Chapter 4: Underground
Note: "Underground" was written by Austin Wintory. Its lyrics are used in this chapter. Give it a listen. It's worth it.
Artemis heard voices calling once more and she turned to watch Jacob and Evie walking toward her. Evie stopped to pick up the gun Kaylock had dropped, and Artemis looked at it for the first time.
It was the rope launcher he'd used to sneak away from them, but it looked bent and broken.
"Pity. It appears to be broken."
Evie handed it to Jacob, who seemed disappointed, but shrugged and attempted to stay positive as he placed it in his back pocket.
"Oh, well. At least we have a train now. It's not all bad."
He turned his attention to Artemis, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as he noticed the cross in her hand. She handed to him and he showed it to Evie before stowing it in his pocket.
"Well done, Artie. Even if you left the two of us waiting in the dust."
"We might not have our train if I hadn't."
Evie smiled at their banter, but she quickly returned their attention to the task at hand.
"Shall we get the train turned around?"
The three took off in the direction of the engine, where a Blighter stood stoking the fire. Jacob leapt from the ledge and landed near the Blighter, who didn't even have the chance to turn before a gun was pointed at his head.
"Careful, now. Kaylock is dead. Don't follow in his example. Come work for us. We pay living wages, and will not tolerate cruelty."
The Blighter, who seemed slightly more relaxed after Jacob's speech, nodded and motioned for Jacob to remove the gun from his head.
After Jacob acquiesced, the man turned to face the trio. He politely nodded at the ladies, and addressed Jacob directly.
"Name's Tully. Never did like Kaylock. Full speed ahead, boss?"
"We need to get back to Whitechapel's train station. The rest of our gang is waiting there for us."
Tully grunted a response, and Artemis and Jacob exchanged bemused glances. It seemed their new conductor was a man of few words. As Tully went about the necessary steps, Jacob nodded his head at Artemis and Evie, who followed him over the cart loaded with coal and into the first car.
"Shouldn't someone stay with Tully until we're certain that he won't double cross us?"
Evie's question was certainly a fair one, and Artemis had wondered about it herself. She and Evie turned to Jacob, who shrugged nonchalantly.
"I think Tully's smarter than that. Besides, didn't you notice the scars and bruises? I doubt he's loyal to a cause that leads to more of those."
Artemis blinked in surprise at Jacob's deduction. She hadn't taken the time to examine Tully more closely, as Jacob had. She kicked herself for missing it, but was impressed that Jacob hadn't. Evie too seemed a surprised, but merely nodded at Jacob.
At his twin's nonverbal acknowledgment, Jacob continued leading the ladies into the various cars of the train. They passed through the kitchen, pausing to marvel at the mounds of resources available, and at the space it encompassed. The next two cars had several sleeping compartments, and each marveled at the size and quantity of the living quarters.
There was a gruff voice having a rather one-sided conversation in the car they were approaching. Artemis raised an eyebrow at the angry mutterings, but the three of them entered the car in spite of them.
The muttering voice belonged to a larger woman who was sitting on one of the benches that lined the edges of the car.
"Ah, ya bastard. I'd rather throw me'sel to the tracks than run Bertha another mile for that doaty bawbag."
"Kaylock? He's left the station."
Jacob winked at Artemis before turning back to the woman. She had already risen from her seat and was standing tall and proud, unimpressed with the motley crew she was looking at.
"Well! Hallo fancy pants! And who might you three be?"
Evie took the lead and began the introductions.
"I'm Evie Frye, this is my brother Jacob Frye, and our friend and associate Artemis Fayne."
At the mention of Artemis' name, the woman looked sharply at her, studying her carefully. After a moment or two, she returned her gaze to Evie.
"Pleased to meet ye. I'm Agnes MacBean."
"A delight."
"I thought I was gettin' a promotion. I suppose I'm out of work, now."
"Come work for us instead."
Agnes considered this for a moment before retorting.
"Awa an bile yer heid! You pay better than scraps?"
Jacob cut in before either of the other ladies could answer.
"I'm sure we can at least match that."
Jacob flinched as both Evie and Artemis hit him, Evie on his shoulder, and Artemis on the back of his head. Agnes watched the scene with a bemused look before bowing in an exaggerated fashion.
