Slave to Sapphire
Chapter 2

One month earlier:

Iris crept through the rose garden keeping low to the ground. The misty night air blew off the ocean carrying a freshness that was absent in the city. A thorn snagged her cloak. Iris removed it, pricking her finger. She paused when she reached the back of the sprawling stone mansion. Sucking the blood from her injured finger she looked up at the trellis. Iris strained her eyes and ears for any signs of movement, but the wind brought only the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs below. The mansion was on the outskirts of Orinth and the ocean view was spectacular during the day.

The final pieces of Iris’ plan were falling into place. Tonight, she would secure the azure shipment. She shifted the crossbow that was strapped to her back; no matter how she adjusted it, it felt awkward and cumbersome. Iris was barely proficient with the crossbow, but it would be a useful prop for her negotiations. Maddox had raised his eyebrows when she had asked him to procure one for her but had done as he was asked. Out of habit Iris ran her hand over her dagger at her hip; if the crossbow wasn’t convincing enough, she had a backup plan. Iris gripped the wood of the vine-covered trellis and began her climb to the second story and to what Sabine had told her would be Horatio’s room. Sabine had also acquired information on Horatio that Iris would use along with the crossbow to get what she wanted from him.

Horatio was a member of the merchant guild. He purchased wine, ale and spirits from Volos and sold it to the establishments of Orinth. Horatio’s ships also smuggled azure for a seller in Volos. Once the azure arrived in Orinth, Samuel and the Crimson gang would purchase it. Horatio charged Samuel a twenty percent smuggler’s fee. After tonight Horatio would be smuggling azure for Iris.

The silk curtains fluttered in the open window of Horatio’s room. Climbing the trellis was as easy as climbing a ladder to his open window. Iris envied his level of complacency. She eased herself through the window, tracking mud onto the thick rug that carpeted the floor of his room. Horatio’s snore reverberated from his sleeping form. In the darkness of the room Iris saw that he was alone, tangled in the satin sheets of the large posted bed. She couldn’t imagine anyone being capable of sleeping beside him with the grating sound that he emitted. Iris removed the crossbow from her back, loaded an arrow and leveled it at the headboard. She released the arrow and it sunk into the wood above Horatio’s head with a sharp crack. Iris reloaded the crossbow and leveled it at Horatio.

The snoring stopped. Horatio bolted awake. He froze at the sight of Iris’ form outlined in the moonlight holding the crossbow.

“Don’t move or attempt to call for help. If you do, you will be dead, and I will be gone before anyone reaches your room.”

“Please don’t kill me. I will give you whatever you want.” His pleading voice was scratchy with sleep.

She knew the crossbow would be a good conversation starter.

“You will no longer be smuggling azure for Samuel. You will work for me now.”

Nervous laughter erupted from Horatio. “Crossing Samuel is a death wish.”

Iris let another arrow go flying just to the left of Horatio’s head. “Not agreeing to my terms is a much more imminent death wish.”

Horatio fell silent, the violent crashing of the waves against the cliffs filled the room. “You are going to tell the seller to double the size of the next shipment of azure. You will have it delivered to me and I am going to pay you a ten percent smuggler’s fee.”

Horatio was immobile as he considered her. Iris held the bow steady and made a show of moving her hand to the trigger. “I will do as you ask.” Horatio blurted.

“Yes, you will. If you happen to have a change of heart when I leave, and go running to Samuel, then I will be forced to inform the Grand Ruler that you are not reporting all the alcohol that you import and sell. I assume you aren’t paying the tax on the alcohol you are not reporting, which amounts to stealing from the Grand Rule. In case you were not aware, the punishment for such a crime is having your wealth as well as your excess life source stripped from you.”

Horatio lunged at Iris. Despite her earlier threat, she needed Horatio alive for her plan to work. In the time it took Horatio to reach her she had dropped the crossbow to the ground and pulled her dagger. The hilt of her dagger hit Horatio’s temple with force, and he fell unconscious. The front half of his body hung off of the bed. Iris grasped his limp wrist and eased his body on to the floor. She pulled the satin sheet from the bed. She marveled at how soft the material slipped between her fingers before she used the sheet to bind Horatio’s wrists and ankles. Iris worked quickly, her ears focused on any sounds of the house awaking from the noise of their scuffle. Horatio started to groan as Iris tied her last knot, he was trussed like a pig ready for slaughter. Iris lifted the crossbow from the ground, checking the bolt to make sure it was still loaded properly. She stood above Horatio, waiting for him to completely regain his consciousness. The more time she spent in his room the higher the risk of her getting caught, but there was still one more thing she needed to address with Horatio.

