He glared at his father as he picked up the his coat that Compass had dropped. "Why didn't you stop her?" he demanded.
His father blinked like he was dazed, "I didn't see her tell she was gone."
The three men ran out the building and searched in the direction that Compass had run off in.
"Luke head back, we'll talk later." His tone implied it would be a conversation Luke would not enjoy. The younger man looked horrified and made a sputtering noise as he tried to protest. "Now," snapped Jean-Luc, head of the Thieves Guild. It had been a while since Remy had last heard that tone. And he knew it would be obeyed or there would be flaming hell to pay. Sure enough, the younger man's footsteps receded, heading back towards the shop.
Remy and his father continued to search for Compass. Neither man wanted to leave her frightened and alone in this cold weather. They walked two more blocks and were about to give up when they heard the unmistakable sound of someone retching their guts out. Quietly they approached the alleyway to their left. He had squint in the darkness to make out a huddled shape just a little ways in. Something in him broke at the sight. She was clinging to herself and shivering as what little she had eaten came up again and was splattered over the wall and ground.
"Petite." He said just loud enough for her to hear, but not so loud as to draw too much attention to them. She didn't visibly react to him. Not a good sign. He heard a soft footfall behind him and Remy motioned for his father to stay back. Compass was dragging ragged sobbing breathes in, probably trying to calm the raging fear in herself. He had a very good idea of what had happened and it made him wonder how someone could violate another human being in the way he knew she had been. His own stomach heaved in protest. "Chere, let's get you ta see Tante. Trust ol' Gambit. No one will touch ya if you don't want em to."
Still the girl shivered and heaved deep shuddering breathes giving no sign she heard him.
Carefully and slowly so as not to startle her, he wrapped his coat around her. Making sure it completely enveloped her small frame before hugging her. It was only then that he realized she was also clinging to the wedding band on her necklace; like her whole life depended on it. From under her fisted fingers it glowed with a soft light. Warmth radiated from it and her, like when you wake up wrapped in thick blankets. The feeling of being safe in someone's arms. Love.
"That must be a pretty special ring." he told her. The ring's light flickered and slowly went out, without the light the cold slipped back in.
Compass nodded mutely. Her eyes stared lifelessly out at the alley walls.
"I'm going to pick you petite. If you don't want me ta, just say so, okay?"
Again she nodded, her face expressionless. Never in all his years had he seen someone who looked so emotionally drained that they looked like they just shut down all feeling.
With great care Remy lifted her and turned back towards his father. He wasn't sure because the expression was gone so quickly, but if he didn't know any better he'd say his father looked murderous. He wondered if someone in Compass's past should be worried. One thing was for sure, he would have to look into this himself. Remy nodded for his father to lead the way. Jean-Luc turned and moved out of the alleyway leading them through the more brightly lit streets. It wasn't long before they stopped in front of an old house.
The house was painted white and had all the characteristic charm of New Orleans. Terraces on the upper level were laced with plants that were toeing the line of out of control. Dark blue shutters accented all the windows on the face of the house. A patio surrounded by wrought iron railings was open to the small front yard and even had a rocking chair sitting on it. And a lamp hung right outside the front door; flickering invitingly to them. Remy smiled, they were expected.
His father opened the front gate and held it open for him and Compass to pass by. Then they followed the small cobblestone path to the front door; which was painted to match the shutters. Remy shifted Compass before grabbing the brass door knocker and banging it against the door three times. Silence greeted them at first. Remy was starting to get impatient and reached for the knocker again. The door creaked open before he could touch the cold metal.
"Child, you were raised to be more patient." The woman's voice brought back memories of his childhood in the Thieves Guild. Most of them good. The woman herself appeared out of the gloom in the house. Remy took in Tante Mattie's appearance. She wore a bright colored shirt and a matching skirt that went all the way down to her ankles. Her beaded earrings made a hollow tinkling sound whenever she moved. The sound already had him relaxing. The smaller woman was a good head shorter than him, not that it made her any less formidable or commanding. When she spoke, others listened. "Well, come in child, or did you want de girl t'lose her toes?"
Compass shifted for the first time since Remy had picked her up. He had actually thought she had gone to sleep. Her silver eyes looked Tante over like she was trying to remember something important.
"Do I know you?" she asked in a small voice.
Tante looked the girl in her eyes and smiled kindly. "Such pretty silver eyes. Maybe even prettier dan Remy's. How bouts I answer questions after I take a look at your foot, and you have had some food and rest?"
Compass watched her curiously but nodded. Remy moved into the house and brought Compass over to a comfortable sofa setting the girl down on it. He watched curiously as the girl's gaze followed Tante as she bustled about her work. Tante shooed him out of the way as she knelt down in front of Compass. Wrinkled knobby hands gripped the wounded foot both gently and firmly. Deftly she probed the foot. Feeling over where the broken bone was.
Tante chuckled, "Who'd you kick with da force to break your foot?"
Compass shrugged. "Never met him before. I think he was trying to steal my ring."
Tante looked at the ring in question. Her eyes widened ever so slightly. "May I?"
Compass clutched the ring then lifted the chain off her neck. She dropped it into Tante's open palm. The ring glowed in warning.
"Hush." Tante told the ring. "I'll give you back." The ring returned to normal. Then she held up the ring to Compass. "Do you know what this is?"
Compass blinked. "My ring?"
Tante chuckled. "You don't have magic do you?"
Compass thought about the question biting her lip. Finally she shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think so. I can't remember a whole lot before today."
