Crimson

Daddy like friendships..

Mama loved stories with wealthy heroines.

I loved these stories too even if I couldn't tell where Mama's love ended and mine began. It had always been that way for me, anything mama showed interest in,I loved.

Not very long ago(really,just a couple of years back),there was a town full of obnoxious people.The most obnoxious of all was a girl named Belle who lived with her ailing father.

Her father was an inventor of sort but,he had a weak heart. Belle was an uncaring child that made her father work all day, without regard for his health.

Belle hated the town.She had aspirations for grandeur and this town could never give her what she wished for,so,she read.

She tried to gather as much information as possible from books to help her aspiration.Her father who loved his daughter unconditionally devoted his time to inventing something that would make his daughter less ashamed of him or at least,fetch a lot of money when it was sold.

That way his daughter might never leave him.Or,so he hoped.

Once,when Belle visited the town's library,she came across an old journal.Something about the Journal beckoned to her,so,she took the old book back and read it's content.

It had belonged to a wealthy widow.Her son had suffered from severe anxiety and agoraphobia,late at night when she sat by her son's bed to make sure he had no panic attacks,she had gradually filled the journal with how much she worried for and loved her child.

Belle was surprised when her town was mentioned in the journal.It seemed that the writer had lived in the forest behind her town.The next morning,Belle set off with her father's old horse that her father needed to get around,she left a note that said "Don't look for me".

It was an exhausting journey,but,Belle found the castle.

Dripping from the rain that had suddenly started,Belle watched as the big gates swung open before she knocked.She followed the path to the main door and got in.It was warm,well lit and beautiful.The kind of place,she had hoped to live in.But,there were traces of life,it seemed that the beloved son from the journal was still alive.

The son who had an unappealing appearance had watched the beautiful woman come in holding his mother's book that he had thought was lost forever.

Enthralled by the stranger,he groomed himself and went to welcome her(it seems his mother never told him of the current beauty standards).

Belle was beyond disgusted,but she fashioned a Charming smile and proceeded to practice her damsel in distress lines.The son that had never known anyone except his mother and the poetry she had left him decided that this flutter in his heart had to be love(pretty sure it was nerves,but since I can't tell him that...).

So,he showed Belle all of the treasures of the castle.When,he and Belle had gotten to know each other more,she told him of her ailing father and how she wished to return to see him for a while.He readily agreed and provided everything he thought she might need for her journey back, including gifts for her father.

Belle returned to the town and went straight to the tavern.There,she got on a table and screamed out that she had encountered a great,raging beast in the forest.She was ignored.

So,she added a price.Anyone,that succeeded in killing this beast would get a reward.The town folks knew Belle was poor,so,they weren't convinced.

Belle produced a bejeweled necklace from her jacket(courtesy of her good friend).The towns people would have been convinced with even just a piece of silver,the necklace only succeeded in creating a frenzy.

Everyone that could lift a weapon marched into the forest(even her father who had wanted to win something for his daughter).

Belle rode ahead and lured her friend to come out under the pretext that she was hurt.Her friend ran out to save her but was met with several attackers.His body was never even found(seems like the towns people had torn him up).

Belle left the castle to the towns people after clearing up all of the things she needed.She travelled far to Paris,where she lived the rest of her life.

Rich,unmarried and as obnoxious as ever.

On her tombstone,the words "The great french Cougar" were inscribed.

*****

I watched through a slightly opened c***k as Vita sighed and sighed over again.

When he turned to leave,I sighed too.

This had been too close.

Ali would be pissed.

This room was Ali's personal room in the Haze,so,it looked different.For starters,it had actual windows and a door.It contained a huge poster bed.Ali and I had gotten our beds from the same workman.

When people looked at Ali's bed with all of the silk sheets,posts and tiny pillows, they would probably assume the worst but,Ali was incredibly strict with bed partners.He had only one lover and she had never come anywhere near this room.

I had to stop wasting time,I was only delaying the inevitable.I made my way to one of the bed posts and twisted it.The door to Ali's office opened.

It was dim with the only light source,a fey lantern that had been covered up.Ali didn't do well with light.

He was fully reclined on his chair,to a stranger,he was probably dozing but Ali acted like a cat,he had listened to my conversation with Vita.

I dragged one of the stray chairs to the table and sat,I hated the silence.But,Ali was a guardian of sort, he'd taken care of me a lot of times and I respected him a lot.

I scratched my head,then,my neck.Still nothing,I sighed.

"Okay,I lose",I admit.

