Erhos's Mistake

When I was just a little kid, about 10 or 12, my mom and I made a promise, a promise that will prevail as long as the red collar with a golden red pendant she gave me on that day stays intact. 

But mommy, why? I-I don’t understand, you told me before that lying is bad, so lying is only bad about certain things? - I mumbled confusedly.

The taller woman wearing a maid-like uniform, with long light pink hair and red eyes, just like mine, sighs while looking at me with a concerned expression.

If that helps you keep the promise, then yes Rhos, lying can be right sometimes, if you’re doing it to keep yourself safe and sound. - she affirms, with a slight doubt on her words as she speaks.

Ok mommy, I will keep the promise, no matter what, I will not tell anyone about my third eye, as long as this collar is intact! - I smile while clenching the heart pendant on my chest.

It’s been four years since the last time I saw my mom, it was a rainy day and I was singing to her by the fireplace while she was sewing a piece of her work dress, that had gotten damaged on her way back home.

She loved to hear me sing, and always told me I have the voice of an angel. I agree, my singing is very good, I’ve been practicing since a very very young age and, to be honest, is the thing I’m most confident about myself and something I know I can rely on whenever I need it, but that's besides the point. 

On that rainy day, I was interrupted by someone knocking on the door aggressively, my mom and I looked at each other with a confused look on our faces, as she got up to open the door.

Reina! My dear is it true? Is it true that you are one of those people with three eyes? - the woman claimed

My heart sank when hearing those words, and I think my moms also did, her face went instantly pale and she started shaking while holding the door, she looked like she was gonna pass out.

No! - I stepped in front of my pale mother. - Where did you hear that from? Don’t come here telling those lies! You know how dangerous it is to accuse someone of that! You could be putting my mom in danger! - I blasted firmly, looking her serious in the eyes.

O-oh… I-I’m sorry dear… I- Uhm… the person who told me that must be mistaken… I-I’ll go clean it up with the others, I’m so so sorry Reina. - she apologizes, while quickly going back to the village.

The moment she left my mom closed the door and grabbed my shoulders, still shaking, her expression… it's hard to define but she was definitely terrified.

Rhos it's too late, you have to hide, grab all your stuff and go to the basement and stay very very still, and no matter what happens you cannot, you hear me? You CANNOT leave until the sun goes up, promise me that. - she exclaims, shaking me slightly.

O-ok mum, I-I won't, but wha- 

No time to talk, now go! Hurry! - she interrupts, while pushing me in the direction of the stairs.

I sprint through the stairs, grab my backpack, and put everything that I cared for and could fit in it as quickly as I could and then even faster go down, to the basement trapdoor, my mom had to hold the rug that always covered it and I quickly open it and start descending.

Mum, I love you. - I exclaim, before starting to close the trapdoor.

I love you too Erhos, and I always will, no matter what. - she replies, her voice getting more and more muffled the more the trapdoor closed.

After I descend completely into the small basement I hear my mom covering up the trapdoor with our rug once again. And after what seemed like seconds someone knocked on the door, this time way more aggressively than before.

I hug my teddy bear up close and shut my eyes, trying my best to not make any sound like my mom had told me to.

I hear a muffled voice from above, I cover my ears while repeating to myself that everything was going to be ok. Until the screams started, even muffled I could clearly hear my mom screaming.

NO!!! NO YOU’RE MISTAKEN PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T TAKE ME, I DON’T WANNA GO BACK I CAN’T GO BACK THERE, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME PLEASE!!

My eyes started watering and I hugged my plushie tighter and tried my best to stay very very still and don't make a sound. After what seemed like an hour to me, the screams stopped, but I promised I would stay until sunrise, so I did.

I wasn’t able to sleep for even a second that night, but as soon as the sun rose I quietly went up and opened the trapdoor and I couldn't believe what I saw.

Our house, the one I always lived in was completely turned upside down, furniture broken and knocked over, my mom's book collection, clothes, and the rest of our belonging scattered everywhere, my breathing started getting more and more out of control the more I looked at everything and I knew I couldn't stay there so I ran, ran, and ran until my legs couldn't take me any further.

After that day I walked aimlessly until I got to another small village, a bit further from ours. I started as a street performer to gain some money so I could survive. I would go by a fountain in the village's center and sing my heart out, the people really liked my voice, so much that the owner of the cities tavern asked me if I wanted to work as a performer in his establishment, which I of course accepted and I kept going from there.

Since the day when I saw in firsthand what my secret going out could do, I kept this fact about myself hidden even more carefully than before, and whenever someone got close to finding out I would just remove myself from their life, moving away, leaving the job I was working in, or whatever I have to do to for them to never see me again. 

Recently I had started working in this casino-like place, the payment was good, the people are closed, and that's always for the best, the more closed the people the easier it is to keep my true identity hidden from them, I don’t talk to them more than the necessary and they do the same with me, just the way I like it. 

Of course, that doesn't take one or two hook-ups I like to have with them or the casino's clients out of the equation, the first thing I always tell them when I do something like that is that touching my hair is strictly forbidden, and whenever someone decides to be a smartass and try to do so anyways I just get up and leave, this way my… I would say, perverted, nature never got in the way of things.

I’m twenty-two, I’m an adult, I can do whatever I want, I’m safe about it, and these kinds of things always interested me and I was always curious about it, so I started experimenting, and to be honest, I’m glad I did, for me its a way of… escaping and it's relaxing and rewarding and I always feel better after, and it also helps me get more clients for the place I work in and some extra money for myself, so it's a win-win.

I also have this method where I use my abilities, body, and charisma to seduce some people into giving me an extra tip while in the casino, I make them buy my guesses for the luck-based games we have on the house and use them, they are not always right, but I never said that they would. Unfortunately, I guess this time I chose the wrong person to try my little trick on.

