The Diabolical

Alleys

Third Person PoV

“Are you going to help me or not?” Gisele turned to Calypso, who trailed behind her without doing anything.

“Oh- I didn’t realize you need any of my help. Why didn’t you say so?” Gisele clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“You know- if you’re not as beautiful as you are, I would have sent you to the afterlife sooner than expected. You’re getting on my nerves a lot.” Calypso chuckled.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Calypso waved her hand for her shadows to find the princess of Goterra.

“I was right-“

“What do you mean?”

“I noticed a group of people following us from the palace. I assume they worked for you.” Calypso smiled.

“You aren’t supposed to know they’re here at all. It seems my guards had failed to keep their presence hidden.” Gisele chuckled.

“Don’t worry- they’re doing the best they can. After all, only certain people would be able to detect their whereabouts. And I am one of them.” Calypso tilted her head as she watched Gisele place her hand on the handle of her sword.

“You’ve gone through a lot with that sword. Care to tell a story of your experience as a mercenary?” Gisele turned to an alleyway and searched for the princess.

“I’ve killed countless people with this sword. If you’re looking for interesting stories, I’m sorry. But my job is not exactly a walk-in-the-park kind of work.” Calypso hummed.

“You’re right. I was rude to ask for such a thing. Please forgive me.” Gisele waved it off. One of the shadows suddenly appeared and told Calypso about the princess's whereabouts. Gisele sighed before making her way towards the location herself.

“Wait! Hold on- Gisele!” Calypso tried to match her foot with Gisele, but she couldn’t. When Gisele finally found the princess, Kiera played with the alley kids while wearing something that a princess isn’t supposed to wear.

“Where did she get those clothes?” Gisele asked herself before grabbing the princess by the shoulder.

“Ouch! What are you doing?!” Kiera’s eyes widened when she saw the woman she met briefly this morning.

“You! What are you doing here?!” Kiera asked while struggling to release herself from Gisele’s hold.

“I should be the one who asks you this question! What are you doing here, leaving the pa-,” Kiera covered Gisele’s mouth with her hands.

“Kiera! Are you alright? What did you do? Are you in some trouble?” Asked a boy who seems to be the same age as Kiera.

“Unhand her! You should treat anybody like that! So what if we’re poor?! We have no parents to rely on, and you adults only know how to make it worse for us! Whatever Kiera did, she must have a reason! You should judge anyone just because of their background!” Gisele scoffed.

“I was abandoned deep in the forest. My parents were probably that desperate to kill me if they decided to leave me there all alone, fending for myself. Please do not come to my face and lecture me about being poor and how it’s hard for you to survive out here. I had my fair share!” Gisele turned her attention to the princess.

“And you, little lady- you have to come with me.” Kiera shakes her head no. Gisele clicked her tongue annoyance before hoisting the princess like a bag on her shoulder and leaving the alleyway.

The alley children seemed worried for Kiera, but Calypso gave them a smile before handing a piece of gold to each of the children who played with the princess.

“Get yourself something to eat and perhaps some new clothes. Don’t worry about Kiera. She is in good hands.” Calypso smiled before nodding her goodbye and leaving the alleyway. The boy who tried to save Kiera looks at the coin in his hand and Calypso back and forth.

“I know that lady. She’s the infamous courtesan from House of Beauty. The drawn pictures of her that we saw on the walls don’t exactly do her any justice. The courtesan is beautiful. But why would Kiera be associating herself with someone from the House of Beauty? Is she one of them?” The boy asked no one before deciding to follow the courtesan to the streets.

The boy covered his face with his hat before following the courtesan to a grand carriage. Inside, the boy saw Kiera and the knight from earlier. The boy covered himself using the large tree and was surprised to see the royal crest on the carriage.

“Kiera- have you been lying to us?” The boy asked himself. As the carriage left, the boy returned to the alleyway where her friends were.

“We should stay away from Kiera.” The boy said to the others.

“But why? Kiera is kind. She would sometimes give us food.” The boy sighed.

“That’s why I’m worried. She might be someone who isn’t supposed to be friends with us. Aren’t you all skeptical about why she requires that food for us? What if she’s a noble? Perhaps is this her way of having fun by making fun of us whenever she’s having tea with her noble friends? We should stay away.” The others seem to hate the idea.

“Ryan- Kiera had helped us a lot. Isn’t it unkind of us to treat her that way?” The boy or Ryan sighed.

“I’m just saying; we should be aware of her,” Ryan said before a woman greeted him.

“Greetings.” The woman smiled at the children. The woman continues to act as harmless as possible so that her presence here isn’t treated as hostile.

“Who are you?!” Ryan asked while he kept the others behind him.

“Oh- don’t be afraid. I was told to be here. My master was the one who gave you all the gold coins. Please don’t be afraid of me- I was once living at the alleyway as well. Before my master took me in and provided me with everything I needed.” Ryan continues to be wary of the woman’s presence.

“What are you doing here?” Ryan asked.

“Would you boys and girls be interested in working for my master? Instead of begging or stealing food, why not work for the meals and places for you all to stay in?” Ryan shakes his head no.

“Why would we want to work at a place where the unthinkable happens? We know what kind of place your master runs. We saw her pictures on the wall of the streets. She’s a courtesan!” The woman smiled.

