Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/1752761.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage, Major_Character
      Death
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      Thief_(Video_Games), Thief_(Video_Game_Original_Series), Thief_(Video
      Game_2014)
  Relationship:
      Garrett_&_Thadeus_Harlan, Basso_the_Boxman_&_Garrett_(Thief_2014),
      Garrett/Original_Character(s)_(Thief_2014), Thadeus_Harlan_|_Thief-Taker
      General/Original_Character(s), Garrett_&_Thadeus_Harlan_|_Thief-Taker
      General_(Thief_2014)
  Character:
      Original_Female_Character(s), The_Primal, The_Gloom, Original_Male
      Character(s), Minor_Characters, Garrett_(Thief), Garrett_(Thief_2014),
      Garrett_(Thief_Original_Series), Basso_The_Boxman_(Thief_2014), Thadeus
      Harlan_|_Thief-Taker_General
  Additional Tags:
      Depression, Suicide_Attempt, Torture, Game_Spoilers, Abuse, Brother/
      Sister_Incest_(Non-consensual), Hurt/Comfort, Referenced_Parent/Child
      Incest, Non-Consensual_Blow_Jobs, Explicit_Sexual_Content, Old_Garrett_
      (Thief_Original_Series), Crossover
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-06-07 Completed: 2014-08-09 Chapters: 21/21 Words: 41544
****** Keep to the Shadows ******
by Cryllia
Summary
     “Men who believed themselves to know best tried to control something
     they didn’t fully understand.”
     Life was complicated for Garrett long before he ran into Erin.
     My explanation for how old and new thief fit together expanded into
     story before the new game starts.
Notes
     I've written fiction for personal characters before, but never a
     fanfic. Please feel free to leave comments here or drop me a line in
     my inbox. I'm always willing to take help to make my writing better.
     Just be nice, please?
See the end of the work for more notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
The Primal, had it lips, would have smiled.
===============================================================================
 
Clockwise activated the lever and energy coursed through the metal pipes and
conduits. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, but whether it was
from simple electrical charge or anticipatory nerves he was unsure – probably
both. With a resounding crackle, the air before him ripped open like a doorway
and where there was once only more of the ancient ruins Clockwise could now see
grass and trees and – Gods Breath – his son! He stepped through, never
thinking, never caring about the consequences.
===============================================================================
 
The man, small foolish thing, got what it wanted. He would pay for that
mistake. Mortals were far too frail and weak to handle such power. Far, far,
more importantly was simply that a rip had been made. Finally. With the
confidence of a decision that had been made more than two hundred years before
the Primal reached into that void, through time itself, and made first one
connection, and then another to pieces of the Primal in a form that humans
could interact with, much like the Stone, except it was broken into five. The
Crown. The Heart. The Chalice. The Paw. The Eye. As the last connection formed
old and new greeted each other.
“The City will be in danger. The Balance is shifting,” The Primal pleaded to
its old self. “Come to me. Help to restore it. The five of you can do it.”
“Not five,” beat the Heart. “But six.”
“What?” The Primal, for all its knowledge of the city, all its understanding
was confused.
The Primal sensed the Sentients struggling to communicate after a lifetime of
silence. They seemed to turn to the one who knew how. Its hoarse voice
penetrated through the layers of time and space. “We are…other. Our city is not
yours. Even so, we are connected. If one falls, so too do we all.  We cannot
travel. He can. If this if is to be done you need him. The little man. He is
connected. He is….Balance.”
The Primal searched its vast memories but found no such person. Before the
Primal could even begin to voice this concern the Eye whispered once more,
“Find him here. Bring him to you. The little man must be a part of you from the
beginning or he will never act. The path will be different, but the story much
the same. It’s who he is.”
A new decision made, the Primal reached out through the rift once more, found
the spark of itself inside of a human mind, seized it, and pulled relentlessly,
drawing him through the void.
===============================================================================
 
Sitting comfortably in his study, the old man nodded over a book as a fire
crackled in the background. He had retired long ago, and now found the
remainder of his life more passable with more simple pleasures. He itched the
glyph on the back of his hand idly, and straightened with a sigh. His back
popped in several places, signifying to him just how long he’d been bent over
this latest document. As he stood, thinking to fetch a glass of wine before
returning to his work, the old man suddenly felt icy fingers clutch at his
heart. As his body sagged to the ground his mind seemed to lift away from the
pain.
“Hello again, little man,” A hoarse whisper too close, too intimate to be
anywhere but in his own head, mocking. And impossible. That voice had been
permanently silenced years ago. “So close, and yet so far. Can you see me,
little man? I can see you. With your own eye. Do you want it back? What would
you do differently, I wonder…” The man shuddered at the unbidden memory, and
like a string of paper cut outs, his life was suddenly dancing before his eyes.
Himself at seven, an orphan on the streets.
Himself at thirteen, attempting (and failing) to steal a purse from a man named
Artemus who would lead him into a world he could scarcely believe existed, let
alone be a part of.
Himself at eighteen, leaving that same world, with all the anger that a young
man who was both talented and thought he knew everything could muster.
Himself at an early twenty-something, and his life truly beginning. Meeting
Basso and his delicious sister. Meeting Viktoria and then Constantine. The
betrayal. Losing his eye. The Maw. Destroying the Trickster, or at least his
avatar and ‘winning’. Meeting a clever young Hammerite who offered him a
bizarre replacement for his eye – a mechanical thing. He thought it was just
for show, but the damned thing actually worked.
Himself in his mid-twenties, having to work harder than normal just to pay his
rent. The slow infiltration of the faction of the Hammerites called Mechanists
into the city and in turn, their slow invasion into his life. His unhappy
reunion with Viktoria and discovery that the Mechanists were up to far more
than religion. His slow developing relationship with Viktoria; one where he
might have dared to open himself to someone outside his own head. One that
ended with her death before it was even begun. Karras.
Himself, somewhere between his late twenties and early thirties. The Keepers
reaching out to him, asking him for help. Finally admitting that they don’t
know everything, they don’t have all the answers. Keeper Caduca, murdered, and
himself being blamed. Escape. The Cradle. Lauryl. The Hag. His race through the
city to put the ancient items into their proper places, creating a giant glyph
in the city streets. The Heart, the Crown, the Paw, the Chalice. The Eye that
was his own eye. The hag dying and the magic of the glyphs is absorbed from the
city and the Keepers are revealed. Except for him. There is one glyph that
remains – a key – burned into the back of his hand, still active and throbbing
with power. The True Keeper. The Balance had been restored.
The images came faster after that, a girl much like himself, trying to steal
from him. He takes her in and teaches her to be a Keeper. Time passes and
eventually she takes his place as the city’s primary pain-in-the-ass while he
takes a back seat and simply observes. Until now.
No, he thought, I’m not ready, yet. He struggled; fought with the overwhelming
power that surrounded him, using every ounce of strength his had left, and then
fought with will alone. He felt a moment of weakness and surged into it, using
the remaining power of the glyph in his hand to break free. Not enough, he
thought as he watched the string of paper-dolls that was his life shatter like
so much confetti. He could only watch as bits of his life seems to sail past
him and disappear into the darkness that quickly engulfed his consciousness as
well.
===============================================================================
 
Other things, both people and items, were drawn through the rip as well but
they were of little consequence to the Primal. What mattered, the only thing
that mattered, was him. The man struggled against the power that was the
Primal, against himself, and for a brief but critical moment the Primal lost
its grip. The essence of the man pulled free from the Primal just before the
rift closed. Now it must wait for him to re-appear.
The Primal, had it lips, would have sighed.
***** Chapter 2 *****
He had to get out of this place.
The thought was so all-consuming that sound of leather hitting skin barely
registered, even as his body flinched from the pain and a new welt began to
rise, joining many others on his back. No doubt a few would leave scars, as
others had in the past.
“What possessed you to try and take more than your share of the food, boy?” The
house father hissed as he readied his belt for another blow. Can’t even be
bothered to remember my name, Garrett grumbled to himself, teeth ground tightly
shut against the pain. “ANSWER ME!” the man roared, flecks of spittle showering
the boy’s back, quickly followed by a flurry of blows from the belt.
It was all Garrett could do not to cry out. He felt a trickle of blood trail
down his too visible ribs, and the edges of his vision began to darken.
Shamefully, his stomach answered the hateful man where his voice would not with
a loud growl. The house father stopped his beating. “Just couldn’t help
yourself, eh? Well, I can understand that. Sometimes I just can’t help myself
either.” Garrett didn’t dare turn or say anything for fear of incurring further
wrath from the hated man. Garrett heard a chair creak with the man’s weight.
“Perhaps,” the elder man continued, “We can both get what we want. Come here,
boy.” Garrett turned and shuddered, knowing full well what was expected next.
He had to get out of this place.
===============================================================================
 
