The Honey House
I moved through the market, careful to avoid the area where I'd been caught stealing. I had no plan, no idea what to do. Hours had passed since the encounter with the Honey House man, and Kumbuye was still in critical condition. I started to become desperate. I thought about stealing again, but the fear of getting caught a second time held me back.
I approached a nearby stall.
"Hi, um... do you know where I can find the Honey House?" I asked an old woman arranging fruits.
Her eyes, old and judging, looked at me, then she shook her head, scoffing under her breath. "Children don't care to work these days. They just want easy money."
I was a little bit ashamed, but I didn't care, she had no idea what I had been going through at that moment.
"You'll find the Honey House four streets from here, on a corner to your left," she said, gesturing with her hands.
I nodded and followed her directions. After a few minutes, I reached the street she had mentioned, turned left, and there it was — the Honey House.
It stood at a quiet, enclosed corner. The air at the entrance carried the scent of beeswax, sandalwood, and some very faint perfumes that screamed wealth. When I got inside, a young man sat behind a counter, sorting different coins. He glanced up and saw me.
"May I help you?" he asked.
"I'm looking for a man," I said. "He told me to meet him here."
"What's his name?" he asked, still sorting the coins.
"He didn't give me a name. I just met him in the streets."
The man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Okay, come with me."
He led me into a room, and my stomach turned. The space was filled with young girls. Many of them were naked and the men around them did not look like commoners, they looked like men who had a lot of money to spend. Some of the men were really old, doing unspeakable things to these girls.
Cries, whispers, and moans came from other rooms. My eyes darted around and some of the girls glanced at me with hopeless eyes. Anger burned in my chest. These people were sucking them dry. I forced myself to keep my head down, moving quickly behind the man who had led me here.
Finally, we reached a door at the back. He knocked and waited. When a muffled response came, he swung it open.
Inside, I saw the man I had met in the market. A young girl knelt before him, her face was pale, her eyes were wide with fear. The scene made my stomach drop.
The man let out a low, heavy sound of relief, then shoved the girl away. She scrambled to her feet, her mouth trembling, and fled the room, with tears streaking her face.
He turned to me, a smirk curling across his face as he adjusted his loose breeches.
"I told you," he said licking his lips, "you'll need me."
At that moment, the weight of my mistake hit me. "I'm... sorry," I stammered, stepping back, desperate to leave. But the man who had brought me in caught my arm, holding me fast.
"You're not going anywhere," the man from the market said. "You've already come this far..." He paused, moving toward me. "So... you're going to work for me."
"I can't... this... I can't do this," I whispered.
"That's how they always react the first time," he laughed. "Don't worry. It'll be worth your while. I'll give you the twenty silver and fifteen coppers you need for your friend. And... I'll even give you more."
Then an idea popped up, if I collected the money, I'd pay for Kumbuye's treatment and I'd run, leave this place, this settlement entirely. Perhaps that's the only way.
"Okay, I'll collect the money first and I'll come back—"
He laughed again. "Oh no, no, no. I cannot trust that. Many like you have promised to leave, collected my money, and never came back. That's not happening. You will stay here... while your friend gets what he needs." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "I'll send one of my men to help him, with the money in hand. You, however, will stay. Ronan will examine you."
My chest squeezed. My powers threatened to burst out but I held it in. If I drew attention, if word of my power echoed through these streets, it would reach the wrong ears. It could send me back to the Castle, back to Ormric, back to all the pain I had fought so hard to escape.
I swallowed, gripping my bag.
"Tick-tock," he said, urging me to make a decision.
I had to save Kumbuye, then I would find a way out of here, but for now, he had to stay alive. Before I could think twice, the words left my lips.
"Deal," I said.
"Good girl," he said, stepping closer to me, his hand trailing along my jawline in a teasing way. "Take her to the dressing room," he commanded.
Ronan grabbed me roughly and dragged me into another room.
"Take off your clothes," he barked, trying to snatch my bag. I clutched it tighter.
"No," I spat, holding on with everything I had.
He struck my face, leaving a burning mark. I screamed, holding the corner of my face he slapped.
"Give me the bag!" he barked, harsher this time.
"No! Not the bag!"
Anger flared inside me, my powers hummed, responding to my emotions. I could feel it building, threatening to break free.
Then the man from the market stepped into the room.
"What's going on, Ronan?" he asked, walking toward me. He saw the mark on my face and his eyes flared. Without a moment's hesitation, he punched Ronan square in the nose.
"How many times must I tell you? Not the face, that's our selling point!" he snapped, hitting Ronan again, this time in the stomach.
Turning to me, his expression softened. "Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry. What's your name?"
I couldn't give him my real name, it wouldn't have been wise. "Milly," I lied.
"Milly," he murmured. "Such a beautiful name. You'll bring me so many customers." His tone snapped to command. "Clean up your nose!" he yelled at Ronan.
"How am I sure the money will be paid for my friend?" I asked.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," he said, turning back to me and brushing over the mark Ronan had left. "We'll make sure your friend is taken care of. Just tell me where he is, and his treatment will be paid for."
