Her Name Is Death 3.6
"You know why this whole assignment sucks?" Maria asked her partner as she turned the black car down the suburban road.
"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me," her partner, Christine, responded in a flat tone as she flipped through the file they had been given.
Maria sent the younger woman a smirk. "Well a kid like you wouldn't get it, but this whole thing sucks because we're being set up to fail."
"How do you figure?"
"Well think about it, Piggot sends us out at the crack of dawn to drive over to this Herbert guy's house to try and get him to accept PRT protection. Now I don't know about you but given we just told the whole world that his daughter is a crazy cape killer I don't see him being positively inclined to us. So he'll say no, and we'll get chewed out for failing to get him on board." With that Maria reached down and grabbed her coffee and took a sip. Then she grimaced. It had gone cold.
"I doubt it's that. I mean I don't think Piggot is hoping we fail. We haven't done anything to make her mad." Her partner was still looking down at the file, as if she was trying to memorize it.
"Oh trust me, with Piggot there's always something that pisses her off."
"You're still mad about the two week probation she put you under? That was six months ago."
"Two weeks I'm not going to get back, not to mention what that's going to look like to the brass upstairs."
"She could have fired you. If Micheal had pressed charges she'd have to fire you."
Maria ground her teeth at the mention of her ex's name. "It was just a misunderstanding."
"You broke a restraining order."
"It was my kid's birthday, damn it. I have a right to see my kids, no matter what some asshole judge says. If I had a slick lawyer I could've-"
"Hey!" Christine shouted, cutting the rant off.
"What?!"
"You just passed Lord street. That's our turn."
Maria turned and looked through the back window. She could faintly make out the street sign against the glare of the morning sun. Sure enough, it read Lord street.
"Fucking, piece of shit," she growled under her breath while jamming the shiftier into reverse. "Stupid, dumb, road signs." Pulling into a driveway she slammed the car into drive, and pulled out toward the missed turn. "Make them so fucking small."
Christine let out a small snort, prompting another growl from Maria.
"Don't you start," she snarled glaring.
Christine put her hands up in surrender. "Alright, I'm sorry. Rough morning. I get it."
"Yeah, I don't need your attitude on top of all this shit. I-" She cut herself off as she barely avoided rear ending a parked van. "The hell? Whose the dipshit who parked in the middle of the road?"
Christine looked out the side window, and her jaw dropped. "Holy..." Parked along the curb were dozen of news vans, mostly from local stations, but she spotted a few from the national networks. All along the curb were dozens of reports, cameramen, and other assorted personnel. All of them crowding around one house. A very particular house.
"Ah fuck. I knew this would be a circus," Maria groused. "Alright kid it's show time. Let's run off some vultures."
With that she slipped on a pair of sunglasses and slid out of the car. Christine followed her quickly trudging through the grass. As they approached several of the news crews turned to face the newcomers. Maria was quick to make herself the center of attention. Putting her hands on her hips to make sure her blazer was kept open, she cocked her hips to make sure all eyes were drawn to her prominently displayed PRT badge, as well as her side arm. She cleared her throat and began to bark orders.
"Alright folks let's move this along. I'd hate to have to bring you all in for harassment."
Her pronouncement was met with angered shouting from all directions. Maria did little to hide her grimace.
"Hey! Hey!" she shouted, but it did little to stop the yelling. "Everybody shut up!"
A sudden movement to her left caused her to jump back, her hand reaching for her sidearm. After getting a better look Maria realized it was just a reporter.
"Excuse me officer, Jamie Roberts channel 9 news, I was hoping you could answer a few questions?" Before Maria had a chance to respond the reporter began. "Now, is the PRT's presence here to interrogate Mr Hebert about his daughter's actions? Does the PRT think he has something to do with the killings? And if not what is it that you hope to accomplish here?"
"I-um...well-"
"Officer!" Another reporter shouted from the crowd. "Care to comment about the rumors that Samedi has already tangled with the local heroes and won?"
"I don't really-"
"Can we get a word from you about the decision to release Samedi's name to the public?"
"What about the bounty rumored to have been placed on her by the E88?"
"Many of our viewers feel that the PRT is responding slower to these killings since Samedi has so far only attacked criminals. Do you feel that is a fair assessment?"
