LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 84 - The Girl's Crisis
Retracing his earlier path proved effortless for Conra – even the notoriously labyrinthine slum alleys failed daunting his navigational faculties.
While previously surveying Valencia’s streetscapes from the church’s belltower, he had comprehensively memorized every visible thoroughfare – including those impoverished backstreet warrens. Backtracking to Maria’s ramshackle abode essentially entailed superimposing a mental trajectory upon those vividly recollected vistas.
Hence Conra and Sophia arrived at that dilapidated hovel’s vicinity relatively swiftly.
However, upon reaching their destination, neither Maria nor those unsavory types awaited them.
“It seems we’ve missed their timing somewhat.”
Observing the vacant abode, Sophia clicked her tongue resignedly.
“What should we do – await their return, or should I dispatch inquiries throughout the vicinity?”
“For now…let’s simply wait and monitor the situation.”
Striving to quell his escalating agitation, Conra responded based upon his conjecture that Maria likely intended submitting her compulsory remittance quota elsewhere – temporarily vacating her residence for that obligatory purpose.
If Sophia impulsively dispatched inquiries only for Maria to return during that interregnum, their crossed signals could potentially exacerbate an already volatile scenario. And undoubtedly unleashing outsiders’ overt scrutiny across these squalid environs might prompt unforeseeable repercussions from the equally scrutinized local populace.
However, Maria failed to reappear before nightfall despite their vigilant vigil.
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Niu de Corb (‘The Raven’s Nest’) represented the slum’s most structurally substantial edifice relatively proximate to Valencia’s wealthier civic sectors atop that northeastern incline.
Ascending those precipitous slopes toward her compulsory remittance’s drop-off, Maria could not suppress a derisive snort at Niu de Corb’s incongruously opulent facade defying its impoverished surroundings.
Such ostentatious self-aggrandizement overtly proclaimed its administrator’s self-perceived superiority over the indigent masses despite ultimately proving little more than a glorified parasite profiting from those very same downtrodden dregs. That pretentious nobility disguising commonplace exploitation struck Maria as utterly laughable.
‘Then again, am I any different?’
Living hand-to-mouth through larcenous misdemeanors hardly represented an existence she could arrogantly disdain as somehow elevated above such remorseless opportunism. And if allowed reaching physical maturity amidst these environs, her virginal prospects seemed virtually nonexistent beyond inescapable prostitution.
‘Why must my life continue this depravity?’
Exhaling a weary sigh while clutching her compensation purse gifted by Conra earlier that afternoon – an amount sufficient supplementing her forthcoming dues with several days’ surplus living expenses – Maria approached the entrance sentry.
“Horge, I’ve come to submit my remittance.”
“Maria? You’re rather late this time.”
“Extenuating circumstances delayed me. Will you permit entry?”
“Very well, proceed inside.”
Receiving the doorman’s permissive nod, Maria inaudibly exhaled while passing through the threshold. Thankfully, those reprobates raising such an altercation at her hovel apparently lacked any official capacity – the ruling powers undoubtedly considered an urchin’s tardy pittance hardly warranting such aggressive enforcers’ dispatch.
Niu de Corb comprised three levels, its ground-floor lobby conjoined with open aired archways to the second-floor terraced hallways overlooking that entrance atrium – the remittance wickets situated below that promenade mezzanine.
Mercifully, one such payment window remained staffed despite the progressively waning evening hour. Striding forward to deposit her prepared purse without any preamble, Maria froze upon recognizing that contemptuous feminine voice from beyond:
“You certainly have arrived tardily this evening, Maria.”
She knew that insidiously sensual baritone’s owner all too well – inflected with venomous spite incarnate despite its alluring seductive cadences. Adrien Guillermo, the despotically reigning sovereign over Valencia’s criminal underworld, had personally displaced those customary staffers while usurping that ticketed station for himself.
“You…why are you stationed here…?”
Instinctively retreating several steps, Maria voiced her incredulous trepidation at his wholly unprecedented usurpation of those menial collection duties he typically delegated.
“Why, indeed? A most intriguing tale regarding you surfaced quite recently – one I simply had to investigate more intimately, my delectable Maria.”
Rather than answering directly, Adrien emerged through the adjacent doorway while sauntering ever nearer with that despicable predatory swagger.
“Indeed, I received some utterly fascinating rumors about you spending a tremendously pleasurable afternoon in the company of some unknown yet undeniably attractive young man.”
Plop – it felt as if a heavy leaden weight spontaneously materialized within Maria’s gut upon hearing those damning revelations. How could he have possibly…?
Of course, Valencia’s thoroughfares effectively represented Adrien’s personal dominion – its myriad eyes, ears and limbs ubiquitously extending his overarching surveillance web. Hardly surprising if any street encounters became swiftly identified by those countless informants.
Relishing her discomfited surprise, Adrien leered hungrily while drinking in her lissome figure with reptilian scrutiny before allowing a syrupy smirk creasing his lips.
Suppressing an instinctive disgusted shudder, Maria nonetheless recognized capitulating would inescapably reinforce this degenerate’s arrogance. Forcibly composing herself despite viscerally recoiling, she affected an aloofly dismissive demeanor:
“That merely involved providing directional guidance services to replenish this remittance you extorted.”
“Oh, is that so? How dreadfully mistaken I was then…”
Licking his lips lasciviously while closing that distance, Adrien manipulatively cradled her chin between forefinger and thumb – his dilated pupils openly undressing and assessing her virginal assets like livestock commodities.
