A young boy, paler than snow and nearly as gaunt as a skeleton clung to the shadows as the destitute line of hungry men, women, and children awaited stew and bread at the hands of Flora's family. "Mama," a then eight-year-old Flora tugged on her skirt, unable to take her eyes off the sorry sight. "That boy. Why isn't he getting into line?"

It was her thirteen-year-old sister June that answered. "It could be that he's shy. Why don't you take him a bowl?"

Flora's concern only increased as she watched him continue staring hungrily. Her parents raised her to give to the less fortunate. After careful thought she squared her bony shoulders, seeing her opportunity to continue their legacy in her own small way. "Maybe I will."

Her father, on stew duty, ladled her a bowl and passed it to her. "Just stay where we can see you. Liam, Seamus, watch her."

Her older brothers grunted their acknowledgement.

Flora accepted the tin bowl, but not before stuffing her small pockets with extra bread. She excused herself and picked her way through the throng of homeless and downtrodden eating their meals. Her hair, even more flaming ginger as a child, stood out like a torch. Flora's nerves almost failed her as she approached the lonely boy. He stood stoically, silently, in a narrow gap between two buildings like a ghost. Flora pushed herself onward.

"Hello," she greeted formally, extending the bowl toward him. "I brought you some stew."

The boy eyed her warily before accepting the offering. Big grey eyes stared at her beneath an unkempt, stringy tangle of black hair. Her hands brushed against his and she gasped at their coldness. "I'm sorry I don't have a spoon," she continued, reaching into her pockets to pull out the deformed bread. "Most people just use the bread to—"

Before she could finish the sentence, the boy put his lips to the bowl and chugged liquid and solids alike until the very last drop was gone. "I brought you extra—"

The bread was snatched from her hands. He consumed it ravenously. A pain was awoken in Flora—pain on behalf of him. "I'm Flora. Flora McKenzie."

The boy continued eyeing her with suspicion. "Levi."

Her attention was drawn to trio of equally gangly kids approaching Levi from behind. "Are those your friends?"

His eyes widened before turning around. "Run!" he said abruptly, backing up. Flora didn't know why she didn't run. Was it the fear? Perhaps the confusion? Never in Flora's life had she been in a dangerous situation.

The kids were older than the both of them, two boys and a girl, perhaps about June's age. In Flora's young mind they looked ten times more frightening than they probably really were. Dirt-stained faces leered at the young pair. Levi tugged at her sleeve, urging her to follow him, but she stayed wide-eyed and rooted in place.

"Do they want soup?" Flora asked.

Levi looked at her incredulously.

The trio of goons quickly encircled the pair at the alley's entrance. Flora's little heart raced awful. She wanted to scream but was held back by the most ridiculous of reason: embarrassment. Instead, she opted for tact. "Are you hungry? There's plenty—"

Flora's diplomacy was cut short by a rough shove that pushed her to the ground. The older children laughed amongst themselves. "There's bread in her pocket!"

"Leave us alone!" Levi shouted. He shoved the boy, twice his size, backwards in retaliation. Although the older kid stumbled, he didn't fall. An all-out skirmish would have broken out if it wasn't for Flora's two brothers taking notice and racing through the crowd toward them.

"Get out of here you little rats!" Liam roared.

The teenagers ran deeper into the alley like cockroaches. Levi backed away as Seamus helped Flora to her feet, almost like he was afraid of getting in trouble as well. Liam instead dropped to a knee and clasped Levi on the shoulder. "Hey kid. Thanks for standing up for our sister." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of fruit sweets. "A token of our gratitude. Come now, Flora."

Her story skipped ahead to when she was fifteen. In the years between, Flora frequently spotted Levi at the luncheons, sometimes with thugs, sometimes alone. He stuck to the shadows mostly and somehow still looked deceptively young despite their passing years. The two tended to follow the same pattern. Flora helped her family pass out meals, and if he was there, standing next to his signature alleyway, she would bring him a plate. The more years that passed, the longer she sat with him. They built a budding friendship this way, and he saved her from her naivety on more than one occasion. This time, however, for the first time, Flora brought a plate for each of them and sat next to him with her back against the rough brick wall. "Morning."

"Is it?" he said dryly. "I haven't noticed."

She rolled her eyes and passed him his plate. "Eat, stupid. I even came to join you."

"Why?"

Flora suddenly wished her hair was let down; instead, framed by a single braid and stray curls, her face reddened almost as much as her hair. "You look lonely."

Levi snorted. "Right. You know, I once saw a homeless guy take a piss where you're sitting."

"It's the underground. There's probably homeless guy piss where you're sitting too."

The edges of his mouth formed the subtlest smile. He dipped his bread into the stew. An awkward silence formed between the two while they ate. "So," Flora finally said, "What's there to do for fun around here?"

Levi almost choked on his bread. "Fun? Nothing a girl like you would like."

"A girl like me?" Flora frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on. You can't take two steps out of this courtyard without finding trouble. Remember the rabid dog? Or the drunken creeper?"

"I don't go looking for it. It finds me, that's all." Flora glanced at him. "Is that why you hang around here?"

"Me? No."

Flora put her empty plate on the ground. "I guess the real reason I'm here is to tell you I don't think I'll be able to come down here as much anymore. My grandmother wants to formally train me as a healer like she is. We'll be traveling all across Paradis for a while."

"Oh." His face was impossible to read. Was he disappointed? Indifferent? Flora's stomach churned knots. She was certainly sad. Her young heart crushed painfully for the underground boy. "It must be nice to travel." Levi's eyes darted to the underground's cavernous ceiling. "One day I'll leave this shithole."

"I'll be back to visit," Flora promised optimistically.

Levi only stared at her for a moment with a frown. "Why would you ever want to come here?"

Flora's heart quickened. She averted her gaze and stared at the ground while picking at her dress. "I don't know. Maybe there's this boy I like seeing."

The pair suddenly looked at one another. A warmth bloomed in her stomach—she wondered if he felt it too. Levi suddenly grabbed Flora by the hand and led her to her feet while scanning their surroundings. "Come on. Follow me."

"My parents—"

"And?"

She resisted his lead and looked at her family. Her mother, father, brothers and sister were too absorbed in their service to pay attention to her. Flora bit her lip—should she play it safe, or should she go with him?

"Nothing."

Levi looked positively mischievous. He led her deep into a maze of alleys, into one abandoned building that led into another, and finally up several flights of precarious stairs. For some reason she wasn't scared—she was exhilarated. The fear of getting caught by her parents along the curiosity about where he was taking her caused Flora to erupt into a fit of giggles.

