Daily Thursday Short: Sara 01

“Are you sure we can’t get a discount?” Sara asked, her every expression a demure contrast to the luxury around her. She held sway over the room, seated in a comfortable runic chair that could double as a throne. Her desk was pure ebony granite crystal from the Skysword Mountains. Rare luxury items peered from behind enchanted crystal glass bookcases lined all four walls. Only a smidgen of space was allotted to the single door entering her sanctum.

The insufferable tax toad across from her desk sat in the only other chair. He looked like nothing so much as a greased and bloated amphibian. Sara had checked his status just to confirm he was a human. The Skysword Mountains had been a tax-free zone. Unfortunately, with the victory of the Serpent Empire, that status had changed. Quite a few factions had decided the untamed mountains were ripe for conquest.

With the appetite for ruling came other older appetites. Sara had built a business monopoly on the purview of pleasure. The few who attempted to provide unlicensed services had tragic ends. After a few competitors leaped to their deaths, drank poisoned wine, or died with enraptured faces, the message is clear.

Operating within the Snake’s turf meant following the rules.

If I had known that turning into the largest multi-ethnic conglomerate in the sex trade would result in trafficking with demons, I might have stopped at a single shop. Sara thought, staring unnervingly at the fat tax toady. Every time they arrive, getting them to bed with one of the girls for blackmail material is a hassle.

Sara's work would be cut in half if the Serpent Empire would just send a nice young man filled with bright ideas. It was far easier and cheaper to boot to corrupt the youth. Older tax agents had far more time to acquire a veneer of tastes.

“D-Discounts are illegal, Madam Sara.” The tax toad said.

Sara smiled a wide bright smile and pressed a small button under her desk. The door behind the tax toad opened, and four hulking men entered, carrying a sofa each. As soon as the men set the sofas down, they departed with rapid haste. Entering behind the men’s exit were her best-trained Gems. She watched in satisfaction as the tax collector’s eyes bulged. He tried to turn his head in multiple directions in a vain attempt to see every Gem.

“Discounts aren’t illegal. They just require proper remuneration, right?” Sara said, her voice gaining a hypnotic quality.

“Remuneration?” the tax collecting toad said, distracted.

“Right, renumeration. You get something. I get something. Everyone is happy. Very happy.” Sara said, watching the short man’s expressions grow vacant.

The women gathered around the tax collector looked every bit like they were preparing to enjoy a feast. Sara shrugged as she continued suggesting ever-increasing depravity. It wasn’t like the Serpent Empire would miss a tax collector or ten. She was pretty certain by now that all sorts of dire warnings existed. If the idiots weren’t going to take even the most basic precautions, it wasn’t her problem.

Once the tax collector was enthralled, Sara looked at the Gems and said, “Make sure we get every piece of intelligence left in his head. Have him make the standard report on our earnings and provide him with the payment. Time it so that a heart attack is inevitable after he leaves our care. Am I clear?”

All of the gathered species rose and bowed at her. Sara nodded and said, “Dismissed girls. Enjoy the new year.”

After the women had left, taking both the tax collector and the sofas, Sara leaned back. A gesture from her hand sealed the room, causing runes to appear and scroll over every surface.

Sara looked longingly at a single scroll that appeared. It was her most precious possession and the sole proof that her Mistress still lived. As a Scripture Witch, she gained power as her lady grew.

“It is only a matter of time,” Sara said, stroking the scroll softly. “Only a matter of time to bring you back, Mistress!”