Several escape attempts later he was finally free – at least for now. The city
was his for the taking, if he could just avoid the Watch. There was only one
problem. His stomach was ready to meet his spine, and if he didn’t eat
something soon his escape wouldn’t mean much as a corpse face down in a ditch.
The smell of fresh baked bread drifted to his nose and his mouth was instantly
filled with saliva. Without meaning to, his eyes searched for the source and
found and open window. He crept to the sill and watched the woman inside rescue
the bread from the oven with a frown. Garrett noted that it was considerably
darker than normal, but his stomach didn’t seem to care. The woman sighed,
setting the loaf on the counter to cool, and turned off the lights, apparently
heading for bed.
Garrett didn’t waste any time. His teenage frame slipped easily into the window
and within seconds his hands were on the bread. And the loaf was on the floor
with a yelp. It was hot! Far too hot to touch. How had she done that? he
wondered, wringing his hands from the burn. His eyes idly wandered the room and
lit on a painting of a farmhouse. Something is off about it, he noted. Is it
just off center? No, that isn’t it. Garrett moved closer, curious, leaving the
bread forgotten on the floor. It was too far from the wall. Odd. He pressed his
head against the wall, trying to peer behind the paining, but not seeing
anything. Garrett tried to pull the painting off the wall next, but it wouldn’t
come free. Now I know there’s something here. He ran his fingers around the
frame, trying to sense what was holding the painting to the wall. He started
when his sensitive finger pads slid over a switch. Pushing it, Garrett felt
something give way, and the painting swung free from the wall, revealing a
small box built into the wall. A thrill went through him as he eyed his hidden
prizes; a hefty pile of coins, a ring and a tiara – literally the family
jewels. Grabbing them without a second thought, Garrett leaned to scoop up the
now cooled load of bread and scurried out of the apartment.
Garrett curled into a corner of an alley and gnawed on his bread while he eyed
his prizes in the firelight. Should I take them to Oxheart Perry or Black
Bertha,Garrett wondered as his eyes followed the play of sparkle of the ring
across the alley. They must be worth quite a bit.He tucked the two into his
pants – the most secure place he had – before finishing off his bread and
drifting off into a light and fitful sleep.
The next morning Garrett cautiously approached the pawnshop of Oxheart Perry,
unsure what kind of reception he might get. He knew the pawnshop was open and
empty. Screwing up his courage Garrett stepped inside and faced the bull of a
man known as Oxheart Perry. “Whatcha need, boy?” Perry asked the small youth in
front of him. Without a word, Garrett pulled out the ring and tiara and laid
them on the counter for inspection. Perry’s eyebrows shot upward, and he wasted
no breath. “I don’t deal in stolen goods, boy.” Garrett’s eyes slid to the
floor, and he simply reached for his prizes but they were snatched away before
he could.
“Why shouldn’t I just turn you over to the Watch right now?” Perry asked,
holding the jewelry out or reach. Garrett sullenly said nothing, and simply
stood there, hands quietly at his sides. Perry sighed. “I don’t deal in stolen
goods,” he repeated, “But I know someone who does. Head over to The Crippled
Burrick. If you go out the back, there’s a little place underneath. The man
there – he’s a fence. Take your stuff to him.” Perry tossed the jewels back to
the teenaged thief. Garrett snagged his prizes out of the air, nodded once to
Perry, and turned to leave.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Basso heard the newest customer before he saw him, but that was normal. Most of
Basso’s thieves had learned long ago not to sneak up on him as it tended to
earn them a black eye if they were lucky and a knife to the gut if they
weren’t. So it surprised him then, to see a newcomer. Basso raised an eyebrow
in curiosity before motioning to the desk, which he stepped around. Best to
look professional. His eyes slid over the young man before him, appraising him
as he would any other trinket. The boy was small. He would have probably always
been a slight man, but malnourishment in his early years simply made him little
and near starvation now had reduced him to a skeleton. The kid was dirty; in
fact, he reeked and his clothes were in shambles. He’d clearly been living on
the streets for a while. Yet perhaps he was not as young as one might first
think, given the dusting of dark hair across his upper lip. So he’d survived
the streets and the Watch long enough to make it here. There was something
haunted about those dark eyes of his – something that said this man-child
desperately wanted to forget his past. So be it. Let’s see what the kid has.
“Well?”
Without saying a word, the dark teenager reached into his pockets and pulled
out a ring and a tiara, laying them carefully on the desk between them. His
eyes lifted, staring defiantly into Basso’s, as if daring him to question the
jewels origins. Basso just rolled his eyes and reached for the two items,
examining first the ring, then the tiara closely. Good pieces, the kid has an
eye. “Not bad. I’ll give you one fifty for the both of them.” It was a low
number, but Basso needed to see how much this kid knew, and if he had to haggle
so what. Instead the boy’s eyes nearly fell out of his head but he was quick to
recover, the calm uncaring mask sliding back into place.
“Yeah sure,” came the reply, a gravelly baritone that was surprisingly rich in
one so small. So, Basso thought to himself as he began to count coin, light
fingers, but he doesn’t have any idea how much their worth. Interesting. I
wonder if he’s worth teaching.
“Call me Basso.” Basso looked at the young man expectantly. There was a long
pause as the boy seemed to consider the benefits of telling the slightly older
man his name before nodding once. Mostly it seemed to Basso, to himself.
“Garrett.”
“Garrett, eh? Well, Garrett, you find any other shiny baubles like this you
bring them to me and I can turn them into cash for you. You get to eat, maybe
take a bath. You sure as hell need one. You got a place to stay?” Garrett
frowned at that, but shook his head in negation. “You can stay here if you
want, for tonight. After that, you gotta earn your rent.” Basso motioned to a
cot, a bucket that served as a toilet, and a spigot that acted as a showerhead.
Garrett’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“But tonight is free?” He asked cautiously. Basso nodded, unsure what had set
the boy off. “Fine.” And without further ado, Garrett climbed onto the mattress
fully dressed and was asleep within seconds. Basso snorted to himself. Clearly
it had been a long time since Garrett had gotten a full night’s sleep. This one
was going to be trouble. Basso concluded his night’s work and retreated to his
own room, leaving Garrett still sleeping soundly on the mattress.
Garrett was gone by the time Basso woke up the next afternoon. Shaking his head
Basso did a quick account to see if anything was missing, but nothing seemed to
be and so he set about his usual daily tasks. If the teenager wanted to run so
badly, it was hardly Basso’s job to stop him. As the day progressed, Basso kept
finding himself turning over the strange young man in his mind; so sullen, so
quiet, but the potential was there for something great. Evening came and with
it his usual customers, both upstairs and down. A moment of quiet came and he
took the time to feed his newest magpie, Jenivere, when he heard uncertain
steps approaching his office. Looking up, Basso was not terribly surprised to
see Garrett standing in his doorway. The boy dumped a small bag of goodies on
his desk, and Basso couldn’t help but grin to himself.
“So you’re back, eh?” He strode to the desk and spread the young thief’s take
out. “Paste. Junk. Glass, but worth a small bit as costume jewelry. Only good
for the metal.” He pronounced, and with each Garrett’s face fell further.
Basso’s eye fell on a gold inkpot. “This isn’t bad. Some rich so-an-so will
probably want it. It’s worth a hundred on its own. The other crap is probably
worth seventy five all together. You’ve got good fingers kid, but you need to
learn the difference between junk and treasure.”
“And I suppose you’ll teach me,” came the sardonic reply.
Basso chuckled. “I could. Don’t know if I will. Not sure you’re worth the
effort. You’re definitely not worth the smell.” The younger man actually seemed
to shrink into himself even further. His next words were quiet, and Basso had
to strain to hear them.
“What if I make it worth your while? I’ll do whatever you want. Even…even pay
your rent.” The disgust in Garrett’s voice couldn’t be hidden, no matter how
quietly the youth spoke. Basso frowned to himself. Did the kid really begrudge
him a few coins for use board and lodging? It only seemed fair. Still.
“Fine. It’s a deal. We can discuss your rent later. Right now, you have got to
get that reek off you. Go shower. I’ll find some clothes that will cover you.”
Basso searched through his closet as Garrett disappeared behind the vanity
screen, finally selecting a long shirt and a pair of breeches that were far too
small for himself anymore. They’d be large for the teenager, but with a belt
they should at least stay up. He dropped them behind the screen along with a
towel.
Eventually Garrett returned, the clothes nearly falling off his small frame,
dark hair still dripping.
“I’m still open for a few hours,” Basso said in greeting. The older man
indicated two gems and a jeweler’s loupe sitting on his desk. “Lesson time. One
of those is real, one’s glass. See if you can figure it out, but you have to
tell me why.”
===============================================================================
Several hours later Garrett had taken several guesses but still hadn’t managed
to distinguish between the two gems. “Time to call it a day, Garrett,” Basso
called as he shut out the lights. Garrett nodded, his movement stiff and
reluctant. Basso moved into his rooms, taking time with his personal grooming
before tucking himself into bed for the day. He began to drift off letting his
thoughts meander, when he felt a hand slide up his side. Suddenly he was wide
awake.
“What the hell?!” Garrett was standing next to his bed standing in only Basso’s
overly large shirt, one shoulder falling off revealing pale skin beneath.
Garrett’s hand continued to stray downward and stroked his length. Basso
slapped him away angrily, sitting up. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing,
Garrett?”
Garrett’s eyes were hooded, his face revealing nothing of the youth’s emotions.
His voice was quiet but a slight tremor revealed his trepidation. “I’m paying
my rent.” Garrett’s long fingers reached forward once more, and Basso could see
them shaking.
“Stop, Garrett. Please. I think…” Basso sighed, suddenly understanding far too
much about this youth. “That we’ve had a misunderstanding. Sit down.” Basso
collected his thoughts while Garrett settled himself on Basso’s bed, the only
place in the room other than the floor available. It made the two men
uncomfortably close, but there was little to be done at this point, especially
as Basso tended to sleep in the buff. He didn’t want to upset Garrett any more
than he had to, and something told him that a large naked man prancing around a
bedroom would do exactly that.
“Garrett, listen. I don’t ask questions. Hell, I’ve got a few skeletons in my
own closet. But here’s the deal. When I said you’d have to pay rent, I meant
it. Pay. Rent. As in coin. Not….” Basso motioned to the air between them.
“This. I go for women. Exclusively. You may be as slight as a woman, but you
havenotgot any of the right bits to make me happy. So this is never going to
happen again. Clear?” Garrett nodded, but said nothing. “Time to hash out the
terms of our arrangement. Here’s my offer. I’ll teach you how to tell the good
from the bad. I’ll let you live here, eat, sleep, bathe, get laid if you want.
But not with me. I don’t know what your preferences are, and I don’t care –
just don’t keep me awake. In return, I’ll take a cut off the top of your take
as rent. If you move out then your take will be all yours, but so’s the
responsibility of the rest. Deal?” Garrett nodded. “Questions?” Garrett nodded
again and Basso quirked an eyebrow.
“I’m not good enough to stay out of trouble forever. What happens then?”
“You know the law?” Basso asked. Garrett indicated no. “Well, there are a lot
of variables there. What were you stealing when you were caught, what else was
on you at the time, who caught you, what kind of mood are they in. It could be
anything from you get the crap beaten out of you all the way to getting your
neck stretched. Most of the time if the Watch gets you, you’ll spend some
quality time in Pavelock. They keep hoping they can reform us.” Basso chuckled
to himself. “Anything else?”
“Not right now.”
“Good. Now get your scrawny ass back to your own bed.”
***** Chapter 4 *****
Garrett has made significant progress over the last year plus, Basso mused to
himself, as the younger man walked into the office with a much larger take than
the first time they met. Garrett had filled out as well, lean sinew and muscle
filling in hollows that hunger had carved out of the youths body. He would
never be a large man, but now at least he looked like a man, and not some
specter from a ghost story. Basso had taught Garrett how to read, and now the
man devoured books like he used to do food. His talent for stealing had
improved at an alarming rate. Basso had never seen anything like it. And now
that Garrett could appraise the value of pretty much anything on the fly he
rarely brought Basso anything but sellable items now. Basso shook his head as
he began to sort through Garrett’s latest take. Nothing eye catching so far.
“Quiet night, eh Garrett?”
“It always is.” Basso couldn’t help but chuckle at his roommate’s dryness. Just
then a sparkle caught his eye. Searching it out, Basso quickly sought out a
pair of emerald and diamond earrings. Holding them up for Garrett to see what
he was talking about, Basso cleared his throat to catch the younger man’s
attention.
“Now these….these are worth something. Get them from a jewelry box did you?”
Garrett shook his head, “Her ears.”
Basso shook his head in disbelief. Light fingers indeed! “She must have been a
sound sleeper!” he grinned, but again Garrett negated the statement with a
simple shake of his head.
“She was walking home on Baron’s Way North.”
Basso stopped short, all movements ceasing. For a moment he forgot to breathe.
“Are you serious? You kill her? ‘Cause I don’t need that kind of trouble here.
I’ll give you your coin for them, but then you’d better scat, and fast.”
Once more Garrett shook his head no. “She was both alive and conscious when I
left her, still walking home. She never knew I was there.”
Basso blinked rapidly, as if someone had suddenly turned on too bright of a
light, trying desperately to wrap his head around what the young man in front
of him was saying. “You’re telling me,” he began, swinging his head as if to
shake away cobwebs. “You’re seriously telling me that you lifted these earrings
off a woman’s ears while she was walking home. You didn’t kill her. You didn’t
even knock her out. And she didn’t fucking notice you? Bullshit.” Garrett only
met Basso’s eyes, staring coldly. Basso turned to appraise the lot once again,
this time applying numbers. “I don’t know how you did it, but you don’t need to
lie about it to me. Save your tales for other thieves who care. I can give yo-“
Basso cut off as he turned once more to find the little thief gone. He hadn’t
heard a sound. “Garrett?” Shit.
“Here,” came Garrett’s voice, quiet and thick with tension. Basso spun to find
Garrett behind him leaning casually against the wall holding Basso’s birdcall
by the string on the end of one long finger. Aghast, Basso clutched at his neck
and stomach to find his ever present necklace gone. He’d never felt a thing.
“What…how…but…?!”
“Heh,” Garrett chuckled as he pushed himself off the wall and tossed the
birdcall back to Basso. “Actually, I have something to talk to you about.”
Basso slipped the birdcall back around his neck and instantly felt better.
“Oh?”
“Time for me to find my own place. I have one in mind. No rent, no roommates,
no neighbors.”
“Sounds lonely.”
“It sounds,” Garrett corrected, “Perfect. I’ve been cleaning it up, but I could
use some help.”
“Where the hell is this place?” Basso demanded. “I’ll want to train Jenivere to
send you messages.”
Garrett smirked. “The clocktower.”
Basso stared, dumbfounded, and Garrett remained quiet waiting for his fence to
find his voice again. “You’re joking right? It’s haunted! Besides, it’s a
clocktower, not an apartment. How will you make it work?” Basso protested.
"Come and see."
===============================================================================
 “You…” Basso grunted under the effort and thrust upward again. “…Owe
me…so…much!”
“Just a little more!” Garrett panted in reply. “Almost there. Oh gods!”
The younger man breathed in sudden relief as the fulcrum of the bed-frame
tipped over causing the weight to shift and pull itself up to the thieves’
highway. Basso scrambled up after it. Together the two men dragged the bed
followed by a mattress into Garrett’s new home. Basso wiped the sweat from his
brow as he looked around cautiously.
“Looking for ghosts?” Garrett asked, his voice wry.
“Wondering where you were planning on shitting, actually.”
“Got a bucket over here. More importantly, assuming you don’t go blabbing your
mouth, no one will know I’m here.”
“Ah, I talk a fair bit, but you know I never share the details of my thieves.”
Basso assured his friend. Garrett nodded, but said nothing. “Besides, why would
I tell the Watch where the best damned thief in the city is living?”
Garrett snorted. “Maybe someday, but not yet. When my face is in every watch
station, and my name on every thief’s lips. Then I’ll be the best in the city.
Until then, I’ll just have to hone my craft. So…got any jobs?”
Basso rolled his eyes. “You need to take some time off. Find a nice gal to bed
down with. Or you know…whatever.” Garrett’s eyes instantly darkened at the
mention of sex, and he turned away from the older man to stare at the
mechanisms of the clock. Basso regretted he’d said anything at all. The silence
between them stretched and became uncomfortable.
“I wonder if I can get it working,” Garrett finally said. “Wouldn’t that scare
everyone?”
“I’ll see if I can find you some books on the subject.” Basso replied,
embracing the sudden change of topic.
“Thanks Basso.” Basso nodded as made his way to the door. “Oh and Basso?” The
elder of the two turned back to find the little man looking back over his
shoulder toward him. “If I were to take anyone to bed it would be a woman.”
“Good to know. Sleep well, Garrett.”
***** Chapter 5 *****
Garrett paused outside Basso’s window, checking to see if he had other
customers in. The twenty-something preferred his interactions to remain
unwitnesses, even by other thieves.
“I’d planned to give that one to someone else.” Basso said. A pause where
Garrett, even straining his perceptive ears, heard no response. “Are you sure
its worth the risk?” Basso asked. “But if he sees you, if he finds out…!” Basso
protested to apparent nothingness. His fence sighed and in a disgusted tone
continued, “Fine, on your head be it.”
Garrett started as the door to Basso’s office opened suddenly and a dark figure
darted out bowling Garrett over, dressed head to toe in blacks and greys.
Everything was obscured by baggy clothing, including hair, face and eyes.
Before Garrett could react, the dark figure had disappeared into the darkness.
Garrett made his way down the stairs into Basso’s office.
“Who was that?”
“Bah! No one you need to worry about,” Basso replied, clearly still annoyed by
his last bit of business.
“Yeah well, your No One tried to run me over out there” Garrett grumped. “Come
on, Basso. I may not interact with them, but I still know who most of the
players are. That one is new to me, but you acted like you’ve known him for
ages.”
“Well, you wouldn’t have met before and with any luck you never will again.
Besides, I don’t have any jobs for you tonight, but there is someone I want you
to meet.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t do people. You know that.”
“I know, I know. But this guy, he can help you out. Your current wardrobe could
use some help. You can’t just keep stealing any dark clothing you find.”
“So you’re sending me to…?”
“A tailor,” Basso chuckled. “And sometimes he acts as an intermediary for me.
But he makes sure not to step on any toes. And I’ve already told him you’re
coming tonight.”
Garrett closed his eyes, jaw muscles tightening. “Fine. Where do I find him?
Stonemarket I assume.”
“You’re looking for Tay’s Fashions,” Basso nodded. “And, uh, don’t lift
anything off him, okay? He’s one of us.”
===============================================================================
 