They ended up on the top of an abandoned housing unit's roof with the most expansive view of the underground Flora had ever encountered. Her eyes widened as big as saucers. Still holding Levi's hand, she dragged him to the hip high rusted metal railing. "Whoa. You can see the courtyard from here. This is neat." She tore her gaze away from the skyline and focused back on Levi...and his hand she still held. "What made you want to come here?"

"I guess I wanted somewhere more private." His face burned nearly as red as hers. "Maybe there's this girl I like seeing."

Flora's throat became bone dry. Yet, despite her nerves, she casually stepped closer to him. It was going to be her last chance to see him for the foreseeable future.

Physical touch even as benign as handholding felt alien. With him, it gave her butterflies so intense her stomach ached. "I'll think about you while I'm gone. You might even get a girlfriend in the meantime."

Levi tucked a stray lock of hair back into the braid behind her ear. He looked almost as nervous as she did. "I don't see how I could. I want you to be my girlfriend." They looked at each other at an even height. His hand hovered at her neck, eventually resting his palm on the side.

"I want you to be my boyfriend."

A coy smile was shared between them. Flora crossed the distance and planted a kiss squarely on his lips. He was surprised, stiff at first, but began to soften and melt at her touch. Flora's hands crossed behind his neck while his traveled to her waist. Their naïve mouths explored one another, quickly increasing in strength and desire.

"Flora!"

Flora gasped and broke away. Levi tensed at the intrusion.

"Flora McKenzie, you come down this instant!"

June, Liam, and Seamus stood in the street below. They had a perfect view of everything. "It's my siblings," Flora gasped, horrified. "I have to go."

Levi cleared his throat. Heat radiated off his small body like a furnace. "Right. I'll walk you down."

Their hands found one another again. She followed him down the staircase of death, but just before exiting the building, Flora hesitated. "Levi."

"Hm?"

"Goodbye." She hugged him tightly. "I'll see you again."

Hugging seemed as foreign to Levi as kissing. It took him a minute to return the embrace, and when he did, he kissed her once more before she departed. "Goodbye Flora. Be careful."

"You more."

Flora straightened her spine before walking out to meet her older siblings. "What are you thinking?" Liam ranted, taking her by the arm. "I'm sure he's a decent guy and all, but running off without telling anyone? And then making out with him? I swear I saw tongue. I think I'm going to puke."

"She's just a kid," June sighed, touching their eldest brother of twenty-three on the shoulder. Her older sister possessed a strange ability, Flora noticed. A single touch could evaporate the anger of even the most heated of people. "Like you've never run off with a girl before? We found her safe and sound, that's all that matters. But seriously Flora, we were worried you got kidnapped or something."

"Or knocked up," Seamus said sourly. June pinned him with an expression stern enough to peel paint off a house.

"I like him, ok?" Flora defended.

Liam continued ranting as they walked back to the courtyard. "If mother hears about you running off with a street kid, I swear to Maria, Rose, and Sina she will lock you in the house forever."

"Which is why," June said, smoothing her immaculately pinned red curls, "This stays between us." Flora looked at her sister with surprise. June winked in response before addressing their brothers again. "Besides. Grandma Niamh is taking Flora all over Paradis to pass along her healing knowledge. She'll be too busy to come down here anyway."

Just as Flora expected, she soon found herself completely occupied with her newfound career path. At only age fifteen she was whisked away from her family's secluded Wall Sina estate by her grandmother.

Flora always knew her grandmother to be eccentric. Unconventional. Crazy, some whispered in secret, perhaps referring to her habit of wandering the estate grounds in her navy-blue cloak, leaving her white-streaked copper hair undone and as wild as the far corner of their property, singing to the trees as she went. But, as unusual as her grandmother was, there was no denying her legendary talent as both a healer and even more renowned legacy as a remedy crafter. A persistent rumor claimed she was once caught naked in a rainstorm—and not in her green years.

"It's time to let you in on the family secret," Her grandmother said in the carriage to their first destination. "But first tell me what you know of the Ackerman clan."

"The Ackermans were a bloodline of warriors that served the king. I can't remember why, but I know they were hunted down."

"Yes, they were hunted down for reasons we can only speculate. Some say it's because the king could not control them. Some say the king feared them. Whatever the reason, something that remains consistent is their legendary strength, far greater than a normal man's." Her grandmother grabbed Flora's hands. "But the Ackermans are not the only family that used to service the king. We McKenzie's, years ago, served as the king's healers."

"Healers?" Flora frowned. "Anyone can be a healer."

"No dear. Not like I can—like you can. The power to heal lives within our blood, passed down from woman to woman in our family. I will teach you to awaken your power."

Flora remained skeptical. Perhaps her grandmother was as crazy as everyone said. "I don't know if I believe it. It's not possible and, if it was, why so secret?"

"I use the word 'serve' lightly. It was more like enslavement. I watched it happen to my own grandmother. Whatever force that provides us this power also enslaves us to the royal family. We heal by using our own energy—the greater the wound, the greater the cost to ourselves, and if the price is too high, we die."

Flora played along. "Then why didn't the McKenzie's just refuse?"

"I told you we are enslaved. A curse lies in each of us, called the Compulsion, that forces us to act. It originates as an itch or tingle in the base of the spine. It can be controlled in most situations, say if someone in front of you falls and breaks their leg, but if a member of the royal family is injured, the Compulsion becomes irresistible. We must obey it and heal, even at the cost of our own life."

"So why aren't we still enslaved?"

Grandma Niamh shrugged. "We were released from our captivity. I have no idea why. While the Compulsion remains, our services, for whatever reason, were cast aside. We started a new life as one of the noble families and have worked hard to guard our secrets ever since. June has rejected our family's legacy of healing, but I hope to pass on my teachings to you, Flora."

Flora hesitated—although her body shook slightly. She experienced the exact sensation her grandmother called the Compulsion on more than one occasion, like when Liam broke his arm, or when the maid scalded herself with boiling water. "It's a lot to believe."

Her grandmother scowled. She flipped Flora's hand over and slashed across the palm with a sharp nail. "Hey!" Flora gasped, trying to pull her hand back. "Stop!"

Grandma Niamh held her hand tightly and closed her eyes. Flora felt an odd tingling sensation from her grandma's palms, followed by an immediate itching sensation in her hand. The split flesh mended together before Flora's very eyes.

Her grandmother wiped the line of blood off Flora's hand to reveal perfectly intact skin underneath. "I know you have a desire to help people, perhaps the strongest desire in our family. Will you learn what I have to offer?"

Flora starred at her uninjured hand in shock. "Yes," she finally breathed.

Up until their travels, Flora only held a formal relationship with her grandmother and mainly shared the thoughts of her family members regarding the old woman. Now she realized how wrong she had been.