“Although, I suppose as my prospective future bride, your carnal values could scarcely depreciate through such trivial dalliances.”
“Who says…I’ll ever become your ‘bride’?!”
Recoiling from his grotesquely brazen presumptions prompted an outraged shriek before he scoffed condescendingly:
“Hah! My beloved Maria Francesca – pray tell, what other sordid alternatives await impoverished urchins like yourself haunting these back alleys? Even now, your delicate youth grants temporary reprieves. But that protective innocence shall inevitably wane alongside your physical maturation into salacious ripeness coveted by all who behold you.”
Punctuating with a familiarly contemptuous leer she found utterly revolting yet terrifyingly compelling within its inescapable logic, Adrien continued:
“Undoubtedly demands shall escalate for allocating your assets toward appropriate…vocations befitting such lascivious attributes as these. Much like myself, wouldn’t you agree?”
Despite recognizing the transparent manipulations motivating his venomous overtures, Maria struggled finding any coherent rebuttals.
His words contained unfortunately prudent foresight – without respectable connections or protective patronage, what futures realistically awaited young unattached females of desirable beauty beyond forced conscriptions into institutionalized prostitution?
Uncomfortable as acknowledging Adrien as her inescapable ‘guardian’ felt, that reprehensible relationship could theoretically constitute the most pragmatic recourse regarding her inevitable maturation’s profoundly stark realities.
Yet Maria instinctively rejected that entire line of contemplation outright:
“It hardly represents your concern how I navigate those dilemmas.”
Her plaintively petulant dismissal may have appeared childishly obstinate, but it equally reflected her sincere disgust alongside that inborn survival intuition intimately forewarning her soul against such unforgivable concessions.
“Regardless, I did not arrive here anticipating those sorts of unsavory insinuations. So perhaps we could postpone such discussions while I simply submit this evening’s dues?”
Depositing the prepared purse at that service window while murmuring some transparent pretext, Maria swiftly turned to depart:
“With that quota discharged, I should return to my residence.”
Not even attempting concealing her overwhelming urge vacating that entire repulsive scenario, Maria briskly retreated while Adrien’s mocking voice trailed after her toward the exit:
“I’d suggest carefully contemplating that ultimatum. My influence over this district’s underworld hierarchy possesses unmistakable limitations – temporary at best.”
Ignoring his ominously snide insinuations, Maria hastened her departure beyond the threshold into the outside night.
Watching her retreat within that emptied lobby, Adrien languidly reclined against the wallwhile smoothing back his swept fringe – a skulking silhouette emerging into view while addressing him deferentially:
“It appears she once again eluded your grasp, Jefe.”
“Well, breaking in feral felines provides its own hedonistic pleasures, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Perhaps. But even domesticated cats retain their inherent claws and fangs, do they not?”
Leering suggestively at that undercurrent within his subordinate’s advisory, Adrien switched topics:
“Indeed. Yet we must inevitably subdue this particular feline regardless of any costs or collateral damage incurred. What have you ascertained regarding those investigations I instructed?”
“Undoubtedly, the timeframe surrounding a certain Catalonian princess’s disappearance coincides precisely with this ‘Maria Francesca’ manifesting upon these very streets. ‘Maria Francesca Isabel Luisa de Gloria Juana Antonia de la Cruz y Ortas’ if the full appellation is required. Honestly, why must royalty insist upon such prolix nomenclatures?”
“Hmm, like I would possess any insights regarding such pretentious nonsense.”
Shrugging indifferently, Adrien prompted an additional query from his subordinate:
“In any case, can we afford dismissing her so readily? Certain…individuals have begun expressing concerning predatory interests toward the girl very recently.”
“Oh? Then all the better she experiences such rough initiations firsthand. Losing her maidenhood to these back alleys’ brutish louts may compel her to more soberly appreciate reality’s harsh education, wouldn’t you agree?”
Envisioning Maria’s deflowered, defiled aftermath eagerly seeking his merciful shelter and protection catalyzed Adrien’s sardonic smirk at such poetically bittersweet poetential scenarios unfolding in their wake.
While privately assessing his leader’s utter depravity, that subordinate prudently refrained from any vocal protestations. Getting embroiled within such unrelated matters carried far too many unpredictable risks. Better to avert his scrutiny elsewhere while enjoying the spoils accruing from such willful blindness.
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Hastening her return toward that ramshackle abode, Maria anxiously rued the progressively waning evening light level.
Traversing those sinister backstreets represented an inherently perilous undertaking – even within the notoriously ruthless slums, nocturnally exposed thoroughfares attracted Valencia’s most nefarious and disreputable predators brazenly exposing themselves toward any potential victims.
Finding secure refuge before complete darkness fell represented an absolute necessity for avoiding disastrous confrontations.
Yet her frantic footsteps ultimately proved futile in that regard – deliberately securing residential remoteness from Niu de Corb to limit Adrien’s intrusive presence ultimately backfired against these unanticipated urgencies.
While not regretting that prudent precaution’s underlying motivations, a fleeting self-recriminating thought nevertheless surfaced: ‘Perhaps exercising slightly greater forethought would have served me better in these exact scenarios.’
Did that momentary introspective lapse precipitate her rapidly deteriorating situation?
Before Maria could even register those stealthy approach, powerful hands erupted from the darkness – a roughly bundled cloth abruptly smothering her face.