A/N - SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG GUYS, I'VE BEEN REALLY RELUCTANT TO FINISH THIS STORY. I DON'T WANT IT TO END, BUT EVERY STORY HAS TO END EVENTUALLY. SO HERE IS MOST OF THE ENDING.
The carriage had barely come to a complete stop when I shoved myself out of it, running inside the lodging house without a look back. I ran in, hollering Spot's name and growing increasingly frantic at the blank stares I got in return. I felt my eyes begin to burn with tears as I pounded up the stairs and almost mowed Action down, who grabbed my shoulder.
"Where have you been Spot's been going crazy looking for you!" I wrenched myself out of his grasp and took a deep breath.
"Long story, I don't have time for it right now. Where is Spot, I need to find him!" Action pursed his lips and looked me over disbelievingly before telling me to my horror, that Spot and Cinder had gone down to the docks.
"Why the Hell did they do that?" I almost screeched at him. There was no common sense at all to be had from that idea. It was freezing out and night had fallen both two dangerous things to deal with. Gathering up some more clothes I threw them on and ran out the door. Action hollered something after me, but it was lost in a sudden gust of wind and the shouts of New Years revelers who were carousing the streets.
I was exhausted and it took all the strength I had to trudge through snowdrifts and avoid drunken people but I made my way to the docks finally. I could make out two figures standing hunched over near the entrance, and I slid and ran to them. Spot looked up as I pounded over some planking and came to a stop.
"What the FUCK are you doing here?" got mixed up with "Where the HELL have you been?" as we collided into each other's arms. I buried my face into Spot's shoulder, so relieved that he was okay and felt a few tears leaking down my face. Cinder was staring at us, her face a mask of confusion and I haltingly gasped out my story. Spot's fingers gripped my shoulders tightly as he yanked me away from him to glare at me in such a fury that I winced away from him.
"I'll kill him. I swear to God I'll kill that bastard!" I was so relieved at seeing Spot in one piece that I couldn't do anything but cling to him. The key that hung around my neck was cold on my skin and I had a wild impulse to drag Spot back to the lodging house and take him through the mirror with me. But then I looked over at Cinder's white, pinched face and shuddered in acceptance. I couldn't leave her to her fate, she had been cruel but she was a friend now...sort of.
"Why are you guys down here? It's freaking freezing out, are you crazy?" Spot made an impatient gesture towards Cinder and told me that a runner from Harlem had come with a message telling her that Spook wanted to meet her at the docks. I snorted in disbelief and just stared at the pair of them, my eyes wide.
"And you just traipsed down here like a pair of fools?" I was so angry I couldn't see straight, especially at Spot who was way more street smart than this.
"Why do you think I came with her damnit, I wasn't going to let her come here alone!" I huffed out a breath of air that drifted away in a white puff and disappeared in the dark.
"We need to leave," I said trying to project a sense of urgency in my voice.
"We can't leave yet! I have to see Spook!" I glowered at Cinder and would have smacked her if I thought it would make a difference, which I knew it wouldn't. Spot just gave me a level look and I crossed my arms and moved a slight distance away from them. Finally I relented, not wanting to be far from Spot. If this was my last night with him, if I couldn't protect him anymore then at least I'd be close by.
We waited for what felt like hours, stomping our feet and shaking with cold. I could barely light a cigarette with the wind whipping snow everywhere, stinging our faces and hands. Spook appeared as suddenly as whatever ghost he was named after and I cried out in shock.
Cinder rushed to him and he took her in his arms. I felt my heart speed up, waiting for the inevitable. Spot suddenly shook himself and motioned for us to follow him. We entered a warehouse by way of a broken door and I cursed Spot for not coming up with this earlier. We used matches and old newspapers to start a small fire, and huddled around it for warmth.
"So out with it, how's the situation back in Harlem?" Spook had been sitting with his arm around Cinder's shoulder, talking in a low voice to her. I was in a state of shock, not believing that the runner had spoken the truth, but also because I felt like I was suspended from my body, watching the scene play out before me like in a movie.
"Not good," Spook said in a weary voice as he stroked Cinder's hair.