Her grandmother was exceptionally skilled, intelligent, and possessed a lifetime of healing experience-and that's just the experience any person could learn. From setting a broken bone, sewing a wound, tending to burns, delivering babies, Niamh McKenzie was known for her talent. She possessed the skills of a traditional nurse but amplified her real- life skills with the power of her healing. Flora was quickly taught how to do the same by first gaining a foundation in nursing skills.

Only when the basics of medicine and nursing were instilled did her grandmother then work with Flora to identify her own internal power. "Feel it rise from your spine," she encouraged. "Send it forth through your hands. What do you feel?"

Flora closed her eyes and directed her power from her spine, down her arms, through her hands, and into the dying dog in front of her. Information flooded into Flora's mind. "Four broken ribs on the left side. A fractured pelvis and hip socket. Leaking from the intestines—a perforation somewhere. One lung is significantly smaller."

"Good," her grandmother appraised. "Now mend them."

Flora guided her energy first to the ribs, then to the intestines, and then to the pelvis. By the time she got to the lungs, the drain to her energy was becoming too much.

"It's common in your stage to be inefficient with your own energy. And you should have started with the lung, the most important area, first."

Flora cursed herself. Thankfully her grandmother finished healing the poor dog the rest of the way. Flora sat, seeing black spots in her periphery.

"You did well though. But you don't need to heal the bones completely, just enough would be fine." The dog suddenly looked much more alert. "We will be ready to practice on people before too long."

Flora absorbed everything her grandmother told her. During the next five years that passed, Flora was exposed to nearly every wound imaginable and drank her grandmother's firsthand knowledge like a dry sponge. Her grandmother not only passed down her knowledge of healing, but also the personality of a strong, determined, independent woman—traits, grandma Niamh had taught her—that were essential from protecting herself from the Compulsion.

"You've grown so much," Grandma Niamh admired, throwing her head back and breathing in the crisp, pine scented air. Raindrops peppered her withered face. "You're ready to go off on your own."

Flora's hair now reached mid rib. She, like her grandmother, wore her unruly curls, more red-brown than ginger with age, free and unrestricted in a flowing mane.

"On my own?" Flora squeaked. "I don't know how I can possibly do it without you."

Grandma Niamh smiled and passed Flora the canteen of liquor, but not before taking a swig that would make a soldier's eyes water. "You're doing everything on your own already. Tonight I want you to dwell—what calls to you? While our family may no longer service the king, I believe we can have a great impact on Paradis at large."

Flora drank deeply. This was no ordinary liquor-it was Elixir.

Its effect worked on the both of them quickly. Her grandmother stood first, casting her navy cloak into the mud, her old spine standing up tall and proud. Flora's mind was quickly set alight with visions. She, too, cast her forest green silk cloak into the mud, allowing her body to give into the drug. Never before had she felt so in tune with her surroundings.

Flora woke up, stark naked, curled next to the dead bonfire. Sticks and leaves clung to her hair. "You look worse than me," her grandmother snorted, tossing her some clothes. "Clean up and reflect on what you saw."

Icy river water helped focus her thoughts. What had she seen?

Flora scrunched water from her hair and sat in front of the newly kindled fire with a shiver. "I think I'm being called to the Underground."

Grandma Niamh sucked in air through her teeth. "Are you sure? Not even I have dared the Underworld. I know the Compulsion would overtake even me."

"Yes." Fragmented memories of visions played behind Flora's eyes. She remembered the city scape clearly, the rubbish filled streets, the hungry. "It's call is too strong to ignore."

"The biggest evil calls out to the brightest soul. The entire Underground is riddled with corruption, and this extends to the medical professionals. Ethics don't exist. Stories I've heard from my colleagues report it's too dangerous. I don't want to change your mind if you feel this calling in your heart, but I won't be able to go with you."

Flora held her grandmother's hand. Her grandmother smiled at the contact, as if feeling Flora's power for herself. "I know. But I know I can make a difference there. Maybe I feel the Compulsion bringing me there, but I promise I won't let it put me in danger."

"When you were fifteen, I was worried you would end up following the path your parents laid out for you as your sister has. Now I realize you were only longing to be set free."

Tears welled in Flora's eyes. "Thanks to you, I am."

Flora dressed as simple as possible. Instead of her usual attire as a noblewoman, she opted for a light, breathable, plain pale blue cotton laced front dress over an ivory chemise with a white half apron tied at the waist, along with a small purse hidden beneath it. She brought no possessions aside from what fit in her purse and tied her thick hair back with a blue ribbon just enough to keep it out of her face.

Instead of taking a carriage like she did all her life, Flora walked into the underground of her own volition with a charity volunteer's visa. She took some time before locating the nearest hospital or clinic to understand the layout of the city, sticking close to the main roads and trying to looking inconspicuous as possible while chatting up local venders to determine where she could be most useful. The city looked worse than she remembered.

The underground citizens went quiet whenever the hospitals or clinics were mentioned. A deep sense of mistrust ran deep within these people that Flora could not put her perceptive finger on.

Aside from mild street harassment, a pinch or two from passing men, cat calls, and all manner of potential wrong turns, Flora was quite proud of herself for successfully navigating her first day alone in the underground. See Levi, I don't need you.

Her thoughts turned toward him as she lay down in bed for the night. Was he still here? Was he even still alive? How had his time here changed him? She reflected on her first and only kiss with fondness. Never since had she so much as touched another person romantically or pursued anything. Too busy, she told herself. She hadn't even come here for him. If her gut called her to within wall Sina, she would have listened to it.

Racing thoughts made sleeping difficult, chiefly her mother's last letter: Return home to the estate. As a woman, it's time to resume your duties to your family.

Flora shuddered at whatever that meant. She wasn't the perfect daughter and refined woman June was; already engaged to her own love, a rising star within the survey corps. No, Flora thought, her duty was to herself and her life's ambitions, which right now consisted of serving the Underground. In a way she always had been drawn here.

The next morning, mid-morning by the time she woke up, Flora wasted no time locating the nearest hospital. "I'd like to volunteer my services," she said with a stiff back and clasped hands.

She was nearly laughed out of the lobby. "You must have a real bleedin' heart to volunteer down here," the mid-aged doctor scoffed, wiping his glasses on a dirty shirt. "You look like Wall Sina material. Get out of here before you get hurt."

A woman's screaming echoed down the hallway. "Do you have someone in labor?"

The doctor's face turned sour. "Yeah. A real screamer."

Internally Flora seethed at his comment. Outside she held her composure. "I'm quite skilled with deliveries."

"I'm sure you are. Like I said, we don't need your services."

The screaming only intensified. It was no ordinary scream. Even Flora's blood, tempered by all degrees of wounds and injuries ran cold.

