Page 8 of Seas and Scepters

Her gaze lingered on my face, and I saw her mentally calculating something.Numbers, perhaps.Profit margins.The price that beauty commanded in whatever market she served.

"What do you do, Lydia?"I asked, though part of me already suspected the answer.

Her smile was like a blade wrapped in silk."I provide comfort to gentlemen of means, dear one.Companionship for those whose lives are...complicated by duty and responsibility.I run an establishment where such men can find sanctuary from the demands of their stations."

A brothel, then.I should have been scandalized—among my people, physical pleasure was taken freely, without coin or contract.But I was hardly in a position to judge human customs, especially when this woman might be my only path to survival.

And more importantly, to completing my mission.

"I can offer you shelter," Lydia continued, her voice neutral."Protection from those who might take advantage of a girl in your circumstances.In exchange, you would work for me.Nothing too demanding at first—you're clearly not ready for the more strenuous aspects of the profession.But I think you could be quite valuable to my establishment, given the proper training."

I met her eyes, seeing the shrewd intelligence that lurked behind her maternal facade.She was offering me exactly what I needed—a place to stay, access to wealthy men who might include my target, and time to learn how to function in this strange new body.

"I accept," I said quietly.

"Excellent."Lydia's smile widened, showing teeth that were surprisingly white and sharp."Though I should warn you, dear—this life isn't for everyone.It requires a certain…flexibility of moral outlook.The ability to be whatever a man needs you to be, regardless of your own feelings on the matter."

I thought of the twelve men I had already killed, of the way I had watched the light fade from their eyes without feeling more than professional satisfaction.If this woman only knew what ‘flexibility’ I was truly capable of.

"I understand," I said.

"Good girl."Lydia helped me to my feet, steadying me when my new legs threatened to give way beneath me."Let's get you somewhere warm and dry.You'll need to regain your strength before we begin your...education."

The walk to her establishment was a nightmare of stumbling steps and barely controlled falls.My legs simply refused to obey my will, responding sluggishly to mental commands that had once moved my tail with fluid grace.Lydia was patient, allowing me to rest when the pain became too much, but I could see the concern in her eyes.A girl who couldn't walk was no use to anyone.

"It will get better," she assured me as we paused beside a stone wall."The body remembers how to move, even after trauma.You just need time."

If only she knew how much time I truly needed.I wasn't recovering from injury—I was learning to be human from the very beginning.

Lydia's house stood at the end of a quiet street, its facade elegant but discreet.Tall windows were curtained with rich fabric, and the door was painted a deep burgundy that spoke of wealth without ostentation.Everything about the building whispered of secrets and discretion.

Inside, the decor was sumptuous but tasteful—thick carpets in shades of gold and crimson, oil paintings depicting pastoral scenes, furniture that looked both beautiful and comfortable.It was nothing like the coral palaces of my youth, but there was an undeniable appeal to its warm, intimate atmosphere.

"Your room," Lydia announced, showing me into a chamber on the second floor.It was smaller than my quarters in the underwater palace, but beautifully appointed with a canopied bed, a dressing table, and tall windows that looked out over the city."You'll share it with another girl at first—Nell.She's been with me for two years and can help you adjust to our ways."

I nodded, sinking gratefully onto the soft mattress.My body felt like it had been put through a mill, every muscle and bone aching from the transformation and the brutal journey to shore.

"Rest today," Lydia instructed."Tomorrow, we begin your training."

Over the next few days, I discovered that becoming human was far more complicated than I had imagined.Simply learning to walk took most of my time and constant effort, and even then, I moved with the cautious, deliberate steps of someone navigating unfamiliar terrain.Running was impossible—my legs would tangle together, sending me sprawling to the floor in an undignified heap.

Nell, my roommate, was a patient teacher.She was perhaps twenty years old, with warm brown hair and kind eyes that had seen too much of the world's harshness.She showed me how to lace a corset, how to style my hair in ways that flattered my features, how to apply the subtle cosmetics that enhanced rather than masked natural beauty.

"The trick," she explained as she taught me to walk in heeled shoes, "is to make it look effortless.Men want to believe that your beauty is natural, unstudied.They don't want to see the work that goes into it."

I spent hours each day mastering the intricate dance of human femininity.How to sit gracefully with my ankles crossed.How to lower my eyes demurely while still maintaining the illusion of interest.How to laugh in a way that suggested both innocence and hidden depths.

But it was the other lessons that proved most challenging.

"Physical pleasure," Lydia explained during one of our private sessions, "is both an art and a science.Different men require different approaches, and your success will depend on your ability to read their needs and desires."

She taught me about the human body with clinical precision—where to touch, how to move, what sounds to make to convince a man that his pleasure was your only concern.It was strange to learn such intimacy as a set of techniques rather than expressions of genuine desire, but I forced myself to absorb every detail.These skills might prove useful in ways Lydia couldn't imagine.

"However," she added, studying me with those sharp eyes, "I'm saving your virginity for a special client.Someone who will pay handsomely for the privilege of being your first.He's...particular about such things, and I believe you'll suit his needs perfectly."

I felt a chill run down my spine."Who is he?"

Lydia's smile was secretive."A gentleman of very high standing.Someone who requires absolute discretion and has the coin to pay for it.He should be returning to us within the week, and when he does..."She reached out to touch my cheek with one finger."Well, let's just say that your future will be secure."

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