1 Chapter 1

"The Kingdom of Nyx was one of the oldest and most noble Kingdoms in the Land of Terra. With a small population but a very good strategical position geographically the royal family that was leading the nation had managed to make the Kingdom flourish. From the paved streets to the enormous mansions at the Skywalking street close to the royal palace the Kingdom at first glance looked as if it was blessed by the gods. 

Divided into three areas where the people lived in peace and harmony as the King escribed every person had a place in this angelically built world that was filled with magic and gold. As you entered the Kingdom, passing through the tall walls you would face the middle area. Where the working class lived. Businessmen, merchants, teachers and all the simple everyday people would live in their quiet pretty houses with many flowers at their front porch. They would greet each other every morning stepping on the polished stones on the ground as carriages would pass by filled with people getting to their every day destination. In the middle area you could also find the big market and the huge town square where the people celebrated and danced in joy when the national celebrations occurred. The most people inhabited the middle zone while the top zone, located the closest to the palace was where the royals and the few gifted magicians lived. People with a lot of money or royal blood that participated in the ruling of the Kingdom. Filled with endless gardens and the chirping melodic sound of birds the top zone was the perfect place for someone in need of calmness and it has the most marvelous view of the Diamond Palace where the royal family lives…"

"Rosa please stop reading that crap out loud" Angelica, the owner of the business said as she looked at her workers that had gathered at the main salon. They had just gotten ready, taking their positions and were waiting for opening hours. 

"Why miss? I think it's fun. A customer gave me this travel guide and taught me how to read. I mean…this is what they write for Nyx" the beautiful girl with the blonde hair and blue eyes said while chuckling. 

"I bet it doesn't say anything about where we live." Angelica said as she took a sip from her every day evening glass of wine. She signaled Rosa to give her the heavy book and the girl unwillingly stood up from the velvet couch and gave it to her. "Girls get ready in a while the customers will be let in" she said.

Where they lived. The Bottom zone. The grey page everyone was trying to hide from this Kingdom. The filth and stink of their world. The bottom zone located just on the back of the Kingdom in the outskirts of the main city was were all the unfortunate souls mingled. There you could find the black market, all of the criminals of the underworld and in general everything that it would be described as indecent and dirty in the normal world. Naturally this is where all the brothels existed too. 

The Black Rose, the brothel miss Angelica was the owner of was the most known of them all. Because it was what simple people would call high class. The girls here were refined and knew how to read and entertain before they pleased the men on their bed. The whole place had the aura of some kind of mansion of lust enveloped in mystery and seductive scents of vanilla and spices. The girls would be put on display every night, the men would enter and chose one that fit their tastes. From tall, to short to chubby or really skinny Angelica provided them with whatever they wanted and allowed them to do whatever they wanted. Even if that sometimes did not end up so well. 

This was the brothel Alice had been raised in. Her mother, one of Angelica's most known Ladies of the Night as the prostitutes of this place were commonly called, an attempt to keep the last pieces of their dignity, had died immediately after birth meaning that Alice' chances of ever being freed from this place had instantly disappeared the moment her only protector had breathed her last breath. She didn't even want to know who her father was even though she was pretty sure her mother didn't know either and just lived her life there. Being an errand girl at first since she was too young, then a trainee and now a proper Lady of The Night and a very popular one indeed since as it seemed she had inherited her mother's beauty. 

She had pale skin, making her look fragile and delicate. With raven long straight hair that reached her waist and the most breathtaking red eyes that many times had made the men on her bed question if she was human. A small nose and full lips but not a very unique body time just one look from her could charm any man that stood before her. She seemed to be able to bring out the lust in every man and many times she had thought about seducing a rich man and getting out of this place but at the last minute she regretted it. Seemingly completely perfect with a cold interior and unfazed by whatever her clients would ask she was one of Angelica's favorites

"Alice, smile a little will you? You look like someone just died" Rosa whispered in her ear as the front doors were slowly opening. 

"This is not some kind of festive situation. We are just waiting to get fucked" Alice said not being able to control her discomfort. She never liked this place, no matter how much Angelica pampered her. No matter how much money she had and how she was bathed with jewelry and nice clothes Alice had one flaw. One that no one would have guessed from her cold and stern exterior or her uninterested behavior. 

Alice was a hopeless romantic. She dreamed of the day she would meet her true love, the one who would sweep her off her feet and take all of her pain away. That one person who wouldn't look at her as a Lady of the night. That one person who wouldn't just want to bed her but be with her. No matter how hard she tried to stop herself from these delusions though it was too tough, because every time she would lay on her bed, just before the night would become day she would gaze outside her window and focus on the twinkling lights of the palace and the Skywalking street. People there were pure, not like her. She was stuck in the slumps, being used and taken advantage of as she dreamed of the day she would be let out of this place. 

The men slowly began entering, approaching the sparkly ladies and taking them away one by one. Today was Monday so Alice felt slightly excited. A man who always came on Mondays would visit her and request her for the whole night. He was actually one of her younger customers only twenty years old with kind brown eyes and blonde hair in the color of hay. He didn't know his name but she knew he had money from the way he acted. He was a special customer and Alice at least was satisfied with someone who was handsome. 

"Hello my lady. Will you do me the honor of passing a night with me?" he asked her and she nodded, giving him her hand before she led him to her work space. A spacious bedroom with an enormous round bed, with silk deep purple sheets. There was also a bathtub and a closet filled with everything she could need. It was dimly lit with scented candles and as they stepped inside Alice pushed him on the bed, making him chuckle. "Wait, wait" He told her with a cute smile. "We have all night but first let me give you this" He told her and from the pocket of his coat he took out a book, with a dark red hard cover. "This is from the author you like. It's a birthday present. You will be turning eighteen soon after all." 

"You remembered!" Alice exclaimed happily, unable to hold her joy in. This person, the man who she didn't even know his name was th only one who had ever treated her as a human being. The only one who looked at her with eyes filled with kindness. Why hadn't she asked him to take her away then yet? She couldn't she would never because all of her dream would shutter if he said no. This man lived in Skywalking street and it would be impossible for him to free her without tarnishing his reputation. "Thank you so much"

"No problem. So tell me." He told her and signaled her to sit on his lap. Her arms wrapping gently around his neck. As long as it was him, she felt fine. As long as this man who was filled with caring touches came to her she would be fine. "Will you be willing to go out with me on your free day? It's tomorrow if I am not mistaken. In the middle zone there is a new café and they have the most splendid sweets. I want to take you out." 

"What? Me? Are you sure? What if people recognize you? It would be shameful." Alice said, worry overtaking her. She didn't want to do anything that would hurt him. That way he could just leave her. 

"Don't worry. I am not that known outside the…It's fine. So will you come with me?" he asked her and kissed her neck. His hand traveling up and down her spine. 

"Of course I will. Thank you so much. My Lord. I…I…" She began ready to speak. She wanted to tell him, at least for him to know how she felt even if she would be rejected. Suddenly though a scream echoed in the whole place. Alice flinched and turned to look towards the door with her eyes open.

"She is dead!" Someone screamed loudly and before she knew it she was running towards the door.