Hera stepped out of the house hurriedly, heading into the drugstore, some miles away from her home.
Her throat felt dry from the persistent cough that wouldn't let her be.
When she was certain she had taken the medications prescribed, she waited to regain her lost strength to head back home and then... It just became more horrible. More horrible that she couldn't stay still.
She had started to cough so roughly that she received so many weird gazes from the people, sitting closer to her in the drug store and those who couldn't stand her, stood up to vacate their positions.
Hera felt embarrassed. Quickly sprinting from the drugstore, she headed down the street; but not the one that led to her home. She had no money to flag down a taxi and so decided to walk. She didn't want to go home in such a condition.
She was beginning to go dizzy, weak and her bones were almost giving up on her. Her temperature was rising and her belly churning. She was uncomfortable, extremely uncomfortable.
She paused and then bent to cough out more. Her throat was dry. She was uncomfortable with the heavy lump in her throat.
Blood. Black blood. That was all she saw and her eyes widened. Her heart began to race. "Not now, please not now". She whispered unbelievably to no one.
She let her back slide down the wall of an abandoned theatre and she began to sob. "Not now, not now". Hera whispered again, spitting into her hands to see more blood. Thick black blood.
She let herself slide down the back of the theatre's wall as she settled her face to her raised knees, letting the fresh tears flow down her cheeks. She was scared. She didn't want to leave her only daughter alone in the uncertainty of the future.
And while she sat on the dirty floor sobbing as she coughed, a gush of wind blew and a man stepped out of the old theatre's wall.
"My my, what do we have here?". His voice sounded eerie and Hera stiffened.
She slowly lifted her teary face to meet the man, who was grinning from ear to ear and intently staring at her.
She sniffed and then quickly stood up to almost trip back to the floor.
"Easy there. You look horrible". The man commented, stepping closer to her.
" You look more yourself so horrible, than the last I saw you, Artheron". Hera spat out in disdain. It was apparent from her tone that she hated the man, standing before her.
He had long brown curly weird hair and wore a dark long gown, surrounded by little stakes and long red painted nails.
"I'll take that as a compliment, my fair lady. Long time no see". Artheron grinned.
He would have been mistaken to be a human, if not for the presence of the two tongues stitched together in his mouth.
" I missed you. We all truly missed you". He squatted down to draw shapes on the floor.
"Well no apology for saying this, I never missed you. I never missed your ugly faces so go back to where you belong... In the caves". Hera slid down the wall again as she closed her eyes.
She was breathless, letting her mouth open to take in air.
"I will dearest, but no sooner. Do you know the witches and the vampires are about to have a meeting to settle the feud?".
"Do you imagine I am going to care?". Her voice was low but harsh.
Artheron stared at her for some seconds and then clicked his tongue as he stood up. He walked to where she sat feebly and draped his back palm on her forehead.
"Of course, you should". He gave a little smile. " How's your pretty daughter?".
Hera's eyes glowed with anger as she gritted her teeth, slapping the man's hand off her forehead. "Stay away from her". She hissed.
" Ah Hera!, you hurt me. I wasn't intending to hurt her after all she belongs to me now_".
"She would never be yours". Hera snapped. " Stay away from her!". It was a warning and he comprehended.
His smile dropped as he hissed back at her. " You were the one to meet me. You were the one to offer her to me as a deal. To be my wife when she would become an adult. You are not to go back on your words. I believe_".
"It was a mistake!!!. A. Stupid. Mistake!!!. I know I wouldn't be forgiven. The most high won't forgive me. She wouldn't forgive me either but...". Hera paused, taking in a large breath.
" I did it because I had no other option for me to live. For my only child to live. It was my last option and I regret it but if you insist on taking a wife. Have me instead". She pointed at her chest. Her fingers were dripping with the black blood. "Beyond everything, I am useless". The last words drew more tears from her eyes and Artheron as he was called, scoffed.
" Are you fooling with me?. This was the deal. A deal is a deal, dearest and I hope it goes into your weak skull. Do not think my threats are empty and even if you are dead. I'll come for your soul. You know I would. Do tell my future wife that I am about to get her". He smiled, showing off his white teeth and Hera's eyes narrowed.
