She took another puff from her pipe, her lips curling into a sly grin as she exhaled slowly, a thin stream of smoke dancing through the air. "So… are you going to explain yourself, darling? Or would you rather just sit there and admire my feet in silence?" Her tone was smooth and teasing, laced with amusement.
Evryn blinked a few times, snapping himself out of his daze. Get it together, Evryn! He cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus. "Uh… right. You see, I was sitting on one of the stools at the bar, but I was told I couldn't bring weapons inside by some orange-haired guy. He said I needed to go into the hallway to put my weapon away."
"Hm." A small smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly turned into a full-blown laugh. She tilted her head back and laughed her heart out. "Haha!"
Why does her laughter sound like that? Even her damn laugh is seducing me!
"Oh," she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with her left hand's index finger, her laughter dying down into a soft chuckle. "And you believed him? Did you not notice the other people in the building carrying their weapons?"
The men in the room began to snicker, clearly amused by Evryn's story.
Evryn's jaw clenched. They're laughing at me… His face burned with embarrassment. Not only was I lied to and deceived, but now I'm being mocked by my captors for falling for such an obvious trick!
A quick memory flashed through Evryn's mind—he had noticed a man at one of the booths with a gun holster strapped to his side.
Damn it… I'm so blind!
Even Razek started to chuckle, barely holding it in.
Evryn's eye twitched. "Okay, that's enough." His tone was sharp, frustration bleeding through. "Why did you kidnap us? We didn't destroy anything, didn't cause trouble. We just… walked somewhere we shouldn't have. That's it."
She let out a long, slow sigh, twirling her pipe between her fingers with effortless grace. "My men heard one of you talking about the Black Suns," her voice grew colder, the playful edge gone, replaced by a sharper, more dangerous tone, "and you were heading down a hallway… where customers aren't allowed."
Evryn's stomach twisted. He instinctively glanced at Razek, who, as usual, looked completely unbothered. His face was the picture of casual indifference, despite being tied up like a captured animal.
I knew something bad would happen after he opened his damn mouth…
Evryn clenched his teeth, trying to think fast. "Well… why wasn't there a sign that said 'No Customers Allowed?'"
Her lips curved slightly, but it wasn't a smile—it was something far more condescending. "Why would I need one?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "People should know better than to wander where they don't belong."
Evryn went quiet. He had nothing. Damn… she's got a point. If I keep talking, I'll just make myself look like an even bigger idiot.
She took another puff from her pipe, the smoke curling lazily between them. Her yellow-hued eyes narrowed ever so slightly, the mood shifting again. "And," she added softly, "you weren't just wandering, were you? Your hand was right by the hilt of your sword."
Her gaze pinned him in place, sharp enough to pierce through his skin. "So… what were you really doing back there?"
This isn't good… Evryn's mind was racing. They think I'm working for the Black Suns… or worse— his thoughts froze for a moment.
The pieces started falling into place. From what he could tell, they'd dragged him and Razek here because they suspected they were connected to the Black Suns. This was a misunderstanding. Probably.
Evryn's jaw tightened as he took a breath, trying to steady himself. He met her gaze with as much confidence as he could muster. "What I told you was the truth," he said, his voice firm but measured. "I went into that hallway because I thought I was supposed to leave my weapon there. Nothing more."
The room fell into an unsettling silence.
She sighed, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "So… you're not going to be honest with me. That's a real shame."
The men around them began to move, their footsteps heavy as they closed in. Their expressions were unreadable, but the threat was clear. Whatever they had planned… it wouldn't be pleasant.
Evryn's heart pounded. His eyes dropped to the floor as he clenched his jaw.
"Okay, okay!" His voice echoed through the room.
The men halted, freezing in their tracks.
A soft hum of approval escaped her lips, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners. She leaned back slightly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Finally, he was ready to talk.
Evryn's mind raced. He didn't want to tell them why they were really on this planet. But maybe… if he gave them just enough of the truth, it would buy them some time.
He let out a deep sigh, lifting his head. His gaze met hers, now filled with resolve and determination. "The reason my friend mentioned the Black Suns," he began, his voice steady but careful, "is because we came here looking for information about them."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "I overheard that orange-haired man talking about some kind of… 'transport.' So, I moved closer to hear better. And well…" His jaw tightened. "The rest… I already told you."
She lowered her pipe, a small smile tugging at her lips. This time, it wasn't mocking or condescending. It was… satisfied.
"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Her tone was light again, almost playful. She raised the pipe back to her lips, taking another slow puff. Her eyes drifted shut for a moment before opening again, her gaze sharper now.
She glanced toward her guards. "Get these boys some towels. Dry them off."
Two of the guards exchanged a look before nodding, turning toward the door. A soft hiss echoed as it slid shut behind them.
Her attention returned to Evryn. The smirk was back, playful but laced with something more—something dangerous.
"Now tell me, darling," her voice dripped with curiosity, "what's your name?"
"Evryn," he said, his tone firm.
"And the boy behind you?"
"Razek."
"Hmmm…" She dragged her gaze over Evryn and Razek, her eyes analyzing them from head to toe. "Evryn and Razek," she murmured softly, as if committing their names to memory.
Her attention shifted to the last guard standing near the door. "Go fetch me another pipe. This one's no good anymore."
"Yes, M'lady." The man stepped forward, carefully taking the pipe from her hand.
Evryn's eyes narrowed slightly. It was the same blonde-haired man who had confronted them in the hallway. But something was different now. His expression had shifted—from the aggressive authority he had shown earlier to something far more subdued.
The guard left without another word, the door hissing softly as it slid shut behind him.
Evryn let out a quiet sigh, leaning his head back against the wall. Finally… this was almost over.
"Ughhh," Razek groaned, his head slumping forward dramatically. "Can you please let us go now? We've been sitting here forever. My clothes are soaked, my wrists hurt, and I think I'm developing a cramp."
Evryn turned his head slightly, shooting Razek an incredulous glance. Is he seriously whining right now? After everything that just happened?
Razek, of course, was completely unbothered. "Don't look at me like that," he muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "I'm just speaking the truth. I don't deserve this. I'm a beautiful young man with a promising future."
I swear, I'm going to kill him.
Evryn's jaw clenched as he bit back a response. He'd done all the talking, taken all the heat, while Razek sat there like dead weight. And now he had the audacity to complain?
All the while, she was watching them with a look of pure amusement, her chin resting lightly on her hand.
"You two seem to have a lot of fun together," she mused, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.