金瓶梅第2部

Exhausted, Doe let her feet take her to the only other place she thought to go. Her bare feet torn and filthy, and feeling like she was half-dead again, she stumbled through the back door of Madame Virgil's Massage Parlor.

"By the Flame, is that Doe?"

"Doe, what happened to you? Oh no! Are you hurt?"

As soon as Doe half-collapsed onto a couch, five of the girls surrounded her, various levels of worry on their faces. The girls were always the sweetest. After Doe left the Massage Parlor to work for House Galanis, she was no longer considered competition. That was the only reason they could pretend that they cared as much as they did.

Kleio split her way through the crowd, her make-up half done, her damp hair wrapped with a towel, "Finally back, b*tch? Seven hellllllls, you look like shite, girl."

Oh, Kleio... she was the most beautiful whore in all of Silva. Doe never understood how she wanted to claw her eyes out but at the same time confide in her all of her deepest secrets.

Doe gave a tired smile, trying her best not to cry, "Shut up, Queen B*tch, haha... I've had... I've had a really... really rough sun."

Kleio smirked, "Welcome back, Little Doe."

Even if they were lies, Doe had missed the warmth of someone-- anyone, pretending to give a shite about her. She failed at not crying. She was definitely crying, "Is... is Madame Virgil in?"

"Hally is getting her now!" One of the girls said, "We heard about what happened to House Galanis..."

"What... what happened?" Doe asked, "I... I got sick. And I haven't been around for awhile."

"Mister Galanis got himself strung up in the Market Square, just a sun ago," Kleio licked her teeth, before sitting down next to Doe. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you? Weren't you f*cking one of their leaders?"

A powerful falsetto voice reverberated through the room, "Now, now, girls. Give Little Doe some space."

Obediently, the girls made way for Madame Virgil to saunter into the sweltering back room... with the exception of Kleio. Kleio draped her arms over Doe possessively.

Virgil swept back the hair of her gorgeous wig of blonde curls, while adjusting her backless, strapless red dress, "You too, little Queen."

"I don't wanna~" Kleio complained. Still, she planted a sloppy lipsticked kiss on Doe's cheek before standing up, "I missed you, b*tch."

"Y-yeah... I missed you too," Doe admitted between her sniffles.

Madame Virgil was the sweetest slavedriver Doe knew. Before she had met Sir Tychon, she didn't think any man in Silva was worth her trust. But even though Madame Virgil was born male, she didn't count as one... for somewhat obvious reasons.

"The underground is in an uproar," Virgil sang in her deep, sultry voice. "But Madame Virgil's Massage Parlor still offers its services to those who have the coin...

"If you want to come back..." Her expression changed to a motherly worry, "By the Flame, Little Doe... It looks like we'll have to feed you for a week or two before you're plump enough to work again."

Doe wiped at her eyes, smiling... sobbing, "Th-thank you, Madame Virgil... But no... I'm..."

"There, there..." Virgil snatched up a clean cloth and dabbed at Doe's eyes, "Mama Bird is here. All my girls are welcome, back in the nest... What can we do for you?"

Doe sniffled, leaping forward to embrace her former employer... Everything was going to be okay. This was her second chance to live how she wanted.

"I... I want to be a maid for a noble house. Can... can you teach me?"

...

⟬ An unknown amount of years prior. ⟭

"Ehehe..." Athena giggled, "This is the farthest I've ever been away from the house."

She was looking over a large rock formation at its lowest point... standing atop the shoulders of her newest servant, Tanamar. He was a lot nicer and friendlier than the other servants. He didn't even complain when she told him to boost her up.

Athena didn't think he'd do it. She felt kinda bad. But she really did want to see over the rocky outcropping.

"Wh-whoa!" Suddenly, she lost her balance. With the fall, she found herself plopped down atop Tanamar's back as he exhaled painfully, "Oh! I'm sorry, Tanamar!"

Quickly getting off, she knelt down by him and swept her light blue hair out of her eyes, "Oh, no~ By the Flame, are you okay??"

"Yeah," The silver-haired boy groaned. "I'm fine."

"Oh, I'm so glad," Athena breathed a sigh of relief, fanning her flushed face.

He sat up, rubbing his lower back, "Why are you here, again?"

"I wanted to see what kinda training Uncle gave you!" Athena beamed, "Also, I have a responsibility to protect my friends!"

"...Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Tanamar shook his head, "Well, that's fine, I guess. You have to listen to my directions, though."

"Ehehe. 'Kay!!"

Tanamar was always super nice about everything. She had asked properly before she decided to tag along on her own. Uncle said it was really dangerous in the hills, but Tanamar was about her age. How could it be dangerous?

"What did you see? Athena?"

Tanamar never called her mistress. It was nice. Since they'd first met, she never treated him like a servant. He was her friend! An awesome friend that let her stand on him if she wanted to!

"No enemies! We're safe!" Athena grinned. She found herself smiling often when she was around him. She loved that feeling.

Tanamar stood, gazing up the steep rock... Was he going to climb up? There weren't any handholds?

"⌈Aspect of the Winged Seraphim,⌋" He whispered... really quiet, so Athena could barely hear him.

It was like Tanamar sprouted wings. He ran up the rocks, grabbing the jagged top with one arm. He pulled himself up to observe beyond it... before sliding back down.

"Wow," Athena said in a hushed voice. "You're really cool, Tanamar."

"Why are you whispering?"

Athena tilted her head, "Because the enemies might hear us?"

Tanamar narrowed his eyes, "Well... you can stop. I can hear you just fine if you talk normally."

"Then why were you whispering?" Athena pouted.

Tanamar's mouth twitched and he grew quiet. He was so cute when he was confused! Athena didn't even care about the answer anymore, grinning wide, "Where are we going next?"

The white-haired footman held out his hand, a glowing rod of light appearing like a divine weapon gifted by the Eternal Flame itself, "I saw an enemy. It's hidden, but it's there."