Rhoslyn woke to a few stray rays of sunlight in her eyes. She really needed to fix the damn boards; it's too bright in the mornings. She covered her eyes with her arm, hating that she knew she had to get up. She never fixed the damn boards because she knew they were what made sure she got up on time for any job she may have to do for Basil.

She sat up groggily and stretched, rubbing her eyes and she looked around. "Fen, you here?"

She didn't hear any tap so she figured he'd gone off to do whatever it is he can do while he's that size.

She slid her feet off the bed and onto the wood floor. She walked to the mirror on the wall and yawned heavily, looking in the mirror at the grubby looking face. She needed a shower. She could still feel the sand clinging to her body, but the damned glaistig probably used all the hot water again.

"Oh fuck it." She opened up the dresser beneath the mirror and pulled out a black tank top and black fading jeans, along with matching black bra and underwear. She like mortal clothes better than the frilly, sheik stuff summer fey liked to wear. She folded them and put them in a black bag full of whatever bathing utensils she needed and slid on her boots and jacket. She pushed her way out the door and walked out the front door into a town's street.

It looked a lot like the market from the day before, but more clean and less chaotic. Strangely it was more organized and calm than usual.

She looked up and saw dark clouds bellowing in.

"That would be why." She muttered to herself.

She turned down the street and walked past a couple of houses, stores, and a bar. When she reached closer to the end, she walked to a door that had 'Merrow's Bath House' carved in it.

She pushed through and found the place relatively empty, thankfully, and walked to the counter where a fish skinned woman sat, dipping her feet in a round wooden tub of water.

"Hey Rhos! Basil use all the hot water again?" The sapphire haired beauty laughed.

"Most likely. Got a bath open for me?" Rhos leaned her elbows on the countertop.

"Of course!" Merrow leaned down under the counter and pulled out a red wooden slab with a string through it and pushed her wavy hair from her face.

"Here ya go, only the best for my favorite kitty!" She smiled handing Rhoslyn the slab. "If you ever want some company, just holler." She smiled, showing her slightly sharpened teeth.

Rhoslyn laughed and put her payment on the counter and pushed away from the counter and started walking towards the door frame beside the counter.

"As long as you don't try and nibble on me like last time and smack me with your fin. I'll call if I need ya." She brushed the cloth covering the door aside and stepped into a hallway and took the very last door on the right. She put the slab on the door and walked into the steamy hot room with a giant tub in the corner.

She put her jacket on a wooden hook and kicked her shoes off, pulling a black string from her hair, letting her half pulled up pony tail fall to her shoulders and lay straight. She started peeling clothes from her slender body and dropping them on the floor.

There was more sand than she thought as more and more puffs of sand arose when she dropped her clothes. Falling to the floor on her hands and feet, she shook herself to dislodging sand from her body and walked over to the tub and toed the water. It was hot enough to scold her, exactly how she liked it. Sinking in the tub till her head rested on the rim of the tub, she relaxed, her ears flitting for a moment.

Damn she loved hot baths after getting so dirty. It felt like all the grime just slides off her body and out of existence, partially because it did. A potion was put in the bath water that instantly killed any kind of dirt or grime or any other unwanted substance from your skin and hair.

She relaxed in the tub, moving only occasionally to flip to her stomach and perch her arms on the side of the tub. Eventually, after she relaxed all she wanted, she slid down till her head was under the water. When she resurfaced, she reached out of the tub and pulled her bag over and pulled out a cube a little smaller than her soft padded palm. She pulled off the lid and dabbed her fingers in the slick liquid, pulling out some on her fingers. She put the cube on the floor and smeared the liquid over both hands and neatly slid her fingers through her now wet hair. Even though the water cleaned everything, she liked to rewash her hair and fur. It always made it feel even softer, and face it, who doesn't like that?

She lathered up all of her hair and dipped her hair gingerly in the water, running her fingers through it. After doing this to all of her hair she reached out of the tub again and pulled out a slightly smaller cube and set it on the floor. It had a milkier look to it. She dabbed two fingers in it and smeared it against her thumb and did the same with her other hand. She gingerly started rubbing it into her ears, massaging it through all the fur. Once she had finished her ears, she stood and scooped up more of the milky liquid and massaged it into all of her tail. She lowered herself into the water, sliding her fingers down her tail, and then slid down into the tub again and washed her ears.

She climbed out of the tub, shaking water from her ears, and grabbed a fluffy cloth from a wooden hook and started to dry herself. She towel dried her skin and pulled a white cloth from her bag and pulled it along her tail, instantly drying it. This was something she stole off a brownie in the past. It was one of the best steals she ever made, of course, since word between brownies travel fast and she stole it when he wasn't done cleaning with it, many of them didn't think too kindly of her, but who cares. She stole it fair and square. She dried her hair and ears softly also. She dunked the cloth in the tub and wringed it dry. She dropped it back in her bag and shoveled everything else in, making sure all her cubes were tightly shut.

She made her way to the counter with a mirror, avoiding the sand piles on the floor. She pulled on her clothes and strapped a belt around her waist, which ended up rather crooked, and raked her fingers through her hair and tied it back up into a half ponytail with the black string.

When she was all done she put her boots and jacket back on and gathered all her things in the bag and walked out. She grabbed the red wooden slab and could already hear the brownies getting to work cleaning up the now dirty bath room she left behind.

