He spoke of dreams. The stray fibers of life gathering together in the cesspool of the subconscious only to haunt those while they sleep.

Do you dream of me Nyx? Is that what troubles you so about your slumber?

She kept her thoughts to herself, however, and instead swept out of the little shop and out into the streets. Quickly they made their way through the deep maze of Drasnia. She took the lead, letting him trail behind the flutter of her skirts, but always aware of his presence just out of the corner of her vision. She struggled to keep her thoughts on what they would be doing, instead of what Nyx had spoken of earlier to her.

“I do not know what we are looking for exactly. He did not go into any further detail than wanting the manifests from Avenon…” she offered to him through her conflicted thoughts while they walked.

Not long after that the two of them stand at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the Trade Bureau. The elegant columns rising off the stairs up to the heavy dome that caps it off. For a moment she stands on the bottom step and looks up at it, her hair catching in a slight draft that sweeps along the stairs.

Such beautiful things they are capable of creating.

With a shake of her head her eyes flit toward him with almost a playful gleam to them.

“Let’s see how quick you are on your toes…” she whispers just under her breath so that only he can hear. The next moment she rises to her full height and smoothes out her skirts, letting herself take on the persona she must now be.

The person I was always meant to be.

Keep telling yourself this.

Inside light filters down through an oculus in the dome, shimmering on the highly polished floor. It echoes with the many voices of those inside. A large desk in the middle appears to be the central hub, around it doors exit off to many other halls and rooms. Benches fill the spaces between the doors where those awaiting service sit, most with impatience.

At first no one gives them much mind, a female human and her elven slave tagging along behind her. When she is certain that no one is questioning their act she takes a few steps into the main foyer. Without warning her hand snakes over to Nyx, she grabs the pillow from his grip with a quick wink and raises it above her head.

“Alright… I am sick and tired of being pushed around and swindled by these horrid elves, someone here has to be capable of assisting me. Someone in this city has to have the intelligence and the ability to actually help me with this or I swear to Naxir I will curse the blooming lot of you to poverty!” Her voice, high and haughty, rises over the murmurs of the crowd that seem to diminish as she finishes. Eyes immediately draw to her, and if he pays attention Nyx might notice a slight flicker in her amber fires but it quickly flares up to confidence.

Those standing in on the floor move aside to let her approach the desk in the middle of the room. The pillow is brought down onto the main desk and she stares at the young male clerk who is seated behind it. The skinny lad blinks his overly large eyes and pushes a ledger her direction along with a pen settled in a mottled bottle of ink.

“Who is she?”

“I have no idea… is that a Twilighter Slave?”

The voices go on around them, but she ignores them all.

“If you could just sign your name on the list… and note what department you need to speak to you’ll be seen shortly m’lady.” His voice was nasally. Fingers fidgeting along the edge of the ledger, curling back the corner of a page.

“Your lady!?” The clerk jumped at her sudden expletive, jostling the ink bottle. His fingers reached over and stilled it before it spilled more than a few drops on the ledger. Wide eyes staring up at her.

“How dare you think you can use such familiar terms with me!? And don’t you think that if I knew what department I wanted to speak to that I would be in that office now, instead of wasting my time with some fool such as yourself?” She turned and brought her eyes to Nyx, “You see Lathon? This is exactly what I was talking about, this city does not have a single competent citizen.”

Quickly she spun back to the clerk and leaned over the counter fixing her eyes on him. “Now… I am being swindled by a puddle of elven pond scum and I need someone here who would be in charge of recording transportation of goods to help me. Obviously that isn’t you, so if you would kindly point me in the direction of someone who has the capacity to think for themselves I would be very appreciative.”

“Ma’am you need to sign the book…” disappearing behind the desk as he sunk back into his chair.

The ledger slammed shut under her hand with a thud that bounced off the walls of the main hall. “This is NOT acceptable. I’ve already been to three other office’s this morning and no one can give me a straight answer!”

“Excuse me…” an authoritative voice said behind them. Cay spun on her heels and found herself staring at a middle aged man with a full head of dark hair and a fine jaw line. The man stood a few inches taller than her and wore a formal suit of dark green, the bright blue sash given to government officials crossing his chest. “Perhaps I could be of assistance, Lady…” he swept her a bow.

Like a butterfly taking flight a smile fluttered across Cay’s lips, and for a moment even touched her eyes as she dipped the man a small curtsy. “If you could I would be most grateful.” Her tone much softer than what had been thrown at the poor clerk.

“My office is just over there, let us go speak about your dilemma privately.” The man swept an arm toward a door to their left.

