Opus Veda

Imany strolled by the flats and stopped outside as if checking her phone. She continued to a side street. Nobody jumped her, nothing looked suspicious. Sermon hadn't snitched on her.

Yet. He still could. The backup plan needed to be ready before Imany went in.

She dialled 999, suffering a hold queue buzzing with ads.

A bored voice snapped into her ear.

"Police fire or ambulance?"

"Police."

"Borough?"

"Merton."

The line clicked. Ads resumed. Imany almost gave up.

Someone else came on and requested details.

"It's a friend of mine. She's bein' held against her will and… I think she's been sexually trafficked."

"I was asking for your identification details. Can I please have them?"

Imany snarled and gave her identity up. A minute passed as the officer read it.

"Where is it you think your friend is being held?"

"Tailor Court House. I'm standing outside."

The officer placed her on hold. A promotion for a nearby nightclub played.

A third, stern voice came on the line.

"Imany Eshun it is important you do not enter that building. We are aware and dealing with it as soon as we can. Can I get your friend's details?'

"Her name's Katarzyna Szymanska. She's in there, and I'm goin' inside. As if I'd wait for you lot after we lost our Misha? It's gonna kick off so get some lads together and move."

Imany hung up.

* * *

Sermon braced for an encounter. Eva answered the door too quickly to give him time.

"Aw 'ello Serms! I thought you normally let yourself in?" she bared her canines. Sermon leaned over and shook his finger.

"You are such a madam! Listen, I know it's late but are you gonna let me in I need a tea!"

Eva let him pass. The room was messy. Damp clothes dangled over the TV. Noodle pots piled in the sink. Sermon took a dining seat, quietly groaning at the thought of Eva caring for herself. Eva fumbled with the microwave's kettle insert.

"Eva forget the tea look. Come sit 'ere with me."

"Oh… okay…" she flopped onto the free seat, "wassup then?"

"I… I!" he leant forward and grinned, "I need to hear about this fella of yours!"

"Which one Uncle Serms!?"

"Which one!? As bad as your mum was!"

"Only half as bad as you were! I bet you had more guys than she did…"

"If you must know, at your age I had a couple of ladies teaching me!"

"Shit. How'd you manage that?"

"I was good at goin' down," Sermon raised his hand, proffering an uncle's wisdom, "you'll realise soon, half of all straight guys are shit at givin' head, and the other half-"

"Never bother to ask!"

"Right! So, this guy of yours… anyone serious?"

Eva shot a disappointed look.

"Mama told me to stop seein' him. Don't tell her but we still talk a bit. I told him I won't see him any more though."

"I won't say a word. How did he take it?"

"Fine but… he's not replyin' so much any more. I think he's bored of me now…"

"Bah! Little niece!" Sermon swatted the air, "I know it's excitin' to meet someone but there's always better options out there, trust. Never get hung up on one guy. You remember the policy I told ya?"

"Ex-boy to the next-boy?"

Sermon pouted proudly. Eva giggled.

"Have you ever met someone nice uncle Serms? Other than clubs."

"Actually I did recently!"

"Wow! With who!? What happened!?"

"My Sicilian affair! Luca… well... his work got between us in the end."

Sermon chuckled, looked down, felt his chest ache.

He waved the air.

"Never mind me love - fuckin' hell what is that!?"

A furry lump skittered over his lap. Sermon slid off the chair with a thud. Eva cried laughing and lifted the rabbit.

"He's called Yorkie! Do you wanna hold him!?"

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"No I do not!" Sermon backed against the wall and raised his leg, "mate put him in the cupboard or somethin'!"

Eva exhausted herself with laughter and put Yorkie in his hutch. Sermon lowered onto the chair whilst glaring at him.

"Christ Eva, you coulda warned me-"

"When is my mama comin' home?"

The question caught Sermon out. He adjusted his posture.

"I dunno love. She just goes out a lot izzit?"

"Is not, Serms! Ever since my Birthday we hardly see each other even though we made up! I just don't get it…"

Sermon leant forward.

