Opium's Offer pt 1

Opium was his name.

Musias introduced him as an albino who had trust issues.

It told me very little considering, Musias was an untrustworthy person.

I was brought to the edge of town.

I told myself Musias wouldn't betray me twice. He was a greedy man, but he wasn't human trash. That's what I told myself.

Perhaps sensitive to my slapping earlier, he kept glancing at me on our way there.

I hadn't spoken a word to him.

I didn't want to admit it.

More than this gold coin, finding a stable job might be better. Things worked out for the best. But I was still a kid, I wouldn't be paid proper wages.

There were a bunch of shady-looking guys gathered outside the tent, but inside sat a tall man tatted all over his body and even his face. His hair was an ice blonde color. I thought his skin would be more sensitive, aren't tattoos painful for albinos? Was he really one?!

"What the hell are you doing back here? Thought I told you I didn't want to see your rancid ass here again?"

His voice sounded as bad as he looked. Deep and hoarse, but oddly soothing.

I didn't expect it to rattle me, my soul felt tickled and the wrong I felt earlier gradually began to subside.

Musias ignored this man's warning. "You were looking for an errand girl right?"

The tatted man looked to me who was having a hard time resisting the urge to stop staring at him with this new curiousity budding in my heart.

The man lifted a hand as if to knead his temple but stopped, it fell to his thigh. "I don't ever recall specifying gender."

Musias nodded. "Exactly."

"Or age."

Musias nodded. "Mmm."

Opium seemed to be holding in a sigh. "Much less I wasn't even talking to you."

"But it doesn't change the fact that you need somebody. Leave it to this kid."

"Why?"

"I owe her."

"What she save your life or something?"

"Something like that."

"Hmph. Well then I suppose I owe her as well, seeing as though you would be dead and your debt would have gone unpaid."

The tatted man looked to me.

"Name, brat."

"Candace, sir!"

He blinked at me.

"You're not afraid of me?"

I blinked at him. I actually had a lot to say but if I did I might not get this job.

My mouth which was open for quite some time finally moved. "....Is that relevant?"

Musias nudged me. "Hey, mind your manners."

I looked to him. Just who do you think you're talking to? But...he was right. But I need to be taken seriously, I'm young and a child.

"What I think of my employer has nothing to do with the job does it?"

"It does." Tatted man said. "Since you'll be seeing it a lot, I can't have you go fainting on me."

"I'm still standing aren't I?"

Tatted man's eyebrow twitched.

"I apologize, she's usually not like this." Musias said nudging me again. "You're making it hard to repay this debt kiddo."

I looked from Musias to him, my lips pursing.

"I have a problem with you, but even if I faint it won't be out of fright no, I don't think I will faint at all, if anything... I think I'll get rather excited... yes."

An awkward silence fell.

"You feel excited to work with him?"

I was clearly not being let off here, it was most upsetting.

I coughed and cleared my throat as I tried to limit my thoughts welling up inside me as I studied Mr. Tatted man. "His voice is like nightmare fuel for me. It's... absolutely to die for."

Musias blinked at me.

"Candace?"

"Yes?"

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You wouldn't understand even if I explained it, Mr. Musias, you're just a red-blooded man. Just know I don't have a problem with him."

"You said you had a problem with him earlier."

"Not in the way you think I have a problem, so it doesn't count quite count as being a problem."

Mr. Tatted man seemed rather hung up on my words earlier.

"My voice... is to die for?"

"I think it has the ability to both revive and kill someone."

He blinked at me.

I stooped on the ground.

"Like a seed, in the earth, Sir's voice has the ability to make it grow," I wiggled as I squatted then stood.

"But sir's voice also has the ability to wilt because his voice is...too much."

Musias stared at me as if I were a stranger.

"Just like how a flower dies from too much sunlight or water, or when maggots flock to a soil fertilized. Sir shouldn't think too much of it. Just know, that I think your voice is a very essential thing."

Tatted man looked to Musias with many questions leaking from his eyes.

"Where did you find this girl?"

"...She's my co-worker."

"Ha!....Well, whatever. You've got the job kid. You start tomorrow, be here by lunch."

I saluted him.

"Sir, yessir!"

He shook his head.

"Don't... do that."

I lowered my hand and held up a thumb.

"Don't do that either."

I lowered my hands to my side.

"Don't be so plain."

What does he want me to do?

I just blinked at him.

"I will do as you say sir!"