The Daughters of Zaun

Vi stood outside the crumbling façade of the brothel, her fists clenched at her sides. The neon sign above the door flickered erratically, casting a sickly green light over the peeling paint and grime-covered walls. She took a deep breath, the sour tang of the city’s air filling her lungs before she stepped inside.

The interior was even worse than she’d imagined. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, smoke, and something sour that made her stomach churn. She instantly missed the “fresh air” of the undercity. And she quickly moved through the building, avoiding the half-naked patrons and workers alike.

The owner’s office was definitely…something. The furnishings were garish and over-the-top, all fake gold accents and cheap velvet upholstery. Behind a cluttered desk sat the man she’d come for. He was overweight, his greasy thinning hair slicked back, and his shirt strained against his gut. A cheap cigar hung from his lips, the smoke curling around his head as he looked up at her with a lazy smirk.  

“Well, well,” he drawled, leaning back in his chair. “And who might you be? A new client? Or are you looking for work?”  

“Neither,” she said flatly, crossing her arms. “I’m here for the money you owe Silco.”  

The man’s smirk widened, his beady eyes raking over her with a lecherous glint that made her skin crawl. “Ah, Silco’s got a new lapdog. I was expecting Sevika…Or at least someone a little more intimidating.” He waved his hand dismissively.

Vi’s lips twitched in a scowl, “Just give me what you owe, and I’ll be out of your hair. Or at least what remains of it.”  

He laughed, a wheezing, unpleasant sound as he stubbed out his cigar on the edge of his desk. “Now, now, no need to be so hasty. You’re a fine piece of work. Maybe you should stick around. I could always use another pretty face in the lineup, and I’m sure you’ll make a nice chunk of change.”  

Vi’s fists clenched, her nails biting into her palms as she resisted the very tempting urge to leap over the desk and knock the smug grin right off the man’s face. “Not interested,” she said through gritted teeth. “The money. Now.”  

The man leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking under his weight. She was surprised it didn’t splinter under him. “Relax, sweetheart,” he said, his tone oily and far too familiar. “No need to be so… tense. You should smile more.”  

Vi’s glare could have set the desk on fire.  

He shrugged and pulled open a desk drawer. For a fleeting moment, Vi thought he was finally reaching for the payment, but instead, he produced a brass bell and rang it loudly. God, it was annoying. The shrill chime echoed off the walls, making Vi wince.  

Before she could bark out a complaint, the door opened, and a tired-looking older woman poked her head into the room. Her expression screamed I'm too old for this shit.  

“Yes, sir?” she asked, her tone flat.  

“Please escort this… lovely young woman,” he said, gesturing lazily toward Vi, “and make sure she’s properly taken care of. She’s one of Silco’s.”  

The woman nodded, her movements mechanical, before gesturing for Vi to follow her. Vi hesitated, glaring at the man, who waved her off with an obnoxious flick of his hand.  

“You’ll get what you came for,” he said, his grin widening. “Don’t worry.”  

Yeah, that’s reassuring, Vi thought grimly, but she followed the woman anyway.  

They wound through narrow hallways, the peeling wallpaper and faint smell of mildew making Vi’s skin crawl. The woman eventually stopped in front of a door, pushing it open to reveal a small, dingy room. A large bed dominated the space, its questionable sheets sporting enough stains to double as abstract art. The air was heavy with the faint, cloying scent of cheap perfume, sweat, and despair.  

Vi crossed her arms, her eyebrow arching as she turned to the woman. “It’s a, uh, lovely room. But where’s the money?”  

The woman shrugged, her expression as unimpressed as her tone. “You’ll get your money. Sit tight. We need some time to gather it.”  

With that, she disappeared out the door before Vi could press further.  

She stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, unwilling to sit down on the mattress. 

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and this time, the woman returned with four people trailing behind her. One woman, two men, all dressed in outfits that could only be described as half-hearted attempts at sexy. Their clothes hung off their frames, and their tired eyes betrayed years of shimmer abuse.  

Vi’s stomach twisted at the sight.  

The woman clapped her hands together, a sickly sweet smile spreading across her face but it was faked. “Why don’t you three keep our guest… satisfied while she waits?”  

Vi’s arms dropped to her sides as she stared at the group in stunned disbelief. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she muttered.  

The first to approach was a lanky man with a crooked grin, his breath reeking of alcohol. Vi slowly took a few steps back until her back hit the wall. The man put his arms beside her head and leaned in closer than was remotely necessary. “Hey there,” he drawled, his voice low and raspy. Bet I could make you forget all about that nasty temper.”  

Vi ducked under his arm, holding up a hand. “First of all, no. Second, hell no.”  

She backed straight up into one of the women, batting her lashes in a way that looked more like she had something in her eye. “Come on, sweetie,” she cooed, her voice uneven. “We can have some fun, yeah? You can even have all of us if you’d like.”  

