Chapter 22 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
“Still sure you want to do this?” Meera hisses into my ear. The two of us linger near the staff entrance to Andrick’s whorehouse, waiting in the shadows as young women come and go through the black door.
The building is much bigger than I was expecting. Its multiple storeys stretch up into the night sky, each window casting a red glow onto the street below. And it’s loud too. Blaring music and laughter, along with the occasional moan, streams out every time someone pushes the door open.
I certainly don’t want to be here, especially not while dressed in this revealing gown with my hair spilling over my shoulders. But I do want to make sure that no more helpless women or children get snatched up by traffickers. That, I am certain of.
“I’m sure.” I nod confidently.
“Alright,” Meera sighs. “Good luck in there. I’d go in your place but…
” – she winces, grabbing the back of her neck – “...I actually have some history with some of Andrick’s girls.
Probably best I don’t bump into any of them again.
Kaz will be watching though. You might not see him, but I’m sure he’ll help you out if something goes wrong. ”
My racing heart settles a little. The feel of Kaz’s hidden dagger sheathed inside my bodice helps too. He gave me it after our training session and insisted I take more, but I told him that one would be enough.
At least I could explain my way out of one dagger if Father’s guards caught me with it.
I seriously doubt I could explain my way out of ten…
“Good luck, Ami.” Meera slaps my shoulder, hard enough to push me forward. “And stick to the plan.” I turn to reply, but she’s already gone, scurrying off into the dark street behind me.
Swallowing, I smooth the wrinkles from my skirt. “I can do this,” I whisper. Then, with my chest puffed out, I march through the staff entrance as if I’d done it a thousand times before.
Immediately, I trip on the doormat.
“Woah there.” A hand grabs my arm to stop me faceplanting onto the floor. “You alright?”
Red-faced, I straighten and adjust my gown.
I’m in a small, dimly lit entranceway, just like Meera had described to me earlier. There’s a door at the end that leads to the main hall – hopefully this time without another pesky doormat.
“Yes, sorry. I’m fine.” I turn to my saviour.
The young woman chuckles. She’s dressed similarly to me, in a tight-fitting gown with heavy make-up and loose hair. But despite our matching appearances, she sees straight through my disguise as she flashes me a warm smile. “I haven’t seen you before. This your first day, hun?”
I clench my teeth. “Yes, actually,” I laugh, moving down the small entranceway. “But I know where I’m going, thank you. Have a nice night!”
She grabs my arm before I can take another step. “You seriously think you can just walk in there? Oh my, you new girls are so naive.”
“New girl?” another similarly dressed woman calls out behind me. She walks over from the doorway, grinning when she sees me. “Aw, you’re so pretty. You’ll do well here.”
A forced smile pinches my cheeks. “Thank you, but I really must be going—”
“Nonsense!” the first girl laughs. “Hey, Gemma, do you have any bliss on you?”
Gemma nods. “I always have some. Here.” She fishes something out from her skirt. It’s smaller than a penny, like a tiny chalky pebble. Her friend quickly snatches it.
“Put this on your tongue,” the first girl instructs, waving it in front of my lips. “It’s really good. It’ll make all the gross ones in there look like gods, and you won’t be able to keep your hands off them. Then you’ll get more tips!”
Clamping my mouth shut, I shake my head.
“It’s perfectly safe,” Gemma adds. “And the boss likes it when we take it so you won’t get in trouble from him.”
“Don’t be scared, new girl,” the woman on my arm persists. “Now open wide.”
My mouth stays shut.
“Just do it.” Gemma rolls her eyes. Before I realise what’s happening, the first girl grabs my cheeks and uses her fingers to shove the pebble in.
My yelp fills the hallway.
The two girls laugh as I cough and sputter but the ‘bliss’ dissolves almost instantly, fizzling out in a burst of sweetness on my tongue.
“You’ll thank us later.” Gemma grins. “Now go get ‘em, new girl!” She turns me towards the main door, slapping my rear as I go.
“Good luck out there!” the other girl cheers.
I shake my head, racing down the hallway. Maybe if I can move quick enough I’ll…
Woah.
The door to the main hall sparkles just like the night sky, and when I bring my hand to the silver door handle, my skin glows too. It’s almost divine.
Lips parted, I push the handle down. As the door creaks open, I’m met with the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen.
Luxury doesn’t even begin to describe it. Gold covers the walls and there’s thick furs on the floors, while lavender drapes hang from the ceiling. Plush velvet armchairs are scattered across the glittering floor, and the men here… Stars.
The girls in the hallway weren’t lying. They really are all beautiful.
And there’s so many of them! There’s a man in each armchair, men crowding around sparkling tables, and dozens of men leaning against the bar.
Even the women flitting between them are gorgeous, dressed in their stunning gowns.
Some perch on men’s laps while others dance like goddesses on the tables.
They’re so pretty. I wish I could dance like that. Maybe I should try?
Smiling, I pick up my skirts and stride towards the nearest table. But then something stops me. A tiny voice echoes in my mind – this isn’t real. And then another chimes in – get the letter and stick to the plan.
I blink. The letter. Right. I get the letter, then I can dance.
“Sounds perfect.” I smile to myself.
