It was a difficult night. I was putting this day off as long as possible, but I couldn't wait anymore.
I stood at the edge of the upstairs room, one hand resting on the doorframe, watching Mira as she sat on the far side of the bed, legs tucked beneath her like a cat trying to look as small as possible, wanting to remain invisible. She was hugging a pillow to her chest, eyes unfocused and looking far away, knowing exactly what I meant when I said we would need to talk. Her face, her entire composure, changed immediately... And I wasn't blaming her for it.
Of course, I had sent the others downstairs and told them gently but firmly to let us talk in peace. Lira nodded, understanding it, taking the others down with her, though it didn't stop her from glancing back at Mira three times before finally disappearing down the stairs. She was worried, but... Bottling it all up wouldn't be good either. I know.
When they were gone, I stepped in, closing the door behind me, and then crossed the room slowly, not wanting to scare her. She was indeed like a little kitten, flinching when I sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to crowd her mind or suddenly very sensitive senses.
"I'm sorry, Mira," I said quietly. "But we must talk about it. Even if you don't want to, I have to ask you some questions."
"I know," Mira whispered, surprising me because her voice wasn't shaking. Or... She could hide it well, "I know... I need to. I was just... unsure when you would ask it. It was good not remembering it for a while..."
"I understand," I nodded, reaching out and gently taking her hand, patting it. "How did it happen? Can you recall?"
"I was running the job you gave me. The one with the green-colored seal marking it as interesting information. You remember the one?"
I did. I have already looked up and memorized the ones we sent out when she went missing. Her run was for a mid-tier client, nothing flashy, really. The buyer had paid well enough but insisted on discretion. Looking back at the notes, he had purchased information about a warehouse transaction in the Canal District... On a bit of a smuggling operation going under the noses of two small-time businesses.
"Yeah. Go on." I nodded.
"It... was fine." Mira took a deep breath, her eyes closing, furrowing her brows, and I could feel her palms beginning to sweat, "I delivered it just like you said... I arrived at the spot where I was supposed to hand over the container to the client, near the bridge where the broken lanterns were located. But..."
"But...?" I asked, gently giving her a squeeze and nudging her to continue.
"There was a man there. Tall... Bald. Um... He wore a black coat and had a short beard... I think... Yes... He also had a scar across his nose. He said he was picking it up for his master." She recalled, telling it with a now audibly shaking voice, "I didn't think much of it. It wouldn't be the first time the client sent his own people, so I took the coin and gave the message over to him."
"Anything else?" I leaned forward slightly, my voice calm, trying to keep her calm, at least for now. "Did you see which direction he came from?"
"North. I think." She muttered, furrowing her brows even harder, "From the alley that goes toward the main market square." She muttered, searching her memory. "He looked at me too long, though. It... felt like it. As if he were trying to remember my face? Memorize it? That's when I started to feel... weird."
I kept my face still, but inside, a sick twist formed in my stomach. That wasn't just a drop, but that was a trap set for her. For us. That man was never the real client, nor was he probably one who worked for him. He was the bait, plain and simple. Or the collector. Or both.
"And what happened after you left the drop point?" I asked.
"I made it... about three blocks," Mira said, her voice quieting by a large margin, becoming a whisper. "I felt like I was being followed, so I tried to change course, as you taught us." She trembled, her eyes still kept closed while speaking, "I used one of the back alleys near the slums... That's when someone grabbed me! They threw a bag over my head, pulling it close, so much so that it choked me out! When I regained consciousness... my hands were tied. I'm not sure if it was the same man... Sorry..." she added, finally opening her eyes and looking at me.
"It doesn't matter." I smiled at her, looking into her eyes and stroking her small hand. "Do you remember anything about where they took you? Sounds? Smells?"
"Nothing much..." She shook her head slowly. "By the time I woke up... I was somewhere... It smelled like mold. Um... Wet wood. And... blood. I think it was underground. I couldn't hear the city anymore. There was just... dripping water. Chains. A lot of chains... I think I was in a basement. Maybe a warehouse basement." She tried, her eyes unfocused, all of those days' senses returning to her. However much she hurt, though... I didn't interrupt. I just let her keep talking. I had to. "There was only one man there... He kept me tied up to a chair or something. He asked who I worked for. When I said nothing, he asked who I carried messages for... I lied. I said it was just random jobs! Street runners pick up whatever they can find... He didn't believe me."
