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greybat · 6 years

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Bad Luck - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Red Reaper

Summary: Post-Chariot. Xixa is still feeling crummy. She decides to go for a walk through the Market. While there, she counters two near-accidents. Saved by both incidents by something - or someone - who refuses to hang around, the apprentice realizes it could be Julian. To test her hypothesis, Xixa puts herself in danger, once more, in the hopes of talking to him.

Ao3 Link

The morning light pierced her tired eyes, spent from crying on and off last night. Xixa thought a fresh morning stroll through the Market would ease her pains. That sun, though, made her eyes feel like bleeding. Xixa tried to brush away her negativity, as she ducked into the shade of the Market.

The aroma of fresh baked bread and pastries coiled through the air. The delectable scents mingled with the everyday dirt and body odor of the vendors and customers. Loud voices resonated along the street, attenuated by the rumble of carts and wagons.

Ease wrapped around the apprentice, in the chaos. Or, perhaps, she was still tired from the long night.

A couple children rushed passed Xixa’s knees, the sudden jostle coaxing her feet to fumble. She staggered into a tower of firewood, hands scraping over splinters. The tower wobbled as she backed off, exhaustion confounding her survival instincts. There was a creak – or was that a croak from that raggedy, paranoid raven? – and the sound of ropes straining. Xixa stared up at the mass of wood, heart pounding but mind a complete blank.

An insistent tug on the back of her cloak, pulled her paralyzed body away from the danger. She tumbled backward, into the crowd just as wood cascaded down in a cracking, bone-jarring heap.

Xixa spun around, words of thanks on her lips. Whoever had helped was gone. The crowd streamed passed her without worry, individuals intent on buying fresh food and goods. Confusion dotted her thoughts, but she shook it off. Maybe, she was wrong.

The apprentice drifted from stall to stall, listening to people barter and haggle. The sun had trailed a little higher in the sky. The temperature rose. Despite her day out, Xixa still felt the headache from crying lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Mentally consumed with not thinking about the source of her tears, her feet caught on a stick in the road. Her world flew out from under her, heart thundering and lungs locking up. Xixa landed with a thud, pain jarring up her palms. Dust swooped around her, but she could still hear the pottery cart trundling closer. The clod of hoof beats and the clatter of pottery deafened her ears.

There was another sound, beneath the imminent doom. She didn’t have time to thin. Or maybe her treasonous brain didn’t want to think. Again, a sudden force whisked down upon her, bodily heaving her out of the road and onto her feet in a safe, cart-free, area. The apprentice blinked, slightly dazed as the pottery cart trundled by. Whipping her head around, she didn’t even catch sight of whatever – whoever – helped her.

Narrowing her eyes, Xixa scanned the roofs of the building. Her gaze caught on the ragged raven, not far from her position. He soared in lazy circles above the Market.

Her sight drifted down to the throngs of people, scanning for some telltale sign of a red-head. A glimpse of his coat, his red hair glinting in the light. Could a six-foot four-inch man disappear so quickly in the crowd? He had done it before…

Xixa’s hands clenched, trying to picture her last couple saviors. Was she mistaken? Or maybe it was just wishful thinking from a hurt heart? She shook her head, annoyed with the pain. They had barely known one another. She shouldn’t feel so strongly about him! At least, as far as her shoddy memories went, it had been a short time.

Though, it seemed – if she were right – the doctor was going out of his way to keep her safe. …while not being in her life. The thought stung. Julian’s thought process boggled Xixa’s mind.

If only she could test this out. However, her clumsy nature had been brought on by night of little sleep, moderate sobbing, and a level of confusion. There had to be something she could do…

An idea formed in her head. A sudden – and terrible – idea. If he wasn’t following her, wasn’t acting as some sort of unseen protector, then this antic may end badly. The apprentice didn’t care, though. As she wove her way out of the Market, Xixa vaguely realized what a bad influence the doctor had been on her.

x x x

It took Xixa a long time to find the bar. She had to backtrack, recalling Julian’s directions the night she had fled the castle. It was the shoddier side of town. A thin layer of grime covered everything and a slightly mildewy scent hung in the air. Bereft of the night, without the cavorting crowd or the warm lights sweeping into darkened streets, the Rowdy Raven was only recognizable by their sign.

The apprentice glanced skyward, catching the feathered shadow still following her. That raven hadn’t strayed far. Xixa glance up and down the street. A few people plodded down the path, going about their drudgery. A saucily dressed person was sensually leading a prospective patron down an alleyway. A skinny cat fumbled out of a side street, yowling. No obvious signs of the doctor.

Turning back to the bar, Xixa pressed through the door. She paused in the entryway as her eyes adjusted from the sunny day to the drearier interior. The smell of booze tickled at her nose. She made her way to the bar, taking stock of the people drinking their woes away. There were a few barflies, drowning in drink or passed out on the floor. It was nothing like the raucous night with Julian.