Garrett slipped into Tay’s Fashions. It was a typical layout, storefront on the
street level, workspace in the basement, with living quarters above. Garrett
felt out of place, standing in the middle of the store, waiting to be seen. He
heard footsteps on the stairs and waited forcing his normal fidgeting to remain
perfectly still.
“You must be the little thief Basso spoke of,” came a clear and playful tenor.
The man before Garrett cut quite a dashing figure, he had to admit. Towering
over Garrett was something straight out of a fashion magazine for women. Ginger
hair topped off bright green eyes over a slightly darker but well trimmed
mustache. A neat three piece dove grey suit with coat tails, (perfectly
pressed, Garrett noted) fitted excellently around the tailor’s trim body. Shiny
shoes that clicked slightly when he walked completed the ensemble.
“Oh my. Basso wasn’t kidding around, was he?” The tailor lifted a finger to his
lips, considering the man before him, circling like a predator playing with its
meal. Garrett shifted slightly, ready to run at the first sign of betrayal, but
said nothing. “Forgive me. You may call me Tay, proprietor of this
establishment. Basso told me you were a thief of the highest skill, and I’m not
one to call him a liar but this,” Tay motioned to Garrett’s wardrobe, “Will
simply not do.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t have time for this.”
“On the contrary, you must make time for it.” The sudden sternness in Tay’s
voice captured Garrett’s attention. “Consider this, my friend. You pick the
wrong house to burgle. An occupant wakes up at the wrong moment. A guard looks
the wrong way. Regardless, you need to make a quick escape. What do you do?”
Garrett nodded hesitantly. It happened. Not as often as it used to, but he
could still picture it. “Get out as quick as I can, via window or door.
Whatever’s available.”
“Ah, but the City is an old thing. That sweater you’re wearing is bulky,
knitted, and can snag on so many things. You get stuck on a splinter. You can’t
go back to untangle yourself without being caught. You can’t go forward without
either ripping your shirt and thus giving away your position, or leaving it
entirely – a bit of an awkward prospect all by itself. Worse yet if it were
your pants, eh?”
Garrett’s jaw clenched at the idea of going anywhere in the City pantless.
“Your point?”
“My point, good sir, is that I can fix that for you. I can give you an outfit
to burgle in that won’t get caught on any nasty bits of wood or metal. One that
will be silent when you move and won’t hinder your movements. And should you
still get caught, you’ll be the height of thief fashion as well.” The last was
spoken with a hint of smugness.
Garrett considered all Tay’s words in silence. “What would be required?” He
finally asked hesitantly. He could see the red-head quivering in barely
contained excitement.
“Well first we have to get you measured. I have a few sketches done up. I’ll
have to modify them to you, now that I’ve seen you, of course. Basso said you
were slight, but I wasn’t expecting you to be quite as short as you are…no
offense meant.” Tay reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a few
papers thrusting them into Garrett’s face as he continued. “We have to consider
material and color carefully. I had been thinking silks but after looking at
you, I’m beginning to think that cottons, suede’s, and lots of carefully kept
leather are the way to go. Shades of black, obviously, but we need something to
cut it – break up the line of your body. Hmmm. I’ll think about it. Well, off
with it!” Garrett’s head was reeling with the barrage of details and he nearly
missed Tay’s command.
“Excuse me?”
“I can hardly take your measurements with all that clothing on, now can I?
Off.” Tay’s tone was all clipped and professional. He was too focused on
getting his tools, never seeing Garrett’s eyes drop to the floor, his fists
clench, or his jaw tighten.
“No.” There was far more force behind the single word, far more emotion than
Garrett had meant to show.
“Beg pardon?” Tay asked looking up, green eyes stunned.
Calmer, Garrett repeated himself. “I said no. I’m not letting you touch me.
Look, I know this is your business, but it isn’t like I’d be coming back for
repairs every time I damaged my clothing anyhow. So how about this instead.
Teach me what I need to know. I’ll pay you for the time. I’ll buy any and all
materials I need from you. You get final inspection, and I won’t wear it out
until you give the okay.”
“It will take much longer that way.”
“I prefer to take my time.”
“You’ll make costly mistakes. Materials like what I was talking about don’t
necessarily come cheap.”
“Then I’ll learn from them. It’s not like I can’t steal more.”
“I’m no two bit whore in Raker’s Ditch. My time isn’t cheap either.”
“I wouldn’t have expected otherwise.”
The two men stared at each other, a bit of a smile twitching at the corners of
their lips.
===============================================================================
 
As Garrett worked over the next few weeks, he couldn’t get Basso’s mysterious
guest out of his head. As he’d claimed, he knew most of the other players in
the game, even if he never interacted with them. He would see them out working,
though he always made a point of avoiding them. But Garrett was sure he’d never
seen that one before. Basso’s words had implied that the new guy had been
around for a while though. Garrett hated not knowing things. He’d just have to
keep his eyes peeled.
===============================================================================
 
Months later, Garrett hadn’t made any useful progress regarding Basso’s guest.
In his mind, Garrett had named him ‘that one guy’, ‘the jerk who bumped into
me’, or just ‘the asshole’ depending on how charitable he was feeling. What he
had progressed on was Tay’s project. Garrett once more slipped into the
tailor’s shop, heading downstairs where he knew the tall red-head was working.
Garrett scuffed his shoes.
“Garrett! Back for some more help? What are we working on tonight?”
Ever one to minimize words when actions would do, Garrett simply shrugged out
of the overly large shirt and pants that had been covering his real ensemble.
Tay’s eyes widened as Garrett revealed himself. Tight leather hugged his body
like a second skin while a cloak draped from one shoulder. A harness wrapped
around his torso defining just how slight his waist and hips were. Garrett
worked at the neck of his new shirt, pulling a hood up over his dark hair and
neck, and drew a striped piece of cloth over his mouth and nose. Checking his
gloves Garrett straightened and waited for Tay’s assessment.
Tay frowned in concentration, leaning in close and examined Garrett’s work. He
pushed the cloak to one side to examine the back as well. It felt to Garrett
that the other man had examined every seam before speaking again. “And you did
all this yourself?”
“Every rivet and stitch.”
“There’s something missing though.” Garrett sighed in dismay and hung his head.
He was sure he’d done everything right. Tay grinned and reached into a cabinet
handing a piece of folded cloth to Garrett. “Every gentleman thief should wear
coattails.” Garrett’s head snapped up in surprise. He spread the cloth out to
reveal a set of coattails attached to a belt in the same black suede he’d been
using. “Call it a graduation present.”
Garrett slipped the belt on, cinching it to the last coupling. “Thanks. For
everything.”
Tay smiled. “You still owe me, you know. You can’t just disappear.”
“You’ll get your money, don’t worry. But I have other appointments to keep
tonight.” Garrett made his way out of the shop and over to The Burrick, dodging
a few Watch along the way and reveling in the freedom of movement that his new
outfit gave him.
As he came up to Basso’s office he found it empty. Jenivere chirped angrily at
him until Garrett offered her a bit of seed and pulled down his face mask so
she would recognize him. Making use of his time while he waited for his friend
to come back, he leafed through the fence’s accounting book. In it were his
notations for jobs given and waiting to be assigned. All in code of course, but
Garrett had long since broken it. His eyes scanned the pages randomly, picking
out his own jobs from the past. It wasn’t until he got to the newer items that
he began to notice a discrepancy. Suddenly gaining his full attention, Garrett
glanced up once to make sure Basso wasn’t on his way back yet, before flipping
back a few pages and starting his examination over. Sure enough, there, there,
and again there. Jobs that had been marked out for him but with a large black
box next to them, a notation he didn’t know. Jobs he’d never done. And all of
them in Auldale. What the hell, Basso? The last pages were Basso’s newest jobs,
including a couple for him. Sure enough one of them was in Auldale and had been
also marked with the black box. Garrett’s eyes narrowed and made a note of the
details. Garrett hated social engagements, but this would be one party he would
be attending. He could hear Basso’s bolsterous voice now, coming from outside.
He closed the book and set it back in its usual place, winking at Jenivere. The
bird would keep his secret.
“Who’s that, then?” Basso called, coming down the stairs.
“It’s me, Basso. Tay’s done with me, except for coin.” Garrett smirked,
remembering the original purpose of his visit.
“Whoa.” Basso stared. “Well, if you didn’t have the gals after you before, you
will now.”
“That would imply they’d see me, Basso. Besides, you know I’m not interested in
that crap.”
“Okay. Seriously, Garrett. What’s wrong with you? You are human right? You got
needs? Nothing wrong with meeting them. Bed down with a girl, and you won’t be
so uptight all the time.”
Garrett’s eyes flared. “You know damn well why I’m not interested, Basso! Do I
have needs? Of course I do. But just like every kid who hits puberty, I figured
out how to deal with it pretty quick. Conversation over.” Garrett took a
breath. “I took a look at your book while you were out. I’ll take the party job
over in Auldale in two nights.”
Basso looked startled. “Actually that job is already taken.”
“Had my name next to it.” Garrett said as he left, his mind already planning
his newest heist.
***** Chapter 6 *****
As nights in the City went, it was a beautiful one – at least if you were a
thief. Cloud cover obscured the stars and even blocked most of the moonlight. A
light fog was rolling in, providing even more uncertainty of shapes in the
shadows, but the rooftops remained dry and kept footing sure. Garrett moved
quickly to his target, passing by opportunities he’d normally never ignore.
He reached the wall of the Marlham estate and found a few crates stacked up
that led to a dark corner on the other side. Garrett studied the terrain for
his best path. The guests were all inside already, enjoying their wine, cheese,
and bread. Guards patrolled the outside at regular intervals, but left
themselves blind spots that he could slip though. More guards at every door,
but he saw three open windows of which he could take his pick. His prize,
apparently some unusual rock, would no doubt be found on the upper floors.
Close to his heart…and far from his servants,Garrett thought bitterly.
He moved quickly from shadow to shadow, relieving the guards of their purses,
but otherwise leaving them alone. It wouldn’t do to have a guest come outside
at the wrong moment and notice the distinct lack of guards. Taking advantage of
a turned back, Garrett slipped through the patrols and into the main house. In
his planning, Garrett had decided that he’d go for the main target first and
clean the place on his way out in order to get ahead of That One Guy. Thus far,
however, he’d seen no evidence of his competitor. Garrett made several notes in
his head of shinies that he’d need to come back for as he worked his way
upstairs.
At one point he found his way onto a small dark balcony that overlooked the
main ballroom, and Garrett couldn’t help but watch the twirling bodies below
him. He identified several marks that he’d hit before. There were his current
hosts, Lord and Lady Marlham. There was the Baron’s newest pet, Master Eastwick
and his lady wife. As Garrett’s eyes lit on another semi-noble, he had to
suppress a shudder. There was the newly appointed Thief-Taker General, Thadeus
Harlan. A young woman stood at his side as well, and she didn’t look
particularly pleased to be there. Garrett could hardly blame her, he wouldn’t
want to be next to the General either. He shook his head to clear it and turned
back to business, all the more cautious for knowing who was a guest here. The
General tended to take a harsh view of people stealing from his friends.
After picking a particularly stubborn lock Garrett finally found a room that
could only be a vault/showroom. Case after case of rock or crystal or a book on
the subject were in here, but none of them were the one he was looking for, and
he was well aware that he knew nothing about geology to determine if these were
valuable to anyone but the collector here or not.
He paced through the displays dismissing each until, “Trickster’s Balls!”
Garrett cursed under his breath. One case. One item. Of everything in the
house, of all the valuables in the house, the one thing he needed to retrieve
was gone. And he’d seen nothing of his adversary. “Dammit!” he hissed again.
Garrett could only assume that the other thief was still around. No self
respecting blackhand could leave this many trinkets around without taking them,
so Garrett would simply have to clear the house first and hope to catch the
other man as he did the same.
Garrett worked quickly but thoroughly. Another time he might have enjoyed
himself but not tonight. Tonight was all business. Garrett spent the better
part of the night dodging party guests and snagging their purses and jewelry,
as well as anything else of value in the house. The only two people Garrett
didn’t touch were Harlan and his date who, despite looking displeased with his
proximity, never left his side. Which is a shame, Garrett thought to
himself,she’s wearing some nice pieces, and her purse looks heavy. There was no
sign of the other lifter. By the time Garrett returned to the Clocktower it was
nearly dawn. He decided to wait until the next day to bring Basso his loot and
demand answers.
===============================================================================
 
