Magic of a Young Girl's Heart Ch. 4 – Every Rose has its Thorns
Author's Note: Hey everyone, I'm glad to see most of you have been enjoying this as much as you've enjoyed ABAHF. Good news is that once I get a bit more free time I've had someone come forth and volunteer to do some grammar corrections of the earlier chapters of ABAHF. I'll be uploading them eventually once I get time to look over them all. At any rate, enjoy the next chapter of Magic of a Young Girl's Heart.
I let out a bored sigh as I sat on the lower bunk staring at the front door. Despite Brett's insistence I didn't want to take my eyes off of it for a second. If Magnus tried to break in again I'd be ready for him, that I swore to myself. But slowly and surely my eye lids began to become heavy as my boredom began to affect my mental state. I yawned, my mouth opening wide as I began to nod off to sleep. It was then that the door swung open causing me to jump up hitting my head on the top of the bunk with a wince.
"Owww…" I whimpered as I looked up to see Brett holding a grocery bag of food he must have gotten at the mess hall below decks. He had a concerned look on his face as he set the bag down and walked over to me sitting beside me.
"Easy, sorry I startled you I thought you'd be asleep by now." He gently brushed my hair from my forehead examining it carefully. "You've got a little bit of a bump…but nothing too serious. Lucky you hit your head and not something really serious huh?" I punched his arm.
"Gods, every time I'm about to compliment you for being sweet you open your mouth and say something stupid." I muttered as he chuckled going to retrieve the groceries. Reaching in he pulled out a small loaf of bread with almonds and a kind of beige paste in the center before handing it to me.
"Here, you must be hungry."
I looked at the thing in his hands and taking it carefully I sniffed it lightly. "What is it?"
"Porkchops. What the hell do you think it is?" He retorted sarcastically.
"I don't know stupid, that's why I asked."
"It's bread."
"I can see that it's bread Brett, thank you for that enlightenment, I meant what kind of bread."
"Taro bread." I blinked softly raising an eyebrow.
"What the hell is Taro?"
"Are you going to keep asking questions or are you going to eat it? Because if you don't want it I'm more than eager to eat your share as well as mine."
"Fine." I said turning back to the bread before muttering under my breath about him being an annoying bastard.
"Sorry did you say something? I could have sworn I heard you say 'Oh thank you Brett for bringing me this food that you so generously paid for, I really appreciate it' but then I realized it was you and that couldn't possibly have been what you said." I flipped him the middle finger before taking a bite of the bread. It was incredibly sweet and fluffy, the taro cream in its center even sweeter.
"Oh man…this is surprisingly really good."
"Surprisingly? Man you've got no knowledge of gratitude." Brett said shaking his head before eating his own loaf. "At any rate, why were you so jumpy when I came in?"
I looked at him dubiously. "Are you serious? My little brother and sister nearly got killed by a knife wielding maniac. How am I supposed to be?"
He rolled his eyes. "Look, I told you the room is warded, why are you freaking out? He's not going to be able to come in here I promise."
"Well the housekeeping was able to come in just fine."
"Look, I told you before. The ritual allows me to set up a password to let people into the room safely. I made the password 'Come in' so that when someone knocked on the door and you verified they were housekeeping you could just call out 'Come in' and they'd be safe. Have a little faith in me would ya?"
"Yes, because I'd take the word of a man who put's explosives in his journal." He frowned at me an angry glint in his eyes.
"I told you why I did that."
"No you told me someone stole one of your inventions."
"Not just an invention…" he muttered softly.
"I'm sorry?"
He looked towards me a certain sad gleam in his eyes. "It wasn't just an invention…they stole my best friend. They made him something evil and horrendous and I couldn't bear that. If you want to know why I was travelling with the circus…it was because I had to destroy my own best friend. I just wanted to forget all about it. Seems I'm destined to have it continually brought up." The sadness that was in his eyes made me take a deep breath. Now I was sorry I'd even brought up the stupid journal. Gods I could be such an insensitive klutz sometimes.
"I'm…I'm sorry. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose Tibbers." Brett shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"I want to say that it gets easier…but that'd be a lie." He turned back towards me the brightness shining in his eyes again. "But hey…you know what would make it better? A kiss from a pretty girl." I laughed at his stupid flirting.