A shrill whistle broke through the noise, the reporters startled turned towards the source, Christine. Maria shot her partner a thankful glance as she strode up next to her. Despite being the shorter of the two Christine was able to cut just as big an image as Maria.
"Now I understand you all have many questions," she began. "However I will ask that you go through the proper channels. If you have an questions about the Samedi case please contact the PRT press offices or try to contact Director Piggot. As for Mr Hebert, if you have any direct questions I'd suggest talking to his lawyer. In the meantime we'd ask that you vacate the premises or else relocate off the property as your presence will be considered trespassing. If you choose to stay you must remain at the curb." Adjusting her jacket slightly she smiled at the crowd. "Thank you for your cooperation."
Without another word she turned and headed toward the house, Maria following closely after her. The two approached the door. From the look of the outside the house had been in a bad way for some time. They had to be careful not to trip climbing up the steps as the first one was broken badly, and from the creaking groan the other two weren't far behind. The paint on the siding was faded and pealing in places. The whole place smelled faintly of rot and the porch was covered in dead leaves which made a faint rustling noise when the wind picked up.
"Man to think a serial killer grew up in this palace," Maria joked.
Her partner shot her an exasperated look, but said nothing. Reaching out she rang the door bell, the sound could be heard echoing throughout the house. The two stood there waiting, but no signs of life came from inside.
"You think he skipped town?"
"I doubt it, according to the file he's got a lot of connections to the union. Guy like that seems like the type to stick around through the worst of things," Christine stated before reaching out to ring the door bell again. This time they heard the sounds of someone from inside. "Mr Hebert? We need to speak to you," Christine called out loudly.
"Isn't it Herbert?" Maria asked in a whisper.
"No, there isn't a r. It's French. Mr Hebert can you hear me?"
"Go away," a voice from inside called back. "I said no interviews. Just leave me alone."
"Mr Hebert, we're with the PRT. We need to speak to you. Your life could be in danger."
There was a long pause, and Maria began to think the man was ignoring them. Suddenly a loud thudding came from the door as the deadbolt was thrown back. A few more sounds of locks being undone and the door was thrown open. Standing there in the doorway was Daniel Hebert. If Maria had thought the house was in rough shape it had nothing on its owner. She knew the man wasn't much older than her, but he looked almost a decade older. His skin was pale and drawn, and his bloodshot eyes were sunken into his face, giving him an almost skull like appearance. He was half dressed, wearing little more than an old pair of boxers and a white tee.
"You said you were with the PRT," his voice was like gravel, but he was clearly unhappy with their appearance.
"Um, yes I'm officer Christine Gemaco, and this is Officer Maria Black, may we come inside?" This was not what Christine was expecting.
"No," he said tonelessly.
Christine blinked owlishly at his answer. "Oh, ok well we can talk here I suppose. Ehm, well we're with the PRT, and we're here to offer you protection."
"Protection?"
"Yes, after last night's revelation about you daughter we in the PRT feel there may be a threat to you. So for your wellbeing we ask that you allow us to station a guard detail nearby to respond in case of trouble."
"Let me get this straight," Hebert started with a glare. "You people tell the whole world that my daughter is some mad killer, ruin her life, and now you are concerned with my wellbeing, is that about the size of it?"
"Mr Hebert-"
"Do you have kids?"
"I...what?" This was definitely not what Christine had in mind for this little talk.
"I said do you have kids?"
"No, no kids."
Hebert nodded for a moment, than turned towards Maria for the first time since opening the door. "What about you? Do you have kids?"
"Yeah, a boy and a girl," she couldn't help but smile at the thought. "The oldest is nearly 13."
"They grow fast huh?" The man had turned away from both of them to idly trace patterns on the door with his finger. "It seems like just yesterday she was just a little girl, heading off to her first day of school." He took a shuddering breath. "Can you imagine what it's like to wake up and see her face all over the news? Hear people call her a killer, a psychopath, a-a monster."
"You right that we can't imagine what you're going through right now," Christine said softly. "But you need to think about your own safety. You need our protection."
"What do I have that's worth protecting?"
"Your life?"
Hebert chuckled darkly. "Yeah well that's going down in value by the hour."
Maria could only stomach this for so long. "Look, I shouldn't need to tell you that your daughter has really deeply pissed of some really nasty people. The kinds of people that if you're really really lucky they'll only kill you. The PRT is the only line of defense for normal people for the likes of them. Now we can't force you to accept protection, but when you're being skinned alive by Hookwolf don't say we didn't try."
