Mhairi dragged me into my room and, with shaking hands, helped me put the chair back under the handle. It had only been under there a few seconds when there were squeals from the women.
A man laughed, coming closer. I looked to Mhairi, seeing the fear in her eyes radiated back at me. Neither of us could move, only listen.
“Don't worry, Belle, we've decided we want something a bit more fresh. Where's the new one. Painted like an art scene?”
There was silence for a moment, the sound of my pulse racing past my ears all I could hear. My mouth went dry. They were looking for me.
“If they get in, would you run for Daniel for me?” I whispered.
Instantly her eyes filled with sadness.
“I'll try, but he won't stop them. He never stops them.”
A scream brought our attention back to outside.
“I asked where the new one went. I won't ask again.”
I held my breath, waiting.
How could this be happening? What kind of world had I woken into?
“Her room,” someone said, practically sobbing the words.
Mhairi responded by leaning into the chair.
“We have to keep them out,” she said.
I nodded, glad I wasn't alone. Glad I had someone who could think straight with me. As the handle rattled against the chair I leant into it too, keeping it where it needed to be.
“She's locked it or barred it somehow,” Rich said.
“None of the doors have locks,” Jeremy replied. We heard scuffling of feet on carpet before the handle jerked and slammed into the top of the chair again.
“Barred somehow. Stupid cunt.”
The door was shoved and wiggled, pushing the chair against us, but we had the advantage and for now it didn't go anywhere.
“Open up! Daniel doesn't allow his courtesans to lock themselves away. It's not safe.”
“Then feel free to go get him and he can tell me that himself!” I yelled back, sounding far braver than I felt. My hands shook as I gripped the base of the chair. Mhairi broke into a broad grin as the door shook, a loud thump making it clear someone had hit it.
Seems they won't get Daniel after all, I thought. My gloating was short-lived, however. Over the next five minutes the door repeatedly shook and rattled on its hinges as the two men assaulted it, trying to get it open. For now it held, the wood and hinges far more solid than I'd have given them credit for, but I couldn't relax, and neither could Mhairi.
And each attack shook through to us until my legs and arms ached and the adrenaline began wearing off, leaving only fear and an anxious, overactive imagination behind.
“What the hell is all this racket?” the voice of the same guard as earlier came again. “You two still pushing your luck with the new courtesan? I thought you were going to leave her alone.”
“That was your idea, Kevin. You always were too soft on them. Unless you're going to help us get into her room, sod off.”
“Come on, guys. Is one ass worth all this trouble? And what would Daniel say if he knew you were breaking a door? He lets us enjoy his resurrecteds, but he's made it clear, we're not meant to stop them earning him money, or cost him more.”
“Damn it, Kevin. You're such a spoilsport. Anyone would think you didn't like to fuck or something if you hadn't claimed Sarah as your toy.”
“I like to have my fun. I just don't plan on expending loads of effort when I can screw another woman easily. Let’s face it, there's no shortage of easy pussy in this room. Besides, give it time and the new ones get as loose as the old. After her unveiling and a few weeks earning Daniel money, she'll be more cooperative.”
“He's got a point, Jeremy,” Rich said. I felt myself begin to relax, my fingers stiff around the chair seat, letting go far slower than my mind intended.
“We'll be all right now,” Mhairi whispered. “You should stay in here tonight though. And put the chair back when I go.”
I nodded, still shaking as I stood up.
“Come on, let's get that paint off you and transferred to this preservative plastic stuff. It shouldn't take long. I've been practicing how to do it.”
It was just what I needed. Something simple to do while I recovered. If I ever fully did.
***
It turned out that the ‘not long’ Mhairi had told me about was still over two hours, a lotion needed to soak through the body paint and stop it adhering to the skin. It then had to be carefully covered in a sort of plastic substance and the whole lot peeled slowly off. When Mhairi was done there were over ten pieces of plastic, each labelled for the body part they related to, and I stood as naked and vulnerable as I'd begun the day.
I let out yet another big yawn, more than ready to sleep, the day's ups and downs almost a hazy memory.
“Remember to put the chair back once I'm gone,” Mhairi said, going to the door.
“Do you really think they'll try again tonight?”
“Oh, no, they'll have gone back to Belle. The other courtesans won't be happy, though.”
“Right,” I said, wondering just how many threats a person could keep safe against.
“They don't like the special treatment you're getting. Or that I'm the one Daniel asked to help you.”
“Jealousy and insecurity. An ugly combination,” I replied, wondering if it would change after my unveiling. Only then did her last few words hit me. “What about you? Will they do anything to you?”
