Light streamed into Alice’s room, illuminating everything in a pale golden light. Slowly the light began to shine brighter, climbing further and further up the bed towards Alice’s face.

“Nh? Oh.. It’s morning already?" She questioned, stirring from her slumber and stretching her arms out wide, resting the nights embrace from her bones.

The light now sat directly shining on her face, it’s brightness causing her to blink several times. Still half asleep, Alice rolled from her bed, landing heavily upon the pile of books that sat, arranged into messy piles about the floor. Shaking her head slowly, she stood up and staggered off into her ensuite bathroom, hoping that a warm shower would wake her up.

Stepping into the ensuite she quickly discarded her nightwear, letting if fall onto the tiled floor, it’s existance quickly forgotten. Turning on the shower she was immediately hit by a waterfall of high pressure water, it’s heat permeating through her tired body. With this Alice relented, her head slumping up against the shower’s wall.

From the top of her head, to the soles of her feet, everything ached. Tilting her head backwards, Alice let the hot water pour over her face, washing away the blood and grime from the day before.

"Heavenly..." Alice groaned, her eyes beginning to drift down to her own body.

Before her eyes stood a body littered with numerous scars, each one telling a different story of her past. But what stood out right now to her were the bruises. Giant, horrible, yellow and green bruises, that covered her legs, back and arms.

"I’m still breathing. I’m fine." She thought, trying not to laugh. Worried about the pain it would bring.

Around her the water continued to pour, while Alice continued to muse about her own injuries. Her hand gently caressing the abrasions that adorned her face, her fingertips trying to grasp the extent of the injury.

"No makeup in the world is good enough to hide this..." She lamented, her hand dropping from her face and grabbing the shampoo.

It was several minutes before Alice finished, stepping gingerly out of the shower onto the cold tiled floor. Quickly pinching a towel from the rack, she darted into her room, the towel fastened tightly under her arms. Over the towel her blonde hair clung desperately to her skin. Sitting down on the corner of her bed, Alice began the long arduous process of getting herself presentable and ready for the day ahead.

Once dressed, Alice casually strolled through the hallway, heading towards the living room. Noelle and Mihai already sat to the table, waiting for her. Noticing Alice’s presence Noelle turned her head to face her.

"Look who’s finally awake! Took you long enough..."

"Come on Noelle... it’s only nine... and anyway, I’m injured."

"Yes you are, and who’s fault is that?"

"Shut up." Alice replied, mocking Noelle who silently chuckled to herself.

"Okay enough joking around you two," Mihai chimed in, berating the two of them.

"We’ve got alot to get done today haven’t we? So Alice, why don’t you grab some breakfast with Noelle while I go down and get the shop ready." Mihai continued, clearing his spot at the table.

"Sounds good to me. What’s for breakfast?"

"Sadly, due to Mihai’s sense of direction we’ve only got cereal..."

"Anyway, before you make anymore fun of me I’m going. Good luck dealing with Risha." And with that Mihai went to leave the room, his large frame ducking through the doorway as he left.

Alice sat to the table, her seat at the table already laid out for her. Once she sat down Noelle slid the box of cereal over to Alice with a wave of her hand. Her magic causing it to effortlessly glide across the worksurface.

"Don’t give me that look Alice..." Noelle remarked as Alice began to pour her cereal into the bowl.

"What look?"

"You’re judgemental look."

"I’m not judging you? You moved the cereal with magic, so what?"

"Of course you were judging me... it’s what you do!"

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that one."

"..."

"So what’s gotten you all on edge? Risha?"

"And you aren’t?"

"Not particularly.."

"But the things she’s done to you they’re-"

"Terrible, yes. But she’s done them all before, so it’s nothing new to me..." Alice interrupted, grabbing the milk.

"I guess... doesn’t mean I like the idea of having to walk in there and ask a favour of her."

"Then don’t walk, march. March in there and demand she help us. The only time I’ve ever seen her ever really respect someone is when they stand up for themselves."

"I hope you’re right."

"Well if I’m not we can always resort to beating the living hell out of her, can’t we?

"Don’t even joke about that sort of thing Alice... she’s one of the most powerful Sorceresses on the continent." Noelle retorted, shaking her head in disbelief.

Unsure of what to say to Noelle, Alice simply continued to eat her cereal in silence. Smiling happily at the flustered woman who sat opposite her.

After breakfast, Alice and Noelle cleaned up the mess from breakfast, before heading downstairs to say goodbye to Mihai. Afterwards the two left the store and began to make their trek to The Garden, Risha’s brothel.

It was a long and unsatisfying walk to the brothel, one that took them right through the centre of the red light district. In every alley and on every corner a woman stood, plying their trade. Some were only a few years older than Alice, their eyes devoid of light. Many of these woman belonged to the lowest ranking families, or those who just hadn’t got the power to set up within innermost streets of the district.