She walked out into the lobby to find the room was mostly filled now and Merrow was busy accepting her customers. Rhoslyn slid the slab over the counter to her and waved her goodbyes and walked out of the bath house.

She made her way back to Basil's and found a customer with inside with her, his long pointed ears protruding from his long black hair.

Basil's gaze flickered back behind the tall dark figure and found her. "Rhoslyn, come meet our new customer, Draven. You'll be doing a job for him today."

Basil gestured to Rhoslyn and he turned, his black eyes found her. His skin was such a dark blue, it almost looked black.

Shock took over his grim features for just a moment before he recollected himself and turning back to Basil.

"I do not want a 'phouka' to do this job for me." The word 'phouka' seemed to seethe through his fanged teeth.

Basil tilted her head back to the side, crossing her arms and propping one up for her hand to rest on her cheek bone, one long figure tapping irritably.

"This 'phouka'," Basil bit out the word, "Has been the best worker I've had in centuries. If you do not want your job done quickly and efficiently, then I recommend a desperate little hobgoblin down the street. I'm sure he'll gladly half ass it for you, 'sir'." Sarcasm was heavy on that last word.

She gestured gracefully to the door and his face darkened. Rhoslyn watch Basil's steady inhuman glare on the angered fey. After a long moment, he faltered, his lips that had formed a tight line, finally relaxed their line.

"Fine, the phouka will do my bidding, but, I will accompany her to be sure it is done right."

Basil nodded, pulling slips of paper from under the desk. "As you wish. When will you depart?"

"Now." Was his only reply.

Basil's gaze turned to Rhoslyn then. "Go gather what will be needed for this job. We will finish the paperwork and wait for you."

Rhoslyn nodded, walking towards the door to her room.

"Don't," Draven's words were clipped and she didn't even bother to look back at him but her furred ear snapped back to listen. "Make me wait, phouka."

She pushed through her door and threw her bag on the floor by the wooden coat rack, rummaging through the drawers of the dresser. She pulled a new set of clothes out and threw them on her bed with various other things from the room.

She pulled a small cube, barely the size of her thumb, out from under her black leather belt under her trench coat. She she placed it in her palm and closed her eyes a moment. Focusing on the cube, she whispered, "Expand." Opening her eyes she found the cube much larger. She set in on her bed and folded her clothes inside and placed the other things on top. She picked the cube back up into her palm and whispered again. "Compact." The cube went back to its original size and she squeezed it shut with a 'click' and put it back under her belt.

She turned and knelt to the floor.

"Fen, you here? I need to talk to you for a second."

She heard the familiar faint tapping and looked to the corner, behind the dresser. She walked over and knelt down, holding an open hand down for him to climb up on. She brought him closer to her face.

"I got a job and I'm not sure how long I'm going to be gone. Hold the fort for me?"

Fen smiled and nodded happily, earning a smile from Rhoslyn.

"Thanks. I have to get going. Draven isn't too happy about a phouka doing his job for him." She moved to place her hand back on the floor for him to get down, but was stopped by the look on Fen's face.

Pure horror.

"Fen, what's wrong?"

Fen started shaking his head almost savagely looking up at her. He grabbed her thumb and held tight.

"You don't want me to go? But, you were fine with it just a second ago." She thought for a moment.

"You only flipped when I said Dra"

Something inside her snapped and she had to slam her free hand on the floor to keep from doing a face plant on the rough wood floor.

Her vision blacked out and a dark blurry picture took its place. Flashes of armor and swords being thrust towards her seemed to just narrowly miss her. Suddenly the picture jerked forward, as if a strike landed from behind. Stumbling, the picture started to fade to a deep red and turned to look at who landed the blow. She couldn't see past the haze of red, but a strong built, armor clad body was visible. The picture started to swirl and her own vision returned to her.

Wide eyed, she found herself hunched over, breathing hard. Her face was nearly touching the floor. She felt Fen's panicked hands stroking her cheek. She looked down at him and worry was etched into his face.

"I'm okay." She muttered. Fen still looked terrified for her and continued to stroke her cheek.

She tried to smile, but she felt as if it was an exhausted one. "I'm okay Fen, really. I just got dizzy for a minute there."

She sat up slowly, wiping her sleeve over her now sweaty brow. Fen moved to her knee, gazing up at her and she caressed his cheek.

"I'm sorry. I scared you."

A harsh knock came to her door and she and the pixie jumped. "Rhoslyn, hurry up and get out here." Basil called through the door.

Rhoslyn stood, wary of the little pixie at her feet.

"I have to go Fen. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?"

Fen still looked worried but nodded, waving bye. She waved and pushed through her door.

Grim faced still, Draven stood, arms crossed.

"I thought I told not to make me wait, phouka."

"And I thought I worked alone. Guess we are both thought wrong." Rhoslyn turned to Basil. "Give me the run down."

Basil opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Draven. "I will explain on the way." He turned and walked out the door.

Rhoslyn spared a glace back at Basil, who mouthed, 'Be good' before turning back to her paper work.

Rhoslyn turned to follow the dark stranger. She was sooooo looking forward to this.

Not.

End Chapter 2

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I had a lot of fun writing this. I enjoy expressing the characters and bringing in new ones. I'm working on the 3rd chapter so hope your looking forward to it!