Garrett had overslept. Badly, if the amount of moonlight streaming in his
window was any indication. A sleepy grunt escaped his lips as he stretched. He
quickly bound his hair at the nape of his neck with a leather thong and got
dressed. After grabbing the bag of loot, he quickly made his way over to the
Crippled Burrick and headed into Basso’s office without thinking. And there in
front of him was That Guy, a rock sitting on Basso’s desk, and Basso himself.
“I get it,” Basso was saying. Garrett was surprised at the passion and
vehemence in his friend’s voice. “But it isn’t worth the risk. I can’t let you
do this anymore.” The dark figure remained silent, but waved a hand as if
shooing away Basso’s words. “I don’t care. You’ve been noticed. If he finds
out…” Basso trailed off as he noticed Garrett.
“Is it safe to assume that I’m the ‘he’ in question?” Garrett asked, moving
over to the desk and dropping his bag on it with a satisfying clink. “So that’s
where that went.” He picked up the rock and examined it. It was odd. Some kind
of mixture of onyx, quartz, and bloodstone with three protruding spikes arching
over the top.
“No, actually.” Basso replied with a sigh. He motioned to the door with his
chin. “Go. I know I can’t stop you from it forever, but at least wait a while
before you come back?” That Guy made a sharp motion with his hand, but whether
it was in negation or to simply cut Basso short Garrett wasn’t sure.
Garrett had had enough. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Basso? I mean, if
you’re going to be giving my jobs to someone else, I should at least know who
my competition is. Who is this guy? What hold does he have over you?”
“What hold…? Garrett, it isn’t like that. I told you to let it go!” Anger was
creeping into Basso’s voice now. The figure edged toward the door.
“I can’t do that, Basso. Not anymore. This guy - he’s pretty obviously got
something on you or you wouldn’t be catering to him like this. You wouldn’t be
scared of him like this.” Garrett whirled on the dark one, anger tingeing his
own voice. “Who the hell are you?”
At that final demand the figure darted out the door and up the stairs, and
before Basso could say more than “Wait!” Garrett was after him.
Unsurprisingly to Garrett his prey quickly ascended to the thieves’ highway.
Garrett had to admit, as he thundered after the other, that the jerk was light
on his feet. The threaded their way across platforms and rooftops, with Garrett
paying little attention to their location, so it took him by surprise as he
suddenly found himself crossing Auldale Bridge. His adversary dodged left but
then unexpectedly made a quick u-turn and ended up over a wall and into some
minor nobleman’s estate. Garrett slowed. He knew better than to enter such
places without taking the lay of the land. Was it familiar territory or simply
a mistake? He circled the perimeter and found a name plaque on a wall, and
nearly choked. Harlan. The blackhand, whoever he was, was doomed. Garrett was
about to head back to Basso for further answers when he heard voices. Throwing
caution to the wind (how often to do you get to eavesdrop on the General? he
rationalized) Garrett crept to a portion of the wall where he could hear more
clearly.
“Where in the hell have you been?” demanded a male voice that could only belong
to Thadeus Harlan. A female voice replied, but it was quiet and muffled, and
Garrett couldn’t make it out. Perhaps his date from the evening before?
“Don’t lie to me, girl! Lying is a sin.” It was alarming how quickly the
General’s voice switched from completely enraged to calm, almost loving.
Another reply came from the woman, more hurried and frantic this time. “We must
be punished for our sins. Mother taught me that.” The girl, whoever she was,
was sobbing now. Harlan’s voice dropped an octave but Garrett could still hear
him, “Now be good and don’t scream too loud. No sense in waking up the
servants.” A moment later a sound echoed up to Garrett’s ears then. One he
would always be able to pick out over all others in the City. Garrett swallowed
as his back muscles flinched in empathy as leather cording struck skin. Unable
to bear hearing anything further and knowing his chase with the other thief was
over, Garrett slunk back into the night. He returned to Basso as the sun began
to peek over the horizon.
“I need answers,” was his only greeting.
Basso’s eyes glittered dangerously, his arms folded over his chest. “And why
should I do that? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“No. I don’t.” Garrett’s voice was dull and monotone. In his mind he could
still hear the woman’s sobs, and somewhere they mingled with those of a young
boy. “That’s why I need answers.”
Basso huffed, weighing his options. “Why couldn’t you just listen to me,
Garrett? What happened out there?”
“I followed him” the blackhand shrugged, “over to Auldale. I almost had him
when he gave me the slip by dropping into Harlan’s back yard.” Garrett nearly
spit the name at his fence. “That man….he’s a real piece of work.”
Basso’s jaw dropped. “You followed…all the way…shit.” Basso closed his eyes and
sighed. “Help me shut down.”
Sensing he’d won some battle he didn’t know he’d been fighting, Garrett did as
asked, closing and locking the door to the office, and shuttering the windows.
Basso finished up his book keeping. In silence the two headed for Basso’s
upstairs apartment. Once there Basso pulled out two glasses and poured a
healthy dose of whiskey in each, handing one to Garrett before settling into
his favorite chair and taking several large gulps. Garrett sipped at his own
drink quietly, waiting.
“Anything that’s said here…we don’t talk about it again, okay? Not even in
whispers, not even in private.” Basso said quietly, breaking the silence. He
waited for Garrett to nod understanding before continuing. “It’s a contact. One
who plays a very dangerous game. I-“ Basso sighed again. “It will be easier if
you ask questions. I can’t guarantee I’ll answer everything, but I’ll do what I
can.”
Garrett didn’t even need to think. “Who is he? What hold does he have over you
for you to be so cautious? What kind of contact? What game, and why is it
dangerous?”
“She.” Basso corrected. Garrett blinked once, slowly. “And her name on lips
like yours or mine could do her great harm, or even kill her. Like I tried to
say before, she doesn’t have a hold on me. But she can only operate in certain
circles and at certain events. I give her the few jobs she can get away with.
In return, she brings me all the latest gossip from the hoity-toity types.
Who’s going where when. Who’s hosting a party next. Where the General is
setting up his latest sting operation.” Basso let the last sink in.
“She’s spying on the General for you? God’s Breath!”
“Like I said. Dangerous.”
“So, she was his date at the party yesterday then…” Basso nodded. “No wonder I
never spotted her. I was looking for a guy in black, not some woman in party
clothing. But….why?”
Basso shook his head, “I’m not sure myself, but I have a few suspicions. She
came to me. Believe me, I was extremely cautious with her information. I still
am, truth be told, but everything she’s told me so far has checked out. I keep
waiting for the other shoe to drop. Some elaborate scheme on Harlan’s part, but
I can’t imagine the man has this much patience. She’s been coming to me for a
couple of years now.”
“Suspicions? And you still haven’t told me her name.”
“I’d rather not discuss them. I could be wrong. And if I’m right…well…then I
really don’t want to talk about it. Her name.” Basso took another drink of his
whiskey as if bracing himself. “Her name is Revena Harlan.”
***** Chapter 7 *****
Revena lit a candle and stared dully at her reflection. At just eighteen she
was beyond short, almost doll-like. Long limp pale-to-the-point-of-being-
almost-colorless blonde hair covered bland grey eyes. Her skin was just as pale
which only added to the doll image. Her cheekbones were too sharp, her chin too
pointed. Her mouth was set in a permanent downturn. She could see the
beginnings of bruises blossoming around her mouth from Thadeus’s exceptionally
rough treatment earlier, and knew others would be appearing as well. She’d have
to stay inside until they faded. Bastard. Revena blew out the candle and
carefully lowered herself back onto her bed, stomach first. Better to deal with
the pain of the bruises than the welts and cuts on her back and thighs. She let
the mind numbing pain drag her down into a fitful rest.
A few hours later Revena was woken roughly. Thadeus leered down at her
maliciously. “No rest for the wicked, my dear. Get up.” He ripped the covers
off her bed completely, leaving her shivering. “Look at me, you useless whore.”
Revena could only groan in pain. He slapped her roughly across the face. “Look
at me when I speak to you! Your pain is your own doing, Revena, and you know
it. Now, take care of me.”
Revena sat up with great effort. Thadeus looked down his nose and over his
deeply clefted chin at the young woman before him, waiting impatiently. His
already erect manhood was protruding rudely at her face. Revena suppressed a
sigh and reached forward to softly stroke him with slender fingers. Thadeus’s
grey eyes closed at her touch.
“More,” he demanded hoarsely. Revena’s fingers twirled around his shaft,
playing up over his head and down to his base. She switched up then, gripping
him firmly and allowing her thumb to swirl over his tip with each stroke,
expertly plying him in the ways she knew he liked best. At least I’m good at
something, she thought bitterly. But anyone would be if they’d been doing this
since they were twelve.
Thadeus’s fingers twined into her hair, gripping harshly. With a growl he
pushed Revena backwards, climbing onto the bed on top of her. With a wicked
smile he pulled her arms down to her sides and planted a knee directly on each
shoulder, pinning her in place. He placed his hands above her, his groin now
positioned at her mouth, he pushed.
Revena had had six years to learn the results of refusing even an unspoken
request from her brother and she opened her mouth without hesitation. Without
waiting, Thadeus thrust deeply into her mouth, not caring a whit about Revena’s
comfort, only his own pleasure. Revena gagged and struggled for air as his cock
hit the back of her throat again and again. She could feel his pelvis jarring
her jaw, his balls slapping her chin, and knew that she would have new bruises
to add to the ones from the night before. It doesn’t matter, Revena thought as
tears came to her eyes from oxygen deprivation. I deserve it. Every bruise.
“Mother!” her sibling called out as his thrusts became more sporadic and hot
cum spewed down Revena’s throat, giving her no option but to swallow. Panting
heavily, Thadeus rolled off his younger sister. She sat back up, bile rising
with the bitter taste that was emanating from her mouth. She ran for her
chamber pot and retched while Thadeus laughed at her. Just another day in the
Harlan household.
“Don’t get dressed yet. Come here.” He commanded. She shuddered. Usually after
his morning ‘constitutional’ he was finished with her for the day, so this
order was unusual and boded ill for her. Trepidation in every step, she
returned to Thadeus’ side.
“Put your hands on the bed, and spread your legs for me.” She swallowed and
closed her eyes, doing as asked which left her breasts swaying. Thadeus stood
and moved behind her. Without warning he thrust a finger into her, causing her
to wince. He made a disgusted sound. “You aren’t wet at all. How can you not be
wet after that?” She didn’t dare move to look at him. His finger hadn’t moved.
“You used to get wet for me. Nice and juicy. Mother was wet. You look like her,
why can’t you act like her? Why don’t you love me like she did?” He pulled his
finger from Revena, causing her to gasp.
“Brother, please!” She begged.
Without warning he drew his hand back and punched her side. Revena crumpled.
“Don’t call me that! Don’t ever call me that!” Towering over her like a
vengeful god, Thadeus sent a flurry of kicks and punches her way. Combined with
the beating of the night before, it was simply too much for her young body, and
Revena slipped into unconsciousness.
===============================================================================
 
