The evening was quiet, the chirp of crickets filled the air and soft breezes blew from time to time.
Zarah, Iris and Ava were practicing sewing, as they designed delicate flowers on handkerchiefs.
Olivia and Lila were watching them as they talked about their days, about how exhausted and sore Lila was due to the roughness of a client.
Clara was doing Celine's hair as Celine read a book on medicinal herbs.
Lyra brought in a plate of cookies followed by Yena who brought cups of tea for everyone.
"Where are the others? Do they have duty? Didn't the Madam give the rest of the day off?" Iris asked curious as to where the other older brothel girls were.
Olivia let out an amused laugh, "I still can't believe the Madam gave us the rest of the day off! In my 28 years of living she has never done that!" She exclaimed.
"They are with the younger ones and some with the older girls and some with the current batch of flower maidens, after all those girls are to leave soon Mira's birthday is in 2 weeks" Yena said setting the tray down and handing tea cups to everyone.
"Why are you always so curious about everything Iris? Just mind your own business" Celine said irritatedly.
"Yeah Iris, mind your business" Clara repeated Celine's words like a parrot.
"If you don't want to hear her words maybe close your ears" Zarah said, her eyes narrowed.
Before Celine could reply Lyra put a cookie in her mouth.
"Girls that's that!" Lyra clapped her hands to quiet the younger girls.
"No fighting, you girls are 12 now the flower maiden candidate selections are soon if you keep fighting like this among your selves will you tear each other's hair in the competition?" Lila said raising a brow.
"But Iris asked-" Celine started.
"Being curious about the people you live under the same roof with is not unusual Celine" Oliva shut Celine up with one sharp look.
Iris shook her head sighing and Zarah gave a small smile.
Ava whispered quietly to herself, something about Clara being a lackey of Celine.
Just as the quiet began to settle over again a sharp scream pierced through the air.
Everyone felt shivers down their spine, goosebumps standing at the sound as it came again laced with pain and suffering.
"The punishment room?...." Zarah said her eyes focusing and unfocusing as the painful screams filled the air.
Olivia put her teacup down, "Who's getting punished?" Her tone was scared.
Celine and Clara had went inside the dorm bedroom to stop the noise from coming to their ears.
Ava put cotton in her ears to ignore the noise.
Yena and Lila went towards the garden to escape the noise.
Iris and Zarah exchanged glances before looking at the older ladies who hadn't left.
Lyra caught their gaze and nodded.
"Wait I will see if anyone knows what happened" Lyra said putting a cookie in her mouth before going out of the sitting area to ask the other ladies.
Everyone sat in quietness, their minds racing worried about the unknown owner of the screams.
After about ten minutes Lyra returned, her expression glum.
"It's the girl the Madam bought" Lyra said her tone laced with pity.
"Goodness! The Madam bought her and the very day she arrives the Madam punishes her!" Oliva said covering her mouth in worry.
"Olivia not so loudly" Zarah said holding onto Olivia's sleeve "The walls have ears don't forget, it could be us next for talking about it" Zarah warned.
Olivia smiled, "Ah yes, Thank you Zar darling" Olivia patted the younger girl's head.
"Always so mature and beyond your years" Lyra said sitting beside and pulling Iris's cheek.
"You too Iris before you whine about being older" Lyra added with a smirk.
"Did you get the new girl's name" Iris asked swatting Lyra's hand away playfully.
"Her name's Jia" Lyra said thoughtfully.
Zarah's ears perked up at that, the chatter fading into the background.
Her hands had started shaking and she had to take a deep breathe to stop the trembles from coming.
Her chest tightened as she felt the plot unraveling.
Because it was just as she had thought.
Jia Sterling.
Daughter of Duke Jacob Sterling of the Northern borders.
In the webcomic Jia was kidnapped at age 13 and sold to the Cerulean brothel by her captors.
The Madam was aware she was buying a noble's child.
The Madam had planned to take that child under her control and use Jia to gain more wealth.
Jia had refused to obey, and the Madam being the Madam beat her till she couldn't say no anymore.
The Madam had planned to train Jia into a formidable flower maiden and sell her for a high price, a flower maiden with noble blood was something that was hardly something to come by.
Then a few years after she bought Jia, Alexander had his men send Melody, who was 15 at the time, to the brothel and told the Madam that Melody too had noble blood.
The Madam thinking two flower maidens of noble blood meant more money when she sent them to the palace.
Jia was lifeless by then, like a corpse with no soul.
Melody who had heard Jia was the child of a noble, acted kind to her with the intention of using her.
When she got to Jia was the lost daughter of Duke Sterling, she made it her aim to use her.
Melody was kind, nice and affectionate to Jia and slowly Jia opened up to her.
Melody had convinced Alexander to pay the Madam of the brothel to let Jia go.
When the Madam let Jia out, Melody asked Alexander to send Jia back to the Sterling estate in the Northern borders.
Before leaving Jia had held Melody's hand and said that she would never forget this and pays back the favor with whatever Melody asked
Duke Sterling having his daughter back sided with Alexander and joined the rebellion.
Melody used Jia's favor years later when she killed Empress Ines.
The archers that shot Ines dead were the archers of the Sterling Duchy.
Zarah had been anticipating Jia's arrival.
To stop Ines from dying she had to make sure Melody and Jia never met.
It was 3 years till Melody would come to the brothel and Jia was here now.
Zarah had to get Jia out.
Zarah had to make sure Jia escaped and reached her home safe.
That Duke Sterling stayed loyal to the throne of Caelthra.
Loyal to Empress Ines.
To stop Ines's death, the first step was to stop Melody from meeting Jia.
And to do that?
Zarah had to make sure Jia, the one whose army Melody would use to kill Ines, escaped this hell hole of a brothel.
Time was running out and she felt it as her heart raced with her thoughts.
Zarah knew if she didn't act fast or if she failed....what awaited was far worse than the Madam's whip....