Kitanna
Chapter 189: FIREWORKS

Chapter 189: FIREWORKS

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: BUTTERFLY ~ LOONA]

With the arrival of the cool evening at the Kaima-riya port, just as Kayla had told Axilla, soon everywhere was set up for a party. Merchants drank to their fill while chatting away with their acquaintances. Business ideas were exchanged among traders as they enjoyed their time.

Abigail, the woman who had tried to insult Axilla earlier but was disgraced by Cortez, made her way to where merchants from Ipolo gathered. Getting to the Chief, she bowed slightly in respect, saying, "Greetings Chief Theo, you only come around when you have something very important you want to buy. I hope you have gotten it." The sly woman said, taking a sip from the drink she had been carrying around.

Theo, the merchant, moved his gaze from the crowd and settled it on the woman chattering in front of him. "Hm."

"Why the short response?" Abigail asked, leaning forward. She continued in a whispering voice, "The ones I sold to you, are they no longer to your taste?" She completed, gulping the contents of alcohol in her cup.

Theo scowled, "I have my eyes on something else this time. Can you get it for me?" The Chief mused, looking at the young girl that stood out amongst every other woman present in the gathering. The same girl who had caught his attention earlier with the sand she threw on him. The man licked his lips.

Abigail followed the man’s trail of sight, and when it landed on no other person than the girl who Cortez claimed to be protected by the royal family, she sneered. "Must be your ill fate," she muttered to herself before turning to face the Chief of Ipolo merchants.

"I will get her for you," Abigail remarked, picking a new drink from the tray that just passed. "But I want something in return this time around." She completed.

"Do I not always pay you well? All the goods you bring, I always settle you with money and gold, so..." Chief Theo drawled, his eyes still on the girl who refused to take a drink from her friend.

Abigail nodded in agreement, "Of course you do because I always get you the best. Do you know how hard it is to get those girls to believe they’re heading for a better life?" The woman grinned, wetting her lower lips. "Let’s enjoy the party; once I get the girl inside your ship, you make the payment just the way we’ve been doing, and she has a lot of eyes on her, especially Cortez, so do your part while I do mine." Saying this, Abigail waved her hands, swaying her waist left and right as she walked away from there.

That was who she was, Abigail. Some persons saw her as a nobleman’s daughter who was just squandering her father’s money while following Cortez around. But there was much than the eyes met; she was used by her father to sell girls to other kingdoms, which was how she made her money. And this has been going on like this for years; every time girls went missing at the port, Abigail had a hand in it. And this year, she was out to sell one person. The girl who caused her shame and was trying to take away Cortez’s attention from her—Axilla.

Innocent Axilla, who had no idea of the evil plans Abigail had for her, watched from where she stood the man she had a crush on lighting his cigarette. For a moment, Axilla wished she was the smoke Cortez was puffing out when she realized her thoughts were straying; she shook her head.

"No?" Kayla asked, thinking the girl was not accepting the drink. "Why? You don’t want any drink tonight?"

Axilla moved her eyes to look at her troublesome friend who had been trying to feed her something since the evening gathering started. "Kayla, enjoy; once bitten, twice shy. I won’t drink anything you give me during a party again." The bright flower said, relaxing her back on the pole beside her as she noticed the man she had thrown sand on earlier walking towards her direction. She threw her face away, trying to hide from the man.

Kayla shrugged her shoulders, "You’re the party grim reaper. Do you not know the best part of the party is to drink everything and get sick the next morning?"

Axilla grimaced at the statement; after her last hangover, she didn’t want to experience it again. She would stick to water and tea. "Enjoy, Kayla." She replied.

"That reminds me, how did you explain to the Chief of Ipolo after you threw the sand on him? I heard the man is stuck up." Kayla asked, sucking her tongue as she ravished the cherry alcohol she drank.

"I ran," Axilla said.

"You did not!" Kayla remarked, thrilled by the idea as her whole body shook in laughter.

Axilla sighed, "I did, and whose fault was that?" She glared at her friend.

Kayla waved her hand, "Sorry, sorry. Let’s leave the past behind us." The girl grinned as if the incident didn’t just occur a few hours ago, too early to be called the past.

Axilla rolled her eyes, ignoring her friend’s words. She turned to continue looking at Cortez, but when she noticed he was no longer there. "Where are you, young master?" She muttered under her breath, pressing her lips as she subtly searched for Cortez in the crowd.

"Seems like you’re not enjoying the party." Axilla was startled by the smooth masculine voice that spoke very close to her ear, and when she turned, their faces almost collided.

