The streets were silent, only hearing her own footsteps. She moved past the brothel, still looking around for the people she saw earlier that day. As she was about to call out for them she stepped in some sort of thick liquid. She couldn't really make out what it was so she lit up a flame, noticing how it was dark red, contrasting the color of the snow. Her heart began to beat faster as her eyes followed the blood seeing a corpse. It was a woman, her long hair messily spread out on the ground and her eyes were wide open. That's when she recognised her, Zeena.
Her body turned away, closing her eyes and opening them repeatedly but the image never seemed to disappear. Engraved in her mind was those lifeless eyes.
"She knew the risks of helping us…" She heard a deep voice and slowly looked up, her breathing was heavy and irregular as she tried to catch a glimpse of the person in front of her who was completely covered up. Eris tried to ask what happened but her mouth was unable to form the words.
"She was too kind and generous… Leading to her demise. She should have just ignored all of us. No matter how many times I tried to warn her of this fate, she kept insisting. In the end, the lady in the house lost it and took her life." The man explained with a painful sigh.
"So leave. Leave while you have the chance. We aren't worth it." Eris swallowed and took a deep breath, calming down. Her eyes glanced at Zeena's body once more but regretted it quickly.
"I'll avenge her.." Only a whisper managed to escape from her and the man only scoffed. Eris fronwed and clenched her fists. He knew what happened, he knew what would happen yet he didn't do anything. Taking another look at the man and thinking back to the others she had seen, they were awfully skinny. Of course they didn't do anything…
"I'll avenge her… And I will free all of you from this cold hellhole."
"Are you out of your mind?" The man turned towards her, only his eyes being visible. She felt how an unnatural and twisted smile began to spread across her lips.
"It feels like I am going to lose my mind at any moment" Without another word she made her way towards the brothel, planning her steps. Who will suffer, how they will suffer… But she was hesitant about taking a life… Arriving in front of the door to the brothel she let out a shaky sigh.
"I'm scared, Evodine. Once I go in there… Who will I be when I come out?"
"Who you need to be… Who you want to be…" Her voice didn't have the usual playfulness which made Eris trust her words more. Another sigh and she went inside, seeing the same velvet red hallway. She noticed the door to Zeena and walked towards it. She barely knew her but the cheerfulness of her was almost engraved into her mind. Who knows how Edeltria might react? Biting her lip she went inside, noticing how the room was untouched. A wave of nausea hit her as the image of her corpse flashed by and she quickly stepped out from the room, closing the door behind her.
Scanning through the hallway she had no idea where this lady could be… Assuming she was the boss of this place she must have a door that stands out. So Eris began to walk up the stairs until she would see a door that was different from the rest. It was larger and decorated, having a name on it was well.
"Lady of the house" Is what stood on it. Eris rested her hand on the door knob, her mind slowly beginning to clear when she opened the door. The room was also velvet red with a huge window that was covered by curtains. To the side she saw the woman in a see through robe. A bloody cloak was on the floor as she was looking at her clothes from the drawer.
"Impatient are we? Let me just get dressed…" As she turned around her eyes widened and her smile vanished. She grimaced then rolled her eyes.
"I am already booked, you will have to choose someone else"
"That cloak… Was that what you were wearing when you took her life?" Eris moved closer towards her.
"Hmm… Shame that our seamstress had to go but I can just find a new one" The women kept throwing clothes on the floor which just made Eris more and more furious how she seemed so careless. Eris grabbed her shoulder and then pulled her closer by the robe.
"Aggressive… But look I-"
"I don't care what you have to say. I'm here to avenge her. I will punish you for how you treated her.. Your mindset, your-"
"I warned her. But she still chose to help them. We are already outcasts yet she helps those disgusting creatures…" The woman caught a glimpse of Eris' ears and the makeup started to wash off.
"Like you" A smirk curled up on her lips and Eris tightened her grip. She felt how warm her body began to feel, her finger tips almost began to burn.
"And how will you avenge her? Killing me will only make you a murderer. Then you and I would be the same. I have nothing to lose! So do your best little girl~" Eris didn't cool off. Surely everyone has something they fear. A dream, a desire… An idea popped up as she began to stare into the woman's eyes.
"Curse her," Eris thought.
"Curse her, make her suffer for all eternity. Make her regret all her evil actions." She kept thinking about it until she saw the woman's eyes widened in fear and a mark appeared on her forehead. The symbol of judgement, a scale. Eris then let go of her, dropping her on the ground. The woman began to shake, holding herself as tears began to fall. Eris quickly looked away, reassuring herself that this was right. So she began to walk away.
"N-no! Please! I was wrong!" The woman began to crawl after her and Eris felt her heart sink. This isn't enough punishment for her. She can't undo it… So she kept walking as the screams of pain and fear echoed through the halls.
When Eris stepped out from the house she made her way back to where she saw Zeena. To her surprise she saw Edeltria cradling her and Brem behind her, comforting her. The two of them soon looked up at Eris. They didn't say anything and looked back down. Eris bit her lip and glanced back at the house, noticing how many men began to leave.
"Let's hold a funeral for her… Near the frozen ocean…" Edeltria finally spoke up, trying to keep her voice calm.
"She always wanted to leave this place eventually. Sailing away, far away..." Brem and Eris nodded. Soon Brem lifted her up as they moved towards outside of the city and placed her near the shore. Brem then placed a hand on Edeltria's shoulder as she made a nod towards Eris.
"Let the winds take her" She said and Eris nodded back, flames soon engulfed Zeena's body, turning her into ashes. A powerful wind blew from behind and after some time, she was gone. Edeltria buried her head into Brem as he held her, like he was hiding her from the cruel world. Eris wrapped her arms around her as she was staring out the horizon, planning her next move. Zeena can rest in peace now, go wherever the wind takes her, and Eris will free all of the people who have unfortunate and unfair lives. By crossing the ocean of ice. She'll gather everyone and show the humans who the real monsters are.