She didn't give the physician an option. Wordlessly she walked past the desk and jogged down the hallway, searching for the origin of such heinous screaming. It was indeed a woman in labor, but as Flora walked into the room, the state of her took Flora aback at its horror. Two aids pushed the writhing woman, a young girl, Flora realized, maybe sixteen at the very least, onto a stained mattress bed while a physician dressed in plain clothes tried to push her legs apart.

"Get off me!" She screamed.

"Quit screaming and push, damnit!"

The Compulsion rose from Flora's spine with an intensity she never before felt in all her years of training. She couldn't control it in the slightest as it shot up the entirety of her back like lightening. Her normally polite demeanor flipped like a switch. "Stop it!" Flora shouted.

Everyone in the room turned to look at her. Flora could not control herself; one moment she was standing there, the next moment she grabbed the aid closest to her by the back of the shirt. Flora's other hand grabbed the wrist holding onto the writhing laboring woman so hard her nails drew blood. When the aid loosened her grip in pain, Flora shoved her back with all her strength. The aid took a step toward Flora in anger but was met with a slap in the face.

The aid stumbled back in shock, holding her cheek. Flora turned her fierce gaze to the other aid who let go and backed away immediately. Acting out of Compulsion, she then shoved the physician with both hands out of the way. "Get out!" she screamed like a raving madwoman. "Get out, all of you!"

While Flora's height only reached the physician's chest, he too backed away. Flora stood between him and the laboring girl and glowered at him until he scoffed at her. "Crazy bitch."

"Get the fuck out!" Flora screamed, shoving him all the way until everyone was in the hallway before slamming to door shut behind them.

With the immediate threat out of the way, Flora's demeanor changed again as she put a gentle hand on the laboring woman's hand. "It's ok. We are going to deliver your baby. What do you feel? Do you have to push?"

Flora's subtly influence worked to bring the girl back from hysterics. "Yes."

"Then do it. I'll coach you."

After ten minutes the baby was delivered purple, toneless, and with no breathing effort.

"My baby!" The girl cried, looking at Flora frantically. "It's not breathing, please!"

Flora held the lifeless infant. The Compulsion consumed her completely. Flora's energy poured out of her through her hands and into the baby. The cost was staggering. She tried to pull away, but the Compulsion kept her grounded in place. Flora felt her life gushing out of her like a faucet until, finally, the baby let out a squawking cry. Only then did the connection stop.

Flora nearly dropped the baby. Her entire body quaked from the massive toll. It took everything in her power to hand the baby off to the mother before Flora fell to the ground. Her head felt dizzy, like she was going to faint, and she immediately retched and vomited across the floor.

This is what Grandma Niamh tried to warn you about—the true cost of the Compulsion.

Flora felt this feeling before. But looking back, she realized, her grandmother pulled her back every time before she went too far. Tears gathered on Flora's eyes in shock over her near death, but also from bringing the infant back from the brink of death.

"Miss?" The girl said nervously after several minutes. "I need to get out of here. These people are evil."

Flora groaned when she felt the Compulsion rise again—it was the only thing that brought her to her feet. "Your bleeding looks good. Let me help you."

Every step felt like twenty as she helped the young girl to her feet and exited the chop shop of a hospital. After only a few yards she felt her limbs grow numb. Release me, she pleaded to the Compulsion. She thought hard about her grandmother's teachings on how to control the urge.

"I can't continue," Flora suddenly said, falling on the sidewalk. "I'll be alright. Please get home safe, but I can no longer help you. Please release me."

The girl nodded in acknowledgement. "You saved my baby. Thank you."

Flora's selfish act was enough to finally break the Compulsion's hold over her. Her chest heaved as she sat on the sidewalk trying not to pass out. Fatigue weighed heavy on every single muscle. I just need a rest. The brick wall next to her looked awfully comfortable.

"Hey," a woman suddenly hollered. "There's that mouthy bitch."

Both aids from earlier stormed down the sidewalk in her direction. Flora gritted her teeth and pushed through the fatigue to stand up, but they were on her before she could even take two steps away. Without the strength to act fast, the aid Flora slapped earlier retaliated and struck Flora right across the face with enough force to send her head spinning.

Even though she waivered on her feet, Flora's speech remained clear enough. She thought back to seeing both women restraining the laboring girl to the bed. Anger provided the much-needed energy to her muscles. "I'm glad you found me. I let you off easy earlier."

Tall talk for a woman who's never fought in her life, Flora thought to herself. It wasn't the Compulsion getting her in trouble now; no, now it was her own stupidity.

Without warning the woman grabbed Flora by her hair and threw her on the ground. An all-out fight broke out. Flora ended up on her back and was able to get enough leverage to land a kick, catching the aid straight in the gut, causing her tumble onto her own back. All her years of being tormented by older bothers paid off somewhat as Flora straddled the aid and blindly punched at the woman's face.

Flora felt a brief moment of triumph before the second aid jumped in dragged Flora off by her hair. Just as the first woman recovered enough to rear back in order punch Flora's unprotected torso or face, she was suddenly sprawled out on the ground, having her legs swept out from under her. Her friend gasped and released Flora.

Flora was left dazed and still stumbling. Her vision swam and was half obscured by her hair, but a person grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet. "We need to run."

"Levi?"

She couldn't believe her ears. She only caught the smallest glimpse of him through her hair, but his voice was the same. Flora was practically dragged along behind him and nearly ate gravel on several occasions. The more they ran, the more Flora felt like she was trying to run through honey. She ultimately collapsed and slipped out of his grip. Her head and vision spun horribly. The last of her energy was spent.

Levi crouched next to her and held her head off the ground. "Flora? Flora stay..."

She awoke with a start. A hand covered her mouth before she could scream. In the darkness she panicked and lashed out wildly with her nails until both of her hands were pinned. "Hey," a familiar voice said curtly. "It's me."

"Levi?" Flora gasped, halting her attack. Her hands were immediately released "Where—what—by the walls." A hand flew to her mouth. "What did I do?"

"Yeah, good question. What the hell are you doing down here? Last I remember, you were traveling with your grandmother."

Flora's mind ran a million miles per hour trying to process her last memories. "I got into a fight."

His voice sounded amused. "A sight I never thought I would see. So what, you're done with your training?"

"Just finished, actually." Flora sat up and rubbed her sore scalp. "I was looking for a place to volunteer."

"You should have known not to come here. This place chews up good people and spits them out. I'm still curious why you were fighting though."

"Those two women were restraining a laboring woman to a bed. So I slapped one and shoved the doctor. I suppose they came after me in revenge."

Levi laughed. An actual genuine laugh. "Who even are you?"

Flora's vision adjusted to the dim light. She was in a bed with Levi sitting on the edge, but not in a hotel. A single oil lamp lit the tiny space. "I could ask you the same. It's been years. What have you been doing?"

"Crime," he replied dryly. "So more or less the same."

"Did you know I was here? Were you following me?"

