Under the cover of darkness, both horses sped towards their destination at full speed.
Aria had a hard time keeping a grip on her horse, desperately praying not to be thrown off.
At the crossroads, Jem led them down a smaller, less worn dirt path.
"My lady! Here!"
Before them was a rowdy, seedy night market.
At the entrance, Jem paid a footman to keep an eye on the tied horses, who immediately sat, munching grass.
Right into an alleyway, the entrance was made to look like an outhouse that led underground.
Loud men, yells and swearing hit her first. The thick smell of bodily smells, smoke and gin hit her second.
" Ugh!"
"Don't speak! Sit here." Jem berated her.
He walked up to a man, whispering as he nodded.
Aria sat at the high table, watching men deal cards, shouting curses. By her feet was a passed-out man, mumbling, clutching a beer bottle.
"Mind if I sit here?"
A lanky, handsome man pulled a chair and, with a grin, sat at her table without invitation.
"You! Finest cards for my friend here."
Cards assembled in front of them as Jem arrived to stop it.
"What are you doing?" He whispered hotly.
" I think I know. He's the perfect person to gamble against!" She whispered back.
"No! That's the black cat. Everyone who gambles with him loses!"
"Wait, really?"
Jem could almost throttle her. In two minutes, they'd lose everything! Why did she still look so smug?
The man watched them argue with a smile.
"All sorted? Let's play."
"Yes, get ready to lose, my good man!"
And true to form, Aria placed a bet after her and lost while Jem sat in the corner, anxiously chewing his nails, cursing his mistress.
The black cat raked in win after win after win.
"Another round," Aria said, keeping her voice low.
" You sure are new here."
She lost again.
"One last round."
He raised a brow.
"If you insist."
"One last bet. You. Twenty thousand crowns."
He stared long and hard.
"You don't have–"
"I'll take a loan," Aria interrupted, her feet tapping vigorously to steady her nerves."
The black cat stared at them long and hard before deciding, "Your loss."
He gathered his winnings, pushing them towards the middle.
"All in. Twenty Thousand"
"Call."
He showed his cards with a flourish, unable to hold back his smile.
"Sorry, my good man,but you've–"
"Not so fast," Aria interrupted.
She threw her cards on the table.
His eyes widened before he burst into laughter.
"I believe you owe me 20 thousand crowns," Aria was smug.
Begrudgingly, the Black cat pushed his winnings towards her, counting out his pockets towards her.
"I'm sorry."
"All good. It's impressive you beat me," he added good-naturedly.
"I don't believe it….you won!" Jem was ecstatic, drawing the attention of others.
" Oi! It was the first time I'd see the black cat cleaned out so quickly!"
A burly man who'd also been watching the game yelled, walking over to their table, drawing attention.
"Come on, Edward, you know I'll make it back in no time," the black cat said, tipping his hat.
" Ha! Ha! Ha! If only you were good at keeping money as you are at making it!"
A tall man walked towards them, clutching a bottle, reeking of piss and sweat.
"The black cat lost already? Well done, boy!" He slapped Aria on the back heartily, causing her hood to fall off.
The patrons fell silent immediately. Her long, dark hair is untangled.
"It is a girl!"
The black cat's eyes widened.
"Well, this is certainly a surprise…"
Their covers blown, Jem yelled.
"Everyone! The watch is coming!"
Immediate chaos set in as gamblers and drinks bolted, stepping over each other.
In the rush, quickly, Aria swept her winnings, stuffing them into her pockets and snatching her hood back up.
Snatching up more money on the table beside her before a knife landed vertically beside her hand.
"You think you can rob me just because the Royal watch is coming??!"
A pudgy-faced man yelled, his fat hands reaching for his money.
"Sorry!"
She bolted as Jem snatched her hand, pulling her towards the entrance.
"My lady, faster!"
"Yell out my name too, why don't you??!" Aria hissed.
" I will never be able to come back here!" Jem yelled.
"It was worth it!"
They ran, escaping into the vast field, laughter choking until they rounded the corner of the open market.
" I can't believe we did that!"
" Neither can I, my lady!"
All of a sudden, a hand reached out to yank Aria, pinning her securely against the wall.
A glint of cold metal pressed to her throat, nearly stopping her heart.
A knife.
"This doesn't concern you. Beat it. He growled, pointing the knife at a stunned Jem, who nodded, hands up and backing away slowly into the cover of the dark.
"That coward …" Aria spat, keenly aware of the cold metal against her thrumming pulse.
"What the hell is this?" Aria glared, trying to make out his features.
Her assailant threw down the knife, his forearm pinned against her neck.
Moonlight illuminated his face–furious and something undiscernible.
