Midnight Cuckoo (12)
Frozen solid, Marim strained to figure out who the voice belonged to and what the hell was going on. But that was all the voice said, forcing her to poke her head over the bar. In the pitch-black hall with every light extinguished, a silhouette sat at a table, framed against the window where moonlight streamed in. As a half-elf, she wasn't any better than a human at seeing in the dark—no night vision like the full-blooded ones—so she couldn't make out who it was. Time to put on a show, then. Trembling all over, she rose slowly with wide-eyed terror. Her huge emerald eyes brimmed with tears, long ears drooping limply downward. Clasping her shaking hands, she bowed her head low.
"S-sorry...!"
"Let's talk."
The voice came again, and Marim finally placed it. The innkeeper...? Relief washed over her; she let out a mental sigh. Thank god... that dimwit. I can slip away from him easy.
"I-innkeeper...?"
"What're you doing in the hall at night? Thirsty for beer?"
"N-no, it's... um, actually..."
Marim fished a few silver coins from her pants pocket and set them on the bar.
"Your kindness was too much... I was gonna sneak out. But I felt too guilty just leaving, so..."
"Looks like you planned to leave a little cash on the counter and call it even."
"Y-yeah... sorry. I should've said something sooner..."
Inside, Marim crowed in triumph. That low-IQ innkeeper's falling for it again. Squeeze out a few more tears, play the pitiful card, and maybe he'll let me go without the money. Hell, he might even toss in some travel cash out of pity. Tears trickled down as she pleaded.
"Thank you for everything... You're the first one's ever been that nice to a mongrel like me..."
Come on, pat me on the head all sweet and send me off.
"So you repay kindness with theft? That's your style?"
The innkeeper's voice turned icy, and Marim realized something was off. Why's he suddenly getting suspicious all half-assed...? He bought it hook, line, and sinker yesterday...? Flustered by the unexpected reaction, she stammered.
"Th-theft? No way...!"
The innkeeper stared silently for a moment before speaking.
"Got a question for you."
"Wh-what is it...?"
"Don't half-elves normally make no footsteps?"
"F-footsteps...?"
"Yeah. Yours didn't make a sound. Not like you're muffling them—totally silent."
Marim was floored. She could move without footsteps, even in heeled shoes. It was one of her thief-optimized talents. Impressive, sure, but no one had ever noticed. Who the fuck pays attention to other people's footsteps? You might hear loud ones, but silent? Nah. Yet this innkeeper had clocked her silent steps.
How...?Did he notice when I came down the stairs? Even then, who'd distinguish muffled steps from none at all...?
She tried bluffing.
"I'm so starved, I'm super light... that's why..."
"You think I'm an idiot?"
"No, never...! I swear..."
The innkeeper cut her off.
"We'll sort that later. Second question."
Marim shut her mouth and peered at his dark outline.
"The cash buried by the north road—is that yours?"
Marim's vision went white. She gripped the bar to steady herself, reeling. That north road stash was her haul from the city, buried tight for her getaway. How the fuck does he know...? I hid it way off the path, between trees, camouflaged perfect...!
Now her shakes were real, no act. She pocketed the silver coins, eyeing the distance to the inn door. Blink far as hell and sprint—I can make it! No normal human can catch me!
Still gripping the bar, she vaulted over it in one leap and blinked. Her vision stretched infinitely, the door snapping toward her like a rubber band. She kicked it open and bolted into the courtyard.
Then a white lightning flash—bam!—she slammed into an iron wall and bounced back.
"Guhk...!"
Chest-seizing pain sent her rolling on the ground, mind blank. Blink worked fine, I even got outside... what the hell did I hit...?
Her dazzled eyes cleared, revealing the innkeeper looming over her. Staring up, one horrifying thought hit her.
He moved faster than my blink to block me...?
"Handy ability."
"H-how...?!"
He gave no answer. But now she spotted the sword at his waist she'd missed in the dark. Light leaked from the sheath's gap.
"Come to think of it, we know each other, right?"
Marim got it—he meant their run-in days ago at the wagon lot across from the inn. He knew everything about her.
Resigned, she dropped the act.
"Thought you were a fucking retard, but guess not?"
Grinning bitterly up at her, he asked.
"Stealth and blink. What else you got?"
"Why tell you, asshole."
"Saw you leap pretty damn high back then, and you're fast on your feet too."
Marim clamped her mouth shut, glaring. He stared down a moment longer.
"Wanna work at the inn?"
"Wh-what...? What'd you say...?"
"Wanna work at the inn?"
Marim sighed, head drooping.
"What's your angle?"
"Your skills are wasted on theft. How about steady pay working here?"
"Haha... nice pitch. My talents ain't for slinging at some inn, right? You know that better than anyone."