"Then may I present Agnes and Bertha, lady and locomotive at your service. I'll be in the next car."
At this, she turned and walked into the next car. Jacob looked at his companions and and waved at the car they were standing in. There was a large desk, a vault, a comfortable seating area, and papers scattered around the car.
"Welcome to our new headquarters, ladies."
Evie rolled her eyes at Jacob, but began to look through the papers Kaylock had left on one of the desks. Jacob threw himself down on the chaise and laid his cap across his eyes, clearly content to nap.
Artemis looked around the room once more, her eye catching on the vault. She crouched low, sitting down on the floor and looked carefully at the lock.
She knew the style almost instantly. Though a key would have simplified her task, Artemis was adept at picking this style of lock. She withdrew a pin from her hair, and twisted the decorative end off, separating the two prongs of the pin.
She wasn't one for frivolity, and though the pin seemed as such to an untrained eye, Artemis had carefully crafted this particular pin for instances such as this.
She slowly pushed one of the prongs into the lock and the carefully angled the other, gently prodding the pistons in the lock to move up and down. She heard the small clicking noises as each piston moved to the correct position.
"What're you doing, Artie?"
Jacob's hot breath on her ear made her jump upright, heart pounding. He laughed heartily, strengthened by the frigid look she sent him. She'd almost cracked the lock, and he'd ruined it. She sat down on the ground again, ignoring him completely. Though, admittedly, she kept one ear on Jacob so that he couldn't sneak up on her again.
"Do you really think you can crack that thing?"
"I could if you'd shut up and leave me alone."
Artemis was too focused on the lock to look at Jacob, but she was certain that he was smirking at her, his eyes crinkled in mischief. As she heard the final pin click into position, she turned the wheel on the vault. With a satisfying clunk, the locks on the door opened and a large pile of money lay within.
Artemis lifted the coin, searching for any plans Kaylock might have locked within the vault's secure compartments. She was rather disappointed when she found nothing. She stood up, moving toward a crate that was against the wall. Jacob took up her position by the vault, and began to count the stacks of coin that were within it.
"There's a small fortune in here! Imagine what we could do with this."
At the excitement in his voice, Artemis turned to study him. She hadn't pegged him for a materialistic person, and was mildly disappointed that he was so enthralled by the money.
"We'll need all of it, and then some, if we're going to wage a war against the Templars. Our Rooks will need some compensation if they are going to risk their lives for us. Not to mention the supplies we'll need…"
Jacob nodded quickly, a smile still on his face.
"Exactly. We can build an empire, just as the Templars have done."
Artemis was relived that his interest in the money was for the betterment of the Rooks, and not just for his own personal gain. Still, there were a few pieces of vital equipment that could now be purchased.
"Empires can wait. First, we need to buy you a new outfit. One with a top hat, I think. You'd look dashing, more like a gentleman and less like a beggar."
Evie gave a small laugh and went back to her searching, but Artemis didn't bother to hide her amusement at the disgusted look on Jacob's face. He opened his mouth to retort, but the loud whistle of the train caused all three assassins to look at each other in surprise. It seemed they were arriving back at the Whitechapel train station.
Artemis took the lead this time, climbing to the roof as the train was slowing down. She looked out at the expectant faces of their Rooks, who had managed to subdue many, but not all, of the Blighters that she had left behind.
The Rooks seemed overjoyed that their leaders had triumphed in the fight, while the Blighters looked stoic, uncertain of what was to become of them.
Jacob pulled the Templar cross from his pocket and held it high for everyone in attendance to see.
"Kaylock is dead! Whitechapel is no longer in the hands of the Blighters!"
Evie joined Jacob's announcement with one of her own.
"You now have the chance to join our ranks! We welcome all who would stand up to Starrick and his cutthroats!"
The Rooks began to cheer, and the Blighters looked around carefully at each other, surrounded by a multitude of green-clad Rooks. One brave man stepped forward toward the train, an odd look on his face.
It seemed as though he was reaching for a weapon, and a hush fell over the crowd. Artemis had one hand on a throwing knife, just in case he decided to attack.
She needn't have feared, however, as the man was merely moving to unbutton the red Blighter coat he was wearing. He threw it to the ground with gusto, a move which prompted the cheers to erupt from the crowd once more.
