Ch 6.4

Still simmering with anger, Kazyak stormed back into the kitchens, boots striking the floor hard enough to make heads turn.

“At once!” she barked.
“Serve those bastards in the guesthouse whatever piss-water wine and scraps you can find!”

One of the worker girls hesitated.
“B-But Miss Kazyak… didn’t you just head there with a tray?”

Kazyak whirled on her, eyes blazing.
“I ate it myself. Got a problem with that?”

The girl shrank back instantly.
“N-No! I’ll prepare another right away.”

She hurried to place food on a tray and reached for a sealed jar of fine ale—

Kazyak snatched it out of her hands.

“Miss Kazyak, that’s—”

“Wasted on those human scum,” Kazyak snapped. “Give them the cheap shit from the bottom shelf. This one’s mine.”

She leaned in, her voice dropping into something sharp and dangerous.
“And if you so much as breathe a word of this to Madam Onteko—”

The worker girl nodded frantically.
“I won’t. I swear.”

“Good.”

Kazyak stalked out with the jar in hand, tearing the seal off and taking a long, bitter swig as she went. The alcohol burned down her throat, dulling the edge of her fury—just barely.

As she moved through the dim corridor, she caught movement near the pillars.

Someone was sneaking.

A small figure slipped from shadow to shadow, pausing, peeking around corners.

Kazyak’s eyes narrowed.

Before the girl could react, Kazyak was behind her.

A fist tangled in her hair and yanked her clean off the floor.

“AAH—!”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kazyak roared.

“L-Let go!” Chloe cried, kicking uselessly.

Kazyak backhanded her hard enough to send her sprawling.
“Shut up, you human bitch.”

Chloe clutched her cheek, vision swimming as she looked up.

Kazyak loomed over her, eyes wild, posture coiled like a beast ready to tear flesh. Chloe’s stomach dropped. Every instinct screamed danger.

“I needed somewhere to dump my frustration anyway,” Kazyak snarled.

She grabbed Chloe again and hauled her toward the stairs.
“Let’s see how well you scream, newbie. I’ll enjoy this.”

Chloe thrashed, but Kazyak’s grip didn’t budge.

A few worker girls watched from a distance. No one moved to help. Some looked away. Others didn’t bother hiding their agreement.

Kazyak dragged Chloe back to her assigned room, shoving her up the steps.

“We’re here,” she said with cruel satisfaction.

“—That’s enough, Kaz.”

The voice cut through the hall like a blade.

Kazyak froze, then turned.

Aisha stood behind them, posture composed, tail still, eyes sharp.

“Tch. What do you want?” Kazyak spat.

“You know exactly what,” Aisha replied calmly. “Let her go.”

Kazyak’s claws slid out as she tightened her grip around Chloe’s throat, lifting her just enough to make breathing painful.
“She left her kennel. Someone needs to teach her discipline. I’m happy to do it.”

“That’s not your responsibility,” Aisha said evenly. “She’s under my watch.”

Kazyak sneered.
“Looks like you’re doing a shit job, then.”

She leaned closer to Chloe, eyes burning.
“Look at her. Fragile as a bunny, but those eyes—still defiant. I’ll break her. Body or spirit. Been wanting to hurt a human for weeks anyway. I’ll make an example out of her.”

“I said enough,” Aisha snapped, steel entering her voice.
“Or do you want the Dorm Mother involved?”

Kazyak’s jaw clenched.

“Tch.” She shoved Chloe away roughly. “Always ruining the fun.”

Chloe collapsed to the floor, gasping, hands shaking as she clutched her throat.

“I’ll let this slide once,” Kazyak growled as she turned away.
“But if I see her out of line again, I’ll skin her. Remember that.”

She paused, sniffing the air.
“Now… where did I put my booze?”

She stormed off down the corridor.

Aisha watched her go, then turned to Chloe.

For a moment, their eyes met—Chloe’s burning with stubborn defiance, Aisha’s unreadable.

Aisha grabbed Chloe’s wrist.

“Come,” she said quietly.

She didn’t wait for a reply. Chloe was dragged back into her quarters, the door slamming shut behind them with a dull thud.

Aisha shoved her forward.

Chloe stumbled and landed on the bed, the mattress creaking under her weight.

“You stupid girl,” Aisha snapped. “I just pulled you back from a world of pain.”

Chloe pushed herself upright, eyes blazing.
“No one asked you to! I’m not staying here forever.”

Aisha turned slowly.

Her gaze was sharp—not angry, not cruel. Calculating.

“You want us to kill that boy of yours?”

The words landed like a knife.

Chloe’s mouth opened—then closed. Her jaw tightened. She looked away, nails digging into the bedsheet.

Aisha exhaled through her nose.
“Then you should stop talking and start listening. Obey us. Once the debt is settled, you’ll walk out.”

Chloe’s voice came out hoarse.
“When will that be?”

Aisha didn’t hesitate.
“A few decades, at best.”

Chloe’s head snapped up.
“That’s— that’s impossible. We don’t have that kind of time.”

“I’m done hearing complaints,” Aisha said flatly.
“You’ll start work tomorrow. You’ll accompany me as a handmaiden. You’ll watch, learn, and keep your mouth shut.”

She continued, tone mercilessly calm.
“After a week, you’ll be tested. A trial run as a courtesan. Do well, bring in enough coin, and maybe—maybe—your debt shrinks faster.”

Chloe stared at her, disbelief and anger twisting together.
“This is your fault,” she said, voice trembling. “We trusted you. I trusted you.”

Aisha paused at the door.

“You shouldn’t have,” she replied without turning around.

She gestured toward a tray left on the table.
“Dinner’s there. Eat. Sleep. Tomorrow won’t be kind.”

The door closed.

Chloe sat frozen for a long moment.
Then her shoulders sagged.

She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, chest tight, throat burning. The room felt too quiet—too small.

Trusting someone…
That was the mistake.

She turned her face into the pillow and clenched her fists, silently promising herself one thing.
She wouldn’t break. Not here. Not ever.