[AN]I wrote around 10 k,then I didn't like it,and shoved this in between. Now I need to edit the other stuff. But have no worries,I gotcha!

Hecate Jones was her own queen on her throne, surrounded by knights with silver shining swords.

But this knights were not bound by any honour. They would smite Childish down the moment her breath sounded too loud.

The older woman eyed her. No more friendly games. This was the real deal. Her room seemed small with the men at her side. Childish looked around. A woman with a mean looking knife and Dima leaned at the door, all faces void of any emotion. He may had a soft spot for her, but he wouldn't move a finger now.

It was too hot. Her lips were terribly dry.

Smoking relaxed and eerie, Hecate leaned a little forward.

The queen would judge, and if she didn't like what she saw in front of her cushioned chair,she wouldn't hesitate.

'Where is it?'

'Pardon me?' Childish felt herself shift, sweat on her brow.

'My bird. Remember how I told you I could eat you?'

'Yes. It involved you breaking an agreement for your own enrichment.' The way the woman on the doorstep shifted told her she better watch her mouth. But she couldn't.

'Can we stop playing the pronoun game and get right to the point?'

You are full of yourself and you will regret it.

Hecate Jones lips were pressed together in a thin line that spoke of her dwindling patience.

She was grateful Crispin had abandoned her sinking ship. She hoped Ash would get to him if they cut her off and put her sliced remains into the river.

'You are not lying, are you?'

'If I swear on something, will you believe me?'

The room got hotter by the second. Childish curled her hands into fists to stop them from shaking.

'Acting so tough, poor little thing.' Jones said, to no one in particular. 'I would give you a pass, you know that. I always liked you. Crispin and you were such a nice pair.'

Enough of your fake grandmothers advice, Childish swallowed. All this show was just to terrify her. And it worked.

'Here is the catch, 'Jones said. 'He is not here to help you. Last chance, my birdie.'

Childish crossed her arms. 'I know nothing.'

Hecate furrowed her brow. 'Unfortunate. Warim,Lev,hold her.'

The both guards moved toward her in an instant, and Childish staggered back. Their arms were like iron shackles, holding her arms, bending her body.

'I need her hand. 'Hecate Jones said, slowly standing up to move around the desk. 'Which hand do you favour, bird?'

Childish made a sound that was something between a scream and a breathless answer. One of the guards forced her hand forward as she kicked and shook as hard as she could, without much effect.

They were as unmoving as stone.

'You know, it was a tradition once, cutting off a thiefs fingers. I'll only take one or two, I still need you able to work, don't you think?'

'Aneja,your knife. 'Her henchwoman strode through the empty space and handed her the mean looking jagged blade.

The tears were closer then ever.

'They pinkie will do. 'Jones said.

'Seriously?!'Childish yelled, curling her hands into fists. Or at least trying to. Jones cold hands were stronger than she would have anticipated.' I didn't find anything! Just dead people!'

'You have any idea who killed them?' the knife caressed her skin, from her knuckle back to her finger tip.

Rat him out,a voice urged her. He will be fine, this is your chance, girl.

But she couldn't. She even was disgusted by the thought of it.

Is loosing your finger worth it? You don't even know him.

But that was the problem. He cared about her, for whatever reason, and she wanted to know him. She owed him bad. If she just saved her hide what would that care be worth?

'I don't know anything. 'she managed to say.' Let's get this over with.'

For a moment the older woman studied her closely. Then she gave a wink with her hand and Childish got released.

She almost dropped on the floor, breathing heavy.

'My protection does not come by nothing,birdie,so better be careful. I'll expect you around the next days. There is still work to do.'

She kept her. She couldn't believe it. Jones was keeping her? Her heart fluttered in her chest.

She expects you to thank her,girl,come one. Give her your best impression.

Smile for the queen.

'I won't forget this. 'she said. And she wouldn't. She was still terrified. By Jones, by the warning, she wanted to break down and scream, but she wouldn't. She couldn't. Not here, in front of this people. And not ever.

Anger flowed in, replaced the fear. Her head was cold and clear.

Hecate took her seat behind her desk again.

'You better not. And now leave. Before I change my mind.'

Ice water pumping through her veins, she quietly stepped outside.

'You know,'Aneja said, cocking her head. 'We could just turn you in ourselves.'

Dima was silent.

'Try, and we will see what happens,'. Childish dared. Then she spat on the ground.

Aneja lounged at her, pinning her against the wall.

All that Dima did was stare at his feet,still pityful. Childish regretted looking for his help and Anejas fist made contact with her jaw. She gasped at the pain that spread through her face, but struggled again, biting into Anejas ear with all the force she could muster.

A sharp, burning sensation spread along her cheek and the crook of her neck. Nails buried deep inside her flesh. She didn't let go of the ear. On of them would loose. And Childish knew she wouldn't be the one to give up.

