"God morning, darling!"
Katarina said to Aron while he was making his way into the kitchen.
Aron had slept like a baby making all his fatigue from yesterday disappear.
He yawned and then replied.
"Good morning, Katarina."
"How are you this morning? You seem energetic."
She smiled brightly and went up to Aron.
"Thanks to you I am better than ever before. That potion really helped me recover."
Aron closed the distance hugging her. He then whispered in her ears.
"I'm glad."
They separated and Katarina went on to put two plates on the table.
Aron sat down and slowly closed his eyes, since he still was sleepy. When he could smell the oatmeal, he opened them ever so slightly. Katarina took a big scoop and placed it in his bowl.
Contrary to its appearance Katarina's oatmeal was amazing. It always energised Aron whenever he had the luxury of eating it.
Before she would have set out some slices of fruit and cheese to accompany the breakfast, but they no longer had the means to have those little luxuries.
Aron slowly dipped his wooden spoon inside the thick grits and ate it without hesitation.
It was nothing special, but it was fulfilling in its own way, so he gulped it all down.
As with most mornings Katarina admired Aron affectionately. She knew he was not without his flaws but even then, he was perfect for her.
"Hey, how are you holding up?"
Aron looked up from his bowl and spoke.
"I am fine."
"I mean with your magic."
She whispered the last part.
"Oh, I am fine. It has not been a bother. I feel as though I am more in control now."
"Have you experimented with it?"
"Eh, I haven't had the time, honey. I have been looking for jobs here and there, but there doesn't seem to be anything optimal." Aron looks down on his hands. He feels like a failure of a husband. His wife does so much for him and yet he can't do what he is supposed to do.
Katarina seeing how he is struggling, nervously fiddles with her fingers wondering if she should tell him.
Katarina had herself felt the lack of funds. When she was to buy groceries, she had to be very mindful. While she didn't mind being mindful, she could see how it effected Aron. It was not the fact that they were poor, but the fact that he couldn't do anything about it.
With this in mind, she spoke.
"There might be a way, albeit a little unusual."
"I'm listening"
Aron said skeptically.
"There is this group. They call themselves the Black Lotus."
"Katarina, I do-"
"Aron!"
She raised her voice interrupting him. Aron looked on in disbelief.
'What has gotten into her?'
"I'm sorry… I just need you to listen before you say what you think."
Aron noticed her fiddling and knew she must be nervous.
He nodded and she continued.
She ceased her fiddling and looked to Aron with determination, which took him a little by surprise.
"They are a well-known criminal organisation. They offered me a generous sum to work for them and if I brought you as well, I'm sure they would appreciate it."
"I thought no one knew of your magic."
"No one knows that Katarina has magic. I am known as something else to them."
Silence followed. Katarina was visibly nervous she couldn't believe what she had proposed. To ask such a thing of her husband that was once a knight. She felt a little ashamed.
Aron seeing all of this couldn't help but smile. His wife was ready to do whatever it took for them. He felt happy to know that the woman he loved, loved her back. He already knew of this, but getting a reminder every now and then is surely refreshing.
"Let's do it"
He says breaking the silence.
"What? Really!?"
She practically jumped out of her seat.
"Do you really mean it Aron?"
"I do" He giggled lightly.
She then sat back down composing herself somewhat.
"Then what should we do now?" It was Aron asking. He had planned to look for work, so he didn't know where to go from here.
She answered calmly.
"We will have to meet their leader. He personally requested me, so it will be relatively easy to get an audience with him."
"But first we need to change our appearances. We can't risk them recognising us."
Aron thought that she seemed very familiar with this kind of thing.
"You seem to know what you are talking about."
Katarina smiled shyly.
"I am kind of a well-known figure in the underworld."
"Underworld?"
"The criminal world."
She clarified.
'What had she been doing whenever I was not home? She seems to have had a whole other life.'
Aron was a little uneasy about her familiarity with criminality. He had always seen her as an beautiful and calm angel.
Aron sighed and then spoke.
*Sigh*
"Shall we get going?"
"Yes!"