"I see..." I was about to ask if she could describe the man who hurt her, but she beat me to it.
"He was... in black." She murmured, her fingers tightened around mine, painfully so. "He smelled like rusty iron. Like old swords that I sometimes find in the sewers... He wore thick, black gloves. Um... he didn't yell... His voice was always smooth and calm. Deep. He had... short hair, no! No... It was tied up... I think. And it was dark, but I think he had black... or brown? Black hair... No beard..."
While she continued talking, I moved closer slowly and placed a hand on her shoulders, gently pulling her into a hug. She kept speaking, returning to that moment, falling into a weird, trance-like state.
"He broke two of my fingers first," she said, her voice cracking painfully for the first time. "Then he pulled a knife... He cut my leg just a little. Kept saying things like, 'You're too small to matter, so talk now, and maybe you'll stay useful.' But I didn't. I didn't say your name. I didn't!"
"Sssh, it's okay! I know," I said softly, reaching out to stroke her head.
"Then he hit me. Many times... Again. And again... I think I blacked out. But he didn't let me because he put something in me that woke me up in the dark. After that... I couldn't feel my legs. My face was... it hurt. It hurt... I thought I was going to die there... He kept asking the questions, telling me if I said it, it would be over... But I knew he was lying! He... enjoyed it... I saw it!"
She started to cry, and I wasn't surprised. Not asking her to continue, I pulled her gently into my arms, letting her cry into my chest. I didn't say anything, as nothing would really mean anything, so I just held her, fingers brushing through her hair, letting her work through it and let it all out. It lasted for a very long time, but when the sobs finally faded, she just stayed there, resting against me. Her breathing was uneven, but the worst of the storm had passed, and her body was slowly beginning to relax. I could feel how it turned from that fear-induced stiffness back into something much more lax.
"You did well," I whispered to her, "And you're safe now. You're strong, Mira. Stronger than any of us. Don't worry, they won't get you here, and be sure that we will catch the guy. He will be punished... severely."
She didn't respond, but she nodded slowly against my chest, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Eventually, I helped her sit back again, propping her against the pillows. She looked exhausted yet lighter, both in her posture and in her eyes. Speaking about it, it had purged some of the poison from her chest, lessening the chance of having a heart attack.
"One more thing," I said gently. "Can you describe that first man again? The one you handed the message to."
She did, of course, and I committed it to memory. Although I won't be able to get to the one who tortured her, I can start there. I still have a client who would be a great example of what happens when someone thinks they can cross us. As for what I would do to him? I don't know yet, but I'm sure to send a proper message. One that the city won't forget for a long time.
Standing up, I left her with a blanket after I tucked her in carefully. Before I opened the door, I looked back, smiling a little. She was already asleep, which seemed to be a good sign. I just hoped she wouldn't have nightmares. Well... Even if she does, Puck and the others should be up here and console her if anything like that happens.
"She okay?" Coming downstairs, Lira looked up immediately, watching the kids rush past me while I nodded.
"She will be," I hummed, then I leaned closer after we were left alone. "Keep an eye on her tonight. Just in case."
"Of course, but..." Lira narrowed her eyes, looking at me, "You're not staying..."
"No. I have a clue to follow up on. And it is best to be quick about it." She opened her mouth, but then she closed it as she didn't ask more. "I'll be fine." I chuckled before patting her head.
...
....
...
The night air was cold, and it helped cool me down a little as I moved quickly, heading towards the compound of Veren & Sons. By now, I had literally been given a twenty-four-hour access pass, so I didn't even need to stop at the gate; I was let in. I was also in luck because I could see some light escaping the main building, so after I knocked, it took only a little while before the latch clicked, the door creaking open to reveal Markus wrapped in a robe. He was yawning, rubbing one eye, trying to focus. He was either about to go to sleep, or he was already asleep. My bad, then.
"Auriel?" he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Is something wrong?"