"Great, when I find one I'll let her know." Brett smirked shaking his head.
"You're going to have to accept that you're pretty someday Annie." That was when I looked up to see Vix lean down and kiss the top of Brett's head.
"There Brett, now are you better?" She giggled.
He smiled and ruffled her hair. "Much better, thank you Vix." He replied before turning back towards the door. "The person running mess said we'd be in Piltover in an hour. You guys should catch up on some sleep if you want to be well rested when we get there. It'll be about noon when we arrive." Without another word he stood up and walked outside of the room.
"How bizarre…" I commented before sighing and offering Vix a piece of the bread. "Here, if you're hungry. Be sure to share it with Vul."
"Okydokey Annie." She giggled before tearing it in half and saving it for Vul when he woke up from his nap. Laying back down, my eyes were closed before I hit the pillow.
I looked back over my shoulder once more as the three of us fled from the arena. I still felt terrible for leaving Kal back there for whatever tortures they'd use to try to break him. But Katarina was right, I had to trust that he'd be safer without me there to be used against him. As much as I hated the thought of it, when Kal and I were together he was a lot more reckless and a lot less alert. The last thing he needed if he was going to survive was to worry about me. Talon said that he'd found a way to let him know I'd escaped. I don't know what he meant by that, but if Katarina trusted him I assumed I could trust him too.
"Kat…what's going on? Can you please tell me now?" Katarina just shook her head.
"Unfortunately not; I want to make sure that we can't be heard first. There are ears everywhere in Noxus Ahri, one must be careful when speaking as you can never know who is eavesdropping nearby." As though to prove her point Talon vanished from our side. Off a ways into the trees I could hear the screams of a man before they were silenced by the gargling sound of him choking on his own blood. I shuddered as Talon reappeared beside us, the expression on his face not changed in the slightest.
"Then…can you tell me about your friend here?" I asked softly. Kat smiled.
"This is Talon…my father took him in after he had defeated him in a duel when Talon was younger. Talon pledged his loyalty to my father and the Du Couteau family though despite that he's practically a part of it now. He's been one of my closest friends since I was little and when he found out that you and Kal helped to free me from Magnus' influence he eagerly agreed to offer his help." Talon nodded in confirmation but remained silent.
Making a ninety degree turn to the right I was shocked when we found ourselves on a spanning road that led up to the ornate gates of a gigantic mansion. My eyes were wide as Katarina laced her hands together and Talon, without a word ran towards her before she propelled him up and over the high gate.
"Katarina! Whose house is this? Why are we breaking in to their home?" Katarina looked at me as though I was insane.
"Ahri. This is my house, and we're not breaking in: Talon is just opening the gate for us." Sure enough soon the gates parted inward allowing the two of us to proceed up the long walkway to the manor's steps before they closed behind us.
"Wow! How did you get to live in a place like this?!" I exclaimed. I'd never seen a house this big before.
Katarina smirked at me as her and Talon opened the front doors causing a handful of servants to immediately rush out to greet them helping them out of their armor and presenting them with a manner of snacks and drinks. I watched in shock as one of them came to me with a plate of fried tofu.
"This is your favorite is it not Lady Ahri?" The man said, his head bowed so that he would not look me in the eye.
"Err…ummm…yeah." I muttered shyly as I took one and quickly followed Katarina and Talon who had simply brushed past the servants and headed upstairs. When we finally reached a room with an ornate K on its door Kat turned to me.
"Well, welcome to Du Couteau manor. Needless to say my family is about as close to nobility as one can get in Noxus. My father was a very high ranking General before he died some years ago, because of that he got to keep a large percentage of the money we plundered before the foundation of the league." As I followed Katarina in I noticed that Talon simply stood in the doorway, unwilling to enter. I turned back to look at him puzzled but Katarina just smiled. "Don't worry, Talon's just shy. He doesn't like being in a lady's room while she's there."
"Oh."
"Talon, that'll be all for today. See you at dinner?"
"Of course Lady Du Couteau. I look forward to seeing you again." He turned on his heels to vanish down the hall before Kat called after him.