Then Dima finally moved, holding her tight around her waist and shoulder. The woman hissed at her in a language she didn't understand. But it sounded all the same, despite the linguistic barrier.

Death threats, mean words, foul language, nothing but venom spit on her direction. Well, there was one even more universal language.

Childish raised her hand and flipped her off.

Dima moaned. 'Please leave. 'he said ,and she was glad to oblige.

As she left the house, she broke into a sprint.

Still, she couldn't shake off the feeling to be followed.

He didn't know what drove him back so soon. She wasn't pretty nor charming. She straight out irritated him from the day he had met her the first time. She couldn't keep her mouth shut.

Maybe he came back to see if she had been stupid enough to go to Jones. And if she had made it out. Which he found doubtful.

The weather had turned again. The sky was grey in all its glory, little drops of rain trying to wash away the mud and dirt turned roads and canals into puddles and impenetrable swamps.

A few boats were rocking down and forth the water as he passed by.

Clad in grey, indistinguishable from the sky, a small figure was hammering away on a window, building something that resembled a very twisted barricade.

The boy was close by, watching him with eyes that showed a mix of distrust and admiration. Something he was used to by now.

As Daud approached her, the boy retreated without a word, glaring one last time.

Protective, he thought. But that won't be enough to save yourself or her.

Childish didn't stop the hammering. Her movements were frantic, but not very practiced. He had never seen someone putting in nails with so much hate or anger.

'You are alive.' He said.

As she whirled around, hammer in one hand, a nail in her mouth, her eyes seemed to dance with an amused light.

Angry red marks were lined up against her skin. She spit the nail out into her hand.

'And you used the road. Like a normal person.' She looked pleased by that. What exactly did she think he was doing all day? Prancing around roofs?

'I told you it wouldn't end well.' No question needed. The marks were enough to proof it.

'Well, what can I say, people love to take a shit on me.'she chuckled, midly amused. He leaned against the wall as she continued working, blocking a window with planks.

She was too small to reach all up, even on her toes, but didn't ask for help.

Stubborn until the end, he thought.

Which was presumably very soon, judging from the money on her head. Or the way she held the plank and the hammer.

' People wouldn't shit on you if you wouldn't behave ridiculous around them.' He huffed.

'What, you don't find it charming?' she batted her lashes. 'Behaving is boring. But thanks for worrying. I appreciate the sentiment.'

'I am not worried.' He said, but wasn't sure he could persuade her or himself. Something about her had wormed a way inside of him. It was unnerving.

'Ah, again, you are breaking my heart.'

Clonk. She hit the nail again, tiptoeing.

'You should leave.'

Clonk clonk clonk clonk.

She didn't look at him,but he saw her back tense.

' You want to get rid of me so badly?'

There was no way talking around. He stared at the angry red lines again, striding along her cheek right to her collar.

' Strangely enough, I don't.'

'Well, then I suppose you have to check on me from time to time.' There was the loopsided madwoman smile again. 'Also, I want my hat back.'

Their meetings became something almost regular, though none of them ever made the attempt to tell the other about it. Sometimes she dropped by his hideout, grinning from ear to another, quipping away.

Most of the times he just went to the warehouse. She left the window open. And was surprised whenever he used the door.

Her presence became something familiar. He didn't even know why he enjoyed it so much. Maybe it was the way she wouldn't stand down, or maybe he just liked them hopeless, like stray cats.

'Okay, 'she said, as they sat by the window, drinking. 'I have a proposal.'

'The answer is no.'

'I wasn't going to ask you to marry me, you brute, let me finish!'

Marrying her was probably not the worst proposal she had to offer, given her bad life choices. He just waited ,looking at her and drinking.

'You still owe me my hat.' She demanded with her usual audacity. 'So let's play a game. I win, I get the hat.'

Again with her hat. It was an unnatural fixation. But at least it didn't mean one or both of them to get involved in the maelstrom of another of her bad decisions.

'And what game do you propose?'

'Two lies, one truth.' She grinned mischievous.' Easy. We tell each other a lie or a truth, and after three times, we have to guess. You are right about which one is a lie and which one is the truth, you win.'

'Fair enough.' Daud leaned forward. She lifted her eyebrows in anticipation.

' My mark tells me when you lie.'

She shuddered visible, eyeing his hand.

'I once found a man fucking a donkey in his kitchen.' She said, face straight.

'I threw your hat into the river.'

'When I was younger, I was a pretty good musician.'

'I trust you.'

'I wanted to steal the book more than once when I came over to your place.'

They sized up each other in silence for a while. She wasn't as good as a liar as she may thought. Her fingers twitched often and she wanted to smile whenever she said something ridiculous.

He was sure she wouldn't be able to tell a bluff if he tried one. So far,he realised,the lies they told each other ,had been harmless. They danced around certain topics, avoiding other completely.

'So,'she chuckled.'I will never see my hat again?'

'You won't.' He took another sip.

'A shame.' She shook her head.