by Jake Daniel
I nodded and stepped up to the counter. “Long story. Now, I’d love to purchase a few loaves of bread and possibly a couple wheels of that cheese there.” I pointed at a stack of large wax coated cheese wheels and froze as my gaze landed on the corner of the shop.
Standing quietly with her head facing the floorboards was an absolutely stunning woman. Her skin was nearly the shade of Wofferd’s mint horse and her long dark green hair flowed over her shoulders and halfway down her back. A small white flower peeked out from behind her ear. She wore a bra made of what I could only make out as vines or leaves, and her rosy pink skirt seemed to grow straight out from her waist as if it were actually part of her.
Her exposed stomach was flat, exposing her delicate skin while her slender hands slowly kneaded a soft pile of dough. She stole a small glance up from her work and met my eyes.
Our connection was instant, very similar to the ones I’d had with Gwen when I first laid eyes on her. We kept our eyes locked for several seconds. It seemed as if there was a thin veil over each of her beautiful green eyes as if she were under a trance or spell of some sort.
Regardless, I felt a deeper connection with her than I had any right to. I remembered what Chloe had told us earlier about how this old shopkeeper had kept a girl prisoner for years. This had to be that girl. I wanted to break her free right there, and I almost did, but Gwen gave my arm a small squeeze as if she were expecting my reaction.
The haggard Miss Ashnam coughed loudly and spoke. “Very well. I have the best bread in Aurilon. Ask anyone. I believe it’s because of my secret ingredient.” She shifted her pointy face toward the woman hidden away in the corner and let out a low, unnerving chuckle. “Come, try a bit and tell me that isn’t the best bread you’ve ever had in your life.”
I walked over closer to the young woman and perused the stack of cooked bread laid out in front of her. A strong intoxicating aroma of honey and nectar filled the air.
My mouth immediately watered, and I thought for a moment that I was going to drool right there on the counter. I reached for the same loaf that the plant girl was setting down on the counter, gripping it before she could set it down. “I’ll take all of whatever this bread is. It smells absolutely amazing!” The young woman lifted her eyes and gave me a small smirk. She looked exhausted. As if she’d not slept in an extremely long time.
I returned her small smile and gave her a nod.
Ashnam scoffed. “You can’t afford that.”
I reached down to my side and pulled out the small pile of coins I’d found in the wagon. “Are you saying that this is not enough to buy everything you’ve got?”
The lady laughed and broke a loaf in half. She handed it to me unceremoniously before turning to the girl behind her and slapping her across the face. “Did I say you could stop?” She turned back to me and shook her head.
I saw red as the young woman rubbed her cheek where the woman had struck her. “Now, get the hell out of here before you insult me and my shop again.” The lady disappeared in a room behind the counter and left the young woman by herself.
I walked up to the counter and tried not to draw any unwanted attention. I tried to use my sight on the green-skinned woman, but a series of bright and extremely colorful flashes assailed my eyes. I’d not experienced that before.
Gwen leaned over and whispered in my ear. “She’s an Alraune. As you’ve probably guessed, she’s the one that the witch captured all those years ago.”
“Alraune?” I asked.
“Yes, most call them plant girls. See her beautiful skirt?”
I moved slightly to get a better look. “Yes, actually everything about her is incredibly beautiful.”
“Oh, I agree. Her skirt is actually a part of her. Alraune change colors based on their mood or surroundings. Their nectar is what everyone is after. Many bakers and other food makers pay sizable sums of money for an Alraune.”
“I can see why.” I lowered my voice and talked under my breath. “We have to save her. She doesn’t deserve this life.”
I turned back to the shy green-skinned woman and took in her beauty. She reminded me of a piece of artwork. I kept my eyes focused on her and placed a hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and responded quietly. “Yes, thank you. Please, do not let her see you touch me, you don’t know what she’s capable of.”
“Can I help you get out of here?”
She glanced behind her toward the room where the woman had disappeared to and shook her head slowly.
Her eyes glowed dimly with specs of green and gold flakes floating throughout them. Her skirt pulsed lightly with color as I leaned closer. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as I shifted my attention down to her feet. A thick chain led away from her ankle and anchored her to the wall.
I turned back to Gwen. “She’s chained to the fucking wall.”
Gwen’s expression saddened. “Unfortunately, what you saw at the inn isn’t the norm. Most do not see the light of day or remain chained, just like this Alraune here.”
Ashnam’s old cranky voice rose from behind the counter. “Why are you still here? You’re distracting my baker. Distraction means money lost, and money lost means that you are stealing from me. You’ve worn out your welcome. Leave my shop now or prepare to suffer the consequences.”
“No one is stealing from you, you crazy bitch.” A power rose within me, and I was no longer threatened by this old witch.
The woman walked toward the Alraune and raised a hand to strike her. I motioned to cut her off, nearly leaping over the counter. She would not strike the poor woman again.
Ashnam turned and let out a loud cackle. “Oh? What do we have here? Dare you challenge me and how I choose to run my shop and treat my employees?”
I stared at the old woman and waited for her to make her move. “I really don’t give a shit how you run your shop, but you will not strike her again.”
