Archives: Vampire Hunt
Chapter 4: The Dragon’s Fist Inn
The dinner crowd was just entering Dragon’s Fist Inn. The men who were temporarily living at the inn were all coming home from work and most travelers were coming in off the road. All the barmaids came in at this time. Dutia and Hinny started their shift at dinner while Ileta and Inga finished theirs. Inga was Ileta’s best friend, though they rarely spoke outside of work. She was a pretty, pleasantly-plump redhead who always had such a friendly attitude. She usually came to work a couple hours after Ileta, since she had two small children at home and no husband. They were usually left with Inga’s parents while she worked.
A merchant’s caravan had decided to stay at the inn tonight. The merchant was a woman, so Ileta wouldn’t find extra work with her. However, her mercenaries were recently paid and had plenty of cash to burn. Her entire guard was made up of men, but it was a handsome young man with blonde hair who Ileta was focusing on. she caught his eye instantly, and since she took his order, they had been exchanging glances all night.
Ileta, Inga, and Dutia brought out dinner for the table of mercenaries. Inga knew just what Ileta was planning and offered her an encouraging wink as they left the kitchen. Dutia normally did what she could to sabotage Ileta, but never where Inga could easily notice. The three barmaids circled around the table, setting out plates in front of each man. Ileta leaned in beside the object of her affection to set down his plate and another for the man beside him. She was close beside him and brushed her arm against his. Ileta looked up at him and bit her lip, as if the brush was entirely accidental. The mercenary grinned at her, which earned him a blush and a small coy smile. As Ileta leaned back, his eyes fell to her cleavage, then looked over her waist and hips yet again.
Ileta acted as if she didn’t notice and glanced up at Inga. The plump woman gave a knowing smile, but out of the corner of her eye, Ileta could see Dutia sneering.
“Is there anything else you need?” Ileta asked, sounding as innocent as a priestess.
* * *
Having stayed at the inn the entire day, Penna had the time to relax and take in some food. The day had passed rather quickly in her eyes and even being inactive, Penna’s frail constitution was starting to wear thin. She excused herself from the table, taking care to place a couple gold for the meals and service that Ileta provided. With a tired smile she requested a room, paid, and retreated upstairs.
Once inside the room she hardly had the strength to slip her dress off before crawling into bed. Sleep was a reward for those who worked, but Penna, whose day was lax, slept due to her frailty. Her hands clutching her barren abdomen, she fell asleep dreaming of one day having a child of her own.
* * *
With no other orders received, the barmaids returned to the kitchen and bar, ready to serve the next customer. Ileta stood behind the bar and rested her elbows on it as she watched her chosen mercenary. He picked at his dinner, and talked with his comrades, but his eyes kept drifting back to her. Whenever he looked at her, she smiled back or gave him a little wave.
After about ten minutes of their coy flirting, he excused himself from his friends and crossed the room to meet her. Behind him, his friends cheered and whooped.
“Hey there,” he greeted her, leaning up against the bar. “I was just wondering if fairies had names.” He grinned, waiting for her answer.
Oh Falis, that’s awful! Well, at least his looks make up for it, Ileta thought, forcing a coy smile and a blush. “Ileta,” she replied.
“Hmm...that’s beautiful. I’m Darin,” he replied, reaching his hand across the bar for hers, which she obliged. The mercenary kissed the back of her hand. Leaning back, he still held her hand lightly. Ileta leaned forward, giving him a good view of her cleavage. His eyes became fixated on it for a moment, but he looked up again. “Ileta, I’d love to spend some time with a girl like you. Would you have the time for a wandering warrior like me?”
Ileta bit her lip and looked away coyly, leaning forward a little more. “Well, not ’til morning,” Ileta lied.
Darin frowned lightly. “Is there any way you could get off sooner?” He was playing right into it.
“Well, I wouldn’t get in trouble, but I’d lose my pay for the night...I can’t afford to take the night off. I have rent to pay,” Ileta explained, sounding apprehensive and nervous.