"I thank you for your concern," Hebert sneered. "But my answer is no."
"Very well," Christine stated managing to sound both regretful and disappointed. "If that's your decision we will accept it. Thank you for your time."
Hebert stepped back and began to close the door, but before the door closed all the way Christine called out. "Mr Hebert, one last thing, I suggest you see about contacting a lawyer, because this," she gestured to the row of news vans behind them, "isn't going away soon."
Hebert merely nodded and shut the door.
"Well that went about as well as expected," Maria joked as she headed toward the car. As she crossed the lawn she noted that most of the crews seemed to be hanging back, lounging on the curb while the reporters seemed to be all making phone calls. Bitterness flashed through her mind, but she ignored it.
"I wish we could have done something," her partner said from behind. "He seems like he needs help."
"Well you know what they say about horses and water," Maria told her as she entered the car.
Christine's only response was a dull "hmm" noise as they pulled out and headed back to HQ.
XxXXxX
Danny threw himself down on the couch, ignoring the groan of protest from the old frame. He had gotten good at ignoring when things were falling apart around him.
'First the city, then the house, then Taylor. The couch might as well be next,' he joked internally.
He didn't know how long he laid there, staring up at the ceiling. He'd like to have said that he was debating the PRT's offer, or railing against all the injustice in his life, but really he was just laying there staring at nothing. It was something he'd been doing a lot of lately. Ever since those capes had come to his house and left with what little hope he had going for him. When they told him what Taylor had done. It made him sick to even think about. He wanted to shout at them, call them liars, but deep down he knew they were telling the truth. His sweet little girl had become a killer. It had to be true, it was too horrible not to be.
A low growl and sharp pain from his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten since last night. Looking at his watch he saw it was nearly noon. Danny knew he should eat something, but honestly he couldn't bring himself to sit up. He wondered how long it would take to starve to death. Days maybe even weeks. Would anyone notice? Would he last that long or would some psycho with powers and a grudge get him by then? And would that be so bad?
'At least I'd get to be with Annette again.' There was some comfort he thought, in not having to deal with this anymore. What was he really holding on to? Taylor used to be the immediate answer, but now? Now the next time he saw her would be on the six o'clock news. His city? He almost laughed at that. The city gave up on him first, and now what point would there be in trying to save it?
'Better off this way. Saves everyone a lot of time. If nothing else it would make for a good sound bite for those vultures out there "Samedi's father gives up, takes the easy way out. Pictures after the break." Scumbags.'
The more he thought about them the more pissed he got. He wasn't going to give those assholes the satisfaction. Danny didn't know if spite was a good reason to live, but given how hope and love failed to inspire spite was better than nothing. At least he wouldn't run out of spite. The world wanted to call his Taylor a monster? Fine, but he was going to fight tooth and nail to spit in its face when it does.
'What I need is someone who can take the fight to them, who can fight their game,' Danny mused. 'I need someone amoral, and who'll use every dirty trick in the book.'
With that thought in mind he gave Alan a quick call.
A few quick rings and Danny heard his old friends voice. "Hello, this is Alan Barnes."
"Alan, it's Danny," he did is best to put on his practiced professional tone.
"Danny!" Alan nearly shouted over the phone. "Jesus buddy, how the hell are you holding up?"
"It's been rough."
"I can't even imagine. First Annette and now Taylor. You should have seen Emma when she heard the news. It was like someone walked over her grave. We had to keep her home from school, poor girl had a panic attack, The wife is home with her now."
"Yeah, poor Emma."
"I know they were on the outs but I think deep down she still loved Taylor like a sister. To hear something like this happened...well she's a strong girl she'll get through it." Danny almost reconsidered death, but Alan seemed to remember himself. "So what can I do for you?"
"I need a lawyer."
"Oh...umm, well I'd love to help buddy but I'm a divorce lawyer, not a defense lawyer. Especially with capes. It's a whole different thing. I know some people that you could call and have them take Taylor's case."
"It's not Taylor who needs help."
"Then what...?"
"Well I'm looking out my front window at about a dozen reporters."
"Oh?" Alan noticeably perked up at that.
