Like An Accident: Part 02
(While the first chapter had fairly vanilla sex, this chapter has some BDSM elements (branding, bondage, and some drunken/ blurred consent lines).
By the time they had gotten to the town, night had already fallen. Luclos stepped away from Buttercup, no, she was no longer that. Buttercup and Dirol had died in the fire. She stumbled away from him, her whole body shaking.
Two-lip slipped inside the local church, vanishing into the candlelit room. A few of the Siblings of the Sinners crowded around her like a gathering of geese, their questions and words too soft to hear. The door was quickly closed, the lock clicking into place. A metal slot was the only way the occupants would be able to communicate with the outside world now.
Staying near the buildings, Luclos shuffled in the shadows. He got to the other side of the church, the stench of death hitting him as he passed into the back door of the coroner. Once inside, he dropped his bag to the ground and filled up the metal tub. A corpse laid on the slab next to him, skin and hair still damp. He shifted and saw that it was the dearly departed Lord Augmen.
The poison had left no trace on his body. He looked peaceful, almost like he was merely sleeping. The corner of Luclos' lip twitched as he stared down at the body, seeing the ornate robes and jewelry resting on the table next to the slab. When the body was treated and dried, he would be dressed and buried far better in death than any peasant in life.
Once the water came up to his chest when he sat, Luclos submerged himself into it. He slowed his breathing and tried to not breathe too hard through his nose. He would smell like swamp and muck until he got a proper bath. Bits of dirt and bodily filth began to float up to the surface. Drawing his knees to his chest, he closed his eyes and rested his chin on his knees.
Perhaps he would have to take Two-lip up on her suggestion and go to an inn. Lots of bubbles, water with actual heat, and more privacy. Less of a chance of someone throwing an explosion at them mid-coitus. If Two-lip would even be ready for such a thing. The whole journey back, she was white as a sheet and silent.
As he scrubbed at his fingernails, he thought of the device. Who would throw such a thing in the window of a noble? He hadn't gotten too good of a look at it. But something like that wouldn't have been made and thrown at random. Had they waited until the Lady of the House had left, or was she the intended target?
No... It was no coincidence that the manor was burned down shortly after it was emptied. Luclos looked at the ring and then at his bag resting against the wall. The papers inside... What had Augmen been hiding?
Someone cleared their throat behind him.
"Are you done? I have paying clients who need their loved ones looking their best."
Luclos stood up from the tub, taking the towel handed to him by the coroner.
He stood almost three heads taller than the man.
Dewdrop had apprenticed to the previous apothecary, taking over when his teacher finally retired. He was nearing 30, but his visible skin was free of wrinkles and any sign of aging. Even without the Siblings around him, he still put off the air of someone who would knock out someone's teeth if they looked at him wrong.
The coroner's eyes were narrowed as he offered a mask to Luclos, identical to his own.
"Did you get what you needed?" Dewdrop asked. Going to the door and looking around, before waving to an unseen person.
"Of course I did." Luclos quickly toweled off, taking the nearest robes for a coroner and slipping into them. The sleeves were too short and it was tight in the chest, but it was better than wandering around shirtless. "Even after the manor was blown up."
Dewdrop faced him, eyebrow raised.
"Are you going to talk to Sundown?"
"Of course." Luclos passed by him, lowering his head to obscure his face as the crowd of mourners shuffled in. He slipped by and hugged the walls, going into the back room.
An elderly man sat at a table, game pieces in place. He rubbed his chin as he stared down at the board. When he heard the door open, his neck creaked as he looked up.
Small wisps of white hair clung to his bald head. His leathery skin was toughened by both sun and sand. His weak eyes squinted, before he clung to his cane next to him. He wore black robes, but if one paid attention, they could see the occasional hilt of a knife in the folds.
"Jinx, is that you?" He asked, his voice raspy. "I was wondering when you were going to show up." He looked at the board. "I need help figuring out my next move."
Luclos sighed, then sat down across from the older man. He peered down at the board, wondering what move would work next. As they stared at it, he heard the rattling of ceramic. Looking back up, he saw a woman emerge from the kitchen. She was carrying a pair of tea cups on a tray, which she sat next to the board.
Snake-Eyes was the most junior member of the group, barely twenty summers. She had dark skin, hair and eyes. She even wore a dark dress and boots. Her gloved hands were steady when she stepped away from the table. Leaning against the wall, she kept her eyes on the two of them.
Luclos stared at the board, Snake-eyes visible in the corner of his eye. He started to move a piece, when Sundown stifled a chuckle.