"For the hundredth time you can call me Katarina. It's not like we haven't been around each other for twenty years or anything." She sighed softly before closing the door to her room and walking to sit on the bed before patting the spot next to her. I followed and sat beside my friend. "Alright…time for you to learn what's really going on here. As you may or may not know…Magnus has escaped."
"What?! How? Oh no…the kids!" I began to panic but Kat immediately put her hand on my wrist.
"Ahri! Calm down. Your kids are just fine…I promise. Someone is watching over them right now as we speak. I promise you this guy will not let anything happen to Vul or Vix and especially not Annie."
I nodded taking a deep breath as my heart rate started to lower again. "Especially?" I asked.
Katarina just gave a soft giggle. "Well…let's just say that sometimes our minds forget what our hearts do not."
I looked at her confused but she simply shook her head. "I suppose I should start from the beginning. It all started eight years ago, right after you defeated Magnus. As you know Swain wasn't exactly too happy about the way you and Kal went back on your word and took away the golden rings that Swain had been promised." I opened my mouth to protest but she held up her hand to indicate she wasn't finished. "Don't worry, we understand why you couldn't give them up after. But that doesn't mean we can't be unhappy about it. Point is that Swain was going to keep this in his pocket so that at a later time when he really needed it he could call in a favor from Kal if he needed assistance within the league. Well a few months ago Swain suddenly vanished out of thin air, not even a trace of where he may have gone."
I frowned. "So he just left? Why would he do that?"
"The night before he disappeared Swain summoned me to his office to speak. He said that there was a storm brewing that could spell disaster, not just for Noxus, but all of Runeterra if it came to be. Before I could ask him what he meant he gave me this and told me to get it to you as soon as I possibly could so you could keep it safe." Reaching into the small pouch on her hip she opened her hand to reveal the glittering silver ring that was etched with identical markings to the golden one that I wore on my left hand.
"Is that what I think it is?" I asked breathlessly taking it carefully.
"Yes. This is one of the four magical rings that Kal worked to find. This one being part of the pair that removes a summoner of his powers."
"But…where is the fourth one?"
Katarina frowned. "That…is unfortunately the problem. We don't know. It disappeared the same night as Swain. I can only assume he took it with him, but I knew I had to get this ring to you and Kal as he asked. Say what you want about the man Ahri, Swain is incredibly smart. If he wanted you and Kal to have it there was a very good reason for it. However, before I could get to you I'd heard through the channels that the new high General, Aryn Rygus, had managed to abduct an 'enemy' of Noxus: an Ionian summoner and his companion, a nine-tailed fox woman. I knew it had to be you and Kal. When I heard that they had thrown the both of you into the Fleshing, immediately Talon and I set out to find you. Cass wanted to come with us, but the truth is that she'd draw too much attention. We needed to get in and get out as fast as we could."
I gently took the silver ring and pulled from my shirt the large locket that Kal had given me a long time ago. Inside it were two pictures: his and the kids'. I gently placed the thin ring inside of the metal heart and shut the clasp before letting it drop beneath my shirt again. "Alright. I'll keep the ring hidden, but what do we do now?"
Katarina let out a sigh. "This is the part you aren't going to like: nothing. We're not going to do anything except for hole up here and pretend that nothing has happened."
"But…kal!"
"No Ahri! Right now all of Noxus is on a man-hunt for you. You need to stay here in the mansion where you are safe and can't be found. Otherwise Rygus will get the ring from you and do who knows what with it. Swain saw this coming and wanted the ring out of Rygus' clutches so that's what we're going to do. Leave Kal's release to Talon. He'll head out tomorrow to get him. You, Cass, and I however will be sneaking out of Noxus to find Swain. I've heard rumors of him in Zaun, but that's all we've got to go on." I opened my mouth to protest again but stopped. I knew she was right. Nodding softly she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me close. "Believe me Ahri, you're not the only one who's worried about Kal. He may be your husband but don't forget he's my summoner too. He saved my sister's life and freed me from Magnus. I'm not going to repay him by letting him die in something as grotesque as the fleshing."
"Alright…" I whispered, "I believe you. When do we leave?" She smiled happy that I had agreed to not do anything rash.
"We leave tonight during the second round of the fleshing."
No sooner had I gotten to sleep did Brett burst back into the room. "We need to go…now!" He shouted as he shoved our supplies into our packs as quickly as possible before sticking his head back out of the room and looking down the ship's corridors.
