A New Beginning

by Alexander W Meurant

  She pushed Mehrbad out of the way, causing him to stagger and she went towards the man, who faltered in his stride, a look of surprise on his face, being quickly replaced by amusement and then fear as Mehrasa pulled up her shirt to her belly button and displayed the pistol tucked into her trousers. She pulled it out and let it hang by her right side as she stopped just in front of the man, not quite close enough for him to touch her without having to step forward.

  "I got a question for you folks, if you would be so kind as to answer" she stated as she raised the pistol, brandishing it somewhat. It was an old model, some sort of revolver from a past age and she had only a half dozen rounds for it. But these folks wouldn't know that.

  "Uh, yeah, sure. Ask away. We don't want no trouble" the man stated as he raised his hands in mock surrender. Mehrasa smiled and made sure her pistol was now pointed at the man.

  "Oh, how nice of you sir" Mehrasa replied with sarcasm heavy in her voice.

  "I am looking for the headquarters of Rehan. I am here for a job of his" Mehrasa continued and perked a brow as she watched the man literally blanch like he had seen a walking corpse.

  "Ah, you are here for Rehan. Shit, um, his place is a block ahead. You were going the right way. It’s got a big neon sign with two crossed scimitars. Can't miss it" the man stammered and pointed in the general direction before turning away and disappearing into the alley behind him, his goons hurriedly following after. Mehrasa watched them go and then scoffed as she shoved her pistol back into the hem of her trousers.

  Turning in the direction of where the man had indicated she started walking, noting but trying to ignore the look of awe on Cabhar’s face. The trio walked in silence for a few minutes and then came to a sort of cross street and looking to the far corner Mehrasa saw a large neon sign with two crossed scimitars upon it. The sign hung above a door situated on the corner of two streets and looking through the open entry she saw it was some sort of drinking house. She frowned and just walked across the street catching curious glances from people passing by.

  She didn’t hesitate as she stepped into the building and just walked into the area in the middle of the floor. A myriad of smells and noise washed over her and she suddenly felt a little overwhelmed. The smell of sweat, vomit, alcohol and smoke filled the place whilst shouts and loud conversations reverberated around the entire space. And no one stopped speaking when she walked in. She realized her shoulders were quite tense and willed herself to relax as everyone around her kept going about their business. Had she expected different? Shaking her head she looked around the interior of the building.

  The place was filled with rough looking people, and evidently many were not from any of the Cassar Kingdoms. There were many white skinned people, black skinned as well, and even a few people with slanty eyes and light brown skin. She couldn't see many women, but those she could see were either serving alcohol or sitting on the laps of burly looking men. And most of them looked rather sickly. Shuddering Mehrasa turned her attention to a long counter at the back of the room, with various bottles stacked behind it. She walked towards it, slipping between various tables and chairs and trying not to accidentally touch any of the patrons.

  Reaching the counter Mehrasa placed her hands on the rough wood and looked over some of the bottles, seeing many letters on them. She could not read but recognized a handful of symbols, just not knowing their meaning.

  "What'll you be having lass?" a thick voice asked and Mehrasa looked towards the source, seeing a short, bald, yet thickly built man with a graying black beard running down to his chest. She looked behind her briefly noting her companions were standing just behind her, staring all over the place with mouths hanging agape. Mehrasa snorted and turned her attention back to the man behind the counter, noticing he was now turning a glass around a cloth on his hand, presumably cleaning it.

  "Well, I am not here for a drink actually. I am looking for Rehan. He had a job out. I am here for that" Mehrasa stated, her eyes locked on the man, trying to feign a confidence she did not wholly feel. At least her voice stayed even. She watched the man raise a brow and then let out a whistle. A head poked out from a side door behind the counter in a hallway, and Mehrasa caught side of a black skinned bald head. The man behind the counter said something in another language and she frowned as the black skinned man nodded and came forward.

  The man made his way to a part of the counter and lifted it upwards. Mehrasa noticed it was actually a sort of doorway and she raised a brow as the black skinned man beckoned for her to come through. She hesitated a short moment and then followed, hearing footsteps as the other two made to follow her.

  "Uh uh lads. Not you. Only her" came the thick voice from behind the counter and Mehrasa turned as she heard a gasp. She looked at Mehrbad and Cabhar, seeing fear in their eyes. She flicked her gaze to the man behind the counter and saw he had placed a pistol down on the counter, this one a modern fire arm by the looks of it.

  "In you go lass" the man stated and nodded in the direction of the bench door. Mehrasa swallowed a little but then nodded. She lifted her arms and pulled her bag over her head before holding it out to Cabhar, the youth taking it without protest.

  Then she turned back to the open section of the counter and walked through, the black skinned man letting the counter drop back into place with a slight thud. He moved in front of her and walked to the end of the bar and down the hall to the side room he had come out of earlier. Mehrasa followed quietly, feeling a crushing danger creeping over her senses. She followed her guide past the room he had come out of and to a door at the end of the corridor. He opened it and went through, holding the door open so Mehrasa could follow.