"That's if you were human."
Marim's mocking chuckle cut off.
"No one's hired you with those powers, huh. Best you could do is shady outfits—and those human scum who'll backstab their own won't pay a half-elf fair. You know that best, being one."
Marim fell silent.
"Am I wrong? That's why you're pulling midnight thief gigs."
"Work at the inn?"
She pushed up from the ground slowly.
"You want a half-elf working here? The filthy mutt no one wants to touch?"
"I'll handle that."
"You think sweet talk fools me after my life? Bullshit!"
Spitting curses, she blinked toward the road. Nothing happened. The innkeeper snatched her throat mid-blink, slamming her down.
"Kk...!"
How in that split second...?! That fucker's not human...!
But her survivor grit kicked in; she blinked again.
"Guhk..."
Grabbed by the nape, she dangled airborne before crashing down, groaning.
"Give it up."
"Fuck you!"
A dagger flicked from her sleeve, but he was faster. His iron grip on her wrist made her drop it. Without releasing, his palm cracked across her face. Stars exploded; her head snapped sideways. Cheek burning, blood filled her mouth.
"Finally showing your true colors. Wasn't the 'half-elves are friends' asshole..."
The other cheek—head rocked, balance gone, she crumpled. Still wrist-trapped, dangling like a puppet, his knee drove deep into her gut. Vision blacked; she gaped soundlessly, choking.
"Urk...!"
Released, she crawled on all fours, puking her guts out. Agony like her insides were yanked out left her dying inside. Gasping, wiping her mouth on her sleeve, the innkeeper asked.
"Last chance. Work at the inn?"
She flinched at the voice. He really wasn't human. Forcing bravado past the fear.
"D-don't talk crap... think I don't know? You're gonna make me your sex slave...?"
Twisting her trembling lips.
"Lure me with pay... lock me up for your pervy shit? Half-elves are fair game, right?"
"What bullshit."
"Why not? I'm cute enough. Human whores cost too much—you need a freebie, huh?"
"My girls are prettier."
Marim snorted—then snapped feral.
"Fuck off, you shit!"
Another dagger whipped from her other sleeve toward his ribs. It should've pierced flesh between bones—but his fingers caught the blade. Index and thumb pinched it tight as he glared murderously.
That gaze hit her like vertigo; piss soaked her pants. His eyes weren't human then. Like facing a mountain tiger on a lonely path—never seen one, but it'd feel like this. Jaw chattering, she stared at the snapped blade on the ground.
Broke it... with his fingers...?
He sighed heavily.
"You're dead set against it. Fine, go."
"H-heh. Like the obedient type...? Me... y-you can't tame...?"
Even terrified, she spat defiance. She wouldn't break here. A female half-elf surviving human cities by theft? A few slaps and a glare wouldn't do it.
"Think I can't make you submit?"
Flatly.
"Run or keep thieving in town—I don't care."
"Wh-what the fuck now...?"
Ignoring her, he continued.
"But I'll slaughter every last half-elf in Lenditofte."
For a split second, silence. Then she burst laughing.
"You really are retarded. Buying that Lenditofte bullshit? All lies, dumb human."
He jerked his chin toward the road.
"Go. We're done."
"Think that'll scare me? Those kids ain't my problem. Kill 'em if you want."
He turned and entered the inn; she yelled curses at his back.
"Crazy fuck. When threats don't work, you stoop to cheap blackmail?"
Her hands compulsively shredded grass blades unnoticed as she ranted.
"Lenditofte's weeks away! You gonna ditch the inn that long? Bullshit!"
Her words sped up, frantic.
"A black mage summons a hellhorse—gets me there quick. No worries."
"Spewing crap even a dog wouldn't buy... look normal, but your brain's rotten!"
Nearly frothing, but he slammed the door.
─────
Time passed after he went inside. Marim hadn't fled; she hid behind the courtyard woodpile, watching for him. No sign. Biting her nails raw, she muttered.
"Fucking bastard... all talk..."
Her piss-soaked pants clung wet and gross. Cursing, she peeled them off her crotch. Grabbing her bag to leave—the door opened. Innkeeper and the big-boobed woman emerged.
The woman, half-asleep and yawning, asked.
"Where you off to in the dead of night...?"
"Kill some half-elves."
His chilling tone prickled Marim's nape from afar.
"Why...? What happened...?"
"Summon a hellhorse. Gotta head out quick."
"Mmm... okay..."
The woman scribbled messy shapes in the air. The empty courtyard erupted in flames—a massive horse wreathed in black fire appeared, heart-stopping just to look at.
He mounted effortlessly. Then Marim knew: no joke.
Bag abandoned, she dashed out—tripped on logs, crawled frantically yelling.
"W-wait... just a moment...!"