Page 26 of The House of Whispers

The man screamed, cussing and yelling in my direction as my back remained to him. “I’m going to kill you! You fuckin’hexer bitch!” The man stumbled from his chair, wobbling in my direction as he groaned in pain, knocking furniture over as he aimed for me.

Chesmu carefully moved me aside, stepping in between us as the man slammed into him, bouncing off Chesmu’s hard body and falling to the floor. The room gasped as the man hit the floor with a heavy thud. Chesmu released a warming laugh as he stared down at the old man rolling around on the floor like a fish out of water. He struggled to rise to his feet, fuming as he angled a finger at Chesmu.

“I demand you move at once! Don’t you know who I am?!” he shouted.

Chemsu shrugged, unbothered but answering his question. “A privileged Other who thinks he can walk in here and do as he pleases is my guess.” He smiled, “But do correct me if I’m wrong.”

The man’s face burned bright red as clenched his teeth. “Move aside. Thatwhore,” he pointed to me, “needs to learn her place. And I plan to happily teach her where it is.” I raised an eyebrow at his threat.

Chesmu’s smile faded as he grabbed the man’s throat and lifted him off his feet. “You better watch how you address the ladies in this house.” His growled, protective words made my heart leap. “Apologize this instant or I’ll crush your windpipe and feed you to the rabid strays in the alley outback.”

“I’m s–sorr–y. Pl–ease.” The man begged. Chesmu’s strength was baffling.

“Enough.” The room froze at the sound of her voice. Chesmu’s arm bulged as he fought his own strength. “Chesmu, kindly put the man down.” Madame Chepi stood directly behind me, her presence causing every hair on my neck to stand up straight.

Chesmu waited a moment before he released the man, dropping him to his knees as he grunted. The man coughed and cried, showing his pathetic, true nature. “Madame Chepi—” the man wheezed, “I demand,” he coughed, struggling to speak. “I demand to s–speak to you at once!” He remained on his knees, trying to catch his breathing.

Madame Chepi stepped forward, her eyes meeting mine before returning to the man. “Of course.” She looked to Chesmu and angled her head at the old man.

Chesmu groaned as he reached to help the man to his feet. The old man swatted him away. Chesmu snatched his arm, forcefully pulling him to his feet in one quick, aggressive motion.

“Let’s talk in my room now, shall we?” Madame Chepi smirked, motioning for Chesmu and the man to follow as she gracefully made her way through the parlor. “Clean up his mess, Casper.” She commanded over her shoulder as she scaled the staircase.

I sighed. “Yes, Madame Chepi.”

After cleaning the mess from the Other man, I huddled up into my usual spot at the corner of the room and observed from the shadows. Music had resumed and The House of Whispers carried on as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Min had stolen away from her chores and scurried to my side. “What happened?” she asked quietly, hoping to remain unnoticed by the numerous Johns present. “Everyone is whispering about anOthergetting physical. Did he hurt you?”

I snorted a laugh. “The man was too drunk and stupid to even walk.” I glanced at her worried expression. “No, Min,” I sighed, “he didn’t touch me. It was just a John getting handsy with a waiting Whisp. I had the situation handled but—”

The door of the brothel swung open as I briefly caught sight of his copper hair in the lively crowds outside in the street.

“But what?” Min asked, puzzled by the look on my face. She looked from me to the closing door, unaware of what I saw.

I pushed from the corner wall and emerged from the shadows peering through the crack of the door as it closed.

Was it Reynard? Or Jakkal?

“Casper?” Min reached for me.

“Shouldn’t you be doing the laundry, little Whisp?” Chesmu had walked to Min’s side. Her head fell as she became quiet.

“Forgive me, sir.” She quickly fluttered from the room to the hallway beyond.

My eyes reluctantly peeled from the door and back to Chesmu. “You don’t need to speak to her that way.” I groaned, furrowing my eyebrows as I returned to my place in the shadows.

Chesmu made a face. “And why is that?”

“Because she wasn’t doing anything wrong,” I snapped.

“She’s a Whisp. If she can’t do her job as a maid, then she should get her ass out here and earn her wages like the rest of them.” Chesmu tied his long black hair atop his head, exposing more inked designs along his wide neck. “She should be groveling at your feet for all you have done for her.” He stepped toward the bar, a few stray strands dangling in front of his face.

“Min isnota Whisp.” I growled, following behind. “She’s a maid of this house and my sister.”

He smiled, stepping behind the bar. The light from the small window against the wall bled across the small bar area, highlighting his shirtless inked torso. Two long, colorfully beaded necklaces hung around his neck and fell to his navel. I had to force my eyes from staring too long.

“She may be your sister,” he picked up two shot glasses, “but she is a member of this house. And you and I both know,” he pulled a bottle of glowing Snake Venom from beneath the bar and filled the glasses to the brim with the neon liquid, “that our duty to this house comes first.” Chesmu held a shot glass out to me.

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