She raised an arm and nearly spit her next words at me. “I will do whatever I damn well please!”
Chapter Nine
Her arm came down to strike the Alraune again. Before I even realized what I was doing, I’d climbed over the counter and had a firm grasp of the woman’s arm.
The old woman hissed as she struggled against me. Her skin sizzled under my grip, sending an incredibly unpleasant rotting flesh smell into the air.
The amount of strength she actually possessed surprised me, although I was stronger. I pushed her back violently and sent her crashing into the doorjamb. She crumpled to the floor in a heap. She remained there, unmoving, for several seconds.
“Oh shit, I killed her.” A pang of guilt rose within amidst my shock as I walked up to the woman to check on her. I reached down and her gnarled face twisted wildly.
She sprang up from the ground, her eyes turned solid black as she pounced. Her tongue transitioned to an unnatural shade of green as it protruded unnaturally from her mouth.
I held her back with one hand as I fished out my knife with the other. I forced the knife up and sank it deep inside her chest. It didn’t even slow the woman down. I pulled the knife out with a twist and plunged it in several more times.
The woman laughed in my face as blood appeared at the corners of her mouth. “Do it again, harder.” Her veins became visible underneath her skin, each weaving blackened streams throughout her arms and face.
I returned both hands to her neck, leaving my knife deep inside of her. Gwen rushed to my side and pulled out her dagger. She jumped up onto the counter and brought her blade down violently into the woman’s back.
Ashnam let out a screech and swung an arm back, connecting with Gwen’s knee and sending her flying off of the counter.
I clamped my hands down tightly, using all of my strength to cut off her flow of air. I pushed my thumbs into her windpipe and it felt as if they were about to burst through her skin.
She let out another shriek as Gwen rose from the ground and grabbed her dagger again. The satyress plu
nged it inside the woman near the base of her spine, but the only reaction from Ashnam was more eerie laughter.
“This witch will not die.” Gwen called out and pulled her dagger back out.
I brought a knee up into the old woman’s stomach before slamming my boot back down into her foot. The sound of her bones cracking filled the air of the shop.
She staggered off balance slightly and moved to charge forward once more, but stopped in her tracks as a brownish-green vine wrapped tightly around her neck and held her in place. I searched the ground for my knife and found it halfway underneath the counter.
I rushed forward but froze as I caught Ashnam’s eyes. They bulged wildly out of her head as she thrashed against the rope, which was tightening around her neck.
“Gwen, now, try to stab her in the heart!” Gwen and I rushed forward in unison and plunged our blades inside Ashnam’s heart. A sickening smile rose to the woman’s face as she spit blood toward us. “You can’t kill me, I’m already dead.”
Gwen’s eyes widened as we pushed back. “An undead? Our weapons won’t work.”
“There has to be something else we can use.” I searched the area for anything else that I could use. I stopped as soon as I heard the sickening crack that echoed throughout the shop, followed by a hollow thunk.
I spun back toward Ashnam in time to see her headless body drop lifelessly to the floor. Behind her, I watched as the Alraune brought her vines back to her wrists.
Gwen and I stared at the Alraune in disbelief for several seconds. I stepped forward and gave Ashnam’s body a little kick to ensure she was actually dead.
The plant woman smiled shyly and shrugged. “She had that coming for a while. I tried to be nice.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Ashnam’s detached head lying motionless on the ground. “Wow.” I ran a hand back through my hair and replaced my knife. “Outstanding work.”
She giggled. “Thanks.” She shifted her eyes down to her chained leg.
I followed her eyes. “Let’s get you out of here.” I paused as she looked at me uneasily. “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you, I promise. My name is Logan,” I pointed toward the satyr as she shoved a few pieces of bread into a large sack. “And this is Gwen. What’s your name?”
“Dahlia. I apologize for being cautious, but every man I’ve ever met I never felt I could trust.” She shifted her eyes between Gwen and me and nodded. “I can feel that you are different though. You must help me, I am very weak.” She pointed toward the back room. “She kept the keys back there.”
I nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
I hurried into the back and entered a pitch-black room. I blinked to adjust my vision and then remembered I had a better way. I closed my eyes and glowing outlines appeared throughout the room.
There was a small bed and several shelves stacked full with books and small bottles. I found the keys hanging on an old iron ring at the edge of the bed. I glanced back up at the shabby wooden shelves after I grabbed the keys. Several bottles glowed with intensity and a few of the books. I grabbed them and set them on the counter as I exited the room.
Gwen eyed the bottles and books curiously. “Felt like doing a little additional shopping?”
I smiled and nodded. “Something told me those may be useful, even though I have no idea what they are.” I held the keys up. “Regardless, I found the keys.” I leaned down and lifted Dahlia’s ankle. As I moved a couple of her petals of her skirt to the side, she let out a soft, pained moan. I stopped immediately and looked up into her eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”
She blushed and shook her head slowly. “No, you’re fine. My petals are just... sensitive.”
I pushed another petal gently to the side, prompting another soft moan as I gripped the clasp that surrounded her petite ankle. After trying two keys, the third proved successful, and the clasp fell to the floor.
