A choice in life: XIV
"Donna. Could you hand me that flower frog?" Vaelle carefully lowered a row of tulips into its new pot, gods her clients would like this.
"Sure, Vae." Donna sounded excited as the two of them tried their hardest to make each pot look the part. Vaelle grabbed the flower frog and narrowly placed it through the soil trying to comb what she found away. While it was a long job, it was something Vaelle rejoiced in. She glanced happily at her friend, Donna was close but she didn't always help out at the shop. She wondered why she had both of them that day.
"Excuse me?!" Vaelle turned to the door frame, a man stood there holding a small bag, he had dark hair and skin.. With soft brown eyes. He was dressed in what could only be described as leather armor, probably some custom wear he had picked up nearby. Vaelle gave him a brilliant white smile.
"How can I help you?" Vaelle replied cheerfully. The man seemed to ponder for a moment his brow creased. She had met these kinds of men before, a sword at his hip and a few too many dragons in his purse. Adventurers unsure of how to solve some convoluted puzzle the universe had thrown at him.
"I need.. Theki Root? Do you.. Uh.. some green st-" Vaelle reached under the counter without another word, certain plants were always requested above all when the adventures came to town. Perhaps some rich noble sons looking for some danger, or even some orphans left over from the last war refusing to die. Vaelle respected them all, adventuring was a hard endeavor.
"Here you go!" She placed a sheet of brown parchment paper on the table wrapping the contents of not only the Theki root but also Green strhed. "That will be three dragons and five shards." The man bowed, handing the coin from over the counter, he seemed to give her a quick wink before running back out the door presumably to his party of adventurers.
"Do you ever think about it?"
"About what?" She quizzed Donna who was leaning over the counter. Her friend's brown hair was swept over her shoulders and narrowly held by an intricate red hair pin.
"Adventuring.." Donna pondered, her question sounded more like a quiz, almost an intrusion of something larger. "Do you ever think about doing something like that.." They both pursed their lips.
"Goodness no." Vaelle chuckled nervously thinking about all those poor kids whose parents died in adventures, she thought it all really selfish. "Honestly I've never even thought of it. I've got enough excitement in my life.."
"Really?" Donna inquired, she raised an eyebrow in surprise her bright blue eyes looked sly like a mischievous cat.
*BURANG*
"Ow- Whoops-" Holiver bonked his head against the front door somehow while carrying two boxes one white the other.. Black, Vaelle did not remember ordering two. "Don't worry, I'm fine!" He hollard stumbles through the entrance before slapping the two boxes down. "One box of Balsam pedals your majesty." Holiver bowed dramatically.
"Oh stop." Vaelle chuckled, blushing from her boyfriend's demeanour. "Hold on what's uh.."
*Bshhaink*
Vaelle jumped a little when Donna unsheathed a small knife, she'd pulled a red hairclip and seemingly deployed a small blade from it "Vae help me unload this thing." Donna cut her off, slicing open the box, she shook off her surprise and tore the box open with her carefully pulling small cartons of pedals and placing them near the drying rack for later use. "Too bad they only grow up high huh..?"
"Yeah, god they are beautiful.." She responded though Donna seemed to flinch at that.
"Hey what about some thanks for the guy who got em eh?" Holiver jested walking around the counter Vaelle rolled her eyes spinning around into his embrace, Holivers small yet strong arms took her in as she placed a kiss on his nose. His big brown eyes were just too adorable to ignore for long.
"Your thanks.." vaelle started. "Is not-"
"Not getting fired? Yeah I've heard that one before." He moved in but Vaelle leapt back with a small yelp. Donna and her laughed at him while he pouted. It was early in the morning meaning the business was slow but still existent with some coming in and out for flower purchases. She glanced curiously at the black box wondering why Donna hadn't been so trigger happy to slice it open either. Holiver came from behind, enveloping her with his warm hands; her heart skipped a few beats every time she was with him.
"I'm just saying customs wasn't nice to me when I picked them up so maybe a real kiss-" Vaelle signed grabbing his collar she pulled him in satisfying her love. She wasn't very assertive but with Holiver she could indulge. That tuft little brown hair was just irresistible. She moved away grabbing some flowers she planned to turn into a bucay nice fresh green stems along with lime colored pedals like green roses only without the thorns.
"Ow!" Vaelle flinched; she had spoken too soon, seeing shed picked two thorned roses by mistake mixed in with the green caraids.
"Vae. gosh lemme help you.." Donna rushed over wrapping a small bandage around her friend's fingers. Vaelle had known Donna for what seemed like forever, if forever was twelve years.
