The Innkeeper

I walked into my cousin's inn around ten. The world outside was dark and empty, but the large main room was bright and full of people. My cousin had told me how her inn was always full-to-bursting, but I couldn't really picture what lay before me.

 

The Dark Rose Inn was packed with people, but it didn't seem uncomfortably crowded. All the tables to the left of the door were full of people eating their dinner. The sofas and armchairs around the fireplace to my right held people smoking pipes and trading stories about their travels. The bar, directly across from the door I just entered, had men bent over drinks in the stools before it. I saw a couple go up the stairs to the left of the bar, heading to their room in one of the three upper floors of the large building. A waitress in the all black and red uniform of this inn come out of the double swinging doors on the right side of the bar carrying two large trays of food. The furniture, floor, and ceiling were made of dark wood, the sofas and armchairs had deep red cushions, the floor was dotted with dark red rugs, and the walls were painted the same red as the rugs and cushions with black borders.

 

I headed for one of the empty stools in front of the bar. Sitting near the left edge, I waited for the bartender to notice me. Someone else noticed me first.

 

“Hi, there, cutie pie.”

 

I turned to see a very, very large man behind me. He was probably the biggest human being I have ever seen. He had dark blond hair and muddy brown eyes. His chubby face was flushed and he was definitely drunk. His barrel chest and large stomach were covered in a light brown leather and his pants were a darker shade of brown. If I had been standing instead of sitting on the tall stool, he would have been taller than me. As it was, our eyes were level and I saw his comb over my body in obvious interest.

 

“Would you like a little company?” he asked in a deep voice. “A sweet thing like you shouldn't be all by her lonesome.”

 

A shiver ran down my spine and I shook my head. “No, I'm just fine.”

 

He didn't seem to like my answer. He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me off the stool. “Don't be silly, sweetling. We can-”

 

SNAP!

 

We both turned to see a woman in black striding toward us. Her whole outfit was made of black leather with red treading. Her pants hung low around her hips and outlined her long legs. Her corset top barely covered her upper body. Her sides, lower back, and stomach showed out of the bottom. Her large breasts were well displayed, pushed up by the corset. The laces were stretched, reveling a strip of flesh down her middle and a large rose broach was pinned right between her breasts. A black chocker with a red rose was around her neck and tight, black gloves covered her hands. Her skin was pale as freshly fallen snow and smooth as marble. Her hair, done in a half ponytail, was blood red and her eyes were the most startling shade of purple I've seen in my life. In her right hand was the source of the snap. A long, deadly looking black whip was in her right hand, ready for use.

 

“Basel, I think you had best lat my favorite cousin go.” Her purple eyes were all cold fury. “Sally.”

 

“Yes, Rose?” the woman behind the bar asked. She had daggers in each hand, ready to throw them at my attacker if it came to that.

 

“Isn't this Basel's third warning?”

 

The coolly delivered statement had a huge affect on the large main room. Everyone was totally silent and looking at us. Ten waitresses abandoned their work and come forward, circling the man and me,weapons drawn. Some had daggers, some swords, and one had a bow aimed at the man's head.

 

Basel quickly dropped my arm and backed away from me. “Now, now. No harm done. The lady is fine. No need to use those.”

 

“But I think it does.” My cousin snapped her whip and the waitresses circled him, weapons pointed at various parts of his body. “Jane, take him downstairs. I'll deal with him later.” The waitress with the bow nodded and they girls took him away.

 

As my cousin put her whip away, I couldn't help but compare the two of us. My hair is burgundy and my eyes green. My skin is smooth, but caught between pale and tan. I don't have her breasts, but my behind wasn't half bad. I am a bit shorter than her and less fit. I wore a long, short sleeved green dress and laced sandals. I met her purple eyes and smiled.

 

“Rose, how are you?” I asked as I hugged my cousin. "I came as soon as I could get away from Mother.”

 

Rose smiled again. “Aunt Kelly giving you a hard time about your ex?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Don't be sad, Honey.” Rose put her arm around my shoulders and started to lead me to the stairs. “I'll take you up to my rooms, we'll have a nice cup of tea, and you can tell me all about it.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“No problem, Lindal.” She smiled really big as we started up the stairs. “You just stay here as long as you like. Aunt Kelly won't come here in any of our lifetimes.”

 

I hugged Rose. She had always had my back before and now is no different. I knew coming here was a wonderful idea. Rose knew how to fix anything. From drunkards to cheaters, she knew how to help me with anything.

 

Here, in the corner of the world that was the Dark Rose Inn, I could have my life back.

Author's Note

Enjoy.

Reviews

[BeetleBug]

I injoyed it very much!

[Jetta Zippora]

Very interesting!

[Lee E. Powell]

COOL! So, is Rose single? LOL

This was fun and well written. Nice imagery. I didn't even know "imagery" was a word until i started writing LOL.

[Tainted Angel]

Lol, I know a girl named Drak Rose. She even sent me that very same pic, lol. Good story too, by the way. I can't wait to stay there myself.

[Brie]

Awesome! I want Rose as my cousin, she could kick some a*s! I love the dark, mysterious setting.
Can't wait for another one!
-Brie

[AaronPhobia]

I like the Dark Rose Inn. I should check in ahaha

great chapter

-Aaron