Spirits of the Earth

[Tags to @Boysenberrybootstraps ]

"Do not argue, Rais," Anki said. He stroked his beard and curled up the ends of his mustaches. "Why can't you simply enjoy the moment and move along, like the rest of my guard. They do not question, argue, or ruin what is supposed to be a perfectly good night of feasting and fucking."

As ever looking at the mask on his bodyguard's face proved fruitless, as there was no expression there. Surely his eyes burned with irritation, and even a twinge of disappointment. Most men would jump at the opportunity to escort their merchant prince to a brothel, an opportunity to take in the sights, and perhaps get a grope here or there.

Except his mouth, that was all that was visible that one would see in the small grooved cut out on that ivory mask.

"I am not arguing with you. I am simply wondering why your, ahem, party cannot simply be done at your manor my lord," Rais murmured back, careful of his tone and manner. He did not wish to step out of line as the wagon rolled down the street and the red lantern hung outside of Madam Oire's establishment.

"Because I can take a concubine at any time, Rais. But a lovely lady of the night, my friend. These are rare creatures that are a wonder to indulge in.  Please, no more talk.  We are here. Or I swear I will have a conniption."

Rais burned at the thought. No, it would not do to embarrass his employer, and doing so would not end well for him. He was here as a servant, and to protect Anki Aiavar from potential danger – and perhaps of making a fool of himself.. As they were aided out of the cart by the other three guards at his back, Rais kept himself steady and went in right at Anki's back, eyes surveying the establishment. Oh...it was much nicer than he expected.

"Hello my dear. Madame Oire, it is so lovely to see you again," Anki murmured, leaning into the Mistress's side and kissing her cheek, left then right.  "I hope you are well. I admit, you always look radiant. I just want to devour you here and now."  He growled with eager hunger, wrapping an arm around the older woman's waist, and her hands gently shoved him off.

Anki was handsome and distinguished for his age, closer to 50 than 60, and had a natural charm to him that the Mistress of the house had taken a shine to. "My working days are long over, Anki. But, perhaps one of my girls can interest you in sating your hunger? I think Yari remembers you, doesn't she?"

A young slender creature stepped forward, with her sandy hair having been bleached at the ends and she waved her hands at Anki, nodding.  She didn't need to say much more other than what she did with her hands, waving them across his arms, and wrapping one gently around Anki's elbow.  He laughed and gently pinched her chin with interest. "I think she does," he murmured.

"I'm please you will allow me to entertain you, my lord," she spoke at last, and kept her gaze low, demure.

Anki laughed. "Yari, Yari, be still my heart.  I think she will do just fine, Madame Oire. I did come here to have a good time, after all. And if you can, please help my friend, Rais here, relax as well," Anki chuckled, admiring the girl's high cheekbones and sultry posture.

Rais did a double-take, sputtering. "My lord? W-wait!"

But Anki waved him off. And soon he was sitting on a lounge, deep in conversation.

"Oh, I'm sure I can find him someone," Madame Oire murmured, tone soft, and looking him over.

"You're rather well-built, and still in the prime of your youth. You won't need someone quite as acrobatic as Yari..." Her gaze settled on his mask. "I think I know just the gal for a mysterious man like you," She strode over to the left staircase. "Naadia! Come, girl!"

The sound of footsteps could be heard as Naadia made her way to the stairs. Entered the room with an aura of confidence, in stark contrast to Yari's delicate demeanor. A black cotton sarong hung to her knees while her top half was draped in near-transparent, deep red silk that did little to conceal her large, shapely breasts. Her mocha skin shone with oil and a few golden a single golden ring adorned her left horn.
"You called for me, Madam?" she spoke with a sultry, almost melodic low voice.
Madam Oire turned back to Rais. "This is Naadia. I'm sure you'll have a good time with her," she said knowingly. She walked away, and Naadia approached him.
(http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj578/boysenberrybootstraps/IMG_1993_zpsilv48a9w.png)
Her golden gaze settled on his mask. "A man of mystery, I see. Well, we all have secrets of our own," she smiled. She took his hand and led him up the right staircase to  her room. She did not speak to him until they were both inside. With a snap of her fingers, a small flame appeared above them and she lit a few candles, lighting the room in a pale reddish-pink light. She returned to where he stood next to the door.
"You needn't be afraid. I won't pry... unless you want me to."
She looked into his violet-gold eyes, and her breath hitched for a moment. Something inside of her sensed the magic in his blood, and her heart began to beat a little faster. She tore her gaze from his wit some difficulty and grasped his hand again, pulling him closer to the bed in the center of the room. It had a wooden frame and was draped with cotton sheets.

Naadia placed her hands upon Rais's shoulders, feeling the edges of his shirt.
"May I?" She asked kindly, taking care to ask before disrobing him.

A good time was putting it rather lightly. It wasn't that he was opposed to partaking in pleasures of the flesh. Rais was not usually the sort to find himself here on a regular basis, truth be told. For this moment, he was supposed to be on duty. But to disobey Anki's direction was both uncouth and insubordinate.

Rais was quiet, and allowed himself to meditate and observe in the silence as this Naadia emerged from the staircase. His eyes widened in surprise. She was certainly beautiful, he had no complaints about that, even if this whole situation was reeling.  Well, if Anki was paying for it - which he hoped he was since the man simply offered him up like day old cheese - Rais supposed it couldn't hurt to partake.

This was a reputable establishment, and the decor was breathtaking as he was led upstairs to her room, eyes taking in all there was to offer. He watched her magic with no small amount of fascination. His grandmother spoke of being able to conjure such things, but he never believed it.

"This is all very nice," he commented, if only for a need to say something. He tilted his head and observed her.  At least she had the courtesy to ask before she stripped him completely bare. He waited a moment, gesturing for her to pause as he took off his own sash and sword belt. The rusted end of metal clanked against the stone of the ground, and he gracefully set it aside.

Already blood was rushing fast, thumping in his ears and he took in a deep breath to still himself. "You're quite...a unique specimen," he murmured, lower lip and chin visible in the cut out in his mask. Those were the only parts of his face that hadn't been thoroughly burned, and his eyes flicked to her forehead, observing her rather unusual traits. "Women don't usually have horns."  Unless, they were demons. But he didn't voice that aloud.

Rais took it upon himself to pull the embroidered shirt from his torso, gently over his head and setting it beside the bed.

