My Heaven

-10 bottles of wine-

By Michael James

Part 1

100 square miles

In Brass Vintage,

one of Haunts best cities...

“I already told you we are not lowering the price. Just because you cant resale our goods to meet your debts.” He begged her to reconsider, she may lose a business franchise if they went under. “The price for our wine will not go down.” He demanded to speak with Haunt herself! “Throw him out and don't let him back in” the she elf lord instructed.

When he was gone lady Kayline rested her back in her chair. Thinking what a pain. Her security man walked in, telling her that was all her appointments for the day.

“Thank the mistress of the wine. Will you please prepare my information for tomorrow. I think I will review it in my bath.” He bowed to her and said it would be done. As he left, she said to herself “I would love to make a commission. On good wine once in a while. Maybe then I could think about another child.”

Kayline went to her privet hot spring in her manor walls. Her 2 daughters joined her in the hot water. They read books while their mother read her tablet on business. Pririe her daughter of 35 asked her mom if she was thinking about a mate again. Phenell daughter of 13 said she desperately wanted a little brother.

“I don't want to rush into another birthing without proper resources. I've told you two just how expensive the tax on our manor is alone.” Phenell randomly wanted to know when she will have male consorts? “You have boys falling over each other for you and...” Kayline froze in terror. And rose out of the water in a jerk.

“What is it mother?” 10 bottles of pristine wine were gone. “You cant be serious” shouted Prinie! Phenell asked her mother to show some decency. Kayline did not acknowledge those words. Kayline wrapped herself in a towel and ran to her office. She summoned her staff, and addressed the matter.

Into the late night...

“I don't see how we can not alert the wine guard on this matter. It is all our butts if we let this happen” said her council man. The treasurer hit him in the head with a book.

“We will be all out on the street if not slaves if we acknowledge it!” The inventory accountant asked how much were these bottles worth? “For the 10 of them, 100 square miles of prime land. “Officer... give the woman your coat now, she is soaked to the bone!”

“We need to keep this to ourselves. Under lady Haunts law, we have one week to report this. It doesn't matter if we get them back or not after that time.” The treasurer said he was with her and trusted her to not let them down.

Off in a bad,

part of town...

“Sir, I have them...” The girl thief was stabbed in the back and her goods were taken. They burned her body to ashes to cover their tracks. She worked as a stack girl in the right area. Her 4 year old daughter was taken to make her do this. The men just let her go on the streets. Having nothing more to do with her. An eelkshie crossed her path that night. She picked her up and brought her somewhere warm.

The next day...

“There, who is that!?” The image crystals were not in the pristine room. Only outside the door. 3 people had entered the room in the last day. They looked at the girl who made off with the wine clear as air. This lead was the best they had.

In Kayline's office...

“Boss, one of Haunt's assassin eelkshie wants to see you.” Kayline looked terrified, it was as though all the color left her skin. She told her man that she was to busy to receive anyone.

Sentenced waited in vain for Kayline to receive her. Finally she just gave up and walked to her own branch residence.

Part 2

Blackmailed

The next day,

in an interrogation...

“Yes ma'am I lent her my key. She told me she had to do inventory.” Kayline looked him in the eye saying she knew when he was lying. If he didn't want to be branded a traitor to the business... “We had sex ma'am. She offered to mate with me in exchange for the key.” What did she say she wanted the key for? “I do not know.”

“You are demoted from your position for your lack of judgment.” How far back was he demoted? “You are an assistant manager.” He begged her to reconsider, the payment for that position was significantly less. “You visit the brothels and blow your pay. Just lay off the ladies and you will do fine.” She couldn't do this! “Get out.”

He stormed out of her office thinking what a bitc... but something occurred to him. He smiled wickedly and left the estate. He went to a couple shady guys who he was friends with. He bought them some drinks and sat down.

“Been a long time, since you had that happy of a smile. What kind of deal do we have this time?” He wanted them to check on something. It seems his boss wasn't being honest with their master. “How much do you think we will get out of this deal?” Loads of coin. When he got her position as head of Brass Vintage's products. “We'll check on it.”

that night,

in the underground...

“How much?” The merchant looked over the wine and offered 230,000 for them. “You must be jest!” He knew about their situation and also knew everywhere else would offer the same. “No we want 500,000... this is pristine wine!” The merchant told him he should keep his voice down. “Why?” Because others were looking at them. “Come on guys lets get out of here. I swear these shop owners don't have sense. They got up and left the market, intending to go somewhere else.

“Hi there fellas.” They turned and saw the elf warriors. “Your friend the shop keeper was right. You shouldn't have been so loud. We are going to need you to give us the goods. Better yet the goods and all your coin you have on you. If you don't comply we'll just kill you all.” They demanded to know who this group belong to! “Kill them.” And with that the merchandise changed hands and was carried off.