She was about to say more things to him but before she could open wide her mouth, the man had disappeared and more frustrated tears dripped down her face. Her heart felt like it was been stabbed. She was sorry and regretful for what she had done.
She wheezed for air, closing her eyes finally.
...
Kian inserted the VIP card in his hands to the door which slightly opened, letting him into the elevator and without touching the buttons, the elevator began to pull him to his destination: the rooftop of the five-star hotel.
He tapped his right foot impatiently as he waited for the elevator to stop and when it finally did, he puffed in air and out and then exited the elevator as fast as he could.
"Time is ticking, time is ticking". He was muttering to himself as he hastily walked to the glass door, which opened automatically, letting him in.
He let his eyes wander around, from one person to another, looking for the person who looked identical to the one in the photo on his phone.
He walked further in haste, eyes quickly scanning around the tables. He was urgently in need of a job to be done. Time was ticking. His mind made sure to tell him that and just in time, his eyes memorised every feature of the girl, standing against the rail as she sipped her cocktail. She was on sunglasses and wore a transparent beaded gown that showed what she wore beneath.
" Hello". Kian gave his usual charming, boyish smile when he moved toward the girl and saw her size him up and then down. How rude. He thought.
"Hello". She returned the smile. It was because she found the young man rich and handsome. "Can I help you?".
"If I am not mistaken, you are Tiana?".
" Yes. Are you Mr Kian?". The surprise was evident in her tone.
"Actually, yes". Kian breathed out. "Let's go". He didn't bother to ask why she sounded surprised.
" I had expected you were older, particularly the way they ceaselessly used the Mister".
Kian rolled his eyes. "How much is your charge?". He went straight to the point. He knew she was hesitating to move because the money had not been spoken of.
Then she smiled. A happy smile. " For you rich folks? I'll take half a million". She was been proud.
Kian didn't contend but instead, pulled out a piece of paper in front of her. "Fill in the amount. I'll give you a million".
The pretty girl's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time, someone was paying a huge amount for her services and secondly, not arguing with the amount, she had pulled up.
She sheepishly smiled and then leaned over to whisper to his ears. " I assure you, Mr Kian. You wouldn't regret paying this huge amount of money". And then she leaned back, picked out a pen and then scribbled the amount on the cheque and then handed it over to him, to ratify and when Kian had done that, she placed it carefully into her purse and then stood up.
"Please lead the way".
" Kian checked his luxurious wrist watch and he panicked. "Shit!". He muttered. He had wasted fifteen more minutes.
" Let's hurry, Tiana".
He walked so fast that the girl following behind him almost tripped, nearly breaking her heels.
"Could you please slow down, mister?. She requested. What kind of horny bastard was this?. She thought.
Not paying attention to whatever she was muttering, Kian pressed the elevator's button and glared at the girl who was taking her sweet time to walk up to him.
" Could you please hurry up?". It was his time to question her.
The girl wanted to glare but she refrained. "If you had walked slower and also as a gentleman, you would have held my hands and led me gently to the room". She retorted as soon as she came into the elevator. Her nose was flaring in anger.
None of her clients had made her feel less important. Some carried her, some draped their arms around her waist as they walked, showering her with kisses and dirty talks but this gentleman... This gentleman was treating her like... " Ugh". She groaned in frustration.
Kian scoffed. What a proud prostitute, he thought. Tapping his foot on the elevator, they heard it ding! And then opened and the hasty Kian bolted out like he was been chased after, leaving the woman behind him, speechless.
When Kian arrived at the room with the number 1129, he stopped and only then turned to look at the lady who was gently catting walking toward him.
Trying to curb her anger, she breathed in and then out. She would have lashed out at this young man but it was evident from the way he was been mentioned and treated in the hotel and the way he dressed, that it was obvious he was some big shot.
"Is this the room?". She managed to say instead, amidst her sharp breaths, wondering what was keeping him from unlocking the door.
" Yes". She heard him respond. Looking at him, Tiana could see a trace of fear flash through those beautiful eyes, which were quickly replaced by an expression she couldn't read.
She could swear with her dead brother's grave that she saw it. Clearly.