"I'm not omniscient. I wish I was following you—it would have prevented us both a world of trouble. But no. I came out hoping to catch a good cat fight, but I would recognize that hair of yours from anywhere and ended up taking a woman straight to the ground. Not a good look even for me."

"Thanks for saving me an ass beating. I wish I could return the favor."

"I think you punched the ground more than her face. If I have an issue with the earth, I'll let you know."

"Your sarcasm is refreshing. I missed it. Is this your place?"

"Yeah. Quainter that the mansions you are used to."

Flora raised an eyebrow. "Mansions? I've been inn hopping for years now with my grandma in places half this nice."

The two fell into a somewhat awkward silence.

"That's a lot of blood on you for just one fight. I gave you a glance over and didn't see any injuries severe enough to cause it, and I know for a fact your flailing slap attack didn't draw that much blood."

Flora's face soured. "I regret missing your sarcasm now. If you must know, after I slapped the aid and kicked out the doctor, I ended up delivering that baby." The mere mention of the delivery filled Flora with fear about the Compulsion's effects. She hadn't just delivered that baby—she revived it from the brink of death.

"Gross. And I put you in my bed. I'm going to be scrubbing my sheets for a week now."

"Sorry. How about I buy you new ones?"

"Deal."

Flora tried hard to not pick at the dried blood on her skin. "Is there a washroom anywhere?" She spied a large pothole filled with water out the window. "I'll even take that puddle."

"That's piss. I do know of a place though. How do you feel? Are you good to walk now, or do I have to drag your unconscious ass through ten more puddles of piss to get you there?"

"You drug me through piss?" Flora said, horrified.

"And probably worse," he winked. "I'm kidding. I carried you here."

"Oh." She appraised his small statue with surprise. She was both slightly taller and heavier than him.

He stood up from the bed and held out his hand. "I'm tougher than I look."

She accepted his hand and got to her feet. "If I didn't know you any better, I would think you were younger than you look."

"Lack of sunlight and food will do that to a person, I think."

The pair went down several flights of stairs and out a back alley. Shouting, crying infants, and loud clattering in the stairwell made Flora cling tightly to Levi's arm. She was never more relieved when they made it out of the housing complex. The Underground became somewhat brighter with its veins of glowing ore running through its vast ceiling and pillars.

He took her though a section of the city that looked almost abandoned. If she didn't trust him, she would suspect he was leading her to a trap. Every step Flora was fearful she would encounter an emergency that would trigger the Compulsion all over again.

Levi dropped her hand as they approached a half rotted abandoned series of shacks seemingly built into the very side walls of the underground. He pried open the door just enough for Flora to step through before following behind. "Does everyone have to walk this long to use the bathroom?" She joked poorly.

"It's not exactly a bathroom."

Small chunks of glowing ore dotted the shack floor and provided a small amount of glowing blue light, however it did nothing to diminish the overall creepy atmosphere. Clothes were strewn on the floor along with trash, liquor bottles, even used condoms. Flora wrinkled her nose. "Is this where you take all your dates?"

"Even if I had any I wouldn't take them here." Levi kicked a rug out of the way to reveal a hidden hatch built into the floor. "But I would take them here."

Flora's heart pounded in increasing alarm. He opened the hatch to reveal a pitch-black tunnel.

"I don't know Levi. I don't think I want to go down there."

"Trust me. You won't be disappointed. It's my secret spot in this shithole—just hold tight."

Flora hesitated. "Alright." Was she crazy for following him? She grabbed his outstretched hand again. Fear of cramped spaces overrode any butterflies she got from touching him.

"It gets dark. Very dark. Just follow me—I promise."

He led her into the small hole and shut the door behind them, extinguishing all light. Flora kept her mounting fears in check and focused on Levi and the path he led them through. She could tell the floors turned progressively rougher, the walls were coarse, and she bumped her head more times than she cared to admit on the low ceiling. The further they went the more Flora detected the sound of rushing water. Thicker veins of ore gradually revealed themselves and radiated enough light to relieve the worst of Flora's fears. The tunnel was almost beautiful in a strange way. It was nothing she had ever seen before.

The tunnel become progressively slick with moisture and even a small amount of steam. The sound of water only intensified, as did the amount of light.

They finally rounded the last corner. Flora's jaw dropped.

"Beautiful, huh?"

They stood on a ledge overlooking a vast, open cavern. Water poured into the grotto through a waterfall on the right side looking quite hot and steaming, and rushed across the cave floor in a flowing river, disappearing out the other side through a rocky hole. A series of interlinked pools swirled with crystal clear water. Tons of raw glowing ore and stone bathed the whole room in its pale blue light.

"Holy shit."

Levi sat on his butt and scooted toward the edge. "There's a ladder right here. Be careful though, it gets slick."

Flora followed his lead and went down first. She breathed a sigh of relief when her feet finally connected with the ground.

"We can't touch the waterfall or the central river—that water's hot enough to make tea. But the pools are a more reasonable temperature."

"I wonder what makes something like this," she thought aloud. A soap bar rested on one of the pool's edges.

Levi shrugged. "I clean up down here when I can."

Flora walked carefully to the pool near the soap and dipped a finger in. It was hot, but not boiling by any means. "So just jump in?"

"If you want."

Flora couldn't get out of her dirty and blood-stained clothes fast enough. She untied her apron and then her waist purse before loosening the lace on her dress enough to slip out of the outer cotton shell. Levi turned around respectfully as she stepped out of her chemise and lowered herself into the water. Although its bottom and sides were painfully uneven and jagged to her sensitive feet, the temperature of the water was like a sauna. A satisfied hum escaped her lips. "Hmmm. This is incredible. I owe you some soap after this. Soap and bedsheets—we'll keep a running list."

Flora submerged her mass of hair and did her best to scrub the dried blood, dirt, and oil it retained, still mindful of her sore scalp. Luckily, she escaped the fight without any bald spots. Levi continued facing the opposite direction in silence. "Levi?" She asked after scrubbing head to toe.

"Hm?" He replied. His head turned partially toward her.

"You've got dirt on your leg."

He looked down at himself. "Huh? Where—"

Flora leaned out of the water and swiped a handful of silt across the back of his exposed calf before sinking back into the water up to her chin. "There."

Levi's grey eyes widened. He finally fully looked at her. Although her hair was pulled to the front of her body and she was mostly submerged, the sight was still enough to turn his paper white skin all shades of pink. He ran a hand nervously through his hair. "I best get cleaned up then." He continued looking at her while he stripped out his shirt.

Flora couldn't help the warmth spreading in her stomach. He didn't look as she thought he would. Underneath his baggy and threadbare clothes was a surprisingly impressive physique. Her gaze moved down from his face, followed his abs, and ended with his hands; hands that were unbuckling his belt.

