Inside the inn was gaudy. There were far too many loud patterns. One or two could have been dominant statements of taste, but the clashing display Aureum walked into was a war for the eyes.
She didn't know which was worse, the lamps imitating dragons or the floor rug displaying some beast hunt. Of course, the rug was tasteless red pools of blood from some monster on a scene dominated by green forests, only to be ringed with far too much gold trim.
How is this a place of wealth?
She expected Fluentem to have much more elegant tastes for one of their grand inns. Not as stately and as stern as Nix, but nothing as classless as this.
Perhaps it was impossible for an entire city to be beautiful.
Everything within Aureum's sight was made from the best materials money could buy. Still, the wealth on display was tasteless instead of awe-inspiring.
Vitreum didn't pause, she hop-scotched across the scenes of the rug before twirling with Snowfluffles. Aureum followed behind her.
Although the interior decoration was an eyesore, the people inside were a concern. Difficult as they were to spot among the gaudy interior.
Are they guards?
They were intimidating men lounging around, but the lack of being to attention made them something else.
If it weren't for their clothes I'd have thought them thugs.
Aureum didn't know the fashion trends of the city. They could logically be anything, but she felt her hair stand just being near them. She tried to take Vitreum's hand as inconspicuously as possible. The two left the button floor quickly, heading for the stairs.
What was waiting in Vitreum's room was worse.
While the thugs outside were classy, the group of men she saw inside were the dregs of society. The edge in their eyes and their shallow cheeks weren't hidden.
That was for those that were aware. Many were in some kind of stupor.
They sprawled around the room as if someone had dropped them there. That wasn't as bad as the smell. Something rank hit Aureum as soon as she entered.
Vitreum didn't give one care for them. She stepped over their legs like they were twigs.
Aureum's heart dropped.
A few of the layabouts reached for Vitreum in a dazed manner, but the girl passed them with no issue.
"Who's this?"
One said. He was less dazed than most.
"Nobody to you. She's my nanny."
"Your nanny. Right there, lady Vitreum. Well, go on, nanny."
Aureum stepped over them quickly.
Luckily, it was a wealthy suite. A "room" had more than one door to it. Aureum shadowed Vitreum as the girl ran for hers.
As soon as they entered, Aureum turned and shut the door.
"What is going on?"
Vitreum shrugged.
"You think they tell me?"
"You haven't heard anything?"
If she knew anything more, the girl wasn't saying.
Well, whatever it is, it's probably not legal. More importantly, it's probably not safe.
"She can't stay here," Aureum said, more to herself, still aghast at the situation.
"Are you talking about me?"
"Aha. Nope."
Aureum rubbed her wrists.
I can't just kidnap her.
The image of the men outside the door was hard to ignore.
I've been less justified in doing worse.
"Do you know where your brother is?"
Vitreum shrugged again. She had already crawled under the unmade covers of a massive bed as if she were done for the day. She and the kitten peered out at Aureum from under blankets.
"Nevermind. Let's just leave a letter?"
Aureum considered further.
"Maybe not too detailed a letter."
Aureum was already looking around inside Vitreum's room.
She has to have traveling bags somewhere.
"What are you doing?"
"I've decided. We're leaving."
"What?"
"You can stay with me," Aureum said, her hand resting near her chin as she thought. "This here," her hand waved towards the door, "is unacceptable."
"You can't make me leave! My brother promised—
Aureum had put her hand over Vitreum's mouth.
"Vitreum. Those people are not safe. Whatever your brother promised is not worth it. And shouting is not going to make things better."
Vitreum looked at Aureum.
Aw, crud.
Aureum saw the look in the girl's eye before she bit her. Aureum winced but didn't let go.
"For your own sake, think! Does anything about this seem good to you?"
Vitreum jerked her head away.
"And what about you is so much better? I don't even know you!"
"Everything all right in there?"
Aureum swiveled at the strange voice. Her eyes were wide, like a horse's showing their whites.
"We're fine!" Vitreum shouted.
"I kept my promise with Snowfluffles didn't I?"
That made Vitreum pause. She looked at the cat.
She really did like Snowfluffles. Aureum could see the thought process all across her face.
"I promise you that if you come with me, I will take you somewhere better."
"That's not good enough. I want to go home! I want to see my mom!"
Aureum felt the emotion in the Vitreum's voice like the edge of a knife. If she lost the girl here she wouldn't have time to try again tonight.
And who knows what would happen between now and the next time Aureum saw her.
"I can't promise the home you knew. But I can promise that I'll stay with you until you find a new one."
Vitreum considered that. She nodded.
"You need to leave a letter though."
Aureum nodded in return. Then she rushed towards the bag she had spotted.
Just a few days of clothes? No.
"Grab what's important to you, and let's go."
"Important?"
"Anything you can't leave behind."
Aureum didn't know how to explain it better, but Vitreum got off the bed. This seemed a good step. The first thing she grabbed was a teddy bear. Then a doll.
Aureum spent a painful moment before deciding it wasn't worth the fight. She grabbed a few sets of what looked like comfortable clothes, the essentials she spotted in her panic, and grabbed the pile of candy and toys Vitreum had made before shoving it all into the bag.