The person behind the counter was idly watching Xixa as she approached. “What can I do for you?”

“I came in here a few nights ago. My… companion had red hair, fairly tall.” Xixa waved her hand over her head, as if to illustrate how tall Julian was. The person quirked an eyebrow, expression unreadable. Xixa continued, trying to scrounge for a memorable instance that night, “He was advising a card game and got doused in drink.”

The bartender’s eyebrow raised, just slightly, but they otherwise didn’t react. “Yes?”

“I’m looking for him.”

They eased slightly at that. A knowing grin curled at their lips. “You’re looking for Ilya?”

“How many people know him?” Exasperation tinged Xixa’s voice as she rolled her eyes. It originally stunned the apprentice how many people seemed chummy with the wanted, murdering, doctor. However, after thought, Xixa realized the man may have assisted the poor with illness. Maybe even the plague. It would make sense, though Julian never mentioned it. She couldn’t imagine him standing aside while the poor suffered.

“Not sure. Why’re you looking for him?” That grin still curled at the bartender’s lips. They were amused with her.

Narrowing her eyes, a bubble of annoyance bloomed in Xixa. Why was this person grinning so much? With a little more bite than she meant, she icily said, “I’m investigating Count Lucio’s murder. Dr. Devorak is a suspect.”

“Oh…” That seemed to break that grin. They picked up a glass, presumably dirty, and began to scrub it with a rag. There seemed to be a strain to their aura. “Wouldn’t have guessed you thought of him that way.”

Her eyebrows raised, confusion mottling her voice, “Excuse me?”

“You were hanging all over Ily– Dr. Jules.” Their eyes drifted down to the glass, rubbing at a particularly hard – and invisible – bit of grime. “Ogling and what not.”

Xixa pursed her lips, a flush biting at her cheeks. She knew very well how she was acting and didn’t need a reminder. Thank you! She had to keep this up, though. “I was observing.”

“Tomato, tomahto. I’m a bartender, so I know ogling when I see ogling.”

The apprentice heaved a sigh and averted her gaze. Her eyes flickered around the room, as if searching for something. She tried not to turn toward the windows, tried not to peer closer to try and find a tuft of curly red hair. When she turned back to the bartender, she leaned forward. “You’re right. You’re a bartender and I could use a little edge off. Give me something strong.”

The bartender stared at Xixa, eyes trailing up and down her body. Vaguely, she wondered if they remembered the fruit drink Julian had gotten her. How alcoholic was that? Probably not very. Was the bartender dubious about her request? However, Xixa maintained her somber face. She was the apprentice working for the Countess, tasked with the duty to find Dr. Julian Devorak before the Masquerade. Xixa pressed into her aura the stress on her shoulders, emanating it toward the bartender.

“I’ll get you something,” they sighed, before shrugging and scuffing off to the shelves of alcohol.

Xixa’s gaze flicked to the windows. On the roof of the far building, the raggedy raven perched and leered. It almost felt like the bird was staring straight at her. If the bird was there, then was Julian close by? She couldn’t very well go peek out every bar window. The doctor would take off, in a swirl of black fabric and embarrassment.

“Here you go.” The bartender’s flat tone interrupted Xixa’s thoughts. The click of a glass against the bar’s top punctuated his sentence.

She stared down at the frothy glass, filled to the brim with a red liquid that darkened to nearly black at the bottom. The faint smell of cherry emitted from the drink, though it was all but lost in the heavy aroma of alcohol. In her silence, Xixa thought she heard the drink sizzling. Turning her gaze back to the bartender, she asked, “What is it called?”

“Red Reaper.” Though the bartender’s face didn’t change, Xixa thought she could hear an edge of challenge to their voice. They didn’t think she’d drink it. Or be standing after one sip.

She knew this was a prospect when heading toward the Rowdy Raven. Luckily, remaining sober or upright were not part of her plan.

Xixa dropped a pile of coins on the bar, unsure and uncaring for the going rate of a Red Reaper. Raising the glass to her lips, Xixa closed her eyes and took a swig of the drink. As soon as she grabbed it, a caw screamed outside. When the drink hit her throat, it burned. Not the usual heat of alcohol, but a searing fire that scorched her throat. Tears bit at the corners of her eyes, a faint fog already tickling her synapses. The faint taste of cinnamon and cherry licked over her tongue.

The apprentice didn’t hear the doors of the bar open. Nor the pounding clatter of boots on the floor. Xixa’s world revolved around the red drink and the pain in her throat, until someone insistently eased the drink from her lips.

“That’s enough of that.” She barely heard the gentle words through the pounding in her skull. Her eyes fluttered open, finding Julian standing there, the Red Reaper held far, far from her body.

#thearcanagame #the arcana game #julian devorak #julian devorak x apprentice #julian devorak x xixa #my writing

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