Levi stepped out of his pants and stood before her in only faded black boxers. It took everything Flora had to return her eyes to his face as he stepped in to join her. It was her turn to blush now. She sat on the opposite side of the small pool and tossed him a bar of soap. "Clean up, street urchin."

Flora nearly died when he held his boxers in his hand and tossed them back to the ledge. "If the lady insists."

Flora absently finger combed her hair, looking away while Levi washed up in her periphery.

He tried to make small talk in the meantime. "I imagine your parents will be eager to marry you off here soon. A nobleman I bet."

Flora laughed. "They can try, but I imagine they won't get too far. This time apart from them has been refreshing. I doubt they'll find me as easy to control anymore. If they could see me right now, I'm sure they'd die at the scandal. They're upset enough I've rejected every courtship proposal they've sent my way."

"Why? You don't like men?"

Flora narrowed her eyes and stopped her finger combing. "I like you, idiot."

Levi froze. He washed out his hair and popped back up to the surface. "I don't know why. I'm just underground trash like everyone else here."

"Just because you were born here doesn't make you trash. You could have just as easily been born in my place, and I in yours. Until recently I've had everything handed to me on a silver spoon while you've had to fight for everything you have, living in darkness every single day. But somehow you still manage to stand up for a naïve little girl who gets into trouble. Despite the years, despite the time, I still think of you. And have ached for you."

Levi waded closer to her. "I don't live entirely in darkness. I catch glimpses of the sun—every time I see you."

Flora stood up and closed the remaining gap. For a moment they stood a hairsbreadth away from one another in the water, none daring to close the distance...until Flora cupped the side of his face with her palm. His eyelids closed and his body relaxed under her touch. She wondered if she accidentally put him to sleep until his eyes flew open with renewed intensity.

One of his hands gripped her by the base of the neck while the other wrapped around her waist. Flora gasped into his mouth as it he claimed it deeply. She matched him touch for touch, moan for moan. His calloused hands explored the entirety of her exposed skin from her back, the bells of her breasts, the curve of her buttocks until Flora finally pulled away. "It's too hot in here. Do you have a better—"

He cut her off with a dizzying kiss. "Yes." Levi grabbed her hand and led her out of the pool and onto a relatively flat and smooth section of stone several paces away. They couldn't even make it all the way there before rejoining their lustful embrace.

Flora quickly found herself positioned underneath Levi. He propped himself up with his forearms, breath rugged with passion and voice hardly able to make complete sentences. "Your purity—honor. Family."

"You think I want to be pure?" Flora ran one hand down his back, down his butt, and then around to grip his shaft. He groaned at her touch. With Flora's free hand she grabbed a light fistful of hair, guiding his ear next to her mouth. "I want you to fuck me."

He pulled back slightly in surprise. "I—I've never done this before."

"Me either." Flora released his hair and grabbed his right hand instead, leading it down her body to the wet folds between her legs. The look on his face was so enlightened she had to bite her lip from laughing. "But I know that's where it goes in. And that..." She guided his hand slightly up to the sensitive and somewhat hidden bud and pressed his index finger into it. "That's something that feels very nice when touched."

After a small amount of maneuvering, and a small pinch of pain as he penetrated, Flora was blown away by the new sensations. She recalled fondly the night they shared their first love...then second love...then third. It was a night of exploration, discovery, and ecstasy.

After the fourth both of them were spent. Levi lay directly on top of her with his head between her breasts, hands wrapped around her back, while Flora's fingers absently played with his black hair. After several minutes it seemed like Levi was laughing until Flora realized he was crying. His entire body shook with the force of his sobs.

She hugged his upper body. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He didn't respond. Flora accepted this and gently rubbed his back with the tips of her nails until his emotions settled and sobs faded. Eventually he rolled off of her and sat up. Flora sat up with him and embraced his shoulders from behind, kissing his cheek. Levi put one hand over hers and wiped his face with the other one. "I'm sorry. It's just that I can't recall a single point in my life I was ever this happy."

Flora laid her head on his shoulder. "We can always be this happy. Come with me, aboveground. I'll call someone, I can get you a permit, a pardon, whatever it is."

Levi sighed and leaned more deeply into her. "The people I run with—they don't take kindly to that sort of thing. They would track me down. Track us down, even above. I can't risk you like that. I need to get out of here on my own."

Flora hugged him tighter. If she could use her influence to change his mind, she would. She tried reasoning instead. "I could stay. There are so many people that need help down here, I could start my own clinic. I could change things for good."

Flora knew the flaw in her own logic before it left her lips. Her grandmother was right; her first trial as a healer nearly killed her. Her heritage was more cursed than she initially realized—she needed more training and self-discipline before helping anyone else here, lest the Compulsion be triggered again.

"The people here will accept your charity right before gutting you." Levi grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. "Please Flora. I beg of you, it's not safe. I want you with me, but I—we—can't take the risk." He blinked rapidly and cleared his throat. "Everyone I have ever loved has either died or abandoned me. Please. If anything happens to you here I don't..."

Flora closed her eyes and tried to extinguish her grief. She felt a mixture of conflicting emotions. Hurt, which gave rise to anger. Loss, which gave rise to bitterness.

"This isn't the right time for us. I will meet you aboveground. I swear to it. Maybe then I will be worthy of your hand."

"You don't have to prove anything to me. I haven't seen you in years, who knows how long it will be again. For all I know, you'll die down here and I'll life my life as a spinster."

"Then you underestimate me. It's not a question of if. I will see you again."

Flora bit back her tears. Levi released her hand and she walked over to her white chemise, tugging it over her head. Her poor hair consisted of nothing but mats upon mats and poor curl definition. "Hopefully the next time you see me I won't look so frightening."

Levi tugged on his pants. "I don't know. I kind of hope we both look just like this."

Despite her emotion Flora couldn't help but smile. She scooped up her blood-stained blue gown before grimacing and throwing it back on the ground. "You served me well."

She met Levi back near the iron ladder. Before grabbing the bars, he stopped her. "I wanted to give you these. I know they're simple, but I think they're pretty. I look at them every time I come down here."

He produced a handful of luminescent ore from behind his back and deposited them into her hands. Flora's eyes lit up as she beheld them. They were beautiful, of all different shapes and weights. Flora picked out one that looked slightly like a heart and handed it back to him. "Keep looking at this one and remember me."

As she placed them within her waist purse her fingers brushed against a vial. Flora pulled it out and opened the stopper to dab some of the oily rosemary and pine perfume onto her wrists, neck, and hair. "I'm afraid there's no more room in my purse for this," she lied, handing it to him. "Hold onto it, will you?"

He accepted it with the same reverence as if Flora handed him a bar of gold. His fingers closed around it and brought it to his heart. "I will." A mischievous smile spread across his face. "Would you like to head up the ladder first?"

