“Jack, where are you taking me now?” I asked, following him out the door. The streets had grown dark, and the lamplighters were out in force. All day I had heard whispers of my death on the people’s lips, and now at dusk, the death bells tolled.
“We are heading somewhere private. Do not ask questions here. Do not be rude like you were with Master Greycliff.” he answered, and I was shocked at his accusations of rudeness. That gnome had wanted me for a whore.
“Jack, can you not be kind like this morning?” I pleaded with him. I knew inside there had to be the good man that made love to me.
“I’ll be nice, once we are safe and I can stop worrying if your next words or complaint is going to get me killed,” he said, and I frowned at him, he was incredibly dramatic. We left the tavern we had eaten at, and I followed him quietly through the streets to the residential area between Market District and the docks.
“Listen Nokomis, where I am taking you, could get me killed. If they knew who you were, I’d end up dead. Not just dead but tortured then killed. Please do us both a favor. Don’t speak to anybody. Look to me for answers, ok?” Jack said, and his face became incredibly dangerous.
“Yes Jack, I’m sorry,” I said. He was scaring me. All of this was scaring me. I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to do any of this. I felt tears well up in my eyes and fought the tears that wanted to be free. I desperately wiped the tears away before Jack could notice.
I looked up to see a cowled figure step out of the shadows between Jack and me. I froze in fear as the cloak parted. The woman beneath handed me a pale blue flower.
“Do not cry, Daughter of Moons.” she said in a whisper and stepped past me walking away.
“Who the fuck was that and what did she say?” Jack asked, and I noticed his dagger was free from its sheath.
“Nothing, Jack,” I answered. I wasn’t going to tell him I had been crying silently. “I didn’t hear” I lied.
“Stop dawdling and remember what I said. Get rid of that rose; it could be poisoned,” he told me and waited for me to catch up. I tossed the rose away. Twice more I noticed figures in robes and a cowl like the woman who had given me the flower.
“Jack,” I started to warn him, but he interrupted me.
“I know, I have noticed them. Don’t worry I’ll protect you,” Jack said, and I felt safe with him. I didn’t say anything else as he led me through the streets and into a maze of back alleys. Finally, we stopped, and Jack turned around and watched back the way we had come. After an eternity, he spoke, but his eyes never left their post.
“Knock on the wall to you left three times, wait two seconds then tapped twice more,” he commanded. I did as ordered and waited for something to happen.
“What’s supposed to happen?” I asked when it was apparent nothing was going to happen.
“Wait,” Jack said. His eyes still searched the alleyways.
“Jack what are you looking for?” I asked. Jack was starting to make me nervous. Before he could answer, I heard a scraping noise and turned around.
“Password?” a voice said from the vacant spot where a brick was removed.
“Pride and glory, youth and riches.” Jack said, “There may be company.”
“Enter.” the voice said, and a group of bricks in the wall pushed out when a door was open. We came into a dark tunnel and directly headed down a series of steps. We passed several alcoves, and I could see shadows moving around in the darkness.
At last, we came to a stop, and Jack lead me into a tavern-like room with a long bar. The room seemed mostly empty. Jack led me all the way to bar. The barkeep set down an ale before him and gave us a questioning look.
“Jonathon in?” Jack asked. The man serving us nodded and stepped away from the bar into a back room.
“Jack!” a woman shouted and came up and hugged him.
I instantly disliked her. I could tell she was the kind of girl who used her looks to get what she wanted. There were many of the women at court who tried to use their beauty the same way. She was lithe and beautiful with long red hair. Her blue eyes made my green eyes feel dull and demure. Her breasts were about the same size as mine but the outfit she wore accentuated them. She looked seductive.
“Bianca, what are are you doing back in the city?” Jack asked, and they embraced. He didn’t even introduce me. I might as well have been invisible. I now hated her, and he wasn’t high on my list either.
“I was considering a job. I could use a partner. Interested?” Bianca said, ignoring me as well.
“Might be. Stop by my room tonight we’ll go over the details,” Jack said and then looked to the man behind the bar who had returned. Jack got up at a signal from the man and grabbed my hand.
“I’ll be sure to do that,” she replied and gave him a peck on the cheek. I yanked him toward me, and we went to the door the man had indicated.
“What did I say about being rude?” Jack whispered, grabbing me by the arm. I almost stopped walking. He had some audacity calling me rude. We entered the back room, and I saw a salt and pepper haired man sitting behind a desk covered in papers. To his left stood a large man with a serious look to match the sword and crossbow at his side.
“We will be ok, Thomas.” the man I assumed was Jonathon said, and the other man left. Jack opened the backpack and dumped the collection of my treasury. Jonathon looked through my jewelry and pulled out a diamond necklace I had received on my thirteenth birthday. The man then took my pearls, some bracelets, and a jeweled signet ring. I could almost hear my teeth grinding.
“What’s the word on the assassination?” Jack asked cautiously. His eyes never left Jonathon, but I got the distinct impression he wanted to look at me.
“Sad that was, Didn’t even hear a peep of it before it happened. Whoever planned that used players from outside the city.” Jonathon answered then looked at me. He reached forward and plucked a tiara I had received when I was three. “who’s the skirt?”
“Just a new apprentice.” Jack lied, and I nodded.
“Jacky, Jacky, Jacky, when will you learn not to lie to me? So that wasn’t your body then?” Johnathon asked. My heart beat furiously against my chest. I slowly reached for my dagger. “She’s got some fight in her.”
“I got stupid,” Jack said sighing. “I’m taking her somewhere safe.”
“Is that what you want?” Johnathon asked, and I almost answered.
“It’s what she wants.” Jack answered, “it’s also what’s the safest.”