"He'll need food too," I added quickly.
"Ah, that won't be a problem," he smiled. "Anything else?"
I shook my head. Then my stomach growled.
"You're hungry," he said softly. He shouted out the door, "Ronan, get this honey some food."
Honey? They call their girls honey?
I hesitated, then remembered one more thing. "Please... one last thing."
"Go on," he said, watching me closely.
"Could I... go with the man you're sending for my friend? I just need to see him... to make sure he's okay."
"No, no, no, no... you know I can't do that."
"Please," I whispered, pleading. "Please," I repeated, pressing my palms together.
"There's... something about you," he admitted. "I don't usually... I don't usually make exceptions. But you... there's something about you that makes me want to do it anyway." He paused, scratching his forehead. "You can go with him but just this once. That's as generous as I'll get."
My heart leapt. This... this could be my chance. My escape.
"But I insist you eat first. Then Ronan will go with you to pay for your friend's treatment," he concluded.
Ugh... Ronan. I hated him so much already.
As he started to leave the room, I stopped him. "Wait! Um... what's your name?"
He smirked. "Hm... I am Roderick, but you can call me Honey Master."
And then he left the room.
The examination of my body was postponed. Roderick ordered his men to leave me untouched until I returned from seeing Kumbuye. According to him, that was when my work would truly begin.
By the time Ronan and I set out for the apothecary, the sun had already begun to set. He carried food and a small bundle of fruit, proof of Roderick's so called generosity but I knew better. Nothing from him came without a price. My bag was still with me, clutched tight at my side.
We were halfway there when the sound of hooves thundered toward us. Men on horseback rode forward, clad in the colours of the Castle guards.
I bent down abruptly, pretending to fasten my boots, lowering my head so they would not see my face. As the guards rode past, I kept my gaze fixed on the ground.
Ronan huffed impatiently at my delay. "Whatever you're doing, do it quickly," he snapped. "We don't have time to waste."
"Yes, I'm sorry," I said. "Something got stuck in my boot."
The moment the guards disappeared, I straightened, keeping my head low as we continued. Noxara was not safe for me.
The apothecary was somewhat far from the Honey House. My heart clenched when I saw Kumbuye. He lay unconscious, snoring deeply.
We paid the healer and dropped the food on a table. I told him to give it to Kumbuye when he woke.
"We have to leave," Ronan said. "It's getting dark."
This was my chance. My only chance to run. The money had been paid. I could fight my way free. We were inside the apothecary, the only witness here was the old man and I would deal with him later.
I let my power take over. The moment I channeled it, Ronan's blood surged violently, gushing from every opening on his face — eyes, nose, ears, mouth — until he collapsed, choking and gurgling in a pool of his own blood.
My eyes widened when Ronan hit the floor trembling. A small smirk appeared on my lips. My powers were fully back. It wasn't coming and going as it liked anymore, it actually obeyed me. Finally.
The healer froze, fear was written all over his face. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
"I won't hurt you," I spoke quickly. "You've helped me. You've helped my friend. I won't hurt you."
"W-What are... what are you?" he stammered, shuddering and moving back.
"I swear it, I will not harm you." I spoke gently, reassuring him.
He was about to run out when I caught him. "You will say nothing of what you saw today," I commanded.
The old man nodded quickly, terror dancing in his eyes.
"When will my friend regain his strength?" I asked.
"He-he... I-I am not—" he stammered.
I let go of him, urging him to speak freely.
"When he wakes up... I have brewed a potion for him to drink. It will... it will give him strength," he finally said as he began to pee on his body.
Ugh.
I didn't blame him. It seemed power in the North was rare, and what I'd just done would terrify most.
I looked at the body on the floor, the pool of blood spreading slowly across the floorboards. I didn't want to leave the old man in trouble, so I forced myself to act.
I grabbed a cloth and wrapped the body as best I could. Then I began to scrub the blood from the floor, my hands shook as the stain clung stubbornly to the wood. When that was done, I dragged Ronan's body out of the apothecary.
By the time I reached a far corner, I dropped the body down there, hidden from sight. My chest heaved, he was so heavy. I covered the body very well hoping no one would stumble upon it.
The winter breeze rushed into me as I made my way back to the apothecary. Night had already fallen, and the streets were nearly empty. When I stepped inside, the old man was still trembling, folding himself in one corner.
The power that brewed inside me felt stronger than it had ever been, like it craved blood and release.
As much as I was glad, it frightened me a little.
"Can I stay here for the night?" I asked quietly.
I was exhausted, my bones were tired. The day had taken more from me than I could handle, and all I wanted was the mercy of sleep.
The old man nodded, but it was obviously out of fear.
I ignored it. I could not keep proving to him that I meant him no harm. I hadn't even touched him. That should have been enough.
He laid a thin mat on the floor for me. Faint stains of blood still marked the boards beneath. I had scrubbed for what felt like hours, but blood was stubborn.
Before resting, I checked on Kumbuye one last time. His face was covered in sweat, so I gently wiped it with a cloth.
I finally decided to lay on the mat and I closed my eyes.