"I've seen her. She's graftin' hard for you both. She has had a bit more cash recently right?"

"Right..."

"So there."

"No not there Sermon!" Eva stamped the ground, "what the hell is money without anyone to spend it with? Are you sure she doesn't hate me..."

"She loves you more than anyone Eva! Everythin' she does is for you, she just... we all go through an avoidant phase sometimes. But we don't avoid the people we hate, we avoid the people we're afraid to lose."

"That makes no sense. I'd never cut you off if we had a problem, I'd talk to you," Eva frowned, sulky and fed up, "I dunno. Sometimes I wonder if she's up to some secret shit."

A sober realisation struck Sermon. For the first time in months, he had stopped thinking about Revolution Britannia.

* * *

Imany waited with a drink. A weaselly man watched her, failing to look polite. A camera watched too, giving away the venue's suspicion.

She took a tablet and started swiping, rejecting workers till she cycled back to her first option. No Kasia as suspected, though Imany assumed Kasia was on site. She would have to find her another way.

Someone came in. Tall, sunburnt, in an unfashionable shirt. Interested in Imany, and by his gait he had to be the owner. 'Chef'.

"Who is this old yardie queen in my parlour! What's wrong with my menu?"

He knew Imany was out of place. She wasn't going to pretend otherwise.

"I am feelin' unsure. Thought I'd have another drink and see if a better option comes up."

He chuckled patiently and sat with her.

"We don't send staff straight back out after a job, they aren't hairdressers! The menu won't change over a drink what you into?"

"Someone Eastern European. Wherever you get that 'raven beauty' thing."

"Raven beauty?" Chef peered sideways, "I don't believe that's your type."

"It isn't. But I'm here to try new things, without a club takin' my data."

"Ah! Now that I like to hear. Well here we sit; quoth the raven forevermore," Chef snickered, took the tablet, and swiped at lightning speed.

He stopped on a soft-faced woman with short blonde hair.

"How about this?"

Imany tutted, "haven't seen a blonde raven before. Why her?"

"She's great with women, especially those on the fence. Got this kind of nursey vibe to tease your doubts away."

"If she's your recommendation, fine. Be it on your head," Imany held her hand to her heart, "I'll get that second drink as well."

He winked, clicking his fingers at his assistant. Imany followed the man upstairs.

Chef returned to his office and made a call.

Imany wandered around the flat, pretending to check the furniture as she scanned for cameras. A plastic flute of sour Cava rested in her fingers.

Her match arrived, friendly and playful in a way Imany found uneasy. The girl directed her to the sofa. Imany obeyed and watched her saunter up.

"Do you have a name?"

"Imany. And you're Esmé."

"Imany… you have a nice name," Esmé glided beside her, "will you tell me why you swiped me?"

"You wouldn't like the reason."

She slapped Imany's forearm.

"This is your first time here. I can tell by how you're sitting."

"How should I sit?"

Esmé swung onto her lap, facing her head on. She snatched Imany's drink, drank it, and tossed the glass aside. Imany gripped the sofa and found her free hand pinned against Esmé's hip. She scoffed.

"This isn't my first time here. I came back for someone. Why don't you get her?"

Esmé pouted, "why are you thinking about someone else? You're here with me."

"You can stay as well. I'll have two of you..."

"Why didn't you say so downstairs?"

"She wasn't on the menu but she's here," Imany nudged her away. Esmé swung off with an irate sigh.

"Are you sure she's here? What's her name?"

Imany considered the options. In this room she had an island with a clear path out. Getting Kasia here and bolting out the front was the surest bet, and it meant dealing with this girl. She could coerce her, but if Esmé didn't know where Kasia was, Imany would have to search the building herself.

On the other hand, if she could get her help, Esmé might search on her behalf.

It had to be diplomacy. She looked into Esmé's eyes and found what she prayed was real warmth.

"Her name's Kasia. Can you bring her here?"

Esmé shot upright.

"She's not working tonight. You must have your days wrong."

Too sudden. Too alert. She knew the truth.

"She's hurt, ain't she? This is no place to recover Esmé."