Picking up the teacup, Luclos held it in his hand and brought it under his nose. Taking a small inhale, he nearly dropped it and coughed. A few drops splashed onto the table.
"Hey!" Sundown snapped.
"Next time." Luclos set the cup down. "Tell your apprentice to not make her poison so potent that it overpowers what she's trying to hide it in." He whirled around to look at Snake-Eyes, barely having enough time to slip out of the chair and avoid her rushing at him.
Her blade slashed across the chair's back. It tore through the fabric, tangling it. As she started to pull it free, Luclos knocked her legs out from under her. She fell to the ground, the knife clattering on the ground.
They both went for it. Luclos swiped it, before feeling Snake-Eyes kick him in the stomach. Wind rushed out of him and he rammed his head against hers. She let out a raspy gasp and fell back as blood gushed from her nose.
Luclos put the blade to her throat and straddled her. Her eyes flicked around, and she slowly held up her hands. Rolling his eyes, Luclos stabbed the knife into the rug next to her ear, nicking the lobe. Wincing, she let out a hiss of pain, before spitting in his face.
Wiping it off, Luclos stood and kept his foot on her chest. Looking over at Sundown, he crossed his arms.
"What, you don't remember having to spill your first blood?" Sundown asked, the raspiness gone from his voice.
"I need to talk to you." He felt Snake-Eyes squirm. Teetering side to side, Luclos managed to keep his balance. He tried to resist the urge to put his weight on his foot. Crushing his junior's ribs was an expense both morally and financially he didn't want to incur.
"It can wait," Sundown said matter of factly, getting up from his chair and hobbling over to a box on the table next to the hearth. Reaching inside, he pulled out a pipe and began to smoke it. The scent it gave off wasn't tobacco.
Luclos repressed a gag and pulled Snake-Eyes to her feet. When she stood, he offered her a handkerchief from the pockets of the robe. Although it was meant to catch tears, not blood. She glowered at him. When she managed to wipe off the blood and staunch the bleeding, he saw the flash of the faded scar on her throat. It made him rub his own throat and clear it.
"Show her what awaits her if she doesn't spill the first blood," Sundown suggested. "My methods are clearly," He shot Luclos a look, "Out of date."
Luclos rolled his eyes and made a noise of disgust, before looking over at Snake-Eyes. She was standing at attention, ready to listen.
He went up the stairs, passing a sign noting that only the coroner and staff were allowed on the next floor. Slicking his hair back, he looked over and realized that he had a shadow. Snake-Eyes had blended into the dark parts of the walls.
"Alright. Come on. I'll see if Bramble and Dewdrop are about to have a session."
"Good. I'll look over the papers you got from the Augmen mansion." As Sundown hobbled away, Luclos realized he was carrying the burnt documents.
"Sly old fox," Luclos nearly chuckled, before patting Snake-Eyes on the shoulder. She stayed stiff, before following behind him. The two of them left the room. Snake-Eyes paused at the board, before moving one of the pieces. Luclos stared at it, before arching an eyebrow and shaking his head.
There was another door that led to the rafters. A small hole peered into the most private room in the church. Smoke from incense curled up to the ceiling. Even through the curtain of fog, candlelight lent more than enough light. A room that had been inscribed with runes so that the sounds of screaming would be muffled, as well as the voices within.
A woman was tied up to a post by her waist. Her wrists were tied to hooks on the wood above her head. She was naked, with her clothing pooled around her feet.
There was a stone hearth with a roaring fire. A set of rods were placed inside the flames, glowing with heat. Small runes had been chiseled on each brick, inscribing a word to a symbol.
Bramble, still in her full outfit, knelt next to the mouth of the hearth. Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks. But she didn't dare to wipe it.
Lady Augmen and her brother in law knelt in front of the girl on the post. Pillows had been laid out to make their positions more comfortable. They were brightly colored, probably softer than any bed Luclos ever laid on. He'd have to lay on them later.
"Have you written down everything you wish to be absolved from?" Bramble asked, her voice barely carrying to Luclos.
Snake-Eyes was staring intently at the scene unfolding below. Her whole body had gone taut.
"I only wish that we leave behind all our sins in the wake of his death," Lady Augmen said, her voice sounding weak. She passed the paper to Bramble. "Sister, are you sure that this will make him pass through to the afterlife safely?"
"Of course." Bramble assured her. As the Sister's eyes flicked over the paper, she gave a nod and stood up, taking one of the rods and pulling it out. It was too far away to see the end of it clearly.
Bramble's face was blank as she passed the brand to Lady Augmen. "You will pass your sins onto the Siblings. This sister will bear your sins on her body to cleanse your soul."
