Part 4
Chapter 3
Heavy rain spilled from the sky as a thunderstorm rolled in. The hustle and bustle of the night wasn't deterred by this at all as the Hymir district was still very much active. Women were displaying their assets, while men pretended they didn't notice only to be drawn in seconds later by carnal desire. But none of this could be perceived by the young child living above a pub in a dindgy room.
Barely one year old with wisps of dark red hair. The young girl played on the floor with an old blanket as the woman that could be considered her mother puttered around the small apartment they shared. The rowdy noise from the pub one level below could still be heard through the floorboards as the child put part of the blanket in her mouth.
There was a loud banging on the door followed by a shout of "Es, ya got a customer askin' for ya! Get tha brat out of sight."
Hurried footsteps sounded and then the child was lifted up and placed in a rickety wooden chest. "You be quiet now," The mother said as she placed the clueless child along with the old blanket inside. "Why must you be such a bother?" The woman murmured as she shut the lid and then strode to the door just as a knock came.
The child, barely one-year-old, looked out of the cracks of the box and gurgled softly. Mommy would hit her if she wasn't quiet, that she had learned. Why? The child didn't think of it, only that it had hurt the last time.
"Samuel," The woman greeted as the door opened to let in a well-dressed man.
"My dear Esmeralda," The man replied tenderly as he stroked the woman's cheek after shutting the door. "Oh how I have missed you."
"And I, you," Esmeralda said as she leaned into the embrace.
"You are like a beautiful rose, Esmeralda. I love you so much," The man proceeded to kiss her neck, eliciting a soft moan. But instead of reciprocating the woman pushed him away slightly.
"There is something I need to tell you," She suddenly said. "I..... I.. I'm with child."
The color seemed to drain from the man's face as he stared at Esmeralda in utter bafflement. "It's yours," The woman said. "I've been with no man but you!" Of course this was a lie as a one-year-old child was currently trying to amuse herself nearby. "Samuel please.... Please... This child, I beg for it to know its father. You've been so good to me, I couldn't just...."
"Couldn't what?" Samuel asked, confused.
"I can't terminate the child without letting you know!" Esmeralda declared. "There is a medical herb that terminates pregnancies. The other prostitutes told me to use it but you've been the only one I've slept with. You deserved to know!" Esmeralda sank to her knees and sobbed. "You were kind enough to save me from being auctioned off. I know this child might create problems for you.... But.... a child... I can't just....."
"Esmeralda.... Darling... please..." The man now carefully ushered her to stand and sit on the bed. He sank down next to her and hugged her as a sob tore through her throat. "Please, keep the baby."
"But you're married," The woman announced. "Even we get gossip here! You married Marchioness Hofferson right?! And she is already with child!"
"It doesn't matter!" Samuel exclaimed as he gripped Esmeralda's shoulders. "Darling, I will take care of it. I will take care of you. I love you. What the Marchioness and I have is a business arrangement. You are my love."
Esmeralda looked unsure but Samuel placed a finger under her chin and kissed her. "Please trust me. I will give you a better life. Not just you, our child too. It may take some time but you will want for nothing."
Esmeralda cried tears of joy as Samuel hugged her close. That night the pair did nothing but cuddle, imagining their future child. When Samuel finally left, Esmeralda got up and opened the rickety chest. Her one-year-old had fallen asleep on the blanket and stirred slightly when she picked her up. "You were such a good girl for mommy," She cooed before she stepped out of her room with the baby in her arms. Dawn was nearly breaking, the thunderstorm of the night had moved on. As Esmeralda walked through the narrow hallway on the upper floor of the pub, a hallway with similar rooms like hers, providing the same service. It was still early so no patrons would see her with the child. At the end of the hallway, on a wooden stool, sat a rough-looking man with a tanned complexion guarding the place. Brown eyes snapped open as she approached. She was still in her nightgown, almost see-through. The guard looked her up and down with a lascivious glint in his eyes before the child was thrust upon him. "Go feed her," Esmeralda ordered.
"Is that anyway to greet me, tha father of yer child," The man grumbled as he stood up and gripped her arm just as she was about to walk away. "You think ya can just ignore me now that ya got a big fish,"
"Yes, yes I can, Frank," Esmeralda tried to yank her arm out of his grip as she stared him down. "I'm going to move up in the world one way or another. No thanks to you,"
"Don't think ye can just abandon me after all we've been through," Frank said as he dragged Esmeralda closer. The baby in his arms was starting to stir as well but that didn't seem to matter to the pair as the woman jabbed her finger into his chest.