“Jack I asked the princess,” Johnathon said and looked at me.
“I want to kill every one of the bastards that took my life, and I want to thank them for it at the same time,” I said stepping forward. I plucked the signet ring from the small pile in front on Johnathon. “This is too dangerous to let go.”
“A lot of fight in her. Want a job?” Johnathon asked and plucked a ruby necklace from the pile. Jack gave me a warning look.
“No, I want to go with Jack,” I said firmly. I was pissed at him, but he had proven to be a good man. I didn’t trust anyone else right now.
“Well, your secret is safe with me,” Jonathon said smiling. “You really should keep this one around.”
“Thank you for the job. We good?” Jack asked. With a nod from Jonathon, Jack took my arm and we left. Jack brought me to a small apartment with a parlor and a bedroom.
“Where do we eat?” I asked feeling hungry. I dropped my backpack on the love seat.
“At the bar. That can go to the bedroom. I’ll take the couch.” Jack said. I picked the backpack up and headed to the room.
“You don’t worry about poison or people attacking us?’ I asked.
“We are in a safe place. Nobody would dare touch a patron without Jonathon’s permission.” Jack said, “and I trust him.”
“Why are you taking the couch? I mean seriously I can share the bed, it’s not a big deal now.” I said from the other room.
“We shouldn’t have done that. Bad form, mixing sex and business.” Jack replied. “Look, stay here I’ll be back.”
“Ok,” I said confused. Why was Jack acting this way all of a sudden? Jack returned with several people in tow carrying in two tubs.
“One in the bedroom, the other out here,” Jack said, and the servants nodded. Once they set the tubs up, they left. Jack showed me how to fill the container using a spout from the wall and keys for temperature.
“Are you sure you don’t want to mix sex and business?” I asked and dropped my clothes in front of him. His eyes devoured me, and I almost forgave him for his behavior earlier.
“Thank you, but like I said before… ” he started, but I interrupted him.
“Door’s that way. Get out!” I snapped. Jack barely left before my tears came. I hated him for taking advantage of me. I hated him worse for denying me and making me feel foolish. I finished my bath, and we ate food from the tavern his apartment. I went to bed angry after I finished without another word to Jack.
I woke some hours later to hushed whispers from the parlor. ‘Who was Jack visiting and why at such a late hour?’ I slipped out of bed and stepped quietly to the doorway. Peeking through the curtains, I saw Bianca straddling Jack on the love seat. The room lit, but a lantern turned down low.
Jack lifted light silk camisole she wore over her head. I watched as she leaned into him and he sucked her nipples. I knew I shouldn’t watch, but I couldn’t step away either. Her giggle as he nibbled at her pissed me off. Jack arched his hips up, and I was sure his pants were on the floor. She sank onto him and rode him hard and fast. His hands explored her breasts, and I found my hands touching mine. My nipples ached. I rubbed and pinched them with one hand and the other I slipped into my small clothes.
Bianca’s moans rose, and I heard Jack shush her. She rocked back and forth harder. I was jealous of her, jealous where she was now. My hand rubbed my drenched pussy, and I matched the speed of my fingers with her rocking. I imagined it was me riding Jack. Jack picked her up and laid her on the love seat. I watched as he fucked her from behind. My fingers rubbed furiously, and I pushed them deeper and deeper. Her moans began to rise again, and Jack leaned forward and wrapped a hand around her mouth. I leaned against the door frame and watched my orgasm building.
Jack shifted, and his hand moved to her throat choking her. I stopped fingering and watched. I didn’t like her, loathed her even, but I was shocked Jack would choke her. Bianca’s moans grew loud again and begged him to fuck her harder. ‘Did she like being choked?’
I stepped back into my room and crawled under the covers. I began to finish what I started. I started rubbing my clit again, which felt good but I need penetration. My fingers drove deep, and I curled them as Jack had done her. I brought my other hand to my throat and squeezed. The room swam around me.
I began to cum and my moans startled me, but I didn’t care if they heard. I could hear them fucking. I choked myself harder. My nails dug into the flesh of my neck. The pain was washed away with pleasure. I rode the waves of one orgasm into another. I continued to please myself until my fingers were sore and the smallest movement brought on sensations to great for me to handle.
I woke late the next morning to find a little box on the edge of the bed. Inside was a small platinum ring. I took the ring out and put it on as the note described. I looked in the mirror to find my body changed. The gnome’s magic was worth every penny. I stepped out to find Jack staring at me.
“Good morning Nokomis,” he said. I didn’t reply. I knew he had heard me last night and I am sure he, in turn, knew that I had heard his little bitch. “Ok, well, breakfast was hours ago. We need to get your stuff together and head to my place until we find a home for you.”
“Fine,” I said. I knew I was nasty, but I couldn’t help it. I changed into one of my new outfits that would not look odd while carrying a backpack and stepped out of the room.
“Would you like to talk? I don’t like putting up with the hostility.” Jack said trying to calm the storm within me.
“I don’t think we need to discuss anything.” I snapped.
“Ok, well, we will go nowhere until this is done!” he replied.
“Are you going to take that job with Bianca?” I asked yelling at him, then instantly regretted asking.
“Does it matter if I do?” Jack asked confused sounding. “Why does it matter?”
“I guess you just don’t mix business with pleasure when it comes to me or is it just me you don’t like?” I could feel myself getting worked up, but I couldn’t stop.
“Ok, so it’s about that. I just thought distance would be better, so you didn’t get attached.” Jack said not looking at me.
“Don’t worry; there is no chance of that Master Thief,” I retorted and walked to the door. “Are we leaving?” I asked and left the room.