Mhairi opened her mouth, but no words came out, her head nodding a moment later instead. I'd been so tired and unfocused I hadn't noticed she was still shivering. Fear still gripped her.
“Stay,” I said. “If I'm safe in here, then you can be safe, too. The bed's more than big enough for two.”
Instantly her eyes lit up, hope brightening her features in a way I'd not expected. I'd evidently read her correctly.
“You really don't mind?”
I shook my head. After everything she'd done to help me, it was the least I could do. The benefit of having at least one ally in the building was also something I knew I'd appreciate.
“It seems like you and me are in this together. And I want as little trouble as possible. I just want to get my debt paid back and go back to being a normal person.”
“That's all anyone wants to begin with,” Mhairi said, heading over to the bed. She hesitated by the edge, glancing my way for a second. As I clambered onto the bed, making it clear which side I was going to sleep on, she joined me.
“It changes?” I asked, more to make conversation as we settled in for the night.
“Yeah. Mostly when people realise it's going to take decades to pay back their debt, or even centuries. Or if they fall in love. Some get too attached to their clients.”
“And let me guess, Daniel and the guards screwing the courtesans left, right and centre doesn't help.”
“No. The guards are worse than Daniel, though.”
I nodded. She didn't need to tell me. I'd witnessed it. Thinking about it again made me shiver. As I burrowed down under the covers my mind replayed the last encounter. It was already a bit of a blur, fear dulling the memory and exhaustion making it hard to concentrate, but one part stuck out. I'd been rescued twice by the same guard.
“The guard who turned up to stop Rich and Jeremy,” I said.
“Kevin.”
“Yeah. He talked about having a toy. What did he mean?”
“The guards have a sort of honour system. If a courtesan and guard hit it off, the other guards won't touch her. Closest thing any of us get to a relationship with anyone.”
“But they call it having a toy?”
“Yeah. Sucks, doesn't it?”
“More than a little. But it sounds like it's a good way to stay safe,” I said before I could truly think about what I was suggesting.
“It is, if you can persuade a guard to make a claim on you.” Mhairi's reply was quiet, a sigh quick to follow it. She didn't need to explain why. Several things Yaru had said and now she did made it clear. She had been rejected by a lot of men. My life had been turned upside down once, but it sounded like hers had been at least twice.
As we both snuggled down under the covers and I turned the light out I found myself being grateful for a few things for the first time since arriving at the court. I had someone I could possibly be friends with. Someone who wasn't likely to stab me in the back, but work with me. On top of that I had a good mentor, and so far a sponsor who appeared to be better than most. My life could have been worse.
Just get a guard to take a shine to you and you'll only have Bernice to worry about, I thought.
I froze in shock at my own response to the day's events. Was I really willing to sleep with someone to get them to protect me from other men? Wasn't this exactly the kind of behaviour I had abhorred in women before I was frozen?
Needs must. I stifled a sigh. The sensible part of my brain was right. What choice did I really have? I wouldn't be able to watch my back every moment of every day. I needed to be safe some of the time.
There was one way I refused to change, however. I was never going to become petty or spiteful out of jealousy or a broken heart. I'd never turn on another courtesan trapped in this same system of debt and sponsors. No matter what happened, I was going to keep my integrity.
***
A rattle disturbed my dreams some time later, dragging me out of a peaceful dream. Barely a few seconds later I heard the noise again. And then again.
On the third occasion I realised what it was. The door handle.
Someone was trying to get into the room.
Before it could rattle again I noticed Mhairi was sat up, listening herself. As I also moved, she looked my way and our eyes met. Neither of us needed to say anything. Together we got up and padded over to the door. Together, we braced the chair. And together we listened.
As we stood in silence, I could just make out that whoever was on the other side was whispering, so there must have been at least one other person.
The cold night air made me shiver, but as the door was given a more forceful push, neither I nor Mhairi dared to step away and look for warmer clothes. Neither of us were going to sit by and let someone come in. We would protect ourselves as best we could.
The minutes seemed to drag by, until a woman let out a frustrated shout and slammed her fists into the door. It rattled in its hinges but stayed sturdy and shut.
Mhairi and I stuck to our posts until we were sure the danger had passed again.
This happened two more times during the night. There was no way to tell if it was the same person or not, but someone wanted to get in to me and Mhairi.
Each time it went quiet, we opted to return to bed. Mhairi coped far better, falling asleep again almost immediately. But I found I couldn't, my thoughts a tangled jumble inside my head. Someone was really determined to try and get in. Did they really think it possible? And what had I done to upset them in the first place?
There was no way to know the answer to any of my questions, but it didn't stop me worrying. One thing was for sure. I needed to reduce the number of possible threats, and I needed to do so quickly.
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