-Floyd Starr-
He shifted the chocolate cookies towards me. Honestly, it disgusted me slightly that he would bring them to this. My lips went to a thin line to prevent from saying something and waved it away. He shrugged and plopped them on his lap. "Suit yourself, Starr," he said through bits of the cookie he was munching on.
I cleared my throat and adjusted my sitting on the passenger seat. Honestly, this was the last thing I wanted to be doing tonight. I would have much rather stayed home with my seven-year-old, and I had even said so to Kane. He dismissed it without a second thought, saying this was important.
"Friedrich," I hesitated to start, "I think we should call it a night."
He snorted, "That homesick? We just got here. Your son is fine in Cairo."
Well, I couldn't deny being worried about Trevor. He's in capable hands at the moment, but I get uneasy when I deem myself too far away. I adjusted my sitting posture in the passenger seat before continuing. "Torsten, can we get real for a moment? This mission Jabari handed us is the most unreasonable thing I've heard in a while."
He smirked as he pried his eyes away from the street corner to look at me. "I figured it obvious Floyd. He has been a problem since we left Seattle. He did it to himself sending Desjardins to communicate with his sister."
I swallowed, I hadn't been sure about his position on the matter until now. "Sorry, but I can see it on Jonathan's side as well. Yeah, sending an ex-lover was a bad idea, and Desjardins is already paying for that. However, Jonathan has a point, he should be allowed to see Nadia."
"Jabari wants a normal happy family. Is he not allowed that? That is what she had agreed upon wither she likes it or not."
"It won't be happy if he keeps this up Friedrich," I couldn't help but frown at the mere thought of what we are here for kept hanging over my head. "It most certainly won't be normal if we follow through."
Torsten sighed in agitation as he sat up in the driver's seat. "Jabari wants him gone, that's what we are doing. If you want, you can get out and I'll let Kane know that you lost your spine."
I guess he's more loyal than I had thought. I sighed and shook my head. "No, I'll stick to the mission." Because leaving was a massive test against Jabari. I couldn't care less about Torsten's tattling.
"It's not like this is the first time we've killed, Floyd." Torsten decided to continue on. "Just zone them out if it bugs you that much. Though it's a little weird that it's bugging you now compared to the other times. Is it the kid?"
I closed my eyes for a moment. "I suppose. I've been thinking recently about how I could explain what we do when he decides to ask. Every scenario just gets worse. I'm worried he'll just see evil and want nothing to do with me."
Torsten tsked in response, "I don't understand the urge to have someone heavily dependent on you. Seems like a bothersome weight."
"Maybe, but when you first see them all you can do is be amazed and prideful." I frowned as I processed Torsten is just too much of an idiot to process what I'm even saying. "It's a role outside of this."
It happened too fast. Torsten had spotted their car, I would have missed it otherwise. He slammed into them as they went to cross the intersection with enough force to destroy the front of the truck we stole as the German ripped us apart by backing up a bit.
Torsten jumped out with his sword in hand. He had not hesitated, going straight for the driver's side door on the other side. I didn't bother taking my khopesh out, instead approaching the damaged side of Teal's car. Torsten ripped the door open and yanked Jonathan out, allowing him to fall to the asphalt in a daze.
The passenger was dead. I dreaded the thought as her perhaps once beautiful hazel eyes stared lifelessly through me. Parts of the car seemed like it had slammed into her on impact. My hands clenched as I did my best to repress the bile that wanted to climb up my throat.
Sayfi had left after giving Trevor. The pregnancy had been rough, and the doctors had already expected her to not make it. I promised her otherwise, she was a strong woman. I told her I would do whatever I could to make sure she made it. She didn't even get to see her newborn. When it should have been a happy moment, I was stuck feeling anguish and guilt.
"Fine," a shaky voice broke through the quiet of the night air, "just leave my girls alone, they have no part in any of it."
Torsten tsked in response. "We can't leave witnesses Teal, that's just sloppy work."
Girls? I quickly shifted my gaze to the back seats, spotting a booster seat behind the mother. It was a bit rattled, the seat trying to slip off the bench its attached to. There happened to be a girl a little younger than Trevor, sleeping soundly and seeming unaffected by Friedrich's driving.
Panic quickly took over. Torsten will want to kill her as well because Jabari would expect it of us. But why should such innocence be ended from the stupidity of the adults surrounding her? Resolve quickly took place, and I went to quietly pry the door open.
Swiftly, I went to remove her from the seat. I didn't care about closing the door, frankly, Friedrich is going to figure out what I did anyway. There's no point in wasting time covering my tracks when I could be getting us to a safer place. Thankfully, Torsten was still preoccupying himself with Jonathan as I slipped away from the 'accident'.