"Jinx challenged my leadership so I had to put him back in his place." Spook cracked his knuckles and gave us a humorless grin. I leaned against Spot for more warmth and he slid an arm around my waist.
"Of course I punched his ass around the lodging house so I think he's learned his lesson." Spook sighed and lit the stub of a cigar that he fished out of his coat pocket. Lighting it, he blew on the end so that it smoldered.
"He didn't take it well, which is to be expected. I'm afraid he may plan on retaliation tonight."
Spot tightened his grip on me slightly at the news and flashed me a worried glance. That brought me up short, I didn't think I had ever seen that look on his face before. Shaking my head a little I closed my eyes, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. Spot silently fed more newspaper to the fire, his eyes shuttered not letting any emotion leak onto his lean face.
"Spot I really think it would be better if we went back to the lodging house." Spot stared at me after I whispered into his ear. I was almost frantic as I pleaded silently with my eyes. Spot stood up suddenly and taking my arm, gently towed me a distance away from Spook and Cinder.
We huddled together in the darkness, and I threaded my arms around his waist, laying my head on his chest. Spot's grip tightened around me as he held me close, not speaking. I could feel his heart beating and smelled his scent, a mix of tobacco and the harsh soap we used. I felt a pain in my breast as I thought of losing this after it took so long to gain it.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Spot's spoke close to my ear and I shivered at the feeling of his warm breath. I just mumbled and burrowed my face into his shirt. Finally he eased me away from him and even though I couldn't see his eyes in the dim light I could feel them on me.
"I think this could end very, very badly if we don't go somewhere safer." Spot sighed and
taking my hand, led me back to the small fire and the two people whose problems had washed over us completely.
"We should go back, this place isn't safe," Spot said quietly. Cinder and Spook shared a moment with their eyes before Spook stood up and helped Cinder stand. Nodding in silent agreement, we stomped the fire out and headed towards the door.
Easing it open, Spot peered out into the night, hand on his cane. When he made sure that he didn't see anyone about, he made a motion for us to follow him. There was no sound as we filed out, our footsteps muffled by newly fallen snow. Making our way off the docks, I began to feel hope rising in my chest. Hurrying as fast as we could, we entered an alleyway that opened onto a side street that brought us out to an avenue and closer to home.
It would have been perfect if two figures hadn't suddenly appeared to block our way. Coming to a stop, everyone stood still as we faced Sassy and Jinx. Sassy looked awful, there were purple smudges under her eyes and her cheeks were gaining a hollow look to them. Jinx has his confident smirk, and looked behind him to five Harlem boys, all tall, broad shouldered and grim faced.
"Jinx what the hell are you doing?" Spook's voice was deadly calm as he took a few steps forward to confront Jinx. Jinx's smirk broadened and he just stared at Spook, a challenging expression on his narrow, ferret-like face.
Spook advanced slowly towards Jinx, a determined look settling over him. Jinx watched Spook, his face wiped clean of any emotion now. Allowing Spook to get within fifteen feet in front of him, he shifted on the balls of his feet and whipped a pistol out of his pocket.
Spook reared back, a shocked look on his face. The other Harlem boys began muttering amongst themselves and Sassy looked like she was going to faint. Spot changed his stance and stood in front of me. Spook too had made sure that Cinder stayed put in the shadows and her eyes never left him as this drama unfolded.
Bringing a shaky hand up to my face, I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I'll admit this much and I'm not ashamed to say it, but I was terrified. The gun made things suddenly more serious and definitely more dangerous.
"I'm just here to take what you said I could, leadership of the boys. Now be a nice boy and leave here or I'm going to have to use this." Wagging the gun towards Spook, Jinx swaggered forward.
Sassy went to one side and began carefully backing towards Spook, a tense look on her face. We all watched her as she held up her hands in a placating gesture, staring at Jinx. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was set into a narrow line. Standing in front of Spook she finally spoke.
"You said you weren't going to hurt him, just let him leave quietly. You promised me Jinx, don't go back on your word." Jinx threw back his head and laughed long and hard. Sassy's face closed up and she hung her head in shame.