Katarina seemed unusually excited.
"hahaha." Aron laughed at how sweet she was when she was excited.
"Eat your oatmeal first."
Katarina looked down at her bowl and saw that she hadn't touched its contents yet.
She quickly ate until she was full. A long day was ahead of them.
When they had cleaned up the dishes they went into their bedroom and tried to find some clothing that would hide their identity. The choices were limited so Aron had to live with it for a while.
Aron came out with a long black cloak with a hood combined with grey pants and his usual shoes. He also wore a mask; one you would see at a masquerade. Katarina already had her set complete. She had black pants and shoes combined with a midnight blue shirt of fine quality and dark brown cloak with a hood. She wore no mask.
Aron couldn't help but admire the woman before him. She had a mysterious look that intrigued him. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"How come only I need to wear a mask?" Aron asked. It seemed a little weird for only one of them to hide their identity.
Katarina gave him her perfect smile and answered not with her words but her magic.
Whilst murmuring something she slowly placed her hands on her face and then dragged them up to her head, where after she then slowly moved her hands down to the last strands of her hair.
While doing this her eyes changed from blue to a dark purple and her hair from black to a yellow blonde.
She looked so different but nonetheless pretty.
"You are beautiful Katarina."
She moved closer putting her finger on his lips. Her demeanour had changed totally. She was no longer shy or nervous, but mischievous and confident.
She softly moved her hand to the side of his cheek touching his mask.
"My name I no longer Katarina."
She gave a dangerous smile.
"But the Conqueror of Men"
…
"What?!"
Aron could not believe what he had heard.
"You heard me right, darling. It is not a name I gave myself."
She says while obviously faking innocence.
"Don't worry Aron. I am yours and only yours."
"I think the name comes from the fact that many men underestimated me when I first made my debut, and they all meet their untimely demise."
She said whilst grinning seeming almost devilish.
"Katarina" Aron began.
"Just know that if anyone tries anything with you, I don't think I can hold back."
Aron was dead serious. He could oddly feel some sort of power behind his eyes. Like he could destroy whatever was in front of him if he so wished to.
Katarina walked up to and grabbed his clenched fist.
"Could you not restrain yourself a little? In some situation words work better than fists."
With a mischievous grin she guided Aron by his hand to the living room.
"Let us go."
Aron saw how she did not move towards the door, but just stood still.
He was about to ask about it but her chanting beat him to it.
"inde meo animo sumite locum, et ducite me illic, o tenebrosa mater."
Katarina put her hands together and then separated them, thereafter she turned them in a circulating motion.
Before them, the fabrics of the world tore. A purple slash tore open space itself and expanded into an oval shape.
Katarina looked back at Aron and smiled.
"Our portal to the Black Lotus."
The portal's edges were sparking with energy.
"You can open portals?!"
She looked at the portal and then back at Aron.
"As you can see, I am capable of creating a portal."
Aron didn't mind the cheekiness, since he was absolutely astonished.
He had never seen such magic. It seemed so difficult. To open a portal to a specific place was something even the high priest had difficulties with.
'Just how strong is she?'
Katarina walked into the other side of the portal, leading Aron by the hand.
When they walked through it didn't feel weird or uncomfortable, it was like walking from one room to the next.
Where they were now was a room lit by torches placed on the walls. The walls were made of stones. The stones' damp surfaces were glistening in the torches' light.
"Where are we?" Aron asked looking around the room.
"Underground."
"The Black Lotus' headquarters are just beyond that door."
She says while pointing at the wooden door standing opposite of them.
"They gave me a special entrance in hopes that I would join their cause, that only I can use."
"As if this were enough to convince me."
She says in annoyance.
Katarina then walks up the door with Aron walking behind her.
Beyond the door is a long hallway and at its end there is a big open space.
Around 3 dozen people were going about like they would normally. They were talking, laughing and some were relaxing with a drink in hand. Saying that the space was big would be undermining it. I was gigantic. You could call it a small village with its size. There were shops and common areas, where people relaxed and interacted. The only thing that might have been considered unusual would be the people themselves.