"Who are you!?"

"Bring her here and you'll find out. Please don't put me in a desperate position."

Esmé's mouth hung open, but she pulled herself together, nodding rapidly.

"Okay. I'll get her for you. Wait here."

Kasia searched and searched, desperate for a hotel she could afford, reach, be allowed into. She was in Maître d's room, suffocating with cigarette smoke and perfume, numb with pain.

Esmé flew through the door.

"Kasia! There you are…" she hissed at Maître d', "matron you can't smoke fags in here when a girl's recovering! Go and finish it outside my love."

"Can oi get through a single noight without one of you complainin' about me fags!"

Esmé pushed her outside and spun back.

"Kasia. Ever heard of a woman called Imany?"

Kasia forced herself up.

"Please tell me she isn't here."

"She's in a client room-"

"Take me to her."

Esmé took Kasia's hand and hurried to the flat, covering Kasia from the security guards in each hall.

They barged through the door. Imany was standing in the middle of the room. Kasia fell into her embrace crying.

"I'm sorry Imany I'm so sorry-"

"Be quiet girl! We have to get out of here-"

"I can't go back! If Eva-"

"Don't worry! None of us will care. We just want you home. You don't have to do this anymore."

Kasia whispered an okay. Imany held her cheeks, wiping teardrops away with her thumb.

She saw over Kasia's shoulder. Her affection died. She shoved Kasia away as a guardsman grabbed Esmé's neck. Esmé screeched as he threw her against the floorboards.

A bigger man stomped into view, plated in silver armour. He pushed past Imany, lunged for Kasia.

Found his arm locked.

Imany pulled his helmet down and yanked him with it. He kicked back, launching her into the wall. The room filled with shouting and soldiers. Kasia tried to pull Pierce away as he battered Imany against crumbling plaster.

Then a sharp crack. Pierce collapsed with blood gushing from his nose. A circle of red trickled from Imany's forehead.

Blue darts sailed into them. Kasia keeled over in a fit. Imany wrapped the taser's wire around her fist, tugged its shooter closer, and bailed her fist into his head.

It took three more guards to restrain her. She dropped to her knees, defiant but composed.

Chef scooped Esmé up, wanting to remove her. Pierce barred him.

"I want that blonde prostitute with me we'll be having a chat-"

"She is my worker Sergeant Major-"

"You do not call me that!" Pierce spat blood into Chef's face, "you are a greasy pimp whose life is in my hands. Put her on pool duty I want her with me."

Chef shrank. He motioned to Imany and Kasia.

"What about them."

"Kasia stays here. Her friend isn't done yet though. Guardsmen!" soldiers snapped to attention, Pierce lifted his arm, "take her next door. Everyone else out."

The room cleared. Pierce locked the door; wiped his face clean.

Only his failed recruit remained. Kasia turned white with terror.

He clenched his fists and unleashed them on her.

* * *

Sermon begged his phone for a reply. Two hours had passed without one. Kasia's flat was too small to pace around. He wanted to smoke something - something strong - but going outside risked being seen.

Eva's arm flopped off the bed. He laid it back on her mattress. An innocent moment, a sight more peaceful than any he'd seen all year. She deserved a better future than his generation were giving her. However that could happen, he was questioning if revolution was the answer.

His phone buzzed. He whipped it to his ear and dashed into the wash corner.

"Yea?"

"We found her. You need to get 'ere quick it's goin' off!"

"Slow down boss! Who'd you find?"

"Both of 'em! Sarnt Major got 'em both! I gotta go bruv if they find me-"

"Curtis don't you dare hang up! Where are they!?"

"Kasia's in the flats. It's Imany."

"What they done with her?"

"They've taken her to the pool mate."

Sermon hung up. His arm dropped. He wanted to cry. Every choice left was a failure in the making, but one had to be made.

He returned to Eva, ensuring she slept. A single tear escaped his eye. He drew his taser and chambered a round. It made a metallic crunch and whistled online.

Sermon frowned, grim but resolved. The tear dried.

He looked back one last time at his niece, understanding he would never see her again.