Note: This chapter and the next one are written in a slightly different writing style than the previous chapters. I'm trying to test if this new style, which is close to my preferred style, is preferred by my readers or not(the difference is subtle, no major changes so no need to worry).
The first day of the 'Devil Away' eventually came to a close. Customers were rushed out of the front door by Okio while everyone else converged at the reception. Their eyes were set on the gold that had been fished from the register by Zephyr not a moment ago. A tall stack of coins weighed down the stash of paper listing customer requests.
Nearly a hundred pieces were stacked like a dragon's hoard. With a glint in her eyes, Freya breathed a sigh of relief. She was tired, more so than the rest.
"No wonder you can afford two slaves," pointing at the stack, she covered her mouth with the other hand and yawned. "Mhm…and here I thought–"
Interrupted by another yawn, Freya tried fighting her weariness with a few blinks of her eyes. Filling the silence in the meantime was the sound of Okio fumbling with the door. Closing it while the customers were still clustered outside, she wanted to emphasize that they were, in fact, closed.
"Haa~ I thought I could teach you something about conducting business, but–" shaking her head at the gold pile, Freya reached forward. "I suppose I've got more to learn from you guys, after all."
"I told you that the bunny outfit was a good idea," Aura cheerfully proclaimed.
Clicking her tongue, Freya held the reins of her patience.
"If there is a god, please just kill me the next time she speaks up." Shooting a quick glance at Zephyr, she loosened her shoulders. "What you did today when Rudy was here was so aggravating that I would be more than justified in shoving you off a cliff."
Playfully patting Freya's shoulder, Aura smiled a toothy smile.
"It was just some harmless fun! Not like any tongues were involved, just a quick peck and he was out of our hair." Her reasoning was far from the balm that Aura thought it was.
"Let's just not talk about this, alright?" Brushing her hand off her shoulder, Freya tried not to look at either of the devils. For while one made her mad, the other-ever since that kiss-made her heart flutter. "As promised, I will still help you guys for a while longer. But no more weird outfits, and let's be honest, the guys who came just to oggle my ass didn't actually buy anything."
"Can you not?" Walking toward the rest, Okio hung the keys on a nail. "You have the mouth of a drunk pirate. I didn't say anything when you were shouting at the locals, but at least mind your tongue around friends."
"Friends?" Freya's eyes furrowed at the assertion. "I just work here, sweetheart, okay?"
"Can we stop arguing for a second?" Butting in, Zephyr broke the argument before it could take root. Urging Okio to come closer and doing the same gesture to Freya to get her to pay attention as well, the fiend began stacking the gold in different piles, with the majority in the middle and two smaller piles on both sides. "There, the middle one's ours. Freya can take those twenty gold pieces, and twenty-five go to Okio since she did most of the work."
Like a pigeon, Freya looked around with a deeply wrinkled forehead. But as her gaze returned to the reward on the desk, she found herself reaching to take the gold pieces.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked, her hand hovering above her pile.
"Okio can have it if you don't want it," Zephyr replied.
"Never mind, I'll take it!" Snatching her share, she felt a sense of ease. The day hadn't been a waste, she'd made some money–more than she would've after sharing with her company at the inn.
Okio, on the other hand, kept away from the gold. At least she tried to until Zephyr grabbed her hand and placed the gold pieces on top.
"But master–"
"You're free, Okio. I think I've made that clear already, and this is your wage." Closing her fingers, he squeezed her balled fist. "Spend it on something that you like, gold's worth less than your joy."
Lips pursed, the slave woman dreamily gazed at her master. Again, he'd given her a reason to love him, and the cost wasn't in gold but a slice of his nurturing heart.
"If you say so, master," nodding her head, she closed her eyes. "I'll go prepare a bath for you and the mistress."
Bowing her head, she took her leave and disappeared into the interior of the shop. Left with Freya, Zephyr matched her gaze with a brief smile.
"About your son, we've made a deal to help each other, so there's no need for you to feel pressured to work for us." Her eyes narrowed to the news, but that didn't stop Zephyr just yet. "He's going to compensate us for our service, so you don't really have to keep working with us, but of course, we wouldn't mind the helping hand for a week or so more."
Unsure about the news, Freya's eyes wandered. She was looking at Zephyr and, at times, at Aura, yet nothing registered in her mind, for she was confused about her own perception of right or wrong. At a glance, she should've left the shop and never returned, but after everything that had happened, the rescue, the kind one, and more of a dynamic company than at her own work, she felt tired yet somehow more relaxed.
"I… I'll see you guys tomorrow. Same time in the morning," waving her hand, she made her way to the changing room.
Watching her disappear, Aura had a wide grin on her face. Zephyr was, as always, more subtle with his emotions, as even now, his manipulation was working just as intended. While one provokes the other lets it set, eventually adding more fuel in a subtle, unsuspecting way.
"She's a mouthy one that's for sure," Aura muttered.
"Opinionated suits her better," Zephyr corrected.
A woman with a strong opinion who wasn't afraid to offend others, even spew poison when needed–to tempt her with his allure, it wasn't force that was needed but time and a sense of comfort. Like luring a prey until it rests right underneath the trap, she had to be led down the path herself, and then and only then could a move be made.
"What about our share, by the way?" Hanging her head on the side like a zombie, Aura smiled at Zephyr again. "I heard that the market has some tasty treats."
"After I'm done looking through the requests, sure." Thus, it was time to find out what was wrong with the people of this town.