Until proven guilty

TAHU 

The eyes of the bar owner fixed on the guest that just walked into her establishment as it filled with surprise. It wasn't odd to find one of the royals in the Arom house. Arom was infact the only pleasure house the royals of Tahu frequented. It's majestic building stood really tall and bright, with lots of room on all wings of the house.

It provided everything, a place to merely sleep for the night for those who may be visiting from the other lands of beast, to exquisite drinks served in beautiful silver wares, art and nude shows at night, worldly pleasures, information on who, what and when, and the ladies the owner housed were beautiful and carefully selected by her. Arom had it all, one needed to escape their reality? They did so at Arom.

The surprise in the eyes of the owner only settled there because she was looking at the Royal Prince Zaccai.

"And here I was believing this day will never come," She half muttered as she walked slowly towards her guest to welcome him. Her green and gold dress left little to the imagination, slits ran up to her hip bone and it's neckline went down to her navel revealing half of her breasts. Gold necklaces graced her neck, trinkets on her wrists and simple gold ring on her index finger. Her feet was bare, he found that odd.

Zaccai looked around the large bar room as he stepped in, it truly was a clean establishment, he thought, just as he had heard. His presence filled the room and caused a few stares from the few people that were present at that moment.

"Welcome, your highness. The stories I have heard don't quite measure up. You are a vision young Prince, wow!" She sized him up and down as her girls now showed up wanting to catch a glimpse of him. "What's it going to be? I never do this, no, but I am more than willing to offer myself up for whatever you are in the mood for." She voiced her thoughts.

"I do not come to you for that," he stared her down and was half impressed she didn't flinch. He heard the stories of Lady Ma. Some say she is a siren, others a mermaid, some say she has no true form and was a shape shifter. One thing always remained constant with all the stories. She was charming, her figure and her dress choices commanded attention, and she was just as the rumors said, mysterious. Her age was placed around three hundred years as no one really knew her family history which added to the air of mystery about her, but she looked young enough to pass for his younger sibling, if he had any.

"Aw, your loss, I can open your mind and body to a passion like you've never felt before," she moved even closer to him as her fingers traced the collar of his exquisite coat. "You know, I am kinda sad you didn't get to shed off your innocence in my sheets. You broke my little heart, young prince." She made a sad face as her body grazed his.

He caught hold of her hand and gently dropped it. "I'm here for information, Lady Ma."

"Are you now," she turned away from him walking over to a passage that led to a very large garden at the back of her home.

Zaccai turned to look at his guards who were not far letting them know they didn't need to follow him before finally following her.

"I'm sure you already know I have to take a human wife in less than a month's time," he spoke immediately they were out into the garden.

"Do you seek information on how to make sure all she ever thinks about is you?" She turned to give him a knowing smile.

"I will be the last thing whoever she may be will think off because I'm sure she will very much hate me."

"Ah, one shouldn't rush to conclusions your highness." She strolled between red roses and smelled a few.

"I need a way as well as names," he blurted out. "A way to get to them without causing so much uproar and trouble, as well as names of the ladies that I could most likely choose from to...wed." he said closing the distance between them.

"Names you say? What makes you think I'd know that?"

"I've heard stories, rumors."

"And they hold truth, you think?"

"I know they do." he said softly as his eyes locked with hers.

"Wow, I didn't even notice how unreal your eyes look. I wonder just who the lucky miss will be, she gets to loose herself in them everyday, or night...if that's your thing," she teased him again.

"There's been some disappearance happening within our smaller nations for years now, people getting missing, quite sparingly and not much a cause for concern for some," His voice steady as he ignored her last comment as well as the thoughts it brought to his mind. "We had suspects," he continued. "One interesting name I came across, was you."

"Me?" She pretended to be shocked. "Are my services a danger to our kind?"

"This house is more than just a sex haven and you know it."

"Well yes, we provide great food, a bed to those who need it, and more. Young boys have been made men and girls, women..." Her eyes gave a far off look.

"Playing coy, nice. You sell information to anyone who can pay your price. Anyone. Anything?" He raised a perfectly shaped brow at her.

"I know the price I want for the information you seek," she was on him again, one hand circled his waist pulling him to her.

She was a lot stronger than she looked, he would admit.

"Enough of that Lady Ma!" He pushed her off.

"Indulge me, and I will tell you all you need to know. I might even tell you something a little extra to guide you on your journey."

"Stay on track!" He commanded.

"I would never sell out our kind!" She yelled. "If anything, I am the only one playing hero to our land and it's people.The mere fact that this is even a thought hurts me."

"Lady Ma-"

"No. I have heard enough." She turned away from him placing a hand to her forehead as she feigned weakness.

"If you were truly a suspect, you and your establishment will be taken down. No warnings or questions asked."

She turned back towards him standing straight. "Oh. So I am off the hook then?"

"Innocent until proven guilty."

"Fair enough!" She shrugged. "So, about that payment." She resumed her fantasies.

"I can't have you in my bed Lady Ma," he said icily.

She gasped. "I'm flattered. But, no, not me. I simply want you to bring your business here for a change. Until such time that you are wed and sworn to one of course." She was close to him again, touching him freely and without fear. "What does Waves have that I don't?"

Waves was where it happened for him and still did. It was just like Arom but far calmer, and that was what he had craved at the time when he had been introduced to the life by his school mates. A few of them had sort to supplement their formal education and brought him along to learn some practical lessons in biology. He had made a discovery on one of such events that females were truly wonderful beings than he had ever thought and could provide the most beautiful pleasure with their bodies. Far be it from him to compare the women at Waves to those in Arom, beauty had more than one look, he knew that. He however believed, some possessed it more than others.

"This is no whirl of pleasure for me you know. I hear you are the one to meet for any information I may need to make progress with this. So will you help me, or do I have to use the power of my position to make you?"

She looked up at him and smiled. Perfect set of teeth flashed. "I can think of something you could make me do." She winked.

Zaccai looked on displeased.

"For the names, I can rack something up. For a way, you already have a way young prince." She let him go finally, turning to her flowers.

"What?"

"There is something ravaging our lands, quite slowly but soon it will swallow us all. What better time do we all need to stick together than now."

"Is that true?" He pondered on just how much she knew.

"You've seen it, some of it. But believe me, you haven't seen even a ten of what's to come." She walked and he followed closely.

"You are saying it will get worse?" He asked with concern and interest.

"I'm saying, we all need to stick together. Hopefully your kind doesn't betray us once again." She smiled again.

"What does-"

"That is all I have for you your highness. Get the names at the door on your way out. If destiny is on your side, she will lead you to the right one..." She turned fully to him and closed the distance between them. "The right one." She completed as she locked eyes with him.

"What are you?"

"A siren maybe, would you like to find out, right here, right now?" She was back to seducing him.

"Thank you for your help." He stepped back and turned to leave.

"Prepare your finest rooms for me two nights from today." He half turned to say. "And there will be two hundred gold coins waiting for you inside."

"Yes your highness." Lady Ma replied happily.

Within moments, she stood alone in her garden as her smile faded.

"No turning back now, right mother?" She whispered to thin air picking up a lone freesia flower to inhale it's scent. "Right." She said like she had gotten a response to her question.