I breathed in and froze as I caught the sweet smell that seemed to emanate from her. The petals of her skirt shifted color and glowed a warm shade of orange as I let them back down gently.
I raised slowly and met her eyes. She was about a foot shorter than me and a couple inches shorter than Gwen, although her breasts were nearly identical.
She leaned forward and raised a hand up to the side of my face. Her breasts pushed against my midsection as she pulled my face down to meet hers. She kissed me slowly, and more delicately than Gwen had kissed me. The sweet nectar from her lips sent waves of pleasure through my entire body.
I couldn’t help but become slightly aroused, and after catching Gwen’s sly smile, I could tell she knew as well. Dahlia pulled back slowly and blushed, her cheeks turning a pinkish shade that spread to the rest of her skin. “Sorry, I should’ve asked first.”
I shook my head and ran a hand down along her slender arm. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you did.”
Dahlia let out a long breath and glanced around the shop. “I thought I’d die here in this place. I’ll never be able to repay you for freeing me. I owe you my life.” She pressed a hand to my chest and froze. She shifted her attention to Gwen, who was still smiling slightly. “Does he know?”
Gwen walked over and held a hand against my back and responded. “I’ve told him, but there will be time to tell him what it means later.”
I looked between the two beautiful women and tried to determine what they were talking about. I was sure it had something to do with my core or perhaps my now glowing scar, but I decided now was not the time to dig for more information. “I will want to hear what you mean, but for now we need to get the hell out of here.”
I held my hand out and helped Dahlia to the other side of the counter. I could finally get a full view of her once she reached the other side.
She was insanely beautiful. A beauty that I could only ever hope to see in my dreams. The vines she’d wrapped around Ashnam’s neck earlier wrapped tightly around each of her slender arms, creating a self-made layer of armor. The flowers, which I thought she’d strategically placed throughout her hair, had actually grown up out of her head and were part of her.
I joined Gwen’s side. “We’re looking for Gwen’s sisters. Have you seen or heard anything from them?”
“Yes, I remember seeing them. They were with the men that came a couple of days ago.” Dahlia met my eyes and paused. “But they were not like you.”
“I’m not a poacher. I’m here to free them. They’re headed to Necross.”
The Alraune’s eyes widened. “Necross? I’ve only heard bad things coming from Necross recently. I grew up in the flower fields near there, but it’s no longer what it once was.”
I cocked my head and kept my eyes focused on hers. “Bad things?”
“Yes. Everything that once thrived there has since died. I haven’t been back to see the devastation since I’ve been a prisoner these years. My life force is rooted to where I was born, and I was the last one they captured. They murdered most of my family and shipped off the others across Aurilon. They seek us because of our nectar.” Dahlia took a deep breath and released it slowly. “They use us until we have nothing left to give. Miss Ashnam would’ve done the same.”
“You’re welcome to come with us if you wish, I will promise to protect you the best I’m able. Although, I’m not sure you want to go back to your old home if it truly is as bad as you say.”
Gwen stepped forward with a small smile across her face. “I may even let you have your way with him once in a while.”
Dahlia turned a deeper shade of red. I chuckled and rested a hand on her arm. “You don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. I’m inviting you, not ordering you to join us.”
The Alraune’s color shifted back to its normal shade of light green. Her skin tone was much lighter than Gwen’s and was more noticeable as the two of them stood next to each other. I eyed both of them as they stood in front of me. They look like goddesses.
“Oh? Tell us more?” Gwen gave me a sly smile, and I realized s
he had been using her Sight to read my thoughts.
My mind immediately flashed to everything that I wanted to do with both of them. Shit…
Gwen let out a sweet laugh and pulled my arm. “Come on stud, there’ll be time for that later.”
I followed when I remembered the bottles and the books on the counter. I found a small bag and gathered them up, and several more loaves of bread and two large cheese rounds. I slung it over my back and reached for the front door. “Okay, I think we should be ready now. Let’s get out of here and find your sisters.”
I opened the wooden door of the shop and planted my right foot, pushing myself and both girls back inside as the wood of the door shattered only inches from my head.
I helped them back upright and peered out a small side window. The two men that had been assholes when we arrived were back with friends. “Looks like those sons of bitches couldn’t take a hint.” I locked the doors and motioned the girls to follow me to the back room.
I closed my eyes and searched the room for anything that could be helpful. After several seconds, the men had reached the front door and were kicking it to break inside. As I was about to open my eyes, I spotted a faintly glowing outline on the ground underneath the small bed.
One man called out from near the door. “Come on out, there’s nowhere to go.”
I pulled the bed out of the way and revealed a small hatch. “In we go.” I flipped the hatch up and closed my eyes. I could make out the outline of a ladder leading down but couldn’t see anything else beyond. “You two wait for me at the bottom. I’ll be right behind.” I ran back into the room and flipped the counter over, making it look chaotic as possible. I could see several men outside, trying to get a view through the small decorative curtains that adorned the windows.
I hurried back to the hatch and braced myself at the top. Before lowering to the bottom, I pulled the bed back over as far as I could, although I could not get it all the way back to the wall and still squeeze my tall frame inside the partially closed hatch. I grabbed a solid rolling pin as I lowered myself down. “Good enough.”
