Closed A Student's Student (Leith)

[Kaska Villahotes]

Enoch smirked and knelt before her. "Yes you can fly. But if you think I'm going to let you go, or arm you, you're off your goddamn rocker." he chuckled coldly. "What makes you think I want a fatter profit than what I have right in front of me? This isn't about money, this is about revenge pure and simple. You trying to weasel your way out of whoring just makes me more determined to fling you to the wolves." he grinned and grasped one of her wrists, squeezing it painfully tight. "Oh you are innocent. Stories? Fame? I don't give a shit about my name, those who need to know it know it. Those who don't like my boys just fine, though they've been whining about my lack of female company...and here Kaska delivers one to me on a silver platter." He patted her down for weapons, but thankfully didn't think to look in her boots. He did remove the rest of her belongings and gave them to his man for safe keeping. He then parted her thighs with a hand and slid his hand down the front of her pants, probing into a very private part of her anatomy. "Virgin. Just as I thought." he removed his hand and smirked at her. "Now then little raven. You have two options. Piss me off, and I'll break your wings and give my boys a little pot pie made out of every single raven I can find in this city. For every hour you're gone, I'll shoot one. The second option is, you go upstairs, get to know your new brothers a bit...and we take you to meet your first client." ______________________________ "Gods in hell Kaska." The doctor grunted as he applied poultice to Kaska's wounds. Kaska yelped and snapped his legs shut, trapping the doctor's hand. "It HURTS you son of a bitch!" Kaska snarled. "Of course it hurts you idiot! What did you think I was going to do, give you anesthetic for a ripped up rear? It's an antiseptic so you don't come back to me with blood poisoning." the doctor snapped, looking at the giant bruise on Kaska's side. He finished up with Kaska's poor rear and washed his hands, gently pressing down on the injured ribcage. This prompted an inhuman roar from Kaska. "Cracked. At least two." the doctor grimaced at the noise. "The rest are just cuts and bruises, but you're going to be on bed rest for a day or so. You can stay here if you've got the coin." Kaska's heart dropped and he thought of Leith. "I can't...I can't stay here." he sat up and immediately regretted both shifting his injured ribs and putting weight on the torn flesh near his tailbone. He groaned and laid down again. "Yes you sure as hell can. I'm going to bind these ribs and you're going to get some rest." The doctor said sharply.

[Leith]

Lashing out would have been a very bad thing to do on her part, but when he touched her she had to bite her lip and focus on the pain it caused. She looked up at him her mismatched eyes blazing “What, don’t have the balls to do it yourself?” She stood up sneering at him “Gatta surround yourself with people who are afraid of you, but now you think you’ll make me afraid of you? Your nothing more than an old bully in a filthy corner of a filthy city. Too much of a coward to do anything for yourself, gatta send out children because you are lazy and worthless. Go ahead, hit me, but it’ll only show that I’m right, bullies lash out and hurt. I’m surprised you ain’t gunna do me yourself, but then I bet you can’t do anything, why else sell people out hmm?”

He was taller than her, but she looked down on him with disgust “Go ahead, make me suffer, make me hurt, you worthless old man. You’ll die in this gutter and those with you will rob your corpse, your pathetic existence not even of note to the gods themselves. Not even the birds will touch your corpse, they know true trash, that’s what you are, just worthless trash.”

Kaska’s words came to mind I already know what will happen, takes most of the fear out of it. While it might not have been exactly his words, she got it. She wasn’t afraid, she knew she was going to face pain and it didn’t scare her. She’d likely die too, but oddly she wasn’t afraid of how either. She just wasn’t going to let some cruel old man try and make her afraid. Those around her knew he was a bully, but she was willing to bet he’d done things to make them afraid. He seemed like the type who stamped out things that could be a threat long before they ever rose up to stand against him. She would fight, as best as she could, maybe it would even draw a few to watch. “I bet you stay in this filthy corner because you were too afraid to leave this place and make more use of your skills. I guess the real reason why you picked me off was because you saw an actual threat in Kaska. I was right to learn from him, not some washed out old shit afraid to do what he makes others do. I don’t fear you, I don’t fear what you can do and at the very end I’ll die mocking you. So go ahead old buzzard, do your worst, you’ll pay for it and I’ll laugh as you die.”

