208

Chapter 208 : Interrogation (1)

“Hmm. I guess. As long as you’re not trying to poach her for your prostitution ring.” Vivian said as she folded her arms.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Zura replied as she took a position next to Agni and placed an arm across her shoulder. She offered a reassuring smile to Vivian as well, prompting the Doyenne to wave her hand as a sort of begrudging approval.

“Excellent!” Zura replied as she then turned her gaze towards Agni and winked.

“In that case, we’ll return shortly. Agni, let’s take a walk.” Zura said as she grabbed Agni by the hand and gently led her away.

“Oi. Where are you two going?” Shula asked.

“Our secret.” Zura replied as she waved towards both Katrin and Shula, pulling Agni through the crowd of people.

“Hmmph.” Shula grunted as she made to float upwards, however Katrin’s firm grasp on her tail sabotaged that plan.

“W-what are you doing?” She asked as Katrin easily pulled her downwards, firmly grasping Shula by her hand.

“You’ve gotten into enough today.” Katrin said sternly as she cut her eyes towards Shula. Apparently, even the goddess Katrin had her limits with hijinks.

“Meh. Fine.” Shula muttered as she folded her arms, resigning herself to continue the ‘tour’ along with everyone else.

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“So, where are we going?” Agni asked. She was currently being led by the hand through the crowd of people in the central square. Though there weren’t nearly as many folks gathered now as the first auction, one could still say it was pretty crowded in a sense.

“I like your outfit. It’s quite daring of you to wear something like that in public.” Zura replied as she continued to guide Agni.

*I thought we were going for a walk, this is more like a consensual kidnapping.* Agni thought, noting the fact that Zura deftly dodged her question. At least until they reached a nearby alleyway.

“Good. We have some privacy now.” Zura said as she finally released Agni’s hand and turned to face the Succubus. Indeed, their current position was several meters away from the nearest person, just outside of the Grenvale central square.

“Remember our talk the day you were...mm, visited by the Angellus?” Zura asked. Agni quickly recalled most of the talk, but due to the fact that she’d been drinking her memory was somewhat fuzzy.

“Sort of. What about it?” Agni asked.

“At the time I mentioned that there were some...unsavory rumors regarding the Memento Mori Chapel, and their leader as well. But, nothing substantial.”

“Right. I remember that. Has something changed?” Agni asked, her arms folding subconsciously as she spoke. Having just met Enzo Gaines, a certain seed of foreboding had taken root in the pit of her stomach. And the direction of this conversation only served to nurture it.

“No. There’s still no credible evidence that anything untoward is happening.” Zura replied, she was now busy undoing her hair. She allowed the length of her long, black hair to fall down past her shoulders. She looked relieved, Agni thought that this was the *price of beauty* she’d heard of so often.

“But, I found one of my old girls. Apparently now she’s a member of Memento Mori. And though I can’t get answers from her, maybe you can.” Zura continued as she then turned and motioned for Agni to follow her deeper into the alleyway and away from the festivities.

“Okay. Sure.” Agni responded. For some reason she was beginning to feel a bit of anxiety. It made her palms sweat as a sense of general unease filled the vermillion haired Succubus. She followed Zura for just a few meters more to a sight that seemed more like a reunion than an interrogation.

Ducked off, just a few meters away from the entrance of a side alley was a young woman surrounded by several of Zura’s chapel members. They all seemed rather busy, chatting with one another. Agni immediately picked up on the fact that several of the young women before her seemed nervous. This included the young woman Agni could only presume she would need to speak to.

This was evident by the young lady’s style of dress. Agni’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the style of cheap hooded cloak which concealed the young woman’s features. It reminded her of the snatchers and their scuffle not far from her current location.

“This is Michelle.” Zura commented as she drew closer. This prompted the group of young women to turn and face both of them. Several of them wore worried expressions and some seemed genuinely dismayed. The hooded woman in the center clenched her palms, a sign that she too was apprehensive. To Agni it almost looked as if she was defying some sort of danger, simply for being present.

This was confirmed as she set eyes upon the succubus. Michelle’s heart skipped a beat, but in her head she’d already made up her mind to follow through.

“Michelle, this is Agni. She’s a good friend of mine.” Zura said as she stepped towards the pale skinned, blonde haired young woman and grasped her hands. Zura met the woman’s gaze and could feel her own heart sink. Zura had met many women in her line of work, and it was obvious to her eyes that this young lady was in some sort of distress.

She was also wise enough to know the power of invisible chains. Chains that others can’t see, the sort that are difficult to shrug off or escape. In her mind’s eye Zura could see such chains, living ones which entwined Michelle like the coils of a snake. Pulling her down, constricting her as they tugged from all directions.

They muffled her voice so that she could not speak, and constricted her heart to make her docile. To Zura this was apparent in the woman’s gaze, but even more so as she used her own skills as a Courtesan to probe the young lady’s emotions.

“I think she may be able to help you.” Zura continued as she then turned and nodded towards Agni. Agni stood a few meters away initially, allowing Zura to make first contact, before she stepped forward. She offered a smile, despite the growing anxiety in the pit of her own stomach and nodded.

“Hello. I’m Agni Heartfyre.” Agni said as the rest of the young women nervously gathered around the woman known as Michelle.