  When she did, she found herself in a room not much different to the main area of the establishment. There was a half dozen tables strewn about the room, various bottles and glasses sitting upon them. All the tables stood empty of people however and the place was near deathly silent. A burst of laughter erupted from up the end of the room though and Mehrasa looked to it, finding three men sitting around a table at the far end, seemingly in the middle of a game of cards. This was the group that her guide led her to.

  As they approached the trio, Mehrasa’s guide spoke to them in another language, the same as earlier and the trio looked up. The man in the middle stated something then waved a hand dismissing the guide and then leant back in his chair as he looked Mehrasa up and down.

  "See if she is armed" the man stated, and one of the two others stood up and approached her. He beckoned for her to lift her arms and she did, causing her shirt to lift and display the pistol tucked into her baggy trousers. A whistle sounded as the man plucked it from her and passed it backwards to his other colleague who looked it over. Then the man started to pat her down, starting at her arms, sides, chest, waist, ass and then legs. She grimaced when he touched her ass, mainly because he dug his hands in and let them linger before moving on.

  Seemingly satisfied the man went back to his seat and lounged back as he looked her over. All three of the men were Cassar, their light brown skin, brown eyes and hair typical of the race they shared. Just like her.

  "So you are here for a job. Sorry to say lass, but I don’t own a brothel" the man in the middle stated and Mehrasa stared at him, not knowing what a brothel was. But she didn't admit that. Not knowing that meant she couldn't be insulted and judging from the look on the man’s face, she thought he had meant the words as an insult.

  "You are Rehan?" she asked, and the man rolled his eyes as his comment was ignored.

  "Depends who's asking bitch. When you ask for a name it’s polite to give yours first" the man stated and reached forward, taking the pistol the other man had taken from her. He looked it over and opened the chamber, seeing the six bullets in it. He smirked and smacked the chamber, dislodging the bullets and leaving them to clatter noisily onto the table. He picked up a single bullet and held it up so that Mehrasa could see it clearly.

  "So, what's your name bitch? Or will you just di
e called a bitch? A stupid bitch in a ditch" the man stated and laughed, getting a chuckle from the men flanking him. Mehrasa felt a stab of anger. If this was Rehan then he was a real piece of shit. But she had expected that. He was a pirate lord after all.

  "I am Mehrasa dur Esmael. I am here with my brother Mehrbad and another sailor, Cabhar din Branoohd. We asked your people if you had any high return jobs a while ago, through our contact Dante" Mehrasa stated and watched as the man slid one round into the chamber of her pistol and spun it before flicking his wrist and closing the chamber.

  "Well Mehrasa dur Esmael, I am not in the habit of accepting words at face value. I am Rehan by the way" he stated and held the pistol up and pointed it at Mehrasa causing her to feel a shudder of fear run though her.

  "You know, in the north there is a game called roulette. Some sick fuck made a game of it where you pop one bullet in a revolver, point it at a person and pull the trigger until the bullet is gone" Rehan continued and pulled the trigger on the pistol, a loud click sounding out. Mehrasa blinked in shock and swallowed hard, feeling a stab of fear run through her. She willed herself to remain stony faced then, hoping her fear did not show.

  "Well, Rehan, I have not heard of that game. Are there rules to it?" Mehrasa asked as the man pulled the trigger a second time and a click sounded out once more.

  "Not really. The version I heard is that it’s played with five people, and each person takes turns holding the gun to their head. If everyone is lucky, then the bullet is still in the chamber after five turns" Rehan stated and pulled the trigger a third time, once more letting a click sound out as the chamber struck empty. Mehrasa gulped.

  "Sounds like it would be a fun game if everyone here was playing, not just me" Mehrasa stated and blinked as the trigger was pulled a fourth time, a click sounding yet again. Rehan let out a low whistle.

  "You are a lucky girl. Now it’s a fifty fifty chance" Rehan stated and lifted a brow as he put pressure on the trigger once more. Mehrasa just clenched her jaw and stared the man in the face. He was fucking mad. Should she make a bolt to the side and try to run. This whole thing seemed like a mistake. Click. Her heart hammered as the chamber struck empty a fifth time and the man let out another long whistle before putting the gun down. Mehrasa felt a wave of relief rush over her and she swallowed nervously.

  "Well, you really are lucky. The last guy ended up with a bullet in his head on the second shot. That was right after he pissed himself of course" Rehan stated and reached behind him, pulling out a revolver of his own from a belt and slapping it down on the table setting Mehrasa's bullets rolling around the table.

  "Luck is one of my best traits I think" Mehrasa stated and swallowed again. Rehan just chuckled and gestured to a seat opposite him.

  "Have a seat Mehrasa. Join us. I would talk" Rehan said and Mehrasa obliged, walking forward slowly so as not to appear too eager. She was quite shaken, and her legs felt wobbly. As she sat, Rehan slid an empty glass towards her and lifted a bottle of liquor, pouring a decent amount of liquor into the glass. Mehrasa stared at it somewhat confused.

  "Um, thanks, but I don't drink" she said and looked up into Rehan’s eyes. She saw a flash of rage cross the man's face and his free hand moved an inch towards the pistol he had placed on the table.

