Chapter Nine: Red Light District
The first thing that DG really noticed was the smell. Her lip curled up at the stench of the back alley, of sweat and bodies huddled too close as they lay in the street to share body warmth. The buildings were high in this part of town, but they weren't the clean lines and crisp architecture that she had seen in the entertainment district. They were hovels, and that was being kind. There was steam everywhere, pouring form pipes jutting out of walls high above their heads to vent into the thick city air. It was dark, and the shadows increased as the suns moved down toward the horizon outside the city walls.
Few people looked up at them as they passed by. Firearms were a common sight, she assumed, for the homeless took one look at them, eyed the pretty scarf around Az's head, and returned to their nothingness. Someone had started a fire in one of the alleys branching off from theirs. She stepped further into Cain's side as one of the shabby men rose to his feet behind them.
"What are the odds he's set up back here?" Jeb asked, moving closer to his father as well.
"Slim to none," Cain replied out of the side of his mouth. "We're looking for someplace a little tidier than this. He's a meticulous guy."
"How do you know so much about Zero, anyway?" DG asked, threading her fingers tightly in his to keep herself cemented to his side. Cain squeezed back absently, taking a low breath.
"We were partners, a long while back," he muttered, shooting the stink eye at someone who had moved too close. "Not bosom buddies, but on good terms. I watched his back, and saved his ass more times than I can count."
"He was a Tin Man?" DG asked, shaking her head in disbelief. In her mind, from what she'd seen from Cain, Tin Men were the epitome of upstanding, law-abiding, selfless men. She couldn't associate Zero's face with the gleaming badge and the honor she'd come to associate with the man standing beside her.
"In the vaguest sense," Cain replied. "Soon as... the witch came into power, he was over on her side before I could blink. He asked me to come with him, you know."
DG shook her head again, and she pressed up against his side in order to avoid an inebriated fellow stumbling down the sidewalk right at her.
"He was crazy back then, too," Cain muttered, glaring hot death at the man who had bumped DG out of the way. "He went for whoever had the most power. For a while, it was me. Then it was the witch."
"You think he found someone else to latch onto?" DG asked, and a small spike of fear found its way into her heart.
"I don't know," he admitted. "We're gonna find out, though, aren't we?"
"We?" DG asked, smirking at last. "You finally over that idiotic self-sacrifice thing?"
"It's you and me, DG," he told her, lowering his voice.
"And Hark," she added quickly, her face definitely pink. "Hark's very important."
She hated the little smile that curled up on his lips. Something slow and perfect that sent a wave of something through her to her fingertips. "And Hark," he repeated.
Jeb made the warning signal by holding up one hand, and everyone grabbed someone and ducked into two different alleyways that split away from the main one they had been walking along. The coordinated marching of Longcoats reached their ears, and they made sure to hide themselves deeper in the shadows. Cain, DG and Glitch had ducked into one, and on the other side of the main alley, they could barely make out Hark, Jeb and Az tucked together in another branching street.
The line of guards stomped by, guns in hand and shooting menacing looks at the homeless lazing about. Cain's arm banded tightly around DG's waist and pressed her against the wall beside him, facing the deteriorating brick with only their backs showing to the world. Glitch followed suit.
"DG," Cain whispered in close quarters, his breath brushing by her ear, and she tried to suppress the sudden warmth that seemed to spread outward from her stomach. "You have to promise me something."
"What?" she asked, trying instead to focus on the sounds of the Longcoats passing by.
"You won't come after me if something goes wrong with the plan." Her head snapped up suddenly to stare straight up at him, all seriousness.
"Bull," she snorted irritably. "Wyatt Cain, you couldn't keep me away with a cattle prod."
"I'm serious," he countered.
"What makes you think I'm not?"
His lips pressed together in a fine line, and he had to swallow the words that came instantly to his throat. Glitch pretended to be interested in the fire escapes high above them on the side of the building. Cain flicked his eyes over his shoulder first to see if the coast was clear.
"I know," he said, turning reluctantly back to her, his eyes somewhere on the miniscule space between them. "I'd be saying the same thing if it was you in trouble. It'd make me feel better if you said it, though." His smile tried to reappear, but it failed twice. "Indulge me?"
"I promise," she said, trying to ignore the shiver it sent though her to say it, "that I won't come after you if something goes wrong. I'll run like a coward and leave you behind, with my tail tucked firmly between my legs." She paused a moment, before adding, barely under her breath, "Not."