If it was Cortez, she would have enjoyed it, but Axilla moved back when she saw the same man she was hiding from.

"..." She stood there speechless, unsure of what to say.

Chief Theo handed two drinks to the girls, while looking at the one he had his attention on. "This is Crystal Fountain, the best drink here. I’m sure it’ll suit your taste." He pushed his hand forward.

Kayla reached out immediately to grab the drink as she whispered excitedly to only Axilla’s hearing. "He’s giving us a drink! The sand got him smitten." The young girl grinned, accepting the drink and taking a large gulp.

Axilla accepted the drink because she didn’t want to come off as rude. She held it close to her chest and bowed. "Thank you, sir," she replied.

Chief Theo noticed how the girl didn’t take a sip from the drink. "The least you can do for throwing sand on me is to take a sip. Yes?" He frowned.

Axilla gulped nervously; he knew it was her. She thought, looking down at the drink. "I’m sorry, I panicked." Her voice came off as almost a whisper.

The Chief of Ipolo broke out laughing, his laugh eerie and chilly. "I was just joking. My name is Theo, nice to meet you." The man said after his laugh had died down.

Axilla shook the hand the man stretched out; it was cold and rough. "I am Axilla; I apologize once again." She said, her hands trembling.

"If you are sorry, let’s share a drink." Chief Theo’s eyes looked down at the cup Axilla was holding, indicating that she wasn’t drinking her wine.

Axilla raised the cup to her lips, but she couldn’t get herself to drink it.

"Theo, what are you doing scaring what belongs to me." Cortez’s voice was heard.

Axilla heaved a deep sigh of relief when she heard Cortez’s voice; she brought down the wine from her face.

Chief Theo frowned for a moment before turning his face, but it was not noticed by anyone as everybody’s attention was on Cortez. "What belongs to you? Cortez, I didn’t know this one is yours, explains why you brood over her like a mother hen." The words he said had other meanings in them.

Cortez walked to stand beside Axilla, staring at the drink she was holding. "Keep the drink if you won’t take it."

Axilla nodded, going to drop the cup when she heard the Chief of Ipolo speak.

"I’m disappointed at you, Axilla; I thought you’re a woman of good character. You offended me, but you can’t take the drink I offer?" The sly man tried to guilt-trip the girl.

Axilla stopped in her steps; it was true she did something wrong and didn’t apologize properly. She raised her hand to take a sip when Cortez spoke.

"If I’m not well-oriented, I would say you’re forcing a drink on a woman because you have the drink laced." Cortez accused straightforwardly, his intense eyes now glaring at the Chief of Ipolo.

Chief Theo scoffed, "That is a strong accusation, Cortez," the man glared back at Cortez.

Axilla and Kayla felt uncomfortable with the rising tension caused by the two men staring competition.

"Here!" Kayla grabbed the drink from Axilla and gulped it. "Nice, Crystal Fountain, a great drink." She smiled, trying to soften the mood.

Axilla watched her friend who had already consumed a large quantity of alcohol since the gathering started.

Cortez and the man broke their gaze away and looked at the two women without saying anything; they walked away from there.

"Oh my god! Axilla, did those two men just now silently fight for your attention?" Kayla asked after releasing the breath she was holding.

Axilla sighed; she turned to the direction Cortez walked to and started walking towards there, she wanted to explain to him what had happened because the young master did not look happy. She didn’t walk far when someone grabbed her arm.

"Ah!" She exclaimed.

"Axilla, it’s me, Abigail," the person identified herself, smiling friendly.

Axilla bowed, "Lady Abigail."

"Where are you going to? I just saw someone dragging your friend out of the party; she looks drunk." Abigail remarked, pointing to where Axilla had been standing with her friend earlier.

Axilla shook her head, "No, Kayla is standing...." Her voice trailed when she saw the last cup Kayla was holding broken to pieces on the ground. Immediately her eyes noticed someone being dragged out of the gathering into the dark.

"Kayla!" Axilla shouted, running after her friend.

Abigail swung her pouch, smiling, "Bye-bye, little goldfish, enjoy your days in Ipolo," she muttered to herself. Turning to the person she had done business with,

"I’ve done my part of the deal; do what I asked for." Abigail’s expression turned to a cold one, her eyes flashing with a glint of something wicked.

"I wouldn’t believe you will do something to harm Cortez, but he gets on my nerves too." The Chief of Ipolo smirked, remembering how Cortez had challenged him earlier.

"The fireworks would start soon." The man remarked, as smoke was seen coming from a pile of goods far away from the gathering.