"You actually believed me? Lord that's rich! Oh Sassy you ignorant slut," he roared out, his shoulder's shaking, tears leaking from the corners of his oddly colored eyes. Finally, he stopped chuckling and his eyes turned deadly serious again.
"How the hell else do you think I'm going to take over Harlem? Do you really think that he'll let it all go without a fight?" Jinx was practically frothing at the mouth, his hands clenching and unclenching.
"But I would Jinx, I would if I knew you wouldn't ruin everything." Spook spoke quietly as he continued to inch forward. I was holding my breath, my heart leaping out of my chest.
Jinx held up the pistol and we all heard the 'snick' as he cocked the hammer.
Spot leapt forward and Jinx fired the gun, all of us freezing in place. Spot dropped like a rock and I cried out as I rushed towards him. Before I could reach his side, Jinx aimed the pistol at me, and I stopped in my tracks.
Flicking his gaze away, he smiled at Spook, a cold, yet gleeful grin that didn't touch his eyes. Cinder took a step forward as Jinx steadied his aim. I saw Spook tense his muscles, preparing to leap, but if he did the bullet had a good chance of hitting Cinder.
The pistol fired, a loud bang echoing in the stillness. Everything happened so fast, and I staggered towards Spot, dropping at his side, breathing hard and feeling faint at the sight of blood on the snow around him. It wasn't until I heard a strangled gasp that I looked over. Sassy lay on the ground at Spook's feet, and he was cradling her in his arms. A red stain was blooming across her chest and Jinx gaped in disbelief as he held the pistol at his side. Frantically I felt for a pulse, pushing two fingers against Spot's neck. When I found it, steady and true, I staggered over to the group of kids not far away.
The Harlem boys who had come with Jinx, now held him roughly as Spook stroked Sassy's hair out of her face. She was gasping for air and every time she did we could hear a faint gurgling sound.
"I feel so cold, Spook. Every thing's so cold." Spook moved slightly as I knelt down and pressed my hands over her wound. Even though I pushed down with all my might, I could feel the warm blood flow over my hands. Cinder stood behind Spook, tears spilling out of her closed eyes and down her cheeks.
"Why you daft girl? Why did you get in the way?" Sassy shuddered, and taking a huge breath, smiled up at Spook.
"Because I love you" she said as her eyes dimmed and clutching at his coat, her body jerked in a spasm blood trickling out of her mouth. Then with one last labored breath, she was gone. Spook bent over her for a few moments his dark hair hiding his face. When he looked up, he glared at Jinx before turning his stare onto two of the Harlem boys.
"Go get the coppers, we're not going to leave her here on the street. They'll be able to bury her in Potter's Field. As for you Jinx," Spook stood up and stalked towards the skinny boy whose arrogance had fled quickly.
"I meant to shoot you...She just jumped in the way, I didn't know..."
"Aye well in either case you're going to Hell you bastard. But if I were you, I'd run."
Jinx looked up at Spook, his amber eyes widening in shock as he digested what Spook was saying to him.
"You just committed murder you wee shit so if I were you and I didn't want to spend the rest of my miserable life in prison, I'd get as far away from New York as possible. I'd kill you but I'm not like you. So run you wee roach...run as fast as you can." Jinx turned, his face white with fear and ran off into the night. Spook took of his coat and covered Sassy's face and upper body with it. He looked so sad, as he took Cinder's hand and looked over at me.
"Is his Majesty okay?" I snapped my head up and swiftly went to Spot. He was groaning and trying to sit up. I almost sobbed in relief as I thrust his coat aside and saw that the bullet had just gone through the fleshy part of his upper arm. With luck it would heal fine, the bullet had passed completely through.
"He'll be fine," I said as I helped him to his feet, throwing one of his arms around my shoulder and staggering a little under the weight. Spook's head went up and he looked strained before glancing at me.
"I can hear the coppers whistles so we better scram. The one and only time I'd ever go looking for them on purpose. Take care of him, and yourself Riot." I nodded mutely as both he and Cinder gave Sassy's body another long look and then we parted ways.