Artemis jumped down from the train and held her hand out to the man.
"Welcome to the Rooks."
He took it gladly and shook her hand so hard she thought her arm was going to leave her shoulder.
The other Blighters followed suit and soon there were no red coats in the crowd. They were given new equipment by the Rooks within the crowd, and Artemis felt a swell of pride on seeing a sea of green.
"Because of our victory over Kaylock and our takeover of Whitechapel, we will have a celebration in the main headquarters. You've done us proud, Rooks!"
Jacob's booming proclamation surprised and delighted all who heard it. There hadn't been much to celebrate before tonight. Even Artemis was feeling a thousand pounds lighter now that Kaylock was finally gone. A celebration was certainly in order.
As the Rooks began to make their way to the headquarters, Henry made his way to the train, weaving in between groups of chattering Rooks and former Blighters.
"Well done, Artemis. I'm proud of you."
Henry, who had reached Artemis first, gave her a hug, which she returned in kind. Though Henry was not often affectionate with his sister, she knew how much he cared for her. Clearly, he'd been worried about her.
As Henry released her, she noticed that Jacob and Evie had jumped to the ground, a matching expression of annoyance on their faces.
Henry, completely oblivious of this, held out a hand to Jacob, who stared at a moment before taking it.
"Well done to you as well, Jacob. And you too, Miss Frye."
Evie thanked him, but Jacob took his hand back quickly, still annoyed about something.
Artemis stared hard at Jacob, who refused to meet her eye and addressed Henry.
"Brother, will you be joining the celebration? I know that moving the curio shop's materials to the train is a priority, but a bit of merriment would do us all some good."
Henry seemed to consider it for a moment before glancing nervously at Evie.
"Will you be attending, Miss Frye? I'd hate to be celebrating while you were working hard."
Artemis smirked in amusement at Henry's obvious infatuation with Evie, and winked at Jacob, whose mood had seemed to lighten. He returned the wink and the smirk, and the two of them watched Evie's face flush a lovely pink color.
"I feel that Artemis has a point. We could all do with a bit of amusement."
"Shall we?"
Henry held out his arm, which Evie graciously accepted, her ears tinged with pink, and Jacob turned to Artemis and followed suit.
"M'lady? Might I have the pleasure of escorting you to the celebration?"
He bowed with a flourish and tipped his newsboy cap at her, and was rewarded with an amused giggle.
"Mark my words, Jacob Frye, I will make a gentleman out of you."
He wrinkled his nose at her and cocked an eyebrow, but she took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the carriage. Evie and Henry were seated in the carriage, and Jacob helped Artemis into the driver's seat before sitting next to her.
He clipped the reins and the carriage took off toward the gathering place. Artemis heard Evie explaining to Henry what had happened with Kaylock and the Blighters and, having lived it, didn't feel the need to eavesdrop on them. She turned to Jacob and watched him driving, a small smile on her lips.
"Thank you for today, Jacob. You have no idea what it means to me that Kaylock is finally gone. A part of me can rest, now."
Jacob raised his scarred eyebrow, a curious look on his face.
"Only a small part? What makes you so uneasy yet?"
Artemis sighed and glanced at the horses twitching tails.
"I won't truly be at peace until Starrick is gone and his Blighters with him. Kaylock was only the beginning."
Jacob nodded, his expression eerily grave. Not for the first time did Artemis wish she could hear what he was thinking. If only her assassin powers included that, she thought with another sigh.
Soon, the carriage drew closer to the sounds of a vast celebration. Already, the sound of a piano and an off-key singer were filling the air. Artemis looked around at the vast variety of smiling faces in the crowd that was filling the gathering area. She hopped down from the carriage before Jacob had fully pulled it to a stop and inched closer to the middle of the crowd.
As she approached, a cheer began to rise. She stepped onto the small platform that held the piano and the singer. As she waved her hand, the noise quieted down. She cleared her throat and smiled widely at the crowd, eyeing the Frye twins and Henry making their way to her.
"Friends and allies. Today we have overcome enormous odds. When the Clinkers first began to rise against the Blighters, no one thought we had a chance. Logan had worked hard to build the gang from complete annihilation. But now we have reached the dawning of a new era. We could not have done this without you. And I could not have done this without the help of Evie and Jacob Frye. As the Rooks, we will take London from the Blighters and free the people from the chains of Crawford Starrick!"