"What do I have to thank you for, Frank?!" Esmeralda grounded out. "I give you a bit of lovin' and you send the good clients my way. I'm still the one doing most of the work."
"Ya know I can crush yer little dream right here," Frank hissed at Esmeralda. "What if a little birdie were to spill tha truth? I'm not letting ya go Es. Not you or Rose,"
"Be careful who you point your sword at Frank. They just might have teeth," Esmeralda finally wrenched her arm free and stomped back to her room, biting her lip and leaving the baby with the man.
Months passed by but Samuel didn't visit again. Instead he sent her money for a doctor, it was more than she had ever made in a week and idly wondered just what type of doctor he wanted her to see. So she visited one of the slum doctors and pocketed the rest of the coins. Now that she was showing things got a bit more complicated. The pub owner who pimped out all the girls had hit her in the face repeatedly for costing him money. No one would sleep with her now that she was with child. With bruises on her face and a swollen eye she stayed inside her room. By now the little girl was getting on her nerves and she would have just left it with Frank if they weren't on outs lately. But she had a plan.
It was nearly a month later that she gave birth and a week after was when Samuel showed back up on her doorstep. This was where Esmeralda's plan kicked in.
"Samuel!" She exclaimed and hugged him eagerly. As the pub owner was still taking it out on her for costing him money she then proceeded to use the bruises to her advantage.
"Esmeralda what... What happened to you?! Where is the child?!" Samuel asked, clearly distressed at seeing her like this.
"Children..." Esmeralda declared. "I've had twins Samuel,"
"Where are they?!" the man asked with concern.
"One of the younger girls is looking after them..... I... I can't, please you have to help me, I'm scared." Esmeralda said desperately. "The owner says I have to make up for costing him money... Samuel, I'm... afraid."
"NO!" Samuel exclaimed. "I won't let you,"
"How can I trust you Samuel?! You left me alone for more than nine months! You abandoned me! You abandoned our children!" She screamed and then sank onto the bed.
"I didn't want to!" Samuel expressed as he took a seat by Esmeralda. "My wife... she was getting suspicious..... She gave birth to a daughter, if I were to just leave like I used to....." he paused here thinking of what else to say "If she found out about you......" he stopped then and hugged Esmeralda. "Listen darling. I've consolidated my power over these few months. Now no one will be suspicious if I gave you a better place to live in. No one will question when I buy properties."
"So we can move out of the district?" Esmeralda questioned hopefully. All she ever wanted in her life was to leave Hymir, the red light district of the kingdom's capital. But Samuel was quiet for a moment and that worried Esmeralda.
"I don't want you leaving the district just yet." He told her.
"What, why?!"
"No one asks questions in Hymir but servants talk in other parts. If I were to have you and two children just move into a house I bought while married to another woman, tongues will wag." Samuel explained. "Please, I need you to be patient. I will get you a better place and after a few years I can give you a life of luxury."
"A few years?" Esmeralda asked with a frown.
"What happens in a few years?" She then asked but her paramour was suspiciously quiet. "Samuel what happens in a few years?!"
"It's best you don't know," The man said while standing up and heading for the door.
"You're leaving already?!" Esmeralda questioned. "Don't you want to see the children?"
"Maybe next time darling," he said as he gave her a kiss on the lips. "I'll speak to the owner, meanwhile you pack up. I have a cottage on the south side of Hymir. It has a yard and plenty of space." Samuel assured her. "I just need you to be patient."
Esmeralda bit her nails again after Samuel left. This wasn't what she thought would happen. She had to wait YEARS for luxury. She wanted it now. After scheming for so long she was beginning to get impatient. Luckily the man hadn't wanted to meet the children yet and going by his demeanor he wouldn't be around much after she moved. Which gave her time. Frustrated, she threw a small brown vase against the wall. It shattered on impact. Thankfully the man was the sucker of the age. Now she only had one more problem to deal with; Frank.
AN:
Harry: "How the hell did this twist happen?"
Vala: "It wasn't planned! Nothing about this story is planned!"
Harry: "You've been in the wine again haven't you?"
Vala: "I mean...."
Harry: "OMG is this why my Porg is drunk off his rocker now?!"
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