One of Ali's eyes opened,I could tell because his lashes were so pale.They shimmered regardless of the amount of light.His head was currently slightly bent,one of his braids rested on his chest.Ali had also taught me different types of braids.

"What did you lose this time?",he asked.

His voice was low but the scratchy quality was still there.He had never told me but I had seen the lines on his throat.He also hated talking around strangers which was why I had been surprised when he'd come out and also spoken to me,with Vita present.

"You talk as if I lose a lot",I grumbled out.

He pushed his chair back and stood.I watched the ink on his skin ripple.

His abdomen was fitted completely with ink in different patterns and words of a forgotten language.Ali was sentimental when it came to literature.

In Agrippa, s****l s*****y wasn't considered a crime if the victims were vermillions.

Ali's mistress had torn up his skin several times leaving long,jagged scar lines.He had hated the scars.So,when he told me he would cover it with ink,I had offered to go with him.

He wouldn't let me watch,so,I had waited at a restaurant nearby eating sweets.When he was done,an assistant had come to get me.

Ali had lain unconscious with ink covering every part of his torso.Even the faint pink lines that identified him as a vermillion.The artist had wanted Ali to come for a period of time but he'd refused, requesting that everything be completed at once.

I had sobered up quickly realizing exactly why he had wanted to do this.As smart as Ali was,he had still hoped covering up his scars would somehow cover up who he was.I had stayed quiet and helped him to his horse,what could I have said.I didn't even know what I was.

I stared at the ink now and noticed that I could see brief outlines of his scars,the ink was fading.

He walked towards me and pulled me out of the chair, pushing me onto the table.Even then,as he tried to be imposing,I could still feel the hesitation in his push.He secured both of his hands on the table, successfully caging me.

He was waiting for me to look him in the eye,I kept on looking everywhere but at him,the office had a magnificent ambience, courtesy of the painting I had given him.

He exhaled and hot minty air fanned the top of my face.

"Look at me, Juno".

I looked at him and shivered.His eyes didn't scare me but when I looked at his colourless irises,I could never tell what he was thinking,that scared me.

His eyes had been a great part of our arsenal when we lived on the streets.People had avoided us.Dozens had fainted when Ali really looked at them.He had once told me he was not born like that but he had never mentioned what caused it.I had never asked too.

"Tie your shirt if you're cold",he said.

His voice was lower than usual.I hurriedly tied my shirt as I tried to think of what I had done wrong.Ali wouldn't tell me,he'd just keep breathing down my neck.If I remembered what I did wrong and promised not to do it again or be careful next time,he'd stop then.

"You do realize how extremely dangerous what we do is.Especially you,what you do is most dangerous",he whispered.

I nodded.

"If you do,then why aren't you careful?Speaking with a brigadier isn't wrong but should be totally avoided in your case",he continued louder.

I liked to think that Ali and I had protected each other for a long time.But,the truth was that he had protected me more.

There was no need to get him agitated.

"I didn't know he followed me here. I'm sorry",I said.

He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath.

"I understand exactly why you do what you do Juno.I know why this is important to you. It's important to me too,but your safety is still my priority".

His voice was shaking now.I held onto his forearms and traced slow circles,soothing him.

"You won't lose me and even if I'm dying,I'll come to you.It would be easier dying while watching your grief stricken face than dying in some ditch,alone",I confessed.

Ali recoiled,pushing himself to his full height.He glared at me.

"Humans are fickle.The fact that they love you now doesn't mean they'll protect you forever",he spat out.

He was definitely angry about something that wasn't this.

"I should enjoy their protection for as long as it lasts then",I proclaimed.

"You're important to me too. You're one of the reasons I do this",I added.

Ali was full on glaring now.

"You act like my father",I whined.

"You don't have a father",he deadpanned.

"Ow, that's cruel,even for you Ali".

He turned and made his way to the end of the room where he proceeded to rip the painting I had given him off the wall.He turned back around and threw it at my feet.

"Larona came by today",he started.

I picked the painting,brushing off imaginary dust.I might have also covered my face.

"I saw her leave",I added.

Ali laughed,a dry laugh.

"She mentioned how the brigadiers had dropped by.One of them had kept staring at the painting,so,she had been curious.She had checked it and nothing was amiss",he stated.

I put the painting down,to see his face well.

"That's good,right?That there's nothing wrong with the painting",I offered.

Ali began to walk back towards me.I sat upright,not wanting to be caught off guard again.

"She wanted to know if you had been to the governor's building.I told her no and asked her to describe this painting to me.I told her I would find out why the Brigadier had shown interest in the painting",he finished.

He was standing before me now,his gaze icy and focused.

I stayed silent.