"Huh?" I asked groggily as I started to get up.
"Damn it Annie! I said we need to go!" He growled grabbing my wrist and yanking me with some force out of the cot. Vix and Vul began to stir.
"Brett? What's going on?" Vul asked softly. Brett frowned looking towards the kids.
"I'll explain soon. Right now kids you need to get all of your stuff." He reached into his hat and pulled out the same chalk he had used before and began sketching the vague outline of a door on the adjoining wall.
Now I was awake and I managed to get the kids up and aware as we collected our things. Suddenly I heard a pounding on the door as though someone were trying to break it down. "I saw him go in there officers, that's the room of the murderer." A muffled voice said behind the door.
Murderer?! I looked towards Brett with an alarmed look on my face. He didn't even return my gaze as he finished drawing the door. Placing his hands on the wall I was surprised when they opened outward to the empty room next door and quickly he pulled the three of us in after him before shutting the wall again. A bright light lit up through the cracks revealing that it had resealed behind us. That was when we heard them break into the room, setting off the wards that Brett had placed earlier.
"ARRRGH!" We heard a scream of pain from the other side of the wall as the spiked chains Brett had mentioned wrapped around one of the Naval officers.
"You two, get Jones free. The rest of you, split up and find that killer. The window is latched and it's not as if he can simply walk through walls. Find him before he strikes again. Go!" The leader barked as the others hurried quickly to do their jobs. Brett let out a soft sigh as he went to the window opening it slowly and making sure no one was out on the maintenance balcony.
"Alright, we're safe." I hissed. "Now tell us what the hell is going on! Did you seriously murder somebody?" He shook his head in disgust.
"Of course not don't be stupid."
"Then what happened?" He looked back over his shoulder.
"After the three of you went to sleep I decided to look in the rooms next to us to see if Magnus had decided to hole up in one of them on a hunch. I opened this one first to find it empty, then I opened the other one. In there I found a body with her throat slit. The woman had been murdered. Next thing I know an announcement comes on the loud speakers informing people that a murderer is on the ship with my description and for them to keep their rooms locked and barred. And I'll give you three good guesses as to who the person is that blew the whistle on this murder."
"Magnus." I growled. "That damned snake. When I see him I'll…I'll…"
Brett glared at me. "You'll do absolutely nothing. You'll turn and you will run and you will not look behind you is that clear?" I looked at him shocked.
"No that's not clear! I'm not going to run from him. I'm going to roast him like a marshmallow!"
Brett looked me deep in the eye, the next words out of his mouth were cold and icy. "No. You're not. You're going to run and you're going to take Vul and Vix with you. This man is dangerous Annie, you already know that. So stop being a stupid brat and grow up. Your brother and sister need you to make sure they are safe so you need to learn that there is a time to fight and there is a time to run. Right now, the time is to run like hell, so if you see Magnus the time is not to fight but to run. Do you understand me?"
I just glared at him silently.
"I said, 'Do you understand me?'" he growled.
"Yes." I muttered angrily. I was pissed that he was treating me like a little kid. He had no right to treat me like a small child, especially since the way he acted on a daily basis. He slipped through the portal and pulled Vul and Vix after him before pointing down the ladder. Looking down we saw that the ladder led to a wraparound balcony on the ship. On the end of the balcony was what looked like a motorboat tied to the ladder below.
"Where the heck did that come from?" I asked.
Brett shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Right now we'll take whatever miracles we can get." He replied hastily as he slid down the ladder followed by Vix and Vul. As I pursued them I heard a voice high above us call out.
"Look! Down there! He's getting away! And he's got hostages with him!"
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" The captain called as the four of us got into the boat. Immediately Brett untied the rope and took off in the motorboat. Though he wasn't heading towards Piltover, now he had changed directions and was heading across the bay towards the ominous pillar of black smoke in the air. We were now heading towards Zaun. Once the ship had disappeared from view he gave a sigh turning back to us and letting the boat continue forwards.
"Alright…I think we're safe now. Boy that was a close call." I stood up and punched him hard in the jaw much to Vul and Vix's shock. As Brett went down I put my foot on his chest and held a fiery ball of plasmatic goo.