"Yeah, and what I need is someone to help me take them all down a peg. These people have been running story after story about what kind of monster Taylor is, my own daughter. They're treating her like she's the next member of the Slaughter House 9. So I'm going to take their words and ram it down their throats. I need to make them pay for ruining my daughter's life."
"Now that my friend is something more up my alley." There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "Still I can only do so much. What you need is someone more trained at dealing with the press."
"And do you know such a person?"
"As luck would have it I do, and I know she has been hoping for a case just like yours. Stay on the line and I'll bing her in here...but before I do I should warn you this might start to get a bit pricey. You may be a friend but well I'm not sure this will be in your price range."
"Don't worry, I don't care what it cost, even if I have to sell the house, I'm going to fight them with everything I got, and I'm going to win."
"Danny, buddy, you're starting to speak my language. Now don't move I'll be back in a sec with our third musketeer."
XxXXxX
It had been a rough morning for Taylor. She had slept far later than normal, even taking the late night into account. She wasn't sure why Uber and Leet decided to come after her, but they seemed intent on killing her. It was an odd feeling being the one attacked, she wasn't used to being on the defense. The last few days had proven that she couldn't count on always being the one to pick the battles. First the Protectorate and then those two idiots. Still given who they were she at least didn't need to worry about holding back. A lot of people cheered them on, but deep down they were scum. Between those whores on 5th street and those poor zoo turtles Uber and Leet earned what happened to them.
What shocked her after she took Uber's power was just how much potential they were wasting. With just a thought she could understand how to play music, or paint masterpieces, or even preform surgery. He could have done anything, made the world a beautiful place or helped the sick, and what did he do with his power? Bully people, lord it over the weak or helpless and laugh when they got hurt. There was no doubt in Taylor's mind, they deserved to die.
It was frustrating though that Leet died before she had a chance to see how his power worked. Tinkers were almost a class to themselves when it came to being heroes. Dragon, and Armsmaster proved that, and thanks to her other powers she didn't need to worry about her gear failing in a fight. It was frustrating to come close and lose it at the last second. The worst part was how close her power, her first power, was to it. At first, when she first read about powers she was certain that was what she was. Seeing how everything fits together, like blueprints in her head, sounded exactly like what the Internet said being a Tinker was like. Unlike Tinkers she couldn't make anything though, sure give her a bunch of parts and she could figure out how to make a car out of them, but she couldn't do it from scratch.
She couldn't even really repair Tinker tech most of the time. After Leet and Uber died Taylor had taken the radar thing that they had used to find her. It was some sort of cape finder, and Taylor had hoped that if she got it working again it would help her track down her targets. Try as she might though she couldn't get the thing to work. There were pieces that seemed...wrong somehow. Something her power couldn't identify. It was like looking at an optical illusion. The more she tried to make sense of it the less sense it made. By the time she finally gave up it was already noon.
Angry at the lack of progress and without much else to do she decided it would be best to get away from her hideout and get some fresh air. That was when she first started to feel like something was off. Normally as she weaved through the rows of abandoned warehouses and makeshift shelters the people that made the Boat Graveyard their home paid her little heed. To them she must have looked like any other runaway in the city. There were plenty like her in the Graveyard. Today though a few seemed to take an interest. Normally the stares wouldn't bother her, she had long guessed what many of them would want with a young girl with nowhere to go, but given her power there was little to fear if any should try anything. Today though the looks were different. More focused, and inquisitive. She doubted that they meant anything by it, but still it set her on edge.
In the hopes of getting her day back to normal she headed to the gym to get a workout in. If she just stuck to her routine she'd be able to put her mind to rest, and if there was trouble it be easier to spot in places she knew well. While there she found another use for Uber's power. It turned out that with it on she could understand a bunch of different ways to get a work out in. It was fascinating to use his power, even on something that mundane. She only wished she could keep each new skill, but as she started to learn a new one the older one would slip away. Still being able to run with the skill of a marathon winner, if not the endurance, and then the next second being able to craft a total work out better than any of the trainers at the gym was deeply satisfying.
'This explains how such a nerdy guy was so built. I wonder if I could do this with other stuff? It'd be interesting to experiment,' Taylor thought as she finished her workout.