"Hey," Glitch said, finally having an excuse to exist in their moment, "Longcoats are gone." As he stepped by the two of them, he planted a firm hand on Cain's shoulder and gripped hard. The stare that Cain was fixed with was pure Ambrose—cold and full of words that didn't need to be said. He released the man from his grip, peered around the corner of the building to be sure that the Longcoats had really gone, then flashed a thumbs-up across the way to Hark, who stood lookout.
"C'mon," Cain murmured, removing his arm from around her.
Something bubbled out of her before she could even attempt to stop it. "Wyatt—" Her voice was caught somewhere dangerous, and she was afraid of what would happen if she didn't let it out. Or worse, what would happen if she did.
He turned, facing her again, and his eyes were oddly subdued and light. She couldn't stand it. She choked her voice back down, shook her head and lowered her eyes to the ground while cursing at herself inwardly. His hand was cool on the side of her face, smoothing his thumb over her cheek only twice. Her cheeks were heated and red, and he felt like smooth glass in comparison.
"I know, DG," he muttered tightly.
Before she could flash him a look of confusion, he pulled her into a close, warm embrace. She buried her face in his shoulder, shutting her eyes to close off everything else that wasn't connected to him. This was a 'don't say anything' hug, something that said more with silence. She clung onto him, digging her fingers into his back, keeping him close, forbidding him to pull away. He didn't try to. He stroked her long hair carefully with one hand, and it took her a moment to realize that he was whispering something in her ear.
"You look up and I'm always gonna be there, DG. Every time. Don't forget that." He pulled away slightly to watch her eyes. They were wet and glossy with things that she couldn't say, her mouth hidden by the flimsy scarf, and she simply nodded.
He turned away to join the others, and she felt suddenly cold. She wrapped the coat more firmly around herself and followed in his wake.
The shoddy slums of the hidden back alleyways transformed slowly into downtown. There was no defining line, and the city blended together seamlessly from one debauchery to the next. It took Jeb only a moment to realize—with a red blush—that they had entered the red light district. It wasn't hard to notice, with the women of the night parading the corners and showing their best to potential customers. The establishments were low to the ground and only a step above dingy. Even with the Queen back in power, she couldn't clean out the dirt that had piled up over eight years of the witch's rule in such a short time.
"This is where we split up," Cain muttered. "Jeb, you stay with Az. You want your man or Glitch?"
"Hark should stick with you, I think," Jeb responded. "Just in case you meet Zero before we can meet back up."
"All right," Cain responded, sweeping his eyes around for any immediate threat. Upon finding none, he embraced his son in farewell. "Take care of them," he urged, nodding to Az and Glitch, who stood a pace away both sets of hands clasped together.
"I haven't let you down yet, have I?" Jeb asked, grinning boyishly. "And father?" Cain turned again at Jeb's prompt. "Good luck."
They took their leave, marking the corner on which they parted in their memories to rendezvous later. They would return in roughly an hour, with fifteen minutes leeway. If either party was not back by then, the second was to go on to find Zero without them. The thought made DG's stomach turn over.
The smell was different here, and DG mostly didn't want to think about it. The lights were orange and dim, hung high above the streets to throw heavy shadows over everything around them. Hark was averting his eyes from the surrounding woman in a gentlemanly fashion. His expression read confusion, as to why Cain would want to visit this part of the city at all. Surely Zero's base of operations was not in a bordello?
They passed another corner, following Cain's purposeful strides—he obviously knew where he was going. DG looked up as they moved by another low building to see a group of men standing outside, around one of the tall lights. One of them winked at her as she went by.
She leaned into the man next to him and whispered: "Wyatt, are you going to buy me a boy whore?"
Cain didn't respond, but even in the orange of the streetlights, she could see his ears go red.
"Here we go," he muttered after another moment. He motioned for Hark to follow him and took DG's hand in his own as he increased his stride. It was a two story building with thick shades pulled over all of the windows. Every light was on. By the door, there was a single lamp that burned a bright red. A solitary woman stood outside the door. This was obviously a popular establishment.
"Hey there, cowboy," the woman purred, flicking her green boa over her shoulder. "You and the little girl looking for something exciting?"
It was DG's turn to go red. Cain was a stone, ignoring the woman completely. As the two stepped into the open door, the woman also decided to hit on Hark, who blushed, flustered, and apologized before following Cain in.
The inside was smoky and red. Just as it had been on the outside, the only lighting in the entrance lobby was red. Two women stood behind the nearby desk, and a few others lay draped over several oddly-shaped sofas around the room. All eyes were on Cain when he entered, and several of the women fixed DG with envious stares. One's interest piqued on the younger girl, and she pressed into Cain's side for shelter.