Horatio, laying on his side, twisted his head to try and get a better look at her. The room was filled with night and her features were shrouded in its shadows “Who are you?” he whispered.

“I am a member of Exodus Gang, and I am your judgment and your punishment.”

Horatio let his cheek fall to the ground in acceptance.

“And one more thing, Horatio. You are never to purchase another girl from the impoverished families of Orinth.” Horatio hissed and twisted his head to face her again. Iris placed her hand on the trigger of the crossbow. The whites of his eyes were stark against the shadows, he struggled against his bindings. Iris lowered the crossbow and loosed the bolt into Horatio’s thigh. His scream echoed through the quiet mansion.

*****

Iris swung the crossbow across her back and darted out the window, scrabbling down the trellis. She sprinted through the rose garden, ignoring the bushes clawing at her cloak as the mansion came alive with commotion. Shooting Horatio hadn’t been necessary and put her at risk of being caught. She should have killed the piece of dreck for what he did to those girls, but he was essential for securing the shipment of azure. Iris didn’t stop her mad dash when she reached the cobblestone streets of Lavender District. The residents were asleep, and she would make an easy target in the clean organized streets of Lavender District.

Once she was surrounded by the decaying structures of Scarlet Town, she slowed her pace to a brisk walk. The muddy streets were a comfort beneath her feet. Samson materialized from the shadows and padded beside her.

“I did it Samson.” Iris whispered. Samson turned his eye to her and meowed. “Yes, things did get a little out of hand with the crossbow, but Horatio deserved it.” Samson meowed a second time and trotted in front of her. Samson led the rest of the way to Violet House.

Violet House was cloaked in the silence that only occurred in the few hours before sunrise. The front door was closed, and the curtained windows of the bottom story were dimly lit with candlelight. Violet House was kept in better repair than most establishments in Scarlet Town. The polished wood porch creaked under Iris’ feet. She rapped on the red lacquered door. The door was cracked open on well-oiled hinges; Samson immediately slithered inside. The girl who answered the door recognized Iris and opened the door the rest of the way for her to enter. The girl closed the door and returned to mopping the floor, erasing all signs of the debauchery that regularly occurred at Violet House.

Iris took the stairs two at a time. The crossbow bounced against her back. As useful as it had been she would be glad to be rid of it soon. Iris could barely contain the excitement of her success with Horatio and the anxiety for what she had planned next. She barged into Sabine’s room without knocking. Sabine and Cora sat on the bed deep in conversation, Maddox stood nearby leaning against the wall, his arms crossed against his chest. Sabine and Cora turned to face Iris. Maddox pushed off the wall into a fighting stance, the tension in the lines of his muscular body relaxing at the sight of Iris.

Cora leapt from the bed. “Iris! Thank Cerise you are okay!”

Iris lifted the strap of the crossbow over her head and handed it to Maddox.

Sabine remained sitting on her extravagant bed. Her vibrant red hair draped over her shoulders. Her green dressing gown, tightly tied across her waist, complimented her verdant eyes. “How did it go?” she asked.

“It was successful thanks to you. You were right about his tax evasion. The accuracy of your intel never fails to impress me.” Iris’ inner circle consisted of the three people in the room, but it was Sabine she had known the longest. Iris and Sabine were forced into Exodus gang at the same time and over the years hand leaned on each other for survival.

Sabine’s laugh was light and clear. “You would be surprised by the quality and quantity of intel men readily give while on their backs.”

Iris made eye contact with Cora. It was Cora who had discovered that Horatio was the wealthy merchant who was rumored to purchase young girls from desperate families. “I made sure he won’t be purchasing any more girls. They will likely never receive the justice they deserve, but it did feel good to shoot him in the leg with the crossbow.”

Maddox groaned. “Drek, Iris, that was an unnecessary risk you took. You could have accidently killed him; your aim with the crossbow is terrible!”

Iris patted Maddox on the shoulder. “Now don’t get all fussy, it was a risk I was willing to take.” Iris winked at Cora and she smiled.

Maddox threw his hands up in exasperation. “One day it will all catch up to you, Iris.”

“Let’s hope it’s not tonight. We still need to pay Samuel a visit and notify him of his new business partner.”

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