I spied the elf for the first time a week ago. He was remarkably handsome. You could easily call him beautiful. Much too good looking and well-dressed to be working the docks like the many starving and desperate denizens of our local alienage. Graceful in his movements, he exuded sexuality. I knew with certainty that not a soul frequenting this waterfront could afford to buy his body if it was offered for sale. He did not belong here. He was not of our ilk, but he would draw them like flies to a fresh-blooded corpse.
Each day he would appear. Never in the same place or at the same time. Today he arrived at twilight. Munching on an apple as he walked. Casually observing the ships at anchor. He would be lucky if he was alive come daybreak. What a shame.
The sudden sound of rats bursting from their hiding places drew my attention toward the shadows they had abandoned in their frantic search for nests with fewer bedmates. The elf didn't appear to notice the disturbance. My night-wise eyes detected movement amongst crates piled haphazardly in an alley entry. Squinting in order to focus better, I could just make out the signature blue and grey masks of Billy Darvin's crew. The pretty elf had just run out of luck.
He leaned nonchalantly against the side of a ramshackle warehouse with one boot propped against the wall behind him. Billy's boys continued to gather in the darkness while the elf hummed a soft tune as he studied his nails. I wondered if there would be anything left to scavenge, once the thugs were done with this lone fool. Determined to cling tightly to my life, my single copper and my meager crust of bread; I hunkered down further, stilled my breath, closed my eyes tightly and waited for the inevitable.
That's when the quiet night exploded, the screaming started and chaos reigned.
I was knocked from my hiding place by a broken and bloody body. At my feet lay a man sporting a blue and grey mask. It's wearer was unrecognizable. I turned in the direction of the battle and could see Billy's gang of thugs swarming over the spot where the elf had been standing. He was nowhere to be seen.
A smoke bomb exploded and the elf burst free from the throng. Like some golden god of vengeance and wielding daggers that flashed with the speed of summer lightning. Flying through his attackers with the aerial grace of a falcon, in a dance of death that held me mesmerized.
He was magnificent. He was magical. I had never seen anything like him. Eyes burning like golden fire and a smile that sparkled in the moonlight as he decimated Darvin's men. Billy was the last one standing. The elf spoke for the first time. "The Antivan Crows send their regards." Billy's face blanched. He lifted his bloodied dagger, dragging it across his own throat. The bane of my existence collapsed and died at the feet of my savior.
The dancing god stepped lightly over the bodies and approached me. His voice was like none I had ever heard before. His words were music to my ears. "I will not hurt you little one. Your mama sent me to tell you it is safe to come home now."
He reached out and took my hand in his. Lifting my hand to his lips, he kissed the inside of my wrist before letting go of me and stepping back a pace. I looked down at the spot where his lips had brushed my skin. When I looked up, he had already gone.