My thick soled army boots slapped the wet pavement. Squelch, squelch, squelch. By the time I reached the café, bits of my shoulder length black hair were stuck to my face and the rest tousled by this typical wet and windy English weather. Thankfully the artificial helped dry me and since I did not spot Phee I headed to the toilets in the back to pat down my hair.

When I came out, tidy and presentable, I spotted Phoenix as she was closing an umbrella by the entrance. She glanced up and smiled. "Can you order me a coke while I close this thing?"

I nodded and ordered the drinks at the counter. She had joined me in time to order a sandwich and we both found a small table in a back corner to wait. As soon as she had her coat draped around the back of her chair, I decided to avoid small talk and went straight to it. "Now, how the hell do you think you can get me to leave London Phee?"

She grimaced but managed to look me in the eye. "You cannot keep stealing forever. Do you not want to give a real job or school a shot? Yves really helped me through school and I know your dad taught you."

"Yeah, all the basics. But why?"

"Because this way of life is not right Gold!" she said, some indescribable emotion flashing through her eyes. "Getting a basic high school diploma gave me the chance to do more if I wanted. Or nothing if I wanted. I had a choice! Do you really want to still be stealing in your forties." she practically hissed.

I had to admit, Phee's vehemence on this stunned me. But I still had a thing or two up my sleeve. "Oh yeah." I nearly spat. "I like to steal. It is my "job" so why the fuck would I go to school in another country?"

"Because you would have me there and you have no one here. And do not try to deny it." She said quickly as I sat there with my mouth hanging open slightly. "I know that way of life. And," she said quietly. "I have another pretty strong motive for you to come."

The food came then and we were silent as the waiter put down our stuff. I stared down at my soup for a few moments and they flicked my eyes up to Phee. "And what is that?"

"Yves has a brother, Xav, who has a soulfinder called Crystal. And she," Phee said, pausing dramatically. "Is a soulseeker. And I called her to check so I know she could find you your soulfinder if you come."

My souulfinder. The one person some of us were not even sure existed. A person's perfect match. I could have that someone in my life. Phee began cutting up her sandwich into quarters as I sat with that knowledge. She knew it was blackmail. But like her, I knew sometimes you had to play dirty for the greater good.

I remained quiet and drank my soup, dipping a small white roll into it on occasion. I finished before Phee and sat there thinking as she nibbled on her last quarter. "So if I come with you and graduate high school this Crystal will find my soulfinder?" I asked.

"Yes. Would it help if we found him before or after you graduate? Crystal said whichever would help more. She knows I care about you." Phee said.

I paused in thought, biting the edge of my empty can of coke. "Either way suits."

"So I take that as a yes?" Phee said, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice. I sighed and nodded as she beamed in delight. "Just let my brother-in-law Victor Benedict take care of the paperwork. I am sure he can get you in for educational reasons or something."

I nodded again. If I had heard anything about the Benedict's in my seventeen years, it was that impossible was simply not in their vocabulary

I had cleared up all I needed to by the time I was set to head to America. I alerted all those I traded with regularly I was going and packing up my stuff. I dealt with mostly black market traders, the majority of which were not violent just focused on the money. Very few would even think to mess with me after the subtly threatening reputation I had built over time. And if they seemed annoyed or potentially problematic after I told them I was heading, I gave them numbers to other people like myself.

But all of them knew I was a force to be reckoned with and should be glad I even told them I was going. A few of the people just in my business to support themselves and their families were sad to see me go and I wished them the best. Not everyone was bad. Some just had to do what had to be done. I was only getting out with the Benedict's help.

It had been decided I would go live with Yves' parents which made me sick to stomach. I would attend Yves' old high school and he had paid for a private tutor to help me graduate within two years. It honestly depended on what I was capable of. Phee insisted Yves had the money and he was always willing to spend it for those he loved.

"It is practically a present for me if that helps." Phee said over the phone a while ago. "He always wants to buy me anything I even look sideways at. Trust me. This is the first thing he has bought me that is more than the cost of lunch for two since our honeymoon and he is delighted!"

So I would have a tutor and attend school but before then I was making a pittstop in New York for a very important meeting with someone. And I just realised I had no idea what they looked like.

Shit I thought as I pulled my fifth suitcase onto the trolley. I had many opportunities to ask Phee what Crystal looked like but had I asked? Nope. The genius here had never even thought to. Fuck fuck fuckidy fuck.

I guardedly eyed everyone as I made my way out to the departure lounge. But standing taller than all the women and the majority of the guys was Crystal. She had "Gold Waters" written on a piece of card and smiled when she saw me approach her. "Shall we go back to mine and get down to business?"

"Sure thing." I said and followed her out to the line of taxi's in front of the airport.

The journey back to her apartment was uneventful and Crystal asked me safe questions like how was my trip and we both smiled over our knowledge of the crap weather we both left on the other side of the Atlantic. "I am paying." Crystal announced as soon as we stopped in front of an ordinary enough set of apartments, red brick and most likely once an enormous house. Before I could say a word she managed to hand the taxi man his pay and ask him to help us with the luggage. We had gotten more of a van type taxi when it became pretty clear all my stuff would not fit into any yellow cab.

"Girls." He laughed throatily as he helped heave my last suitcase. "There ya go."

"Thanks." Crystal beamed and before I knew it, she handed him an extra five. He gave us a smile and drove off into the traffic with the ease only a taxi driver possessed.

After we finally managed to drag all my stuff up to her apartment and to her spare bedroom, I flopped down on her sofa. "Sorry." I mumbled into the sofa fabric. "Tired."

"I would bet. Here," she said and I felt a nudge at my shoulder. She handed me a can of some American energy drink. "I know it is not the best but we ran out of coffee. Xav said he would bring some home later."

"Anything is find." I said and took the can from her, snapping it open with one hand. "Thanks."

"No bother." She said with a flick of her hair. She got up, went to the fridge, got a bottle of water for herself and then sat herself down beside me. "Now. I never spoke about this directly with you but what do you think about looking for your soulfinder now. Like right now"

I straightened up from my slouch on the sofa. "Seriously?"

"Phee knew it might take something big to bring you over here and even though you are not eighteen yet…" she trailed off with a grin. "I want to give you a good reason for staying here."

"But what if he's not American." I said with a frown.

Crystal shrugged her shoulders. "We drag his sorry ass over here or we make it work. So do you want to?" she said mischievously.

Beyond excited now, I had to nod and eagerly waited as Crystal closed her eyes. Within moments I could feel her in my mind, searching. I could barely sit still.

That was until I saw Crystal frown ever so slightly. But as time ticked by her eyebrows creased in concentration and her lips pursed. When she opened her eyes, all I saw was what can only be described as pity. "I cannot see him Gold." She said after several moments of heavy silence. "I have always found them. I never had this before."

She continued to talk and I think she drew me in for a hug. Not sure really. I had spaced out completely. I... I... I had no soulfinder? What?

Author person,

I hope you enjoyed this so please leave your feedback on this in a review :). Favourite and follow too if this warrants the extra click or two. It would make me a happy, full little bee (full of pizza!) :D

See you sooooon! Halfway through the next chapter. It is a bit of a leap in time so not too sure about it... Hmm...