I locked the door, tempted to magic an extra holding. Rumpel had been rather nervous today and I had good reason to believe it had nothing to do with Belle's close proximity. No, definitely not that and I was an expert on picking up that kind of nervous, this was something darker. I sighed magicking a lock out of concern was not going to benefit Rumpel, nor myself. I straightened my back as I stood to my full height, bad posture had never been one of my strong suits, Rumpel and him had been the only ones with the balls to dish out snide remarks towards me and often noted that I stood with an aristocratic air. Quit thinking about him it's been 24 years, dammit. No, 25, it's been 25 years as of the prior week. Last week, meaning today was my birthday. I sucked in a sharp breath and leaned my head against the cool glass of the door, 17. I shook my head rubbing my forehead against the glass pane creating a smear I'd have to clean in the morning. At that moment the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention and prickled. Someone was behind me. My left hand dropped instinctively to my side, sliding the knife partway out of its sheath strapped to my outer thigh under my shorts. Old habits die hard and the sense of security at carrying two throwing knives with me outweighed the uncomfortable chafing their straps caused. I spun outward the cool hilt in my delicate fingers. Nothing, the empty dark street, minus the lampposts glowing orange light and my bike leaning on its kickstand against the curb, stared back at me. The breath I had been holding hissed out as my gaze did a quick run over of the grounds and then a slower, more dictated sweep to confirm. The hairs on my neck rested once more and I slid the knife back into its sheath. The empty night seemed to sneer back at me inactivity will do that to you, you're losing it. However, I thought shrugging the black backpack that had been hanging on my right forearm onto my shoulder, if the night was an actual being and not just some darkness I used to my advantage, it would know better than to say something like that to me. I strode the two steps it took for me to reach my bike, the cool, sleek, ebony frame shone as it sat poised like a panther ready to strike. My helmet's straps clipped around one of the handlebars and my leather riding jacket had already been pulled over my suit jacket. I swung a long, slender leg over the side and slid into the seat, sticking the key in the ignition and starting it as my free hand grabbed the equally sleek, equally dark helmet and yanked it on over the intricately braided bun at the back of my head which held my hair in place. I snapped the straps in place almost rolling my eyes as I remembered Rumpel's protests at me owning the bike and how even after I reminded him about my fast healing qualities he refused to let me so much as touch it before I acquired the "proper safety measures". I tried not to remember the other snarky remarks I had spat out about him acting like he was my father and how he had no right to. I visibly winced at the memory. That was the day I had realized I was no longer an apprentice as much as I was a daughter to him and he more of the true father figure I had hoped for than my master. I banished the thoughts that I must have caused him to recall, his son, Baelfire's absence and twisted my neck side to side in an attempt to get rid of the cricks and the oncoming stream of thoughts. No such luck as I revved the purring engine into a growl and knocked the kickstand back up before pushing off into the street. He'll be leaving soon, I narrowed my eyes to focus on the road. He tested that potion this morning he can cross the town line now. He had told me earlier that week that he had discovered his son's whereabouts, he hadn't told me how though. I had been skeptical but he appeared determined and I let it go. I could not, however, let go the fact that I'd be losing my only true friend, who knew what and who I was, yet stuck with me all the same. The one man who had proved to be a suitable father figure for me and the only person I could lay my trust in. I turned the corner sharply as I diminished the thoughts and new ones appeared, causing me to smirk from behind the dark tinted windshield on my helmet. I allowed the memory of the time when Rumpel had called me to Ruby's Granny's Diner in order to discuss the way I drove the bike around. He had continued to omit protests to my riding it until I became less "reckless". Stubborn as I was, I decided I'd show him just how "reckless" I could be. I had circled the block once leaving him and a small group of townspeople, including Ruby and Granny, in the doorway to the entrance. As I came to the corner I thought I'd show off just how good a Shade's extraordinary balance skills were. The image of Rumpel's face as I rounded the corner so sharply that the side rims of my tires were scraping and my right leg was dangerously close to doing the same on the asphalt, was priceless. As soon as I finished the corner of course I whipped my bike back up into its former, proper, upright position and continuing on down the road at high speeds. The lecture I had received that night upon returning home had been so worth it and I had, with a satisfied grin, handed over my keys for the remainder of the month. I slid the bike into my parking spot outside the doors to my own apartment and shut it off for the night.