With Jacob and Evie now standing beside her, a great swell from the crowd drowned out all other noise of the city. The smiles on Jacob and Evie's faces mirrored her own. It had truly been a glorious victory for all of them.
As the crowd's cheers subsided, Artemis motioned for the piano player and the singer to continue in the festivities. Already, food and beverages were being distributed amongst the crowd.
As she turned back to her friends, Artemis noticed that Henry and Evie were already deep in conversation. She moved closer to Jacob, who had a curious expression on his face. He seemed to be considering something, and he spoke just as Artemis was going to question him.
"Do you think we'll be able to do it, Artie?"
She cocked her head in confusion, eyebrows furrowed.
"I'm uncertain as to what you mean, Jacob."
"Do you think we will be able to take down Starrick? Sure, we've conquered this borough, but we've still a long way to go."
Artemis was almost frightened at his serious tone. It was most irregular for Jacob to be so pessimistic. He certainly voiced her own doubts about the sheer magnitude of the project they had only begun. But, if Artemis could help it, she would do her best to encourage positivity and optimism.
"It will take plenty of time and vast amounts of planning and strategizing, but...I know we can, Jacob. We don't have a choice. Every day that we hesitate, Starrick's power is strengthened."
Jacob seemed to consider what she'd said, and Artemis watched in amazement as the cloud lifted once more. As a smile crept over his face, Artemis felt someone approach her. She turned to look at one of the original Clinkers. She wasn't certain of his name, but she believed it to be Flynn. He cleared his throat and refused to meet her eye as he spoke.
"M-Miss...M-Miss Artemis...W-Would y-you...d-do me the h-honor of d-dancing with m-me?"
Artemis felt her stomach drop. She most certainly did not want to dance with him-or anyone, for that matter. But how to tell him without hurting his feelings? She certainly didn't want any bad blood between them.
"Why, thank you, Flynn. I do appreciate the offer, but I am not much of a dancer and would prefer to watch others dance. I hope you find someone who is worthy of your time."
"Oh. Um, thank you, Miss Artemis. I'll be going now."
His neck and ears having gone red, he gave a slight bow and all but ran from the platform. Artemis sighed dejectedly and pursed her lips. Jacob, who had watched the scene from the sidelines, nudged her with a bemused smirk on his lips.
"What's the matter, Artie? You have two left feet?"
"As a matter of fact…"
Artemis had begun to speak when someone in the crowd shouted at the piano player. Apparently, the crowd was beginning to notice the singer's lack of talent. They were beginning to demand a replacement.
"Artie'll do it!"
Jacob's smirk was now a full-blown grin, complete with the devilish twinkle in his eyes. He was clearly enjoying every bit of her embarrassment. Artemis put her hands up in front of her to protest the nomination, but Jacob had begun encouraging the crowd to chant her name.
Sensing that she was outnumbered and outmaneuvered, she walked over to the piano player, whispering the name of the only song she knew.
It was a somber song, one that her mother had sung to her before she'd died. The piano player seemed surprised that she'd suggested it, but as she stood facing the crowd whose chanting had been quelled, he began to play the soft introductory notes of the song.
Artemis took a deep breath before beginning to sing.
Take a look round lively old London Eager Blighty bursts from the cobblestones London is fed upon the meat of the dead Underground
Buzzing crowds we sweat and we revel
Red-cheeked shouts and songs
In the flicker of the gaslight
Racing, climbing blooming fertility
Born from secret seeds
That were scattered in the nighttime
They're one shallow inch below the town
Underground
Leave them underground
As she sung, she looked at the mesmerized faces of the crowd. Jacob seemed as mesmerized as the rest, probably surprised that she could sing as well as she could. He'd probably been hoping she'd be terrible.
Them that whispered dreams that only poisoned us Them done horrid murder on bloody stages All quiet now. Underground Those who fought for something better
Them that told us lies of their bravery
Them that preached of progress, and put us in the poorhouse
Them that loudly crowed their humility
Lords and dames that sung in the chapels on a Sunday
Their mouths are stopped up by mud.
They lie flung in rags and make no sound.