"Caspian," she gasped.
"What in the seven hells do you think you're doing?" He snarled, his breath hot against hers.
Her hood slipped off again, sending her hair tumbling free.
Her midnight tresses contrasted richly against the moonlight, causing him to soften. Entrances, his hand found a lock of hair, twirling.
"What are you doing?"
He released her hair, stormy piercing eyes narrowing on her red, moistened lips for the briefest of moments.
"What are YOU doing?" His voice was more gentle now, less confrontational.
"Saving my estate, what do you think?" Why are you even here?" Her prideful chin jutted.
"You could've been caught. Or worse."
"I was caught. I escaped."
His breath halted.
"I suppose it's a good thing I was close by; they would have kept chasing you."
Caspian's words were a whisper, but she could feel his fury.
"You have become impossible. And I should arrest you for gambling," he rasped.
His thumb traced her jaw. Slowly. Possessively.
"Do it then. Prince Caspian," she spat, her voice raised in a trembling challenge, eyes glittering with anger.
The scent of peaches that clung to her was driving him insane, and unable to resist anymore, his mouth crashed against hers. Possessively. Desperate. Full of longing and need.
The world around him faded till it was just them.
Aria, too stunned to do anything else, responded in kind.
Grabbing him by the hood, she yanked him closer. Feeling his huge body press hard against hers, one hand clamped securely on her waist.
Then Caspian broke away, breathing harshly.
His eyes widened as he wiped his lips. He couldn't believe he just did that.
"You have 27 days," he rasped.
"The next time I see you at a gambling house, you will be arrested."
He lifted his hood, vanishing into the dark.
"Oh my gosh…" letting her hands fall, Aria slid down the wall, still feeling the warmth of his body wrapped around hers.
"What just happened?" Her thumb caressed her throbbing lips.
Aria laughed, feeling a wave of terrified exhilaration.
Retirement was going to be hell.
******************************************
She stumbled out of the alley, half-dazed from Caspian's sudden kiss.
" There you are, my lady!" Close to the trees, they tied their horses as Jem waved her over with a look of guilt and shame.
"You ran, you coward. At least you waited here for me."
"Ha…my lady, they'll have my head when there's an investigation as to your disappearance."
"Tut-tut," she clicked her tongue, untying her horse, sitting astride.
With a yank of the reins, the horse neighed, pawing the ground.
"Hyahh!"
The horse sped off, Jem following close.
The cold night air whipped against her face and hair, serving as a great distraction.
Her reddened cheeks had cooled, and the best part–her pockets jingled with coins.
Coins enough to pay their debts and start properly.
"Another step closer to retirement," a slight smile was fixed on her face. Maybe this world wasn't so bad after all.
[Your 'father' is a gambler, remember?]
Aria's lips thinned. And her mother…would probably steal the money the moment she got a whiff of it. All the servants in the house were under her thumb.
She looked behind to Jem, tightly gripping his reins, completely focused on keeping up with her speed.
Just because he stayed by her side tonight didn't mean a thing.
She yanked the reins backwards, causing her horse to screech to a halt.
Jem followed, stopping beside her, his cheeks flushed.
"My lady, we should be getting back to Ravensdale soon."
Aria straightened, determination etched into her features
"Change of plans, Jem. We are going to the magistrate to pay our debts tonight."
"What? My lady, that was not–"
She cut off his protests by kicking off, taking the main road to the center of town.
Aria could feel his questioning and annoyed gaze tearing into her back but she didn't care.
They arrived at the Magistrate's in 25 minutes, with a clerk dozing off at his station.
Aria marched in, startling the old clerk awake by tossing the bag of money loudly on the desk.
"What in the–"
His eyes lit up in prerecognition and slight disappointment.
"Lady Aria of Ravensdale? Are you here to ask for a loan because your father..."
His eyes strayed to the pouch.
Insulted, Aria emptied its contents. Gold coins clattered loudly to the table, some rolling down behind his desk.
Wide awake now, his eyes widened as he snatched up the fallen coins.
"....300…1,000….4,500….12,000….14,642, 20,00My
my lady, you only owe 12,000 gold crowns and 200 interest!"
"Give me 350 crowns and deposit the rest in my name."
"You don't have an account."
"Open one now."
Aria tapped her feet impatiently.
"Of course! Of course!" He rushed to snatch up a gold-plated book.
Meanwhile, Jem was standing outside, murmuring something to the horses.
Aria couldn't help but roll her eyes and laugh.
"This will be deposited now…what else?"
He asked, eager to please.
[Big fucking change in attitude]
She thought for a moment.
"I'll need to send a letter. Can you send it?"