Naadia stands back and watches him undress, kneeling to assist him in removing his breeches. Once finished, she starts to remove her own clothing, but stops and speaks again in that mesmerizing voice.
"Would you like to unwrap me or would you rather your gift do it herself?" At his surprised look, she chuckles. "Your boss has been coming here for many years, we know him to be free with his coin and he often pays for his friends to spend the night. I've heard his voice before so I expected to see at least one man waiting for me."
Naadia unwraps the silk scarf around her shoulders and uses it to pull Rais close to her. She looks up at him seductively. "You know, maybe if you're good enough I'll let you have it on the house. I've never been with another person like me." She presses her soft breasts against his chest, rubbing her leg against his. She blushes when she feels his excitement 'growing'. The silk scarf is forgotten as it falls to the floor; she has begun to kiss his chest, shoulder, neck, jawbone... She pauses for a moment at the edge of the mask, looking into his eyes.
"I'll let you keep your secret, mystery man, if you so choose... But I think you'll enjoy the secrets of my body," she croons suggestively, stroking the underside of his chin. She moves way from him suddenly, leaving his groping hands empty. She sashays over to a shelf by the wall, tail swishing back and forth, and takes a bottle of oil from one shelf. She returns to Rais's side with a sly smile.
"Would you like to help me with a little something?" She says, pulling the cork out and dribbling the clear, jasmine-scented oil onto her bosom.

Anki was certainly free with his coin all right. Almost a little too much. Rais couldn't help but be worried at times as to what others might think of such. It was not his place to coddle his employer, but it was a high possibility that another could take his generosity the wrong way and demand more than what was given.  It was his job to make sure such occurrences were put down immediately.

And then his breeches fell, and Rais was back to focusing on the moment at hand. Stripped of everything save his small clothes, and he looked own at her.  Her words were curious. Another person like him?  With horns?  And a tail?  Nobody in his family had these traits.  If they could still be called family that was.

The soft kisses left gentle chills coursing through his body, try as he might he couldn't stop himself from shivering and the contact, frankly, was nice. Rais felt normal for once. He leaned into her touch, breath hitching and even a soft groan emitting from him as he moved to kiss her. Or tried to as she moved away from him.

"And what makes these secrets so special?" he murmured.  He was curious, no longer feeling the weight of the mask on his face.  No, no, it was best if it stayed on for now. Rais stepped closer to her and tested a touch to her breast. Anyone might have touched her and expected to get away with it, but he was curious, and frankly she made him curious. So few things made him such.

His right hand reached up, and coaxed her hand to tilt a few droplets into his palm.  Rubbing both hands together, he brushed the center of his palm against her nipple, turning his wrist to cup beneath her breast, and rolled his thumb underneath it. "I'll help you with whatever your require," he muttered, smiling if only a little.

He leaned in to press warm lips to her neck, his hand continuing its ministrations on her breast and torso. He pulled his head away long enough to blow against her skin, cooling the oil as he massaged her breasts, making them slick just enough. "Like that?" he asked, flicking eyes up to hers momentarily.

As Rais's large hands cupped her breasts, Naadia made a soft noise of excitement. Her face flushed again, and as he cooled the oil on her unusually warm skin, she couldn't help but moan. "Yes..." she sighed as she felt his lips on her neck, before flinching somewhat at the cool edge of his mask. "Ah, may I do something for you?" She gestured for him to get onto the edge of the bed, picking up the oil and bringing it with her as she knelt on it behind where he would be sitting. "Let me ease some tension from your back, surely you've been stressed lately... otherwise your master would not have been so insistent..."
She looked up to him, her mocha skin shining in the candlelight. "Don't worry bout how long it takes... You have me all night long... and I want to maximize your pleasure~" She carefully unites her skirt and tosses it onto the floor, revealing her smooth, thick thighs and all between.

He felt much more at ease now, and his belly felt warm, a sensation growing inside of him that he hadn't felt in a long time: comfort. The only real ache came from his groin, for obvious reasons, and he paused before he sat down on the bed, slipping free from the wrapped small clothes at his waist, and he stepped out of them.

He was bare now, and now sat at the edge of the bed, relaxing into her touch. "My employer is...not always frugal when he should be. Not that I don't appreciate the attention," he chuckled, and grunted as fingers dug into his back. Yes the tension was easily relieved. He groaned, each movement better than the last.

"You're very skilled at what you do. How long have you been employed here?" he asked.  It wasn't easy to ask any woman that without sounding ruder than he intended it to be.  He sat back further against her, turning his head get a better look at her.  He smiled, as small as it was, and coaxed her legs to ease around his waist.  Turning back, he let her hands continue to knead as she wished.

"To be honest, I don't do this often. Visit brothels," he muttered. "You're probably used to this being much much quicker."  He cleared his throat. Smooth.

She laughed softly in agreement; Anki had been coming to this brothel for at least ten years and often paid the girls extra when he enjoyed himself. If it weren't for Madam Oire's sharp eye, many a cutpurse (or cutthroat) might have snuck into the premises with ill intent. Thankfully, secrets were well-kept within these stone walls.
As she worked at his back, she listened to him intently. She paused for a moment when he asked her how long she had been working it. She rubbed his arms absentmindedly as she told him.
"When I was nine, one of the other girls brought me here. An elf named Itiira. She was one of my mother's lovers before she died. I spent the next few years tending to chores like and running errands, then after my thirteenth year the other girls began to teach me what they could. No man was allowed to touch me until I was sixteen..." Naadia stopped stroking Rais's arms. "So I've been here a while, but it isn't something I'm ashamed of. I stayed because I wanted to."
She pressed the heat between her legs against his back, sucking and biting his neck playfully.
She giggled at his last comment. "Some days, yes, but usually the other girls handle the quick and cheap men. I'm more of an..." she says this huskily in his ear. "endurance run.... It's hard to outpace me."
She reaches around his side and strokes his thigh teasingly before moving up to grope his stones, squeezing gently. She nips at his ear. "Do you want to play, mystery man?"

Eyes closed, and feeling the heat in his belly slowly pulsate in coarse waves of pleasure. He didn't reject her touch as he thought he might. Again the sensation of comfort washed over him, quickly followed by another wave. He growled softly, if only because it was the first sound that came out of his mouth.

Slowly he twisted his gaze to look at her. To think she'd been here all her life, this being her only profession, lot in life. It wasn't bad, it was certainly better than having been a slave, however brief that was.

He grinned and one hand gently pushed the bottom of his mask up, just to reveal his lips a little more. "My name is Rais," he said. "You're welcome to call me that instead."  He kissed her with a light pressure, the tips of her horns only lightly tapping on the side of his mask, as he tilted his head and when the heat between those lips grew hotter, he leaned in deeper.

When he pulled away, only a strand of saliva was between them, and he licked his lips. "I'm here to serve," he said, voice low. Ironic, considering she was the prostitute.  "I'll play your game. I'm not easy competition."

She kissed him back passionately, and when they separated it was clear that she was trembling. "Rais... Rais..." she rolled the name around in her mouth.
"That's good to hear, I haven't had a good shag in a long time..."
Naadia pulled him back onto the bed so that they were both fully on it. She kissed him all over... his hands, his arms, shoulders, chest, belly... Noticing his throbbing need, she seemed impressed.
"Mm, I wonder what kind of Djinni you have in you...? I'm sure my element is easy to guess... fire."
She strokes his thigh a few times with her oil-smoothed hands, looking up at him for signs of approval.

Again with this djinn talk. It was a little off-putting in the middle of a run, to be perfectly honest. It was clear she was not quite as human as he was.  His own origin was much in question. Not like that did him any good now, as he couldn't ask just where he was from, and why. They were his family no longer.