"I'm looking for a regular," Cain rumbled, leaning one hand on the desk and speaking to the older of the women.
"We don't pass out client information," the elder woman said, checking something under her fingernails. "We have a special tonight, sugar," she said, flicking her eyes up to the Tin Man. He scowled in return.
"The fat bastard's been coming here for years. I just need to know if he's here tonight. I'm not gonna beat around the bush here."
One of the younger girls on the sofas uttered a high-pitched giggle and quickly threw a hand over her mouth at the odd look thrown her way by Hark.
Cain rolled his eyes and shot a dangerous look at the women behind the desk. "If you don't tell me where Antoine DeMilo is, I'm gonna have to go upstairs and kick in doors until I find him. I don't care who or what I interrupt. And if I'm not making myself clear—" He pulled out his gun and laid in on the desk.
Three gasps and a tiny strangled cry came from the sofa girls. The younger of the women at the desk started at the sight of the weapon and was quick to meet Cain's eyes. "Room 20, second floor. He's with Desiree. Don't shoot anyone, mister, please."
"Wasn't planning on it," Cain responded, twirling the gun back into his holster. "Thank you kindly." He tipped the brim of his hat respectfully and turned away for the stairs.
"Sorry about him," DG muttered in apology before following him.
"Ma'am," Hark nodded, also tipping his hat. He took off up the stairs after them.
Cain had his gun out again once he reached Room 20, and was knocking on the wood with the butt of his revolver. DG slowly plugged her ears with both fingers to ignore the multitude of odd sounds emanating from the rooms around them. Hark, always seemingly stalwart, was very obviously blushing.
"Open the damn door, DeMilo!" Cain barked loudly, knocking again. "You'd better have pants on when I kick in this door!"
There was sudden shuffling from inside Room 20, and a grim smirk took Cain's lips. A feminine voice mingled with an all-too-familiar male's in the chaos inside the room. Cain checked the doorknob, rattled it threateningly, and examined how loose it was.
"You've got ten seconds, DeMilo," Cain growled. "And counting!"
It was a good fifteen seconds before the door flew open from the inside, and a frantic-looking, half-clothed young woman met them. She shoved past DG and went running down the hall, toward the stairs. Cain nonchalantly strolled into the dimly lit room.
"Wyatt Freakin' Cain," DeMilo's thin voice muttered. He had thankfully donned pants, as well as a half-buttoned shirt. He was still as ugly as ever. "Didn't they kill you? Twice?"
"Three times," Cain corrected, checking over his shoulder to be sure that DG and Hark were still with him. "That's six lives left. And I'm gonna spend every one of them keeping you in line, DeMilo."
"What right do you got bein' here?" DeMilo spat. "This is my money, and you ain't sporting tin."
"He's got me," DG threatened. DeMilo's eye took its time in finding her eyes, at which Cain bared his teeth and clapped the man over the head with the back of his hand.
"Ow! For the love of—" DeMilo rubbed his hand along his thinning scalp. "And who the hell are you, dollface?"
DG lowered the scarf covering her mouth only slightly, but with the blue eyes and the dark hair, it was immediately evident who she was. DeMilo's jaw waggled, and his eyes went from DG to Cain and back again. "Holy shit, Cain! You bagged yourself a princess!"
DG's proud face melted at the heat suddenly in her cheeks. Cain narrowed his eyes and cocked the gun against DeMilo's bare chest. "That's enough."
"I'm just sayin'!" DeMilo protested, eyes suddenly wide. "What d'you want, anyway? Or are you just wavin' your gun around in front of your royal girlfriend here?"
"Where's Zero?" Cain growled, pressing the barrel of the gun harder into DeMilo's flesh.
"What, still on about him?" the man uttered a nervous, unflattering laugh. Cain's eyes turned to slits, and DeMilo was suddenly in the talking mood. "Yeah, he's back in town. Thinks he's all high 'n mighty now that the bitch is off the throne."
"Watch it," DG spat dangerously, seething.
"Boy, she's fiery," DeMilo noted, raising his eyebrows appreciatively. This time, Hark joined Cain in the staring contest, and he, too retrieved his gun. "Okay, okay! I was just observin'!"
"Where's Zero?" Cain asked more forcefully. "I don't have time to waste killing you, DeMilo, but I will do it if I have to."
"He's holed up in the old theater!" DeMilo squealed, wincing at the pain Cain's gun was causing against his chest. "The old opera house!"
"It's been shut down for years," Hark divulged. "A fire took out part of the balcony, and no one's been in since."
