I expected many things when I entered the brothel known as the Delirious Butterfly. For instance, I heard many brothels practice sex out in the open. I wanted to see a place where narcotics and decadence mingled into sensual chaos.
What I discovered was racks of garments made from satin and lace. Women dressed in tight clothes paraded around and spoke with couples. People completed their purchases at a desk near the front door. I watched a few men who strode into the store in silence. They politely stepped through and vanished into the back.
The women took notice of Silverbolt. Their eyes focused on the mask, curious about what lay beneath. Silverbolt didn't turn his head once in response to their whispers or girlish giggles.
A busty redhead licked her lips and slithered up to him. She played with her blouse string while the other hand caressed his shoulder guard. Her voice was soft and inviting, "My name is Naomi....whoah." Naomi almost tumbled to the polished hardwood floor. Silverbolt continued to walk and offered no warning to the hopeful female.
Silverbolt's hand shot out with impossible speed. He caught Naomi's hand, pulled her back to her feet, and then carried on his way. An air of indifference surrounded him as his metallic steps propelled him forward.
I allowed my eyes to peruse the hussie. Naomi's beauty almost rivaled mine. What would cause a man to ignore such attention? My curiosity refused to leave the question alone, but how to approach the silent warrior? A quick review of recent events found the perfect question to ask.
I knocked on the armor, "Excuse me?" The mask regarded me with a head tilt. The unblinking gaze came off as annoyed, and my confidence left me.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble for one day?" condescension dripped from every word. "I know you lied about knowing Madame Cuttle, but I brought you along because your title opens more doors than it closes." He paused, "I'm here for the child, and then you can go back to the castle.
I shivered in the face of the icy rebuke, but my curiosity continued to get the better of me. "I admit we got off on the wrong foot..."
"We are still on the wrong foot as far as I'm concerned."
"I saved your life. I couldn't bring you here unless you were about to die..."
"What?"
I patted the mirror in the hidden pocket, "If we can save the child and return her to the family, do you promise to hear me out? I promise to answer your questions as honestly as possible."
Silverbolt held his silence while the guard opened the door and held it for us. He stopped and said, "You have my word, Constance." He spat my name out like poison. "But if you lose, you stay out of my way. Do we have a deal?" Silverbolt held out his hand
I fought the urge to lecture Silverbolt about proper manners when speaking to nobility. I didn't think he'd listen anyway. I needed to win, and he knew it. "Very well, Mr. Silverbolt, you have yourself a deal." I shook his hand with vigor.
He waited for me to enter the hall. Now I had to convince Madame Cuttle to give me the child.
***
Thick clouds of smoke greeted me when I entered the back. Loud moans of pleasure and sweat mixed with stale alcohol created and unpleasant mixture in my nose. Men with bloodshot eyes sucked on long hoses to water pipes while employees attended to their needs. Men and women writhed in sensual decadence. I found the scene fascinating but not something I'd want to do myself.
Silverbolt ignored the scene, and I saw an opening to start another conversation. He looked down at me, crossed his arms, and said, "What now?"
I almost lost my voice again, but I managed to stutter through the next question, "W-what's a superhero?"
"Oh...um...I'll probably have to explain it to Madame Cuttle, so I'll tell you then."
In all my years, I'd never had so much difficulty getting a man to speak to me. I never conceived of the day my beauty and charm might be useless. I held my silence until we reached the office.
The guard tapped on the stained glass and opened the door, "Give me a moment." Much to my surprise, I didn't hear a peep from the room.
Silverbolt tapped a button on the mask and crossed his arms.
"What did that do?" I demanded.
"See for yourself." Silverbolt pressed another button and a small bean-shaped device extended from the mask. He raised it to my ear. I could hear the guard and Madame Cuttle talk.
"...I think you should grant the Princess an audience boss..."
"You know how I feel about the royal family, Kurik. Useless the lot of them. They've done nothing but place restrictions on my business."
"You should know she's accompanied by one named Silverbolt. He's after the child Mashek left in your care."
"Hmmm, perhaps there is a deal to be made then. What did Mashek say when he dropped the child off?"
"Relentless masked juggernaut, I believe," Kurik said.
"His reputation proceeds him already. Does he appear to be in the princess's employ?" Madame Cuttle didn't hide the excitement in her voice.
My worst fears were coming true. People had seen the might of Silverbolt and sought to win his favor. I went to speak, but Silverbolt silenced me with a finger pressed to the mask's fangs.
"No, but she's trying to bring him to the negotiating table," Kurik said.
"Then we have to offer him something worthy of a royal," Madame Cuttle's words held great determination.
A metal-clad finger pressed against the mask. A soft whir came from the side, and the listening devices hid. "Yeah, I'm not working for Madame Cuttle."
How interesting. City guards often apply to work at the Delirious Butterfly for the fringe benefits, if you catch my drift. "What I can I offer..." I trailed off. What would prove more valuable than a relentless masked juggernaut? Didn't she say something about restrictions? I made it my mission to know how my mother made a rival of the brothel owner. I had a chance to turn an enemy into a friend and achieve my original goal of securing Silverbolt's help.
Kurik ushered us into the office and said, "Good Luck before he lumbered off."
I had to take a moment to catch my breath. Madame Cuttle's exotic looks reminded me of a lioness. Beautiful to behold, but beneath the big eyes, braided hair, and flawless brown skin, a killer instinct. She regarded Silverbolt with awe and a smile.
The brothel owner kept everything in order, including records of all the nobility who used the services. A drink cart with fine crystal decanters and glasses waited next to the desk.
