He sees me. He actually sees me!
Of course Lana knows she’s not invisible. As she sat sipping the tea Rin had made her, the emotions that had washed over her, raw and real, ebbed away. A calm replaced the worry, the sorrow, and the anger. She looked into the muddy eyes of the unlikely friend and for once felt different. Rin sat across from her, his fingers laced about his own cup, arms resting on the table, and looking Lana in the eyes with utmost concern. It was his eyes that seemed to pierce through her as they remained unwavering.
Lana wasn’t use to that; anyone showing genuine concern for her. Maybe her parents once looked upon her with similar care, but it must have been a time before she could remember. And Doctor Tomlund only looked upon her as a puzzle he couldn’t figure out. But Rin... he saw her. At first she hated that he made her feel, but whatever he used to make the tea kept her calm.
Of all places, why did I run here?
Lana prided herself in suppressing her emotions. It was one of her hooks for control. But today she had felt real sorrow and cried blindly to Rin. Now he was watching her, waiting patiently, relaxed as though she hadn’t stood him up the day before.
She had found herself in a rather bad situation yesterday morning. Barut Mirehook, a local sleaze, had raped one of the tavern maids that worked at the Magic Flute. Lana had been staying there and the way he had persisted after the girl, grabbing her in spite of her polite refusals, was enough to connect him to the tears and bruises that covered the maid. Lana helped clean the girl up, suggesting she report Barut. A vile taste came to Lana’s mouth as the girl refused. She was being stupid, but then again, if she did speak up, would the authorities treat Barut in a similar manner that the judge treated her father?
Lana’s father, Kraig, had abused her for as long as she could remember. And when she was eight, her father deluded what she thought was love. It only lasted a few years, but the damage was done. She thought Kraig loved her, even after he sent her to Dr. Tomlund's Asylum for Young Girls. Lana was sent there for killing her mother, but was returned to her father when she was sixteen, having been deemed suitable for society. By then Kraig had found another victim and Lana realized she meant nothing to him and that she was only desired for one thing. She took the matter to the judge, but because there was no proof of the incest and the town knowing her history, her father was left alone without consequence. For Lana, that was unacceptable.
She murdered Kraig in their barn. His new pet was there for their rendezvous, Lana loathing her for taking her father’s affections. After stabbing him repeatedly, Lana carefully stabbed herself; once on her right arm and once in her stomach. She still remembers the fire that filled the wounds. She threw the dagger at the feet of the sobbing girl before running to tell a guard what had happened, how she and her father were attacked.
Barut was going to have a similar justice paid to him.
Lana had attributed her talents to being something rather great. She had killed her father and conned her way all the way to the big city of Sharn without trouble. No kinks had come of the quick thought plans. But Barut was stronger and not one to let his guard down in the midst of his lust. Lana had just reached behind her back to pull out the hidden dagger that was to bury itself into the man’s neck, when Barut grabbed her hand and felt the knife. Lucky for Lana that she was quick. She maneuvered off of her target and jumped out the window.
The cold stone ground met her feet a second later and quickly she sprinted. She could hear Barut shouting in pursuit. Lana could only hope that she would out pace him. She then noticed a Halfling running down the alley next to her. “Why girl running?” he had asked in a brisk whisper. “There’s a bad man after me,” Lana began letting the water works start. Tears always made men cleave to her cause. Soon she was directed into a side alley and through a plank of wood that hid a small room. As she stood, trying to catch her breath silently, she learned the young man’s name was Rin.
He was handsome enough. Short, somewhat untidy black hair, brown eyes that matched his earthy outfit, and dirt under his nails as though he’d been working a field or petting a horse.
Of course today Rin looked cleaner. His skin was pink and his hair brushed. His clothes were the same browns and greens.
Of course today Rin looked cleaner. His skin was pink and his hair brushed. His clothes were the same browns and greens.
As they waited around, listening to Barut come and go, Lana knew she would need to return to the Inn eventually to retrieve her things. So she asked Rin if he’d watch her back. The man thought over the proposal longer than she had expected before giving a slow nod and raspy response of, “Rin wash Lana's back... Lana wash Rin's. Yes yes! Rin wash Lana's back!” And he had meant it. Lana slipped out of the home, lying about meeting up with him later and figured she'd get her gear on her own. When she finally returned to the Magic Flute to retrieve her items, she heard, “Rin washes back! Rin washes Lana’s back! Tub and bubbles!” over and over from the washroom. He made so much noise he never noticed her entering and exiting the room.
But here she was, staring back into the murky brown eyes that seemed clearer. Who she took for a creep seemed anything but. He was kind. Other men were kind. But something seemed so different about Rin. Perhaps it was the tea.
“What has made Lana upset?” Rin asked finally.
Yes Lana. What has made you upset?
For the first time, Lana didn’t feel like lying.
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