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Chapter 45. Tiger |
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ue Xing paced the lushly appointed apartment with a critical eye. The black lacquer-work wardrobe gleamed, reflecting her pale figure as she admired its golden detailing and richly embellished brass hinges and hasps. The bed was piled high with freshly laid out down-filled blankets that had been folded around perfume quality lavender buds and infused with the smoke of the finest sandalwood incense. There were long scrolls of traditional paintings mingled with Kurzick trinket boxes carved from the amber-veined stone of petrified Echovald. Many of the delicate items set out on display upon the narrow shelves were gifts from her clients. Others she had purchased to increase the appearance of wealth and exoticism. She was, at heart, a business woman. Xue Xing catered to those who desired the luxury and renown of the unattainable imperial courtesans. They would consider it beneath them to drop meager coin to a dock-lurking jade. Respectability and comfort, a sense of safety and theatre, these were her tools and her home was part of that package. When the guest was a foreigner, as he was that night, she made certain dragons and phoenix were in prominent display even though she was as far removed from imperial blood as a Canthan could be. “Xue Xue, go to your room and make no sound,” she said in a brisk voice she would never use among her customers. Children were a liability. Her clients valued the appearance of a respectable suitor. Most would flinch if they knew little Xue Xue was in the neighboring room. Not that this evening’s client would care. He knew about their child. In a fit of desperation she had offered the babe to him and had instantly regretted it. He paid well and she had very nearly lost him. Soon after Xue Xue was born, she resolved to keep her, surprised at the sudden emergence of maternal feelings. Not that there had been many good choices. There were no relatives available to take the child and abandoning her had seemed uncivilized. For months she had cared for the babe alone, fretting and frightened she would lose her clients. She had hidden the pregnancy for as long as she was able, binding her belly first with swaths of silk and then wearing the Kurzick corseted gown some of her clients preferred. When she could hide her quickening belly no more she made up a tale about traveling to a foreign court to answer the summons of a mysterious lord. Confined to her darkened apartment and relying on the help of her maid, she had contemplated a grim future. With no family or reputation, her chances of settling down with a decent husband were highly unlikely. And she liked her life. She had all the comforts and freedom she had ever desired. Her clients were happy and treated her with a level of deference and respect she had never known during her brutal and impoverished childhood. But Xue Xue threatened that, threatened her ability to stay free and live with dignity. And what threatened mother, also threatened child. At least that was how she justified what she had decided to do in the end. One day while sitting alone in her dim apartment with Xue Xue suckling at her breast, Xue Xing had an idea. Could an infant learn, she wondered? Could this little bundle of need be trained not to make a sound? Thus she began ignoring the babe when it cried, leaving her to languish in filth and hunger until she grew silent, Only then did Xue Xing approach the crib and offer comfort. One sound and she departed again. The little girl’s screams and desperation tore into her soul, but it was for the best Xue Xing reasoned. One night lying awake as her daughter’s screams rent the peace of the night, Xue Xing fell into a pit of despair and rage. Xue Xue was too thin and small. That night she realized Xue Xue might die and it made her happy. No more child in the way, no more sleepless nights and worry. At that precise moment it was as if her daughter had read her mother’s mind and knew at last that her only chance to survive was to make no sound. Soon she loved her daughter again, but when it was time to receive clients Xue Xing was harsh. Sometimes Xue Xue forgot herself and acted like a five year old girl. Sometimes she begged her mother to send her clients away before they arrived, fearing for her. Tonight, however, the little girl only raised her golden face demurely and smiled, obediently gathering up her two wooden dolls and disappearing into her bedroom. The little girl had delicate features and despite the awkwardness of youth, carried herself with pride and grace. Xue Xing had paired her with a dance instructor and recently procured another tutor to teach her elocution and letters. Such a bright child. Xue Xing could not help but feel proud of her. In a few years she would be ready to receive training in her mother’s art. She might even win a