She stood there her mismatched eyes staring in to his, pride burned in her and anger. There was something about her that made her seem a part of the things around her. The way she held herself would have made it seem like she owned the scrap of ground she was standing in. He took her as easily frightened, but all he did was strike her as pathetic. She saw what he had and it filled her with disgust, she was done and just wanted to leave. She didn’t think she’d be able to do so, but she wasn’t going to just roll over like he wanted her to. He wanted her afraid, wanted her to do what he wanted and while she mourned for her friends she knew that even if she did what he wanted he’d still probably harm them. In the end it was better a clean death by arrows than by the claws of eagles or any of the other predators of their kind. Each time he killed one of them she would pray for Eywaat to keep them safe, but to also take revenge. If she died she’d take the message to him personally, she was after all one of his children, even if she had a human form.
|
|
|

[Kaska Villahotes]

Enoch stared at her for a moment, listening to her tirade. He grinned at her as she spoke, a nasty light appearing in his eyes. His hand came forward and grabbed her hair, winding his fingers in it. He smirked and pulled her close, looking down at her. "You challenged me little bird. But you do have a lot of fire in you." He grinned and kissed her, his mouth rough and smelling like tobacco. "I'm not afraid of Kaska, he was mine once. You don't know how this game is played girl. I won't hurt you. I'll do the exact opposite." he purred softly. "Who do you think taught the trade?" he brought an arm behind Leith's knees and swept her up into his arms. He walked her upstairs to the nervous chuckles of the boys below. Enoch stripped her without preamble, using one of his knives to slit her clothes off. He shoved her up against the wall and kissed her roughly, one of his hands moving down. "I won't spoil you raven." he smirked and nuzzled her neck. "You'll be mine, my own little songbird." he smirked at the idea. In the morning, Enoch sat up in bed and looked down at Leith. He smiled triumphantly. True to his word, he hadn't ruined her. He'd simply established his dominance of her through fear. ________________________ Kaska laid on the cot in the back of the doctor's office, sighing angrily. There was a white bandage around his ribcage and he was in a lot of pain. He glared at the pillow under his head, thinking of Leith. He felt so protective of her, like a little sister.

[Leith]

She woke up the moment she felt him move, she kept her breathing sleep shallow hoping he’d think her asleep and leave her alone. For all her words she’d been terrified, he’d only delighted in trying to use it against her. He hadn’t done anything just as he said, but what he had done was almost as bad. Her sleep wasn’t restful in the least, she had woken up tense and knew that once she did move her whole body would be stiff and sore. She wanted him dead, she didn’t hate him, hate implied feelings directed at him, she just wanted him dead. Dead he was in the hands of the gods and not squirming around alive where he could touch her. When Kaska came she’d have him smash his hands to bits, rip his tongue out with a knife and let him squirm on the ground till the injuries killed him. She wanted him to carry his wounds to the gods so they knew what he’d done and shove him someplace extra painful.

He still didn’t know about her other knife, somehow he’d been too distracted, small blessing that was. Enoch wasn’t a brute bully, he was worse, she remembered the laughter when he’d carried her, they’d been glad it wasn’t them. She didn’t blame them, she wasn’t even angry at them, she was sure had she been in their place raised as they had been she’d probably have done much the same. It didn’t make it hurt less, but at least she wasn’t angry at them, maybe she could make allies of them. So the old man planned on keeping her for himself, that was both a disgusting thought and an opportunity. It meant he was planning on keeping her alive, it meant Kaska had time. Of course she wasn’t sure he’d face Enoch, after all the man had trained him, but she still had hope. She would have to bide her time, she also had to keep that one last knife secret. So for now her only plan was to pretend to be asleep, hopefully he’d leave her alone.
|
|
|

[Kaska Villahotes]

Pretending to be asleep was a bad idea. Enoch kissed her shoulder and neck, sliding his hand up her thigh. "Wake up." he shoved her nastily out of bed buck naked, laying back against the headboard and lighting a pipe. The scent of tobacco filled the room. "Whores and my personal pets get to go downstairs for their breakfast." he told her, waving the match out and smoking quietly in bed. "Move it, or I'll let the dogs take you in public. I mean it. No clothes for you today, you've pissed me off with that mouthing you gave me in front of the boys. Don't worry, ain't nothing they've not seen before." he gestured to the door. ________________________ Kaska was rehabilitated slowly. The doctor was a good man and steady, and he hadn't demanded anything other than coin. He'd even washed Kaska's clothes and given him some small clothes to wear that could be easily cleaned given his injuries. "I hate this." he grumbled. "I have a friend who may be in danger and I can't even swing the mace!" The doctor pursed his lips. "You've told me the story Kaska. My advice is to trust her, she seems like a smart girl." he said. "Have a little faith in her, she'll escape and find you."

[Leith]

She looked up from the floor and stood up muttering curses, she rubbed her wrist and flexed her fingers slowly. Her eyes never left him, but once she caught wind of the stuff he was burning she gagged moving away from him. It started to make her eyes water and even though she plugged her nose she could still taste it. The smell made her stomach roll, she moved to a corner and promptly vomited what little was in her stomach. She moved close to the window if only for the clean air moving through it. “Put that out… You want me in good health you’ll not burn that near me, its vile. Makes your breath stink too, I’ll throw up on you if you get near me.”