Vi’s face twisted in equal parts frustration and horror. “I’m not here for… whatever this is,” she snapped, gesturing wildly at the room.  

The third, a broad-shouldered man with a poorly inked neck tattoo, chuckled. “Aw, don’t be like that,” he said, his grin wide enough to make Vi cringe. “We’re just here to help you… unwind. Why don’t you lie down and I can give you a massage.” 

He took a few steps towards her, and in her panic, she fell over onto the bed. 

Vi’s patience was wearing thinner than the sheets on the bed.  

She started to sit up but the woman had straddled her. She placed a hand on Vi’s shoulder, her fingers trembling slightly. “Please,” she whispered, her voice low and almost pleading as she leaned in and placed a kiss against Vi’s neck. “Just… let us do this. It’ll make things easier. For all of us”  

Her hands started to wander, but Vi caught her wrist. Her tone was suddenly much softer. They didn’t want to do this, but they didn’t have much choice. “Look, I’m here for the money your boss owes Silco,” She started but the woman interrupted her.

“Please…” She was almost in tears. “Please just let us. If we don’t he’ll punish us.” She was hyperventilating. “He’ll hit us. Withhold our shimmer…” 

One of the men added, “He made us take it when we started. Something about it helping with performance…now he uses it against us.” He seemed angry. “But there’s nothing we can do.”

The other two nodded, the women going back to kissing at Vi’s neck. The two men took seats next to Vi.  “We’ll make you feel good, though. We’re very good at our job.”

Vi was a little tempted, but in all honesty, this was more horrifying than sexy. 

She suddenly stood, lifting up the woman in her lap before spinning her around and depositing her where Vi was just sitting. 

“I’ll tell them that you did your job. But I really need the money that your boss owes. Otherwise, my boss will have my ass.” 

The workers glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. The woman spoke up again, “Can we wait for a while, then? If we come out too soon, he’ll get suspicious.” 

Vi nodded, “Yeah sure.”

For a few minutes, they stood around in awkward silence. In an attempt to pass the time, Vi spoke again. “So…What’s your guy’s name?”

The tallest man laughed, “My name is Ayan.” He gestured to the other man, “He’s Jerre and she’s Sasha.” 

“You?” Sasha asked.

“I go by Vi.” 

The four went back to the awkward silence and it stayed like that for half an hour or so. It gave Vi plenty of time to think. 

“Okay,” Vi started, “I think it’s been long enough. I’m gonna head out and have a chat with your boss about the money.” 

She moved towards the door before glancing back at them, “If he gives you any trouble, come find me.” 

With that, Vi left. It took her a little while to find the office again but she found it. Eventually. 

She entered his office for the second time this day, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of her. 

“You’re back? Were my workers not good enough?” He asked.

Vi shook her head, “No. Your workers were good. They definitely know how to do their job.” 

He let out a small laugh, “I would hope so. It’s all they’re good for really.” 

Vi took a breath before swallowing. She slammed her hands onto the desk, leaning forward until her face was inches from his. “Listen here, you sick piece of shit,” she growled. “You’re gonna give me the money, right now, or I’ll make sure you regret every second you’ve spent breathing.”  

For the first time, the man’s smirk faltered. He raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling nervously. “Alright, alright. No need to get feisty. I’ll get the coin. And I won’t charge you for your fun, consider it a gift.”  

Vi watched as he reached into another drawer, this time pulling out a small lockbox. He fumbled with the key, his hands shaking slightly as he opened it to reveal a pile of crumpled bills and coins.  

“See? No problem,” he said, sliding the box toward her. “All yours.”  

Vi grabbed the box and tucked it under her arm, but something made her pause. “Why shimmer?”

The man shrugged again, lighting a fresh cigar. “Keeps ‘em compliant,” he said casually. “Makes the work easier for everyone. Silco charges a decent price for it as well.”  

She nodded for a moment before deciding.

Before the man could react, she swung the lockbox, slamming it into his face with a sickening crunch. He let out a howl, blood spurting from his nose as he clutched at his face.  

“You’re a real piece of work,” Vi snarled, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him up and out of his chair. “Using shimmer to keep them in line? Beating them? You think you can just get away with that?”  

He tried to stammer out a response, but Vi wasn’t listening. She threw him to the ground, and stalked around his desk before her boot pressed against his chest as she glared down at him.  

“Here’s how this is gonna go,” she said, her voice low and menacing. “You’re gonna start paying your workers what they’re worth. No more shimmer, no more bruises, no more bullshit. Got it?”  

He nodded frantically, blood dripping down his chin.  

“And if I find out you’ve laid a hand on them again,” Vi continued, leaning down and spitting at him. “I’ll come back, and it won’t just be your nose I break. Understand?”  

“Y-yeah,” he stammered. “I get it. I’ll—I’ll change.”  

Vi stepped back, her chest heaving. She put the lockbox under her arm again and stormed out of the office, not sparing him another glance.