To Ashes And Blood

The Devil

"Iron Fist?"

The words escaped from Damien's mouth before he could stop them.

In a split second, an image flashed in his mind.

A man's silhouette in a hallway with steel walls. His fists were stained red.

And just as fast as it came, it vanished before he could grasp it.

Across from him, the woman smiled as she noticed the flicker in his eyes.

"Ouuu, so you've heard the name before."

Damien shook his head.

"No, but it means something I don't seem to understand yet."

He leaned forward.

"Who is he?"

The woman slowly crossed one leg over the other, revealing part of a dragon tattoo winding around her thigh before disappearing under her leather skirt. Smaller tattoos were scattered around it like faded battle scars.

She lazily traced a finger along her thigh.

"If you want to learn about the Iron Fist…."

She glanced slowly around the noisy bar.

"...this isn't the place."

She stood up, extending a hand toward him.

"Come."

Damien hesitated.

"You expect me to trust you?"

"Oh, sweetheart, you have no other choice, do you? I expect your curiosity to overpower your caution."

A teasing smile spread across her lips.

"So far…..it has." He whispered to himself as he took her hand.

She slipped her arm under his as if they had known each other for years.

The others at the bar barely spared them any eye as they disappeared through a narrow door behind the bar.

The alley behind the bar was the quietest place he had witnessed since he got into Corridor nine.

The silence was only disturbed by the sound of humming generators and liquid dripping from broken pipes

The woman led him through winding passages until a much brighter building came into view.

The building had red lanterns just above its entrance, which was framed by two massive pillars that displayed the hologram of three ladies blowing kisses.

Music drifted through the open doorway followed by laughter.

Two women leaned against each side of the entrance. They wore long, faded gauze skirts, their layered strips flowing along their legs. The passing breeze lifted the edges, briefly revealing their silhouettes before the fabric settled again.

One of them flashed Damien a playful smile.

"Hey, cutie."

She twirled a lock of her silver hair around one finger. Tracing her other hand from her chest down to her lower abdomen.

"Wouldn't you like to secure your lineage with me?"

As she removed her hand from her hair, the tips of her fingers sharpened into short metallic blades before returning to normal.

"I've got good genes."

The second lady laughed.

"And I've got better survival odds."

The pair burst into laughter as Damien awkwardly followed the mysterious woman inside.

"...Secure your lineage?"

he whispered.

The woman looked over her shoulder.

"Breeders."

She answered casually.

"People still believe in a better tomorrow, so they decide to have children, sweetheart."

"But the government licenses all breeders."

She scoffed.

"The Ninth doesn't. Everyone is free here in Corridor Nine"

They climbed the metallic staircase.

Every floor seemed louder than the last.

Gamblers argued over cards, mechanics traded scrap for liquor, musicians played from makeshift stages and women called to passerby.

Some waved and others simply acknowledged them with a smile.

Damien kept his eyes forward.

"...What are we doing here?"

The woman placed a finger against his lips.

"Hush now, Damien."

He froze.

"How do you know my name?"

Instead of answering, she gently dragged her finger from his lips to the Ashen badge fixed to his vest.

His eyes widened.

Realizing what she meant, Damien quickly unclipped it and stuffed it into his pocket.

She laughed softly.

"There…..now you look far less expensive."

She pushed open a rusty door and dragged him inside with her.

The room was dimly lit and only the outline of a large bed at the centre could be seen.

The moment Damien stepped inside, instinct took over. Golden light gathered around his right hand, with a soft hum under his skin

The woman simply sighed.

"Ughh, men."

She clapped twice and the lights in the room flickered to life. The room was soon lit with soft blue light, revealing a sitting area, shelves filled with old books, maps pinned across the wall and several communication devices.

As his gaze finally landed on the bed, he saw two women sprawled on it without a care in the world. The two of them looked at him almost in sync.

One licked her upper lip slowly as she fondled her breasts.

"So that's the academy boy?"

The other squealed, rubbing two fingers over her pants

"He's so masculine! I can't wait to see what he has under that shirt."

Damien swallowed hard.

The woman closed the door behind them making Damien turn quickly in that direction.

"Relax."

She walked toward a cabinet.

"Nobody here is trying to kill you."

She poured herself a drink.

"Yet."

Damien didn't lower his guard.

"What is this place?"

“These are my quarters."

She replied.

"You'll feel more relaxed if you stop asking these questions…."

She took a sip and walked towards him, pressing her chest firmly behind him as she rested her face on his shoulders and ran her hand from his chest to his lower abdomen.

".....maybe you'll learn a thing or two about Iron Fist as we help you relax."

One of the ladies on the bed giggled. “Come here daddy, let’s feel how warm it gets with you.”

“I came….”