“Thank you.” The pillow is swept off the counter and she throws a pointed glare at the clerk before motioning to Nyx. For a moment her eyes met his and she takes a deep breath. “Come Lathon…”

Tearing her gaze from Nyx she wandered after the man in green. He opened the door he had motioned to and gestured inside. Offering a sweet smile and a gracious bob of her head she stepped inside. The government official waits until Nyx has entered before stepping in himself and closing the door. Cay wanders in and takes a seat without being asked. Her hand waves to her right side, indicating where Nyx should stand.

“Now then… what seems to be the problem Lady, I don’t think you were gracious enough to give me your name…” the official stayed standing and peered down at Cay with a smile.

She held out her hand to him, which he took and softly kissed the back of, letting his lips linger upon her skin a moment longer than needed. It took all her willpower to keep her eyes fixed on the man instead of flitting to her elven companion. “Lady Evanlyn Dionlyspe of Ropesk. My problem concerns these pillows.” Her hand pulls back to hold up the blue satin pillow between her and the government man.

“Pleasure Lady Dionlyspe, or may I call you Evanlyn?” Quiet and full of underlying passions he spoke to her, never even paying mind to the elf who stood behind her, although she certainly was paying mind to him.

“Eva is fine…” just as quietly she whispers back to him, allowing the velvet tones of seduction pour through her words.

“Eva then. I am Lord Reginald Lemoyne. Reg to those who carry such beauty as yourself.”

“Please…” a light laugh escapes her and she shakes her head, “at any rate… Reg… it is these pillows. I’ve ordered…” she pauses and snaps her fingers, keeping her eyes on Reg while she addresses Nyx, “Lathon how many of these did I order again?”

Only then does Reg allow himself to acknowledge Nyx’s presence in the room, but it is brief for soon his eyes are back on ‘Eva.’

“2000 Mistress.”

“Exactly, 2000 pillows. How many did I pay for, taxes included?”

“2000 Mistress.”

“And how many did I receive in the shipment this morning?”

“1784 Mistress.”

“See… do you see my problem? This is the third shipment where this has happened. I think they are falling off the back of the wagon… but I need proof. My slave here, Lathon, has been negotiating with those grass eaters out on the Avenon plain for me to get them. I know you keep very precise records of all shipments, I want to compare them. See how many pillows left Avenon, where they went and where the…” she snaps her fingers again.

“216 Mistress.”

“Yes the 216 missing pillows have gone to…”

Reg rubbed his fingers over the stubble speckling his chin. He takes in the story woven by the creature before him, and obviously finds no loose ends. “So you need to the see the manifests of shipments coming from Avenon?”

“Yes, and probably those going into it as well. I’d love to find out that they are sending them back to Avenon and reselling them to me.” She rolls her eyes.

“I would hope that they are not doing such a thing to you my dear. It would be a travesty, but if we can prove it I am sure that the situation can be resolved for you. Well… when did they ship?”

“You see that is another problem. I don’t know. This shipment was two days late as it is, I have no idea when they shipped it out.”

“Eva…” Reg offered a smile. “You know that this is a large endeavor. We’ll have to pull manifests for at least the past month and go through them by hand.”

She leaned over and smiled at him allowing that velvet caress to slip into her voice again. “You can borrow Lathon to assist, and… if it takes a while to finish I suppose that leaves me stranded here in this city for another night.”

He leaned into her, “Does it now?” A hand touched her cheek gently. A tension in her shoulders reveals how she nearly pulls away from that touch as her mind recalls how Nyx had let his own fingers grace upon her skin only hours before. Reg apparently does not notice this slight tug. “And I suppose you have no plans then for the evening?”

“None…” she shakes her head, and allows a smile to pull at her lips.

The hand drifted from her cheek and down her arm before he raised his eyes to Lathon. “Seems like you have your afternoon’s work cut out for you. Two doors down to the left is the record’s office. Leo Trogden works in there, ask for him and tell him I sent you, he will help you gather the documents and go through them.

I was about to head to lunch Eva, perhaps you would join me, we can return this afternoon and check on the progress…” Reg said as he brought his attentions back to ‘Eva.’

“Sounds like a perfect plan. You’ve been so very helpful Reginald. I shan’t forget it.” Her smile follows her fingers as they press against the top of his hand almost with a promise.

Slowly she brings her eyes off her fingers and up to the enraged moons above her. Her breath holds in her chest while she maintains the false smile on her lips. Even now she can read his thoughts without him saying a thing.

…what I did, I would never have done for any other but one… Nyx’s voice, again in her head, always in her thoughts it seemed.

Why are you doing this to him Cay?

Doing what?

You know…

It’s my job.

Liar…

“I expect something by the time I come back Lathon.” She ordered in a cool voice, but in her eyes, if he dared to try and read them right now, seemed to ask only for his mercy.

If he meant what he did not say he will overlook this.

Only if you mean what you have not said… and if he believes it…