

There is a partition between the feeling and me. I am enjoying myself, but part of me also sits in the bed of my cabin with Mr. Scruffybear.

I can hear mostly two things. The first is a woman moaning most shamefully. I am not too naïve not to understand that she…

Hah, I cannot even make myself finish the thought.

The second is a heartbeat, and it has been beating increasingly faster.

I do so immediately. The Thirst has abated enough that the urge is no longer so pressing. I also remember my master’s instructions. I must obey Jimena in all things.

I do so. I am overcome by a feeling of strong intimacy and were it not for my strange state, I believe I would be blushing.

A moment later, I open my eyes. Jimena is holding Aintza in a princess carry. I dare not mention how inappropriate this all is, not to mention Aintza’s rosy cheeks! Why, if someone were to come right now, I would surely die of embarrassment!

“Ariane.”

I frown in confusion. What happened then? I cannot seem to recall.

Jimena leaves and I am left alone. I can already feel that call of torpor even though I must have awakened not an hour ago. To distract myself, I inspect the training dummies.

I am simply astonished when I realize that some of those are automatons! How wealthy must those lords and ladies be, that they can afford such intricate machinery for such a trivial task? I can only assume that they are from Europe, for duels are still a way to resolve a dispute among nobles.

My musings are interrupted by the sound of the door opening and closing behind me. I turn from my inspection to greet a returning Jimena and instead recoil in surprise.

There are now two people in the room, only a few steps from me, and I have never seen them in my life.

How can they already be so close?! It is impossible! Unless…

I blink.

What was I thinking about? Hmmm. It matters not. There are people in front of me and I haven’t greeted them yet.

I curtsy, even though I do not wear a dress. Master told me to sTop RunNing to behave, and I shall do so.

And I wait.

The woman on the left is wearing a richly embroidered cream gown with green eyes and shockingly red hair. She is extremely beautiful, and both her aura and her posture remind me of Lady Moor. A younger Lady Moor at least. Perhaps a relative?

The black-haired man on the right is dressed in an assorted cream jacket that went out of fashion a century ago, and yet I would never call him on it.

With his chiseled jaw and handsome face, he would be at home as a Shakespearian actor in the fanciest theaters of London. His own aura is blander, yet similar to that of his companion. While she is sneering, he appears to be a victim of the most dire form of boredom. His blue eyes dismiss me almost immediately.

I have not grown to the age of nineteen without learning how to spot trouble. Whatever they want, I must delay it until Jimena returns without drawing their ire. And so, I remain silent.

Time is on my side, and the newcomers know it too. The woman’s sneer turns into a scowl as the first round goes to me.

Jimena, I beseech you, wherever you are, come back with all haste!

I must thread the needle between aggression and passivity. Too meek, and she will escalate. Too witty, and she will retaliate. I let silence draw as long as I dare before continuing.

What is it with everyone expecting me to be a simpleton!?

Does she expect me to lose my composure so easily?

It appears that I hit the mark. Her face freezes and her eyes turn calculating.

The man’s head turns to the door and he voices a warning.

She continues, unfazed.

I COULD NOT RESIST, HAHAHAHA. Oops.

This was a terrible idea.

She is not quite fast, but the strength behind her strike is unthinkable. I am launched through the air as if I weighed nothing.

By chance, I manage to roll on the ground without hurting myself too much. Her power is truly inhuman! If her backhand had landed, I would have had to collect my molars from the farthest door. How can a slip of a girl like her…

Wait, what was I thinking? I do not know; I know however that I am in danger.

I grunt and pull myself on my knees. I somehow ended up between two of those automatons.

Melusine strides towards me, wearing on her face the promise of pain. Their urgency must come from Jimena’s imminent return; therefore, I only need to stall for a few moments.

I am, however, spent.

This affliction has sapped my strength. My limbs are heavier than they were a minute ago. I will not be able to fight her. I will not be able to escape. In desperation, I do something that I can only attribute to my addled mind. I catch the side of the nearest automaton and pull its lever.

At best, I was expecting the dummy to rotate and buy me a few moments. Instead, the unthinkable happens.

A complex imprint flashes in the automaton’s chest and basks it in crimson. It shudders and steps down from its wooden support, and then it stretches four arms ending in wicked blades. Its eyeless head finds the closest moving target, Melusine.

I am too stunned to move. Sorcery! Sorcery of the vilest sort!

I barely notice the man pulling his astonished companion behind himself, when a voice sweeps the room in one mighty roar.

Jimena walks in with the confidence of a lioness. Her eyes find the dummy, which moved a bit forward for some reason and then settles on Melusine with an amused sneer.

I jump as both doors shut without any visible intervention.

A heavy silence falls in the room as Jimena closes the distance with the two outsiders. Before she can reach them, the man takes a step forward and offers a formal bow.

Jimena stops and considers for a while.

Is that all? After all of this, they are free to leave?

WE SHOULD CUT THEIR LEGS AT THE KNEES AND MAKE THEM CRAWL ON THEIR STUMPS!

No, it is a perfectly reasonable outcome for this farce, and I am delighted to see the back of them.

They leave without a word.

Jimena flinches.

Jimena stops to consider, then quickly nods in assent.

I shiver in disgust, what a dreadful fate!

She graces me with one of her rare smiles.

Did Jimena almost say decades? Surely my ears deceive me, I would not want to wait until my hair grows grey to emancipate! Not that it matters, as soon as I may, I shall go home.

Jimena looks at me expectantly. I can tell this is a test of my personality. I have known the woman for only two days, and I can already tell that she is honest and straightforward, perhaps a bit too straightforward.

She steps forward and I recoil. My reaction hurts her, I can tell.

I have not been moved to a forsaken corner of the earth, at least.

I almost scoff at the thought. Why would diseased people be territorial, and why include savages and slaves in the decision process? Unthinkable.

Something flashes in Jimena’s expression.

I will do as she asks; I am to obey her in all things.

Jimena leads me to a comfortable bench and holds my hands. I find the gesture quite touching coming from the Amazon woman.

My face must reflect my astonishment, for Jimena decides to explain a bit more.

Jimena does not interrupt my ranting; instead she looks at me with pity. How I wish I could convince her.

I… What?

Her attention flickers to my mouth.

I am too astonished to reply. None of this makes sense. A mysterious disease? Clans and politics? A clan of three?

I am not insane.

I try to hold it but despite my best efforts I start crying.

Nothing that happens in this madhouse can surprise me anymore. I nod in assent, then yelp as Jimena pulls me in her embrace. Before I can react, she licks my cheeks! How daring!

We stay there. I would be otherwise offended at her familiarity and yet I realize how much I owe her.

If what she says is true, and I have no reasons to doubt her words, then my master is a bit of a pariah. Our acquaintance taints her reputation.

Her honesty and loyalty are costing her and yet she defended me. I can only be thankful that I met her.

I feel so comfortable in her arms. I was already tired before my confrontation with that horrible harridan and now my entire body feels so heavy. I believe I shall take a quick nap.

Just a few minutes.