Sub-City Slums

[Beautiful.Story]

She stood in front of the door, between the bathroom and Kai. They exchanged words and Darla remained silent snuggled close to Annabel. Kai didn’t seem happy at all. Little Darla couldn’t help but feel bad as she was moved into the bathroom, cloths in hand.

As the woman spoke, her towel dropped and she would listen intently as Kai showed her how to put the blouse on. It was pretty, clean and comfortable. Next the fest, buttoned in the back. The vest fit snug but it felt good. The sleeves of the blouse puffed on her arm and the color covered the outside of her blue pinstriped vest.

The skirt came next and she slipped one leg in after the other. Annabel was happy that Darla had found such nice people. When the buttons and buckles where all fastened, Darla would pull Annabel to her chest and hide behind her. She watched as Kai guided her feet into socks and then into shoes, as they where buckled she then smiled.

“Tank you, Miss Kai.” Her voice was almost sugary sweet.

“You’re such a good girl, Darla.” Annabel chimed.

In the silence she watched Kai stand and motioned her to the door. Darla followed and was quickly greeted by Syn. She smiled as her newest friend as she brushed the long wavy silver locks. They sprouted from her head, thick and as full as her belly.

“Yes, Miss Syn. She really helped me.” She announced cheerfully.

When the brushing was all done she turned around and hugged Syn before she could stand. Darla was starting to really take a liking to her. And in this moment she wondered for a moment why neither one of these women acknowledge her doll. Could they not hear her?

[Kaijin]

"That's excellent," Syn said optimistically.

She was a very strong woman. It could be heard in her voice, which flooded with grace and purity, but determined strength beneath as pillars holding her together.

"Now, as we said last night, a permanent situation must be found. Because there is nothing left here for those who are not made of gold in such a way they could coat their shoes in it and not think twice, it would probably be best for you to leave Rosinder for the time being. This world is a big place and there are many more prosperous opportunities in other cities, and many interesting things to see. I am bound here for a year, before I move on to my next pilgrimage and contract myself to the poor there too. But Kaijin is a free spirit, and she has agreed to take you to one of my disciples who will be able to get you on your feet." She smiled reassuringly, even enthusiastically, while ushering them toward the door.

"I have to go herb finding so that I can replenish my stock of tinctures for the ill, but you will see me again. Don't worry. Just mind Kai and you will be safe and sound."
She pulled the silhouetted woman aside for a moment. "I have not heard from her in a long time. I sent them off into the Labyrinth nearly a year ago and I do not know precisely of her whereabouts. Do not startle the child, but please keep your eyes open for her and report back to me immediately when you find her. If she was lost, there may be a price for her return. But the child comes first. I expect you to protect her with your mortal life. And do not let anything happen to her doll," she whispered in a hushed and cautious tone.

"I didn't really sign up for toy security, Sunniva," Kaijin sneered with detest under her breath.

"You'll do as I say and I won't hear another word about it. Don't even let the lace on her cuffs get dirty."

The woman nodded at the strange warning, cryptic as it was, and gestured for the smaller girl to go outside after Sunniva had said her goodbye-for-nows. Cloak drawn, hood up, and following close behind her, the woman she wasn't sure about would be leading her into the bustling market square, gradually further from the Priestess' sanctuary.

[Beautiful.Story]

Syn responded to her delicate words and Darla smiled. The subject quickly changed and with that so did Darla’s expression. A permanent situation, she had begun to like it here and feel comfortable. Sunniva spoke about finding someone. She didn’t fully comprehend everything that was transpiring and Annabel knew. When Syn had pulled her friend aside Darla stepped back.

“Darla, it will be okay. I know you are frightened.” Annabel comforted her.

“But, what am I gunna do? Kaijin don’t like me.” She whispered.

“Honey, It will be okay. I am not going to leave your side.” She ushered her reassuringly.

“Okay, only because you’re gunna be there.” Her voice whispered.

“Good girl” The doll hummed.

Standing by the front door she watched both the woman. The words of her dolls protection came up and Darla clung ever closer to Annabel. This creature was attached to her, it may have only been two years sense she had her but she was her only friend. She would follow Kaijin, she wouldn’t willingly go back to the streets.

[Kaijin]

The walk with Kaijin was long and tiring. The woman did not seem to be a fan of breaks, but she did adjust her pace to suit the child's small stride. She looked peculiar in the strong afternoon light as the sun rose high in the sky; her shadows unwraveled, stripped from her body, beaten off like hungry dogs clutching the hems of her dark lace bodice. Her face, exposed, was fair and seemed unnaturally vulnerable in the beams that clung to her cheeks. The intense gleams of gold that cut her expression challenged the sun's radiance when she looked in its direction.

For the most part, Kai stayed silent. She stopped twice in small villages to pick food from their markets for the little one to eat. She didn't eat herself, only kept walking. It would be almost fourteen hours before they stopped yet another village at twilight. It was cleaner than the sub-city in Rosinder, but very cozy and small. The roofing was thatched, the windows were glowing warmly with candlelight, and the cobblestone streets were clean and mostly empty of beggars.

"We're going to stay at an Inn tonight, you need some rest," she pointed out. Kaijin swung the door of an inn they had approached open, revealing a room full of tables, filled with people, clattering dishes and clinking glasses, barrels of beer along the wall and a fireplace roaring in the front.

"Go sit down over there," she pointed to an empty table.