“Well...what if I compensate you?” he offered.
Yes! Ileta cheered inwardly. “Al...alright. But let me finish up first,” she replied.
“Sure thing, let me know when you’re ready,” Darin said, winked, then left her to return to his friends. He gave them a thumbs up. Ileta rolled her eyes and smirked when he turned his back. Tonight is going to be a good night.
Aryen had a smirk on his lips as he emerged from a darkened alley. He had crossed town after escaping from the Drake Street Inn where he had his dinner of the priestess N’shara. He had cleaned up since. “Ahh...Priestess blood tastes good,” he said to himself as he walked out onto the streets, looking around as he did so. “Well, I have to find another place to go. Hmm...” he said and soon noticed before him another inn. Hmm...Dragon’s Fist Inn. It may be a good place to find another bite to drink, he thought. He passed through the doors to enter, looking about as he did so to see what possible meals could be about.
When Aryen entered, he caught the attention of both Ileta and Dutia. However, the skinny black-haired maid was the closest.
Dutia hurried over to the new customer. “Hi there, can I get you anything?” she asked, staring up at Aryen appreciatively.
Ileta watched from the bar where she had been left behind, resting her chin on her hands. The new customer was an attractive one. Scrawny little Dutia didn’t stand a chance against Ileta seducing him. If she had a chance with him, to Falaris with Darin.
When Darin glanced back at Ileta, he found her focused on Aryen and frowned. Hopefully that wouldn’t affect his plans tonight.
Aryen stretched out as he entered, sighing a bit as he saw many people about. He was trying to figure out what to do next, but it seemed his choice was made for him as a cute waitress came up to him. He eyed her up and down and nodded to her, returning the hello in a simple bow of the head before smiling. “I’m just here for a drink,” he said, walking further in towards the bar. He could feel someones eyes upon him. “Who’s looking at me?” he whispered, his eyes wandering each person in the room before his eyes hit the bar, seeing the lovely waitress’s eyes upon him. Hmm...now she is lovely... he thought, walking over to the bar and sitting down. “Would you mind getting me a drink, beautiful?” he asked her.
Ileta smiled and leaned over the bar, presenting her cleavage. She dropped her innocent act for him. “Sure thing, what’ll you have?” she asked. Over his shoulder, she could see Dutia clenching her fists at her side, angry with the brush-off, and Darin was glaring daggers at Aryen’s back.
Aryen nodded, his eyes trailing down to her cleavage for a moment before going back up to her eyes, he was already prepared to use his charm on her and grinned a bit. “How about some red wine? Always get my spirits up,” he said softly, using only a pinch of his charm upon her, seeing what kind of effect it would have.
If Ileta had much of a care for Darin or Dutia to start with, they didn’t even exist for her now. All of a sudden, the only thing she cared about was the beautiful blue-eyed man who was so interested in her.
She wanted to get out of there and satisfy the sudden urges he gave her. However, she tried to continue her duties and turned to get him a bottle of wine and a goblet. Ileta paused, considering a new idea. Turning back around, she leaned over the bar. “You know, I have a bottle of good wine at home...” Ileta said, then reached forward to place her hand on his.
Aryen raised a brow as she placed her hand over his, indeed the charm was coming along nicely. “So at your place? Hmm... Well if you would like to go, I’m ready anytime,” he said softly, placing more of his charm upon her, even though it already seemed like the small amount he used was more than enough. He reached up, running a finger across her cheek, then moving to her lips before running a finger along them softly. “Well...shall we go?” he asked.
Ileta parted her lips as his finger ran over them and took his fingertip in her mouth, teasingly sucking it. She pushed it out with her tongue to reply. “Yes,” she said without a second though. It didn’t take much charm to get her into bed, but the little he did use was enough to make her careless. Pushing herself off the bar, Ileta walked out from behind it and approached Aryen.