It was a late afternoon by the time she regained consciousness. She noted the
servants hadn’t been in, not that she cared overmuch. She could barely move for
the pain. She heard the front door open and Thadeus inquiring after dinner. A
short conversation was followed by familiar footsteps on the stairs. Revena
braced herself. The door to her room opened and Thadeus stood there, leaning
against the doorframe. His face was surprisingly calm as he considered his
sister.
“You’re completely useless, you know,” He started.
“I know.” Her voice was a soft, hesitant alto.
“You aren’t appealing anymore. You’re too old and dried up. I can’t marry you
off; you haven’t been a virgin for a long time. What shall I do with you?”
Revena could only hang her head and wait for the General to pronounce judgment.
“Get out.”
Revena looked up in surprise. Her bother’s calm voice belied the hatred behind
his words. “What?”
“Get dressed. You can take a few things with you. But you need to leave. Now.”
He made a motion towards the door. Revena stared, disbelieving.
“But…you can’t…please Thadeus!” she begged.
“I can throw you out now, just as you are, if you prefer?”
With a moan of pain Revena managed an upright position and stumbled towards her
closet. She pulled out a simple grey dress that she could pull over her head
and grabbed a black corset for later use. Black high heel boots covered her
feet. Barely able to think for pain, Revena found a small pack and added the
corset, her hairbrush, and a couple of extra under clothes. There was nothing
of sentimental value here, nothing binding her to this place except bad
memories she’d rather forget. As a last minute addition, she found a dagger in
a drawer.
“Are you finished yet?” her brother asked impatiently.
“Yes.”
“About time.” Thadeus escorted her to the door as if she were a guest leaving
for the evening. Or a common criminal, but I suppose that’s apt, she thought.
“Two last rules before you leave. One, you no longer have a last name. You
don’t belong to this family, and we have never met. Two, if I ever, ever catch
you doing anything remotely connected with the criminal world, you’ll wish
you’d never been born. Am I clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then get lost and don’t get found.” The door closed behind her with
finality.
Revena began walking, with no particular destination in mind, other than as far
away from her previous home as possible. She found herself crossing Auldale
Bridge as the sun dipped below the skyline. Every step was excruciating, but
Revena’s brain had turned off. She kept walking, long after the moon had risen
and the dockfrocks had gone to work.
Blinking, Revena looked around to find herself in the graveyard outside the old
chapel. Despite her situation she had to laugh, though it was entirely without
mirth. Of course. Where else but here would I end up? It’s the only place left
to me. I’m no good to Basso without the information I can get, and now even
Thadeus, awful as he is, doesn’t want me. I’m completely useless. Just a waste
of space. It would be better for everyone if I vanish. It’s what Mother always
wanted. It’s what Thadeus wants. It’s what Basso’s thief friend wants.
Besides…I’m already here. Not much clean up. Still. Revena glanced around and
found a suitable headstone; ‘Loche’. Painstakingly, she put on her corset and
brushed out her hair as best she could without a mirror. She braced the dagger
hilt between her knees and set her wrists perpendicular to the base. It’s not
like anyone will remember me anyway. She drew upward and the sharp sting was a
welcome pain. Warm numbness filled her and she lay down, suddenly sleepy.
***** Chapter 8 *****
Several days after their discussion, a hesitant knock on Basso’s door was
followed by one of the City’s many beggars entering his office. Basso looked up
from his books.
“Scuse me, sir. I have a message for yeh from the Queen.”
“Oh?” He had no business with the old blind woman known as the Queen of
Beggars. He made it a point, in fact.
“Yessir. We’ve found something that belongs to yeh. Yeh need to come to the old
chapel to collect it.” The beggar ran back out, uncomfortable indoors.
Basso frowned. Something of mine? I haven’t lost anything…What is that old
blind bat up to? Grumbling, Basso stood and stretched, working out the kinks in
his neck. I’ll get Garrett to go with me as back up. He said something about
needing a drink and a night off.The slightly portly man made his way into the
back entrance of the Burrick, past the sorry excuse for a privy and into the
crowded main room.
His jaw dropped.
There was Garrett, pint of ale in hand, chatting it up with a seriously sexy
woman. Her long brunette hair was draped artfully over one shoulder, and tanned
skin revealed that she liked the outdoors. She laughed from full luscious lips
at something Garrett(!) said, and her eyes, green like a forest, twinkled. She
was curvy in all the right places too. Basso realized his mouth was getting dry
and closed it, swallowing. He couldn’t interrupt. Not this, not after all his
pestering. He started to back away when Garrett noticed him. With a wry smile
Garrett tugged on his companion’s arm and motioned Basso to join them. Seeing
little other option, Basso walked the few paces with heavy feet.
“Basso! Good to see you up here. Join us for a pint?” Garrett asked jovially.
Clearly he’d had a few already if he was willing to touch people.
“Uh…can’t, G. Sorry. Something I have to do. Lovely to meet your friend
though…” Basso winced inwardly at the lameness of his excuse. Usually he was
more verbose, but the shock of his friend with a woman had set him off his
game.
“Tori,” the woman offered. Her smile was blinding. “Are you sure you won’t join
us? Gary has the most amazing stories!” Garrett grinned sheepishly and Basso’s
eyebrows ratcheted up a notch. Gary?!
“I really can’t. You two have fun though. Next round’s on me, eh?”
He passed Garrett a few coins and beat a hasty retreat. He swore he heard the
two of them laughing at his back. Outside, Basso rubbed his eyes with the heels
of his hands. Was he dreaming? He had to be dreaming. Deciding he wasn’t waking
up anytime soon, the fence proceeded to the old chapel. Taking hat in hand,
Basso worked his way through the graves and into the cathedral proper. The
beggar that had given him the message from before was waiting for him.
“Oh sir! If yeh’ll just come this way, the Queen will explain everything.”
Basso could do nothing but follow as the beggar led him further into the bowels
of the old church. An old but firm voice echoed up to him, and for a moment
Basso wondered if the church itself was speaking to him before his eyes lit on
a figure covered in furs.
“You are wondering why you are here, hmm? Was it simply the need to reclaim
property, I wonder, or was it curiosity that brought you. I wonder if you even
know yourself.” She had been beautiful once. Maybe even a noble, the way she
was dressed. Perhaps she simply embraced her role as the Queen of Beggars.
“You, uh. That is, your man here said you had something of mine to return to
me.”
“Indeed? True, and yet not entirely accurate. But indulge an old woman for a
moment. What have you heard of me?”
Basso considered. Garrett was otherwise engaged and it was too early for his
other lifters to be coming back with their hauls yet. There was time to play
her game.
“That you know everything about the City.”
“Know everything? Hardly, my dear. This City is as old as time itself, and it
hides its secrets well. But being blind has its advantages. I have learned how
to listento the City when it speaks. It tells me the important things.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Skepticism rang in his voice.
“Like the fact that something is coming. And we must all play our parts or our
City will collapse in on itself.”
Basso snorted in disbelief. “Sure it will. Didn’t you just say the City is
ancient? It’ll survive your something, just like it always does.”
“Not this time. Tell me, what do you know of inner demons?”
“Inner demons? Are we talking literally or figuratively here?” Basso thought
back to Garrett when the two first met.
“Does it matter?”
“I suppose not. I guess…Everyone has them. I mean, we’re all human. We make
mistakes. We get haunted by ‘what-if’s’. But you go on, right? You get over
it.” Basso shrugged. “Even if it hurts to look back, you can always look
forward.”
“Mmm. And what would happen if you couldn’t look forward? If you couldn’t get
over it or go on? If you were stuck inside that pain?”
Basso shook his head, not understanding this line of questioning. “I don’t
know. I guess they send you over to Moira.”
“Indeed.” The old woman nodded. “Well. It’s about time we got to the point of
your visit, yes?” She stood and moved, helped by the beggar man, to a doorway.
The Queen motioned that Basso should go first. Hesitantly, he opened the door
and stepped inside the small room.
There were candles lit, a single chair, and a bed – occupied. Bloodied bandages
were piled in one corner and a bowl of clear liquid, various medical equipment
soaking within, was in another. Glancing to his host Basso moved as quietly as
he could to the bedside. A girl was there, face beaten to hell, mouth drawn
into a thin line and her skin had a distinctly grey undertone to it. If it
weren’t for the slight rise and fall of the quilt that lay over, he would have
sworn she was dead.
“Who is she?” He asked in hushed tones.
“There are so many answers to that question.”
“Is she your something?”
“Her? No. But she can be a useful learning tool for you to stave off what will
come later.”
Basso shot the old woman a questioning look before remembering that she
couldn’t see it. Fortunately for him the beggar could and her words seemed to
be some verbal cue. Carefully, so as not to disturb the girl in the bed, he
reached forward and twitched the quilt aside, revealing the girl completely
except for a few strategically placed bandages. She was covered in ugly purple-
black bruises. Here and there Basso could make out the impression of a hand,
fist, or foot, but for the most part one bruise simply bled into the next. His
eyes were drawn to her wrists which were also covered in bandages.
“Look carefully, Basso. This is what it looks like when you can no longer look
forward. This is what it looks like when you get stuck in the pain. This,” She
motioned to the girl’s wrists, “is what it looks like when you can no longer go
on. Imagine what her heart must feel. This is what you would have me send to
Moira.”
“Who is she?” He croaked out again, but this time the old woman answered.
“Don’t you even recognize your own contact?” She tutted. “Of course, you’ve
never actually met face to face have you?”
Basso’s breath caught in his throat. It can’t be! His eyes raked over the form
before him again, but this time applying baggy black clothing from head to toe.
“Gods to grave holes! Revena! But, why?!”
“Yes. As to why, you’ll have to ask her when she wakes up. Fortunately her cut
was not deep enough to damage tendons and we found her relatively quickly.
We’ve done what we can here. Now she needs rest of the body, and healing of the
soul.”
“Can I get her back safely?”
“We will make sure of it.”
So assured Basso carefully, so carefully, gathered Revena up in his arms and
carried her though the streets of Mourningside and back to his loft. He
marveled at how small she was in his arms, barely a burden at all, as he lay
her on the spare mattress. He still had a full nights work ahead of him, and
now this. As if worrying about Garrett wasn’t enough.
***** Chapter 9 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Garrett had come to the bar just looking for a quiet drink. Basso’s revelation
had set his world on edge and he needed a few days a few strong drinks to set
it aright. So he’d come to the Burrick, where the Watch weren’t welcome and
settled into a seat in a corner table, back to the wall.
Three or four pints later a woman had walked in and stunned the bar into
silence with her mere presence. Women graced the Burrick on a semi-regular
basis so the issue wasn’t her gender. No, it was that she hadn’t just walked
in, but she’d strode in, glided in like she’d owned the place. And she had
owned it, or at least the jangly bits of every man inside. She’d ordered a pint
of her own and looked around for a place to sit. Like magic, every male in the
bar was suddenly sitting next to an empty seat.
“Mind if I take up a corner of your table?” The woman was looking at him with
piercing green eyes, bright with interest.
“Pull up a chair.” Suddenly Garrett didn’t mind being not alone at all.
“Thanks.” They sat in silence for several minutes, each drinking their ale.
“I’m Tori, by the way.”
“Garrey.” He slurred.
“Well I don’t know about you Gary, but I’m running low on ale. Buy a girl a
drink?”
“I would, but there aren’t any girls here,” a look of rage swept over Tori’s
face until Garrett quickly continued. “Only beautiful women.” He had no idea
what possessed him to spout such nonsense. He blushed furiously and practically
ran for the bar. Tori grinned at him as he returned with two more pints.
“Beautiful, huh? Charmer.”
“Uh.” Apparently he had exhausted his flirting abilities. Fortunately she
didn’t seem to notice.
“So what do you do, Gary?” She leaned forward, resting her hand on her chin and
giving Garrett a great view of her ample cleavage.
“I’m a thief.” The truth was out before he could stop it. “The best in the
city, in fact.”
“Really?” She said in a tone that implied she believed no such thing. “Do
tell!”
So he did. He told her his most outrageous thefts, the most daring snatches,
the most dangerous jobs. And with each story she inched closer to him, even
reaching out to gently capture his arm. He couldn’t help but notice that it
felt nice to be touched so softly. He was thinking about what to do next when
he saw Basso staring at him. Garrett couldn’t help but grin at what his fence
must be thinking. He waved Basso over.
“Ah, sorry Tori. A friend of mine. Just a minute.” Basso seemed surprisingly
reluctant. After everything Garrett had expected his friend to be happier for
him to be with a woman. “Basso! Good to see you up here. Join us for a pint?”
“Uh…can’t, G. Sorry. Something I have to do. Lovely to meet your friend
though…” Basso seemed uncomfortable and distracted but Garrett was too
entranced by Tori to care much, and too drunk to be useful to his friend
anyway.
“Tori,” she introduced herself, smiling. “Are you sure you won’t join us? Gary
has the most amazing stories!” Garrett almost giggled at the surprised
expression on Basso’s face. Why yes my friend, I can talk to women after all!
“I really can’t. You two have fun though. Next round’s on me, eh?” He passed
Garrett a few coins and disappeared into the back of the bar.
“I don’t know about you,” Tori started, getting close to Garrett’s ear and
dropping her voice so only he could hear. “But I’ve had enough ale. I can think
of something else we could buy with those coins though. Unless you travel
prepared for this sort of thing?”
Garrett looked at her confused. Her hand flew to her mouth, a look of horror in
her eyes.
“Oh gods. I’ve misunderstood. I’m so sorry.” She started to turn and walk away.
“No, wait!” Garrett snaked an arm around her waist and drew her into his chest.
“I’ve just…never done this before. I’m not sure what you mean. Sorry.” He could
feel his cheeks burning again.
“Oh! Um. Let me rephrase that, then. Your place or mine?”
Garrett could scarcely believe his ears. Is this really happening? Do I want it
to happen? What am I thinking, of course I do. I’m so tired of that bastard
ruining my life. Time to move on.
“Definitely yours.” He purred.
Tori grinned and took his hand, pulling him into the night. She stopped briefly
at a still open pharmacy, using Basso’s coin for her purchase, before leading
him to a tiny apartment in South Quarter.
Tori pressed herself against him with a wicked smile, “So how ‘never done this
before’ are we talking?” Before Garrett could reply, however, she captured his
lips with her own, pressing softly. His eyes flared open in shock, but quickly
drifted shut at the sensation. Hesitantly he began to move his own on hers,
wrapping his arms around her. He felt her hum approval as she hooked his own
waist, walking backwards towards her bedroom.
Feeling daring, Garrett snaked his tongue out trace her lower lip and was
rewarded with a shiver. Her lips parted for him and their tongues swirled
together. Tori tasted like summer and somehow Garrett wasn’t surprised. He
wanted more, needed more. His kisses trailed down her jawline and neck. He
heard Tori’s quiet panting and smiled. Garrett ran his fingers down her back to
find the ties of her corset. He made quick work of the knot and undid the laces
while keeping his mouth busy at the crook of her neck and shoulder. Tori’s
hands were not idle either, but she seemed to be having trouble with his
harness, growling in frustration. Garrett let out a chuckle.
“Let me get that for you.” Garrett stepped back and began to disrobe, feeling
the heat of Tori’s gaze on him as he did so.
“Only if I get to do the same for you,” she replied huskily, dropping her
dress. Garrett swallowed, suddenly nervous once more. “You really haven’t done
this before, have you?” Tori asked softly. Garrett sighed, unsure how to
answer. Tori sat down on the bed. “Its okay. Want some help?”
“Help?”
“Mm. You’re a pretty decent kisser. Let’s start with that. Kiss me here,” she
said pointing to her lips. Garrett sat next to Tori uncertainly, and kissed her
once more, softly.
“And here.” She touched her jaw, and a kiss followed. “Here,” pointing to her
neck. “Here,” pointing to her ear and shivered when his breath tickled her.
“Use your tongue, Gary. And teeth, but gently.”
Following her instructions, Garrett traced the shell of her ear with the tip of
his tongue and captured her earlobe in gentle teeth, flicking it lightly with
his tongue. This elicited a quiet moan from Tori and Garrett kissed his way to
her other ear for the same treatment. With a quick movement Tori was suddenly
straddling his lap in order to give him better access, hands automatically
wrapping around each other’s waist for support. She leaned back slightly and
Garrett took his cue, kissing his way across her collarbones and down her
sternum. He raised a hand, hesitantly tracing her breast which raised
goosebumps across her skin and caused her nipple to crinkle. Garrett glanced up
at Tori, but the woman’s eyes were lidded, her lips parted. Taking this as a
good sign, the thief leaned forward and kissed the pink tip that jutted towards
him. Tori’s fingers tightened on his waist and he pulled back, afraid he’d done
something wrong.
“Don’t stop,” Tori whispered, pushing her chest toward him.
It was all the encouragement the twenty-something needed. He snagged one of
Tori’s nipples into his mouth, sucking greedily and drawing a throaty moan from
her. His hand captured her other breast, kneading it gently. He could feel his
hardness pressing against her but couldn’t bring himself to care as he switched
his ministrations.
“Gary,” Tori’s voice drew him from his lust-filled haze and he looked up at
her. Her hands were on Garrett’s shoulders, gently pushing him onto the
mattress. Apparently it was her turn. Her lips covered his for a brief moment
before traveling a similar path to his, across his jaw-line, over his ear and
down his neck. She paid brief attention to his nipples but that didn’t seem to
be her goal and she continued down his stomach, scraping lightly with her
nails. Garrett half sat up in shock as his dick was suddenly enveloped in hot
wetness, eyes going wide to see Tori’s mouth wrapped around him so intimately.
She did something with her tongue and Garrett had to roll his eyes back into
his head to keep from thrusting his hips forward. He felt her hands on him as
well and groaned, feeling a familiar coil beginning at the base of his spine.
She hummed her approval of his response and he nearly lost it then and there,
gripping the sheet tightly.
“Gods!” he hissed between clenched teeth. She bobbed her head twice, working
her tongue over him, each time bringing him closer to the edge.
“Stop, please!” Garrett begged. Tori pulled off of him reluctantly, trailing
her tongue on his tip for a moment.
“What’s wrong? You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”
“Oh, I was. Too much.”
Tori laughed, a deep rich thing. “That was kind of the point, Gary. Lay back
and enjoy it.”
“But- oh gods!” Garrett swore as Tori enveloped him once more, sucking harder
this time. He had little recourse, and even less control left to him. With an
involuntary thrust of his hips Garrett lost himself to the feeling of release.
When he came back to himself and opened his eyes a few seconds later Tori was
lying next to him.
“Damn Gary. How long has it been for you?” She asked, a smile taking the sting
out of the words.
“Too long,” he growled, rolling over and caging her underneath him. Garrett
kissed her deeply, pushing his hips into hers. Tori cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Ready again so soon?” Garrett just continued to kiss her neck and let his
body’s obvious readiness speak for itself. “Then get the box I bought.” She
pointed to the bedside table where her purchase awaited. With a sigh Garrett
moved off of his bedmate and unwrapped the box, handing it to Tori. It was
slightly larger than a single cigar, and when she opened it, Garrett swore she
was holding up an empty sausage casing.
“The hell is that for?”
“You. I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on becoming a parent any time
soon,” Tori replied, kneeling between his legs again. Garrett watched as he
filled the sausage casing under Tori’s expert hands. “Now lie back down.”
Unsure about his options and feeling uncomfortable with the pressure around his
hardness, Garrett did as he was told. Tori slid up his body, trailing her
breasts along his skin and over his dick the sight of which made him even
harder. She sat up then, kneeling over Garrett but not quite touching him. Her
hips rocked side to side over his. Tori’s eyes locked onto his, making sure he
was following her every movement. Her hands traced up her body, and down her
neck, fondling her own breasts and across her stomach and hips. Garrett
watched, entranced, as her fingers circled inward but danced away again just
before they reached that most critical part. Finally they scooped down and
inward, just for a moment but it was enough. They came away wet and left
glistening trails in their wake. Garrett reached up, eager to touch that secret
place as well, but she slapped his hand away, bringing her own hands back to
herself, eyes closed in some internal bliss. Tori’s hand sunk deeper within her
and seemed to pump in and out of her. Garrett wasn’t sure what he was seeing
and didn’t really care, it was making him twitch. She was just an inch above
him and occasionally her hand would brush him sending tingles through his
spine. Tori’s breathing was beginning to become ragged, when she pulled one
hand from herself and gripped his dick firmly. Garrett groaned.
“Ready?” She asked.
Before he could reply or even think of one, she had plunged herself down on him
with a soft cry. Suddenly the strange thing around his cock didn’t matter
anymore. The slightly uncomfortable bedspring digging into his shoulder didn’t
matter. The only thing that mattered was this woman, what she was doing to him,
and that she not stop. He grabbed her hips in order to bury himself deeper
inside of her warmth. She leaned back and balanced herself on his knees while
rolling her hips forward to meet his every thrust. He groaned at her heat, and
she moaned as his length rubbed against her. Garrett barely heard her as she
cried out but he felt her muscles clench around him, squeezing him tighter,
pulling him further into her. It was too much. He released himself as well and
rode the waves of pleasure that came from spilling his seed, doubled for it
coming from being inside a woman rather than his own hand. Tori collapsed onto
his chest, breathing heavily, and Garrett felt himself slip out of her. She
rolled to rest her head on his shoulder.
“Trickster’s balls,” she breathed. “You sure you’ve never done this before?”
Garrett chuckled. “Very. What do I do with this?” He waved at the drug-store
thing that was suddenly uncomfortable on his shrinking genitalia.
“Go wash it out. Bathroom is just across the hall. I’m not sure I can move
yet.”
As Garrett set himself to the task he couldn’t help but muse on his friend. So
this is sex with a woman. No wonder Basso is always going on about it. I feel
like I could take on the entire Watch right about now. Or at least, he finished
and moved back to the bedroom, I could take on Tori again.
Tori had out two snifters with a green liquid in each. “Brandy? It has the most
‘restorative’ effect…”
Garrett smirked and took a glass. “I’ll take it, but I’m not sure I need it.”
The thief knocked it back in one and sat the glass back down.
“Oh?”
“Mmm.” He closed the distance between them, trapping Tori against the wall.
“Ready for another round?”
“Trickster help me, what have I done?” She did not sound displeased. Garrett
captured her lips with his own, and her brandy was suddenly forgotten.
Chapter End Notes
     I hope this was a hot as intended for virgin(!)Garrett? I've never
     written smut before. It was intentionally low on naked Garrett
     details (saving that for later), so I hope that didn't ruin it.
***** Chapter 10 *****
It was two more days before Basso saw Garrett again, and he couldn’t help but
give the younger thief some crap.
“Basso, I’m back. Got any jobs for me?”
“Seems to me like you probably got plenty of jobs from that sexy strumpet over
the last couple of days, eh?”
Garrett laughed. Not his usual chuckle, but an actual laugh. Basso stared.
“Definitely. But her kind of jobs don’t get me or you money. Besides, I figured
you were missing me by now.”
“Clearly you need to get laid more often,” the fence commented, reaching for
his record book, “If this is the kind of mood it puts you in. I’ve got
plenty…what are you in the mood for?”
“Give me something with some challenge. I-“Garrett was cut off by a long
mournful sob. “What the hell was that, Basso?”
“Fuck,” Basso whispered under his breath. He headed for the stairs but called
back over his shoulder as forcefully as he could. “Stay. Here.”
Tired of secrets, Garrett was having none of it. The fence bounded up the
stairs two at a time and burst into his spare room followed closely by Garrett.
Revena had woken up. She was curled into a ball, sobbing, and picking at her
bandages trying to remove them. Her bruises hadn’t faded at all, a mass of
green and purple and black around her mouth and cheeks, but at least the rest
of her body was covered by a long nightgown. The door banging open startled her
and Revena gave a little shriek before recognizing her contact with the
underworld.
“Why?” she pleaded. Basso shook his head, unsure what the young woman was
asking. Her eyes darted to the thief behind him and then dropped, all movement
suddenly stilling. It was chilling to watch.
“Who…?” Garrett asked in hushed tones.
The fence glanced at the thief but chose to ignore his presence entirely,
instead moving into the room.
“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe. You’re safe here Revena,” He crooned, as if to
calm one of his magpies. “Your brother can’t hurt you here.”
Revena looked up at the safecracker with dull, lifeless eyes. Her voice, a soft
alto, was flat. “Why would you save me?”
“I’m sorry sweetheart, I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t I?” Basso replied.
“I’m no good to you. No good to anyone,” came the reply. Basso closed his eyes.
For all that her voice was emotionless there was a certain lack of hope within
that cut him to the quick.
“That’s not true, hon. Not at all. You just need some time to adjust. It’s
okay. Just…rest and heal, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Idly, Revena began to pick at her bandages again.
Unsure what else to do or say, Basso withdrew into the hallway and closed the
door behind him before resting his head against a wall. Garrett was staring at
him. “What?”
“That was Revena Harlan? Your contact?”
“Yeah,” Basso sighed. “Why? Oh, don’t you start!”
“I’m not, Basso. What happened to her?”
“I told you she was playing a dangerous game.” The fence glanced at the closed
door. “I guess she lost.”
“She did a lot more than lose.” Garrett was quiet, his thoughts far away. “Keep
a close eye on her, Basso. I need some air.” Garrett headed for the nearest
window and disappeared into the night.
Basso winced. Inner demons, indeed. He entered Revena’s room again to find her
crying softly into her pillows. Gently he eased himself onto the edge of her
bed and shushed her, stroking her hair until she calmed.
“No one is going to hurt you here. You’re safe.” Revena nodded, not looking up.
She doesn’t care. “Revena, please talk to me. Just look at me. You’re safe
here.” She somehow managed to raise her eyes without lifting her head.
“Why did you save me?” she asked again. Her voice was so quiet and flat Basso
had to lean in to hear her.
“Why wouldn’t we save you?” He asked incredulously, still not understanding the
reasoning behind the question. Revena looked up more sharply at that, but her
eyes were no less dead.
“I am...utterly useless. Just let me die.” The girl sobbed again and started
scrabbling at her bandages. Basso darted his hands out and grabbed her wrists,
roughly pulling them to him.
“I don’t understand, Revena. Why do you want to die? Why would you cut your
wrists?! Why?” But Revena was crying too hard to answer him, lost in her own
sorrow.
“Shhhh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. I’m just worried about you. Can we
talk?” He kept his voice low and soothing. She nodded, but still couldn’t meet
his eyes.
“Why did he do this to you?”
His question got a laugh out of her, though it was an ugly bitter thing. She
gave a ragged sigh. “Because of who I am. What I am.”
“And that is…?”
For the first time Revena willingly raised her eyes to meet his, as if to make
sure he understood her perfectly. Tears filled them, but she wasn’t crying. “I
am unwanted and unwelcome. I am the disruption to the Harlan household that
they neither desired nor needed. I am worth less than the shit you scrape off
your boot and my presence is twice as annoying. And…” She blinked, releasing
the tears down her cheeks as she looked away, unable to bear his direct gaze
any longer. “And I will no longer be tolerated.”
“He kicked you out?” Basso asked. He couldn’t help the relief that filled his
voice.
“Yes. So I’m no good to you anymore. You should have left me to die. I…” She
seemed unable to go on.
“Nothin’ doin’, Revena. But you never answered my first question. Why did you
cut your wrists?” Revena squeezed her eyes shut and Basso wasn’t sure if she
was trying to block out the world or keep in her thoughts.
“I think I have. You just weren’t listening. Its okay, no one does. Why would
they?” Her voice was quiet, the last more of a comment to herself than to him.
“Gods. I can’t do anything right, can I?” She buried her head in her arms. “I
can’t even manage to die properly.”
“Hey, you’re gonna be okay.” He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a light
hug. Rather than being reassuring, Revena moaned in pain, causing him to
immediately withdraw. “Revena? Crap, I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“Sorry. I’m so sorry.” She gasped out.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Frowning, Basso pulled Revena to a sitting
position. Putting his skills to the test his used his lightest touch to trace
the bruises on her face, then moved her hair to one side and saw the hint of a
bruise at the collar of her nightgown.  Even so, he felt her stiffen under his
fingers. “I need to see your hurts,” he explained.  She nodded, but didn’t
relax.
Undoing the buttons of her nightgown he slid the overlarge thing off her
shoulders to her hips and bit his lip to keep from cursing. Her back was
covered not only in bruises from a recent thorough beating, but also the cuts
(scabbed over), welts (starting to fade), and (if he looked closely) scars of
someone who was intimately familiar with the wrong end of a whip. Both types of
hurts continued downward and the bruises wrapped around to the front as well as
down her arms.
“You’ll feel better if you soak in a hot bath. But you’ll need to keep your
wrists up out of the water. Can you do that for me?” Basso asked.
“Yes.” Even Revena’s voice was stiff now.
“Good. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
Basso dodged across the hall to his own room, and started the hot water running
in the bath. While he waited for the water to heat he quickly picked up his
dirty underwear, piling it inconspicuously in a corner. No sense in scaring her
more than necessary. The water heated, he stopped the plug and added his
favorite bath oil to the mix, leaving the tub to fill while he collected his
new ward.
Helping her across the hall was more effort than anticipated. Revena could
barely stand up straight, making Basso wonder if she didn’t have some cracked
ribs under all those bruises. He helped her into the tub, underwear and all,
then moved to the door.
“You’re going to watch me?” She sounded frightened.
“Only standing watch to make sure Garrett doesn’t come back and surprise you.
And to make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
“Like try to kill myself again?”
“Or fall asleep in the tub.”
“Oh.”
Both pieces of her underwear went over the side of the tub with a splat before
she settled into the tub, keeping one suspicious eye on the fence. After a
moment, when he seemed to make no move towards her, she allowed herself to
relax into the heat of the water. In fact, Basso had to wake Revena twice to
keep her from drowning herself before declaring her officially pruney, offering
her a towel, and helping her back to bed where she fell asleep within a few
minutes.
===============================================================================
 