It was getting pretty late when an older man in uniform with a rich appearance entered the casino. His dark hair contrasted with his bright yellow eyes, he almost looked like a black cat, which I found cute, so I decided that he would be my target for the night. 

He walked up to the emptier row of machines in the further right corner of the casino and sat in front of a lottery game, where you have to push a button at the correct time to make so the tree images match each other and you win a prize. I walked up to him and carefully reached my hand along his shoulder while crouching down closer to his ear to being my advance.

Hello my good sir, what is such a strong and handsome man like yourself doing alone playing such a game at this hour? - I ask, carefully putting my other hand on his opposite shoulder and start massaging his back lightly, but skillfully.

He looks up at me with a closed face, his eyes scan my slim body from up to down, and then he starres into my red eyes for some seconds until a slight smirk grows on him.

Go grab me a drink will you darling. - he instructed, seemingly interested.

I smile pervertedly and give him a slight bow as an answer while I slowly back away, not losing the chance to run my hands along his strong back on my way to the counter, thinking he would be easy prey, how wrong I was.

I make my way to the counter and ask the bartender for the house special for the well-dressed strong man that just entered.

Make it fancy. - I advise with a grin.

They nod and start preparing the drink while I lay on the counter and use the big mirror on the left side of the bar to retouch my hair and clothes, in the corner seeing that the man is also looking at me from the corner on his eye, I smile and grab his finished drink and start walking over to him.

He turns to me while sitting on the small stool that is disposed of in front of each machine and pats his leg as I get closer, gesturing me to sit on it and I, without hesitation, do as he wishes. With one hand he grabs my waist firmly as I sit and with the other, he takes the drink out of my hand and slips on it, with a pleased expression.

Compliments to the bartender, this is one of a drink if I do say so myself. - he admits while inspecting the drink.

I had the feeling you would like something fancier. - I brag, with a flirtatious smile.

Well, the drink is not the only fancy thing that I’m holding and the pair does increase the value of the product. - he claims, starting to direct his hand to my thigh, grabbing it firmly but gently, making me blush slightly.

Don’t you think such an exquisite man as yourself should be playing more fitting games? - I propose, running my right hand along his neck softly.

Oh? And what game do you recommend darling? - he asks, seemingly interested.

What about a game of roulette? - I suggest, slowly getting off his leg.

He lets out a soft chuckle and grins.

Sure, why not. - he replies while following me to the roulette.

As we approach the roulette space we hear another round start, as the small metal ball starts spinning we hear a crowd divided by shouting red or black according to the color they choose to bet on, and the round end in black as we see the ones previously shouting red growing and exclaiming in defeat as my prey gets to the betting space.

You know I don't want to brag but, I’m known for being really good at guessing right in these kinds of games. - I mention as the man is placing his bet, making him stop for a moment, and a grin grows on my face.

Oh? Are you? - he asks.

I get closer to him, putting my hands around his waist and looking him in the eye

Yeh… so why don’t you buy my guesses. - the words echo with a slight magical touch, while I rub my body against his.

He makes a slight pause, looking me straight in the eye, almost as if he was seeing through me, and a bad feeling starts rising deep inside me, which I should have listened to.

Sure, I’ll buy, but you better not be tricking me. - he responds, his tone going from gentle to threatening in a concerning amount of time.

He counts the money as I write my completely random guesses on a piece of paper, the bad feeling on my stomach rising as I accept the pouch of coins and give him the paper with 3 guesses.

The round then starts and the wheel starts spinning, the first guess I wrote was red, and for the first time, I found myself actually concerned about what color that tricky little metal ball would land on, but thankfully my guess was right a soft chuckle leaves the mans lips as he is handed down his prize.

See? - I assure, trying my best to keep my tone steady.

Well, it’s not over yet, two more to go. - he observes while lowering his hand onto my lower back.

The second round starts and the crowd cheers for their chosen color, my second guess was red again, the roulette starts to slow down as the weel enters an all-black side and a drop of sweat drops down my chin as I realize, his hand go to my waist and hold me closer, not so gently as before as he seems to be aware of what's happening.

As the weel is going to stop I blink and clench my first and to my relief it stopped on the first red compartment after the long row of blacks, making so my guess was right and his grip loosen.

I open my mount as if to say something cocky but a wave of anxiety overcomes me making me swallow dry trying to get a hold of myself, not understanding why was I so stressed about this. I had done this multiple times now and it never went wrong, and whenever I was wrong I would just apologize and use my body to my advantage and flirt with them out of the situation telling them I could compensate for the mistake and such and it had always gone well, why did I feel this time would be different?

The wheel starts spinning once more, my final guess was black, there was no way it would be three reds in a row right? R-right…? The roulette spun as my anxiety rises for what seemed way longer than usual and to my misfortune the ball stops on a red, and my heart sunk. I feel him getting close to my ear while tightening his grip on my waist, even more than before.

You were wrong. - he whispers, in a treating tone.

W-well, t-that's unfortunate, but I can make it up f-for you so… - my voice was shaking, this never happened before why am I so anxious and… scared? What's happening, who is this guy?

You don’t lie to a marine captain. - he growls, in a deep, scary tone.

M-marine? - I try to step back, without success as I was still being held firmly by the waist, my breath unsteady and my heart beating loudly on my chest as I clench the heart pendant dangling from the collar on my neck. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck I messed up oh fuck, he’s going to fucking arrest me fuck fuck.

And just as I thought the man grabs me like I was nothing and without hesitating starts taking me outside the casino and onto the docks, and I knew that no matter what I said or did I wouldn't be strong enough to fight back so I just accepted my faith and prayed that somehow I could escape later.