Flora laughed. "Sure. If you feel something dripping on your head, don't worry—it's yours."

His face soured. "Never mind."

Climbing up the ladder and then heading upwards through the tunnel beyond was significantly more exhausting than coming down. Flora was drenched in sweat by the time she arrived at the top while Levi didn't even look out of breath

"By wall Maria, Rose and Sina," Flora cursed. "Next time just leave me down there." The pair exited the shack through its rotted door and stretched. The city looked especially empty at this hour. "What time do you think it is?"

"Early in the morning," Levi suggested. "Maybe three?"

"The border doesn't open until seven. Spend the day with me? I'll leave this evening. Besides, I owe you some sheets."

"Alright. It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to change before crossing either; you look indecent."

The pair, hand in hand, darted through alleys and cobblestone streets. "Indecent?" Flora repeated breathlessly. "Mind your tongue. You're making me ready for round five."

Levi stumbled and nearly tripped. "And here I thought you were sweet and innocent Flora. You're good at hiding your inner beast."

Flora convinced him to stop at a seedy twenty-four-hour food joint before heading back to his place. It was nice spending actual time with him. The more she found out about him, the more her heart ached to stay with him. It didn't take long for Flora to fall asleep—she was still spent from the Compulsions effects. She didn't know how long it would take her to recover.

It didn't take her long to fall asleep after they hit the bed—no sex, no lustful passion, only two people holding one another.

A majority of Flora's energy felt replenished, thankfully, by the time she awoke. "Mmm...morning," she said sleepily.

"Afternoon?" Levi offered, kissing her shoulder with a sigh.

"Afternoon?!" She bolted upright. "We better get moving. Not that I want to." She kissed him deeply and savored their first morning together. "Thank you. For everything. I would give anything to stay here."

Flora sat on the edge of the bed with a yawn. Levi tossed her a pair of his pants and shirt. "I wish they were in better condition, but at least they're not half see through."

"They'll be fine."

Flora pulled on the clothes. She was grateful Levi wore baggy clothes—if not, she wasn't sure if they would fit. She probably looked a sorry sight in men's khaki shorts and a grey long sleeve shirt, breasts unsupported, but she didn't care.

"Now you fit right in. Except for your hair." His eyes lingered on her hair. "I love your hair. It shines like warm fire down here. And your skin has such a healthy glow." Levi's eyes suddenly turned hungry. "Come here. I know you just put those on, but I want them off."

Flora stripped out of the shirt and threw it at him, pouncing straight into his lap and straddling his hips. She claimed his mouth with her own and sank her hands into his hair noting how he was already hard beneath his boxers. The two fumbled to remove their remaining clothes. This time it was Flora that took charge, emboldened by the experience gained during the night, and was ready to lower herself onto his shaft before he stopped her. "No. I want to try something."

Although she was confused, she allowed him to readjust so that instead of sitting on his lap, his face was directly below her. Flora could have died from embarrassment, even more so when he wrapped his hands around her thighs and lowered her to his mouth. The embarrassment evaporated the moment she felt his tongue against her clitoris. His mouth explored her at first, tasting her, memorizing her, gauging her reaction to different sensations before increasing his pace.

He gripped more tightly to hold her in place while his tongue pulsed and rolled against her sensitive bud. The feeling was so intense, so surprising, a cry escaped Flora's throat and she threw her head back. Almost immediately she felt her lower abdomen build in pleasure. She tried to hold back her groans, but the sensation was too intense. With a final gasp her orgasm released, sending waves of pleasure through her body. His tongue didn't stop, even though the orgasm, causing a second orgasm almost immediately behind.

His onslaught didn't stop until, legs shaking, Flora lifted her hips and pulled him off by his hair. "You devil," she panted. "Fuck me. Now."

Levi scampered up in bed. Flora wasted no time lowering herself onto shaft. His hips thrust into her at the bottom, their pace growing faster and more intense until Levi couldn't take it any longer and urged her into a new position. This time he took her from behind, hands cupping her breasts, fingers squeezing her nipples into fine points with each thrust.

"Yes," Flora moaned.

With a final husky breath, he released deep inside her, his body going halfway slack on top of her. Flora had just enough time to roll over before he rested his head back between her breasts. As was their usual routine, Flora traced her hands up and down his exposed back.

"You're not making leaving any easier," Flora commented after a while.

"I'm just taking my fill while I can. I don't know when I'll see you again."

"That doesn't mean you can't have sex."

He looked at her like she was crazy. "I've desired you since I was a child. The thought of anyone else doesn't do it for me."

"I've only wanted you too. The courtship proposals have been stacking up, but I just can't bring myself to even consider them."

He kissed her mouth. "I don't want to own you. But when I see you again, I pity any man who eyes you."

Flora laughed. "I'm far too busy for any man; and too outspoken. Most nobles want a delicate wallflower like my sister—they're in for a nasty surprise when they get to know me. Thank my grandmother for that."

Levi used his legs to maneuver hers open. "I thought you were delicate at first. I was never glad to be so wrong."

He thrust into her with his satisfying length—it was as if he was made to fit her perfectly. Their conversation quickly devolved into primal moans.

The both of them were completely sexed out by the time they finally ended up leaving his glorified room of an apartment. Flora's purse was significantly lighter after she stashed nearly all of her money underneath his pillow when he wasn't looking. She was sure he would put it to good use and needed it more than she did.

Flora did fit into the Underground with her grungy men's clothes, frizzy sex hair left loose, and half feral boyfriend at her hip. Levi and Flora hit the streets like hooligans, only halting when Flora tugged him to a stop after smelling surprisingly delicious noodles. Faint music drifted from the establishment and into the street. "I'm starving. We should stop."

"I dunno, I know that place is expensive."

Flora dragged him inside by the arm. The host looked at the duo with clear skepticism. "Locals pay upfront."

Levi almost pulled her back onto the street, but Flora stood her ground and slid a hundred dollar note onto his podium. "For two, please."

His tune changed abruptly. No time was wasted leading them to a table. While the establishment was nothing like one would encounter within Wall Sina, in comparison to rest of the underground, it was probably a grand jewel. Levi looked completely out of his element. "Order whatever you want," Flora told him while they perused the menu amid soft live instrumental music. "It's on me. My last thank you for once again saving me from a royal ass beating."

His discomfort only seemed to steadily increase all way until their food arrived. "This is too fancy for me. It feels odd.

Flora felt her spine tingle at his discomfort. An itch was growing in her to relieve his suffering. She placed a comforting hand on his forearm and allowed some of her growing power and reassurance to seep into him. "Just relax. Please?"

His eyelids drooped slightly until Flora removed her hand. They suddenly brightened. "Right. Sorry."