"Who the hell are you?" I growled. "You're not just some simple stage magician like you said, you're some sort of Noxian spy aren't you?! Why else would you be taking us to Zaun?" Vix grabbed on to my hand but I just shrugged her away. "Vul, Vix , turn away this is going to get ugly."
Brett held up his hands quickly. "Whoa, whoa whoa. Alright you win, I'm Noxian that is true. And yes, we're going to Zaun, but I promise you that I've got no intentions other than to ensure that the three of you remain safe while we find what became of your parents. Understand?" I reached down grabbing him by his shirt as I put the fire ball right next to his face singing a bit of his black hair before he held my wrist away from him. "I'm serious Annie! If I wanted to hurt you don't you think I'd have had more than enough opportunities by this point? I mean seriously! I could have poisoned your food, I could have smothered you in your sleep, I could have slit your throats or any number of things. I'm not out to hurt or kill you!"
"Why should I trust you?! You lied to me! You said you were just some simple traveler doing this out of the kindness of your heart, so I want to know right now why you agreed to help. Tell me!"
"B-because I was asked to do so." I threw him hard against the motor.
"By who? Answer me!" I yelled.
He said nothing so I grabbed his wrist and pulling his arm I squeezed the ball causing drops of liquid as hot as molten magma to fall onto his arm making Brett yell in agony. I heard Vix whimper and looking back I saw her with her face buried into Vul's chest as he glared at me.
"Annie why are you being like this?" He shouted. "You're supposed to be our big sister but you're hurting the man who's helped us a lot. Let him go!" I sighed and released his arm causing him to drag it back and look down at the leathery burnt flesh. I walked over to Vul and Vix and knelt down beside them. When Vix turned to look at me I could see there were tears in her eyes and when I reached out to reassure her she flinched slightly.
"Vix…" I whispered. "It's okay. You know I'd never hurt either of you. You're my brother and sister and I love you guys." Vul frowned as me still hugging her tightly.
"Annie…" Vix whimpered. "Please…stop yelling at him. He was just trying to help us…you didn't have to burn him like that."
"Vix listen…"
"No Annie! You know mom and dad's story better than any of us. You should know that you're not supposed to act like this…remember what happened to daddy when he found the flames? Stop feeding them Annie. He's just trying to be nice."
"Vix…" I whispered my eyes tearing up before I held out my arms. "I'm so sorry Vixie…I didn't mean to scare you or Vul. I'm really sorry. I was just so angry, but I'm sorry that you had to see that. It won't happen again okay? I promise." Vul and Vix walked over to me hugging me tightly. They looked at Brett over my shoulder who had his eyes clenched shut as he poured rubbing alcohol over his burn causing him to wince as it made a hissing sound.
Vix pulled back and frowned at me before they both put their hands on their hips the same way mom did when she was upset about something. "Apologize to Brett." Vix said.
"What? But…"
"No buts Annie. Say you're sorry. You were mean and now you need to apologize."
"Sorry Brett." I called over my shoulder but Vix shook her head.
"No Annie. A real apology. You have to mean it." I sighed softly. There was no way I was getting out of this one. I nodded gently and turned back to Brett crawling closer towards him.
"Brett?" I whispered to him. His stormy gray eyes opened as he looked up into my eyes. I was surprised. I don't know what I expected to find there: fear…pain…anger? But instead all I saw was something pleading. As though he was urging me to continue. "I just wanted to say…I'm sorry for burning you. I shouldn't have gotten so angry at you." I gently took his hand in mine and ran my fingers softly up his arm to where I had burned him causing him to wince slightly. I drew my fingers back carefully, not having wanted to hurt him. "Please Brett, forgive me? I know you've done a lot for us, and I'm sorry for doubting your motivations." I looked deep into his eyes as I felt Vul and Vix watching from behind and gently Brett lifted his other hand and moved it towards my cheek. I smiled and turned my head to nuzzle against it but I was surprised when he instead flicked me on my ear. "Oww! What the hell?"
"You're forgiven. I had to get even somehow." He chuckled softly. I frowned at him and turned away from him with a 'hmmph'. What a child, I had put a lot of effort into that apology and he just went and threw it aside. I let out a surprised squeak as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back so I was sitting between his legs with his chin on my shoulder. "Besides, you were right Annie. I should have been honest with you. So I promise…I'll tell you everything. Okay?" I blushed a bright red as the two twins smirked at me when he placed a kiss on my cheek.
