Strawberries, Cherries, and an Angel's Kiss in Spring

Posted on Sun Jun 19th, 2022 @ 6:46pm by Kindra Graham

Mission: Home Sweet Wonderful Home
Location: Three Hills
Timeline: November 15, after post 'Closer to the Heart'

The lobby of the Sublime Nimbus Hotel was surprisingly busy for midday, and yet the cacophony of voices went silent and the man behind the hotel's reception desk was not the only one staring at Kindra as she sauntered up to the counter. He did not, as she'd expected, whisk her to the prepared suite immediately, but kept her waiting, murmuring apologies. She maintained a dignified and aloof presence, as more onlookers arrived as though called there. This behavior of the locals could be why her client had insisted Kindra wear a veil, to protect the client's privacy whilst anticipating how the hotel would show off the presence of a mysterious veiled companion.

Finally, the hotel's manager himself escorted Kindra to the suite on the third, and highest, level. He offered to carry her harp, but of course she refused, handing him her suitcase instead. She nodded graciously as he babbled about it being the best suite in the best hotel in Three Hills, but ignored his unsubtle attempts to ask after her client's identity, then deftly deflected the man's prying curiosity about Kindra herself. Patience exhausted, once he opened the suite's door she took her suitcase from his hands and firmly pushed him out, shutting the door between them with more force than necessary.

She removed her veil and took stock of the suite, which was indeed sumptuous and well-appointed. The formal sitting room was equipped with a sofa, two chairs, and a wet bar. A separate bedroom featured an enormous bed and a bathroom with a tub large enough for two or three. As she explored the suite, she considered how best to make it a space that was hers to orchestrate high-quality service to her client.

Kindra had just taken the box containing her tea set from her suitcase, when there was a knock at the door. Her client was not due to arrive for another hour, so it must be the hotel manager again, or some other obnoxiously curious soul Kindra would have to send brusquely away. Her harp was not yet unpacked and tuned, and she hadn't made tea or even rearranged the cushions on the settee or turned down the bed.

Hastily putting the veil back on, Kindra opened the door. A middle-aged woman stood there, graceful and charismatic in the way a strong woman accustomed to power often is. Kindra bowed her head to her client, flustered. "I welcome you, Angelica Revanche. I, uh, must apologize, I thought our meeting time was an hour from now."

"It was. I'm early." Angelica smiled in a practiced way, and gestured for Kindra to proceed her to the sofa. "Remove your veil and have a seat, I want a good look at you."

Despite the way her client disregarded the usual pleasantries and expected protocol, Kindra complied, taking a seat on the settee. There was something... off about this woman, and not just the client's unexpected early arrival. This was the woman she'd contracted with via the cortex, the voice and mannerisms were the same. But there were differences in her appearance. Her nose had been broken, her red hair originated from a bottle as evidenced by her dark roots, she was thinner, and her dress and jewelry were not of a quality Kindra would expect for a woman of Angelica's resources considering her large up-front payment.

And looking past her client, Kindra saw that she'd left the door ajar.

"My dear Kindra. I can see why Jim has gone to such trouble on your behalf," said Angelica. "But you know him, he never wastes an asset." Though Angelica's face was smooth, her voice betrayed bitterness.

"Jim?" Cold dread ran down Kindra's spine. Jim was a common name, not necessarily her stepbrother. She got to her feet, thinking of the firearm in her suitcase, but the door opened, and two women swaggered in, both bulky and muscular, and stood to either side of the exit, arms folded.

A slim youth of about Kindra's height wearing a wide-brimmed hat followed the two women, closing the door behind him. The young man walked toward the sofa, an eager grin on his smooth face, and began taking off his clothes. His skin was brown like hers, his features fine and somehow both handsome and beautiful. He could not be older than sixteen. Whatever they had in mind, Kindra wanted nothing to do with it.

"What is this? What do you want?" demanded Kindra, backing away. As usual, she was prepared with a dose of sedative hidden under a membrane on her left pinky finger, but there was only enough to handle one difficult client. Not... whatever this was.

"Take off that dress and put on his clothes," said Angelica. "This will go easier for you if you cooperate. Buccleuch has given strict instructions that you are not to be permanently harmed or... molested. But my bodyguards are, shall we say, rather creative in their methods."

Kindra took another step back, her stepbrother was involved. The guards smiled wolfishly, their anticipation of forcefully 'helping' clear on their faces. The young man had laid his simple black trousers and white button-down shirt neatly on a chair, and stood there, waiting. He had the slim, gaunt build of a teen yet to fill out, dressed only in a tight undergarment that barely covered his... complete lack of arousal. "I don't understand what this is about. You're working for Jim Buccleuch?"

Angelica scowled. "I'm running out of patience, girl. Scream all you want, my bodyguards will like it, and no one else will hear you." She nodded to the two women, who started toward Kindra. The young man winced and looked Kindra in the eye for the first time, with a pleading expression.

"All right, all right!" Kindra reached behind her for the zipper and in one smooth motion, the dress opened down the length of her back and slid off into a puddle at her feet – as it was designed to do. She stepped out of it, barely covered by a lacy red bra and panties, and still wearing her red heels, but before she could bend down to pick up the dress, the young man had scooped it up, and was cuddling the expensive fabric against his cheek, delight illuminating his sweet, young features.

The three women stared at Kindra. Hastily, she took off her red shoes and pulled on the trousers and button-down shirt. The trousers were tight at her hips and loose at her waist, but wearable. As soon as Kindra had the shirt buttoned, Angelica signaled to her guards. Each took hold of one of Kindra's wrists like they were holding two snake's heads. Angelica put on a pair of latex gloves and examined Kindra's fingers, removing the false membrane and Kindra's only weapon. How did Angelica know about the last-resort sedative used by companions?

Kindra said, "I've cooperated. Now tell me. Who are you? What is this about?"

By then the youth was wearing Kindra' dress and veil. He was barefoot, holding her too-small red shoes and suitcase handle in one hand, harp case in the other. And walking toward the door.

"Remember, dear boy, I want everyone in the lobby to notice you, but don't let anyone stop you long enough for a close look. The limo that brought her is parked out front. Get in, and when the driver asks where you want to go, say the train station. Don't say anything else, but make sure the driver sees you go into the station. Our regular driver will be there, waiting for you."

Finally, as the young man exited the suite, Kindra's mind connected the dots. "He's some kind of decoy, to make witnesses think I left the hotel and left town of my own accord on the train." Her first thought was of Alden. What if he thought she'd left him without saying goodbye - again? "And then what? You're kidnaping me?"

"Jim did say you were smart." Angelica smirked and took something from her bag that looked suspiciously like a hypodermic needle. Kindra struggled, but the two guards were ready and held her tight as Angelica administered the drug. "As we leave the hotel, to the casual observer you'll appear to be our young friend, drunk." She settled the boy's hat on Kindra's head.

Fog was swiftly taking over her mind, and Kindra's could hardly manage to mumble, "Who... who are you?"

"To folks around these parts I'm known as Ginny Angel, Madame of Sunny Delights, the best brothel on Three Hills. But you might know me as..."

Kindra lost consciousness.
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