Rais laid fully on the bed, splayed out, and pulling her up and over him. He grinned, feeling less like himself than he ever had. It was a welcome relief.

"If I am djinn, I do not know what kind," he murmured, tilting his head, curious. "I've only ever heard stories of djinn and humans interbreeding. Usually as part of some pact. And with often unexpected consequences. Is that what you have in mind for me? A deal in mind?" he asked, chuckling in jest.

He looked between her hand and his turgid member. Only a twitching grin touched his lips. His hand reached down to guide hers, nodding, and coaxing her all the same. He released his grip to explore her own body, his hand holding at first at the hip, then further down toward that heat that drew him so.

"No, nothing like that..." she smiled at his comment. "Unless of course you'd like to bet on who'll finish first," she said, squeezing his member in her soft hand, and worked the shaft up and down. She set her knees on either side of his, and spread her legs in the process.
Her body was beautiful, but in a different way than most human women; aside from her head, she lacked body hair. Her skin shone in the candlelight and was soft, lightly scented with jasmine from her frequent anointments. Her breasts swayed with every motion of her arm, dusky nipples perked with excitement.
"He's so mysterious with that mask of his... she thought to herself, skeptic. But in spite of her curiosity, she found herself growing more excited at the thought of sharing her body with this man. Her tail waved cutely above her plump rear as she leaned over to take his member into her mouth. She fellated him deftly for a few minutes, making sure to use her hands and breasts in addition. "I wonder what kind of man he is... and how he'll want to take me..." she mused, as she knew that the way a man fucked said a lot about him.

No deal, no bets necessary? If that was the deal, he would take it.  The thought was vaguely amusing, simply because of being pinned beneath this woman already lent to some sense of vulnerability. Rais was not going to question that generosity. Whoever could last longer kind of became irrelevant when they were going to be here all night, wasn't it. Or whenever Anki decided his needs had been sated.

Hmm, maybe now wasn't a good time to be thinking of what he might be doing at this time.

His breath hitched, and he rolled his hips up into her touch. First hands then her lips. If anything tried to stifle his moans, it was quickly forgotten and he leaned his head back into the bed, his hands buried into her hair, fingers lost to those tendrils as he closed his eyes, shivering between each deep suck she executed.  He could admire that she wasted no space,  generously sucking at the tip and covering the rest of his cock with hands or her breasts. Rais enjoyed it while it lasted, and he soon coaxed her up and rolled her onto her back.

The magic of his mask kept it in place, comfortable on his skin, even as he moved, to better reveal his mouth.  A kiss to each breast, a trail of his lips down to her belly , tasting the oils and smelling her skin. Soon he found himself between her legs, and he kissed the inside of her thigh, dragging lips to heat, and tasting her womanhood, delicately yet eagerly.

She hummed happily as she heard him moan; it was like music to her ears. When he took over and began to return the favor, she was very receptive. She arched her back when she felt his kisses down her body and quivered when she felt his warm breath on her sex. His tongue glided over her wet lips so slowly and teasingly that she whimpered with frustration...
"You're such a tease..." she moaned, her nipples stiffening to tight nubs. Her belly ached with desire...
She reached down to tousle his hair, internally begging him to... go deeper? Faster? Lick longer? She wasn't sure what she wanted, only that she wanted it.
"Raiiis....." she moaned softly. She looked down at him with a somewhat desperate expression, biting her lip.

Her whimpers made him pause, gazing up at her briefly. He grinned, perhaps a little too smugly, like a cat about to kill the mouse. Sure, he might have been toying with her but that was the name of the game, was it not?

No words still, leaning back into her heat and flicking his tongue along her clit, her folds, testing the waters of her body. He was so sure of himself; sure she could make him feel good in much the same way. As one sided as that was, a part of him enjoyed seeing what he could make her feel in turn.

Rais relaxed against her, thighs poised on either side of his head, pulling a sucking pressure  on her clit, although it was gentle, and persisted in response to her body, tasting faster, wrapping arms around her legs to steady himself. It was a good thing they didn't make that bet, because she was about to lose.

She made an incoherent noise, head thrown back in pleasure. As Rais continued to tease her folds, she squirmed a little, murmuring. As he sucked on her clit her hips bucked slightly... She wrapped her legs around him, clutching the sheets beside her. "Fill me...!" she begged, voice heavy with desire. Her body trembled under his ministrations, her stiff nipples achingly sensitive and almost begging to be touched. Every time she bucked or twitched involuntarily they bounced a little.
She moaned again, longer this time, her eyes shut.

He stopped amidst the teasings, and when he looked up at her, his grin was more smug than ever. Rais pulled up and crawled back over her, lips tracing back along her body much in the way they had moved south. Surely his lips brought back some of the traces of fluid when he tasted her, but he licked his lips away from it and kissed her fully, deeply.

"I dunno," he mumbled between plucking at her bottom lip and turning his head the other way.  Another grin, and he chuckled. "I dunno though, I'm not quite ready to take you just yet."  His hand slipped down to play with the hardness of her breasts, rolling over it. He kissed her left, then her right. "At this rate, you may as well be paying me."

She only groaned slightly, as he spoke to her. The deep, sensual timbre of his voice sent a shiver through her body. As he kissed and toyed with her nipples, she placed her hands on his arms. In a sudden move, she pushed him onto his back, with his head towards the end of the bed. She straddled his hips and pinned him to the mattress.
"You should have taken the advantage when you had it..." she murmured sultrily, nibbling on his ear. She sucked on his neck and kissed his collarbones, making a show of running her long tongue over his own nipples. She traced circles around them with her fingertips and with her free hand ran her nails gently over his side. "You are quite talented, though. I'll give you that... no one has ever eaten my honeypot like that~"

She was lucky she caught in him in a good mood, and surprised him as quickly as she did. He gasped at the force she seemed to manipulate with ease and was soon pinned with his back pressed to the bed. He even laughed. Goddess Hakeshna, that was an awful sound. It sounded like the yelp of a jackal. No wonder he didn't laugh.

That and few things were funny these days.

Rais stared up at her as she pinned him, eyes wide, and the smug look gone from his face. He hitched his breath once again, skin tingling and goosebumps making their way all across his flesh. "I couldn't help myself," he grumbled, turning his head to expose more flesh for her to taste as she pleased.  His hands remained on her breasts though, gripping them with a firm hold, the callouses adding roughness to the touch.  Soon they slid down to her hips, and he rolled his waist beneath hers, placing his member between them.

"You're a woman the likes of which I've never seen...  I have few opportunities to sate my curiosity," he grinned, adjusting the weight of her on his hips.

Naadia smiled when Rais laughed, and leaned down and kissed him deeply before resuming her neck nibbling.  She sighed happily as he fondled her breasts with this calloused hands, arching her back for him.
She gasped softly when he grabbed her hips, but was somewhat surprised when he complimented her.
"Sating you is my pleasure, believe me..." she murmured, leaning down to lock lips with him as she lowered herself onto his cock. She gyrated her hips and the tip slid past her tight entrance, slowly spreading her as it reached deeper inside of him. She paused a moment once he was hilted in her to rub her wetness onto the base of his cock.