The blackhand ran the rooftops. He had no job, no destination. He wasn’t
looking for opportunities, and in fact probably passed several by. There were
no City Watch yelling ‘Stop Thief!’ or raising alarms. No, tonight he was
trying to outrun his own thoughts, but it wasn’t working. Garrett’s thoughts
were consumed by the girl on the bed. He’d seen something similar once before,
long ago. A memory almost forgotten came bubbling up and chased him across the
thieves’ highway nipping at his heels no matter how fast he ran, no matter how
well he hid. He ran until exhaustion overtook him and he could run no further,
collapsing in a sweaty panting heap between buildings.
The orphanage. Himself and a childhood playmate. His friend had never been as
strong as he, had never taken the housefather’s abuse as well. One day his
friend had come back from his whipping with a dead look in his eyes. It was a
rule among the children not to ask questions, not to talk about what happened,
so Garrett hadn’t. It was a mistake. His friend said very little next day. The
day after, they found him trying to reach the rat poison in the closet. He
claimed he’d seen one in the play room, but Garrett saw something unknown cross
his face as the housefather firmly shut and locked the closet. They found him
the next morning, hanging from the top of the stairwell by his bed sheets.
Adult Garrett identified the look to be one of complete despair.
Garrett sat up, elbows on his knees, and forehead on his hands. Basso would
have to send his jobs via Jenivere. It would be a while before he could face
the young woman again. More slowly he made his way back to the clocktower where
he wrote a short note to that effect and wrapped it in a shiny but worthless
necklace for the magpie to find.
***** Chapter 11 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
“What have you got for me tonight?” The large fence asked. As usual, the black-
clad thief dropped his take and began to head for the door. “G wait,” Basso
sighed. “I could use some advice.”
Garrett paused. It had been too long since he’d had a good chat with his
friend. “What’s wrong?”
“Its Revena. She-“
“No.”
“But-!”
“Look, I’m sorry Basso. Really I am, but I can’t deal with her or her
problems.”
“I’m not asking you to talk to her. I’m asking you to talk to me. Can you do
that at least?” The older man was almost whining. Garrett nodded.
“Yeah, Basso. I can do that.” He hooked a chair with his foot and sat down.
“It’s just that…it’s been two and a half weeks. She’s almost completely healed,
but she won’t move. She just stares at the ceiling. When she does talk, we just
go around in circles!”
“How do you mean?”
“She keeps going on about how she’s worthless because she can’t do anything
right, and she can’t do anything right because she’s worthless. I just get so
frustrated! She’s taking up space, and food, and my time, with nothing in
return, ya know? No response at all. And the worst part is; I care. I care
about how badly she’s hurting inside. I care about what happens to her, as much
as I would if I had a sister. But I just don’t know what to say. I don’t know
how to fix it.” Basso sighed. “She’s only eighteen, and there’s already so much
pain built up there.”
“I’m not sure you can,” Garrett replied. “Fix it, I mean. Not by talking
anyway. Maybe if she had something to do? Help you run this place, or the
Burrick upstairs…? Get her mind off things.”
“Yeah…maybe. Get her out there with other people. See that the world is still
worth living in,” Basso’s eyes lit up at the thought. “I could probably work
something out with Bill. Or Tay still owes me a couple of favors. Thanks, G!”
===============================================================================
 
Revena sat at the edge of the bed, playing with the idea of getting up. It had
seemed like an impossible task, and pointless to boot for so long. But maybe
she could actually consider being ‘normal’? She checked her dress and hair to
make sure they were presentable if Basso had company, before heading to the
stairs. Male voices drifted up to her, Basso’s in particular.
“…can’t do anything right because she’s worthless. I just get so frustrated!
She’s taking up space, and food, and my time, with nothing in return, ya know?
No response at all. And the worst part…”
Revena backed away from the stairs as if stung, tears sprouting from her eyes.
I should have known. I should have known better than to trust. To think that
someone actually cared about me. What a fool. Useless, Revena. You are utterly
useless, and an idiot besides. Taking up space and food and medicine
and..and…AIR. He’s got better things than you to worry about, you stupid
idiotic good-for-nothing whore-bitch. His life would be simpler if I wasn’t
here. I should pay him for his time. There’s only one thing I’ve ever been any
good at. Not that anyone would want me. Too damned ugly. But they say all cats
look alike in the dark.Moving quickly now that her mind was made up, Revena
used the make-ups that Basso had brought her one day in an attempt to cheer her
and fled out the window, heading for Raker’s Ditch – home of the Dockfrocks.
===============================================================================
 