"Fine…just please, don't embarrass me like this in front of the twins." I groaned trying to wriggle from his grasp.
"It's true. I'm Noxian, just like I said before. And while you are very beautiful," he began causing me to blush again, "it is not the sole reason I decided to come with you guys to find your parents."
"I'm not beautiful…" I growled finally pulling his hands apart and leaving his embrace. "And if that's true, than what is the real reason you decided to join us?"
He smiled warmly. "An old friend of mine asked me to check on you."
"Oh yeah? And who's that?"
"Cassiopea Du Couteau."
"…who?"
He sighed softly rolling his eyes. "You know, youngest daughter of the Du Couteau family. Your dad saved her life. Any of this ringing a bell?"
I shook my head. "Can't say it does."
He frowned before his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. "She's Katarina's younger sister." Now I knew atleast by proxy what he meant.
"Oh! Why did she send you and not Kat?"
"Well Cassiopea and I go way back. Not long after she first met your dad she became very sick and had to stay in her room for a while. In hopes of cheering me up I was hired to entertain her with magic. She, like you, was not impressed. Until I did my spiel about how lovely of a rose she was." He beamed. "The ladies in a show go crazy over that stuff, but she…she was very angry. Next thing I know she's wrapped around me and squeezing me as hard as she could. 'Am I beautiful now?' She said to me angrily. 'Do you still intend to lie and torment me for my appearance anymore?' I smiled at her and told her that despite what she may think the truth is that every woman is beautiful in some way. Then she let me go. As it turns out they discovered my skill in alchemy so I stayed there for the week as both her entertainer and her caretaker. The two of us grew close and eventually when my contract ran out…I just stayed there anyway." His eyes brightened as he recanted his tale before continuing. "But eventually I got bored of being cooped up in that house. As much as I enjoyed being Cassiopea's footman in a manner of speaking, I was never meant to stay somewhere long. So bidding her farewell I left and went on an adventure of my own. A week ago she sent me a letter telling me she wanted me to check in on some friends of hers when I got into Ionia. As a favor of course I agreed. Imagine my shock when I followed three kids home to discover that they were the progeny of the friends she wanted me to talk to." He let out a light laugh. "I knew she'd have wanted me to help you guys find your parents and keep you safe, so I agreed to come with you. And with the events on the ferry I needed a way to get you guys to safety so we could keep looking for your parents. And let's face it, Piltover would be on high alert the instant we set foot on the island and we'd be thrown into a cell. Or at least I would. Which is why I'm taking us to Zaun. A Demacian/Piltoverian owned vessel would never consider radioing a Noxian port city to issue a BOLO on us and I've got some connections there. Well…sort of…"
I looked at him skeptically as he finished his tale. "What do you mean sort of?"
"Don't worry about it too much. You'll see it soon enough." I folded my arms across my chest as we all just sat in the boat, Brett at the rudder to steer it. Soon what used to be crystal clear blue water began to become a toxic green and turning back I saw the industrial city of Zaun on the horizon. I was shocked as he steered us through a disgusting sewer hole in the side of the seawall of the city, slowing the motor enough to where it was just a gentle purr and our movement was severely slowed. I looked down into the toxic sludge beneath our boat sticking out my tongue in disgust as something bubbled beneath.
Vul and Vix covered their noses quickly as we went further in. "Ugh! What is that smell?! It's so gross!" Vul complained as Vix nodded in agreement. Brett smiled as he sniffed the air.
"That…my friends, would be our contact." Suddenly the lights around us shut off causing us to be thrown into darkness. I waited for them to come back on but all I could hear was the heavy breathing of the people in the boat. Then out of nowhere the boat rocked and pitched as something big jumped into it causing me to hold on desperately to the edges to avoid falling in the disgusting sewage.
"My, my, what have we here? Something pretty it would seem." A high pitched voice cackled hyperactively in my ear. Whatever it was it smelled absolutely horrendous and I could feel something moist against the back of my neck. I shuddered from how gross it was and suddenly the lights flicked back on. "Awwww." The shape groaned.
"How's it going spaz?" Brett said to the shape behind me.
