HEY HEY HAPPY FRIDAY! 23 SCHOOL DAYS LEFT! HOO-HAH! :D Thanks for reviewing and enjoyyyy! (Or else. evil chuckle)

I watched Nudge's face as she slept. Right now, her brows were furrowed and she was mumbling something incoherently while she tossed and turned on the bed. I took her hand gently in mine and squeezed it firmly. Maybe somehow, in her dreams, she would feel it and know that I was here. Everything was going to be OK.

The door opened and Charles stuck his head in the room, his face shrouded in shadow. I shifted and blocked Nudge from his view, in case he tried to do something again.

"Hey," Charles whispered in a hoarse voice. "Can we talk outside?"

His request sounded so innocent, so genuine. If I didn't know him better, I would have fallen for it.

"No. Don't you know how to knock?" I replied sharply.

"Iggy, we need to talk. Leave her for a few minutes. I won't do anything to her. You have my word."

There was an edge to Charles voice. Well, too bad for him. I wasn't going to leave Nudge's side.

"Whatever." I drawled, knowing that would annoy him.

Charles uttered a garbled sound at the back of his throat and whispered threateningly, "You'll pay soon enough."

"Unless I kill you first." I meant it.

Charles made an angry sound and slammed the door behind him. I heard his footsteps thump down the stairs, loud and heavy, while he muttered something that I couldn't make out. Not that I cared. I was in trouble now, but it didn't matter. Nudge was innocent, as far as I could tell, and I wasn't going to let Charles kill her for something she didn't do. He would have to go through me first. Even if it cost me my reputation as an assassin.

I turned when Nudge stirred. She raised her head slightly off the pillow and blinked sleepily at me, not quite awake yet.

"Iggy? Did something happen?" She asked.

I smiled to myself. More than you will ever know. "No. Go back to sleep."

She starred me for a minute before she shrugged and mumbled, "M'kay."

I found myself wondering why Charles wanted to kill someone like her for the rest of the night while she slept peacefully.

DUN DUN DUN DUNNNNNN! Something's bad about to happen! ;) Lottsa angst in store for you! Write on!