Underground
Leave them underground
Those who taught by how they lived
Loved ones taken long before their work was done
Soon, the crowd began to sing with her, their voices carrying the message out into the street. Underground Underground
Underground
Leave them underground.
Underground
Leave them underground
The piano's music slowly came to an end, and for a brief moment, there was a somber sort of silence that had come over the crowd. Artemis was unsure of whether or not she'd managed to end the celebratory mood of the evening, but she needn't have worried.
The piano player had taken it upon himself to start a jaunty tune after her solemn one, and the crowd began to dance and sway to the music. The dancing had begun again, and Artemis looked for a place to hide, unwilling to be subjected to another invitation to dance.
She looked above her and noticed a balcony. She reached the edge of building and began to climb when she felt the edge of her coat catch on something.
Turning to fix it, she noticed Jacob's hand clamped around the bottom corner, tugging slightly. She gave him an exasperated click of her tongue and tried to pull her coat from his grasp. When he held on firmly, she let go of the piece of siding she was holding and dropped back onto the platform.
"Do you need something?"
"That song was lovely."
Artemis suddenly felt quite warm. Was Jacob complimenting her? She studied his face for a moment, waiting for him to say something sarcastic. Instead, he moved closer with an almost vulnerable expression on his face.
It unnerved her to see him like that. She needed to get away from him, and fast.
"I've forgotten something. I must retrieve it."
Without waiting for him to say anything, she darted down the alleyway near the platform, eager to put a vast amount of difference between them.
She began to climb one of the buildings, certain he'd look for her on the ground. She made her way to a balcony and carefully positioned herself where she could see but not be seen.
She admired those people who were lively and dancing. They seemed to be having quite a lot of fun, and she was almost envious of them. She was always moving, always planning her next attack, that she never took the time to enjoy all that life had to offer.
She found Jacob in the crowd, still searching for her. She thought she saw him glance her way, but she shrunk down in her hiding place, all but certain that he's never find her.
She watched as he shrugged his shoulders and headed to the place where drinks were being passed. She watched in amazement as he quickly drank two bottles of beer, gulping then down as if they were water.
She shook her head at him, thinking him foolish for imbibing such a large quantity so quickly. She supposed that she wasn't a fair judge, as she herself was temperate when it came to alcohol.
She watched as he drank another bottle, clearly enjoying himself immensely. She consoled herself with the fact that he seemed to have forgotten her rather rude desertion, and was having fun without her.
She tore her gaze away from Jacob and found Evie and Henry among the dancers. They were still talking, but were dancing as a pair in the quadrille, weaving in between the other pairs who had gathered in formation.
Artemis was certain she'd never seen Henry look as happy as he did while dancing with Evie. A small knot had formed in her stomach, and she rubbed at it to calm herself.
No good could come of a relationship between the two assassins. It was foolish to think otherwise. The last thing any of them needed were distractions. Feelings were a dangerous weapon.
She had been watching Evie and Henry so intently that she hadn't realized someone had crept up behind her. When she felt warm breath on her ear, she nearly leapt out of her skin. In her panic, shed brandished her kukri and swung it wildly at the intruder.
Jacob easily parried her swing, grabbing her arm and taking the kukri from her and she stood in surprise upon seeing him. If she hadn't been so irritated with him for sneaking up on her, she might have been impressed by the maneuver.
"What are you doing? Of all the idiotic things you could have done…"
She trailed off when she saw the grin on his face. He held out a bottle of stout, an innocent expression on his face. She shook her head, unwilling to take the bottle from him.
"I am grateful for the offer, Jacob. However, I must decline."
"Oh, come, now, Artie. A drink won't kill you. It will help you unwind. God knows you need to."
Jacob's comment was met with another shake of her head, and narrowed eyes. Did he think her uptight for not wanting to consume alcohol? Her reasons were none of his concern, and perhaps he should worry about his own level of consumption.
"You're not one of those 'drys' are you?"
Jacob's face crumpled in utter disgust, as though the thought made him sick. Artemis flinched at the derogatory term used for those who wanted to make alcohol illegal. While Artemis did not agree with every point that the Prohibitionists made, she certainly had seen the worst things that an excess of alcohol could produce.
"Why should it matter if I am?"
