"Joe! Get in here"
Joe had been standing outside Ajax's office because he had told Him to report early that morning. Ajax had been restless for the past week after the 'situation' with Daniil. And Joe was at the receiving end of Ajax's distress.
"Good morning, boss"
"Keep that greeting to yourself. What is good about the morning?", Ajax replied.
"I just-"
"Shut up. Now, listen carefully, keep a close eye on the witch's house". The 'witch' Ajax was referring to was, Jade. "I want to know about her goings and her comings. Everything! Do you understand me?"
"Yes, boss. I do. What about the whore, Selena?", Joe asked full of expectation. He was pained that his clue to finding out what happened with Selena had just been taken away. Even the so-called witch was a stubborn one. If his boss didn't have a special interest in the woman, he would have strangled Selena's whereabouts out of her throat. But... he had to follow orders and be patient. And patience wasn't his strong point.
"Forget about her", Ajax looked at Joe with narrowed eyes. "We have important things to take care of. She can die off wherever she is but if you ever set eyes on her, kill her on the spot. Tell the boys too".
He looked down at what was on his desk and Joe got the message, the meeting was over.
"Later, boss", Joe said and stepped out of Ajax's office.
* * *
Later that day, Ajax left his office building heading home with furrowed brows. He was deep in thought, [I have to talk to Hera. The last time I called, I was ignored]
After he peeled his clothes off, Ajax walked into his secret room, performed the usual ritual, and called out her name three times.
Hera appeared in the mirror.
"Where have you been? I needed you a while ago but didn't get an answer. I give y-"
"I know what you give me. You do not have to remind me every time. As for that last time, I was occupied. You know that pendant I told you about. I am still looking for the human girl that transmigrated into Goaz and stole it from me"
"It was stolen from you?", he asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Do not look at me like that. Yes, it was stolen from me. That power is mine. MINE!", she shrieked.
Ajax's hand flew to his ears involuntarily.
"Wait! Hera... you said a human girl that traveled into your world?"
"It is not 'traveled'...but if that is the way you understand it. Oh, well", Hera shrugged.
Ajax had scenes flashing through his mind.
Ajax knew he had heard about someone being taken into another world, that had returned with unusual powers. [JADE!].
"You say this human is a girl?", he asked Hera.
"Yes. Why?". Hera asked as she leaned forward.
"I heard someone talk about something like that recently. I w-"
"Yes! Find out, Ajax. Find out and tell me. If it is the person I am looking for, I will have to come into your world"
Ajax studied her for a moment... "Is it that serious? What you are looking for. What is it exactly? Maybe I could check for it for you... in return for something though"
[Greedy soul], Hera thought. "Something like what?"
"More Power. I want people to fear me the more. There are some I have met that looked me in the eye, defying everything I said. Unacceptable!"
"Easy peasy. Now, the pendant I am looking for is a bright purple stone with gold engravings on it. When you see it on its carrier, it would be shining... a bright purple light". As she spoke of it, her gaze was glazed over... fixed. You could tell she was in awe of this pendant.
"Okay then. How about my request?"
"Look in the bowl by your side"
Ajax did as he was told and found a red ring there. He picked it up and wore it. Ajax had done this several times with Hera, that was why even the Sherif of the town couldn't lay a finger on him. They trembled in his presence.
"Good", Ajax mused. His thoughts on that man he had met in the newspaper printing press. That printing press had to come under his control.
Ajax was feeling good, so he left the house, heading to the brothel.
[Those whores... I need like three of them right now], he thought. Many things he wanted to try with them this time around. "They had better be up for it", Ajax said.
* * *
"PENNY!"
The glass cup in Penny's hand fell to the floor.
She had been in the bar side that was built into a corner of the reception area. Ajax stood watching her, with a sardonic smile on his face.
"I like it when they quiver violently", he muttered.
Ajax looked around and noticed that the girls who stood on the hallways upstairs discussing previously, had all disappeared. "Hmm". "Penny, call someone else to clean that up. You, come here!"
She wiped her hands on the front of her dress and walked towards Ajax. "Welcome, Mr. Ajax"
"Get two other girls, Candy should be among them, and meet me in room three"
Penny swallowed. She knew what was about to happen. Not knowing that what was about to happen, was worse than her imagination.
As she reluctantly turned to leave, she heard behind her; "Also bring the whip. That black, leather one I bought for the brothel a while ago. We are trying something else today", Ajax said.
[When will I be free from this?], Penny thought. Tears filling her eyes. She willed them not to drop and fastened her footsteps.
Going into the kitchen at the back, Peny called to Candy, "The boss needs us"
"Us?", Candy asked and began biting her fingernails.
"Yes. Us, Candy. Me, you, another girl, AND A WHIP!", she said that and looked around her, hoping someone hadn't heard them.
"Pennyyyyyy", Candy began to sob.
"Be strong, girl. Let's go. It will be over soon. Take three gulps of whiskey to help with the coming pain"