"That's good, you did good," Aureum said.
She took a few seconds to scribble out a letter. Something about taking Aureum for a few days as they agreed earlier.
We hadn't exactly agreed. But I did mention something to the effect.
With luck, that would be enough to slow down anything legal Benedic might pull. Maybe they could even talk it over. Aureum would be fine letting Vitreum stay with her until… whatever was going on here was done.
Realistically, she'd probably put her foot down until a guardian besides Benedic showed up.
Before that, we have to get out.
Aureum looked out the window. Like everything, it was far too big and luxurious.
That would work.
She heard the men outside.
I'm not going that way again.
Her hands shook as she grasped around, trying to figure out how to open the window. It gave her a feeling of nostalgia.
She snorted at herself.
Vitreum looked up at her with wide eyes.
"Oh, we'll be fine. You'll see."
The window opened with a clatter. Aureum and Vitreum froze.
"What was that?"
"We're all right—AAAAHHHHH!"
Vitreum's shout turned into a scream of poor terror as Aureum grabbed her and jumped.
Aureum's timing was poor.
The two had had a split second to think and their reactions had diverged.
At least they glided down.
Aureum couldn't get enough of the cloak out with her holding Vitreum and the bag to fly.
"Oi! She's stealing the lady baby!"
"Benedic's sister?!"
Aureum looked up to see their heads popping out of the window as they saw her.
"Kidnapping! She's kidnapping Vitreum!"
And I feel so bad about it.
Aureum dashed her sarcastic thoughts to the side; as soon as her feet touched the ground, she was running.
Half-dragging Vitreum behind her, she made it a few blocks. All the sweat spent traveling paid off for the ability to take that one extra step. Her blood beat through her in a rush. Her body was as ready as she was.
However, even her effort had limits.
As she began to slow down, she felt them coming behind her. It was a shame it wasn't a higher floor they came down from.
"Wait for us lady! We'll save you!"
"She came willingly!"
Aureum shouted back.
"A likely story!"
The circumstantial evidence was a bit damning.
Aureum felt like laughing or crying from her desperation.
"Your den of miscreants is no place for a child!"
"How do you know?! I grew up fine!"
Did I just trash one of their childhoods by mistake?
"Heheheheh!"
She couldn't help the nervous laughter bubbling up. There was no time to cry.
How do I get myself into these things?
She felt Vitreum's hand clutch tighter as the girl began to lag behind.
This wasn't going to work.
Aureum took a glance back. They were still far enough that she could take a moment. Halting almost hurt as much as the running.
"Vitreum, do you know how to get to the Pale Lady?"
Vitreum shook her head. The poor thing was quivering.
"Know how to get to the university?"
"Yes!"
"Head there and ask for Sitis."
"Are you staying behind?"
"Just for a little bit—
"You promised!"
"Go!"
Aureum shoved Vitreum's bag into her hands for emphasis.
She didn't have to tell Vitreum twice. It made Aureum wonder how bad things were in the little girl's mind that she'd go along with this.
Not for long did she wonder. There was little time.
Aureum stood up and turned. They were nearly on her.
Of course.
Vitreum couldn't outpace them.
So the simple solution was that Aureum stopped them here.
Aureum smiled in their faces, but it was bravado.
She had to do it, but that didn't mean she could.
The first took a swing at her, while the other darted for Vitreum.
That's dirty.
Aureum sidestepped the punch and stretched her leg out.
It had been some time since she danced with Felixia. She felt the twinge of the stretch.
But it was within her capabilities. The man went down on the cobblestone face first. She heard the crunch of his nose.
She saw his face come up bleeding, but her greater concern was the swing from his friend.
Making enough space by jumping back, she took in the view of them as she pulled out a few needles.
There were around eight angry faces coming for her.
Her stomach plummeted.
Sensing them as figments of movement and seeing them in front of her were two different worlds.
There was no more time.
She threw her first two needles. It got the ankle of one man and the knee of the other. She saw them fall as the other six reached her again.
Aureum leapt back, but it lacked height.
The sky… is gray.
She hadn't checked the weather. Worse, the long shadows of the afternoon fell over the streets.
Aureum dodged a kick. The deranged face of the bald man slid past her in slow motion. His face was like a demon's.
From that moment she could only dodge and step. There was no time for anything else.
The seconds stretched out into a minute, bought by Aureum's desperation alone.
But the hunt was already over.
A fist came. To avoid it, she'd have to move into another blow. She froze.
Which one can I survive?
That thought alone took too long. The first blow hit her side like a bull. A crack rang out. She fell, the men behind her leaping aside as she flew and rolled.
At least it wasn't Sitis who punched me.
Aureum tried to prop herself up as she coughed. One of the men bent over her. He grabbed her hair as he lifted her head to look at her face.
"Whaddya think of that? You b—
"What's going on here?"
Aureum felt her eyes closing as the pain encased her.
"Boss!"
Her head was dropped. She hadn't the strength to lift it again.