Canlanma Street Level, Story 9

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Story 9

  Now is the time. Elder Valentine is dead, thanks to Nadja's work. Having a shadow tigress as a comrade is a wonderful blessing in our cruel world. The other female stare at her as the news hits our ears. There is a general feeling of giddy vengeance in the room that grows. Finally, one voice asks the question: "Does that mean we have a door we can break through?"

  I look around the collection of entities around me. Usually, this group would be in more flattering and showy attire. Tonight is a different story. Tonight, we are all dressed in dark colors and long draping pieces to conceal our identities. Some of us conceal weapons; others have their natural weapons carefully sharpened.

  "Yes. We have a door. That idiot Raj will be enraged by the kill we 'stole' from him. He has been looking for revenge against his betrayer for way too many cycles." This gets a few chuckles. "With that said, his guards will be occupied with containing his outbursts. So we do have our chance. So let's break through his door." A chorus of agreement pushes us out of our hiding place and up onto the darker roofs or into darker alleyways. 

  Shinar: the City of the Harlot. The place to be for the best carnal pleasure, no matter what it is. Those dolts in Lavdi claim they have more pleasures with their feasts and casinos, but we in Shinar know that their feasts only come because of those nomads. Those nomadic lunatics always had a joy in giving us things that Canlanma hoards. Those pompous freaks forget who supplies most of their raw materials. For Canlanma, we Shinarans provide a lot of metals. Ores of iron, bronze, gold, silver, and others come from our mines at the expense of lives they have deemed "unredeemable." Those entities that slave in those mines or those of us who bring some pleasure for their pains find the Canlanma people greedy. They have places to find ores and other basic materials. They would rather keep their hordes and exploit ours. One day, one cycle, we will break through their door and return their greed. First comes the control of Shinar.

  I jump into the courtyard of the Shinaran leader as two peahens attack and distract the guards outside. I nod a thank-you and join Nadja and another tigress into a sprint to the main room of this mansion. I see a few other females snap guards' necks as we pass. We reach the room to hear him rage.

  "What do you mean we don't know who killed him?" The frazzled idiot yells.

  "Does it truly matter? He's dead." A voice from a communicator chuckles. "Now you can-"

  "No! I want answers!"

  I scan the room and signal a group of females to take out the guards and henchmen around him. The tigresses use their natural magic to darken the room. The idiot yelps in surprise to the darkness.

  "Everything alright?" The voice asks.

  "No." The idiot resumes his rage. "I. Need. Answers!"

  The duo and I jump down and seize him. I draw my dagger from my thigh holster. "Here are your answers."

  The idiot laughs. "And what could you tell me, my favorite little harlot?"

  "Everything."

  "Really?"

  Instead of telling him, I slice deep into his throat and stab his heart. I then speak to the voice. "My name is Melania, the new Shinar leader."

  "Well, hello Melania." The voice on the other side purrs. "My name is Marsuvees, the Nerakan leader. Let's meet for dinner and a chat, shall we?"

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