Of course by curiosity, he really did mean just that. Visiting places like these were rare occurrences as well, and he was relaxed enough to enjoy it. No more questioning of himself, he murmured in thought, chiding. Rais stilled his mind, and when her lips met to his, a hunger was born there, maybe of being too long denied the heaven that was physical touch.

Hakeshna beyond.

Another moan escaped him between kisses, feeling himself slip within her. Rais rolled his hips upward, stroking deep, whatever he could to make the first real stroke in their rutting. A shuddering breath, his body wracking momentarily as he sucked in a deep gasp. Violet-gold eyes met hers, and he grinned, wider this time.

"Still, you can't blame me....for admiring your skill, can you?" he panted, continuing to thrust upward, hands pushing her hips down to meet him in a timely motion, made easy by the slickness between them.

"No, I suppose I can't," she sighed, pleased. She placed her hands on his chest and rode him, teasingly slow at first while she gyrated and rolled her hips on his. However, she eventually tired of her game and began to bounce up and down on him, her heavy breasts swinging upwards as she did so.
She rode him roughly for a few minutes, but suddenly dismounted. She got onto her hands and knees before him, shaking her plump rear enticingly. Her tail swayed in the air like a question mark, and she made a soft animalistic noise.

Rais moved in time to her movements, grunting and gasping, the sounds errupting from deep within his throat. He gripped her hard, as if she were a lifeline, keeping him tethered to this plane alone.  But it didn't seem to last long just yet.

Rais blinked up at her when she stopped, staring a moment, he didn't give himself time to think before raising his body to meet hers, and taking her deep and slow, hands gripping her hips and bringing them to meet his own in hungered thrusts.

He was getting close, but he didn't want to give in just yet. Maybe this time he was going to lose. The night was still young after all.

As he took her from behind, she moaned deeply, calling out his name softly when his hips met hers. Warmth rushed to her sex, her folds lubricating themselves as she came closer to her own climax. Her insides deepened and tightened simultaneously around him.
She sighed out, "Fill me, you bull... fill me with your seed~"

He stopped moving as she begged him, if only caught off guard by her phrasing. Rais was flushed, panting deeply on a raw throat and he pulled out though his body screamed for him not too. And he turned her around to splay her out against the bed, poising himself over her and devouring her with a kiss before slipping freshly into her folds.

Even with momentary disconnection, the heat between them was renewed, and he wanted to face her when he came, his thrust pushing deeper into her heat.  He shuddered once, then again, breathing harder , trying to match her stroke for stroke.  Their limbs were intertwined, intimate, and he could hold back no longer.

He burst hot heat inside her, holding her to him as he did so, for the anchor she had become.

Naadia called out his name as he climaxed inside of her, her fluids coating his member. She held him tightly against her, wrapping arms and legs around him, as the two caught their breath. After a few minutes, they disentangled and she laid beside him, stroking his chest.
"So," she murmured. "Are you ready for another round?"
She let her rekindled libido flow into him by kissing and sucking on his neck with her plump, red-flushed lips.
The two shared a bed and the secrets of their bodies until the wee hours of the night... their tired bodies and minds finally fading into sleep.

Body heat shared in the wake of dawn., Rais flickered his eye open, and his face felt bare. A bolt of fear jostled him and he quickly searched for it. When he felt the cool ivory, he sealed it to his face and turned onto his belly, facing Naadia.

He remained quiet, long enough to survey her form, admiring the gold ring on her horns and even going as far as to touch the tip of one of them.

Naadia awoke from a pleasurable dream to the feeling of her horn being touched. A soft moan escaped her lips. "Don't do that..." she whimpered, half asleep. She reached out to Rais and touched his body, her eyes opening as she recognized him.
"Oh, morning..." she said sleepily. The sound of the city waking could be heard outside, vendors setting up their carts and windows being opened. The sky was still dim as the sun was just barely beginning to rise. Surprisingly, the candles had remained burning all night, yet hadn't gotten any shorter.
"Did you sleep well, then?" She said softly, reaching down to stroke his morning wood.

Her touch made his breath hitch. Perhaps it was foolish to lie here with her in such an intimate fashion. He had no expectations, he knew her profession protested against any attachments. Rais let her stroke him, turning to face her as he grinned, small but genuine.

"I think I did," he murmured, leaning in against her and taking a soft kiss. "Did you?  I think we may have put a crack in headboard."  He chuckled, snickering like a teenager.  "Of course, I'm sure Anki will pay for any damages that ensued from our escapades."

Rais leaned in to push her hair from her face, taking in a gentle kiss. "Last night was wonderful. I mean, I'm a man so...of course it was amazing. But...you uh, how was it...for you?"  Goddess, was he really asking that question?  "And honesty is much appreciated. You don't have to spare my feelings."

Naadia giggled and sat up next to him, fighting her urge to do more with him. "Yes, you were good... I don't lie unless you pay me to... and I told you that if you were good it was on the house." She looked down at his naked body lustfully but rose from the bed, retrieving his clothes for him. His cheerfulness seems somewhat out of character for such a mysterious man, but a night with Naadia is usually enough to cheer any man up.
"Here, you'll want to be dressed when your master is ready to leave..."
She wrapped her skirt back around her waist and strode over to him, bare-breasted.

Paying her to lie, sounded like a foolish endeavor.  Well, regarding these instances anyway.  Rais wasn't in any mood to judge her, considering what they'd just shared.

He sat up from the bed, taking his clothes in hand and quietly thanking her.  In truth, he didn't really want to leave. So few were his chances to bask in moments like this, he relished it when the opportunity came knocking.  He dressed slowly, cleaning himself off and tied his belt back around his waist.  Back to duty, solemnity.

"I don't take anything for free," he murmured and kissed her cheek a few seconds before there was a knocking on the wall at the entrance.  He sighed when they called his name and he pressed his forehead against hers, mask to horns and the clanking made him laugh.  "That's my master calling.  At least he has the courtesy to make sure I'm decent.  Have a good day, Naadia."

He bowed as he left and quickly departed with a sleeping Anki.  The other guards had carried him off to the carriage. The streets would come alive soon enough and as they rolled off, Rais taking his seat beside his Merchant Prince, another carriage moved along from across the way, keeping some distance and following them.

It was customary to let Anki sleep off the night before. All his meetings were pushed back and his associates were escorted from the manor to come back the next day. All was well, or so it seemed. Rais was at attention now, although the other guards seemed less than pleased with him. He couldn't be bothered with their opinions, be it hate or envy or some combination of both. It wasn't often Anki treated a servant of his as a friend, and perhaps that was the source of their ire.

All was quiet, all was well.  A seeming calm before the storm.  It wasn't often that it rained in Essyrn, but when it did, it was wonderful. A cold front from the east, Rais suspected as he stood outside of Anki's chambers. The master would likely rouse soon, want a drink, or at least be updated on the goings on.