They were a scary looking bunch, with some having lost limbs replaced with some sort of mechanical substitution. Others were adorned with scars and tattoos. They didn't seem like an honest bunch.
"The leader is in that apartment."
Katarina was pointing to a large building hanging on the rock walls. The apartment had a big glass window that gave it a view of the whole underground village.
"What do they call this place?"
"They named it after their founder Henry. So, it's called Henrici."
Katarina confidently walked towards where the leader was supposed to be. Many whispers followed our wake. They were filled with wary and admiration. It seemed like Katarina was well known.
On their way many sellers tried to get Katarina and Aron's attention. When Aron glanced at some of his wares, he saw that they were almost all contrabands.
"This place is like the hub for shady business."
Aron commented, while walking side by side with Katarina.
"Yeah, if you have the funds, you can get almost anything you want."
"Let's hurry up, we are almost there."
Katarina upped the tempo and so did Aron.
After a couple of minutes, they arrived at some gates.
"He is in here"
She nodded beyond the gates where some stairs went up to the apartment.
At either side of the gate to guards stood in place.
'I couldn't blame anyone for thinking that these guys were robbing the place.'
Katarina stepped forward and quietly said.
" Let me handle it."
Aron was on alert, if anything were to happen, he was ready.
Katarina was in front of the two guards and in response to her presence they protectively took a step forward.
"Get lost! No one is getting in here!"
The one of the left barked. He had a scar running across his cheek finding its way on the bridge of his nose. A sword was hanging on his belt.
"I have been invited by Darius himself."
Katarina said politely.
*Whistle*
The one on the right whistled while looking at Katarina. He made his way forward and so did Aron. But Katarina lifted her hand at Aron signalling for him to stop and so he did.
"What a beauty we have here." He had a long beard reaching down to his chest and had red cheeks. His bald head was adorned with different tattoos depicting some kinds of mythical beasts.
"We need to see Darius."
She said sternly.
"Well, you see the thing is, that he would normally tell us of any guests that would be coming, but today he didn't say anything."
He moved closer. Too close.
"That means that you are either going to go on your merry way or I'm gonna have to assume that you are trying to trespass, and in that case, I have to stop you."
The last part he said while licking his lips. Katarina could smell his pungent breath of alcohol and cigars. It made her want to puke.
"Do you know wh-"
Katarina began, but then she suddenly felt a gust of wind passing her side. When she realised what it was, it was too late to stop.
The guy that was standing a few inches from her was now on the ground missing more teeth than he originally did. Aron was standing over him with bruised knuckles. The man was knocked out good.
Seeing this, the other guard drew his sword and ran towards Aron.
Katarina gasped, she had to do something but what. She was so terrified at the prospect of losing Aron, that she couldn't move an inch. She had defeated far scarier opponents but those times she was not with the lover of her life.
The guard lifted his sword ready to slay the intruder before him.
But he was too slow. Aron punched the guard's throat hard and too fast to see.
The guard drooped his sword and clawed at his throat, desperate for air but to no avail.
He fell to the hard ground and suffered for about four minutes. He was getting little air, so he didn't lose consciousness immediately. After he did not move anymore Aron turned to Katrina smiling.
"I showed them mercy, Katarina."
He walked up to her holding her shaking hands. Her eyes were locked to the dead guard.
Aron went right by her ear and whispered.
"For you Katarina, I showed restraint."
She looked at Aron's eyes with fear in her own. When she saw the way he looked at her, her fear subsided. She could see the love. Her chest fluttered with butterflies, and she took a step closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him deeply.
*Plup*
They both looked at were the sound came from. It was the guard with the breathing problems. One of his eyes were protruding unnaturally out of his eye socket. It wasn't hanging out, but I was definitely weird looking.
Seeing her confusion Aron explained.
"He probably hit his head when he fell. Sometimes when people get hit hard enough in the head, the pressure inside increases."
…
"Aron"
"Yes?"
"Let's go in."
Katarina could not sort out what she was feeling. All she could do know was to continue with the plan, meting Darius.