Taylor started to head to the locker room feeling worn but oddly invigorated. As she got to the door she noticed a couple looking at her. From the looks of things they were frequent costumers. The girl was slim, but in a healthy way instead of the half-starved look Taylor knew she had. The guy with her though was all muscle, looking like he was chiseled out of stone. He gave her a smile when he noticed her look. Taylor almost smiled back but noticed the look on the face on the girl next to him. She was frowning, but not in anger. Rather she seemed to trying to place Taylor.
Hurriedly Taylor ducked inside the locker room and out of sight.
'Stupid,' Taylor thought. 'What if they went to school? You've been missing for weeks. They'd know you ran away. They'd have to call the cops.'
A part of her knew that she was being paranoid. The odds of her being recognized by anyone were almost zero especially on this side of town. The girl was likely just mad Taylor was checking out her boyfriend.
'What were you hoping would happen?' she asked herself as she started the water on the shower. 'Do you really think a guy like that would want to have anything to do with you? Would anyone after what you've done?'
As the warm water slid down her body she countered, 'I did what I had to. I needed to get stronger. To be a hero.'
'Do you really think that will make up for everything?'
'It has to.' With that final thought she tried to drive out the distant voice. By the time she had gotten it to quite down the water had long gone cold. Quickly dressing she headed out. The sun had started to set by now. The library would be closed by now meaning she couldn't even get access to the computers. That meant she had little to do with the rest of the day except wander aimlessly.
Her walking eventually wound up bringing her to the docks. Most of the shops had begun to close up for the night, and the people were filing off. With such a crowd it was easy for her not to notice that she was being followed until someone grabbed her shoulder. It took all of her self-control not to blast her attacker the second their hand came down.
"You," turning she saw the attack was one of the dock's enforcers glaring at her with beady eyes. "We don't want your kind around here."
"My kind?"
"You know what I mean, move out of here. You'll drive off paying customers," he practically spat
"I'm not-" Taylor paused unsure what to say.
"Just get out of here before me and the boys have to run you off."
With that the man shoved her roughly, nearly knocking her to the ground and stormed off.
'He's just another bully,' she thought. 'I could take him down in a second.'
Still she did nothing, but watch him go. She knew she had the power to tear him apart, but he didn't deserve it. Not really. If she was going to be a hero she couldn't just use her powers on anyone who pissed her off. That's what villains did. So instead she stalked off, back toward the rougher side of town. First she should find a place to eat.
XxXXxX
One salad, three burgers, and a slice of cake later Taylor let out a soft sigh of contentment as she leaned back in her booth. She was lucky when she found this little hole in the wall diner. Tonight was shaping up far better than last night. At least no one had attacked her yet.
"You all set?" the waitress asked as she approached the table. She was an older woman, with hard features. Yet she had an easy smile.
"Yeah, thank you," Taylor said reaching into her pocket. "How much do I owe you?"
"Oh don't worry about it sweetheart. It's on the house." The waitress gave Taylor another smile as she took away the last of her plates.
"I can't accept that," Taylor protested.
"Don't worry about it. You look like you could use the break. I know how hard life can be for someone in your position."
"I-" Taylor began to call out when something caught her eye. Left at one of the tables was an old newspaper, folded so that she could only see the bottom half of the picture on the front page. It was a close up of a face, but something about it seemed familiar. Reaching out with trembling hand she grabbed the paper and unfolded it. Plastered across the front was her face. Above read one line:
Samedi Reveled!
Her heart almost stopped. Her veins turned to ice. All over the restaurant things began to shake as her breathing became more and more erratic. Eyes darting around the nearly empty diner it didn't seem like anyone was paying any attention to her.
'I need to calm down,' She told herself. Standing on wobbly legs she walked back to the bathroom. Stumbling inside she clutched the sink. Turning on and splashing her face with some water she tried to get her head back together.
"This is bad," she said aloud. "But it's not like the heroes didn't know who I was already. I just need to get back home and think."
Home. It was strange to think of the little shelter she found in the Boat Graveyard as home. It was always meant to be temporary. A place to rest and hide between her targets. Somewhere that wouldn't lead back to dad.
"Dad!" Taylor shouted. If they gave out her name then her dad certainly had heard by now. God this would kill him, if the villains didn't first. She needed to find him make sure he was safe. She burst out of the bathroom, and ran out the exit. Focusing she used Vite's power to form the fastest way home, and with a touch of Uber's power to perfect her running technique she sprinted at full speed towards her house.
