A Courtesan's War

June 2021 | R-18 | 91,066 words Characters: Raum, Reyl, Aquila, Phoenix | Trivia, Swift, Camellia
Warnings: Graphic violence, psychosis, suicidal ideation, incestuous ideation, rape fantasy, body horror

Jacklyn Whitewood, sick of the depravity and corruption in the brutal Ordish city of East Welding, is given a chance to change his life when an unexpected funeral invitation brings him into the courts of Asphodel. But even as emerging foreign plots close thier net, the most ferocious obstacles to ditching this rotten past may actually be the people closest to him, and who he holds the most dear...

A Royal Vacation

Mason and his immediate family are invited to the funeral of Faron Whitewood, Jacklyn’s paternal grandfather, at the personal behest of the King of Asphodel, His Majesty Aquila. So, time for an exclusive cross-borders vaycay to that country Jacklyn has always wondered about.

The opportunity’s really more of a miracle. As Jacklyn cranes his head back to observe the grey curtain of sky, and the corners of the letter press into his thumbs, the goosebumps from the nippy air ripple down his arms, electric.

Their mailman and escort on this journey is Trivia Venn, a powerful witch and veteran traveller. As she guides the twins, their parents, and her travelling partner Swift along the international checkpoints, she divulges some of what to expect from Asphodel. The nation has recently recovered from a terrible civil war, and Mason’s family garnered quite high rank by servicing the true Crown in the aftermath. For someone of Faron’s standing, funeral invitations to all kin are customary. Jacklyn muses on this story, as the party arrives in Asphodel’s capital city, Ferendaux.

They are promptly swept into a welcome party at the palace to celebrate Mason’s return. Friends and relatives mob him, eager to catch up after two decades of absence. Whatever happened to get Mason exiled plainly did not sour his reputation. Desiree joins this circle, leaving Jacklyn and Jayden adrift in a hall of gentry in opulent dress, amid clinking champagne, hanging silks, marble tiles, and gilded frescoes, with white peacocks sauntering past the forsythias in bloom outside.

It’s overwhelming. It belongs in a picture book.

But it’s exhilarating, and it’s invigorating.

The class divide shatters quickly. Once Jacklyn strides forward with a grin and upturned palms, friendly rapport arises immediately, as if he and Jayden have known these people forever.

Most of them are relatives. Such is the case for Vince Whitewood, a cousin slightly older than Jacklyn with whom he clicks particularly well. Vince explains there’s still several weeks before the funeral proper. The burial is already over, but since their grandfather was a man of incredible prestige, it’s a given that he receives a service, which must be organised into Aquila’s schedule.

Aquila, meaning King Aquila, meaning the guy who owns this country. Jacklyn really ought to thank him for the invite.

Vince points Aquila out of the crowd. Jacklyn is stunned. Firstly, by the fact that King Aquila seems to be chatting with Mason so casually they look like brothers. Secondly, by the fact that King Aquila is not a human. He passes as one at first glance, but only a few seconds of scrutiny reveal that his body is covered in — or made of? — white feathers.

And thirdly by the fact that King Aquila is beautiful. Before Jacklyn knows it, the crowd’s blocked him from view.

Though he sticks around into the night with Vince and Jayden, he is unable to locate Aquila again. He returns with Jayden to the luxury villa where they are staying, having arranged to tour around the city with Vince for the next few days. Deeming Vince trustworthy enough, Jayden opts not to join them. She’s more interested in raiding the local libraries for information that she might resell highly in Ordanz.

Work stuff, even on vacation. Jacklyn urges she allow herself at least some time to relax as he prepares their dinner. She shrugs, accepting her plate. See if Vinny can find him somewhere worth going that ain’t carved outta marble or fighting an infestation of fleur-de-lis, then Jackie can plan out a weekend itinerary and drag her there after.

Accepting these terms, Jacklyn taps his fork on his emptied plate as he stares out the windows, and peers into the darkness.

Neither of their parents do return to the villa that night.

Typical.

As Vince takes Jacklyn to attractions around the city, Jacklyn notes that this doesn't seem like a place recovering from civil war. If anything it looks wealthy. Vince confirms that in the two decades since the war, order has been re-established, and technology has advanced such that greater resources can be harvested at lower cost. The heightened development of radio and railways has opened greater trade and communication between major hubs. Save for the occasional the witch or cultist, Aquila's firm leadership has kept organized threats or insurrectionists from rising against the nation. Vince knows all about this stuff, since he owns a nearby municipality and is neck-deep in politics. And Jacklyn?

