Chapter 5 - Beatrice Lace

Ku Yong

Ku Yong Rai Jin Safe Haven

Beatrice's face was still painted red by the time she'd closed her room door behind her. It was not often that she interacted with anyone, man or Rai Jin, other than her fellow Branch members.

He probably thinks I'm some kind of weirdo. Beatrice thought to herself. The image of Benjamin's playful smirk flashed across her mind. Why am I even thinking about this? She asked herself as more blood rushed to her cheeks. Warmth spread across her face as she began to picture the man who'd come into what was essentially her home, unannounced.

Undressing herself, Beatrice walked into her bathroom, which conveniently, as with each room in Ku Yong Safe Haven, was privately connected to her room. In an attempt to cool off, she turned on her shower, running the water cold, and jumped in. She imagined steam rising from her skin as her mind eased away from thoughts of Benjamin, and into a reflective state.

As Nova predicted, the High Council sent a representative to assist with procedure. Who would've guessed they'd send the Second on Command of Argot's Rai Jin Branch though? She thought as the chilly water cascaded down her spine.

Switching the water to warm, she washed herself. Once cleansed of the sweat and dirt of her day, she slowly stepped out of the shower. Donning only underclothes, she jumped into her bed, and attempted to rest, doing her best to think of anything but the Second in Command of the Argot Rai Jin Branch.

Beatrice became bothered, tense, and aroused.

Slowly she reached her hand into her underclothes and began to intimately touch herself. With each touch she pleased her body, in ways no other person would know she enjoyed. Pinching her nipples between the fingers of one hand, she slowly rotated her fingers using her other hand on her clitoris, moaning quietly as an uncontrollable tingle passed through her body.

Pinching harder, rotating her fingers faster, her breath began to increase in intensity. As she began to sweat she felt herself rise into a climax. A loud moan escaped her lips as cum, warm and wet spilled from her body. Her back arched high into the air as her final release came and, breathing heavily, she settled back down into her bed, her sleeping space soaked by fluids of her own making.

Finally, relieved of the thought of the High Council's elected representative, Beatrice settled into her bed, content in the wet spot she'd made. Closing her eyes, she waited for sleep to overtake her body.

-knock- -knock- knock- -knock-

Had she been anyone else, Beatrice wouldn't have heard the knock that landed three doors from her room. Judging from her ears, she surmised the late visitor was at Benjamin's door.

Well he is a popular figure in Rai Jin Society, she mused. A fan of his must've gotten wind of his presence.

"How can I help you?" It had taken him a while, almost enough to be considered rude, but Benjamin answered his door. Holding true to his reputation as "The Council's Ambassador", though he sounded calm and nonchalant to being disturbed in his own time, Beatrice, a physical Rai Jin who's sight, hearing and natural agility were enhanced after her rebirth, could make out the irritation in his voice, the slow, steady pound of his heartbeat indicating that he was forcibly keeping his composure.

"I was wondering if I could speak with you." Beatrice recognized Claud's voice. She sat up, eyebrows raised.

"Is it something that can wait until the morning?" Benjamin responded.

Claud was slow to answer. "Perhaps," he said his low voice barely audible through the walls. "But I would prefer to have this conversation in private."

A moment passed before Benjamin's door shut, no words said between them. Beatrice heard no footsteps outside. Benjamin invited him into his room, she deduced. Laying back down into her bed, she pondered.

Surprise had replaced fatigue, and Beatrice laid in her bed, attempting and failing to find her way back to comfort. As her attempts failed, curiosity overtook her. What would Claud want from the Second in Command from another Branch? What is it that he doesn't want anyone else to hear.

No longer able to repress her desire to gain information, Beatrice lithely jumped from her bed, quickly threw on a halter top shirt and a pair of shorts, and quietly cracked open her door. Peering out, she assured there were no people in the hall and tip-toed towards Benjamin's door.

Touching her hands to the door, she leaned her ear against it and listened intently.

"No, I was reborn during the last Nest." Benjamin said, answering a question Beatrice did not hear.

"I see. Was Nova master of Ku Yong then?" Claud asked. Benjamin wouldn't know it, but Claud was the interrogation specialist of the Ku Yong Rai Jin Branch. Beatrice recognized this line of questioning as his first interrogation technique. She didn't know exactly what it is he was probing for, but she knew Claud was using Benjamin to gain knowledge about Nova.

"I'll be honest with you," Benjamin continued speaking. "I've used my ability beyond my limit for the day and I'd like to rest."

His tone was polite, and his words were carefully chosen, still Beatrice could hear frustration in his voice. He wants to wrap this up. I should go before I'm caught.

"I apologize. Can I ask one more question before I go?" Claud said. It seemed absurd at first, but Beatrice could hear what she was sure was desperation from Claud.

"Sure." Benjamin responded, a sigh slipping through his lips. It didn't seem intentional.

He wants to help, even though he clearly doesn't want to be bothered. Leave him alone Claud!

Beatrice found herself subconsciously wanting to jump to his aid, but remained silent to prevent being caught eavesdropping.

"Why doesn't the Council trust our Branch?" Claud asked after a short moment. Beatrice heard Benjamin's heart skip several beats. The question posed made him extremely uncomfortable.

"What makes you think the Council mistrusts the Ku Yong Branch?" Rather than answer, Benjamin maneuvered around the question. His tactic proved effective, as Claud was taken aback, and rather than press for his own answer, he responded to Benjamin.

"Nova has spoken in length on several different occasions about it." Claud wasn't wrong. Beatrice had witnessed Nova demonizing the Rai Jin High Council more times than she cared to remember.

"There's more, is there?" Benjamin asked.

Claud hesitated.

"Look. Claud right?" Benjamin took advantage of his hesitation to end the conversation. "The High Council may lead our people, but just like everyone else, they shit and wipe their asses with toilet paper. They're bound to make mistakes. The same goes for Nova. Don't get caught up in the blunders and squabbles of the higher ups. Your hair will turn white in a matter of days."

Claud made a sound, as if he wished speak more, but ultimately he chose not to push further. The sound of chairs scraping against the floors told Beatrice it was time for her to go. She doubted there was anything to gain from listening further.

Lithe and quick, she tiptoed away from Benjamin's door, returning to her own. She closed her door just in time to hear Benjamin open his to let Claud out.

"Whatever your true concerns are, Claud, the High Council and Nova share one major thing in common." Benjamin said as Claud departed his room.

"What's that?" Claud asked incredulously.

"In the end, their primary concern is the Rai Jin community as a whole. No matter how different their methods, each of them does what they do in order to protect and serve our people." Benjamin gave these parting words, and closed his door, shutting Claud out.

Claud's footsteps echoed throughout the hall for a few brief moments, then silence. He was no longer near. She had not realized it, but until she was sure Claud was gone, Beatrice had been holding her breath. She exhaled deeply, and fatigue once again crept through her body.

I wonder what's got Claud acting so strange. Beatrice undressed once again, and slipped between her sheets, still wet from the mess she'd made earlier.

It was difficult with the many thoughts racing through her mind, but eventually, she fell into a slumber, deep and long.