Marco followed his guide through the dark streets of the unknown part of Valen, while learning more about the Spider. Apparently, she was a legend in this part of town.
An example of success where a prostitute managed to thrive in this hotly contested business. She made a powerful criminal fall in love with her and used him to kill her former boss and control the brothel where she worked, then they killed the competition and finally the spider killed her lover, taking control of her gang and the entire prostitution market on the outskirts.
Marco arrived at a discreet house near the sea gate, one of the busiest in the city. He left some soldiers watching the horses and entered the brothel, attracting immediate attention.
Marco had already been to a few brothels, both in Valen and Verona, and what he saw here was a failed attempt to copy the luxurious brothels he used to frequent. The main hall was a bar where several men gambled and drank, occasionally grabbing and playing with one of the many half-naked girls who walked among them. A few armed men tried to keep a low profile. The walls were covered with colorful carpets and fabrics, with a stage on the east wall where a band played a soft melody while dancers attracted many covetous glances.
"Madame Spider awaits you, Lord Arius." One of the few properly dressed women in the hall approached him and guided him to an underground room.
"I never imagined I would have the honor of receiving someone as illustrious as you"
Marco entered the room, accompanied only by Cassio, while the rest of his men spread out in the hall. He watched the spider for a moment, immediately understanding how she got everything she had.
The woman was beautiful, with a curvaceous, lightly tanned body and long black hair, light brown eyes and a mysterious smile that promised many things. She was wearing a white dress with a generous neckline that barely kept her full breasts in place. Her dress was open at the sides up to her waist, and both her back and shoulders were bare, revealing her soft, sweet-smelling skin. Her voice was soft and melodic, almost enchanting.
As stunning and charming as this woman was, Marco didn't let himself be distracted from his goal and said in a firm tone: "I heard that the red rat's sister works for you. I want to meet her."
The Spider looked surprised for a moment, but then controlled her face and said smiling: "She's seeing a customer at the moment... how about I entertain you until she's finished?"
"Madame Spider, today has been a long day and the night will be even longer. Get this girl here now before I turn your brothel into a graveyard."
The woman's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold expression. "Bring Mirra here, and offer compensation to our client..."
"What can you tell me about the red rat?"
"That kid is trouble, I wouldn't go near him if I were you."
Marco was surprised by the answer. "I heard that he tried to free his sister from that life, but he failed... is that why you say he's troubled?"
"Their father came here about ten years ago trying to sell his children... I managed to buy the girl for a few copper coins, but no one was interested in the boy. After a few days, I found out that he had been abandoned near here. He was small, I think about five years old at the most... You may not remember, but ten years ago there was a great invasion of monsters in the north, some even threatened Valen. Many men died, many crops were lost...
Many parents sold or killed their children to prevent them from starving. People were doing anything to get food, anything... It was in these circumstances that the red rat grew up. I can't imagine how he survived, but he found a way. That's why I say he's a problem.
He came here about two years ago, trying to free his sister, as you said. At first, Mirra didn't recognize him, thinking that her brother had died a long time ago. I looked at him before I sent my guards to take care of him... I've seen a lot in this life, my lord, but that child scared me. It was as if he had stopped being human"
'I must have been about ten years old during the last invasion, but I know that my father brought supplies from all over the kingdom to feed the people, so there's no way that a famine scenario as extreme as this could have happened in Valen...' Marco looked at the Spider a little suspicious. Before he could question the account, the door was opened and a young woman entered the room.
"This is Marco Arius, son of the Duke of Valen, and this is Mirra, the girl you wanted to meet."
Marco observed the young woman somewhat disappointed. He had created some expectations after meeting the Spider, but the young woman was quite ordinary. Brown hair, dark eyes, a body with well-defined curves, but nothing that caught his eye. She had a certain charm in the way she moved, and that was all.
Marco picked up a heavy bag and placed it on the table: "I wish to buy her, is 100 gold coins enough?"
The Spider laughed as Mirra's expression darkened.
"I think you've made a mistake, sir. None of my girls are slaves, that's why they're not for sale."
Marco had no reaction to the Spider's answer, and after an awkward moment, he said: "Didn't Dad sell her?"
"Yes, but I didn't buy her to be a slave. She's practically my daughter."
"But..."
"Yes, my lord, I am a prostitute. A woman who makes a living selling her body to men like you, but I chose this life." Mirra said angrily, then looked at Spider "Why did you call me?"
"Lord Arius is asking questions about the red rat"
The young woman, Mirra, seemed to shudder for a moment when she heard her brother's 'name', before turning her face towards Marco.
"I don't know anything about him. I spent eight years without thinking about him, then I saw him for a few minutes, and now I haven't seen him for two years. I didn't even recognize him when I saw him, if it hadn't been for Madame investigating what we thought was a thief, I would never have known we were brothers..."
"And what about your parents"
"The man who sold me and his family are dead."
Marco sighed as he found himself at a dead end. "Well then, I'll use these gold coins to hire your services for a few days."
"What exactly do you expect me to do?" Mirra asked suspiciously.
"Nothing much. You go to the Sea Palace, meet some people, answer a few more questions and then you can come back. I promise nothing bad will happen to you, and you won't have to do anything you don't want to"
Mirra was conflicted for a few seconds, until the glint of gold convinced her.
"Cassius, take the lady to the palace and settle her in the guest wing, make sure my words are followed to the letter.
"Yes sir."
Marco looked at Madame Spider after her guard and Mirra had left the room: "Do you mind if we discuss more personal matters?"
The Spider replied with a seductive smile as she lifted her dress.
~~~
In one of the many rooms in a heavily protected wing of the Sea Palace, a boy was restlessly stirring in his sleep. His cadaverous body seemed about to break with every sudden movement. Growls and grunts came out of its mouth occasionally.
If the guards stationed at the door didn't know there was a human in the room, they might have thought it was an animal they were watching.
Three servants approached the room, one of them came forward and said: "Lady Ayla has allowed us to take care of the guest"
"Remember to watch out for the cub" A guard warned and let them in.
The three entered, turned on some lights and looked around, trying to find the dragon, but their attention was quickly drawn to the boy on the bed.
"Is that your future husband, ma'am?"
"It looks like a monster..."
"Silence!" Lisandra said angrily. "Beth, shut up and start heating the water and preparing the salts. Lú, help me clean the wounds."
The three of them split up and began their tasks, without noticing the pair of red eyes that followed their every move.
'Damn! A few more months and I'd be married to that pompous bastard. Now I have to marry that monstrous bastard?' Lisandra thought as she gritted her teeth.
Lú lit some incense to lull her future master to sleep, while Lisandra began to remove the bandages from his arm.
'How did this bastard not die?' Lisandra thought as she looked at the wounds. The boy had a long gash in his right forearm, as well as a deep gash in the palm of his right hand, a puncture wound in his left collarbone and a deep gash in his forehead... She wasn't a fan of healing spells, but she heard one of the guards say that he also had several fractured ribs, as well as a broken left arm.
While Lisandra was cleaning the various wounds, she felt a touch on her shoulder and looked back to see that her friend was pale.
"M-m-my lady..." Lú pointed forward with a trembling hand.
Lisandra looked where Lú was pointing, noticing a pair of dark eyes watching her.