Lira sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers digging into the old fabric of her skirt, the material rough after going through years of washing and drying as there was not much she could spend on herself, having to do with what she had. The house was quiet, but not because it was a peaceful night. Quite the opposite, she just had an argument with her mother, thanks to her father, who has been gone for a day and a half already. As for where? Who knows. Why? That was a more straightforward question. In times like this, it was because he was under the influence of his addiction and put into a mindset that he would do anything to get his next fix. It wasn''t the first time that her father had been missing for a while. It happened more and more lately, always finding him somewhere in the city after another potion-fueled relapse. The issue was that every time the potion left his body, he would be even worse than a drunk. She should have been used to it by now, but it never got easier... Each time, it felt... worse than before.


    It didn''t make it easier that her mother was also on the verge of exploding. Her angry voice still echoed in her ears from their argument just minutes ago. It had started like every other fight, with a passive-aggressive remark from her mother followed by a bitter response from Lira. Then it escalated into accusations and sharp words neither of them meant but couldn''t take back the moment they left their mouths. But... Her mother''s words had cut deep this time.


    "You''re just like him, you know. Always running away from your problems."


    Lira had wanted to scream at her, to throw something, to make her mother understand how much those words hurt. But instead, she''d just stood there, fists clenched, until her mother stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.


    Now, sitting alone in her room, Lira felt like she had also reached a point where it was dangerously close to exploding, ready to snap. Her chest ached, and her throat burned with unshed tears she had been holding back over and over again. She was tired. Exhausted, really. Today had been an awful day, and she wanted nothing more than for it to end one way or another. She really... gave up. On her family.


    So when she heard the sharp, forceful knock at the door, she nearly jumped out of her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest as she hesitated before moving to answer it. She was afraid it was her father...


    When she finally opened the door, she saw Auriel standing there, soaking wet from the rain, and something inside her steadied. Him? Here? Now? Was... Was this like in the fables? But...


    He looked different, more intense than usual, his hair plastered to his forehead and his eyes sharp with urgency. Something happened. Something bad. When he told her to come with him, she didn''t argue. It was exactly what she wanted a few minutes ago, anyway. She was already too emotionally drained to fight against the idea. Instead, she just nodded and stepped outside, leaving behind the place she had called home for years without looking back, ready to go wherever he would take her.


    ...


    ....


    ......


    The rain was getting heavier and heavier, but I kept dragging Lira along the street, explaining nothing. I didn''t know what to say... and she didn''t ask. When coming to a halt before the home she had never visited before, Risa opened the door before I even had the chance to knock, her eyes flicking between me and the girl I had brought with me. She looked... angry, which I can understand, but I wasn''t in the mood to consider the consequences.


    For a moment, she said nothing, simply watching us, her expression becoming unreadable. I don''t really know what she was thinking of, but maybe it would have been best if I hadn''t asked. Just looking at her eyes, it wasn''t anything pleasant; still, she stepped aside to let us in, her movements smooth and measured, acting professionally.


    As we entered, she closed the door behind us, and finally, my hearing, which had been muffled by the rain until now, became clear. The same was true of my mind, realizing both Lira and I were drenched like lost puppies. Before I could speak up, Risa did so. Her voice was exceptionally firm, cutting through the silence like a blade.


    "Auriel, I believe I told you when you were last here—business does not come to my home unless I invite it in."


    Her tone was not audibly angry, just a cold reminder of the boundaries I had overstepped, so the weight of her words was unmistakable. It was my first and last mistake she would tolerate. I understood that, so I exhaled heavily, nodding once.


    "I know. But this is something you need to hear. It can''t wait."


    "Everything can wait, " she reprimanded me, looking into my eyes. "But... you do look like someone who has seen a ghost." Risa studied me for a moment longer, her gaze then moving away, lingering on Lira, who stood silently behind me, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. "Both of you need a warm towel."


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Finally, she motioned for us to follow while leading us downstairs to the basement, where she gave us towels and even sent Lira behind a divider where she could undress and clean herself.


    "Take these." Risa added, throwing a few clothes over them, "Yours are too soaked to put back on. And you," She glanced at me, "My hubby''s clothes are too big for you, so suck it up and deal with it."


    "Sure." I nodded, and the fact I didn''t react to her short jab told her I was indeed taking this way too seriously to start fooling around.


    I didn''t count how many minutes passed silently between us, but since my reaction, Risa has also been waiting patiently but with a stony expression. The room was well-lit, and the air was warm and faintly scented with old paper and ink, providing a bit of calm on my nerves.