  "The same man that taught me that game of roulette once told me that if a person refused to drink with you, it is because they are afraid of the secrets that they may reveal. And there can be no secrets between equals. Do you have secret's you don't want to spill?" Rehan asked, his hand now on the hilt of his pistol. Mehrasa gulped and looked at the weapon nervously before grabbing the glass and lifting it up in one smooth motion and downing the entire liquid in one swallow. She coughed and hacked as the liquor burned its way down her throat and into her belly. She had to struggle to hold it down as well. Slamming the glass on the table she coughed and spluttered a few moments before looking up, hearing laugher all around her.

  "That’s the way Mehrasa dur Esmael. Here, have another whilst we talk employment. I think this is the beginning of a fantastic relationship" Rehan stated with mirth on his face as he lifted the bottle of liquor and filled her glass once more.

  Chapter 22

  * * *

  Sain sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He sat there just looking straight down at the floor and at the three used condoms piled there. He grimaced and leant down and grabbed his discarded uniform and dropped it over the top of the pile, crinkling his nose in disgust. His groin felt sore and tender and he shuddered, thinking about what had transpired in the night. He actually felt violated in a way. Looking over his shoulder he looked at the naked back of Lesha, her sleeping form pressed into the corner of the bed and wall, her curved lower body covered by a thin blanket.

  He gulped as an image flashed through his mind. One of him bent over her, a hand on the back of her head and pushing her into his pillow as he rocked his hips into her. Remembered sounds of pleasure filled gasps from Lesha sounded in the back of his mind, muffled slightly by the pillow she had been squashed into. Sain swallowed hard and shook his head, trying to clear the image from his mind. He did not see them as his memories. They were forced upon him by the entity that had seized control of him. He felt sick and queasy, even as a slight feeling of satisfaction niggled at him. He had felt pleasure that he had not experienced before and learnt things as well, taught by the entity that had taken over.

  He shuddered a little and let out a sigh and hearing a slight creak Sain looked up and saw an eye appear between a crack in between the door and its frame. The eye was bloodshot, and he guessed the owner was hungover.

  "Sain. Travos is up and asking after you" came the quiet and almost respectful voice of Roland. Sain gulped and nodded even as he felt the bed shift slightly. It was only the bottom bunk and a single bed. A tight fit for two people. He looked back at Lesha as the door was shut softly and he looked into the eyes of the sleepy woman. They had been up for most the night, but for the most part Sain felt fine. She smiled at him nervously and he felt his heartbeat quicken. He smiled back softly, feeling strangely at ease now in her presence.

  She rolled over and her small firm breasts came into view and he felt blood rush to his groin, his manhood reacting even if it was a little sore. Lesha saw and blushed a little.

  "Wow, after three times last night you still seem eager" she murmured softly, her voice hinting at embarrassment. Sain gulped and shrugged a little.

  "Well, youth is amazing I guess" Sain stated, feeling a little lame saying it. He spoke quietly, his voice not feeling like it was his own. After the deeds of the night he had fallen into a deep sleep and when he had woken, he had found himself in full control of his body, the voice in his mind oddly quiet. It even refused to pipe up at his demands to communicate.

  Lesha smiled and pushed herself up onto an elbow, her hand reaching down to pull the blanket up to cover her chest.

  "What time is it?" she asked and looked around the dorm room, noting the emptiness of the other three beds. They looked as if they had not been slept in, the beds still made neatly from the morning before.

  "It is around nine, I think. The sun is up, and people are waking. Travos is asking after me" Sain stated and Lesha blinked in surprise.

  "Oh, well, um, best not keep the Major waiting then" Lesha stated softly and sat up completely, her head brushing against the top of the bed. Sain stood up and Lesha swung her legs over the edge of the bed as Sain bent down and pulled out the trunk from under his bed. He flipped it open and found some clothes, pulling out some clean underwear, a pair of socks, a pair of fatigue trousers and plain green shirt. He pulled them on as Lesha rose and retrieved her clothes from the night before, getting dressed slowly as well.

  When Sain finished he sat and pulled on his boots, lacing them up as he watched Lesha and then smiled as she turned to look at him. She started to tie her hair back even as she bit her bottom lip a little.

  "What?" she asked with uncertai
nty and Sain smiled.

  "Um, nothing. Just, you know, you are beautiful" he stated, instantly realizing the words did not have the same emotion or confidence as the voice he had carried last night. The voice that had spoken for him. He felt a sudden urge and stood up before he leant forward, planting a soft kiss on Lesha's lips, and to his surprise she did not pull away, instead meeting his lips. After a brief moment he pulled away and they just looked at each other.

  "Where is he Roland? You said he was coming" came a thunderous voice from down the hall and both Sain and Lesha grimaced.

  "Well, I got to go, are you able to let yourself out?" Sain asked and noted how Lesha pursed her lips. She nodded and Sain shot her an apologetic smile before turning on his heel and opening his door. He stepped out into the hallway and looked to his left, noting the mess of the common room, and more importantly the man striding across it. Sain gulped as he looked at Travos, not knowing what to expect. So, he took a few strides into the common room and stopped a few meters in, lifting his arm in salute. Travos stopped dead in front of him as well, his eyes quite bloodshot and irritation all over his face.