“No problem. Look,” Garrett paused, unsure if he really wanted to make this
offer, even to his friend. “If push comes to shove, I…I’ll try to talk to her,
okay? But not unless you seriously think she’s going to try to off herself
again or something.”
“You’d talk to her? But you’re so…you, ya know?”
“Just…keep it in mind.”
“Sure thing. Hey how are you and that hot thing from the bar doing?”
“Who, Tori?” Garrett couldn’t help but let a smile slip onto his lips. “We’re
not really together. More of a if-our-paths-cross thing. My hours didn’t mesh
well with hers. And she has this weird plant pet thing. I swear it watches us.”
“Ah, that’s too bad. You were less grumpy.”
Garrett shrugged, the smile still tugging at his lips. “I’m not too worried
about it. Mary, Rose, Clara, and Agnes have all been pretty good finds since
then.”
“What?! You stud! I told you the ladies would love a man in tight leather,
didn’t I?” Basso laughed.
“Yeah, yeah,” Garrett grinned.
It wasn’t until hours later, when Basso stepped in to wish Revena a good night
after closing down, that he discovered her absence. There was no sign of a
struggle, nor anything missing - no blood or a note either and so the fence
wasn’t sure what to think. The tightness in his chest assured him that panic
was always an option. He scrawled a note on a matchbox and gave it to Jenivere.
“Go find Garrett, wherever he is in this damned City. And peck his fingers
until he takes this from you!” He grabbed his overcoat and hat and headed into
the morning sun.
Happily Jenivere didn’t have to go far, as Garrett was just climbing into bed
himself. Although he hadn’t been exaggerating with his friend, he was spending
this particular evening alone with the shadows. She chirruped angrily at him.
“Goway Jen,” he slurred sleepily. The bird was not having it, and hopped inside
to peck lightly at him. “Mrph. Leave it! I’ll get it t’morrow,” but Jenivere
only continued to pester him until he rolled over. “What. What is it you flying
rat?”
‘G- She’s gone. No signs. –B’
Message delivered, the magpie fluttered away to do whatever magpies do during
the unholy hours sunlight.
“Ug. Dammit.”
Garrett hurriedly looked through a few pieces he kept for such occasions and
slipped on a pair of dark pants, vest and tie. He tied back his hair to
something approximating respectability and stepped out into the dawn, intent on
finding his fence first and foremost. He caught up to Basso just as the man
entered Grandmauden.
“Basso, hey. What’s going on?”
“Oh, hey Gary.” Basso couldn’t help but put a slight emphasis on the misnomer
Tori had blessed him with. The Watch on the daylight hours were more attentive
to what people said, and Garrett’s name was starting to make their lists. “I
ducked in to see how she was, but she wasn’t there. No sign of a struggle, no
note…nothing. I’m worried. I was hoping we could split up to look for her? You
could take upstairs,” he pointed discretely to the rooftops, “While I look on
street level.”
“Of course. But where should we start? You know her far better than I do.”
“Well she won’t go home or probably anywhere remotely related to her brother,
so we can rule out Auldale and anywhere close to a Watch tower. They all know
who she is. She probably won’t go back to the old chapel either, given how that
turned out for her. After that…” Basso shrugged.
“Right. Riverside and its offshoots are probably the best bet then, at least to
start.”
The two men took off towards their destination. Garrett climbed to the roofs,
being careful to stay out of sight. Garrett moved methodically, starting at the
docks and working inward. He occasionally caught glances of Basso beneath him
doing the same. It took a couple hours before he reached Raker’s Ditch. Just as
he was about to give up, he spotted a figure above him, hidden in the eaves of
an apartment building. He signaled to Basso before climbing up. Revena was
there, shaking so fiercely he thought she might come apart at the seams, but
otherwise unscathed.
“Revena?” He asked hesitantly. Garrett had only seen her once, and she had been
covered with bruises at the time. He supposed he’d seen her at the party, but
he’d only been looking at her as a mark at the time.
“I couldn’t do it,” came the quiet wavering reply. It was her voice. Revena
stared up at him with piercing mist grey eyes that made him catch his breath.
“I tried, but I couldn’t do it.”
“Couldn’t do what?”
“Let them touch me. I…wanted to be useful. To pay Basso back. But I couldn’t do
it. Another failure.” She shook her head but her eyes were dry, apparently out
of tears.
“Oh, shh-shh-shh. You don’t have to do that. You don’t need to do that.”
“But I have to do something. He doesn’t want me. No one does. I’m just a waste
of space,” she added miserably.
“That’s not true. I wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want you. He asked me to help
him look for you, because he’s worried about you.”
“Why?” The plea in her voice was desperate.
“Because,” Dammit, I am not good at these things,“He cares about you. He told
me so.”
“I don’t understand,” her voice was quiet, “why anyone would care about me.
I’m…”
“You’re what?”
Revena’s voice suddenly raised to a shout, surprising him. “Tainted, okay?!”
She continued, more quietly, but with just as much fierceness in her voice.
“I’m tainted. I’m ugly and stupid and useless and tainted.”
The whole sentence was alarming, but something about the way she hissed the
last word raised Garrett’s hackles. “What exactly do you mean ‘tainted’?” She
laughed cynically, but just shook her head, seemingly unable to give it voice.
“Let’s get you back to Basso’s, and we can talk okay?”
“No, please! I can just stay here. Out of everyone’s way. I won’t bother
anyone, I promise.” Garrett frowned. “I-I overheard him. He doesn’t want me
back.” She hung her head, pale hair curtaining over her eyes.
Garrett stroked his scruff idly as he considered what to do. The young woman in
front of him was highly reluctant to return even if her reasoning was flawed,
but the eaves of a rooftop in the middle of the day was not the best place to
have conversations like these. Sleep was weighing heavily on his mind, making
it hard to think.
“How about this,” the thief finally offered. “Come down with me. Go back to
Basso’s for one day. Night. Whatever. Let me get some sleep so I can think.
When I wake up I’ll come by. We can talk. Just you and me, okay?”
“Sure.” There was nothing but defeat in Revena’s voice as she stood. Garrett
guided her down to street level and caught up to Basso.
“You found her! Eve! What were you thinking, disappearing on me like that!”
Basso scolded. Revena flinched at his tone, instantly going even quieter than
she had been.
“Hey Basso, lay off of her. I’m going home for some shut eye, but I’ll be back
first thing tonight.”
“Okay. G’night G. Thanks.”
===============================================================================
 
