The darkness
She walked through the market. Her hood pulled tightly over her head. So not even her eyes were visible normally she wouldn't even come here at all but she needed something that couldn't be obtained in the human realms. She went towards the stall in question almost immediately.
She couldn't stand it here any more than she tolerated the humans above. Her people were considered fae but as a scattered race with no official leader they were regarded with suspicion. They refused to join their so called breathern in any of the wars. Preferring to take the role of neutrality in any conflict.
She made her request known to the vender and waited as he brought forward what she asked for. She paid him without bargaining in the slightest, price didn't matter to her. She took her purchase and headed quickly towards the exit. An elf and troll passed by her as she was leaving. She ignored his polite inquiry and walked away. She wasn't interested in suitors or bed companions at the moment.
The exit was vacant except for a group of redcaps playing with something. She approached them to pass by them. A whimper caught her attention and she turned. A small ball of rags was on the ground being kicked back and forth like a ball between the redcaps. The creature rolled towards her and she stopped it with her foot.
It uncurled at her feet. It was a child, a human child. Another shape was smashed into the corner.
"Hey lady you wanna play" said the nearest red cap.
She sneered at him under her hood.
"Please help me?" whispered the kid at her feet.
She turned to look at the redcaps. They were murderous wretched creatures that were lower than dirt in her opinion.
"Your game is over go home" she said.
She didn't know why she had decided to intervene, especially in a human's behalf.
"What makes you think we'll listen to you, whatever you are" said one of the other redcaps.
He reached out to grasp her hood. He lost his hand for his attempt. She hated to be touched and would not tolerate the touch of vermin. The red cap yowled like a howling wolf. His friends drew weapons. She drew her own sword. It was curved and wicked looking.
Made of Elvin steel and crafted by goblin smiths it was one of a kind. The red caps hesitated looking at the blade in her hands. It was what cost them their lives. The last of them hit the floor and she cleaned their blood from her blade. The creature at her feet whimpered. She kneeled beside it and turned it over. I was a human all right, maybe about eight or nine.
"Easy child what is your name?" she asked it
"Tanya" it responded.
The other shape in the corner moaned so she approached it. It was a human woman. The woman was trying to speak, though her voice box was damaged. They probably hit her to keep her from screaming. The woman's clothes were torn all asunder and she noticed bits of intimate flesh were showing. Obviously they had started their fun with her first.
She leaned towards the woman to hear her words.
"Save her?" the woman gasped
"I did" she responded.
"Promise me, protect, pro tec her" said the woman.
She frowned the last thing she needed was a human clinging to her. The woman was dying how would she know if she did otherwise.
"I will" said Jinn.
The woman nodded and then was gone. She frowned at the corpse then stood and returned to the child. She scooped her up in her arms and carried her towards the street. A human hospital was just down the street; she could leave her there and go.
The Elvin prince watched the lone figure dispatch five redcaps on its own. Then it keeled briefly in one spot, went to another and then returned to the original spot and picked up a bundle of something. The mysterious figure carried it towards the human street and into its crowd. The elf and his troll companion shadowed the figure. What kind of creature could effortlessly dispatch five red caps?
When even he would have had difficultly doing so. He watched it disappear into a human medical facility and then come out alone. Humans flanked it and talked to it an effort to learn more. It ignored them and kept walking. She had walked for some distance before she realized they were following her.
She ducked around a corner into an alleyway and dove down next to a trash bin. One of her blades at the ready. The troll passed by her first she let it go, trolls were huge and some but not all were dumb. She knew physically she was no match for one. It was his companion she was after. The elf passed by her now. His back was foolishly to the alley way.
She waited for a few second trying to decide if it was a trick or stupidity. It could also be Elvin arrogance they were known to be one of the worst for it. She decided she just couldn't stay here all night and moved forward her blade drawn. Nuada scanned the street, where had she gone, for he was sure now that his quarry had been female.
Regardless her fighting skills would make her a wonderful asset to his side. He felt the air stir by his left shoulder and suddenly a sharp blade was at his throat. He cursed himself for being so utterly sloppy.
"who are you and why are you following me" she hissed at him.
The troll growled at her.
"Move another step and I slit his throat" she warned
She noticed one of his hands was metal
"point that at the ground" she ordered.
Wink hesitated for a second. The girl tightened her grip and a thin line of blood ran down his throat.
"Do it my friend she's a bit nervous" he said calmly.
"I am nothing of the sort" she hissed in reply
"then why do you hesitate lady?' said Nuada
"What you want to die, fine I'll oblige you" she said
"You asked who I was lower your blade and I'll tell you" he said.
She frowned whoever he was he had bravado in spades. She lowered it somewhat but kept it within thrusting distance.
"I am Prince Nuada Silverlance, the son of king Balor" he said regally.
She snorted then broke into giggles. She stepped back from him "yeah right and I'm England's next queen" said Jinn
.Nuada shrugged "that would depend on your bloodline" he answered
"All right I'll buy for the moment still doesn't explain why you are following me" she said
"I saw what you did at the troll market I wish you to join us" said Nuada
She frowned it was common knowledge through the grapevine that Nuada was insane.
"my services aren't for sale now go away" she said.
She started to walk away from him
"Do you care nothing for your people?" he retorted.
His anger was flashing in his eyes. She turned to him, a pity he wasn't sane for an elf he was hot.
"I am Takane we acknowledge no people" she said
She said using the ancient title of her people, the forsaken ones, and the true gypsies of the fae world. His eyes widened in shock, what did he mistake her for then an elf?
"I'm sorry I mistook your race my apologies" he said
She snorted and started to walk away. She didn't need this nonsense.
"Will you not hear me out?" he asked