CHAPTER ONE

Gambit turned over in his sleep, groggily wiping a hand over his bleary eyes. Rolling he planned to sleep off his hangover.
'Spent to lon' chasin' de chere' ah tink' He thought.
But something disturbed his rest. Strangely enough, with one foot dangling out of the window, a person stood staring out of the window, into the Acolyte garden.

"Who ahr yo'?" Gambit called to the figure, when they didn't answer he stirred even more and reached and outstreched gloved hand for his bo-staff.

"Naw, is dat any way t'greet cha cousin?" The figure turned to gaze upon Gambit with silver eyes.

"Daphine?" Gambit incredulous look made his red and black eyes even more strange. "I'it relly yo'?"

"Couse' it be me, Ah don' tink anyone else be as stupid to preten' to beh meh" The figure now identified as Daphine stepped into the light. She had changed much since Gambit had last seen her, well that was to be expected since she was only ten when he had departed for the thieves tithe offering party. Now tall and shapely, Daphine would be a typical woman that Gambit would've gone after. Except for one vital flaw. She was his cousin.

When Gambit had left, Daphine had long black hair and brown eyes. The beauty that looked critically at him now had waist length silver locks and eyes the same shade. A different light glittered in Daphine's eyes now, she wasn't innocent when Gambit knew her, far from it. She was a thief like the rest of them. But now she seemed wiser.

"All yo' cahn do is gawp Remy?" Daphine cut the silence with a remark dripping with venom. Her eyes now had a sharp anger to them. Gambit winced. Continuing his visual assesement of his cousin he looked at her clothes.
They had seen better days, a once white vest and black leather trousers (pants). On her feet pointed toe-boots. But strangest of all was the diamond ring. She'd never been able to afford a diamond like that, wouldn't she buy some decent clothes first?

"Stop i Remy" Daphine shreiked and Remy stood fully, his eyes wary.

"Wha' yo' doin' 'ere petit?"

"It be like dis"