As they rounded another corner, Alice noticed a woman lying in the gutter, her clothes were in tatters and her face had been beaten black and blue. Pausing for a second, Alice’s eyes lingered upon the scene before her.

Treated as rubbish in death as in life, she thought. While she had no pity for this woman, all the same it was not a fate Alice would wish upon anyone.

Noelle, who had continued to walk for a few paces before stopping herself quickly marches back to Alice, grabbing her and dragging her along behind her.

"Hey. Hey! Noelle, slow down will you, are you trying to pull my arm off?"

"Sorry Alice."

"It’s fine to be sorry, just slow down. Okay?"

Grasping ahold of Noelle’s hand Alice gently intertwined her fingers with Noelle’s, trying to assure her that she was okay. She knew Noelle hated these parts of town. A place where beauty and love were treated as something to be bought and sold. A place where she was ostracized for her appearance.

Their destination Garden, was one of the most exclusive brothels in the city, sitting almost dead centre in the red light district. It could be said, in more ways than one that the Garden was the precious flower of the red light district. All around the streets shone, the money flowing through the shops and stores pushing the darkness into the back alleys.

The Garden itself was formed from several large pleasure houses situated around an exquisite set of flower gardens. With each set of pleasure house and garden catering to a specific client, fetish or culture.

Currently Alice and Noelle stood in front of the main entrance to this center of pleasure and excess. Their motionless figures standing out from the surging throngs around them.

"Are you sure about this?" Noelle questioned.

"Pretty sure." Alice replied, a confident grin upon her face.

"Why am I not convinced..."

"Just go with it will you?"

"Fine... so we march right in, correct?"

"Well, that was the plan."

"Let’s get this nightmare over with..."

With this Alice and Noelle broke from the crowd, heading straight towards the main entrance. Without missing a step the two of them marched right up to the door, only being stopped by the door guards. Who stood, barring their way.

"Out of our way!" Noelle ordered, her voice as sharp as a sword.

"I’m sorry miss but your appearance..."

"What about my appearance?"

"Well it’d upset the customers..."

"Why? Can’t they handle a few scars?" Noelle questioned, lifting her ashern hair away from her right eye, revealing the matted mess of jagged scars that covered that side of her face.

Around them, several hushed voices could be heard, whispering about Noelle’s appearance. Hearing them Alice squeezed Noelle’s hand tightly, not wanting her to be disheartened by their cruel words. Yet she had nothing to fear, as the Noelle right now was focused on one thing and one thing only, meeting Risha and forcing her to help them.

"Well boys? You going to let us through or not?" Noelle quipped fearlessly.

"Let her through!" A voice insisted, his high pitch completely out of tone with the power it seemed to carry. Immediately the men parted, allowing the owner of the voice to be seen.

"Quincy! How are you?" Noelle beamed, noting the spindly man who stood off behind the guards.

"Honestly, I would be much happier if you didn’t go around threatening my employes Miss Bouchard." He continued, twirling his thin wiry mustache.

"I’m sure that’s the same for every manager, Mr Holt," Alice chimed in smugly.

"So, why do we hold the pleasure of your company then? Miss Bouchard, Miss White?"

"We need to talk to Risha," Noelle bluntly stated, not wanting to waste time.

"The Mistress? What business do you bring? I’m sure she hasn’t ordered anything from you of late... or has this devil child become to much for you to handle?"

"I can hear you, you know?"

"That may be, but it does not change your nature Miss White."

"Which would be?"

"An un-"

"Alice, enough! And Mr Holt, I’d prefer you kept your opinions to yourself, if possible." Noelle growled, silencing those around them.

"Of course Miss Bouchard, my apologies. So what have you come to see the Mistress about?"

"A small issue, one I wanted her input on. And don’t worry... it’s nothing too big but an issue I thought she should be aware of."

"Understood, if you’ll give me a moment, I’ll see if she will accept your invitation. Now, if you’d please follow me and we’ll get out of everyone’s way here."

Swifty he turned and began to trot off into the building, Alice and Noelle in tow. After heading down a few hallways, they entered a large and luxurious office. Within the walls were littered with tacky modern paintings, while several art nouveau sculptures desperately tried to accentuate the room.

"Your taste in art is still as interesting as ever Quincy," Noelle commented, carefully studying a painting of two naked woman, passionately kissing one another.

"It is a refined taste I’ll think you’ll find Miss Bouchard. And please don’t touch that painting! It’s a priceless work of art!"

"Alright... I’ll step away from your precious painting. So, get on with it... call Risha."

"The Mistress is a busy person! I can’t just call her randomly out of the blue."

"Sure you can, you just walk over, grab that gaudy phone off your desk and call her. Heck if you don’t want to do it me or Alice can."

"No you will not, I will call her now before you two rascals wreck something." Quincy replied, panicking slightly as he grabbed the phone, beginning the call to Risha.

