So, as per usual when I’m doing something secret, I wait till past midnight to make sure Melody is asleep, then jump out the window and head to hell.
This time though, I’m not going as Raven Queen, not heading to the fight hall, but the surrounding areas. Which is commonly known as--by those in the know--as the circles of hell. They are full of underworld dealers and people who have set up their shops in circles around hell.
My contact, Fagan from Oliver Twist, as he styles himself, is right in the throng on the left side of hell. I find him waiting for me in his back room, only clients are told how to get in there and he changes the access after everyone. Paranoid, I can appreciate that.
“Took you long enough to get here,” He swivels around in his chair to face me, a sly grin on his face, “I heard you gave The Blood Queen a real beating!” he crowed, “I won such a lot of money!” he runs his dirty hands through his greasy brown hair, making it stand on end.
“You get lost? That was two nights ago.” He eyes me narrowly trying to pry out any weaknesses, I roll my eyes and scoff.
“I had other business to attend to. I figured you could use the extra time anyway.” I sneer back at him, “Now, do you have what I want or not?”
“Alright, alright.” He lifts his hands in the air in a placating gesture. “I got it right here. Some of my best work if I do say so myself.”
He opens a draw in the measly wooden desk in front of him and I stiffen, ready to spring into action if need be. Fagan pulls out a wad of papers, my new passport right on the top; I reach for it and he pulls back swiftly with a sneer.
“The money first, if you please.” I pull out his payment, in cash, and waft it in front of his face with a grin. His eyes lock onto the money and I feel the situation tilt in my favour.
“I think, maybe, we should hand them over simultaneously. So as to avoid any misunderstandings. You understand?” I add wryly. Fagan’s eyes glaze over as he stares at the money before he snaps himself out of it and quickly agrees--I am in full control now.
Together we reach slowly over the desk and as I grab my passport Fagan snatches the money out of my hand with a slightly deranged look on his face. I inspect the document thoroughly before I leave. But if he tried to cheat me with a cheap imitation, I certainly can’t tell. The passport looks authentic, exactly what I paid for.
I leave on amicable terms with Fagan. No use leaving someone behind who might try to find me to take revenge, when my revenge is oh so close. I finally have the means with which I can travel home, to exact my revenge and get justice for my family after so long.
I walk out of the airport in xxxxxxxxx and breathe in the fresh chilly air. It’s good to be home.
I made it through customs clean, Fagan did good, no one suspected a thing. I wonder what the traitors would think if they knew I was back in the country; what the people would think if they knew their long-lost--long dead--Crown Princess had come home.
Melody is trying to get a cab, while Julian stands guard over their luggage. I’m confused as to the relationship between the two of them. Before hell, I didn’t even know that they knew each other, and now they’ve flown halfway across the ocean together. After hearing an unbelievable story from a strange girl, and yet they seem perfectly at ease with each other.
But that’s a mystery for another time.
Melody’s managed to flag down a taxi and is now helping Julian load their luggage. I only packed a small overnight bag, but Melody and Julian both packed suitcases. Which they’ll regret having to carry eventually; I don’t plan on staying in one place long enough to get caught.
Melody beckons me over. “Where are we going? Do you have an address?”
I had planned on staying in a small, slightly seedy hotel; somehow, I doubt Melody will be all that pleased with that idea. I’m right, she’s not but refuses to leave me unsupervised and go to a different hotel.
I would love to just find Anna and stay with her, but I don’t want to put her in unnecessary danger--or expose I’m still alive before I’m ready. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces!
Maybe I’ll take a camera.
The main languages in xxxxxxxxx are English and French, though the aristocrats keep up the native tongue. Known now as the royal tongue, and anyone who is or wants to be anyone has to be fluent in it. I’m a touch rusty, but it’ll serve its purpose, and I’m sure it’ll come back to me the more I use it.
The first thing I need to do is find Anna; and make sure things on her end are in order. Or put them in order if need be. I’ll go out tonight to search for information while Melody and Julian are asleep.
When we arrive at the hotel Melody goes to her room to unpack and settle in. I follow her example; I have nothing to do before tonight anyway, and Julian follows me; obviously to keep a discreet eye on me.
If I don’t try anything before tonight, he’ll be suspicious, and there’s a chance he may catch me as I leave to find Anna.
I’ll have to remedy that.
I put my bag in my room and sit on my bed to wait a while. If I try anything too quickly and too sloppily Julian will know somethings not right. He’s figured out that I’m smart and remarkably sneaky, any fake escape attempts need to be planned carefully, to look like the real deal.
I wait until just on dusk. The classic hour for surprise attacks when guards are struggling to stay awake and alert. Though in my case, I’m sure Julian is being extra aware and alert at this hour. It certainly looked like it when I checked on him through the vents connecting room to room.
This being quite an old establishment, the vents for air-conditioning and heating are large enough for a slim adult to fit in. It’s one of the reasons I chose this place, as most other public places’ have air vents that have been upgraded and miniaturized.
I go to my window and open it wide; the side of the building is rough and covered with handholds to help the climb. Old buildings are a favourite for cat burglars--and me.
I slide out the window and start my descent. I’m not sure how loud I have to be to attract Julian’s attention, I can’t be too loud as that would give the game away completely. Surprisingly though, even as these thoughts go through my mind the hotel window in Julian’s room opens and he sticks his head out.
“Didn’t feel like taking the stairs?” he calls out conversationally with a smug look on his face. I look up blankly, but stop descending.
His face hardens in response to my silence, “Melody and I would like to be a part of your explorations. Which start tomorrow.” He states in a commanding voice. I nod and climb back to my window, knowing there’s no way I could leave with him watching me. He waits until I climb into my window before speaking again.
“I’m going to be keeping an eye on you all night. It would be better for you to wait until tomorrow so we can all stay together.” As he talks the smugness creeps back into his voice. He’s proud he caught me.
He won’t be for long. I can wear anyone down.
I wait an hour before trying to escape again, a different way this time, and before long, as planned, Julian turns up again. He’s put out,
“Really!? You think I’m that stupid? Go back to your room.” I do as he says.
His voice gets more annoyed and less cocky as he catches me trying to break out three more times in the corresponding three hours.
At least so he thinks.
I have tried all the obvious ways to sneak out of this building and a few hidden. Most people would be sure there wasn’t another way out, and what idiot would retry one of the failed ways?
This time, for my actual escape, I barely wait two minutes. Just long enough to know he’s not going to open my door again, and launch myself out the window, with the silence lacking from my previous attempts.
I head up the wall instead of down; our rooms are located on the second highest story, so the climb up is short and swift. I’m using my full quota of speed and dexterity, double what I used in my earlier attempts.
I doubt Julian will be expecting me to try again so quickly, and he’ll be expecting another new route. Not many think to recheck obvious failed escape routes when guarding a prisoner, even among experienced and highly trained men.
It’s still a relief though, when I gain the shelter of the roof without hindrance; Julian has proved himself a skilled watcher. I’ve met assassins with less trade craft then he possesses, he must have been trained by someone. No one can learn that by accident.
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