He was interrupted by the soft muffled sound that came from the ladies on the bed kissing.

“Mmh….”

He watched as they fondled their breasts and swallowed hard.

The lady whispered into his ear.

“It’s a crazy world we live in now…..any of these girls would be more than happy to be your breeder.”

She licked and traced her tongue down his ear.

“You're an Ashen and we know you have some….. don't worry, you'll get your money's worth”

Damien struggled briefly and broke himself from her grip and headed for the door angrily. A soft glow began to form around his hand.

“This was just a waste of my time”

The lady dangled the door's unlock chip.

"Well then why are you looking for the iron fist, do you really want to leave without getting anything?"

She gestured toward the women on the bed.

"They hear everything. From drunken soldiers, merchants, mercenaries, government officials….."

She pointed at him. “......even Ashens. Everyone talks for a taste of the paradise we breeders offer”

The second woman chuckled.

"If we get to like you, we might even give you a free treat."

Damien slowly allowed the light around his hand to fade.

"So you're practically brokers for information."

The first woman pointed at him.

"See?"

"I knew he wasn't stupid."

The mysterious woman nodded approvingly.

"You're catching on."

She stepped closer.

"It's a crazy world."

She looked toward the city outside.

"Any one of us could've ended up as breeders on the mother board."

She looked back at Damien.

"Or thieves”

The lady on the bed came to the edge of the bed, crossing one leg over the other.

“Or corpses."

She shrugged.

"The Ninth doesn't judge."

"It simply lets its people choose."

The room became silent for a short while.

Damien finally spoke.

"Then this was truly a waste of my time."

He turned toward the door.

"I'm looking for answers…..”

He looked at the firm breasts of the lady at the edge of the bed

"Not distractions."

The woman didn't stop him as he walked away from them.

Instead...

She held up the unlock chip between two fingers.

"I wonder..."

Damien paused.

"...why were you so interested when I mentioned the Iron Fist?"

She rolled the chip across her knuckles.

"You don't strike me as one of his admirers."

The lady at the edge of the bed folded her arms over her breasts and tilted her head.

"....Or are you another one of those fanatics?"

Damien said nothing.

His eyes remained fixed on the chip.

She smiled.

"There it is."

"The look."

She sat on the edge of the bed, resting a hand on the head of the other lady.

"If the price is right..."

She dragged the head of the lady down to her lower abdomen.

"...I can tell you where to find him."

Damien folded his arms.

"You're all about my money."

She moaned in pleasure.

"Mmhhh, sweetheart….."

She looked down at the lady and caressed her hair.

"This is the Ninth. If you hadn't walked in beside Oma...."

She leaned back, arching her back with her face towards the ceiling.

"...you'd have been stripped of everything you own before reaching this room."

The other lady chuckled.

"If they were feeling generous, they would've left you your boots"

Damien frowned.

"...How do you know Oma?"

The woman spread her arms.

"This is my city."

She held the neck of the other girl and kissed her.

"My girls."

She shifted her gaze out towards the city.

"My customers.”

She tapped the side of her head.

"News travels faster than wildfire."

Damien's expression hardened.

"I'm looking for the Devil's Broker."

The room changed instantly.

The other lady finally brought her face up with her wet mouth.

The other lady slid silently off the bed, her fingers brushing against the metal bedframe.

A thin strip of steel peeled free and she reshaped it into a narrow blade.

The other raised a hand.

A current of wind began circling her fingers.

The room instantly felt cold.

The strange woman stood up, adjusted her skirt and walked in front of Damien with a stern look.

"How do you know the Devil?"

Damien calmly stepped forward and stopped just within arm's reach.

"If you arrange a meeting....."

He kept his voice steady.

"......you can be sure I won't leave the Ninth without giving you one Crown Ember."

The woman's eyebrows lifted.

"Ouuuu..."

She laughed.

"Where have I heard that before?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"You sound exactly like an old geezer I know who loves potato chips."

She held up two fingers.

"Make it two Crown Embers and we have a deal."

Damien moved forward a little until they were at eye level.

His voice remained calm.

"One Crown Ember."

He didn't blink.

"And I'll put in a good word with that old geezer who loves chips."

For a short while that felt like eternity, no one spoke.

Then……the woman laughed.

"I see."

She walked back to the bed.

"You're the prodigy he won't stop talking about."

Damien's eyes narrowed.

"You know him?"

"I know enough about this world Damien."

She snapped her fingers and the ladies left the room through a door Damien never noticed since he got in.

"But you should know something before we continue."

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"The Devil doesn't bargain."

She walked past Damien toward the door.

Damien turned and walked towards the door, “As a child I heard something different. The devil bargains….”

He stood a step away from her, leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

“.....just never twice”