"I wouldn't have come if it weren't," I sighed a little, which seemed to sober him up. "There is something about to happen... I came to warn you ahead of time." I lied to him, "Because it may affect you."
"What is going on?" He asked, surprised.
"Let's get inside first," I answered quickly, not wanting to say it right away as I was still developing the story in my mind. I can't come to them asking for information... that was my job description. I had to go the roundabout way, or they could recognize that I, or Shade, was really not as great as they thought. I should have become an actor... or so I felt at that moment.
"Sure, sure!" Markus's tired expression hardened immediately, and he stepped aside to let me in. "Give me a moment to wake the others."
The interior where I was led this time around was more like a proper living room. It was warm and smelled faintly of old wood and candle wax from the thick candelabra, the one that held the light source I saw from the outside. I stayed near the entryway as Markus climbed the stairs at the back and roused his brother and son. A few minutes later, the three of them were gathered in the sitting room, holding half-cups of strong tea and waiting for my explanation, not exactly happy to be woken up so late into the night.
"Sorry, but it is just about to go down." I didn't waste time crafting the scenario. "The girl you helped us save, Mira. We now know how she was taken, and it was a trap. Someone ordered information through our channels and then intercepted the courier for the exact reason of getting a lead on Shade."
"The Ledger..." Markus set his cup down, eyes narrowing. "It has to be them..."
"Yes," I nodded, but then continued, wanting to sound like I was warning them of possible fallout that may come soon. Or... an opportunity. "But they worked through an intermediary. The first one is a man, an insignificant adventurer." I guessed as the description mostly fit one of those types, "He was bald, with a short beard and a scar across the nose. Big build, broad-shouldered."
"Tsk... Veiss... He always finds himself in trouble..." Willem, Markus's brother, grunted.
"If you are friends, best if you stay clear of him," I added, warning Willem, which made him stiffen, drawing his eyes away from mine. Good... So far, so good because I now have a name, too.
"Nothing like that!" Willem continued, "He is a bottom-feeder adventurer at best... He has been around for years, amounting to nothing, only working shit jobs. As far as I know, he runs with a small crew that takes low-end escort or warehouse guard jobs. Nothing flashy. Sometimes, they take postings from the smaller merchant syndicates when the Guild's prices are too high... I remember him because he once got drunk and tried to stiff us on a rental." He grimaced. "Still owes us five silver."
"..."
"W-what?" He asked, gulping, seeing me still looking at him, saying nothing. I was just simply memorizing it, but... Oops.
"We know," I said softly, finally blinking and leaning back.
"Oh... sure... sure..." He blushed, realizing he was rambling because he was suddenly afraid Shade would think they worked together or were connected.
"Where would I find him?" I asked, adding quickly, "We have multiple of his hideouts, but if you can narrow it down to one..."
"Yes, yes!" Willem nodded, "Last I heard, he bunked around the East Dockside, near the tavern called the Broken Whistle. He and his group sometimes work out of there after he had lost his previous house while playing cards."
"That one... I see. Thanks." I nodded, committing it to memory, and then told them the name that requested the information from us in the first place, "Stay away from Tonnel Vek... for now."
"The gondola guy?!" Rellen, Markus's son, yelled out, making me look at him, and I wanted to laugh so badly. Tonnel Vek... Fucking idiot. Did you use your actual name? I expected it to draw no reaction from them when I mentioned it, but... No. Wait... It may be an alias.
"If it is a fat, greasy bastard who always tried to sneak in extra charges, holding a chicken wing in one hand and oiling his balding head, trying to smooth the side hair he has over the spot with the other... Then yeah. It is him."
I didn't know that part, but... Lira mentioned that there was a customer once who asked if our bread goes well with roasted chicken. And by her description, it was a greasy old fat fuck... I can pay him a visit and double-check it then.
"Just... be prepared." I stood up, having what I came for. I can double-check the information within the Adventurers Guild next.
"We will be..." They nodded, seeing that I was leaving already.
Watching the light in their eyes, I knew they indeed took it as a friendly warning... and an opportunity. I could tell that Markus already thought that maybe after the dust settled... There will be an empty spot to move into the gondola-owning business.