Jacob cocked an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes at her. She sighed and shook her head once more.
"I'm not a Prohibitionist, nor do I indulge in alcohol. I've never cared for it."
Jacob shrugged and drank the beer he'd offered her. He seemed to be in good spirits, quite literally it seemed. He edged closer to her and sat upon the railing. Artemis eyed him suspiciously, watching him carefully in case he should lose his balance.
She moved closer to him instinctively, arms prepared to catch him. He leaned closer to her, closing the distance between them.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she stood still as stone. She was panicking, the feeling of claustrophobia washing over her. Thankfully, Jacob's hold on her was only momentary.
He released her, waving her kukri in her face before jumping over the edge of the balcony.
She stood in shock for a moment before following him. She heard his laughter float back toward her as he darted through the crowds. She was right on his heels, just missing his cloak by an inch.
Soon, he pushed past two people near the edge of the clearing. Artemis followed him, certain that she'd catch him this time. As she entered the clearing, she ran straight into Jacob, who was waiting with his arms wide open.
She froze in shock once more, and Jacob grasped her hand in his and placed the other hand on her waist.
She looked around quickly, watching other couples standing in the same stance.
The pianist had been joined by a fiddle, and a three-quarter tune began, negating any chance she had of leaving the dance floor.
Jacob's face was solemn, though his eyes twitched in amusement. He led her effortlessly around the floor, and she was surprised at how well he danced. Though, upon further thought, his fighting style did lend itself to one who was well rehearsed in waltzes.
"Well, well. You certainly are full of surprises, aren't you, Mr. Frye?"
His grip on her waist tightened and he pulled her closer, sending a shiver of fear through her.
"And what of you, Artie? I thought you'd never learned to dance. Unless you were trying to spare Flynn from embarrassing himself."
She rolled her eyes but kept up with his footwork. Clearly, he'd had an excellent instructor just as she'd had. If Jacob seemed surprised to have a partner as equally skilled as him, he didn't show it.
They whirled around the space, barely conscious of the other couples around them. Artemis happened to notice one particular couple out of the corner of her eye and winced. Jacob's eyes followed hers, and his grip tightened once more.
"Jealous, Artie?"
"Of course not."
She'd answered a little too quickly, and Jacob's eyebrow arched in suspicion. She needed to explain herself, before Jacob came up with some ridiculous notion about her feelings.
"Henry is free to spend time with whomever he chooses. I am a little surprised that you aren't more upset by it."
"Why should I care whether or not Greenie dances with Evie?"
"Because their primary responsibility is to London. We've barely begun this operation. Personal feelings should never get in the way of a mission."
Jacob stared at her for a moment, his eyes searching hers intently. He licked his lips subconsciously, and Artemis grew more nervous by the second.
"Are you saying that you and Henry keep things strictly professional? I find that hard to believe."
Artemis might have laughed at his ludicrous suggestion, but she was far too irritated to speak. How dare he insinuate that she had an intimate relationship with Henry!
She was half tempted to stomp on his foot and march off the dance floor in a huff, but she had always prided herself upon acting the part of a delicate lady while under the scrutiny of a public event.
As she spun outward, she purposefully slammed back into him, earning a grunt of pain and at the unexpected force.
"That was bad form, Artie. Did I get a little too close to the truth?"
She supposed it was time to tell him a little of her past, if only to save her good name, as well as Henry's.
"While I feel that I should not dignify your question with a response, I will answer it anyway. Henry is my brother, in the truest sense of the word."
"If Henry is your brother, why do you have different surnames and look nothing alike?"
"It is true that we have no shared blood, but Henry has been my family since I was a young girl. He took me in when I had no one. There will never be anything more than familial love between us."
Jacob seemed to consider this, and he slowly nodded his head. He seemed to have better spirits as he effortlessly spun her around.
"I'm sorry for prying. I just assumed…"
"Well, don't! I don't ask you about your past or your romantic endeavors, so leave mine alone!"
Though she hadn't meant it to be harsh, Jacob flinched. She felt immediate remorse, but considered his reaction carefully.
Did Jacob have romantic encounters in his past? Perhaps he was well versed in the art of courting and wooing. He certainly seemed confident enough.
As far as her own romantic encounters went, there was little to tell. Many had tried and failed to woo her, and she hadn't wasted any time dwelling on useless ventures.
