“You seem to know so much why don’t you go on?” Helena stepped two paces closer when the bulky man let out the guttural growl of a feral beast.
“Don’t get too close, Ho Man has been known to bite, he seems to be developing a taste for human flesh.”
Helena moved close enough to understand that the man’s face wasn’t acutely pockmarked but looked like it had been recently chewed upon by some sort of worm. His eyes weren’t rolled back in his head, his irises where a shade of a fish belly, with the whites bloodshot, she had to look away to keep from vomiting.
“What is he?”
“He is what we in the trade would call a zombi.” Cade laughed before continuing.
“My word girl you do reek of the stench of control flowing from your body.”
Helena couldn’t help but sniff her right armpit before asking, “I beg your pardon?”
“Either you or someone close to you has some serious magic thrown on them. They’re being controlled, not unlike my friend Ho Man in front of you.”
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken no one I know looks like this,” Helena motioned to Ho Man, even though no one could see.
“You’re mistaken, a person doesn’t need to be a zombi to be under another’s control. Look at yourself, you think your life is yours to control, I would be willing to bet that if you searched deep enough, you would find you control nothing in your life. Down to something as simple as what you ate for breakfast this morning it was someone else’s decision for you.”
“You say that like you know me, you know nothing about me.”
“I understand life is a matter of control, from the employee who does what his boss says to collect a paycheck, to the churchgoer who does what his priest says, so they can find a happy afterlife. Look at everyone around you, husbands, wives, soldiers, sailors, everyone’s being controlled by someone else. Very few people are truly free.”
“And who controls you?”
“Someone who thinks they can match wits with the great Storm. You think you control yourself the door is behind you.”
“You know I can’t do that, you haven’t even asked me what I want, or why am here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I assume that you appreciate my reputation I also assume you were warned about coming here. That means that you’re desperate enough to risk what happened to Ho Man. That means you will do anything. Take my warning or not, that is up to you, but someone is controlling you, or someone close to you with some impressive magic, the fetid stench of it is surrounding you. That information I give to you for free.”
“Is there a point to this--” she’s cut off before she can finish.
“If you want my help it will cost you, in Ho Man’s right coat pocket you will find a mask take it out and cover your eyes with it. If you don’t wish to do it simply turn around and leave, I’ve better things to do.”
Helena hesitated for a moment, but she meant what she said she was willing to do anything to save the children. She acquiesced and covered her eyes with the black velvet mask. After covering her eyes, she stood there, and an extreme feeling of vulnerability and goosebumps flowed over her, she covered herself as best she could with her arms even though fully clothed.
The voice began from behind her, “You see, I understand enough about you, and we’ve never met. You’re desperate,” she tracked the voice as it moved around her, stalked her like prey, “You want my help, tell me what can Cade Storm can do for you?”
Helena found his voice alluring. There was something about the danger, the thrill of the unknown, not knowing what might happen next, how much he would demand as payment, “There is a Chinese Girl’s School, and the students are trapped behind the plague barricade--”
“And you want me to rescue these girls, correct?”
“Yes, I want you to do that if you can, if you’re dominant enough.”
“You notice those cowards couldn’t find the courage to go up against the San Francisco strongest Bokor. Getting those children will be child’s play but the price, what should I charge you for my help?”
Helena braced herself, she was willing to pay any amount of money to rescue the children.
“The price for my help...” The bastard paused making her sweat. “Your virginity. Right here bent over my desk,” Helena cringed as she listened to his demands and could feel his breath on her neck below her right ear. She clenched her hands, Miss Hettie warned her the price would be high.
“And if I refuse?”
“At first, I was going to simply throw you out of my office. However, if you refuse now, I will use my power to send the plague straight to the school. If you’re lucky, I won’t cast a spell on you turning you into a zombi, like Ho Man here, and sell you to The Nymphia for a five-dollar gold coin.”
Before she knew what, she was doing, her mouth said, “I’ll do it, just save the children.”
“I knew you would when you walked in here,” she winced when his lips touched her neck. His beard scratched her, but when she felt his hand reach into her blouse, she couldn’t take it any longer, her resolve not as stout as she thought it would be. In a furry she gave her walking stick a quarter twist, releasing her mother’s blade. Concurrently she felt the man who had been groping her stiffen with a jolt, his hand contorted, fingers bent back into impossible directions.
She swung around, mask off, sword drawn, she aimed a wounding blow, not a fatal strike, lancing Cade dangerously close to his Achilles Tendon with the tip. Helena crouched in a street fighting position left hand ready to parry if needed, right