The following day...

“What do you want?” The demoted business man informed Kayline that she had a very pretty daughter named Phenell. “What are you talking about?” Its just it would be a shame if lady Haunt found out she lost her wine. “Security!” He had taken measures if he did not report back to his guys. They would inform her regardless. He wanted her position and her girl to be his concubine. “Are you insane?”

He smiled asking “what will you do now you stupid woman?” She sat up and with a gun in her hand. “If you kill me you will be discovered. I promise you that.” She walked up to him right as her security grabbed him. She did not look pleased at all.

“Hold his hand out.” He wanted to know what she planned to do? “I swear on our masters life. You taking my position was worth a quick death. But talking about my youngest girl like that. I'm going to torture you now. She put the gun against the palm.

“Where are these guys that are waiting for you?” He told her to go to hell. She fired a shot and moved the barrel a inch to the left. “Where are they..?”

Outside the estate...

“Okay he should be out here anytime.” They laughed thinking of the beautiful wealth they would bathe in. All of a sudden a beautiful elf woman walked up behind them. “Can we help you?” She wanted to know if they were looking for a date. “Do I know you? I swear I've seen you somewhere before.” She was 8 silvers each, they could go right behind this building. “Lets wait a few minutes.”

“Oh but I'm free now. If you both aren't interested I am going somewhere else.” The looked at each other and agreed, their guy could stand waiting a few minutes.

Back in her office...

“Please show me some mercy.” Kayline told him there was no room for mercy and she ended his life a few minutes later. Another moment passed by, and her man said there was no sign of them.

“YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHI... ME!”

“”Boss a member of the wine guard told me they had yet to receive you.” Kayline fell to her knees and instructed him to tell this guy. She was far to busy. “Well actually...” They were to get rid of him she cried..! Kayline was close to losing all hope.

Part 3

Take care of each other

3 days passed...

“You think someone stole from the guys that stole from our thief” Kayline asked? Her guys reported they found bodies in the trash. From what they were told about them. They were sure it was them. “Any idea who these other thieves are?” Perhaps if they had a few days, they might find something. “Thank you gentlemen, you may leave.”

When she was alone in her office she started to cry. All hope had now drained out of her soul. She pulled herself together and started making arrangements. A couple hours later she met with her council. Telling them to dessert the sinking ship.

“What about you?” She was screwed no matter how this turned out. They at least could survive. “I will stand with you” her treasurer pledged. The others were thinking, could they leave right now? Kayline told them to take care.

“I need help with one little thing my loyal friend.” That night Kayline put her two daughters on a ship. Which was scheduled to leave right out of Haunt's territory. They did not want to leave their mother. But all 3 women knew the girls would be sold. “Take care of each other okay.” Pririe cried as they left on the ship.

On the day of,

the deadline...

“Boss...” She was looking at herself in the mirror with makeup. “The wine guard is here.” Send him in. Kayline had reimbursement funds ready. But she knew that wouldn't be enough. She was either going to be sold or executed.

“I trust you know why I am here” asked Sentenced. She bowed to her and said she had what was owed. She would walk freely to her doom. “Lets go.” She was taken aboard a small ship and flown to Towers. The home of the Plant Queen Garden. She was locked in a standard room that was like a hotel room.

Before Haunt herself,

some time later...

“I trust you know why you are here?” Kayline bowed to her master begging for a quick death. “No you will not be executed, you need to take care of your girls.” Her eyes widened and couldn't think of what to say. “Release her from her bonds.” The soldiers took her cuffs off. “Sentenced, you have the bottles ready to be put back in her store house?” She confirmed they were retrieved.

“Please tell, for I'm very curious. Were you going to tell me about this. Had you gotten them back yourself and be honest.” No she was not, but she didn't understand what happened? “Sentenced got them back for you and has been haunting your threshold, for days. Waiting for you to let her give you good news.”

“This cant be happening.”

“Yes loyal servant, the stress you are under has been entirely self made. You daughters were picked up 10 minutes after the ship took off. They are enjoying my home comforts. Not being in pain and torture.” What was to be done with her now? “You will receive a privet standard beating. After that you will return to your post. With someone watching you for a few years.” She tried not to cry.

“Enough, strip off your top, and lets get this over with...”

3 days later,

in her bath area...

“Damn, your back looks awful mother. Does it hurt a lot?” Kayline was still in shock she got out of this as well as she did. Haunt had been pleased for decades with her performance. Which was why she returned to her occupation.

Her watcher was a woman named Vanell was posted as a probation officer. She would also receive steady visits from a wine guard. Who she was not to ignore.