They spend the rest of their meal procrastinating leaving—when they left, she would have to make for the border. Flora eyed the music with interest. "So random people come up and sing?"

Levi shrugged. "Yeah. Blow-hards that want to show off I guess."

Flora looked at him with a sly grin. "Maybe I'm a blow-hard that wants to show off."

"You? You are quite the girl of mysteries."

"My brothers, June and I have a half decent band together. There's been yet a woman here to sing, what do you say?"

"I say be the best damn blow-hard there is."

Flora's cheeks pinked as the latest singer left the stage amid a polite applause. "Wish me luck."

"Break a leg."

Flora's voice was on the more unusual side, not the light, airy demure angelic voice of anyone else she heard. It was rich, full of body and warmth. If it was her last day in the Underworld, she would at least share some of that with them.

Her siblings were talented with a wide range of instruments. The cello, violin, guitar, drums, nearly everything under the sun. Flora's only adept instrument was the piano—and one sat right on stage. Her song's smooth intro filled the dining room and caused nearly all eyes to glance up. When she sang, eating stopped. Her music reflected her increasingly wild and free-spirited nature. It felt good to sing—she was too focused on healing lately; creativity went by the wayside.

When the first song ended, Flora looked up and saw not only everyone in the dining room looking at her, but a moderate sized crowd in the entryway waiting for seats gawked as well. She wasn't too full of herself to think they all came in from her voice, but it felt nice to imagine it anyways.

The applause was surprising—and invigorating. "Encore!"

Her eyes met Levi's in the crowd. He playfully smiled and gave her an impressed nod.

Flora indulged them. Her next tune was livelier, more upbeat, and allowed her voice to display more power. By the time Flora was done the entire crowd erupted into cheers and clapping. Flora nearly launched into third until she spied a man, at least ahead taller than anyone else in the crowd walking her way. Although his forest-green survey corps cloak hood was raised, she knew who he was immediately just by his stature. Flora barely stepped out from behind the piano bench before he grabbed her arm.

"Hey!" Levi snapped, up to his feet faster than lightening, breaking his grip and pushing him back. "Hands off."

Flora's eyes widened in alarm when she saw Levi had a knife. She grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him from advancing. "Levi, stop. It's my sister's boyfriend. What are you doing here Erwin?"

He lowered his hood. His blond hair, always perfectly prim, accentuated his sky-blue eyes. Right now, however, they looked more like a stormy night than clear summer's day. "We've been looking everywhere for you Flora. Are you alright?"

Although he addressed her, his eyes never left Levi and his knife. "I'm fine. Why don't we go outside?"

Erwin forged the path through the crowd and Levi and Flora followed him outside and into the street beyond.

June embraced Flora immediately. "Oh Flora! When Grandma Niamh told you where you were going, we were so worried."

Flora returned her sister's embrace. "I came here of my own choice, there's nothing to worry over."

June's green eyes looked her up and down, close to tears. "You can't abandon us for a life down here, we're your family."

Flora pulled away, careful to avoid touching her sister's bare skin. "Whoa. I'm not abandoning anyone. I'm volunteering. Er, was. I was actually going to come back today."

Liam and Seamus hugged Flora in relief as well. "We came to rescue you."

Flora stepped back closer to Levi while her family plus Erwin closed in on her. "Guys, please, I don't need rescuing. Just give me a minute ok?"

They hovered close to her as if Flora was going to slip out of her grasp. Erwin, meanwhile, still eyed Levi with suspicion, his hands dangerously close to his ODM blade. Flora turned to Levi. "I didn't expect our parting to be this abrupt. Or this public."

Levi's demeanor somewhat relaxed. He sheathed his knife and focused on her. "Me either. Let me come with you to the border, at least to ensure your safety."

"We'll be fine without you," Erwin said, crossing his arms.

"I didn't ask you, eyebrows," Levi said darkly.

The two men stared at each other in tense silence until June slipped her arm through Erwin's. "It's fine, dear. We actually left our carriage in a courtyard a few blocks over if you want to meet us there."

"Meet us there?" Liam asked incredulously. "We just found her!"

June stared at Levi. "No, I don't think they have any intension of running off. Come on guys."

Her brothers grumbled their displeasure but ultimately followed June's lead and walked back to the carriage. Levi and Flora followed several paces behind. "There's nothing you can do about it now, but I left money for new sheets under your pillow when you get back to your place."

Levi's mouth tightened. "I wonder how I didn't notice that."

Flora felt quite proud of herself for pulling a fast one over him. "Maybe I'm picking up on some street skills."

He laughed at her. "Right. You're like a whole new woman."

The carriage came into view entirely too quickly. Erwin held the door open while Flora and Levi approached. The two shared one last kiss and lingering goodbye before Flora accepted Erwin's help getting into the carriage with her awaiting siblings.

"If you came to volunteer, what changed your mind?" June probed. Her head rested on Erwin's massive shoulder. She looked the entire opposite of Flora in this moment; well groomed, her red curls in a perfect upswept hairdo, makeup flawless.

Flora shrugged. She wasn't in the mood to talk. "It's hard to explain."

"You smell awful," Liam said while wrinkling his nose. "Like you ran a marathon."

Flora glared at him. "I did run a marathon. From a bed. With Levi."

"Ew!" Seamus cried, scooting away from her. "Do I even want to know what that stain is?"

Flora moved closer to him to taunt him and rubbed the (not semen) stain into his leg while laughing at his exaggerated gags until Liam reigned her back in her seat. "What has your time with our grandmother done to you? You're uncivilized, and running off with boys now!"

"I didn't run off with boys," Flora defended. "I ran off to volunteer, and then happened to run into a boy."

June lifted her head. "What happened with the volunteering? Did it not go well?"

"No...it didn't. I underestimated the Compulsion. It almost killed me the first day. I'm not as prepared as I thought it was."

"Compulsion?" Erwin asked.

June let his question die on deaf ears. "For it to almost kill you means your strength has outpaced your discipline. If you listen to Grandma Niamh, anyway."

"Discipline," Liam scoffed. "Now there's an idea."

"Now I just need to know what I have to work on."

As their conversation slowly simmered down, Flora reached into her purse to feel the ore Levi had given her. The stones were there, but to her horror, so was the entirety of the money she left under his pillow earlier that day. "Oh no!" Flora gasped.

"What?" Seamus startled. "Did he steal your money?"

"No, you idiot, he gave it back!"

No wonder he looked so amused while she boasted her nonexistent skill. The thought struck Flora as so irrationally funny her body quaked in maniacal laughter; however, the more she laughed, the more she thought of him, and the more she grieved. Before long, her laughs turned into full blown sobs.

June urged Erwin to switch Flora spots and guided Flora's head onto her lap like a mother while she came to terms with her loss.