I was handed to the green woman. Her tusks jutted out and she coddled me. My mother had a vacant look in her eyes. She always had the same look anytime I saw her.
“Ah, a new one to train. Got enough whores perhaps we see if ya can handle numbers child.”
-----
I made the rounds, collecting money. I recorded everything. The green matron voice would whisper to me after so many calculations. When I returned to our base the matron was with a client.
“We will not be extorted any longer.”
A greenskin violet hair girl wishes to take a stand. She had previously been paying a protection fee to us. Seems she has come to terminate the agreement. The matron seems bored.
“Its honest work to be protectin’ your property when you are away, Phenolp.”
“If anything is missing we will get it back ourselves.”
“Will she be killed, made to heel or forced into the brothels?”
I exchange a coin with my fellow runner who thinks she will go to the brothels. The matron voice compels the girl.
“YOU WILL FEAR AND RESPECT ME.”
I received my coin back with a new friend. I knew the matron would not do more than that to someone with a family name. The girl titters and gives her coin to the matron. No one has a choice in this life.
-----
“Phen already told your bitch of a boss we ain’ payin’ no more.”
I looked at the pink haired girl, annoyed it was she who answered the knock. Phenolp must have been out. I shrug and leave. I hear a titter from the back window. I see the violet haired girl and walk over. She hands me the coin, her eyes moist. The matron's insidious command still worms itself in her. I remind myself to simply stick to numbers. I had no taste for the enforcement side. I knew my place.
-----
“Nyx, you sure you ain’ want to learn to use my voice. I feel I could expand mor’ if I had you speakin’ as well.”
“I fear it would just get us mor’ attention, matron.”
“You ain’ wrong at that.”
Mollified, she turns to other matters. I am grateful she sees value in me, but I hate her use of people. Her use of my mother's weakness. I make a point to never invoke her compels on myself. I also make a point to listen every time she uses it. Her own voice tells me my progress. I keep a knife on me, I know if she tries to compel me I will need to kill her when she fails.
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-----
“What do ya mean a Pimar girl went and ruff’ ya up?”
Another of the enforcers, Birg, I hated collecting from him. He barely washed and sentences were a struggle for him. Hadn't become a murderer yet though.
“Bitch weigh’ a ton and pull’ a knife on me.”
He held back and the matron agreed.
“Tell me what happened.”
The shallow thing’s eyes glazed over and his voice came out monotone, his [Common] was not improved.
“She asked if I want’ to make a bet on wheth’ I could guess her weight. I lost. She threat’ me wi’ a knife. When she turn a way I try to attack her. Her tail slap’ me down.”
“Well bloody hell guess I got anoth’ to make to heel. Though a Pimar girl could round out the house.”
I shudder and watch the matron go.
-----
“Spread the word, no one is to both’ the adventurer trio and their Lady.”
The matron voice is tinged with something I never heard before. Fear? That's new. I shrug, the numbers will be less but that is not my concern. The others look concerned at the matron meekness. Others see opportunities.
-----
“Com’ on Nyx. She los’ it. We coul’ make a break for it.”
Birg tries to entice me to leave. I just shake my head.
“It only a matter of time before she regains herself. You want to be on her loyal list or her bury list when the time comes.”
He looks annoyed at that but he stays. I did too.
-----
“Find that fuckin’ cat.”
Seems she has regained herself.
“She hasn't been back to Phenolp house since the night.”
“I ain’ ask’ where she ain’”
I leave to search. Damn, her eyes are crazed. Maybe I should have risked fleeing.
-----
I found her. The matron that is it. A hole in her back. I sigh. I went to where she kept her ‘mone’. After I pulled it out I heard Brig behind me.
“I knew if I wait’ you com’ and show me the guds.”
Fuck. I lose to him if we fight, a surprise knife ain't going to work when he is already watching me. I sigh.
“That a gud girl. Now I be think’ you go keep doin’ the mone’ runs. If you don’, I put you wi’ your mum an’ you can sho’ others you guds.”
I should have learned the voice.
-----
The numbers keep getting smaller. Birg losing control. Most refuse to pay after learning the matron is dead. I've turned to mugging people. Most just laugh at me. Some hand me their change. I fear it might be out of pity. I return to Birg.
“You ain’ cut out for this Nyx. Bet’ to be on you’ back.”
I look at him with hate. He just laughs.
“If you don’ bring mor’ tonight, you join’ you’ mum.”
-----
I spied an attendant by herself at the river bank. It can't be a pittance this time. I'll need it all. Her waist is exaggerated, a corset? Perhaps her clothes will sell to the second hand store. I approach her from behind. Ready to push my knife into her back.
“Have you come to rape me?”
I negate the compel, my reserves almost out. I notice the ears. Is she the same cat that broke my matron? I stab her back before she can say another. The knife snaps, hitting something hard. The girl turns, uncaring about the small wound I had made. Cat eyes tinged with red bore into me.
“To murder me then?”
My eyes lose focus. My voice is monotone.
“Yes.”
When my mind snaps to, my legs are bound in red webbing. She lifts my body into the air to her face. Her body had changed, she was bigger. She had the eight legs of a spider with a black bulbous back. I scream. A hand wrenched my head up, my face is now pointed to the moon. She bites my neck, piercing my jugular. I feel myself drain away, tears falling. They join the monsters' own.