Aryen smirked, seeing her take his fingertip into her mouth. “Hmm how enticing...” he whispered softly before standing up. He approached her from the side, one arm going around her waist to pull him close to her, keeping the charming gaze with her the entire time. “Then let’s go...” he whispered in a seductive deep voice, his fingers coming up to caress her cheek softly.
Ileta’s knees went weak, but she relied on him for support. He was more charming than the average man, and there was something strange about it, but she didn’t care.
Walking close to him, Ileta went for the door, not bothering to get her cloak from the kitchen. She wanted to get out of there.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Dutia yelled behind her, but Ileta ignored her. A chair squeaked against the floorboards as Darin stood in protest.
“Ileta?” Inga’s voice came from the kitchen, but Ileta kept moving for the door. Without responding to anyone, she and Aryen walked out the door.
Aryen walked alongside her, leading her out of the bar, hearing the yells of the others behind him. “Don’t pay any attention to them, they’re meaningless right now,” he said softly as they reached the door, Aryen pushing it open and leading them out onto the streets.
As Ileta left with another man, Darin ran for the door. Some of his friends followed, trying to either stop him or see a fight.
The mercenary burst out the door after Aryen and Ileta, then jogged up to the couple. “Hey!” he shouted. Ileta didn’t respond. “Bitch, you were going to be with me tonight!” Darin then grabbed Ileta’s arm and tried to pull her away from Aryen.
Aryen sighed softly as the group caught up to them, hearing the man yelling at Ileta. “Like it’s your choice anyway who she goes with,” he said, but before his words could sink in he noticed Darin grabbing Ileta’s arm and trying to pull her away from him. He took a quick step forward, his hand moving with incredible speed to the mans throat, grasping it and squeezing. “Release her,” he said, a growl in his voice, slowly lifting Darin off the ground his gaze went from a calm to fierce, ready to fight all of the men that had come after them if needed.
Darin instantly released Ileta’s arm. She had regained some clarity of mind when he did, and when Aryen became distracted, and yanked her arm back angrily. Did I just walk out of work? her mind asked. “Don’t manhandle me you ass!” she growled at Darin.
Aryen growled, tossing the man back to the group he was with after he noticed that he had released Ileta’s arm. “Now leave! Or else ill have to deal with you!” he yelled at them. Then turning and looking to Ileta, raising a brow at her words and grinning a bit at them. “Hmm quite a way to assert yourself, well lets go, they wont bother us further if they know whats good for them,” he said, moving his arm back around her waist.
Dutia burst out of the inn after Aryen threw Darin back, then ran to check on the mercenary. Ileta watched, her nose raised haughtily in the air.
“You whore!” Dutia shrieked, after checking Darin over.
“If you want him, take him,” Ileta replied with a smirk, then turned away and began walking with Aryen again. As they walked away, she looked up at him. “I can’t believe I just did that...”
Aryen continued walking with Ileta, looking over at her after hearing what she had said. “Don’t worry about it. Dwelling on your decision is usually a bad thing, lets just focus on tonight,” he said, looking over to her with a smile upon his lips. “So how far do you live from here?” he asked.
“It’s just a few blocks away,” she replied, and continued leading the way.
* * *
While Ileta walked off with her new man, Dutia helped Darin to his feet. Maybe she would take Ileta up on her offer, just to prove that she could.
“Are you alright?” she asked Darin as the mercenary brushed himself off.
“Yeah, yeah,” Darin said. “Damn, that bastard is stronger than he looks...something ain’t right about him.”
“Hmph, well, don’t you worry about Ileta,” Dutia said. “There are plenty of other women who wouldn’t mind enjoying your company,” she said, looking up at him and trying to be as coy as possible. Could she actually do it?
Darin grinned, his wounded pride quickly recovering. “Think you could take a couple hours off?” he asked. Blushing and biting her lip, Dutia nodded.