"Have you?",he asked.

"Have I what?",I asked.

I had decided to put on my best glare too.

His brows were furrowed.

"Have you been to the governor's building?",he inquired.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"It was just once.You always rave about how great it would be to see an original Van kohns' painting".

He placed a palm on his temple and proceeded to massage his temple.

"Which was why you wanted to make a copy of the Van kohn for me.A copy that I admired and was grateful for",he said.

I bent my head.

"I wanted you to have an original one.You deserve it more than that old fool that made himself governor".

He was silent so,I lifted my head.He was staring at me.

I grinned slightly.

"I'm sorry",I said.

He nodded.

"I'm sorry too,you're an adult.I should discuss things with you like one".

He gave me his hand and I went to shake it but he pulled me up.

"I thought you wanted to....",I trailed off.

He gave me his usual,"all except Ali are stupid humans" look.

He went back to his chair and waited for me to settle down.

"I almost forgot,how much more?",he asked.

I was confused.

He shook his head.

"How much more stupid do you intend to get?".

Ahhh,I knew what he was referring to now.

I grinned.

"It seemed like a great idea at the time",I answered.

Ali was back to massaging his temple.

"Not only did you give my name to a total stranger,you told her to come to me to change a gold bar for her and then went ahead to plant the ring on her",he rushed out.

"It wasn't that serious,I just wanted the ring to get to you as soon as possible.It would be dangerous for one person to hold it for too long",I replied.

Ali drew in a very unsteady breath,he looked exasperated.

"So,you decided to put it on a stranger.What if I hadn't noticed it?",he asked.

I shrugged.

"I knew you would see it".

Ali glared hard.

"What if she had gone somewhere else to change the gold?",he asked again.

I shrugged again.

"I trusted her.I knew she would come to you",I replied.

Ali put his head on the table,he was requesting a time out.After a few seconds,he put his head back up,his brows were no longer furrowed.I took that as a cue to ask.

"So,what's going on?How far are we?",I asked excitedly.

No matter how many times we did this,there was still a certain excitement and fulfilment that came with this.

Ali smirked.

"I sold it",he declared.

I wanted to know who could have possibly bought such an item but we had long decided that Ali had no say in how I went around borrowing from the Agrippan elites and I also had no say in how he sold or exchanged these items.

So,I asked the second thing I was curious about.

"How much did we get?",I asked.

"Enough",he ascertained.

He continued,"The bars we got in exchange are currently being melted,by morning,they'll be coins and be distributed.We will have enough for shelter,food and heating.Enough to pay all of the workers".

I whooped loudly.

"It was more than enough,so,I got a gift for you.For all of your hard work",he stated.

I frowned.

"I don't do this for personal gain".

He knew this better than anyone.

Ali's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry.I will have the silk returned tomorrow".

I choked.

"Silk?"

"Yes,I ordered it from Caeso.I will just cancel the order".

I shook my head.

"You don't have to.Since you made the order already, I'll just have to accept it".

Ali blinked,his lashes flapping for a second.

"If you say so".

I yawned.

"I should go, it's dawn and I'm exhausted",I murmured.

"Don't ride while you're this tired,rest for a bit here",Ali offered.

I shook my head.

"I don't want some strangers having s*x by my bed".

Ali frowned slightly.

"Of course, you are sleeping on my bed".

I perked up.

"Really?"

He nodded and stood up.I followed him out to the door to his bedroom.

"Are you going to sleep too?",I asked.

He looked at the bed for a long second,then shook his head.

"I have a lot of accounting to do",he informed me.

As I made to get into the bed,Ali grabbed my hands pulling me back into him.

"You shouldn't wear jewelry to bed",he whispered.

He pushed me to a sitting position on the bed and proceeded to remove the earrings,hair clips and neck bands I had borrowed earlier.Ali had a lot of jewelry,I had made it a tradition to try on what new jewelry he had whenever I came around to the Haze.

He didn't take off the gold neck band.

"Aren't you taking this off?,I asked.

He shook his head and held the blanket up for me to slide in.

I yawned again and closed my eyes.

"Juno?",Ali whispered.

I made some incoherent sounds.

"What do you think of the brigadier you were talking to earlier?",he asked.

I Wondered briefly if I had to be honest.Ali interrupted my thoughts.

"Be honest",he said Calmly.

"He's... he's hot, really hot. It's even more fun because he has no idea of his own appeal".

****

Ali watched Juno drift.

He shook his head,this wasn't the time to feel hurt.Juno was still his.

Even if he had called some stranger really hot,when the only person he'd ever called really hot was Ali.