After a few blocks of walking, I got us to a busier part of Seattle. I decided to stop and get a cab. It's time to go into hiding for a bit because Torsten will do whatever he can to get to us once he spots us. Teal's little girl still sound asleep as I buckled her into her seat while asking where the best diner would be.
The taxi driver knew a place, and thankfully it was the other side of the city. I was more than happy to pay him four times over the actual charge when we arrived, earning several thanks from the man before he finally pulled away from the curb.
The girl was starting to wake up when I sat us down at a booth that is surrounded by wall rather than windows. The waitress was quick to approach us considering she only has two other customers. "Black coffee, and can you get her some juice and a piece of cake?" I spoke before she could even introduce herself.
"Apple juice and cheesecake work?"
"Yeah, that's perfect."
She nodded and turned on her toes. The girl's green eyes drowsily took me in as she rubbed them. I smiled as gently as I could towards her. "Hey, did you have a good nap?"
Her little head nodded as she took in our surroundings. "Where's Mommy and Daddy?"
I felt like she just shoved a brick at my abdomen instead. "I was hoping you could help me find them with you. To get started, I need to know your name."
"Kyra," she tiredly answered.
My smile grew a little more. "That's a pretty name, Kyra. I'm Floyd. I'm going to see if I can get ahold of your parents, okay? The pretty waitress is going to get you some apple juice and cheesecake, but you have to stay here while I go make a call. Alright?"
Her eyes lit up, clearly eager for some food. She nodded to my terms before I stood up, spying a payphone in the back of the diner. Pushing extra quarters in than required, I managed to get who I wanted.
He was not pleased in the slightest, cursing in French in a multitude of sentences. "How the fuck did you get my number?"
I grinded my teeth to the tension quickly being built. "Look, we can get into that later. Right now, I need your help."
He tsked in irritation. "Do you really think I would go out of my way to walk into a trap you set up?"
"Her name is Kyra Teal," I decided to brush off his anger directed at me. "She needs to get somewhere safe fast. She's currently not very safe being around me."
Silence on his end, probably trying to know anyone by that name. Or weighing out if I'm still trying to set him up. I sighed, peering over to see that the waitress had just sat down beside Kyra as she started to tear into the cake put before her.
"Jabari, he's still pissed off. Gave Friedrich and I orders to finish Teal."
More silence, but I could tell it was even tenser. He finally cleared his throat. "Kyra, is that Jonathan's daughter?"
"Yes," I was quick to answer.
"Well," he seems to find a reason to talk now, "I can't very well enter Seattle and take her from you. If you're a target, I'm more prominent."
My jaw clenched as I realized the oversight. "However, I can get ahold of someone."
"Okay, whatever it takes to get her out of here."
He hummed to my agreement. "Where will you meet?"
Kyra fell asleep in my arms as we waited in the park I decided we would meet. I was starting to feel exhaustion, but I pushed myself to keep alert. How late was it now? The time of the incident had been half past midnight. Surely its two in the morning now. I silently wondered how long Torsten will hunt me down before throwing the towel and report in.
Footsteps sounded, but not nearly as heavy as my earlier companion's stride. My eyes lifted from the burnet in my arms and I almost jumped up from the bench if it wasn't for Kyra's added weight. Green eyes took me in warily, only taking a second to note the girl.
She hesitated, clearly not enjoying being here as much as I am. "Nadia-"
"Michel said this wasn't a trap," she spoke softly. "I wasn't aware that Jonathan had a child."
Right, because Jabari didn't want either of the Teal siblings to communicate. He figured Jonathan a bother. "I didn't know either," I answered honestly, "not until he mentioned it."
Her eyes were starting to water. "Is he really-?" The idea was putting her on the edge of sobbing.
"I left before I could verify," I explained dryly. "However, knowing Friedrich…"
She took a moment to compose herself, but tears still fell. "Nadia, my highest priority is to get your niece somewhere safe. I don't think it would be wise to give her to you."
"I understand," she managed to fix her voice to sound more resolved. "Jabari will not allow anything to harm his 'happy little family'. She's safer with us."
My jaw clenched. I don't believe Jabari would care if Nadia witnessed anything cruel on his part. Are we really relying on their boys for this to work? However, the woman before me seems very certain. Either way this goes, Kyra is in safer hands with them than sticking with me.
I stood up and gently passed the sleeping girl into the far gentler arms of her aunt. Nadia took a moment to take her in before making eye contact with me again.