Well, he sheepishly admits, He's just some gang rat.

Intrigued, Vince inquires deeper into Black Thorns. Jacklyn responds by admitting, upfront, that his neighbourhood back home is rough. The girls usually get raped — not Jayden, he notes — and the guys usually kill some rival — not Jacklyn, he notes — to get initiated. There’s lots of junkies, lots of hustlers… but that’s home.

After some consideration, Vince reveals to Jacklyn a small brooch, cameoed with the portrait of a vaguely familiar woman, which he claims to have stolen from the Tyrant's Haunt.

The Tyrant's Haunt is the prison of immortal Phoenix Valens, the bloodthirsty despot who drove the nation into civil war twenty years ago. Otherwise said, Vince stole it from what used to be the royal family's main palace, Aquila's old house.

Jacklyn confirms that Vince hasn't told Aquila about this and has no intention to. Rather, Vince boasts that he found a tunnel system that led into the old Capital right under Phoenix's nose, that he vandalised the place over several nights, and that he keeps the brooch as a memoir. Considering how dry Aquila is, he'd likely close up the tunnels if Vince implied he knew of their existence.

Discomforted by Vince's shiftiness about the brooch, Jacklyn arranges with Jayden to steal it from Vince and forward it to Aquila. He distracts Vince with chitchat, she pickpockets it, easy, same song and dance they've done a thousand times before.

Gaining audience with Aquila is also easy. All Jacklyn has to do is identify himself, and he's in.

Aquila seems surprised by the visit, but his demeanour is friendly. He identifies the brooch as being a keepsake from his father, with the portrait being of his mother. It's a highly sentimental piece, and he's grateful it's been found. Going off the similarity between the woman and Aquila, Jacklyn suspected it'd be something like that.

Aquila doesn't ask where Jacklyn found the cameo, dropping the topic by saying he has his suspicions. Jacklyn goes to leave, but Aquila interrupts by gifting him with a simple but high-quality pair of earrings, as thanks. Since Jacklyn's ears are pierced and Aquila isn't using them, but if they're not to his taste, he can always sell them. Jacklyn leaves in earnest, surprised, but moreso happy. Rewarded for it or not, it feels like Aquila appreciated it, and that what he did was right.

Vince is pissed. He confronts Jacklyn over the disappearance of the brooch, but Jayden covers for him by claiming full responsibility. She brags that she pawned it off already, and Vince moves to attack her. Jayden strikes him in the chin, trips him to the ground, and beats him as if to mash his skull to the floor. Just when Jacklyn moves to interject, she lays off, satisfied that Vince has been sufficiently pulped. She threatens him to behave and leaves. His face is swollen and some teeth are gone. It's a tame beating for her.

Crazy bitch, Vince spits through a mouthful of blood.
Yeah, Jacklyn boasts, That's my sis.
Vince never interacts with him again.

Days pass until it's the night before the funeral. Jacklyn and Jayden return to the empty villa. A package from Mason is left on the doorstep.

It's a box of snacks.

Neither of them are particularly hungry, and Jayden figures it's Vince trying to pull something funny anyway. Jacklyn agrees, noting that the handwriting on the card isn't Mason's. They dump the box in the garbage, Jayden feeling somewhat insulted by, and Jacklyn being happy for, the amateur hour tier of tomfoolery that has just occurred.

They unwind for the evening with some cards and drinks. But before they get to the point where they crack open any alcohol, Desiree arrives.

She jovially asks about how their game is going and who's winning. Jayden is – Desiree laughs and tells them they ought to spice it up by penalising the loser, round by round, to strip.

Stay by the window. Keep the curtains open. Whoever gets mortified first goes with her to the bedroom. Those are the new rules an amused Desiree sets as she takes her seat at the bar.

They obey. When Jayden's performance mysteriously starts to slip, Desiree notes, irritated, that she was supposed to be winning. And so her performance improves again, while Desiree drinks and watches on happily.

Jayden is silent, Jacklyn edges on tears. They play as roundabout as they can to protract it – and are rewarded, as Desiree dozes off at the bar. Seeing she is soundly asleep, Jacklyn puts his shirt back on, prepares breakfast, leaves it in the fridge, and leaves with Jayden to rent a hotel for the night instead.