place at the imperial court. It was not unheard of. “This is good, Xiao Mei. You may go now,” she said to the maid after her daughter closed the door to her room. The maid bowed, keeping her eyes averted as Xue Xing gave her a string of coins, more than usual, as a sign of her approval. Alone in the perfumed quiet of her home, Xue Xing laid out the oils and items her client preferred. He was not gentle and often did not speak to her. In this he was her least favorite. To him, she was simply another pleasure bought and abandoned, a thing to be consumed and tossed aside until next time. Still, she was counting on the generous payment to procure the services of Xue Xue’s instructors and to lay a little more aside for her retirement. Thankfully, Xue Xue would come of age when Xue Xing had lost her luster. When the sharp rap of his cane broke the stillness, she tensed reflexively and had to remind herself to be calm and relaxed. Straightening the folds of her soft white gown adorned with spring plum blossoms, she approached the door, breathing deeply before opening it to Josef. Today he had someone with him, a small figure in a thick lacy Kurzick gown. She had on a lustrous black wig that had been oiled and braided elaborately over combs and rings of amber. Her face was concealed behind an enabled white gold-trimmed mask so that the over all impression was that of a rather large gaudy doll. The woman, at least Xue Xing assumed she was an adult, stood behind Josef’s tall winsome form. Definitely servile, perhaps even another mistress. Josef had unusual tastes. His black mane was lustrous, gleaming in the bright candle light of her chambers. Today he was clad in a long black leather top coat edged with silver and amber studs. Watered gray silk barely concealed his finely muscled breast and his leggings displayed the hale tone of his rump and thighs. It was odd to feel desire for a man for whom she had so little regard. “Poppet, go sit in the parlor while we discuss business.” The doll-like figure rustled past her, so heavily draped in cloth and whalebone she could barely move. At last his warm brown eyes alighted upon Xue Xing. His skin was the light golden hue of a highborn Canthan but his jaw had the heaviness of a Kurzick. A faint smile rose to his lips as he took her in, more fondness than he usual showed her. And that was it. He took her hand and drew her into the bed chamber and closed the door. That night he insisted that she recite poetry and then play the zither while he relaxed upon the bed. He propped his booted feet on the footboard of the great bed, barely acknowledging her as she danced for him then submitted to his usual perversions. Many of her clients were rough in their desires but they paid her well. She never feared for her life, trusting them if for no other reason than that they knew hurting her severely meant the end of their games. That night, however, fear edged into her mind where it had never dwelt before. She squirmed to escape from him, unable to speak and demand that he stop. Her attempts only seemed to spur him on and for a moment the flash of his teeth in the darkness put her in mind of a bloodthirsty beast. “Do you want this life for our daughter?” he breathed into her ear as she lay helpless beneath him. She was trembling, her heart pounding so hard she knew he must feel it pressed so close against her breast. Her mind awash with horror, all she could do was shake her head. “Good,” he whispered, “Then you won’t mind me taking her away.” “No,” she gasped, fighting past the unnatural terror at last to find her tongue. “I’ll pay you well,” he said coldly, his hand pressing down hard over her mouth, “After all, you once begged me to take her. I’m sure she gets in the way while you ‘work’.” Barely able to breathe let alone make a noise, she silently pleaded with him to release her. Fear for her daughter drove her to struggle feebly. He was much too strong and a great deal larger than she. Xue Xing managed to slip her arm loose, hoping he did not notice as she reached slowly for the dagger she kept concealed between the mattress and the headboard. “Idiot woman,” he laughed, keeping his voice low, “You really have no clue what I am.” He pressed down on her wrist, not deigning to disarm her as she fought to break loose and stab him. “You can’t harm me,” he continued, “I am one of the Chosen of the Gods and you are but a lowly harlot. Look at you fighting when I have hexed you to serve my will. Surrender and give me what I desire peacefully and I may just let you live.” She realized then that he would kill her regardless of what she did. He had planned to kill her when he had walked through her door and had merely toyed with her up until that moment. He had batted her around like a wounded bird, a cruel tiger biding his time and enjoying her helplessness until she was too exhausted and frightened to go on. “Good night, my lovely,” he purred. |