She’d never smelled whatever it was he was letting burn, but whatever it was it made her ill. The city had its own mixture of smells, most of the time it was just barely tolerable. She was used to the clean smells of the forest, even if her sense of smell wasn’t keen like other species of Kelvic. She was sure had she had an even better sense of smell the city and what he was doing would have made her worse. It just gave her one more reason to want the vile man dead. If she had to deal with that smell constantly she was positive she’d only get worse off, especially since her stomach would empty its self. He’d want her in as good condition as she could be to deal with whatever he had planned, she certainly hoped he’d get rid of that vile smell.

Clothing didn’t bother her, if he thought she’d care about the eyes he was wrong. She moved out of the room and down the stairs her head held high. The bruises along her back would have been visible to the old man and anyone looking, but it would be clear Enoch hadn’t done them as they were turning colors as they healed. Her body was sore, especially places that had been stressed when he had dumped her from his bed. She rubbed her wrist wincing slightly, that tumble hadn’t done it any good. She thought of the bath she had had, that had done a lot of good, but no she’d probably never have another one. She sat down in a corner pulling her knees to her chest. She wasn’t crying or anything, she was somewhat cold. The spot she had chosen was far away from anyone else, she also didn’t want to see their looks so she folded her arms over her knees and laid her face in such a way so her arms could pillow her head. The bruise on her face protested, but she ignored it, she also wasn’t feeling hungry.

She was sure it was due to stress, even after her stomach had become empty she felt very little. The scent was still in her nose, that probably was also another reason, she’d let one of the other humans have whatever she got. Right at that moment she could have cared less if the place even burned down. She sighed inwardly and just tried to dose off for however long it lasted.
|
|
|

[Kaska Villahotes]

The other boys looked at her nervously, eating their oatmeal quietly at the ramshackle table. Two of them left for work early, simply grabbing a bruised apple off the table each and heading out the door. The other three were younger and a bit more cowed. One of them filled an extra bowl and brought it to Leith, kneeling down in front of her. "Is it true you've seen Kaska?" he asked quietly. "He's been gone for about a year now. We miss him. Enoch was always cruel to him so we never got any of it." he handed her the oatmeal awkardly. Enoch came downstairs soon, looking at his hired men. The large one and the archer. "You two take the raven and get her to show us where Kaska's stashes are. If he won't come of his own accord so I can kill him I'll drive him to me by desperation." he growled, fingering one of a belt of throwing knives around his chest. "Meanwhile spread the word. Kaska's ill, he's got the Blight. No one will go within fifty feet of him. We'll starve him out."

[Leith]

So even in the care of the old man he’d protected the young ones, inwardly that made her smile. She scooted the bowl back and smiled at the child “I’m not very hungry, the stupid idiot burned something and made things stink, he made me sick.”

When she heard footsteps coming down the stairs she stood up, his words made her laugh. “Oh, you really are dumb, you think he trusted me? Pfff.” She really didn’t know other than the spot they had slept in, so he’d get nothing. On top of it all he’d not starve Kaska, she knew he’d be perfectly fine. “So, you take me up to your room, then make me sick this morning and you think I know much more than what little he taught me? I was around him to learn to steal, not become his confidant, you should know him better than that or did you lie? Worthless, just like I thought, stupid too.”

She motioned to her body “Oh, sure fire way to get your boys dead is to send me out like this. You grabbed me and didn’t even make sure you knew how much I really knew, not very bright. I just know a little on filching from pockets and how to poke things with holes with arrows. I thought humans were smarter than this, but I guess the only reason your kind are around is because you breed like roaches and make weapons. I’m amazed you can even keep these children around, but then I bet you don’t want them to think walking out and ignoring you is that easy. Even if he doesn’t trust me, if he hates you as much as you him, he’d happily claim your flock just to get at you. All they’d have to do is turn their backs on you, the worst you can do is kill them and from how I see it that’ll probably be a mercy.”

She smirked at him “I bet...the idea of being without anyone under your thumb scares you. You are scared of what they’d do if they think. Here you are playing like you are their only sanctuary, that the world would chew them up and spit them out, but they have an ally wandering around. Someone who’d take them simply to spite you, but till now no one thought about it and here I come.” Her eyes widened and she smiled wide “Oops, guess I put thoughts in their heads. You’ll have to make an example of me, but no matter what you do now the thought is there. I hope your little rabbits have enough sense to scatter now, they could leave and seem to do what you say and you who stay behind here can’t be positive that they actually said anything. They could even find Kaska and tell him, but then…maybe they are just too used to you and scared of you. Nothing I could say could sway them if they are loyal to you.”