Tante handed ring back to her. Compass quickly put it back on and fingered the ring. Tante got up and went to her kitchen. When she came back she was carrying a jar, a bowl of steaming food, and new bandages. She passed the food to Compass. The girl sniffed the food then dug in. Tante watched her eat for a minute, satisfied she would be able to keep it down, she went to work unwrapping the girl's foot. She sighed and clucked at the sight of the ragged wound. Tante grabbed the jar and scooped out and large finger full of sickly green paste. She smeared it over the entire bottom of Compass's foot.
Remy winced, he had a new found respect for Compass. Grown men cried and tried to jerk away when Tante applied that stuff. He remembered a few times where he had the pleasure. It was painful, but watching Compass you'd have thought she was getting a foot massage. Tante wrapped that foot up in new bandages then repeated the process for the girl's other foot. Once that was done she told Compass.
"I'll be back in a few minutes." Then she looked pointedly at Remy and Jean. Together the three of them moved into the kitchen.
Jean-Luc sat in one of the old chairs that surrounded the worn table while Remy leaned up against the door frame. This way he could listen to Tante and keep an eye on Compass. Tante pulled out a kettle and filled it with water before putting it on the stove.
"So?" Jean asked, "You two know each other?"
Tante smiled amused and turned back to them. "In a manner of speakin." She paused as if she was considering everything she knew and how best to say it. "Stories of old men and women guidin heroes and events. Always from the shadows. Always for the better of the world. You both can name many such stories."
Jean nodded and Remy wondered where this was going, but already he had a sinking feeling.
"Dey ain't just stories. De girl is one of a long line of such. Probably where the stories come from. Power, a ting we can't magine. Yet they are oddly vulnerable."
Remy thought of the way Compass reacted to Luke's advances. Was that why she fled? No, he knew exactly why she had run. He wasn't sure how he had the knowledge. He didn't want to see the bigger man reaching for a slightly younger Compass. Hands ripping at her clothes. Desperate pleas to stop. The overwhelming smell of alcohol. Fear so strong and clawing that it made him want to vomit. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away.
"So you do know her," Jean insisted. There was a look in his father's eyes like they had scored big. Remy shifted restlessly. He had a feeling that his father didn't have a hope in hell of controlling Compass or the power she had. And he was sure it would go very badly for his father and Compass if Jean tried.
"Careful child, you missin with someting dat will come back t'bite ya." She pursed her lips before nodding. "I have met with de previous three Compasses, not this one. All had the same eyes that marks them. Silver dat see into your soul, surrounded by living lightening. Each holds the memories of the of all those dat came before."
"Chere, I feel a but." Remy knew of the kinds of power that Tante Mattie described and it never came without steep cost.
"De girl's powers are more unstable. Workin whenever dey choose ta. Makes her even more vulnerable. Just cause she can't control em, doesn't mean someone else can't. And if a new Compass has awoken den she is here for a reason." Her dark brown eyes fell on Remy. "I tink she is here to guide someone."
"Me?" asked Remy. It would certainly explain his inability to leave her alone. Every damn time he thought to slip away or this wasn't his problem something would come up to prevent him from leaving. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"You're de one dat found her."
Jean seemed unconvinced. After so many years of working with Tante, Remy was surprised his father questioned her at all.
"So what was that in there? She looked like she remembered you and she was relieved to you recognized her eyes."
"With power comes a price. He; the previous Compass, explained dat when dey become Compass deir past before is erased. Not a soul remembers them. Once the next is chosen no one will remember de previous Compass. Dey are a vague dream dat you remember as a feeling."
"So Compass ain't her name." He had guessed as much.
"Yes and no." The kettle whistled and Tante pulled it off the stove. She mixed several different kinds of dried plants into a small metal ball then closed it and dunked it into the hot water. "Who she was before to everyone and de world is dead. She took on de mantle of Compass as much as you are Gambit. But de memories of who she was is still dere. Smashed together with old memories and buried in her mind. In time, she'll remember." Tante looked saddened as she pulled out two cups. Pouring tea into both of them. "I once told your lady that the good Lord don't give us bigger burdens dan we can carry, but now I wonder."
"So what do we do about her?" Jean asked.
Tante walked back out to the living room and handed Compass one of the cups. Compass took it in a shaking hand and Tante took back the empty bowl which had been cleaned out. When she came back she put the bowl in the sink and began to wash it.
"We do nothing. Remy keeps an eye on her. It seems she choose him." Once Tante finished cleaning the bowl she put it back in the cupboard before she turned to Remy. "You two can stay here. I'll leave tomorrow afternoon.
"How long?"
Tante shrugged, amusement pulling at her wrinkled features. "Depends on Fate, and the ones she is meant to lead. Some people can be stubborn."
Remy snorted. When they went back out into the living room area Compass was curled up on the sofa under Remy's coat, clutching the ring. The cup of tea empty and sitting on the small coffee table.
"Should I ask about the ring?"
"Sure, but ask her tomorrow." Tante shuffled off to a small closet next to the bathroom. When she came back she was carrying a long green skirt and a thick white blouse, with a pair of warm boots balancing on top of the pile. She set the pile down on the coffee table by Compass before drawing a iron key from one of her skirts hidden pockets. Then she grabbed the second cup and passed both cup and key to Remy.
"Restock de fridge when you're done. Drink dat, it'll help you sleep."
Remy eyed the drink like it was poisoned then he glanced at Compass. More like it'd knock him out. Before he could argue Tante shuffled off to escort Jean out. When she came back he was watching Compass.
"What ain't you tellin me Tante?"
The woman who was like a mother to him patted his shoulder. "In good time child, ask her." Then her shuffling steps disappeared into the back to towards the only bedroom on this floor.