She was grateful that the dance was finally coming to an end. When Jacob and the other couples stopped moving, she curtsied politely and turned heel on Jacob.
Her sense of relief did not last long, however, as Jacob had followed her. This time, she was weaving through the crowds, and he was chasing her.
She had almost reached the edge of the sleeping quarters when she felt his hand wrap around her arm.
"Wait. Artie, please."
His impassioned plea gave her pause, but she was less than inclined to listen to what he had to say. She turned to look at him, wary as ever. His face was certainly remorseful enough, but she was still uncertain.
"I didn't mean to offend. I'll admit that I've been curious about you and Greenie since we met. Usually I just ignore the curiosity and keep it to myself."
She supposed that the alcohol was to blame for his behavior, but that was hardly an excuse. He'd admitted to romantically linking her with Henry while sober!
She crossed her arms, wishing that she could find a way out of the conversation. Jacob blinked, an uncertain half-smile wavering on his face.
"Please, let me just walk you to your room. I could use the air."
Though her better judgement suggested leaving Jacob standing there alone, she went against it and weakly nodded her consent. If they were going to be working together to take down Starrick and his empire, there could not be any awkwardness or tension between them.
Jacob motioned her forward with his hand, and the two began their journey to the living quarters. Though the walk was short, it seemed an eternity to Artemis.
Jacob was unusually quiet, perhaps too cautious of her feelings to bring up any subjects for the rest of the evening, no matter how innocent they might be.
Artemis herself had been mulling over the words she and Jacob had exchanged, unsure of his motivation for questioning her. She barely noticed his tall form walking in step with hers, but instead thought of the dance they'd shared.
As the two reached the doorway of the female living quarters, they slowed to a stop. Artemis looked at Jacob warily, still unsure of what he was thinking.
Jacob cleared his throat nervously a few times before her turned to look at her, eyes meeting hers with a purpose. He had a foreign expression in his eyes, one that Artemis had yet to see.
Her breath caught when he looked at her that way. The intensity of his gaze was enough to light a match, and a shiver of anticipation ran down her spine. But anticipation of what?
She needn't have asked herself that question, as Jacob's actions spoke clearly. In one fluid motion, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close to his chest, pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss that cut off any objection she might have raised.
Artemis would later tell herself that what she'd felt was the familiar fear, but in the moment all she felt was a strange electric shock. Her mouth seemed to be a conduit through which a circuit had been completed. The electricity flowed throughout her body, and the blood was coursing through her veins as her heart felt the shock.
Almost through instinct, she snaked her arms around him, weaving her fingers through his soft, thick hair. Their lips moved both independently of each other, yet in a sort of rhythm that both somehow knew.
By the time her brain had registered what was happening, her other senses had completely taken leave of her. Every sense was Jacob: smell, sight, taste, sound, and touch.
It ended as suddenly as it had begun, with Artemis pulling away in surprise and shock, both at Jacob's actions, and more importantly her own. Jacob's expression was that of a fox who'd snuck into a henhouse.
The fiery expression in his eyes was still there, though it seemed more intense now that they'd shared a kiss.
"Forgive me, Jacob. I must go."
Artemis curtsied politely, and fled into the safety of her quarters.
Her mind was reeling from what had just happened. Jacob had kissed her, which, given his penchant for flirting, was not all that surprising. Her reaction, however, was very surprising.
What on earth had possessed her to return the kiss?
Certainly, when others had even attempted it, they'd earned a slap to the face. So why hadn't she hit Jacob?
The rational side of her brain tried to blame the suddenness of the kiss, and a delayed reaction to what had happened. But she knew better.
Jacob had kissed her, and she'd let him. Even worse, she'd kissed him back. She'd enjoyed the feeling of their lips moving together. It was all she could do to break off the kiss and run to her room. A small part of her hoped that if she returned to the entrance, he'd still be there and they could continue the kiss they'd started.
She shook her head to clear her swirling thoughts. Dwelling on it did no good. She'd simply have to put the whole thing out of her mind for the present.
In the morning, she would talk to Jacob about what had happened, and explain to him why it could never happen again.
But as she lay there, she wished that it could.
Author's Note:
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my little story!