"Except your boy and his little army," DeMilo offered with a nervous swallow of spittle. "There. This is the second time I saved your ass. You stole my truck and now scared away my girl. What the hell did I ever do to you?"
Cain smirked, holstering his gun. "If you don't remember, all the better for me to hold over your head later, isn't it?"
"Wait," DG said before Cain could pass her up. "What if he rats us out?"
"Oh, I've got something that'll keep him occupied," Cain said mysteriously. "C'mon, let's get out of here."
Before the three of them left the bordello, Cain offered a handful of money to the woman they'd met outside the door, letting her know that it was from the generous gentleman in Room 20. She was up the stairs in a flash.
They waited at the appointed corner. The hour was up quickly, and soon, the fifteen minute window had also passed them by. DG wrung her hands nervously, looking up at the enormous lit clock face in the center of the square. If there hadn't been an obscuring cloud of steam and smoke hovering above, she imagined that the stars might be out. Hark checked his pocket watch several times to be sure. Cain watched his feet.
"We'd better go," he muttered after another long pause, not looking up.
"What about Az? And Jeb and Glitch?"
"They'd do the same if we didn't show," Cain retorted. "Jeb would've taken them back out to find Zero. If they've been found out..." His heart quailed at the possibility, but he continued. "They'd be taken to Zero, if something happened. And that's where we're headed."
DG bit at her lower lip and processed the thought. It made more sense than she'd hoped. "All right." Her spine was straight and her eyes full of fire as she looked up at the Tin Man. "I'm ready."
"You'd better be," Hark muttered. "There's only one chance of getting this right. I hope you two are a pair of damn fine actors."
"Likewise," Cain grumbled in reply.
They were careful to remain in the shadows while they took the main street straight up into the entertainment district. They were lucky. Most of the population seemed to be inside, through fear of the sudden reappearance of the Longcoats, it was assumed. This made the baddies easier to spot and avoid. Cain led the way, DG following, and Hark at the rear guard, his mustache bristled in seriousness. Soon, the street opened up to the theater district, and DG's mouth dropped open in despair.
Longcoats were everywhere. They didn't clump around a particular establishment, to keep the location of their base as hidden as possible. They patrolled in pairs up and down the street, near the doors of the theaters and the lip of every alleyway. Zero's forces were greater than even Cain had imagined or feared. It was as if every single Longcoat who had refused to turn over after the witch's death had been sprung from prison simultaneously, and fell under Zero's command. It was not a reassuring sight.
"You sure they won't shoot us on sight?" DG asked in a tiny voice. Cain reached down and grasped her hand comfortingly in his.
"He wants us alive so he can kill us himself," Cain reassured her. "I know him. He's a bastard, but he's also an egotist and a little cracked."
With his other hand, he removed his revolver and handed it to Hark. "Looks like it's showtime," the man with the mustache said plainly.
DG shook slightly, and Cain took her hand from his side to press it firmly against his lips. "I'm right here," he muttered against her skin.
She nodded at last, swallowing her fear at the feeling of warmth he sent through her hand, up her arm and into her chest. "I'm ready," she whispered.
Hark lowered his brow. "In case something happens, it's been a pleasure serving you, Princess."
"Thank you, Hark." Her voice was infinitesimal.
Two Longcoat guards near the entrance to the side street saw them first. A young woman and an older man in a hat, followed by an even older man with a gun in each hand. The girl was crying.
"I said get on your knees!" The man with the mustache cried. Both the girl and the man did as commanded, a pistol pointed at each head. The Longcoats quickly rushed to the man's side.
"What's going on here?" The tallest Longcoat asked, hand on his own gun should he need it.
"I got a delivery," Hark growled, glaring down at his capture. "I'm to hand them straight to Zero. I found him his princess, and her little dog too."
AN: Ah! Suspense! Well, at least you know the plan now. I guess... And so sorry about that last line, but it's 3 AM and I'm a little cracked. WOO!! Hmm, this seemed longer when I was writing it. Anyway, hope I didn't disappoint here. And writing bordello scenes is a lot more fun than you'd think. Maybe. As I've said, it's 3 AM and I couldn't stop writing and I think I'm gonna collapse soon. But it's all good! Not a lot of Glitch here, sorry, but he'll be back! I promise! Oh, and you have noooooooo idea how much fun I had with the CDG in this chapter. Awesome sauce to the max. I think I'm a little loopy from the not sleep I'm having. Anyway, hope you like, because this is just getting funner with each chapter. Goodnight, and I hope that everyone remembers to STAY AWESOME!! (even tho it's late)