Tonight, was exceptionally dark, there was no shimmering of stars, no light from the moon, no orchestra of toads and mosquitoes. Tonight, in a city up the hills, the rain was furiously declaring it presences occasionally throwing lightning bolts here and there. The city was well built with a crafty design than made sure rain water doesn't settle on the road. But this only happens worked in the bright side of the city where nobles, merchants and the rich bastards live. In the outer city, sandwiched between the inner wall and the city wall was the city's cancer. The slum area that has seen more attacks than the kingdom itself. Here, is where the rulers' dirty deeds and garbage always wind up. Here where, people fight for whatever trickles down from the ruler's tables.
In this dirty, plagued area, lays an establishment so important even the rulers dared not mess with it. Here, where sometimes the mud becomes so thick one has to pay to be ferried across was a tavern. The tavern has no name; Legend says the owner died before he could name. This building, was built of stone unlike the mud sheds around it. It was a two story behemoth that used the city wall as one of its walls.
Here one can find anything as long as it existed. In this building, one could find murders for hire, kidnappers, organ dealers, whores, poachers, terrorists, demons, thieves, highwaymen, bandits, psychopath, businessmen who deal with human s, all manner of drugs and their dealers, one could even sell their lifetime and if you're lucky enough you'll see a beautiful noble lady. I know what you're wondering, why is this place still open? Well, it's simple, the nobles can't do everything for themselves. If a noble want someone gone, or they want something another man has, they as well can't steal and kill for themselves. This place was powered by their sick needs.
The rain didn't want to let up, instead in increased beating on a figure trekking through the mud quickly in the city slum. The figure was covered in a heavy raincoat and boots. The figure didn't bother carrying an umbrella. The figures pace were quick and the steps full of confidence. There was no hesitation until the taverns door was in sight. Here, the steps faltered for a minute. She pulled on her hood making sure her face was well covered and pushed open the double doors of the place and stepped in.
There was soft piano music playing in the dim lit place, this was coupled with the sound of ladies moaning, some legit some faking. Some were arguing loudly and a fight was about to break out among the two, in another place there were men shouting loudly while pointing to a board game, some soldiers, still in uniform were dead drunk and passed out on their own spit. Naked ladies went around serving drinks. They would occasionally shake their behinds seductively and let the half drunk men fondle and touch them. At a corner, there was a soldier who had enough money for a whore but didn't have enough for a room. She walked to the bar and sat. Some of the drunk men looked at her. Most of them refocused on their mugs but there were some idiots who couldn't control their nether regions. One of them approached her smiling sheepishly. He tried his best lines but sadly she wasn't here for his gibberish. She tossed the barman a coin and he slid her a drink. She held the warm mug not foolish enough to drink it.
The music continued and so did the shameless actions that accompanied this place. Men were lead up the stairs and Ladies kept offering themselves. No one could really blame them, this was the city's underground, here one did what on had to do in order to survive. After deterring several men who couldn't keep their eyes to themselves, the barman approached the lady and slipped her a note. The lady quickly read the note then tore it she took a sip of her drink and immediately regretted it. At that moment, the double doors of the tavern were thrown open and three men walked in. They wore identical black suits and they were cleanly shaven. These men were quite famous in the country. The butcher brothers were their code name. They were among the country's most wanted criminals but that was all just a ruse. The larger your bounty the higher your commission fee was and these men were very expensive to hire. They walked to the counter and handed the barman a flyer and the barman handed them a bag of coins.
One of them looked to the lady and smiled revealing his perfect milky white teeth. After the pleasantries were done the men left the counter and walked out of the tavern. They said nothing and showed no malicious intent to anybody. After they were out, the lady stood up from her stool and walked to the stairs. Whomever she was going to meet was in on of the rooms upstairs. The first floor of the tavern was not on this world. The stairs were a gateway to a different realm. Here, the rooms were very expensive with some permanently owed by people not even kings could provoke. The tavern was said to connect realm with each floor existing in a different realm but this was something that was yet to be proven. Moaning could be heard as men achieved ecstasy. These were the cheapest rooms where common men were allowed admittance. A common man couldn't remember the taverns floors no matter what he or she did. Not even the whores who worked here were allowed such a privilege. The lady walked to the end of the very long hallway were she turned and faced an unmarked door. The hallway was long and had a red hue colour that seeped in through the window.
The lady took in a deep breath and pushed the door open. Inside, she was graced with a large forest with a wide meandering river. There were animals that grazed in the meadows, bees that coyly courted flowers. There were predators sleeping too lazy to make use of their day. Here in this lush forest was a hermit's hut next to the river. There was game drying at his door step Hung next to a variety of herbs and spices. The air was clean and the sun bright.
'Too bad I won't remember anything after I am out' The lady muttered as she knocked on the door. The door swung open on its own and the lady walked in albeit consciously. Inside, it was a simple setup. Seats arranged around a hearth, animal rugs adorned the floor, there were windows that supplied light and air in plenty. At the other side there was a king-sized bed. The whole house was decorated with mounted heads of game. There was a bear next to a lion and all sort of horned animals. At the centre of the house, there was a shelf stacked with all types of hunting weapons. Bows of many shapes and sizes, clubs, daggers, ropes, animal traps, pikes, spears. There were even weapons I dint know the name to.
'Beautiful aren't they?' A smooth voice startled the girl and drew her attention back to the couches around the hearth. She didn't even notice when he walked into the room, it was as if he walked from thin air. 'Your Hellan? Aren't you a little too young to be doing this?' He had a tone of concern as he pulled a glass of whiskey from nowhere and took a sip. Hellan bowed her head not daring to look at the man's eyes.
'Aaaah, whatever I've dealt with younger' The man who had a goatee and who only wore a fur coat, leather pants and boots said. He had toned muscles and abs that could be seen from the gap lest by his coat. 'Are you deaf girl?'
'No sir, I can speak just fine' The girl's voice was a nice alto. She didn't waver even if the man was very scary. He sighed heavily and put his drink down then reached for a drawer next to his seat and pulled out a parchment.
'I always ask this question and I hope I get the same answer as always' The man started. 'Are you sure you want to do this?' The girl raised her head a bit, hesitation was written all over her face.
'I am sure' She answered.
'If you start you can never stop what is to come, so think about it are you sure?' The man pushed again. Hellan had learnt about this man from a traveller. A man who had a way to summon a higher being. Hellan had painstakingly sought after this man for the past five months and nothing could stop her now not even her own doubts.
'What is the price?' She asked instead to show her commitment. The man sighed and mumbled something inaudible. He threw the scroll to Hellan and picked up his drink.
'You will pay the price eventually' The man didn't bother looking at her as he said this. 'Now leave' Hellan dint wait for a second turn, she immediately bowed and walked out. As she stepped out of the house, she stepped back to the taverns hallway. Already her memory of the man and the place was fading quickly from her mind. Clutching the scroll tightly, she walked back down to the taverns ground floor where she drowned her mug of beer and walked out alone in the dark with the rain holding a scroll that presented all her darkest, selfish desires.