Progress was slow, some days were better than others, some days Artemus left feeling as though he had done more bad than good… But he never wavered in his routine.
And with time, the young girl slowly began to creep closer and closer to the broken storm window which served as the entrance of her abode.
They would sit together, Artemus on the street, perched atop the closest sill to the storm window, his back resting against the house and the girl in the darkness…
The Keeper would speak, she would listen.
Once or twice during those uncertain meetings did Artemus glimpse those glistening eyes, grey as ash, brewing like a storm, peering up from the darkness if he dared look into the gloom below.
It took time, patience and effort to draw the young girl out from the depths of her hiding place. But it was worth it… It was more than worth it.
Shortly before the cold season returned to the city once again, just as the chill in the air allowed for breath to thicken and frost to creep across the slumbering city in the dead of night…
The young girl finally emerged.
Crawling from the storm window on gangly limbs, filthy, starved and weak, but alive…
Artemus watched out of the corner of his eye as the girl slowly pulled herself up and out of the window well, keeping her gaze trained on him as she moved to sit against the opposite side of the window from him.
She reeked of sewage and rot, Artemus could see the extensive patchwork of injuries just beneath the layer of filth covering her visible flesh like armor…
Very few of the wounds were properly healed, many were risen high, inflamed and angry, from her skin, festering with infection and disease…
Artemus found himself looking at the girl, she sat there on the ground, watching him expectantly in turn.
It was then that Artemus realized that he had stopped talking…
"I know someone just like you." He murmured softly, soothingly, watching the girl.
"He lived on the streets, just as you are… The picked pockets to survive…"
The girl remained silent, but her eyes brightened inquisitively.
"He bit me the first time we met." Artemus continued, slowly rolling up his sleeve to show the ring of scars adorning his wrist.
"I offered him my home, and he panicked, dreading what he thought I was expecting in return." Artemus didn't miss how the girl tensed beside him, how her hand slowly inched towards the rim of the window well.
"He disappeared after that, for many moons… But I never forgot his face." Artemus sighed, watching as his breath floated from his lips, catching on the chilling breeze before wafting away…
"I feared he wouldn't survive the winter… Not many street urchins do, and he nearly didn't either…"
The girl shivered then… Artemus wondered if the coming cold was to be her first winter…
"He was taking shelter in some butcher's home, hiding himself among the walls and rafters, swindling cuts whenever he could." Artemus paused to better recall the memory.
"He was caught one eve… And thrown out into the street." Artemus shook his head absentmindedly.
"It was the middle of winter. So bitterly cold that the very air would burn your lungs with every breath you took…" Artemus glanced to the girl again, she was still watching him.
"I was out counting the dead when I stumbled upon him… Sheltering beneath a windowsill, desperately trying to keep warm." The Keeper smiled gently…
"He didn't bite me a second time… He let me take him to my home, let me help him…"
Artemus looked to the girl again.
"He's been with me ever since…"
Slowly, carefully… The Keeper offered the girl his hand, holding his breath as she flinched away. Artemus feared she would retreat, but she was brave… So brave.
Artemus stayed still… Watching as the girl looked between his eyes and his offered palm.
After a pause, a very long pause filled with bated breath and timid glances, the young girl slowly began to reach out, hesitating briefly just before closing her fingers around the large palm.
Artemus smiled gently as he slipped from the windowsill to crouch before the girl, keeping his movements slow to reassure the girl of his intent as he shed his outer cloak, wrapping it around the young girl's shoulders as best he could. The girl was very small, and his cloak seemed to swallow her, but it did a good enough job of shielding her from the chill of the early cold.
Once the girl was adequately covered, Artemus stood and offered his hand once more, the girl slipped her small, cold fingers into the Keeper's palm, allowing herself to be led away from the rank basement without a word…
Once he was sure the girl was not about to bolt, Artemus hoisted her into his arms, cocooning his robe around her small body. She struggled only briefly, confused by the unexpected position she found herself in.
Artemus apologized, simply and softly. She settled thereafter, even going as far as to bury her face against his throat, seeking further warmth as her arms came to wrap around his neck.
Artemus carried her to the Haven just as he had with Garrett.