"Ow- Thanks." She gave her friend a smile. Before again glancing at the black box. "Um.." She mumbled nervously looking at the door no one seemed to be approaching the shop. "Say.. Holiver.. What's that black one?" She felt Donna tie off the bandage letting her point at the box. Holiver took a deep breath pursing his lip.
"Uh.." Holiver licked his teeth, Donna also looked quite nervous, the five foot ten woman suddenly a bit sheepish. "That's uh.. Why we're here actually.." He admitted, Vaelle frowned why they were there? Holiver approached the box like he was injured slow and with a seeming limp. "Vaelle.. Me and Donna-"
"Donna and I." Donna corrected like it was a nervous reflex.
"Donna and I." Holiver corrected himself. "Donna and I have been meaning to tell you something.." Her stomach sank, was he cheating on her? Was Donna doing something? Her head snapped around trying to make sense of what he was saying. "I-"
"Maybe it would be easier if you just.. Saw.." Donna explained. Her friend sliced the black box open carefully and gently pushed it open. Vaelle frowned. "Vae.. could you.." She approached the box holding bated breath. Peering over the counter was hard since she was only around five foot three but she managed.
"Huh?" She wasn't sure what she expected, with such an ominous line like 'we have to tell you something' but silk robes were probably third to last on the list she looked to Donna for permission before pulling free a long black silk robe with red trim it was long really long meant to go past the feet with red insignia running along the shoulders and down the chest just a bit the trace was also red a pungent scarlet color like that of blood mixed with fire. She peered further into the black wooden crate noticing another set wrapped up. Her stomach twisted into knots as she recognized the insignia dressed upon the robes collar. "Whoa." She stepped back, throwing the robes onto the counter, her shoes clicking nervously against the hard floor. "Whoa whoa whoa." she started repeating in utter shock.
"Vae its.. Uh.. it's not like that.. Please.. Hear us out." Donna prattled. Us? She asked herself cruelly, suddenly Holivers presence in the room felt more hollow and empty. She looked at her boyfriend with shock.
"That's- Asmode-"
"The Lord of the ninth." Holiver cut her off quickly. She felt even more shocked with that correction, 'what?!'
"H-hold on so you guys are.. Are... cultists of As.."
"Followers.. Disciples really.. We're.." Donna started. Valle placed her head in her hands, bewilderment pulsing from her.
"T-this is a joke right?" Vaelle laughed anxiously darting her eyes between them, they held fiercely serious looks. "Oh god's.. That's where you've been going off to.. That's.. Where you've been running to." It all began to make sense the late nights where Holiver would go out to some pubs, only to return the next morning a little bloody but not hungover. She leaned back against the wall sweating bullets.
"Vaelle.." Holiver stepped closer, his voice was gentle and sturdy. "Donna and I.. we joined the faith around a year ago.. And."
"It's liberating." Donna asserted. "The faith.. Our Lord.. the priests.. Vae listen to us.. We.. Holiver wanted to tell you because.."
"Vaelle I want to get married." Holiver cut her off. "And I want to marry you but I want to marry you under my faith and-"
"What?!" She scowled, confusion spilled off from her. "You want.. Me to join a cult? This cult-"
"Please!" Donna blurted angrily. "Don't call it a cult." Vaelle nearly choked on her own breath; she couldn't believe what she was hearing, she took a deep breath and faced Holiver.
"I want to marry you.." Holiver smiled. "But I want to marry you in the light of our true Lord.. not.. Those other gods, but mine.. Vaelle It may seem weird to you but I promise it's perfectly normal."
"I.." Her mind raced at a pace it hadn't needed to go for so very long. What on Toril was going on? How had this occurred for so long without her knowing? She and Holiver were still young, she was only twenty eight and sure she wanted to get married but.. To join such a faith.. A demonic faith. "Isn't that.. Isn't a religion of hell illegal?" she finally admitted it to herself they were following a faith of hell, the king of hell Asmodeus.
"No.. worshiping any faith isn't illegal here.. Come on Vaelle Waterdeep is open minded. Heaven they even let worshipers of those tentacle gods." Vaelle was fairly sure that the last tentacle god worshiper she heard of was constantly getting arrested but couldn't recall exactly. "Baby.. I haven't known a true calling until I joined the faith of The ninth.. He's.. been so good to me. So good to us all.." Holiver gestured to Donna. Vaelle rubbed her face still in a bit of disbelief. She felt like hyperventilating fear built in her like a racing horse but she steeled her nerves, or at least attempted to rely on Holivers presence to do so. She had once thought only beggars and criminals along with lunatics could join a cult of Asmodeus but she'd known Donna all her life, and Holiver was the furthest thing from all three in her mind. Could it be this.. Religion-cult thing was possible?