With a dreamy sigh, I head towards a nearby hallway.
Andrick’s whorehouse is like a maze. An endless, glittering maze full of beautiful people that are almost too irresistible to walk by.
There’s couples everywhere, kissing and touching each other in forbidden places.
They’re draped over chaise longues or on silk beds in positions I didn’t think possible for people to be in.
Sometimes more than just a couple. One group of five even tried to get me to join them, and Stars, did I want to. ..
But somehow, I resisted the urge to rip all my clothes off and collapse in a giggling fit on top of them. Instead, I followed the silly voice in my head until I arrived here – inches away from an unassuming door near the back of the whorehouse.
My hand instinctively pushes it open. Inside is a small office lit up by candles and filled with bookshelves. There’s a big desk in the centre, and without thinking, I perch on the edge of it. My legs swing beneath me. I can’t help but giggle as air rushes past them.
This is delightful.
I could stay on this desk for hours.
Before I know it, I do. Sighing, I lie back as a huge grin washes over my face. Pretty colours swirl on the ceiling above me.
“Everything is so beautiful,” I sigh. Letter.
My hands stroke my corset as my back arches. “I feel so beautiful.” Get the letter.
Slowly, my fingers wander to my skirt, searching for the place that’s been tingling ever since I left the main room. Get the letter, Ami. My fingers slip between my legs.
“Mmm, there it is,” I murmur.
Ami!
I gasp. Bolting upright, I whip my head around the room, but I’m alone, the only sounds being the faint chatter and moaning coming from outside the office.
“I’m going crazy,” I laugh, but for some reason I don’t lie back down. “Find the letter,” I mumble, pushing myself off the desk as if invisible hands are guiding me.
Without really knowing why, I explore the room. My hands dip into drawers, baskets, even leaf through the books, searching for something. I’m not sure what.
Returning to the desk, I flip through the papers, eventually stopping on a piece of parchment that seems different to the last.
It’s a list, I think. Dozens of addresses fill the page, and there’s other information too, but I can’t really make sense of it. Still, I grin and clutch it to my chest.
“Found you!” I sing. Then I fold the paper up and neatly tuck it into my bodice.
For some reason, my heart flutters with excitement. It’s enough to make me spin in place, and I giggle as my skirt fans out around me.
“This is wonderful!” I cry. “This is—”
The door to the office swings open.
A beautiful man stares at me from the doorway. His long hair is the colour of burnt amber, and he’s tall and dressed in fine silks.
I can’t help but smile as his blue eyes meet mine. It’s funny, they remind me of someone who leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but the warmth in my lower belly is burning too hot for me to care.
“Oh, hello there,” the man says, a little uncertain. “Is there a reason you’re in my office?”
My lips part. “Your office?” I smile. “Your office is beautiful.” My smile grows wider as I glance up to the sparkling ceiling. “There’s so many pretty colours in here.”
The man chuckles. “I see someone’s enjoying their first taste of bliss.” He steps towards me, closing the door behind him. “And aren’t you a pretty thing?” He moves closer. “You must be new, but it’s strange because I have no memory of hiring you.”
“I am the new girl,” I laugh, returning my gaze to the beautiful man in front of me. He’s so tall, and has perfect arms too. Perfect arms I could so easily run my fingers down. With a smile, I reach forward and stroke his biceps.
He doesn’t stop me. Instead, he leans into my touch.
“Bliss is wonderful, isn’t it?” He watches me with a crooked smile. “What’s your name, new girl?”
I giggle. “Ami.”
“Ami,” he repeats. “That’s a pretty name.” His gaze roams up and down my body, leaving a trail of heat everywhere he looks. “Nice figure too, and pretty tits. That’s important.” He winks as I giggle.
“You have a nice voice,” I tell him.
His grin widens as his hand reaches up to cup my jaw. “These are pretty too.” His fingertips brush my lips and I shiver, the feeling running straight between my legs. “Why don’t you show me what they can do?”
I laugh, while his hand moves to my shoulder and pushes me down.
“On your knees, pet. I’m always happy to welcome lost women into my house, but I need to make sure they can satisfy my clients,” he says, reaching for his belt buckle. “Now open wide for me. I might just give you some more bliss if you do a good job.”
Without thinking, I drop to my knees and part my lips.
I don’t know what I’m doing. Fire burns inside me and my mouth waters. I’m so hungry, but for him or for more bliss, I’m not sure.
“There’s a good whore,” the man purrs. He reaches inside his breeches, and I open wider, letting my tongue fall over my lower lip.
I’m so ready for this. So ready for whatever he’s planning – even if I’m not exactly sure what.
But before I can find out, he pauses.
There’s a droplet of red. It falls in front of me, splattering against my tongue, leaving a metallic taste in my mouth.
Glancing up, I see the man’s wide-eyed expression as something silver pokes through his chest. Crimson liquid glitters around it.
“So pretty,” I whisper. But my whisper turns into a gasp as the man falls backwards. No. He’s being thrown backwards. Being hurled across the room by someone else. Someone with fury ravaging their perfect features.
“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” I sigh to the stranger, letting my heavy body flop to the side.
The dark-haired man stares back at me, out of breath, as all their fury turns to horror.
“Shit, Ruby. Are you high?”