Daily Wednesday Short: Sara 03

The mansion Sara had entered belonged to the underworld. The Wild Hunt, the Flock, and the Blood Snakes jointly owned the residence. It was a meeting place for those summoned or deigned to grace it with their presence.

Sara was the latter.

As the Mistress of Pleasure, Sara controlled almost ninety-eight percent of the erotic flesh trade. The two percent she didn’t own dealt with slaves and mind-broken toys. She had no interest in participating in a very select market. It had been tense when she was first approached by the Big Three.

The Wild Hunt was happy to co-exist. The Blood Snakes also didn’t have much issue. The Flock had been the ones that vehemently denied her control of the pleasure palaces. After investigation, Sara found the root cause. The problems back in Glenwood had echoed through the organization. Losing such a large piece of lucrative business had set the Flock back quite a bit. They had been searching for Eve and Sara to settle the score.

Since divination hadn’t worked, it had been a stroke of luck that Sara ran into them again. The first several encounters had resulted in immense personnel losses for the Flock. Sara had no issue luring targets into secluded locations before cutting their throat. It had taken almost three months to trace the killing spree to her.

I might have gone a bit far reanimating their corpses with necromantic energies and having them dance naked in the streets. Sara thought as a butler opened the mansion’s main door at her approach. Floating through the door, she followed behind the silent older man as he moved through the house with quiet speed. Still, they deserved it. Eve would have done worse.

The butler led her into the basement meeting room in a few minutes. Sara ignored the illegal casino, strip club, and small combat arena they passed on the way. None of the women in the strip club were a threat to her Gems in looks, much less in soft power.

“Ah, the Witch finally deigns to grace us with her presence.”

“I try to limit the time I’m forced to spend around you, Larry,” Sara said with a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The Flock’s representative was just as abrasive as ever. She watched in satisfaction as his eyes showed irritation that she hadn’t worn something sheer.

“Greetings, Lady Sara.”

“Marco, ever easy on the eyes. You know you still have a standing invitation with my shops. Any Gems would love to have you back for an extended stay.” Sara said with a warm smile and kind words for the Wild Hunt’s representative at the meeting.

“Enough. Time is more valuable than gold to mortals. Let us focus on the business at hand.”

“Victor, straight to the point as usual. I’m flattered the three of you could take time for me.” Sara said in a neutral tone towards the Blood Snake’s representative. She hadn’t had a clue what to bring to the meeting, but inspiration had struck on the way.

“Your payment of gold is overdue. Pay for protection, or we’ll make an example of you.” Larry said with relish.

“Ah, is that the decision of the entire council?” Sara said with a raised eyebrow. Marco wasn’t willing to look her in the eyes, but Victor gave a short nod.

“Rules are rules,” Victor said, his eyes cold.

“How tragic, and I had just discovered traces of vampiric activity. I’ll have to close shop and leave everything to the three of you.” Sara said, looking directly at Victor.

The Wild Hunt’s representative let out a roaring laugh before he said, “She’s got you by the slithery tail now, bastard!”

Victor glared at her with a viper’s flat stare before he sighed and said, “If you are lying, I will personally take action.”

Sara nodded and said, “Of course. My mistress has been hunting for specimens for some time. When she returns, I have no doubt donating a few to the Blood Snakes isn’t a problem.”

“How long and how much?” Victor said with a grimace.

“One thousand five hundred years, and the full amount of my debt accrued over that time.” Sara said she watched anger appear on Victor’s face before she continued with, “I will sign a Contract to that effect.”

Victor’s anger vanished like dew in the morning sun, and he was suddenly all smiles. “The Blood Snakes are overjoyed to work with the Gem Shops.”

Larry screeched, “That’s against the rules! She has to pay!”

Victor and Marco turned avaricious grins at the only other member of the Big Three.

“It’s more a guideline than a rule, old chap,” Marco said.

“I remember there were issues last time you dealt with the Flock?” Victor said.

“Yes, it was a terrible case of misunderstanding,” Sara said with a pitiful expression.

Marco and Victor looked at each other before they got up. Each of the older members placed a hand under Larry’s arms. Sara watched as the Flock’s representative was dragged out a separate door from the one she had entered.

When both of them return Victor was slipping a few bars of gold to Marco with disgust. Marco gave Sara a two-finger salute before he said, “I still have my normal discount at the Gem Shops, right?”

Sara nodded at Marco as he exited before focusing on Victor, who sat down directly across from her.

“Write the contract out,” Victor said with a deep sigh.

It's all up to Eve now. Sara thought. I hope she can find some bloodsuckers to pay this debt off!