"I'm sorry," I managed to finally say. "I know you agreed to marry him to protect your family. It hasn't really worked in your favor. I should have stopped-"
I froze up to her pressing her lips to my left cheek. Lifting after a second, she hovered over my ear. "Thank you, Floyd."
She left with her niece as I processed her words.
"Thank you," the words stung as they left his lips that he had kept sealed up until now.
I cleared my throat, slightly humored now. "Hmm, your closer to your mother."
Brown eyes ever curious. It's just too bad that both of you look more like your father. "Anyways, Desjardins is on good terms with most of the Per Ankh. He's been keeping an eye on Trevor for me. So, having you here is the least I can do in return. Especially since Jabari has handed a kill order."
This poor kid looked like he was having his world crash around him. Actually, he looked like that upon walking into my bar, it's just worse now. "I harbor Jabari's enemies under the bar, so it's not like you're not a perfect fit. There are rogues that are welcomed to visit just so long as nothing stirs up. The rogues help keep the Per Ankh at a distance, but your father is aware that this is under my operation."
"What keeps him from storming through here?"
I smirked, "You really believe those stories about how he single-handedly took out rogue camps?"
He could if he wanted, but he typically kept his special abilities on the down low. Jabari has known about my bar for years, but he hasn't done anything to bother us in Chicago. Desjardins and I agreed to keep it to ourselves that Amos is over here. We're not so sure he'd hesitate upon that information.
"I, um, don't normally do this," he admitted quickly, but his eyes seemed resolved on the matter.
I smiled as I observed the detail of the shabti he had handed me without saying much. A highly detailed tortoise, wrinkles and shell detail of what I would assume a small albino turtle would look like. I suppose they were right, he's a rather good statuary. Except most people seem to think otherwise thanks to lack of color.
I have a shabti myself, but he's just a lump of clay in comparison to this. "You don't normally hand people albino baby turtles?"
He rolled his eyes immediately, earning a chuckle on my end. "You seem like a good person, so I think I can trust you enough to take care of one."
Oh, I hadn't realized that this exchange actually meant something to him. A sign of trust, even from one of Jabari's sons. This turtle suddenly meant more than just being attractive to the eyes. I nodded as I made eye contact with the teen before me. "Cool kid, what's his name?"
"That part is up to you. I picked a turtle because of your bar."
An animal that has shelter. I'm starting to get rather fond of this kid the more he decides to open up. "I like your taste, Amos. You should know that you can visit the bar whenever you want. Even if it's just because you have nothing else better to do, I don't plan to turn you away anytime soon."
She's nursing a head injury, demanding whiskey. I frowned and instead placed a glass of water before her. She cursed at me in French. I simply shrugged, "Alcohol and concussions don't play nice with the other. Now drink your water and tell me what you stirred up."
Sabrina Laflamme has been under my watch thanks to an incident of her harassing Julius Kane. Michel had followed Julius upon stepping foot in Paris with his son and was rather surprised to overhear her trying to make plans to break into Antarctica. She evidently became a bigger priority.
She leaves sometimes, but she comes back because I told her I'd assist her if it's needed. While I do prefer her being here, I know that her arrival is an attempt to get me to help. This girl is a mess. Living on vengeance isn't necessarily a life.
She finally caved and chugged the water down, slamming the glass on the counter, surprisingly intact. Sabrina sat up to be more eye level with me, looking like she's mustering the courage. "I kidnapped the Pharaoh."
I smirked at her pathetic attempt at a lie. "Hmm, and did the gods pay you handsomely in Greek gold?"
"Old Fart," I frowned immediately to this. A regular rogue called me this as a joke, and Sabrina thought it was a nickname. "I do not lie! I got with a group of rogues that had plans to break into the Kane Mansion."
My eyebrows furrowed. "A 'group of rogues'? You mean the type of people I would use to clean my countertop?"
She laughed nervously before nodding. "They were not necessarily intelligent. They actually needed most of my help to get them in, to be honest. Arrogant as well, they talked down to Pharaoh as if he's a child."
Well, last I heard Carter Kane is a teenager. "Right, so the Chief Lector just welcomed your lot with eggs and bacon?"
She sighed before shaking her head. "He was there, but looked just like I last remembered him."
I frowned at this, "Hmm if I didn't know any better I'd assume you're just attracted-"
"Fifteen," she cut off before I could even continue. "He looked fifteen, Starr."
It hit me like a brick being slammed into my right temple. "Oh shit…"
Her blue eyes flickered to my expression. "Do you know something?"
I ended up being the one nervously laughing. "It's a confusing long mess, Alisha. Now, mind addressing our dearest friend's situation?"