She looked at the nearest person to her her eyes sad “I had nothing to do with this mess, but you got greedy and let your thoughts of revenge blind you. I think in the end what makes you want to kill him is that he succeeded without you and because he’s alive he breeds hope. I didn’t want to get involved, I just wanted to learn something interesting then fly off to go somewhere else. I just want to be free, but you’ll keep me around till you realize he doesn’t care about me then kill me after you do awful things to me. I’m innocent and you…you are rotting on the inside with hatred.”

She looked back at him her eyes tired, she didn’t want to play his game, she just wanted to be let go. She did what she could, those children were too afraid, nothing she said would probably matter. Yet, she put the thought out there, one of them might get brave and rally the others. She had only her words, maybe it would be enough.
|
|
|

[Kaska Villahotes]

Enoch laughed cruelly. "Kaska, savior of the wastelands of Sunberth!" he chuckled. "Oh you stupid girl. Kaska has killed more children than I have, if he bothered to tell you anything about himself. The boys remember, I remember. Reddick, 13, Furth, 14, Elana, 12. all three murdered by his hand when they wandered into what he thinks is his territory. He crushed their skulls with that mace of his or injured them and let them bleed out. Furth managed to get to my door, dragging his leg behind him, before he died on my steps." Enoch growled. "There are no other whores on his streets, no panhandlers, and no beggars. Because he gets rid of them and dumps them. It's because of that mace Kaska is a terror here, and I've had just about enough of him killing the boys that get lost. Stealing my things was the last straw." The three children looked down uncomfortably, and the one nearest Leith grabbed the bowl he had offered her and gave it to Enoch. The man blew smoke out of his mouth and tapped out the pipe, taking the bowl and spoon. "As for you, the gangs might get riled up but you're a little more important to me. I want you to do three things for me, Leith. Show me all his territory markers, places where he eats and drinks... I want to know everything." Enoch told her. After he was done eating and the boys had gone out the door Enoch nodded to his two men. "Every single territory marker, every shop and stall." He didn't say he was simply parading her, like Godiva, to antagonize Kaska. Nothing would happen, his men were skilled at Enoch's methods of subterfuge. But with Kaska's territory marks obliterated, the shop owners turned against him, he'd lose options fast. He'd already lost a massive amount of his client base. ____________________________ Kaska was limping around, much against the doctor's will. "Mucus membranes heal fast but those ribs need a week." the doctor said dryly as he watched Kaska move slowly around the room. "I can't stay. I have to get back to the alley, call in favours, get Leith back." he mumbled. "You know there are rumors going around that you have the telltale signs of the Blight. Your clients haven't been seen in your streets." the doctor said with a small sigh. Kaska paused. "What?" "Oh I know you don't have the blight. The worst you've had was that nasty case of infection and we got that cleared up. But yes, Scarlet came in the other night complaining she'd had a sudden rush in her client base. I asked why, she asked if your body had been burnt yet." the doctor shrugged. "No skin off my nose, I'm not into the politics of you gutter rats. I just know it's better when you're at war. More customers." he said. "How comforting." Kaska snapped at him, picking up his pack. "I need to go." "With those ribs you're not going to fight anyone." the man said dissaprovingly.

[Leith]

Leith shrugged “I’m willing to bet you sent them to their deaths, if not killed them yourself for whatever reasons. I don’t believe it beneath you to get rid of children who are starting to get too old to really control. I’m willing to bet…those that died were ones that started to cause trouble. Perhaps they had been attached to him and you just couldn’t have that, so you culled them keeping only the most submissive. Besides if what you say is true and you are going to ‘starve’ him out, an ally or so would be very good for him right now. However, they won’t do anything so why waste my breath?”

When he said he wanted everything she sighed shaking her head “I told you, he didn’t trust me. Only reason why he didn’t kill me or deny my request to learn is because he knew I wasn’t one of yours. Told me that I was pretty enough you’d have kept me close. He only showed me what I wanted, nothing that could bite him in the tail. Now, I’m going upstairs to grab my clothes, unless you’d like me getting a chill and dying? You took me thinking I was some pawn, but in the end I’m just an innocent caught in this stupidity.”

She headed for the stairs, she was getting cold and her catching something was a real possibility. She didn’t feel like getting sick and the smell of his pipe was making her nauseous again. If all else failed she needed to get to her clothes for that knife. She couldn’t escape until she had an opportunity and she needed that knife to be able to take it.
|
|
|