“It’s not that bad. My master recently opened a new restaurant in the capital. I’ve been recruited many people who live at the alleyway and given them the chance to get their life back. My master is wise, and she will never force anyone to work for her. But are you sure you’re ant to continue living like this?” Ryan turned to the others, who looked back at him.

“We won’t treat you all like slaves. My master doesn’t like to treat others like that. She is kind to everyone.” The woman smiled.

“Ryan- come on! We should accept her offer. It’s not every day we get to do something without adults kicking and hitting us. If it’s that bad, we could escape.” Ryan sighed before nodding his head.

“Great! Please follow me to the carriage. They will bring you all to your new abode.” Once you all arrive, there will be a group of people that will take you to an examination room. It’s just for precaution.” The woman smiled before she led the children to the carriages that awaited on the street.

THAT NIGHT

“How did it go?” Calypso asked her aide when she was finally back from her errand.

“The children are now in their new abode. Say, master- why did you decide to help those who live at that alleyway? Is there something going on?” Calypso was stirring her coffee when she smiled.

“Gisele told me that he saw a group of suspicious men that he once saw at a certain auction house was lingering around the alleyway. Lucky for us that we manage to find the princess in time. If not, I have no idea what will happen if those idiots take the empress’s daughter into their custody. Only God knows what will happen to their poor soul.” Calypso takes a few sips of her coffee before placing her cup down.

“Now, tell me what you managed to gather from your errand. The empress is waiting for our report, and that woman can be a pun in the buttocks.” The aide nodded before briefing her master about her findings.

“Truth be told, I can’t get much from the villagers and the prisoner of war that the prince managed to capture. Even the bandits from the neighboring kingdom couldn’t give me any proper answer. But I manage to get a few important details about the king.” Calypso smiled.

“Carry on.” The aide nodded.

“The king is desperate for a male heir. And with the empress waging war, he’s taking advantage of the very situation by kidnapping young women from the empire from the comfort of their homes. That explains why the local enforcers getting reports about a missing person is higher than usual.” Calypso hummed.

“Any possibility that the law enforcers themselves are the cause of this? Why would the king’s men manage to enter the empire without any resilience? The empress isn’t the type to keep her eyes close about this.” The aide smirked.

“I managed to get a few names that could help our investigation. The guild is doing its best to capture them as we speak.” Calypso chuckled.

“Make use of the auction house influence as well. We might have a lead if we ask the manager. The guild alone will not be sufficient if we want to keep on the empress’s good side. Inform the ladies from the House of Beauty; they need to work hard so that they could keep their head attached.” The aide nodded. Calypso turned her attention to the windows and asked the aide to leave.

Once the aide left, Calypso went to the window and opened it for Gisele.

“To what I owe this pleasure of seeing you hanging by my window, Gisele?” Gisele climbed into the courtesan’s room and huffed.

“I was- well. I was trimming the bush.” Calypso chuckled.

“You want to hear what my aide gathered from her errand, Huh? Are you worried for the children?” Gisele laughed it off.

“Nonsense! I don’t even know them that well.” Calypso went back to her coffee before offering Gisele some. Gisele shakes her head.

“Well, is there anything else I can help you with? If you’re looking for a service, I am not in the mood for working today. As you can see, I have a lot of paperwork to do.” Gisele gave Calypso a disgusted look before being nosy by grabbing a few pieces of paper scattering on the table.

“Did Rose ask you to investigate the king?” Calypso nodded her head yes.

“What was the reason for Rose to wage this war? Is it because of that controversial piece of land?” Calypso nodded once again, but this time with a smile.

“The world has finally come to an end. Why would anyone fight for a f*****g piece of barren land?” Calypso shrugged her shoulder.

“Who knows- perhaps that piece of land holds the significant amount of secrets in which the empress wanted to keep it that way. Or maybe there are buried treasures, and the king wants to have them. It’s all just rumors, though.“ Gisele scoffed.

“Buried treasures and hidden secrets? I’ve been to that land before. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. No one even wants to live there because of how harsh the conditions are.” Calypso look at Gisele with questioning looks.

“Wait- you went to the barren land before? What were you doing there?” Gisele shrugged her shoulder.

“I was hired by someone to go to the barren land and find him something valuable. I’m suggesting that man heard about the hidden treasures.” Gisele chuckled.

“It’s funny now that I think about it. You should have seen my employer's face when I told him there are no treasures.” Gisele laughed.

“How bad did your employer take the news?” Gisele hummed.

“The man refuses to pay for my service, but I show him never to cross me again.” Calypso giggled.

“You’re different than the stories I heard from my client. You’re quite poised for someone who has no origin.” Calypso realized what she had just said to Gisele.

“I’m sorry. Sometimes I find it hard to control my own words whenever I’m in conversations with someone. Please do forgive me.” Gisele hummed.

“I can’t blame you since your brain has all gone to your breasts. Does your back hurt from carrying it around?” Calypso chuckled before she turned her eyes onto Gisele’s chest.

“Hmmm- it must be nice to have a smaller size bra. You must be having the best time since you don’t have breasts. Hell, even those who have average size are bigger than yours. It’s a miracle.” Gisele looked down onto her chest and sighed.

“Shut up.”