Forgive the short chapter but it gets the point across, and Silas is being difficult to write. I know I haven't updated in far too long so you have my apologies. Please, just muddle through with me.

Chapter Twelve: Midnight Clear

"Why did you bring me here?" Silas asked bitterly, as he wrapped his coat closer to his narrow frame and trudged in the narrow pathway the woman had craved through the snow.

Rio Hecate turned and favored him with a look that made him feel foolish, and reduced him to silence. They clearly looked out of place in the slum they found themselves though, with Silas in his leather great coat and Rio in white wool. Here the world seemed to be painted in tones of brown, gray and heather. The wind was strong enough to howl through the narrow streets, and everyone here studied the floor only, if they were brave enough to look up, the Muggles only did so to cast nervous angry looks at them before returning to their nightly chores.

Silas cringed as a woman passed nearer to him then he would have liked. Despite himself, he leaned nearer to Rio who laughed and draped an arm around him. "Why did you bring me here?" He asked again.

"To teach you how to kill." Rio answered finally, reaching into her coat and producing a purse. From the purse came a small apple, which she offered to a random street child. The child crept closer, eyes narrowed in disbelief as he studied her. The boy was mature in the face, looking to be Silas' junior by mere years, but the face was older- colder because of a life of want. He snatched the apple from Rio's hand and ran into the darkness to devour it. Rio laughed slightly, and reached into her satchel again.

Silas watched the episode repeated twice, before Rio began to hand out money to those who came to her. He tilted his head at the act of charity, confused as to how this would teach him to kill.

Rio seemed to have read his mind. She motioned him to her side.

""The first thing you must know is how to get near to them. Offer your target what no one else will," Rio instructed as she continued to hand out money to the poor. "Let them trust you, love you even." She smiled as an elderly man began to bless her. "And then, be ruthless and personal."

Something caught Silas' eye in the corner. It was a small child, a girl, huddled against the wall of an alley way, staring at Rio with wide, uncertain eyes. Silas tilted his head, and pulled away from Rio to approach the girl. She yelped and turned to step back.

"Don't run away," He called, quickening his pace to keep up with her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The girl stopped, and turned. She looked barely out of infancy, with wild curls of brown hair trailing raggedly down her dirty round face. She reeked of sewers and her little dress was torn and soiled. But the girl had the clearest blue eyes Silas had ever seen. Eyes that stared at him pointedly from their dark mask.

"What's your name?" He asked.

The girl was chewing on the cuff of her dress; she paused now only to purr. "Mild."

"Mild?" Silas repeated, squatting down. "Hello Mild, where's your mother?"

Mild shook her head. "Don't have one." She motioned to the elderly man who still clung to Rio. "Tata keeps me."

"And is he a good tata?"

Mild made a sound. She lifted her chin, "I'm cold."

"Well," Silas chirped, shrugging out of his coat. "I can fix that, come here."

Mild swam in the leather coat, but she didn't seem to care. She giggled when Silas draped it around her small frame and shrieked in joy as he swooped her up into a spin. Silas laughed, despite himself. The girl weighted nothing in his arms and the way her small fingers clutched his shirt as he twirled her spoke of infinite trust. After he was done, as he squatted to release her, Mild kissed his cheek and asked for another ride.

Silas was about to agree, when he felt Rio near him again. He suddenly wished her gone from him, and stepped quietly between Rio and Mild, protecting the child. She gave him a questioning look for a moment before shaking her head at him, disturbed.
"Do not forget why you are here." Rio warned, quietly.

Silas bit his lip. "I know why I'm here. To save Conaire."

"Then do what you came here for."

"If I finish now or a moment from now what does it matter to you?" Silas demanded. Mild seemed to have sensed something wrong, but in her eagerness to return some of Silas' kindness, the small figure stepped closer to him, twirling her fingers around his and giving Rio a dark look. Silas flinched from the touch, looking down at her.

It hit him then that he could walk away from this.

And for a brief moment, he was tempted.

But instead, he smiled at Mild and squatted down to lift her unto his shoulders. He laughed as her curls tickled his chin, and teased her about weighting nothing. Mild blushed, and squealed at the attention, wrapping her arm around his neck in half-fear. Silas gave Rio a look, before turning towards a dark alley and beginning his walk. Rio turned to distract the grandfather.

The bloody deed would only last a moment.

But what a difference a moment makes.