"Welcome, Silverbolt. I expect we'll have a pleasant conversation..."
"Where is the child, and why did Mashek want it?" Silverbolt's voice took on an edge.
The cross look on Madame Cuttle's face meant she expected the meeting to have a different outcome. "Don't you want to hear my offer?" Beneath the pleasant words a not-so-subtle threat waited.
I got a sense Silverbolt didn't respond well to threats, given his power. If I had that much at my disposal, I wouldn't either. However, I had a personal stake in the mess and redirected the conversation. "I've come to talk about the restrictions placed on your brothel."
Madame Cuttles registered shock, "What do you know of the restrictions?"
"Not much, but if Lord Rexword wins the tournament..." I trailed off and let her imagination do the rest of the work. Before another word could drop from her mouth, I added, "I believe the three of us have quite a bit to talk about."
It all came down to one meeting at the Delirious Butterfly. Every person in the lavish office had something at stake. Madame Cuttle is a business mastermind and cunning strategist. Silverbolt: a man on a mission to return a child to their rightful family. And, of course, me, Princess Constance Reynard, heir to the throne, intrepid adventurer, and now master negotiator. Ahh, the lies we tell ourselves while we are under duress.
The weight of the situation almost crushed my confidence. The kingdom's future rode on this one event. I took a deep breath and folded my hands at the table. "As you know by now, Rexword got approved for his tournament. One he plans to enter himself."
Some color drained from Madame Cuttle's cheeks, but she maintained composure. "I have heard. Your servants aren't trustworthy..."
"Or maybe they've done as instructed?" I suggested with a raised eyebrow. "Nobody pays attention to the criers, but a juicy rumor? Everyone wants to hear all about it." I hope the lie worked.
"Clever," Silverbolt said without sarcasm. The mask's empty gaze leveled on me.
"Much more innovative than the old bat on the throne. I'll give the princess that much." Madame Cuttle poured a stiff drink. "Speaking of which, you said something about the restrictions?"
I'd piqued her interest, now to close the deal. I looked at Silverbolt, who offered no encouragement or kind words. "Rexword has had his eyes on Wrathmoor for some time now. I can't say what will happen if he wins the tournament and tries to invade our neighbors to the north."
Silverbolt's chair turned and squeaked, "Is that why you've come to recruit me?"
That got Madame Cuttle's attention. She leaned over the desk and whispered. "How do you know about that?" Her eyes darted left and right, "He said no one suspected a thing. That we wouldn't get caught."
"Give me the child, and it spares your life," Silverbolt demanded, his hand alive with electrical energy. His arm crept across the desk, "I guess you want to ride the lightning."
A muscular leg pushed Madame Cuttle's chair against the wall with a thunk. She raised her hands and paused to compose herself. She breathed out while she thrust her hands away from her body. "Mashek has been charged with finding children of the coil for Rexword. I'm not sure why."
"You have a theory, don't you?" Silverbolt said. He rose from his seat and stepped forward. "So, how about you explain it to us in easy-to-understand terms."
Madame Cuttles' eyes darted in my direction. They pleaded for a brief moment. "Princess, surely you understand I don't know..."
I silenced her with a slash of my hand, "I believe I am in the presence of a traitor." I put an unforgiving edge to my voice and slammed my fists against the table. My hand throbbed from the force, and my tear ducts threatened to release salty liquid down my cheeks. My resolve held.
"Aren't you supposed to protect the weak..."
The lightning marks beneath the eyes of the lion mask lit up with fury. Silverbolt's voice became terrible and unforgiving, "I came for the child, and you knew it was wrong to keep said child from it's proper family." He turned to me, "Do you want her dead?"
In all my time as a princess, no one dared to shed blood in my name. Here a man I barely knew offered. My heart ignored two beats with cheeks ablaze. "I don't think that will be necessary," I said, "Madame Cuttle did so out of self-preservation. I am sure our new friend would love to hear the deal I've cooked up."
The brothel owner smirked. "So the daughter surpasses the mother. I must say, you have put me over a barrel. She pulled herself back to the desk. I will hear your terms, Your majesty."
The door opened, and the bald guard cleared his throat. "Excuse me, gentlefolk, but Evan Ragland has come to claim the child."
"What does Lord Rexwords personal assassin want with him?" Madame Cuttle demanded. Her face dropped into a frown with her eyes narrowed in anger.
"He didn't say." The guard replied.
"Tell him I'll be out in a minute," Madame Cuttle shook her head, "Why did I agree to see you..."
"Send me instead," Silverbolt said.
I couldn't allow it. Evan Ragland wouldn't give Silverbolt any quarter. Not that I cared about the man, but I still needed him to fight in the tournament. "Are you out of your gourd? Ragland is the only man who can fight on Lord Rexword's level."
"If his men indicate his skill, then I'm not impressed," Silverbolt said. He rose from the chair and stretched out his body. Waves of static energy ran from the mask down to his toes with crackles and pops.
Madame Cuttle put her hands together and pleaded, "Please let him. If he finds out I'm in league with you, he'll return with men to put my business to the sword."
"The Delirious Butterfly isn't a part of his holdings," I scoffed at the nerve of the ambitious lord. "How long has he been running amok behind my mother's back?"
"He has spies everywhere," Madame Cuttle said. "His coffers are bottomless if you believe the rumors. I think we both know what that means."
I turned to say something to Silverbolt, but his chair was unoccupied, "I think we have a bigger problem."
Madame Cuttle's hands engulfed her face, "I'm a dead women."
I gripped her by the hand, "It's not too late. We have a chance to stop him."