REVILED

Oria lay on the plush red sofa, sipping on the glass of wine in her hand. The rich mahogany paneling glowed in the afternoon sun, and the music from the minstrels outside glided through the window. Honestly, this was the first time she experienced the luxury of the upper city, and she really liked it.

“What about this?”

Oria lazily turned to Rylie as she stood on a velvet pedestal. The young woman wore a slim red dress with a slit up the left leg that ended at her hip. The collar hung low showing off her collarbone.

Oria could help but laugh, “I don’t think it’s meant for your figure,” she said with a smirk.

“Then it wouldn’t work for you either,” Rylie said with a sneer.

“Besides we need outfits that are more…revealing,”

A laugh drew her attention to the other woman in the room, “I doubt that would help you much,” Meridith said trying on a green and gold dress.

“Why are you here again?” Oria said tightening her grip on the glass stem.

“I’ve given most of my clothes to Yula,” Meridith said looking at the other dresses in the room, “So I need new clothes. But why are you here?”

Oria sauntered to the other rack, “The boss wants me and my gang to take out that small gambling den,” She pulled out a silk petticoat, “But I doubt we could take it out with force, so we’ll go with a more ‘subtle’ approach.”

“You…subtle?” Meridith laugh grated Oria’s ears.

“Yes!”

“So, what’s the plan?” Meridith smirked over her shoulder, “Seduce the men then kill them one at a time? Not very effective.”

“No, but close,” Oria walked over to the table where Meridith’s pouch sat. She pulled out the vial of Capcap’s poison, “I’ll need more of this though.”

Cheers shook the rickety wooden walls, and a thick haze of tobacco smoke lingered in the air. Cards slapped against tables and dice rattled in cups. Scantily dressed women walked along between the tables refilling mugs as the men freely groped at their exposed flesh. A rough hand slid under Oria’s ruffled petticoat and squeezed her left cheek.

“Grab me another love,” the man said as he fingers pressed into her skin.

Oria gave him a sweet smile, “Sure thing sweet pea!” she said with a shrill country accent.

Oria flashed the other patrons a toothy smile as she walked past. Hunger burned in their eyes. The black corset did nothing for her exposed breasts and the petticoat barely covered her goods, but she still sauntered through the room. All thanks to her shoes. The shoes forced her to walk on her toes since the heel was a long, thin piece of wood. It took her two days to learn to walk in them, but she was happy with the result. The men staring at her legs were happy too.

Oria leaned over the bar, “Can I get another ale sweetie,” she smiled as she tucked a strand of golden red hair behind her ear.

“S-sure thing,” the young bartender said. His eyes never left her bosom.

Oria looked around the rickety shack. Three other women walked around the room serving the patrons. Places such as these often-used independent prostitutes, hoping to expand their client based, to serve their patrons.

“Whadda think you’re doing,” Oria saw Rylie glaring down at one of the patrons, “You want to touch the goods, then you need to pay up,” she slammed her heel into the man’s foot. His smile grew as he groaned in pain. “Disgusting.” Rylie flipped her black hair and walked towards the bar.

“You’ve gotten into the role,” Oria said with a smirk.

“Better than playing the country bumpkin,” Rylie blew at her bangs, “I should have chosen to dye my hair a different color.”

“Too late now,” Oria said. She smiled at the bartender as he placed a mug in front of her, “Let’s get started.”

Oria opened the false seam in her leather cuff revealing a white powder. She placed a pinch of the powder in the mug and stirred it with her finger. Oria walked back the burly man.

“Here you are sweetie,” Oria said running her hand through his hair.

“Thanks sweetheart.” Oria moaned when he reached between her legs.

“I’ll take another too.”

“Same.”

“How bout I bring drinks for the entire table,” The table cheered as Oria walked away.

Rylie walked past her and stopped in front of table of young men, “Drink up.” She said with a sneer.

“Sure,” Rylie said with a smile. She brought the cup to his lips and slowly poured. Her smile turned dark, and she poured it over his face. “Did you enjoy that?”

The young man gave her a hungry smile and pulled her into his lap, “I’ll enjoy this,” he said pulling her into a kiss, but Rylie blocked it with the mug.

“That’ll cost extra,” she said. She smiled when she looked at the card game, “And it doesn’t look like you can afford it.”

The man released Rylie as the others laughed at him. It was a slow process. Spiking individual drinks with mushroom powder was a delicate process. With a limited supply, they had to be frugal but according to Meridith, even a small dose of Cappy’s mushrooms would have a strong effect. Oria could see it slowly working.

The men were starting to get rowdier as their eyes were slowly glazing over. Their speech started to slur, and their movements were becoming sloppy. Oria looked over to Rylie and tapped her cheek twice. Rylie nodded and went back to work. Gotta be careful. Nothing more dangerous than a man who loses control of himself.

“You boys having fun?”

Oria’s back straightened as she turned to the door. A large man walked in. His sleeveless doublet hung open showing off the collection of scars on his muscular torso. Both his earlobes were wrinkled and torn, and a jagged scar ran down the left side of his face. His hair was nothing but fuzz, and two hatchets hung at his hips. Dammit, what’s Briar doing here?