Meanwhile Alice and Noelle stood side by side, hands behind their backs, waiting patiently for Quincy’s phone call to end. Neither of them had really spoken in great length since they entered the red light district. Alice was beginning to worry about how Noelle was holding up, she knew she was strong but Noelle always has this certain delicate feeling to her.

"What’s got into you, you’re fidgeting about like mad?" Noelle interjected, breaking Alice’s train of thought.

"Just wondering how you’re holding up."

"That’s true, the people here aren’t really my cup of tea..."

"Agreed! I so wanted to beat the living hell out of those guards earlier, I don’t know how you managed to stay so calm"

"Why? Did you think I’d be offended or upset by it?"

"Well... yeah. I always assumed it was due to people like that, that you didn’t like coming to this place." Alice questioned, confused at Noelle’s words.

"Look, yes I don’t enjoy the red light district and yes I feel I don’t have a worth in their eyes. But none of that matters, so what if I’m not seen as some prized beauty, I know my worth isn’t just limited to that one aspect of my being."

"Then why did you worry so much on our way here?"

"In all honesty? I worry, here in this place, not for myself but for you. These girls here, they’re only slightly older than you... and I know you could’ve ended up like that. So as indestructible as you think you are. Jumping off buildings and almost getting yourself blown up, remember that you are not. I know how easy it is to lose everything around you... all it takes is but a few badly chosen seconds..."

"Noelle... I."

"Look... I’ve spent more of my fair share of nights in places like these... not as a working girl mind you... I was always the patron, boy or girl didn’t matter, I just wanted to feel something, for someone. In the end, I gave up paying for that... ended up with something a lot better though! As family like you is hard to find!

"I... E-Erm..." Alice stammered, unsure of what to say.

"Just say thank you, you idiot."

"Yeah!.. Thanks."

"So, what about you? You going to be able to handle her?"

"Who, Risha?"

"Of course Risha... Who else?"

"Okay, stupid question... but yeah, I think I’ll be okay, anyway I’m not alone am I? I’ve got you beside me, haven’t I?" Alice cheerfully responded, a stupid grin on her lips.

"True... but just remember I can’t do too much to her right now. So don’t go provoking her, alright?"

"That’s if we get to see her... Quincy is sure taking his sweet time, isn’t he?"

"He always does, remember he’s more afraid of her than he is of us."

"Good point... Either way it seem’s his call is about to finish up."

Almost immediately after Alice finished speaking, Quincy placed down the phone, wiping his brow. His face looked quite white, while his forehead was furrowed his eye’s almost becoming lost in his deep set glare. Taking a quick breath he walked over to the girls, licking his convulsing lips.

"You were lucky... she was in a relatively good mood," he began.

"Mistress Risha will see the both of you. Now Miss Bouchard, Miss White, please accompany me, and I will take you to the Mistresses chambers."

Both Alice and Noelle nodded silently before following Quincy out of his office, back into the main thoroughfare of the Brothel, the crowds parting as they walked. They seemed to be attracting a lot of attention, becoming the center of everyone’s gaze. Alice, in her time as Risha’s ward had become a frequent site around the brothel and most people had become accustomed to her presence here. Though none of them actually welcomed her.

“Look! There she is, the Madam’s favourite, why does she deserve special treatment?” One person whispered to another

“Is she the Mistresses companion?”

“No I hear she lives far away, somewhere in town. She must be a bud for someone.”

“Being saved for a special client, how lucky for her. I bet it’s some old freak!” Another two hushed voices discussed her purpose between themselves.

Countless whispers hung around her whenever she visited this place, she much preferred the peace and quiet of Noelle’s shop. Risha was one of the most powerful individuals this town had to offer, due to the power and influence her clients could garner, so having her as a benefactor did have some privileges.

Soon they passed into the outside air once more. No matter how many times she came here, Alice couldn’t help but have her breath stolen. The gardens themselves were truly beautiful, regal almost, as if they had been transported here from some far away place. Some were filled with idle chatter, while others catered to a more risque sort of clientele. Alice had made the mistake of wandering into the middle of one of those debauch events once before, and vowed never to do so again.

In the centre of it all Risha’s quarters resided, it had been fashioned from the remains of a Gothic styled chapel. Over time many of the chapel’s original features having been removed or lost, yet the it’s steeple still rose far above the ground, striking out towards the heavens. Alice found it quite ironic that the queen of whores lived within the house of god, then again Risha was not any normal Mistress.

Their small group paused, standing before the great heavy oak doors of the chapel. "This is as far as I will escort you," Quincy declared, the doors slowly opening behind him.

"Okay??" Alice and Noelle queried in unison, staring past him into the darkened entryway.

Slightly unsure of themselves, the pair slowly walked forward past him. Not a single sound could be heard from within as they approached, but undaunted they both marched forward, across the threshold, into the interior of the chapel, the doors closing silently behind them.

Next Chapter: Just A Girl