Rais knew never to let him sleep too late, and as the day waned into evening he gently rapt knuckles on the door. No answer.  "Anki!" and when he opened it, he was greeted with nothing more than a peaceful scene.  He frowned, the sheets were rolled up as if a body was in it.  Or had been in them.  And as he crossed the threshold to check, his hand sunk deep into nothing more than pillows. And Anki was gone.

Rais' eyes shot wide, gut growing cold.  He swiveled around and twisted toward the door. Nothing, no sign of him!  As if the man hadn't even been here.  And the only thing that moved was the air shifting through curtains from an open window. "What in the fucking hell, Anki!?" he growled, running to the door and seeing nothing, save the rain that pelted down from the awning over the window.

Naadia began to make her way back to Madam Oire's from the bathhouse. She was dressed in a sleeveless robe that was tied in the front and hung to her ankles. Her head was covered in a cowl that covered her horns.
(http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj578/boysenberrybootstraps/IMG_2066_zpsbbv5leto.png)
A cool gust of air blew through the streets and she shivered; a rainstorm must be coming. "Perhaps I'll sit in the rain awhile..." she mused to herself, as the natural heat of her skin absorbed/evaporated the leftover droplets of water from her bath. She rummaged in her bag and found a jar of an odorless oily cream, which she applied to her exposed skin. She daydreamed on her way back to the brothel, smiling a little to herself when she finally saw the trademark red lantern above the door. Naadia had always enjoyed the way that afternoon became evening, but tonight the peace was interrupted by the sound of agitated voices inside. "One of the girls must have gotten pregnant again," she muttered to no one in particular. She made her way inside but it was not Yari or one of the other girls arguing with a customer...
It was Madame Oire and a tall cloaked man who had his back to the door. She had a worried look on her face, arms crossed in front of her. Naadia stepped in further and closed the door behind her, causing the man to turn round swiftly. Who should be standing before her but Rais?

If this was some kind of joke, it was quickly becoming less and less funny. It wasn't unlike Anki to not come home for days at a time, simply because a party had caught his attention elsewhere. But to just disappear in the middle of the night like this was completely out of character, even for one such as he.

Rais had pressured a few of the others to follow him back to the brothel, as a vain attempt to retrace his steps. There was always possibility of foul play, but Rais did not want to consider that right away. He hoped it simply Anki going off and being a fool again. Because where else would be go?

The guards stayed behind with a carriage, while he remained inside and spoke with Madame Oire, who claimed that he wasn't there.  "I can't say where else he would be, my dear? Please do keep your voice down," she chided, firm and clearly trying to keep her temper under control.

Rais frowned deeply. "Please, if you will just let me check the rooms, to call out for him, I'll be on my way. I must find him. If he's here, I'd like to know that he's all right!"

"You will not disturb my patrons, or my girls. If you don't keep your voice down, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said again.

Rais turned, to see Naadia behind him.  And he bowed his head.  "I'm sorry, friend. I do not mean to intrude, but I need help in searching for my employer.  Have you seen Anki Aiavar?  Is he here?"

After getting over the initial shock of seeing him back again so soon, she approached Rais and the madam.
"I'll help you look for him, Rais. I'm not working tonight. Madam, don't worry about me, I'll bring something sharp."
She gives the madam a hug and walks into a small closet; as she emerges, Rais can see her putting a thing or two into her bag. She quickly takes ahold of him and pulls him outside, turning on him.
"Rais, are you crazy? You can't come into a whorehouse trying to look into rooms..." She catches her breath and looks down, then back up at him. She begins more softly this time.
"He couldn't have come here today... there are a few girls that he favors and they took the day off to go run errands in town."
She looks around, "This isn't really a safe place to talk. Take me somewhere more private." Her golden eyes are all seriousness, plump lips set into a firm line of concern.

She was right, even if he wished she wasn't. In all seriousness, Anki could be anywhere. This just happened to be first on his list of places nearby to look. Rais followed her and frowned deeply, feeling as if the more time that passed the less chance he had of finding Anki.

As they linger in the hall, Rais grew quiet as he watched a man stumble down the stairs, he certainly looked like Anki, but no dice. The man had no beard and he was groggy with liquor. Rais stilled himself, trying to keep the anxiety from spilling over into rage. "Let us go to the carriage. If you will help me find him, I will make it worth your while," he murmured and gestured to a bag of gold at his side.  And led them to the door.

The other guards seemed wary when Rais did not return with Anki, but with a working girl.

"What do you think you're doing?" he scowled. "She doesn't belong here."

"She has important information, and I'd like to speak with her in private. Take us to the Camel's Tongue," he said.  "That is an order, Jazad."

The other guard frowned. "We are not your escort, Rais. We will take you to the hookah bar, but from there you are on your own.  I will find the master myself," he growled. Jazad helped Naadia into the cart and let Rais get in on his own.

Within a few minutes they were there, stepping out into the evening gloom. The street torches were coming on, being ignited just outside the Camel's Tongue and they dismounted from the carriage quickly.

Rais frowned, looking upon the soiled front of the stone-walled face of the establishment. It was a popular place, at the edge of the city. Rais was frowning largely because of it's locale and the frequenters that came and went. Anki could just as likely be here, spreading his wealth. And it was not quite as protected as Madame Oire's. Already there was a beggar outside of the door, holding up his hand for anyone with pity enough to give him something.

"All right, off you go, the two of you," he muttered.

"You're coming too, Jazad," Rais quickly snapped.  He glared down at the other man. "Anki will want his best men looking for him."

Jazad laughed. "That's true. Which is why me and the others will go elsewhere."

"Jazad. You will follow. Or you will starve, understand? Do you think Anki will keep you knowing you did not cooperate with me?"

Jazad scowled at that and huffed, shoving off from the cart as he waved the others away. "Very well.  You and the Whore clearly know your way around seedy places like this."  He spat at the beggar, making a scoff and venturing inside the entrance. Rais frowned and pulled a coin from his side, placing it gently in the beggar's hand.

"Keep an eye out."  And followed the other guard.

Naadia ready did not like this man, Jazad. She knelt down and gave the beggar a silver coin and a kiss on either cheek. His comment didn't sting too badly, as she was indeed a whore, but she still glowered at him.
She followed the two men into the bar, tugging on her hood slightly. She had been in uncomfortable situations before, but the brothel didn't tend to have many violent fights. Violent lovemaking, perhaps, but not real combat.
The air inside was smoky with the rich scents of various herbs and food items. Naadia's stomach growled audibly; she had not eaten since much earlier that day.
She made a point to stay close to Rais; in her current garments she wouldn't be easy to identify as a whore, which might have been a blessing. As she followed them to a miraculously empty table in the corner, she sat against the wall. A buxom bar wench wandered over with large mugs of ale.
"You boys want a pint? We've got..." she mentions a few food items. Naadia looks over at Rais as her stomach grumbles again.

