Arad looked at the glowing streets, “Where should we go?” He asked Alcott, who walked forward.
“Hmm…I would like to say the slave market. But I hope it doesn’t get to that point.” Alcott looked back at Arad and Ginger, “You two go and find a place to rest. I will go ask some friends.”
Arad blinked, “You’re going alone?”
“You don’t know how to act around here. Let Ginger teach you while I’m out so we can work together when I get back.” Alcott smiled, and Ginger took her mage hat off, letting her flaming red hair out.
Arad stared at Ginger as she cracked her jaw, getting her vampire fangs out. “We’re in the city of criminals. No one is going to question a monster walking around,” With her words, her face slightly shifted, getting a bit longer.
“You should do the same.” Ginger looked at Arad, and he took a deep breath. “I still prefer to look the same. Less is better for me.”
Ginger giggled, “Then you can be my thrall for the time being. Remember, don’t be nice.” She turned around, “You will only get hurt if you did that. This city doesn’t accept naive thinking.”
Arad and Ginger walked toward an inn while Alcott headed deeper into the city, searching for his contact to get information.
Arad and Ginger stood before a large stone building. They could see light seeping through the cracked windows, and hear the laughter of people drinking inside. “Remember, you’re my thrall. So open the door,” She smiled, and Arad approached the inn’s door, pushing it open.
Everyone inside the inn stared at the door, seeing a massive man walk inside, followed by a redhead beauty. It didn’t take them a second to notice her fangs and look away.
“A vampire and her slave? What brought such a monster here?” One of the people whispered.
“Probably looking for slaves to use as cattle.”
“Bitch sees us as cows, ready for slaughter.” One grunted, glaring at Ginger, “Fucking monster,”
Arad glared at the man, causing him to gasp and look away. Ginger looked at Arad and smiled, “Let’s get a room. Follow me.”
“Bitch’s a coward, and so is her blood sack.” The man grunted. And Ginger stopped. She looked at the man with a smile. “You keep barking. Shut up.” Her eyes glow red.
The man’s tongue swoll in an instant, exploding inside his mouth in a stream of blood. GRWAAAAAAAAAA!
The man’s friends rushed to him, panicking.
“Let him bleed to death. That way we can sleep in silence for once.” Ginger walked toward the counter and looked at the owner. “Say, I do want a calm room.”
The man stared at her with a straight face. “It’s been a while since a vampire graced us. How should I address you?”
Ginger smiled, pulling a necklace from her pocket. “Count Scarlett Von Eric, I’m here for business with your establishment.”
The owner shifted his eyes and stared at the necklace. A droplet of sweat trailed across his forehead, down to his chin. “Ahem. I never expected to meet your majesty here. Please use the most left room. It’s our biggest and calmest room.”
Ginger took the key with a smile, “Nice doing business with you.” She pointed with her thumb at Arad. “I have quite a delicate taste, so find me something nice.”
“Please enjoy your room. I will make sure the auction has something for you.” The owner bowed as Ginger and Arad headed to their room.
CLACK! Before they could exit the tavern hall and get into the hallway. An armored man cut their way.
“Did I hear Scarlett? Von Eric in the flesh. Didn’t the dragon slayer kill you?” He smiled, pulling his sword. “Anyway, if it’s you, then I’m in luck. Do you know how big the bounty is on your head?”
Ginger giggled, “Over five hundred platinum coins. Do you think you can take me down?”
The man smiled, “You’re either a fake or a walking treasure. You will be exposed here.” He pointed his sword toward Ginger.
Thud! Arad walked forward, silently and with a straight face. Clench! He grasped the sword with his bare hand and glared at the man.
“Is your thrall an idiot? I can just pull my sword and…” The man froze. He can’t move his blade.
Arad’s hard scales and iron grip clenched at the sword like the jaws of a monster. The man didn’t have the strength, weight, or momentum to move his sword.
There is no slicing without a slashing motion.
CRACK! The sword shattered in Arad’s palm, and the man looked at his blade in shock. “Impossible,”
Thud! Arad put his hands on the man’s head. “You did point your sword at her.” The man could feel it through his hair. Arad’s palm was harsher than sandpaper.
Ginger looked back at the owner, “Just to save you face. Next time don’t get let idiots like this here.” She then looked at Arad. “Don’t kill him.”
SLAP! SLAP! Arad slapped the man with his left hand, and then hit him with a right slap, shaking his brain, and sending him flying toward the other guests.
His jaw was shattered, his teeth fell, and not a single muscle moved in his body.
“Oof! I’ve never seen an ass slapped so hard before.” A man smiled in the back, blowing on his lute. “Morgan was a bitch ass, and he got slapped like one. It shook him to the brain, and he got bloody wet, even!”
Arad looked back at the man singing, “And who are you?”
“Me?” The man smiled, “A jester, please ignore my comments. They come naturally,”
Arad turned toward Ginger. She smiled, “We should go to our room. Leave the bard alone.”
Arad and Ginger headed toward their room, and two people rushed to heal Morgan. The bard walked toward the counter and looked at the owner. “Your hair is amazing,” 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥.
“You almost got yourself killed, but thanks.”
“I mean, how did you get it to come out of your nose?” The bard smiled.
BAM! The owner swung a beer bottle at the bard.