    "Sit," she said in a monotone voice after I was dry enough, leaning against her desk as she crossed her arms, waiting for an explanation. "And speak. I need details." She instructed me, glancing once at the divider, watching Lira appear in her new clothes, and also curious about what was going on. Why did I ''abduct'' her so suddenly?


    "It concerns Lira." I wasted no time, starting directly, looking into my boss''s eyes, never leaving her gaze. "I found something today at the brothel I was sent to shakedown. Something I couldn''t ignore." Then I pulled out the letter I had taken from the brothel''s ledger and held it up to Risa to see. "There was a deal being made. A girl was about to be sold off... And the seller? Lira''s father."


    "...?!"


    Silence fell over the room like a hammer. It was as if the absence of sound was like an explosion. It was broken by Lira, who inhaled sharply, her entire body going stiff where she stood. For a moment, she didn''t move, didn''t breathe, as if the words hadn''t fully registered. Then, as realization crashed over her that this girl was her, her legs gave out, and she sank to the floor with an actual crash. By then, her breath came in short, shallow gasps as she stared ahead blankly, unseeing, no longer registering what was happening around her.


    "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, he wouldn''t… He couldn''t… Even if... Wha... no... no?"


    Her voice broke, and the sound was so small, so fragile, that it made my chest tighten. I was afraid she would experience the same thing that sent me into this world. Without realizing it, I clenched my fists, my anger once again resurfacing, but seeing Lira like this, completely shattered, made me bite down on it. It won''t help. Not right now.


    First, while Risa was reading it, I pulled Lira up from the ground, at least to make her sit in one of the chairs, not really knowing what to say. So, to do something, I turned my attention back to Risa, my voice cold as I asked.


    "Did you know about this? Is this something the Crowfoot allows? Is this a business we dabble in?"


    "We do dabble in prostitutes." Risa''s expression hardened when answering, looking up above the edge of the document and finishing scanning the pages carefully. "But no," she stated with absolute confidence. "We do not deal in people. Nor in drugs. Those who do… do not last long in this city."


    "Because...?" I asked, wanting to get the full picture from Risa.


    "Because dealing in people is dangerous!" She scoffed as if I was asking stupid questions. "It is the most used reason for wars between nations, especially between species! There are empires that are strong enough to withstand it, but Korvinate? This kingdom is not. So, it is outlawed."


    "But––" I opened my mouth, but she cut me off.


    "There are limits, Auriel." She said sternly, "There are many things I can smooth over, but if I start dabbling in trading people and drugs, all my connections will amount to nothing. It would be a liability that anyone can use to crush us. No. We had nothing to do with this and trust me; we will rectify this before it spreads... The last thing my gang needs is others smearing us with this info! To spread that, the Crows deal with slaves..." She grimaced, crumpling the unfinished document.


    While speaking, I studied her, searching for any sign of deception, but I found none. She was telling the truth. At least... as far as I could tell.


    "Go." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Take the girl with you. I''ll send it for you later. For now, stay out of it."


    I didn''t argue or ask questions. Instead, I held Lira''s hand, leading her out, but she barely reacted to anything, be it my voice or my touch. I didn''t bring her back home. That would be... unwise, so I aimed at one of our safehouses. By the time we reached the hideout, the rain had turned into a full-blown storm, soaking us both to the bone once again. The house was rundown from the outside, but inside, it was patched up nicely and used for storing some goods we were dealing in. Right now, it was empty, so nobody was there. It was the perfect place to be alone and sort our thoughts out. Locking the door behind us, I brought Lira to one of the empty rooms in the hideout, crouching down before a small furnace, making a fire for us to warm up a little.


    When the orange fire lit up the small room, I looked at Lira, who looked... hollow. I quickly grabbed a towel from a nearby shelf and kneeled beside her, starting to wipe her face and hair from the rain. She was still silent and unmoving as I began to dry her off carefully and cautiously.


    "You need to change," I muttered, draping the towel over her shoulders in the end. "You''ll get sick if you stay like this."


    Still, no response.


    "Lira..." I sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. "I know this is… a lot. I know it hurts. But I need you to stay with me, Lira. You''re not alone in this. Alright? Can you hear me?"


    "..."


    She finally moved just a little, turning her head to look at me. Her eyes were glossy and red-rimmed, and there was barely any light in them, but she nodded faintly. Then, without a word, she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against my chest.


    I froze for a moment, caught off guard, but then there was nothing to do... So I exhaled, resting my hand lightly on her back.


    We stayed like that for a long time, the sound of the rain against the boarded window hammering like stampeding horses. At least... Lira''s heart was stronger than mine was... She will get out of this quagmire. I had to believe that because I felt sorry for her and somewhat understood how betrayal felt. Although I didn''t know if even I would be able to say I experienced the kind of betrayal she did now.