"Holiver.. I don't know. This feels.. Wrong.. I've heard stories of cu- I mean.. Faiths like this.. They don't end well.. Sacrifices.. And rituals.."
"It's not like that!" Donna assured her.
"But I read about them in school and-"
"Lies." Holiver waved his hand as if trying to wave away her worries. "Lies made by the populace to mask the true Lord.. we-" He stopped. Vaelle looked frightened, never seeing someone so.. Oddly devoted to something. "Sorry.. Please.. Vaelle joined me.. I.. I promise it's not what you think it is.. And if you ever dislike it, you can leave! I just.." holiver took her hand rubbing small circles in the palm, a loving gesture. "I want to marry Vaelle Lurval.. Under the faith of my god.. It's like if a Selune wanted to marry a Tyr follower.. Please." He whispered softly. Vaelle looked to Donna, usually her sense of moral guide but the girl was nodding along in agreement, she didn't know what to say to be recruited into a cult.. Into the faith of something she'd heard was so dark.. Maybe.. It wasn't so bad, Holiver and Donna weren't bad people, they were the best of people, givers to charity and volunteers.. They were kind to her.. Donna leaned over placing a small finger against her chin, closing her agape mouth.
"Yes." She muttered anxiously. "I'll.. join the faith." She struggled to speak, a life with Holiver was all she ever wanted, after everything her father had done- she clenched her eyes shutting that figure out, she wanted nothing more than to spend her life with her love, she took a deep breath trying to accept Holiver's news.
"Really? T-Thank you!" Holiver rushed grabbing her sides; Vaelle didn't expect to be hoisted into the air; she giggled a bit, for a brief second forgetting what she had just agreed to. "T-theres a mass tomorrow.. You.. can meet our patrons oh Dia, thank you Vaelle, I promise baby you won't regret it." Holiver beamed.
"I.. I can't believe it." Vaelle turned to see Donna crying as the woman swelled with tears. "This is amazing." the blue eyed woman grabbed Vaelle squeezing the life out of her.
"Tight! Too tight!" She laughed, she wasn't sure if it was a nervous laugh or a genuine one, perhaps both. Holiver dumped the contents of the box, setting three sets of robes on the counter. Vaelle admired them. All three were dark black silk with red trim though one looked distinctly different. One on the left had gold lace running along its surface as well as the red it looked fancier.
"Come on, in the back Vae." Donna gestured she was zipped out of the room into the back of the shop with Holiver carrying the stuff. Donna slipped on the more elaborate robe showing it off, while Holiver placed on the red trimmed simple robe, He held up the final one while nearly identical to the other two Vaelle noticed that this one had a large red swirled pattern on the back, perhaps a trainy? She swallowed nervously before stepping into it. The silk was soft and greeted her smooth skin gracefully. She turned slowly towards the mirror admiring herself, she looked rather silly, her blue outfit clashed with the red trim, her hazel eyes caught a bit of the fire light while she examined it.
"Vaelle.." Holiver whispered like he was on drugs, She blushed.
"Here." Donna stepped forward in her hand just like Holivers was a small silver and black dagger embodied with red metal showing the symbol of Asmodeus along with arcane writing. The woman unpinned her hair clip and handed it down.
"Huh?" Vaelle wondered, reaching out she felt the comb/clip be set in her grasp.
"It's.. a dagger.. A retractable one.. We don't actually do anything with them during mass but it's kinda tradition ya know? I figured you should get something even if you aren't officially a part of it yet." Yet.. Donna said it so casually Vaelle eyed her friend's knife one she would.. Get if she joined? Vaelle inspected it, it was mostly a pale green color on one side and a bright red on the other with a small blue pin running through it. It was around six inches long shaped like a butterflies wing on one end were a small row of retractable brushes, yet when Vaelle pulled the small antenna back-
*Bshhaink*
Vaelle tried not to jump. "Its.. called Tròcair.. It's an old thing but it does the trick. The blade was a smooth polished steel roughly five inches long. "I'm giving it to you Vae.. to remind you I'm always on your side.. I'm with you." She wanted to laugh 'always on her side..' Such a dumb call back to when they were children, dealing with bullys and Mr. lonreed. She retracted the blade and placed it in her hair. "You look.. Perfect Vae." Donna added setting a hand on her shoulder. Vaelle shook off her nerves the best she could, blushing at their comments. Mass on the morrow? It couldn't be that bad right? And to marry Holiver? As long as he was happy, so was she, she thought, staring at his big brown eyes taking deep breaths to remain in the moment. She wondered even then.. If she would live to regret her decision.