Chapter4

This was not what the Thief Lord had in mind when he ventured back out onto the streets; sitting in some room that smelt like rotten food? Scipio wanted to be out on the streets instead of hiding out in the room like small child!

"Well, not that this isn't fun," Scipio spoke after what felt like centuries, "but I think I should head out."

Jaymie's piercing grey eyes shot daggers at him.

"Look, I don't know what you want me to do," cried Scipio, "You hate it when I try to talk to you but you won't let me leave. What would please you, oh noble one?"

"Why is everything such a joke to you?" she shook her head in disbelief.

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood alright? Honestly, what do I have to do to make you trust me?" Scipio had never met such a complicated person. He had only been on the street for a couple of hours and was already exhausted.

Jaymie just shook her head again. "You can't do anything," she said bitterly, "you're already here and leaving will only make it worse."

They sat in silence once again and Jaymie's face softened. Obviously she preferred sitting like this, but Scipio just couldn't hold in his question.

"So do you always sit here waiting for Gabriella? What does it take to get out singing to make some of your own money?" Jaymie just shook her head and Scipio clenched his jaw. "And please stop shaking your head, would you? I don't know what you're trying to tell me when you do that!"

At this, Jaymie actually smiled. It was like a miracle. The ends of her full lips curled up in a beautiful, tentative smile. "Obviously you don't have any siblings."

Scipio thought about this. "Well, I guess I could count some as half-siblings," he was referring to Prosper, Bo, and the rest of his old Thief Gang, "we're close in that sort of sibling way."

"What happened to them?"

"Oh… they were given the opportunity for better lives and took it."

"Lucky…" Jaymie hesitated, "So why are you still on the streets then?"

Scipio grinned, "I tried to live the life everyone dreams of, but preferred this life style better."

"You know why I don't go out?" Jaymie asked after a moment.

"Nope."

She took in a breath. "You're going to laugh because when I try to put it in words, it doesn't really make sense. I'm worried that something will happen to Gabriella when she's hanging around with these gangs, and if something does she's going to come back here.

"If she's hurt or being chased, I want to be here when she arrives. I'm worried that she'll come back to an empty building because I'm out on the streets and she won't know what to do. I need to be here for her."

Scipio stared at the red veil of hair because Jaymie's head was tilted to the ground and her hair was blocking any sight of her face. He wanted to ask why, if Jaymie cared so much, she was never out looking for Gabriella, but something stopped him. Instead he said:

"Can I tell you something honestly? I know I hardly know you or Gabriella, but I don't think Gabriella wants you there for her all the time. She likes the thrill of being on her own."

Jaymie snapped her head up, her face filled with pain and anger. "She won't like that thrill so much when one of the Bloodhound Gang decides to threaten her. I'm just trying to watch out for her, because while she was hearing stories of the wonderful Thief Lord and his life full of riches on the street, I knew it wasn't anything like that."

Here we go again, Scipio thought, I didn't even know them when they ran off but Jaymie is going to blame it on me anyways.

"Look, will you just let me go? I promise to be back in an hour or two." Scipio wasn't tied up or anything, but he felt like he was unable to stand unless he had Jaymie's permission.

"No," she shot him a cold look.

"Please," he begged which was something he hated, "I just need some fresh air. I'll be back in less than an hour, just say I can go."

"Would you just be quiet and sit in here until Gabriella gets back? Suck it up and stop complaining princess."

Scipio had to bite his tongue to stop himself from cursing at Jaymie. So for another hour, the two for forced to glare and glower at each other.

Hornet pulled her oversized sweater closer to her body, surprised at how cold the air was. The marketplace was busy as always, but Hornet knew that if Scipio had gone back to being a thief he would be here. A cold breeze hugged Hornet and she shoved her hands in the pockets of her sweater, brushing against something unfamiliar.

A hand?

Snapping around, braids smacking her in the face, Hornet stood facing a girl holding her wallet, Hornet's wallet. The girl was about to make a bolt for it, but Hornet was quicker. Her hand snapped out and grabbed the girl's wrist. The thief's face was covered in horror.

"Look, take your wallet," the girl said, her grey eyes flashing frantically, "take it back. It didn't feel like there was much in there anyways." She added and a mischievous smile crawled over her mouth.

Her face hot, Hornet snatched the wallet out of the girls hand but didn't let go of her wrist. Panic replaced the girl's smirk. "Look," Hornet told her sternly, "I'm not going to turn you into the cops. Just tell me your name." The girl tried to squirm out of Hornet's grasp but was unsuccessful.

"Just tell me your name," Hornet softened her tone but tightened her grip on the girl's wrist.

"Gab – Gabriella," she winced as Hornet finally let go. Gabriella, instead of making a dash for it, began to examine her wrist as if she were afraid it may have been broken. Hornet felt only a little guilty about hurting her, but she was on a mission.

"Can I ask you something?"

Gabriella shot her grey eyes up at her. "You said you just wanted to know my name."

Hornet ignored this. "Gabriella, I need to know if you've met or heard of anyone called the Thief Lord." She spoke slowly, watching Gabriella's face for any signs.

"Well, of course I've heard of him," she arched her eyebrow, "everyone's heard of the Thief Lord."

"Yes but have you seen him?"

"Why should I tell you?" Gabriella smirked, "How do I know you're just not going to turn him into the police or something."

Annoyed at this girl, Hornet had to stop herself from slapping her across the face. "Look, I would never turn him in. I wouldn't turn any thief in. I used to be a thief which is why I didn't call the cops on you, either."

"Hmm, you used to be a thief? Well, what makes you think Scipio would want anything to do with you, some ex-thief because you decided to give up?" With that, Gabriella spun around on her food and ran off, her fiery red jacket made up of pockets flying behind her.

Hornet stood there, feeling hurt, but not feeling completely hopeless. She knew that Gabriella knew where the Thief Lord was. How?

Gabriella made the mistake of calling the Thief Lord by his real name.