• PM To Join • Bloodied

[Veyre]

Nellie? The owner of the brothel itself? Veyre supposed it wasn’t entire impossible, but perhaps not the smartest move in the long run. Most people would not be thrilled with the idea with a brothel filled with beaten up girls. Besides, it wasn’t like the establishment lack business. Nellie’s was the favorite brothel in town, courtesy to their affordable price. “But that makes no sense, doesn’t it? From what I’ve heard, Nellie is protective of her girls.” Though the courtesan couldn’t claim to be absolutely sure about this, Veyre still remembered the older woman’s fierceness while she was still asking around for a job – before she ended up at the Siren’s.

Sialla nodded beside her, looking convinced. “I’ve seen her mark troublemakers with X on their face. Doesn’t seem like the kind of woman to hurt her own people.”

Veyre slipped a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she scanned the room. The tension and fear were palpable in the room. The girls huddled close to one another, as if that could protect them if this mysterious criminal turned his attention to their brothel. Veyre couldn’t blame them. Their jobs do carry risks. Every once in a while some deluded customer barged into the building, rampaging when a courtesan rejected his or her declaration of love. They have had violent clients too, those who liked to leave bruises on their body. But this was different. This was an unknown terror with an unknown motive.

“It’s odd though, isn’t it?” the Syroa-marked mused. “That they only target Nellie’s? There must be a reason besides our security. I mean, Nellie has her bouncers too.”

[Ghoul]

“Unfortunately, yes,” a chipper voice answered Veyre.

Yuloen, from her perch by the entrance, gestured for the newly arrived pair to sit. The situation was beginning to grow dire, though The Siren remained untouched. Whoever was behind the attacks knew better than to target any of the girls here. Said workers of The Siren had all gathered to chatter about the attacks, as well as discuss action if the incidents did begin to stretch to other establishments.

“I heard Nellie might be behind it. Draw in sympathy and nel,” one girl insisted, “Next thing you know, she’ll be sayin’ it’s one of us.” Her words brought up a storm of chattering in the room, most of which was either in agreement or simply to stave off any concern that it would spread out to them.

If Veyre chose to, she could just as easily have joined in with this line of conversation. Or she could join the small number of girls that felt something else was at play.