Hello followers! Wow has it been a while I just got this chapter done after almost a year maybe longer I'm not sure. I plan on continuing this story i promise but i am currently in collage classes so its not going to be for a while, hopefully not as long as my last little break was. Anyways here you guys go. I hope you all enjoy it!

The Old Chapel was a crumbling foundation, once used to worship the old Gods. This place was now home to the homeless and the occasional cult that passed through The City, but the beggars never left. At the back of the building was where the Queen of the Beggars made her home. That was where Garrett was headed.

I stood in wait by the entrance of the Beggar Queen's home. Garrett exited after I arrived and motioned for me to follow him to the slaughterhouse.

We stood on an old cracked roof across from the slaughterhouse; watchmen were patrolling everywhere only sparing a few corners from their torches and lamps. Two dogs sat in cages by a heavily guarded fire pit. Garrett growled in frustration at the scene before us.

"So what's the plan thief?" I asked sarcastically

"Stick to the shadows, don't get caught."

"Look I don't want to be here either, let's just keep this as easy as possible so I can get out of here and off your shit list." I ground out trying to sound calm.

"Easy? Hah, can't handle a little challenge?" Garrett replied

"Okay, 'master thief' I'll make you a deal, we get this job done without being spotted once I leave, you will never see me again, we get caught by ANYONE and Basso stays my fence and we politely share the jobs he gives us."

"Deal."

We climbed down the roof and under the bridge to look for a way in. Garrett spotted a grate farther down the way and waved me over. I handed him my wrench and in we went.

The tunnel was cramped, damp, and reeked of the dead. Garrett also seemed to make his personal goal to crawl through the small space at the speed of a snail.

"Go faster or we won't get there until next year." I whispered

"If you want to get caught go ahead and pass me, but I work carefully." He whispered back to me

Garrett continued with his slow pace, although to me it seemed as if he was slowing down just to anger me further. The exit couldn't come soon enough. When we finally got out of that dreadful tunnel I was on the brink of murder. Glaring daggers at Garrett didn't seem to work either; he only gave me a smug look and picked the lock on the bared door in front of us.

Sneaking in the building was much easier then I thought it would be. It seemed as if the Watchmen didn't think anyone would make past their heavily guarded entrance and didn't post any guards just inside the building. We both seemed to prefer climbing around in the venting to avoid detection. Slowly but surely we made it to the slaughtering part of the factory; it was appalling smelling of decay and burning flesh. We made our way to the assembly line used to move the bodies about the building, people once alive dangled from meet hooks designed for pigs, I couldn't help but let out a small gag at the sight. This did not sit well with my companion as he turned around sharply and covered where my mouth would be under my mask, after deciding that my noise did not alert anyone he placed a finger to his face and silently told me to zip it. When we finally came to a platform to the line we jumped onto our own hooks and held on for the ride. Several stops where made but luckily moving from platform to platform went smoothly.

The last platform came and went as we dropped to the floor, not wanting to be caught going directly to where the watchmen where searching bodies, presumably for small riches to take to the Thief-Taker. Crouching under a grated platform we made our way into the large room two young watchmen were joking about their home lives. Their conversation was cut short however when the General limped into the room.

"Thief-Taker General Sir," the watchmen said with a solute. He was ignored as the General was more occupied with the body on the table

"There you are."

"S'cuse me sir?" the watchmen asked. Obviously not knowing the sinister reason behind searching Cornelius's body.

The General ignored him again as he searched for the ring in question, looking on both hands and in the dead mans mouth.

"What did this body have on it?" The general asked

"Uh. Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No, I was just going to get another body when you came in and took over." The watchmen said, the obvious annoyance of his command going right over his head.

"You know… I don't ask for much…" Grabbing a large butcher knife the General turned and forced into the mans hand, "respect..." He slammed the knife into the body, "a stiff drink, gold..." the watchmen pulled a ring out if the stomach of the body, "and for my men… to do what they're FUCKING TOLD!"

He shot the young man in the neck with a bolt and made his way into his office at the far side of the room.

Garrett turned to me with raised eyebrows and whispered "robbing the dead of their valuables and dignity? The Thief-Taker General exceeds his own reputation."

I nodded curtly and replied "Its time to steal that ring back."

Garrett seemed to appreciate that comment as he smirked, before turning back and leading the way to the exit of our hiding place.

We made our way across the room separately so as to not be spotted, seeing as the only hiding places were in front of the very tables watchmen were standing over. We had to scale the wall to the right of the office to get in. The door was heavily locked but not the air-ducts above the room. We dropped into the empty office on high alert. After a quick once over we spotted the strong box that held the ring in question.

"That's a strongbox? Another of the Barrons improvements perhaps, It'll crack like any other." Garrett mumbled

He looked at me as if to get permission to be the first to cry cracking the code, I nodded and he went forward twisting plates on the box to form the Barrons Crest while I kept watch. Suddenly as if he could feel that the box had been cracked the Thief-Taker burst into the room shoving me towards Garret who had just pocketed the ring and all the other items of value in the box.

The General stopped short surprised and then glared at us with so much hatred I could feel it "You!" he said directing his look at Garrett.

Garrett and I made eye contact and dove out of the room through the back door slamming it in the Generals face.

Getting out was harder than we anticipated seeing as the whole compound now knew of our presence and was on high alert. We slipped out with only a few minor incidents and made our way back to Basso.

Almost to the Crippled Burrick I turned to my companion with a smirk and before I could even get the words out he said "Looks like were sharing Basso for the time being."

When we arrived into the basement Basso had a sly look, "How'd it go?" he asked us knowing full well we were successful.

We both leveled him with a look and he changed the subject. "I've got someone for you two to meet, if your up for working together again that is?"

I was hesitant but Garrett agreed so I did too. The start of a truly prosperous friendship.

Alright everyone how was that? As always constructive criticism is welcome, assholes are not. Rate Comment Follow

See everyone in the next installment