"Oh you know, same old, same old. Livin' in the sewer, eating what used to be my own kind, occasionally going top side to wreak havoc and mayhem on unsuspecting citizens by urinating on them from the roof. Just normal stuff like that." Immediately I moved as far from the high pitched voice as I could wrapping my arms around Brett demanding his protection. Turning around I saw a gigantic bipedal rat that was picking his nose with a crossbow bolt before pulling it out and, after examining it, licked it clean. I had to cover my mouth to attempt to not vomit as the twins came closer to Brett and me.
"Aww man, now see what you did Twitch?" Brett griped. "You're scaring the little ones." Brett stopped the boat at a small enclave and stood carefully offering his hand to the three of us to help us out of the boat. I took it eagerly and left the floating deathtrap clinging to Brett for dear life so as not to slip into the nasty goop nearby.
Twitch pondered it for a moment before sticking his finger in his nose and pulling out another large wad of mucus. "Oh of course, my manners…would any of you like some?" He squeaked as his body convulsed slightly. I quickly shook my head whispering to Brett over and over again.
"Get it away, get it away, get it away."
"Erm…Twitch? You know about how last time you and I spoke on personal space?" Twitch tilted his head to look at Brett.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Well…this girl is…special. Her personal space is about ten feet. Do you mind taking a couple steps back?" Twitch shrugged and walked backwards before sitting down on the slime covered stairs of the sewer.
"So then Botman what brings you to the sewers again?" The talking rat asked curiously. "You haven't been back here in…" he looked down at his hands counting on his fingers. "Nearly ten minutes."
"Err…I think you mean ten months there Twitchy." Brett said.
"Months, minutes, who gives a human's ass?" Twitch said rolling his eyes. Well rolling them more than normal anyway.
"And on top of that it's been almost two years since I was last in Zaun, three since I was in the sewer. At any rate, the four of us need a place to lie low for the night. Can you lead us through the tunnels to you-know-who's house?" Twitch looked at Brett puzzled.
"Why would you wanna go there? I mean you could always stay at my place, I've got a nice little wad of used toilet paper that would be a good little nest for the kiddies."
I had to keep myself from gagging at the thought and I simply held on to Brett tighter causing him to cough slightly and pat me on the head reassuringly. "Annie…throat…need to breathe." He gasped before I loosened my grip, but not enough for that rat man to grab me and run off if he decided to all of a sudden. Vul and Vix both had hidden behind Brett.
"I appreciate the offer twitch but…you know humans, higher standard of living and all that."
"True, true!" He exclaimed, "Though I promise it's the highest of standards. It's mostly two-ply. And it's that name brand stuff, not that crappy notebook paper they use in the corporate offices."
"Thanks again Twitch, but please. Just lead us to his house." Twitch let out a foul smelling sigh.
"Allllright. If you reeeally want to I will. But the offer still stands." Turning his back to us he began to scurry down the tunnels before Brett hurried after him.
"W-wait for me." I whispered after Brett causing him to turn back and take my hand in his squeezing it reassuringly.
"I promised didn't I Annie? I'm not going to let anything hurt you or your brother and sister. Besides, as weird and creepy as Twitch is, he's a sweetheart deep down. He's not gonna bother you…unless you mention his weird eye. Then be prepared for a lecture on asymmetrical perfection that ends with you taste testing his toe jam to see if you can guess which two toes it came from." My mind went back to the time when Brett kissed me.
"Please…please, please…tell me you don't know that from personal experience." I whimpered softly.
"No of course not, that's disgusting."
"So are giant talking rats covered in sewage but clearly you're friends with one of them!" I retorted causing him to chuckle softly.
"Just relax, we'll be out of the sewers in no time." I nodded and reached out forming a human chain with Vul and Vix as we followed closely behind Brett, eager to get out of this foul decrepit tunnel as quickly as I could.
"Hey Brett?" I asked.
"Yes Annie?"
"Whose house are we going to?" Brett smirked as he looked over his shoulder at me.
"Oh you'll like this guy a lot. Really nice guy, fun to hang out with too. They call him the Zaun Amorphous Combatant. But for those of us who really know him, and are close friends…we call him Zac."
To be continued in Chapter 5 – The Great Vanishing Act…