In a moment like this, Rais was not hungry. And he wasn't thirsty either. He was focused, trying to scan the crowd for anyone that knew Anki. He was a frequent enough patron, buying a round of drinks for everyone.

"I'll take one thank you," Jazad said after Rais waved his hand in refusal.  Jazad glanced at Naadia. "And the lady will take something....thick and meaty."  He snorted at his own joke and sipped at the ale that was put before him.  The food came and while it was hot and tasty, Rais had no interest in it.  Instead he turned to Naadia.

"Anki had a friend here. A man he called Hylus," Rais murmured. "I don't see him, but if anyone might know where Anki is, it'll be him." 

"Rais. Eat something. You're starting to bore the lady," Jazad grumbled, and he winked at Naadia.

Naadia rolled her eyes at Jazad's joke, but when the shank of lamb came to the table, she made a show of devouring it, ripping the meat off the bone while looking him in the eye. She took a massive swig of ale from her mug and slammed it on the table. She swallowed and wiped her face.
"Hulu says, huh? I'm sure I've heard that name before... It seems familiar." She pondered it for a moment and continued to eat her food, polishing it off rather quickly. She drained the rest of her ale and once again wiped her face before she saw someone across the bar.
He's a short man, with pale blonde hair and pasty skin. A brand mars his right cheek, and he has beady little eyes. Naadia sees him looking for purses, when he meets her eyes. A greasy grin spread across his face as he made a beeline for her.
"Ah, fuck.. Rais, I think I've found your man..."

Rais looked up from the devouring of the food and he stared at the pasty man that rose from his seat to make his way to their table. He seemed completely fixated on Naadia and he crossed the room quickly. Rais recognized Hylus anywhere. He was seedy piece of refuse and although he did not approve of him being around Anki, the merchant prince was free to choose his friends.

He quickly stood and put himself in front of Hylus and pressed a hand to his chest.  "Now what are you doing here, Naadia?  Couldn't stay away from little ol' me?" he murmured and tilted his head, trying to shrug Rais off of him.

"We need to have a talk with you, Hulu," Rais murmured and nudged him in order to snap his attention toward him.  "It's about your friend Anki. So simmer down.  Have some ale.  And please keep your eyes on us."

Hylus furrowed his brows and stepped back away from Rais' hand. "Whatever it is, I didn't do it!" he said flatly.  Jazad reached up and pulled Hylus down into a chair.

"Sit.  And drink.  We just want to chat."

Rais took his place and looked to Naadia.  "A client of yours? I'm so sorry."

Naadia rolls her eyes; Hylus (or Hulu, as a nickname) was a frequent customer of the brothel, and more specifically, Naadia. However much she disliked him, she knew him well, and knew that threats would get them nowhere. She stepped over Jazad, pushing him to the center of the bench and taking his spot beside Hylus.
"Hulu, Hulu, Hulu..." she crooned. "Have a drink, relax." She placed a hand on his thigh, her hypnotic gaze relaxing him.

"Well, I suppose I might know a thing or two... maybe..." Hylus sputtered. Naadia's hand crept closer to his crotch and he sighed lewdly. "Mm, you're quite convincing, babe... All right, so you wanna know where Anki is?"

Hylus mentioned a few vague details, skirting around exact places where Anki could be. As Naadia saw it beginning to frustrate her tablemates, she took it upon herself to move the situation along. She whispered something into Hylus's ear, knelt under the table, and began to blow him. He very quickly changed his tune.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you everything I know... Damn it, Naadia, you sure mean business..."

"And if you're not careful, she'll bite your dick off too," Rais said levelly. Hulu, although red in the face, blanched at that thought. As pleasurable as such an act was, it also left him with a very vulnerable appendage unnecessarily exposed. And Rais felt for a dagger along his belt. Jazad was busy eating, slurping at his ale and vaguely focusing what was going on.

Occasionally, Jazad's eyes flickered to Naadia underneath the table, and he cleared his throat.  Awkward.

"So when did you last see Anki, Hulu?"

"F-fuck...  Maybe day before last!  I-...shit, watch the teeth!" he hissed.  It was hard to focus on two things at once, but damn if he wasn't trying. "Anki was in here just earlier today!  A few hours ago... But he wasn't alone...  Fuck, I'm gonna..."

"You come and I'll slice your dick off myself," Rais growled and leaned in menacingly. "Anki was in here. Keep talking."  Hulu eyed the ivory mask, the cold expression making him unsettled.  Rais kept a hand on Hulu's face, holding his chin firmly to keep his eyes from glancing below, and refused to let him look away.

"He had men with him.  They came in really fast, kept close to Anki, who looked like...he'd been drugged or something. Not on the hookah drugged, but...maybe paralyzed. I dunno.  He was taken to the back. I tried to talk to him, but he was all out of it.  And one of the men shoved me off.  He-he-he- h-had a tattoo no his neck.  N-no.  A branding!  It was like crossed spears...inside a circle.  They went into the back...  And didn't come out."

Rais felt his stomach grow cold at the knowledge. So Anki did not leave of his own volition, and that made the stakes suddenly higher.

"Can I-I?"

Rais shoved his face away.  "And do not make a mess of my friend down below," he chided and moved up from the bench to let Hulu leave when Naadia was finished.

Naadia finished Hylus swiftly and returned to the bench, taking a long draft from Jazad's mug of ale, as her own was empty. "This doesn't sound good, Rais," she said to him.
Hylus quickly laced his trousers back up and left the building, not even bidding her goodbye. It was clear that they weren't going to be getting anything more from him.
Fortunately, Naadia had very dexterous hands, and had managed to steal his leather pouch. She tucked it into her own bag and leaned towards Rais.
"It looks like management didn't appreciate our method of interrogation... We'd better get out of here before the security shows up." She puts a few gold coins onto the table from Hylus's stash and stands, readying herself to leave, but stops herself.
She grasps Rais's hand and pulls him up, murmuring something into his ear...

Just as she pulled Rais up to leave, another man that had been lingering by the bar sauntered over to their table. Jazad stood at attention, wary of the moment. Sure, he didn't like Rais, but he wasn't going to let them get ploughed through by some muscled gladiator-type bastard that came barreling toward them.

Jazad moved forward and put himself between Rais and Naadia.  "Excuse me, my friend," he murmured. "We were just leaving."

"Damn straight you were leaving. We don't allow that kind of activity in our establishment," the bouncer growled, trying to stare them down. "Who do you think you are?"

"Rais, and me and my concubine were just leaving," he said quickly, bowing his head to the grumpy man, taking Naadia on his arm. Jazad swiveled his head around glared.  His concubine?  Really?  And he just let her blow another man?  Seemed legitimate.

Rais pulled Naadia along and Jazad followed, scowling.  "What was that?  She's a whore not your lover," he hissed once they were out on the street.  "Nobody would believe that."