She scowled at my avoiding, but she knows not to press me further. "He's out, and he has a friend."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, then I guess I have to start packing."
"What?" She seemed really confused as I opened my eyes and went to close the bar.
I rolled my eyes after I locked the door. "You've got your wish, Sister. I'll help you finish it. I just need to gather some things and we can head out. Do you think you are patient enough for that?"
She huffed at my comment. "I've waited two decades, what's one more?"
I laughed at her joke, "I may be old, but I'm no fart."
I was quick to gather a few things. My bag of stuff, throwing Narmer's sword into the mess. I paused as I tried to think of anything else, and froze as I took in the journal on the desk.
I've had this damn thing since I opened the bar. Tabetha had forced me to take it upon opening. "You'll want to leave something for your son, you can at least start with some answers."
The last time I saw Trevor personally was just before I left to confront Jabari. I was scared I wouldn't survive, so I checked in to see how he was doing. Of course, he thought I was there to lecture him about something. He was eighteen at the time. Of course, he was so preoccupied with his life that he never found a reason to ask why we never had time to hang out.
Jabari had been exiled from the Per Ankh thanks to the Kane Squadron revealing his orders demanding murder upon suspected godlings. Amos had snuck around after witnessing the first, intent on protecting Ruby Faust. Michel and Julius discovered his betrayal and a kill order was sent by Jabari.
Several years ago, I had made an agreement with the Menshikovs. They would back off from trying to assassinate Jabari as Horus' host, but I was to take him out if he got too out of hand. Which he did, and he knew it when we finally faced each other.
"I didn't want this," his voice started, seeming desperate as his hands shook enough to reflect on the heirloom's movement. "I-I thought I could stop it. What honor is there in fathering a host of Set?"
This hurt, watching my very respectable teacher tremble almost into tears. I figured I would be dealing with Horus, not a mess of emotions. "Well?" He was quick to demand of me.
"Jabari, you fucked it up from the start." My eyes softened to a tear escaping his terrified brown eyes. "You fathered them, that's without a doubt. You left it at that, you didn't even raise them. Do you even know their personalities?"
He searched his mind for something, opening his mouth to say something in his defense. "-Julius is a clever little shithead of a Kane. Acts like a dumbass, but he knows more than he lets on. Amos is a kind soul that just wants to reach out and help others. There, now you know something about them."
He shook his head in disbelief. "No, Julius is combat, and Amos is statuary. Julius is a great leader and courageous, and Amos is just crafty."
"Pff," I rolled my eyes in annoyance, "you stereotyped your own kids. In fact, Julius didn't want any of what you had to offer. Amos used to tire himself just to get something from you, but he accepted his fate on that. Nadia was right, you're a giant fool."
I quickly slipped the journal into my bag. I'll have to find a way to slip it his way, but I would have to know where his nome is first. I had thought about visiting him in person, but so many years have passed with no contact that I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't want anything to do with me.
Deciding I was done packing, I went towards the door to leave. I paused when the scrying bowl suddenly lit up in the far corner. This was interesting, I typically only have people trying to contact me for emergencies. Slipping the bag to the floor before the door, I went to see who it was.
My heart dropped to my feet as I took in the broadcast that was being sent. Torsten Friedrich with Carter Kane, and Torsten is doing most of the talking. "-going to all rogues. We have a bounty on Amos Kane and Kyra Teal. These two ran while a duel for Chief Lector was accepted by the Pharaoh. We will remove all crimes you've been accused of and be paid handsomely. Kyra Teal, dead or alive. Amos Kane, alive."
My teeth grinded as my eyes shot up to the top of my bookshelf. Sayfi was sitting right where I had left her, and I didn't think twice to slip her into my pocket. I didn't want to drag the Kanes into this, but it appears they're already fighting against Friedrich.
I quickly grabbed my bag and swung it back on my right shoulder as I pushed to door open, locking behind me as I didn't hesitate towards the front of the bar. Opening the door, I found the two television sets playing this broadcast. A group of rogues that had just sat down were getting up now.
I cleared my throat to gain the attention of the room. "Alisha and I will be going for this bounty. If I find any of you out there, don't think I won't hesitate to use you as a mop."
They promptly sat down again, eyes wide as saucers as they debated on my threat. Alisha stood up to join me as we promptly left. The last of the broadcast I heard clearly was Friedrich calling himself Chief Lector as the door closed behind us.
This chapter has been a mess to upload and write. I found a grammar mistake on the first upload, went to fix it through the app on my phone, and that deleted my line breakers. It's fixed now, or at least as far as I can tell.
Thank you for reading and reveiwing!