“Hey…what are you doing here?” one of the men stumbled out of his chair and approached Briar, “Thought you’d be…be with the big boss.”

“Samon sent me to check on you,” Briar said, his sneer growing as he looked around the room, “He wants an update.”

“N-nothing new,” the man’s smiled crookedly at Briar.

Briar took a deep breath then slammed his fist into the man’s face. The drunk’s knees buckled, and he hit the floor hard. Briar held up his bloody hand.

“Then maybe should get back to work,” Briar’s tone caused the men to become slightly more sober.

Oria walked over to Rylie who was standing next to the bar.

“What do we do now?” Rylie said, hiding her face behind her hair.

“Give me a minute,” Oria said. After a few seconds she sighed, “Leave Briar to me, you continue with the plan, but increase the amount of powder.” Rylie nodded as she placed a large pinch of powder in two mugs.

Oria grabbed a mug for herself and sauntered over to Briar. He sat at a table in the center of the room with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Oria placed the mug in front of him and slid on the table.

“Looks like you could use this darlin’,” she said.

Briar’s eyes lingered on her long legs, and slowly rose them to her face, “You’re new,”

“Just strolled into town a few days ago,” Oria said crossing her legs, “I wanted to see the city, so here I am.”

“Is that so,” Briar leaned closer and let his hand stroke her legs. He took a deep drink.

“Must be stressful,” Oria gestured to the others.

“Sometimes, but it’s not as bad as the nobles,” Briar said, “But I do need to relieve my stress.”

“It’s a bit crowded in here,” Oria got up, “Does outside work?”

“You truly are a country girl.” Briar laughed as he followed her outside.

Oria shivered as she stepped outside, but she grabbed Briar’s arm and led him around the back. Briar grabbed her hips, turned her around, then hoisted her onto a crate. Oria giggled as she wrapped her legs around him. Oria licked her fingers and reached around Briar’s head, so she could coat her fingers in the powder. Briar forced his lips against hers and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Oria pulled back with a smile and placed her fingers over Briar’s lips. Briar took her fingers in his mouth and bit down hard which caused Oria to hiss in pain.

“I don’t like being interrupted,” Briar said.

Oria pouted then nibbled his ear, “Don’t be mean,” she said as she coated her fingers again and gently ran them through his left ear, “I want to enjoy this too.”

Briar grabbed and lifted Oria and started giving attention to her breasts. Oria moaned and dug her nails into his neck, drawing blood, which caused him to bite down. Oria sprinkled mushroom powder over the wounds. Briar lowered her and started rubbing against her.

“Damn girl, you like it rough,” he said slamming her against the wall. Briar’s arms started shaking.

“Is something wrong darlin’,” Oria said with smile.

Briar released her. His breathing became shallow and sweat poured from his face. Oria unlocked her legs and stood up, then pushed him back. Briar fell to the floor with foam forming around his mouth.

“It’s a pity,” Oria said, dropping her accent, “We could have had a good time, but I have a job to do.”

Briar’s breathing quickened until it finally stopped. Oria reached into Briar’s pocket and pulled out a rag and wiped down her hands and chest. Then she walked back to the front and whistled. The five other members walked out of the shadows.

“Get ready boys,” Oria said, “Wait till I call you.”

“Sure, thing boss,” the lanky boy said slapping her ass.

Oria gave him a dark smile, “Try that again Zak,” she said.

“Sorry,”

Oria walked into the den. Rylie looked over with a worried look, and Oria understood why. The men were starting to get rough. Two men were shouting at each other about cheating. Another grabbed one of the women and forced her onto the table, but another man pushed him away. The man stumbled back, then roared and pushed him to the ground. A knife rose in the air and was brought down drawing blood. Chaos followed.

The two shouting men flipped the table and went to blows. The two men drew their weapons and started cutting each other. Others tried to intervene only to get stabbed. Rylie tipped over a table and hid behind it. Oria ducked behind the bar and watched from safety. Daggers stabbed flesh. Mugs bashed in skulls. Men tackled to the ground as they broke tables and chairs. The fighting lasted forever and ended in a flash.

Oria slowly rose from her hiding spot. A few of the men groaned in pain, but most stared into nothingness. Rylie wiped away the blood splatter on her face and arms. The other women cowered in the corner crying. The bartender rose from behind the bar.

“Get in here!” Oria called out.

The other members rushed inside. “Damn.” They stared in shock.

“There are a few still alive, finish them off,” Oria said, “Then grab any valuables you can find.”

“What about them,” Emmett gestured to the others.

“Don’t kill us, please.”

“Take anything you want!”

“I have a family that needs me.”

Oria slowly approached them, “Don’t worry,” she said, “We’re here to take out the gang. But…I can’t say the same for Samon.”

One of the prostitutes tore at her hair, “What are we supposed to do now?”

Two of Oria’s men wrapped an arm around them, “I’m sure we can think of something, right boss?”

Oria looked at the young men with a sneer, and then saw Rylie hanging off the bartender, “Fine,” she said, “I’ll bring this up to the boss, but no promises.”

The gang cheered as they went about their work. Oria chuckled as she wrapped herself in a cloak. Dammit, I’m going soft.