Naadia took a deep breath, turned to Jazad, then slapped him, hard, across the face, leaving small marks from her nails.
"For your information, you cretin, he probably would have believed anything we had said. I'm very persuasive." She glared at him, then turned back to Rais. "It's about to rain. We need to get somewhere dry, I nicked something interesting from Hulu's bag." She lifted the flap of her own bag to show that Hylus's entire bag was inside.
"We should probably hurry, though. Before someone else tries to kill us."

The slap sent Jazad staggering backwards. He was stunned, staring to both of them with wide eyes.  That surprise quickly went to anger and although he made no move at this time, he wasn't about to let a whore strike him. She was not above reproach, even if Rais was next to her. If anything, it only made her a target.  She'd get her comeuppance, sooner or later.

"Hulu's pouch? Good, we'll take a look at it," Rais murmured and put an arm into hers as the rain began to pelt down on the Essyrni street.  The smells of dung and piss, lifted into the air and Jazad wandered along behind them.

"He said that one of the men that had Anki had branding on his neck.  Crossed arrows inside a circle," Rais continued, putting the hood of his cloak up and setting it just over his mask.  He helped hers up as well and kept close, watching the streets and anyone else that would be following them.  Still his cheek throbbed with that slap.

"Does that symbol ring familiar to you?" he asked.  "Something tells me Hulu knows more than he's letting on.  But he seemed scared."

"Ha, might have been that you threatened to cut his dick off," Jazad scoffed, taking the lead now and taking them to an opposing tavern across the way, where there was an awning to protect them from the rain. "I'll get us a room to discuss this more in private. I'm sure you two would like that, yes?"  He glowered at the pair and went inside.

Rais breathed outwardly. "My apologies for such terrible company."

Naadia smiles and pats Rais on the shoulder. "It's fine. I'm sure he'll be just as annoying tomorrow as he is today, but for now at least I have you to talk to." She looks out at people scrambling to get out of the rain, then back up at his mask. "I never got the chance to tell you hello, by the way... so hello." She looks back down sheepishly. After a few minutes she turns her head, hearing Jazad approaching. She opens the door just as he's about to, surprising him.
"Good, you're finally back. What took you so long?"

A greeting, now of all times? Frankly, Rais was a little amused by it, although his mask did not show it. His eyes did however, glinting with a small spark. "Hello," he greeted in return, smiling somewhat as she stepped into the inn.

Jazad stepped aside, sighing as if it were a great chore for him.  "There's a room upstairs for the two of you.  And because I need my peace and quiet, I took the one just beside you. I don't know why we didn't just go back to Anki's estate, but I'm sure people would think us even more suspicious if we did so," he murmured.

Rais pat the man on the shoulder, although recoiled in disdain.  "Thank you, Jazad. You're a good man."

"I'm a stupid man."

"Well, you're smart enough to realize that much," Rais chuckled and helped Naadia up to the room. "Very well, let's see what Hulu had in his leather pouch."

Naadia made sure to lock the door of the room behind her, then tried to close the window; she had to pull it a few times, eventually slamming it shut with a huff. She returned to the center of the room, removing her hood, followed by the belt on her robe. She opened the front and tossed it onto the bedpost. Her tail swung a bit as she stretched it.
"Ah, that's better..." she sighed. Although her clothes were very damp, her skin was already dry. She bought her bag to the bed and pat beside her, indicating that Rais should follow her.
"Come, let's have a look... and you should lay your clothes by the fire to dry." She pointed to a small fireplace across the room.

The click of the lock was a much needed relief and he moved to shrug his cloak off his shoulders, the rain outside made the room chilly and he made short work of the kindling beside the fireplace. The fire soon ignited although it was not with the magical touch Naadia had previously displayed in her own bedroom.

He got out of most of his wet garments but kept on an only slightly damp tunic and his trousers, shifting over to sit beside her.  "You're pilfer often?" he muttered, curious and his tone somewhat amused. "Obviously you have skilled hands, but Hulu didn't even feel that when you took it off him, did he?"

As the contents were spilled out, Rais carefully pushed the coins around as well as a scrap of paper that had been carefully rolled up with it.

Naadia smiled at his compliment. "Hulu tends to have aa hard time multitasking, holding a conversation while having his cock sucked is a stretch for him."
She leans over to look through the pile of gold, her breasts getting in the way of her seeing them. "Damn," she mutters.
She leans back, then picks up the note, opening it gingerly.

Hylus.
Continue as you have been and the gold will keep coming.
If anyone comes to you asking about a certain Anki, give them what they want and report back to us.
I want to know who to expect.
The ink at the bottom of the note is smudged, leaving the signed name illegible, but the crossed-spears next to it are intact.

"Rais... I think we've been played. Hulu knew that people would come in asking for him... I'm just glad we picked a different place to stay for the night..."

Reading that note sent a chill down Rais's back. The room sealed in the heat from the fireplace, but he felt as if there was a draft in and his breath hitched. "Damn," he sighed and looked at the gold pieces instead.

"I knew it was too easy," he griped. "A man like Hulu doesn't just give up information like that, even in the midst of being fellated. At this rate, we're never going to find Anki."

He looked turned the coin over in his hands.  "This isn't gold branded with the symbol of Hakeshna," he muttered. "Looks weird...like it's been pressed with the symbol of Hakaad.  A group of slave traders deep in the Moraki desert.  Strange to find their gold in Essyrn."

"The Moraki desert..." Naadia seemed to lose herself in thought for a moment. She had never ventured into the desert outside the city walls, although it was the home of the Djinns. As a twig snapped in the fireplace, she was roused from her daydream. She looked over at Rais; although his face was hidden by the mask, she could tell he was troubled.
"Rais... We'll find him. Between the two of us, we've got the means. Well, three of us if you count... whoever that annoying man is that you were traveling with."
She reaches up to stroke his jaw, looking up at him with her golden eyes. She leans up and pulls him into a soft kiss, gentle and curious.

Rais' breath hitched at her comforting touch. To think that this venture might take them beyond the city walls was in truth a little unnerving. Essyrn was one a grand empire, a nation that stretched sheer across the continent. What was left of it was beautiful and sacred and it was the place that Rais now called home. Except if Anki wasn't found, that home would be long gone.

He closed his eyes at the feeling of her kiss. Her lips were soft and the kiss was chaste compared what else they had done. It was almost sweet, and he found himself leaning into it, moaning softly  Strange.

"Why did you kiss me?" he asked, eyes searching her features and reaching up to gently grasp her wrist, running his thumb along the skin of her hands, an inconsequential touch, but intimate all the same.

"It felt... right." She said softly, looking away. She looked back up at him. "We shouldn't go searching for anyone in this rain. The room's been paid for for the night and you probably need to rest... or relax, at least."
Naadia put all of the things back into the satchel and put the satchel back into her bag. She stood next to the bed, where Rais was kneeling, and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Let me take care of you..."
She pushed him onto his back, more softly than before, and sat beside him, her pendulous breasts very close to his face.

Rais knew better than to argue with her. The stress of Anki's abrupt disappearance and what little they found so far in terms of leads was rather daunting. Even if he didn't outwardly show it, he was very aware of his own body's tension.  They weren't going anywhere any time soon.

