15 Frost 120
Thick, velvet curtains, waves of laughter and moans, and incense so thick it hung cloyingly to their nose no matter how hard they tried not to breathe. Everywhere Faine looked, they were met with decadence and indulgence. And, bloody stars, the bodies. So many bodies, bodies as far as the eye could see. Bodies smoking, bodies dancing, bodies tangling in budding passion.
It was starting to make them feel nauseous.
“Something the matter, dear?” Madame Lunaria purred, eyeing the Fae up and down. “You’re looking a little...green. Well, greener than usual, that is.”
Faine stared back at the proprietress and gave their best impression of a south facing stone.
The Madame chuckled. “Never any fun, are you?”
“Depends on who you ask.”
This earned them a genuine laugh, low and throaty to match the Madame’s deeply scheming mind. Everything about her unsettled the perfumist, but that served only to further establish how unwise it would be to cross her. Including any attempts to decline her job offer.
As was typical of all things Madame Lunaria, the offer had arrived cloaked in compliments, the promise of profit, and a layer of spiced perfume so potent that Faine’s eyes watered upon opening the letter. Even the envelope was gilded in gold, though the messenger who had delivered it was built like a bull and refused to leave until the entire letter had been read. Aloud. With a verbal confirmation of acceptance at the end.
Faine may have been somewhat out of touch with the rest of civilization, but it was hard not to take the scowling thug-turned-delivery-boy as anything other than the steel gauntlet to Madame Lunaria’s conniving, velvet hand.
The contents of the letter were as follows:
To my darling Faine, most esteemed perfumist and dearest friend:
I hope this letter finds you well. Your last visit still provides me many fond memories, to which I cling for comfort in these trying times.
It pains me to confess that an unsettling incident has occurred in my house. One of our precious girls, Shaia, has gone missing. She had taken none of her possessions and her room was left in complete disarray. This is entirely unlike her and, thus, we fear for the worst.
Though I am loathe to burden you with this most unhappy news, I find myself at a loss as to whom I can rely on in my hour of need.
Please, come visit us at your earliest convenience. Your help is both deeply needed and appreciated. Of course, you will be generously compensated for your time.
We implore that you do not leave us devoid of your divine company for long. We miss you dearly.
Warmest regards,
Madame Lunaria Zirnomei
Proprietress of the Velvet Cabaret
There were more than a few lines they had struggled not to choke on, which no doubt was the Madame’s exact intention. Money was money, and Lunaria was good for her word, but Faine would be lying if they claimed such manipulations did not grate them. Painfully.
“Ah, at last,” the devil herself intoned with a sly smile, jolting Faine from their reverie. “Your partner has arrived.”
The Fae glanced at their employer before refocusing on the doorway, eyes brimming with suspicion.
Partner...what fresh horror is this shrew of a woman plotting?
Common ❀Valasren