[Beautiful.Story]

A small whimper escaped her young frame, it had been a long day and she had grown tired. Darla had fallen behind some and she picked her feet up to match Kaijin’s stride. Her arms gripped Annabel so her head could rest some into her. It didn’t provide much rest, mostly due to the fact that her legs were what was tired. Darla sighed and looked at her friend with her ruby red eyes.

This doll was something special, her mother had owned it and just like her mother it had happened upon her by surprise. Darla’s mother found this doll upon the rubble of a construction site. The doll had just sat beneath the dirt and the trash of the home that had once stood there. And just like for Darla, the doll was unharmed and pristine, not a scratch marked it. This doll seemed to be enchanted, ancient. The history of this doll was still a mystery to Darla. But the soul that was carried inside the doll, it was only a matter of time before that was revealed. Thus far Annabel was proving to be a fantastic companion for her, protective, trusting, and her guild.

Clung tightly to her chest she embraced the doll as she pondered on her. Darla had never really wondered about the dolls origins, but she was somehow curious. From the doll, she had begun thinking about her mother and father. Truth be told her memory was starting to fade of her parents and it was becoming a large blur. Darla sighed. It was hard to forget her parents, those where the only memories she would ever have of them, and now they were just disappearing?

“What’s wrong, Massy?” The doll urged.

“Mommy and Daddy… I can't really remember them.” She whispered.

“Do not fret little one, you won’t forget them. You may forget some things, but you where young, you still are.” Annabel’s voice comforted her.

Again she sighed and her gazed moved from the doll, to the ground, and then to the town that they had entered. Walking beside Kaijin they approached the Inn and Darla stood somewhat closer to her traveling companion. Darla did not completely trust her, but she did so more than just some random stranger. Her head nuzzled the neck of Annabel while they walked. Darla would nod to Kaijin as she spoke, without objection.

Once inside the Inn Kai had guided her to a table and she again nodded and found her way to a seat, a booth. Her back rested ageist the wall, and her legs were pulled up and pushed Annabel into her chest. She would await her companion as she sat, sideways inside the booth…

“It’s okay, Honey, We will protect you. Do not be frightened.” Annabel hummed.

“MmMmMm.” She whimpered.

[Kaijin]

Kaijin leaned over the counter and paid the innkeeper for a room in the back for just one night. Then she began deciding what the girl was going to eat, and weighed whether or not she should eat as well.

The inn was old, but clean. The wooden walls and the burning hearth created a cozy atmosphere. And the fact that it was partly full of laughing, clattering people who had not had enough drinks to stumble home yet made it, to a normal person, a pretty inviting place.

While the woman was distracted and otherwise disposed of attention, the men in the tavern began turning their eyes toward the small, lonely child on the bench. She had come in with another woman, not a man-- not a father, or brother, nobody capable of protecting her. Some were scarred, some with uneven skin tone from age, some missing fingers, almost all with dingy clothing. And here was a woman and child, both dressed richly, probably with money or means, and no defense. The looks they gave the girl were obvious, but they did not move toward her. They turned back to their ale and carried on, presumably having had their thoughts and moved on.

Kaijin approached the opposing bench and slid in, facing the young girl who cowered against the wall.

"We're going to eat and then you're going to get some rest if you can," she said abruptly. After a moment she stole a glance across the room; she was entirely aware they were out of place here, presumably vulnerable, but that was the risk of a traveling woman. She did not seem to fret heavily, though, as she quickly returned her eyes to the table as the bar maid shimmied over with some food-- potatoes and salted meat for Darla, and a fresh apple from the tree in the back yard of the inn for her adult companion. Although neither of them had eaten all day since breakfast that morning, and anybody walking for that many hours should be ravenously hungry, Kaijin only meagerly bit into the apple every once in a while.

"You've seemed lost in thought all day. Where does your head go when we're walking?" she inquired from across the table.

[Beautiful.Story]

“Come on, Darla, cheer up. You have no reason to be afraid.” Annabel chanted.

Darla closed her eyes and nuzzled the doll. This place was so new to her and she only knew Annabel and Keijin. The men that lingered within the room watched her and she felt like she needed to be afraid. She knew Annabel wouldn’t let any harm come to her but who was to say that wouldn’t be enough. One person in particular continued to stare at the duo. He wore a black cape, the hood hid his eyes, but she could tell she was where his gaze fled to. In the corner he sat a simple glass of coffee before him.

When Kaijin took her seat across from her she turned her attention. The words she spoke rang in her ears and she nodded.

“Yes ma’am.” Darla’s small voice squeaked.

Once the food had arrived and place in front of the, Darla would just grumble with eyes fixated on Kai’s apple. With a free hand she dug into her meal watching the apple slowly be chomped away. Darla loved apples. It was a rare occasion she had her hands on a nice crisp one, right off the tree. Chewing the salted meat between her teeth, Darla gripped Annabel between her legs and hopped up. Her knees bent, her hand reached out and snatched the apple from Kaijin. In a swift action she took a big bite out of it and the juices over flowed into her mouth. It was sweet, delicious, and crunched when she bit into it.

Sitting back into her corner her left hand scooped Annabel into her embrace and her eyes shifted as Kaijin spoke. Annabel hummed for her, she sang her a lullaby. It was a hard topic.

“I was just thinking about how I miss my mom and dad…” Her voice drifted.

Darla crunched into the apple again, leaning her head into the cushion of the booth.