The blocks flew by her, all she could see was the path in front of her as she ran. It didn't take long until her body began to scream in protest. She pushed it out of her head. Nothing mattered but making sure dad was safe. It didn't matter if her lungs felt like they were breathing fire, or that her legs felt like she was running through battery acid. None of it mattered, because if her dad was hurt or worse...she didn't know what she'd do. If she could forgive herself for it. How could she be a hero if she killed her father? So she ran as fast as she could.
XxXXxX
It took her twenty minutes to reach Lord Street. She felt like vomiting, but she couldn't stop now. Not when she was this close. As she got close enough to see her house she allowed herself to slow down. Taking deep breaths she considered her options. The lights were off, but otherwise the house seemed to be normal.
'Ok, now what?' Taylor asked herself. Going through the front was out of the question. She wanted to see her dad desperately, but she knew she couldn't face him. Not yet. She had left the first time specifically to avoid having to explain to her dad where she went at night. She didn't think she could stand it if he looked at her the way the heroes had. Maybe when she made up for everything, when she became a hero she could see him again. Make him proud, but not yet.
Still, standing staring at her house her heart yearned to go back to the house. To try and recover some part of her before she started this whole mess. She couldn't go in the front, but there were other ways into the house. Ones that wouldn't alert her dad that she had come home.
Quickly and quietly she headed into her back yard, using some quickly learned stealth techniques. Getting to the window she was looking for she carefully used her telekinesis to pull herself up towards her bedroom window. A quick motion of her hand unlocked the latch and slipped inside. Her room was dark but that mattered little to Taylor as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. In moments the room was as bright as it would have been had it been a sunny morning.
She took in the room. Nothing had changed since she had left. Almost unconsciously she began to wander about her old room. Her books still sat on the shelves, dust covering them. Her desk was littered with old school work that was left undone. Had she not known better she would have said it was like she had never left.
Laying back on her bed she stared up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes she tried to imagine that none of this had ever happened. That she could be the Taylor that had lived in this room. The things that she had done, and the things she was still going to have to do before it was over, had made her into someone that didn't belong here anymore. She knew that now more than ever. Too much had changed. There was no going back.
Rolling over on her side she noticed something on the bedside table. Such a little thing, though it meant a lot at the time. Picking it up she looked over the carefully done wrapping paper. A present she never got to give. Her fingers traced the name: Maggie. Taylor had thought she was different. Someone that wanted to help her against Emma and the rest. She should have known better. Rushing out to get her something nice. That was something friends did. It was nice for a while to think she had a real friend. Taylor didn't know what Maggie and Emma had planned, but from what she overheard when Maggie was one the phone was enough. Looking down at the present she should have thrown the stupid thing away, but she could never bring herself to. It may have been a lie, but it was a nice lie.
Floating it back to its spot on the table Taylor couldn't help but laugh a little. She never did seem to learn her lesson.
Suddenly a distant rumble like thunder drew her attention to her window. Distantly she could make out a bright glow in the direction of the Boat Graveyard, lit against billows of dark smoke. Reaching out with her hearing she found the sound she was looking for across the street.
"This is Micheal Marcus and for those of you just joining us here at channel six we are confirming reports now that what has been termed an all out assault by several villains seemingly under the direction of the Bridge Street Merchants in the area know to local residence as the Boat Graveyard. We have no word yet on the motive behind this seemingly random attack or if any of the city's heroes are currently in response. The local PRT has called off fire and rescue efforts until the area is deemed secure. They are also urging any residents in the area to evacuate in an orderly fashion. The following locations have been cleared as emergency care centers: The 13th Precinct, Anderson urgant care center..."
Slowly Taylor focused her hearing back to normal levels. She knew what the Merchants were after. There was only one thing in the whole Graveyard worth their time. Her. People were out there dying because they wanted her to show herself. Because of who she was. Because like the present, this room, this life had become a lie. This room belonged to Taylor Hebert, but Taylor Hebert was no longer a person. Not now. There was no place for her in the real world, in the world where good people suffered at the hands of those lucky enough to be stronger than them. She was too weak to survive there. Samedi though? Samedi could survive, and she'd make people like that pay.
Opening her window she slid out, but rather than falling she held herself in the air. It would be faster to fly. She wasn't a hero. Not yet. The Merchants didn't want a hero though. They wanted Samedi. So she'd indulge them.