A/N: Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it :)
"…And we need more vegetables, fish, preferably Salmon, cheese and bread rolls." The cook, Fredric listed the items needed to be bought from the food stalls in Bloodstone.
"Anything else?" Rose deadpanned, having listened to the seemingly never-ending list.
"No, that will be all," he answered. Rose sighed, grabbing the coin purse from the kitchen table.
The markets in Bloodstone were filled…mostly with prostitutes. Walking around alone made her feel nervous. Normally Alfie would accompany her when she was doing her errands, when he wasn't at sea. If not she would have gone with another member of staff, or it would have been someone else doing the errands in the first place. Jemma was no use what-so-ever. The girl saw Reaver as a god amongst men, and followed him like a lost puppy. She swooned at his very sight. Rose push the thought of Reaver aside. The monster killed her brother.
Drunken laughter filled her ears. Her heart raced. She tried to ignore them, to think of something, anything that could distract her.
"Lookie here boys," one of them laughed.
"Hey pretty lady," another joined, as the others wolf whistled and howled. There were five of them. Each holding a bottle of some sort of alcohol.
"Why don't you come play with us lovey," the first slurred, stumbling into his friend and bursting into a fit of laughter. It was common for people to be drunk during the early hours of the day. No one really cared here. Onlookers kept walking. She backed away from the men.
"I-I d-don't want any trouble," she said quietly. She suddenly felt her back press against something cold and hard. She turned her head, seeing she'd been backed into a wall.
"Neither do we love, so give us what we want, and there won't be any problems," a third said. A gun shot rang out, causing Rose to flinch and close her eyes. The third man fell to the ground, a bullet in his brain. There. Stood behind him. Was her.
"Or," she began. "The rest of you can leave now, and avoid ending up like you friend here."
Rose's eyes shot open, focusing only on the 18 year old girl who stood, a Flintlock Pistol in her hand.
"Alice," Rose breathed, instantly feeling safer with her presence nearby.
"Who do you think you are girly?" one of the men said, short and stubby, with dirty blond hair.
Alice chuckled darkly, "Now now boys. I don't want to repeat myself twice."
Rose's eyes widened. This wasn't Alice. This wasn't the sweet little girl she lost 10 years ago.
"Roger, I think she's serious," a man with ginger hair timidly.
"Don't think we'll forget this kid. You won't always be around to look after your friend here," the stubby man warned 'Roger', glaring daggers at Alice.
"Don't count on it," Alice said firmly. The five men left, dragging the body of their dead friend with them.
Alice looked at Rose with concern. All signs of anger gone.
"Are you ok?" Alice asked softly, taking a step towards Rose, only for Rose to flinch at the movement. Alice's heart sunk.
"Y-you killed him," Rose whispered, before falling into darkness.
"What is she doing here?" a voice hissed. It was the first thing Rose heard when she awoke.
"I couldn't bloody leave her there Rhydian," a familiar voice whispered angrily. Rose blinked a few times, adjusting to the faint light coming from a fireplace. She looked around. She wasn't anywhere she knew. She didn't even know what had happened.
"A-Alice?" Rose choked out, catching both Alice's and Rhydian's attention. Alice sent one last glare at Rhydian before going to Rose's side.
"How are you feeling?" Alice asked softly, sitting on the edge of the single bed.
"Light headed," Rose said weakly. "What happened?"
"You fainted. I brought you back to our…place," Alice answered. "Hungry?"
Rose shook her head slightly.
"You shot him," Rose said softly, eyeing Alice sadly.
Alice sighed, sending the blonde an apologetic look. "I…I couldn't let them hurt you."
"So you shot him?" Rose's voice was laced with disbelief and sadness.
"Told you she wouldn't understand," Rhydian suddenly voiced.
"No," Rose snapped. "No I don't understand. You're just like Reaver." The last few words came out a pained whisper.
"I'm nothing like Reaver," Alice said angrily.
"Really? Cause right now I don't see any difference."
"And the penny drops," Rhydian deadpanned.
"Rhydian!" both girls snapped angrily, glaring at the man with dark brown hair. He put his hands up in mock surrender and left.
Rose sighed, "I'm sorry. I've just seen too many people shot this week. Though, I guess I should be use to it."
"What he did was monstrous," Alice said, her voice laced with anger.
"So don't be like him. You have to be better than him." Rose said softly. "I saw that look in your eyes when we talked about Reaver shooting Alfie. It was the same look Alfie had and it got him killed."
Alice looked at Rose in sorrow.
"It's my fault Rose." A stray tear fell from Alice's eye.
"Don't you dare say that," Rose said, wiping the tear away.
"If I'd come back…"
"This is Reaver we're talking about. He would have killed Alfie sooner or later just like everybody else. If you'd come back, who knows what Reaver would have done. So don't you dare. Don't you dare blame yourself for Alfie's death ever." Rose pulled the now sobbing teen into her arms, rocking her gently and rubbing her back.
"She has to go Alice," Rhydian told her firmly, as Alice prepared tea for breakfast.
"I can't leave her again Rhydian," she told him softly.
"She'll slow us down," he said, voice raising slightly, trying his best not to wake Rose up.
"So what will you have me do Rhydian? Send her back to be shot by Reaver for being late? Risk her being raped by those drunks? She's safer with us. She can pull her own weight," Alice reasoned.
"And what happens in an ambush?"
"She can stay in our hideout in Oakfield or something."
"And what will she do all day? Do you know how bored she'll get? Then I'll have to deal with two hormonal women."
"Oi!" Alice slapped his arm. Rhydian shot her a smirk, that made her glare playfully at him. "She can be useful."
"Doing what exactly?" he asked, rubbing his arm a bit.
"I can cook," Rose suddenly said, causing the two mercenaries to jump in surprise. "And clean."
"Yeah, see. Useful," Alice grinned, nudging Rhydian.
He rolled his eyes, "Fine she can come."