The Mark of the Ashen Girls

Chapter 8 — Links of Steel

The noises from the brothel seemed to dissolve in the humid night air. The smell of dust, cheap wine, and sweat mixed in the air like a sweet poison. But in this room, everything was different. The corner where Vaën, Lucia, and Nira met was much calmer, a place where they could escape from the surrounding chaos. Here, the world made no sense except for the one they gave it themselves.

Nira, sitting at the table next to Vaën, silently watched the glow of the fire in the hearth. She wasn't quite used to feeling safe yet, even in this place that was, at its core, nothing more than a gilded cage. Shadows danced on her features, accentuating the fragility that still seemed to linger on her face.

Lucia, on the other hand, was more marked. Not just by the scars of the past, but by the weight of the present. More and more, she felt the pressure of her past decisions bearing heavily on her shoulders. Every choice, every gesture seemed important now. She was no longer just a beginner prostitute; she was something more… and that terrified her.

But the worry faded when her eyes met Vaën's. She lost herself in the depth of his gaze, a gaze she couldn't quite understand, but that fascinated her. Vaën wasn't the type to talk about himself, but she had started to realize that it wasn't wise to scratch too much beneath the surface. There was strength there, something terrifying, a shadow that went far beyond his status.

In this room, the atmosphere was calm, but the air hummed with the silent intensity that linked them. Vaën had saved them, protected them… but what about them? What about what came next?

He stood up without a word, moving for a few seconds toward the window to observe the empty street beneath the pale light of the streetlamps.

"You know, Vaën," Lucia began, her voice soft but carrying a weight she couldn't erase, "we did what we had to do. But... do you think it will work?"

"It has to work," Vaën replied without turning, his tone firm and almost distant. "It's all about timing. We stay in the shadows for now."

Nira turned her head towards Vaën, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. She didn't speak much, but she listened carefully to every word he said. She knew he wasn't a man who dwelled on unnecessary details. His choices were calculated, methodical.

"And after? Once we've killed them? What do we do?" Nira asked, her voice soft, but with an undercurrent of something she didn't want to admit — the fear of the unknown.

Vaën turned slowly, his eyes meeting Nira's. "After, we take what's ours."

Lucia bit her lip, her mind racing. She had decided to follow Vaën, but she wasn't naive. They had all three gotten involved in something far bigger than a simple rescue. The time for change had come, and the future of their lives now rested on decisions that, in the end, weren't entirely under their control.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Vaën froze, his gaze hardening. "We're being disturbed."

The door opened slowly, and a figure appeared in the doorway. It was another man from the brothel, one of those who had always been there, watching, listening. He looked at Vaën, his eyes betraying the distrust he felt toward the young man.

"The slave merchant sent someone for you," he said in a low voice, as if he didn't want anyone to overhear the news. "He wants to see you."

Vaën raised an eyebrow. "The merchant? What does he want?"

"I don't know," the man replied, "but he seems urgent."

"I guess the time for escape has come sooner than expected," Vaën murmured. "We don't have time to waste. Get ready."

Lucia and Nira stood almost simultaneously, but Lucia felt a chill. A certainty settled over her: she knew this wasn't just a casual meeting. The slave merchant didn't send messengers for ordinary business.

"Vaën, be careful," Lucia whispered, her eyes filled with a concern she couldn't hide. "If something goes wrong…"

He cut her off with a nod. "If something goes wrong, we'll get out. Together."

They locked eyes for a moment, then Vaën left the room, followed by Nira. Lucia lingered for a moment, feeling the pressure rise in her chest. The fear of the unknown gripped her throat, but there was no room for hesitation anymore. Their fate was now sealed.