Rais laid back against the bed as she coaxed him into doing and he relented his space to her.  "How can you relax at a time like this?" he replied, but the smirk on his lips were playful and he leaned up to gently bring his face against her chest, pressing lips to her warm flesh.  She smelled wonderful and her aura already brought a sense of comfort. 

A chill ran down his spine and his arms felt around her, calloused hands pressing into her skin. "Are you sure? I wouldn't ask you to work unpaid," he said. "It wouldn't be right." Any uncertainty that he might not want to could easily be quelled by the sight of the growth that bulged from his pants.

She moaned softly as he kissed her breast, smiling a little. She pulled his member out of his breeches and straddled him, wordlessly aligning his member with her already slick folds. As she lowered her hips onto his, she sighed, the feeling of him penetrating her bringing her no small amount of satisfaction. She guided his hands to her breasts and began to roll her hips on his, slowly but surely moving on his shaft.
"It's not work if I want to do it... I'm not going to charge you every time, love..."
As she rode him gently, a sharp breeze hissed through the window, causing her nipples to stiffen. "I thought I closed that window..."

Rais gasped the moment​ their bodies connected. Feeling himself slide within her untill they were flush to the hilt. A tilt of his head brought their motion into vision and he could see his member sliding in and out from her slick heat.

"Hakeshna...," he breathed outward, a soft sigh. His hands gripped her breasts, squeezing and massaging them as they hardened from the drafty window.  He rolled his hips deeply and slowly beneath hers.  The draft touched his face as he turned his head and hie grunted.  But not from pleasure.

"Hey! Somebody was just looking at us!" he panted, and he heard footsteps quickly departing.

"What?!" Naadia yelped sharply. She sprung off of the bed and shot a fireball the window, knocking the glass clean out of its  frame. Without hesitation, she leapt out onto the wet ground, tripping over a barrel. "Damn it..." she shouted to Rais, "come on!"

Of course she would jump off him in the middle of it. He couldn't have moved with her on top anyway.  As her fireball obliterated the glass he fumbled to stuff his member back into his pants and scrambled off the bed.

The rain was much more persistent now and as he stared down at the alley below he dropped the ten feet and landed with a roll. "Wait!" he called out for her in pursuit, following after she got to her feet. 

And there ahead of them was the figure that was putting more and more distance between them.  Lithe and not very tall, clad in black robes and soon vaulting himself over a side wall.

Naadia quickly regained her feet and began to run after the voyeur. Her bare feet seemed to not slow her down, instead giving her a bit of extra grip in the mud through which she was running.  Her long legs helped her to catch up to the figure, but it was quite fast despite its short legs.
Her eyes burned with determination, glowing gold with anger.
She could not forgive someone who got in the way of her getting some.

Just when he thought he was going to leave them in the dust, the figure only briefly turned around to see Naadia right on his feels.  He pressed harder, lungs burning and he hopped over the side of a set of crates beside a wall and threw himself up onto a roof's ledge, scaling it with ease despite the rain that slushed down the side.

Rais was following hard, not too far behind Naadia.  "Up!" he hissed and climbed up the crates to the rooftop.  The figure however did not run any further and instead faced the pair, a flashing weapon in hand.  This was going to end here and now.

Naadia planted her feet and growled, then a hiss escaped her mouth as she spat fire at the enemy.
She missed him with her first two gouts but then the third hit his hand, melting the weapon onto it...

The man screamed as the weapon rapidly began melting and Rais took this opportunity to maneuver around Naadia.  He lunged forward and pinned the man to the ground, holding him firmly, pressing all his body weight into him.

"Why are you watching us?" he growled.

"You ask too many questions!  But not the right ones!" he hissed back and spat against Rais' mask.

Naadia approached and stood in front of the man. She lit a flame at the tip of her finger and pointed it at the struggling man.
"Keep doing what you're doing if you want me to melt your face next."

The man glared at her with no fear. He hissed at the both of them and reached wriggled a hand out with a small dirk hidden in the sleeve. Even as Rais held him down, he hadn't seen his hand move and only when he felt the sting of steel enter into his side did Rais roll off of him.

The dirk sank into his left, and red stained was the blade as it pulled away. The assassin took the opportunity to turn his attention to Naadia, ducking low and coming at her fast with that blade.

"You've made a mistake, little man..."
Naadia's eyes flowed golden again, brighter this time, and she gracefully did a backflip. Her fingernails lengthened into black claws and her horns grew several inches, breaking the rings upon them. Flames raced across her from her lips, which had curled into a sneer around her demonic fangs, to her fingertips.

Naadia rushed forward with immense speed and, although the man dodged her first lunge and tried to swing at her, her tail had wrapped around his ankle, causing him to slip on the wet roof. She managed to rake his face with her claws and a tip of her horn gored his upper inner thigh.

Rais was half-dazed and only saw Naadia's transformation from the corner of his eyes. He was vaguely horrified and he watched the display while grasping desperately to his opened flesh, red staining the side of his shirt.

The man screamed when she managed to drop him, the horn going deep into his thigh and at the terror before him, his courage left him, and the blade clattered to the rooftop, sliding down below.  Rain blinded his vision and he tried desperately to keep the blood from spilling out of him.

"What kind of devil are you?!" he howled.  He whimpered trying to keep the blood inside him, holding his gored leg desperately. "Please!  Don't! MERCY!"

"Mercy? A quick death for you would be merciful... but I'm not the merciful type."
She picked the man up from by the neck and hoisted him into the air, choking him until he fell unconscious. She dropped him as he passed out, looking down at him disdainfully, her golden eyes glowing. She looked back towards where they had come from and growled; it was Jazad, running from the inn. He shouted something at her, but she couldn't focus on his words. Rais was hurt and there was an unconscious man laying on the ground that had hurt him.
After a few moments of standing there in the rain, she managed to convey to Jazad that they needed to get both men back to the inn...

Jazad hated going out into the bloody rain! Even if it rained so little in Essyrn, he hated getting soaked down to the bone. It was niggling thought in the back of his mind when he heard the breaking of glass in the room across from his. He had jumped out of his own bed in time, rushing to the door, only to find that it was locked from the inside. A quick slam of his fist and Jazad quickly rushed out the front.

And when he followed the noise out into the alley, he gasped, holding the hilt of his blade and only seeing shapes up above him. "Fucking shit! How the hell did you get up on the roof!?" he had screamed, drowned out by a roll of thunder.  But it didn't matter now.  A rush into the alley and he saw the same path that led them up there.

He was beside the dropped man in an instant and looked between them. Right it went without saying. That was until he saw her pass out and slump right onto the roof with the rest of them. 

"Hakeshna's tits!" Jazad hissed. The act of dragging them to the room was long and drawn out and the rain, as ever,made everything worse! At least Rais was half conscious enough to move on his own - with some help of course -and getting back inside the inn without drawing attention only served to increase Jazad's throbbing head ache.

And Naadia? He moved her last, throwing her onto Rais' bed like a sack of potatoes.