Several hours later, Garrett wiped the sleep out of his eyes and considered
what his next move ought to be. Piercing grey eyes had haunted his dreams.
Finally deciding on a location, he made his way over to Basso’s loft as the sun
set.
“Garrett! You’re up early tonight,” his fence greeted him. “Got a job for you,
if you’re up for it.”
“I said I’d be by first thing,” the thief rolled his eyes. “And tempting as
that is, I actually have plans already. Is Revena up?”
Basso’s eyes instantly narrowed, voice growling protectively. “Garrett, I
applaud your desire to seek out women, but not her. She’s not a one-night-stand
kind of girl.”
Garrett couldn’t help but chuckle. “Not that kind of plan. I said I’d talk to
her in private. That’s all.”
“Hrm. Go check for yourself then.” Basso waved him away.
Garrett ascended the stairs and found Revena’s door open. He knocked anyway
before stepping inside. Revena was standing at a window, and the thief was
struck with just how small she really was. Her head would probably rest
comfortably on the center of his chest. The oversized dress wasn’t helping any
with the look.
“You came.” She sounded surprised.
“Said I would. Do you have anything better for travelling at night?” She shook
her head in negation. “Okay. Wait a second.”
Garrett hurried back downstairs and began to raid Basso’s ‘for sale’ closet. He
had never bothered to steal clothing for anyone but himself, but some thieves
did. Eventually he found a suitably dark pair of breeches and long sleeved
shirt. He snagged a few belts as well and went back up, tossing the whole pile
to the girl.
“Change into that as best you can,” he explained before hurriedly retreating
out of the room and closing the door behind him. A few minutes later the door
opened again and Revena stepped out, practically swimming in the clothing. It
would have to do.
“Ready to go?”
The former aristocrat looked nervous but moved a step towards him. “Where
exactly are we going?”
“Someplace quiet. I promised you that we’d talk alone with no interruptions.”
He made his way to the window that led to a ledge along the thieves’ highway.
“You coming?”
Revena joined him after a moment’s hesitation. The air was still warm from the
day’s sun but was cooling quickly as autumn showed signs of setting in. Not
enough to be unpleasant; the trees were a long ways off from changing colors,
but the temperatures were beginning to drop to a more comfortable range.
Garrett led her past the Old Quarter, and into an area mostly forgotten. The
old cathedral stood tall and imposing in the near background, but that was not
Garrett’s destination. Instead, he headed to an abandoned field. Rubble around
the edges gave away that a building used to stand here, but all that remained
were a few bits of framework that had been shaped into some kind of obstacle
course. The thief let the young woman take in their surroundings for a moment
as he unbuckled the bits of leather that weren’t directly attached to his
clothing and began to stretch.
“What is this place?” She finally asked. Garrett shrugged.
“Someplace the rest of the City has forgotten. It suits my purposes, and no one
knows it’s here. It’s a good place to think.”
“But now I know…” Revena said hesitantly.
“Mmm. But you said no one cared about you, so my secret is still safe, right?”
Garrett was intentionally not looking at her, focusing instead on making sure
his back muscles would be warmed up before his run through the course.
“Oh. “ Her voice sounded small. “I’ll just sit over here then. Out of the way?”
“You can if you want.” He tossed her a pocket watch and moved to a hanging
piece of rope. “Keep time for me. Mark.”
Revena glanced down at the watch, marking the time, before turning her eyes
back to the lithe thief in front of her. It seemed to her that he moved like a
cat, climbing up one rope, over a ledge and across a thin beam, dropping down
two levels before leaping to another rope which lead up. He ducked under a
large pipe and vaulted over several pieces of debris before climbing another
two ledges and sliding down a final rope to the ground.
“Mark.”
“One minute, fifty-two seconds,” Revena called out to him.
“Damn. I’m getting slow.” He walked over to where she was sitting and plopped
down heavily next to her, breathing hard. “Have a go?”
“Oh I couldn’t…” She began, but Garrett cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“Right, right. Because you’re useless. Here I was thinking you were the woman
who I chased half way across the City and nearly lost twice. The woman who
defied her terrifying Thief-Taker General of a brother and risked his rather
potent ire for some unfathomable reason just to get the nobles latest gossip to
Basso. My mistake.”
Revena seemed to shrink in on herself at the mention of her brother, making her
even smaller. Garrett turned to her. “Take a turn. Run off some anger. Or fear.
Or whatever. Your time doesn’t matter, that’s just a game. When you come back,
make sure you’re okay with talking though, because I don’t want half truths or
lies. I don’t do this talking thing often. I ask something, I expect an answer.
Clear?”
“Yessir.” Her reaction was immediate, but quiet. Revena popped upright, handed
Garrett the watch, and worked the bottoms of her pant legs into something more
useful before standing and moving to the first rope. “Mark.”
It took the girl considerably longer to run the course, the rope climbs seeming
to be her nemesis. Garrett couldn’t decide if it was an equipment failure or a
lack of muscle that was the problem, as she did seem to get tangled up in her
clothes more than once. Eventually she slid down the final rope and landed, not
with the grace that he had, but on her posterior.
“Oof. Mark.” She whimpered, and remained lying on the ground heaving for air.
Garrett walked over to her.
“Over ten minutes. You okay?”
“S-sore.” She managed to stutter out between gasps.
“Just breathe. You’ll be alright in a minute.” The fact that she hadn’t done
any kind of workout since her beating suddenly came rushing to Garrett’s mind.
“Take your time.”
Eventually the young woman’s breathing slowed to a more normal pace and she
pulled herself into a sitting position. “I guess…I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Garrett nodded. “What’s your full name?”
Revena barked out a laugh. “I thought this was a talk, not an interrogation.”
“Just thought we’d start with something you could easily answer,” the thief
replied, a smirk twitching at his lips. “And remember you said you’d answer
honestly.
“Fine, fine, fine. It’s Revena Jean.”
“You mean Revena Jean Harlan.”
“No. Thadeus took that from me when he kicked me out.”
“I see.” Garrett paused. “Jean? Really?”
Revena couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “You’re okay with Revena, which
isn’t even a real name outside the Harlans, but not Jean? It isn’t common, but
at least it’s used by people other than me.”
“Sorry,” Garrett let the smirk fly. “I just wasn’t expecting it. So what’s with
the name Revena, anyway?”
All joviality dropped from Revena’s demeanor. “It’s a name the Harlan’s use
when someone is…unwanted. There’s a male version too.”
“I don’t-“
“Bastard children are the usual recipients. And people like me. It’s helpful at
family gatherings, because you just get introduced and everyone who needs to
knows, without having to say anything.”
“People…like you?”
She sighed and lay back in the grass once more, staring at the sky as if its
vastness could give her answers. “Like I said. Unwanted. Thadeus is eight years
older than me, and my parents were already older than many when they had him.
He was the apple of my parents’ eye. Everything they ever wanted in a child.
They thought they were done with children. And then I came along and ruined
everything. So I was blessed with the name.”
Garrett remained silent but attentive, watching her face and eyes as she spoke.
He could see the pain that echoed there from her heart.
“Father was in the Watch and ignored me when he could, Mother treated me more
as a servant than a daughter, and Thadeus followed their example. I’ve always
known exactly what I was worth. It was drilled into my head, along with the
sins of the Gods. I guess I was seven when Father died.” She fell silent,
seeming to lose herself in her thoughts.
“Go on,” Garrett gently prompted her.
“That was when things got bad,” she explained quietly. “It was my fault. I’d
been up later than I should have, reading. Father had gotten angry and given me
a beating for it. As a result he was too tired the next day. Didn’t see the
danger. Couldn’t dodge out of the way. Someone’s crossbow went off and speared
him in the stomach. Mother and Thadeus took out their anger and sadness on me.
It was their right. I’d hurt them badly. Ruined everything. Again. It was less
than a year before my mother replaced him with Thadeus. Three years later we
had a bad winter. My mother got consumption of the lungs. She was gone by
summer. Thadeus was so upset.”
“You always use his name. She’s your mother. He’s your father. But Thadeus is
never your brother. Why?”
Revena tore her eyes from the sky to look at Garrett. “Because he told me not
to. Rather forcefully. I was twelve. He said I looked like Mother.” She
shrugged, suddenly finding a plucked blade of grass fascinating. “Tainted.”
They sat in silence as Garrett processed this information. Eight years
difference, and she was twelve. He would have been twenty. He tried to picture
himself taking a twelve-year-old girl the way he had Tori or any of the others
and felt sick. ‘My mother replaced him with Thadeus’ she said. She couldn’t
mean…Uch. What kind of sick family is this?
“That’s awful,” he finally managed. Revena shrugged again, both used to the
horror and unsure what to say next. “Did you…were you...I mean-“ Garrett
searched for how to phrase his question. “Was it willing?”
“Do I enjoy fucking my own brother? Is that was you’re trying to ask?” Revena
snorted softly. “I enjoy it a hell of a lot more than the other options. I
enjoy it more than getting beaten or whipped. I get plenty of that from him as
it is. I enjoy it more if I do what he wants the first time instead of
resisting.” She swallowed. “He can be kind, if the mood takes him. Fighting him
does not inclinate him to being kind, nor does incompetency. I learned quickly.
Do I want to bed him? No. Of course not. Do I fight him or protest at all when
he comes? No. Of course not.”
The thief frowned. “You’re talking in present tense. He can’t hurt you anymore.
It will take a while, but someday you’ll look around and realize that he isn’t
behind you, judging you anymore, even in your head.”
“What would you know about it, Mr. Thief?”
“My name is Garrett, not Mr. Thief,” he reprimanded gently. “And I know more
than you think, but that isn’t the point right now.”
“Then what is?”
“’Ugly and stupid and useless and tainted’” He quoted back at her. “You’re none
of those. I want you to tell me why you think you are.”
“I just told you why I’m tainted.”
“Let’s come back to that. Ugly?”
“Is that so hard to understand? I’m well aware of how I stack up to other
women. I have nothing they do. Nothing to offer. No appeal at all. I go to a
ball and people’s eye’s pass over me like I’m not even there, and that’s only
because there’s enough beautiful in the dress to make me invisible.”
“I’d disagree with that point rather strongly,” Garrett started, but Revena
only rolled her eyes. “Apparently you aren’t willing to hear a counter on this
point, so let’s move on. Stupid.”
“I can’t do anything right.” She held up her right wrist, now blemished with an
angry red scar. “I can’t even die right. There’s something funny about that,
but I can’t seem to laugh much anymore.”
“Let me guess. They – your parents that is – told you that you were doing
everything wrong. That you were a stupid girl who couldn’t figure out even the
most simple things without help. That sort of thing?” Revena glanced at him,
eyes wide in surprise. “I told you I know more than you think. The only thing
you ever did wrong is believe them, and that’s understandable. They were your
parents after all. Why would they lie to you? But consider this. You found
Basso. You made the offer of giving information. And you kept it hidden from
the General for two years. That takes skills, smarts, talent. An idiot could
not have done it. Wouldn’t have even thought of it.”
“But I was caught.”
“So? I’ve been caught. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m a damned good
blackhand.”
“Hm. But when you get caught, you can come back, and still be a thief. I’m no
good to anyone. I just sit there and take up space.”
“So don’t just sit there.”
“It isn’t that easy!”
“Sure it is. Look, you want to pay Basso back for his time and energy, right?
Whoring yourself out isn’t the answer, but maybe working is. There are
options.”
Revena was quiet in her answer. “I don’t know how to do anything besides lie on
my back.”
“And apparently how to lift things. How to run the roofs. Hell you’ve got the
makings of a decent thief now. Why not go all the way?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I am. Look, Basso can teach you what he knows and you’ll pick the
rest up as you go, same as the rest of us did. He was thinking about asking
Bill if he needed a barmaid and I’m sure the option is still there, but I bet
he’d go for it.”
“I guess,” she said dubiously. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Settled then. That brings us back to tainted. Which you aren’t. Your brother
forced himself on you. That’s not your fault. It doesn’t make you a bad person
– it makes him a monster.”
“Really,” she chuffed. “And what man would want me, knowing that not only have
I shared a bed with Thadeus, but I’ve done so for six years? What man would
want to touch me, knowing just how thoroughly my trough has been plowed? Who
could love someone like that?” Her tone was so bitter Garrett was sure he could
have bottled it and sold it to Doctor Troy as a remedy.
“If he loved you, he would understand.”
“Ha.”
“He would forgive it; let it go.”
“Oh yeah? Would you?” Revena spoke to him as generic member of the male gender,
but Garrett couldn’t help considering the question seriously.
“Yes, I could,” his tone was hushed, but Revena was suddenly paying very close
attention to him. “It might take a bit of doing to get over the physical side
of it, but mentally? Yeah.”
“Oh. Um.”
Garrett smiled to himself as he reached over to gather his armor. “Shall we go
ask Basso if his little sister can become a blackhand then?”
“His WHAT?!”
“Oh. Right. I knew I was forgetting something. Basso has apparently decided to
adopt you into the family. I think he’d stick you in a bird cage next to
Jenivere but you’d probably object, so he’s going for ‘little sister’ instead.”
Revena closed her eyes, pained. “I should think so. Fine. Don’t forget your
watch.”
Chapter End Notes
     Beloved Readers: Please believe I am well aware that it takes more
     than one conversation to bring someone out of a deep depressive funk
     such as the one Revena is in. That said, I'm trying to keep the story
     moving forward and not get too caught up in the 'Iwannadie' attitude.
     Bad for my health. Besides, a private conversation with Garrett is
     enough to help anyone, right? ;)
***** Chapter 12 *****
Basso had been surprised when Revena and Garrett had come back together, and
while she wasn’t better, her mood was much improved. But what had taken him
completely by aback was their suggestion that Revena become a thief full time
under Basso’s tutelage. At first he was less than thrilled by the idea but
slowly he warmed to it, realizing that if the hours they kept were similar it
would be easier on everyone.
Basso sounded Revena out. She was a decent lifter of items, but couldn’t pick a
pocket to save her life. She was moderate with a lock and was willing to be
taught more. She was light on her feet, acrobatic but not particularly muscular
– a lifetime of aristocratic ballroom dancing. She flinched away at the idea of
any kind of violence. Basso supposed that was a reaction to the General’s rough
treatment of her. For the first few weeks, she was quickly reduced to tears
whenever she was reprimanded no matter how gentle he was about it. Slowly
Revena began to trust that he had no intentions of hurting her. Once he
determined she was ready, the fence sent her to Tay, accompanied by Garrett.
“Have you met Tay before, Revena?” Garrett asked as they made their way over
the streets.
“No, but I’ve seen his work. We always used Alfonso.”
The two thieves entered Tay’s workshop, Garrett dropping his mask as he did so.
Revena’s eyes grew wide as the red-head greeted them.
“Ah my dear lady, what a pleasure to meet you! Basso has told me much of you. I
simply cannot wait to get started. It will be nice to have one of my more
shadowy clients actually appreciate my work, you have no idea. Well, perhaps
you do. Oh, hello again Garrett.”
Garrett nodded his greeting, suppressing a snicker. “Go on, don’t be rude.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. Revena Har- er… Revena. Nice to meet you.” She said extending a
hand. Tay gently took her middle two fingers and brushed his lips to her
knuckles, eliciting a small smile from Revena. Garrett’s chest tightened.
“To business then? Basso told me that you practically require an entire
wardrobe, but he didn’t mention much in the way of particulars.”
“I don’t have anything at all. I’ve had to borrow things from him,“ Revena held
her arms out helplessly, displaying the oversized clothing, “and I don’t want
to seem ungrateful, but…”
“Good heavens, my girl, yes I see. Get out of that garbage immediately so I can
take your measurements, and then I’ll get you a robe and we can discuss style
while I get those at least somewhat closer to your size.”
Again, Garrett noticed a certain brightness on Revena’s face, as if a smile
were creeping around just out of sight. He wasn’t sure if he should be glad
that she was finding pleasure in something or upset that it was in this man.
She started to unbutton her shirt, before realizing that he was still there.
“Um. Can you, you know, turn around, or something?”
“What, you’ll undress for a man you met two minutes ago, but not me?” Garrett
asked jokingly.
“But he wouldn’t be-“ Revena began, then started over. “I mean, this is his
job,” she reasoned.
Without another word, Garrett turned his back. His ears picked up the sounds of
nails on buttons as she fumbled with the huge shirt and then the soft slide of
fabric hitting the floor.
“Here we are,” Tay had returned with a measuring tape in one hand and a pad of
paper in the other, pencil tucked over his ear. He disappeared from Garrett’s
view, who suddenly felt helpless as he listened.
“Okay, let’s get your overall height. Stand up straight for me…good. Hmm, your
hair is in the way, can you lift it? Here, this should hold it. That’s better.
Neck size…Shoulder width - goodness you have a lot of scaring on your back,
we’ll need to cover that…hold your arms out so I can get them and your bust
size…good.” There was a small gasp from Revena, “Sorry, the tape measure is a
little cold…there, you can let your arms down…waist…hips…thigh…Okay, inseam.
Can you hold this end? Wouldn’t want to be accused of impropriety. Okay, got
it. You can put on the robe.”
Another shuffle of fabric before Revena said to Garrett, “Okay, you can turn
back around.” He turned as she let her hair tumble back down her back and he
stared, momentarily mesmerized. Completely unaware of the effect she was having
on him, she continued, “I’m sure this is all boring you out of your mind. I can
get back on my own if you want to go.”
“And leave you alone with him? I don’t think so.”
“Garrett…”
“I’m not going anywhere. Basso asked me to look after his little sister, and
that’s what I intend to do.” His wording was as much to remind himself of his
position and role as her.
“Come over here, my dear, and I’ll show you what I have in mind,” Tay called,
holding out a chair at his work table. “Given your coloring, I think greys and
blues and greens are the best choices, like one of those nasty fogs that rolls
in from the sea from time to time.”
Revena sat, leaning into the other man to see as Tay drew. “I trust your
judgment. I’m afraid I had very little fashion sense before, and even less
now.”
“A woman as pretty as you with no fashion sense? Nonsense! You simply haven’t
discovered your stylistic voice. Even Garrett figured it out with a little
help!” Tay jutted his pencil over his shoulder at the leather-clad man.
“But I’m not!” She protested.
“Not what?”
“Pretty.”
Tay stopped his doodling, the vehemence in her voice capturing his complete
attention. “Good Gods woman, of course you are. You’ve just never been dressed
properly to show it off.”
“I’ve worn pretty dresses before,” Revena answered quietly. “Despite the adage,
the clothes do not make the man. Girl in my case.”
“And who gave you these pretty dresses? Who made them for you?” There was an
outrage in Tay’s voice that Garrett suspected was mostly professional.
“Alfonso.”
“Pfft. That fraud? He couldn’t make a dress worth wearing if you pinned the
pattern to his ass. No my dear. To be properly dressed is far different than to
be dressed up. Listen closely. If done correctly then yes, the clothes are
beautiful, but no one sees them at first. The compliments are for the person
wearing them first, and the dressings second. If it’s the other way around then
something has gone wrong. Rest assured that my clothing will show you to your
best advantage.” Tay took a breath, re-centering his attention. “Now then. Let
us start with your blackhand gear. Obviously you’ll be unable to wear a dress,
but we mustn’t lose your femininity or sense of decency…”
The pair’s conversation turned to matters purely of fashion, and Garrett found
his mind wandering. Occasionally they would ask for his input about the tools
of the trade, and what would be required to house them, but otherwise they
seemed to be occupied in their own world.
“Okay then. I think that does it. These should at least be useable now.” Tay
said as he handed Revena her old clothing, breaking through Garrett’s fog. “As
for the other, I’ll need you to come back for fittings of course, but I have a
pretty good idea of what’s required. I’ll send word to Basso when I need you
again. Of course, you’re welcome to come by any time...” The offer was
accompanied by a smile that was almost a leer, and to Garrett’s chagrin Revena
returned it.
“Maybe I will, if I’m in the area. Thank you so much, Tay!” On impulse, Revena
wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick hug – her first voluntary human
contact since coming to Basso. Tay didn’t even get the chance to return it
before she was gone again, but it was enough. Garrett gritted his teeth.
“Revena, change upstairs. I’ll be there in a bit.”
“Aren’t you coming?”
“In a moment.”
Tay raised an eyebrow in question as the young woman ascended the stairs alone.
“Is this where you warn me off of her? If so, I’ll remind you she initiated
it.”
“No. Her life is hers. Warning people off is Basso’s. I’m just playing
messenger.” He reached behind him and found a small purse heavy with coin and
note at his belt, both of which he handed to Tay.
“Should I read it now?” Garrett nodded. As Tay scanned the message within his
eyes widened. “Are you aware-?” Another nod. “Is this wise?”
“I’ll be with her if something goes wrong.”
“Will you? So then you’ll also be needing-“
“Yes. If you get it close and leave enough in the seams I’ll come in for a
fitting. I’m not getting measured though. And she isn’t to know about any of
it. Let Basso know when it’s done.”
Tay nodded thoughtfully, already fingering his pencil again as Garrett made his
way to the staircase.
“Oh and Tay? If anything happens and you end up hurting her…” He let the threat
hang. Revena was dressed and waiting for him, the clothes less baggy, but still
far from flattering.
“What was that about?” she asked curiously.
“Just delivering something for Basso. Let’s go.”
===============================================================================
 
Two weeks later, Revena was positively beaming inside Basso’s office. She was
wearing her brand new blackhand gear for the very first time, and both men were
admiring it. A dark grey cowl captured her hair and from it hung a black
netting which served as a sort of face mask. A tight fitting black shirt showed
no skin – its high collar hid her neck and its sleeves transformed into
fingerless gloves. Over this she wore a blue-grey under-bust corset similar to
Garrett’s harness that was adorned with copper buckles. Her lower half was
covered by grey and black striped pants that hugged her hips scandalously. Her
rear was covered by a small but long green-grey bustle. Calf-high black lace-up
boots completed the outfit.
“So…what do you think?” She demanded of them, twirling in place.
“You look fantastic, Revena. I’m a little surprised there isn’t more armor
though,” Basso commented.
“Tay thought about it,” the woman admitted, “but realistically it wouldn’t do
me much good. If I’m seen I can run or give up, but fighting isn’t a choice for
me. So Tay figured that being lighter and less burdened was better.” She looked
hopefully at Garrett.
“It will do,” the thief said gruffly.
“Oh.” Revena answered, crestfallen.
“Here’s a basic job. Why don’t the two of you go test it out.” Basso handed a
paper with the details to Garrett who took it without a word. He shot a glance
at Revena and left, leaving the young woman to scramble to catch up.
It was several hours before they returned. Revena went straight upstairs,
without saying a word. A door could be heard closing firmly behind her.
“Did it not go well?” the fence inquired.
“It went fine. The bustle is going to take some getting used to, same as my
cloak and coattails did but she’ll be okay.” Garrett deposited their take onto
his desk.
“Then what was that about?” He gestured to the stairs with his head.
“Just some advice I gave her on the way back that she didn’t want to hear.
She’ll get over it.”
“Now I’m curious…”
“She was gushing on and on about Tay. I think she has a crush on him. I told
her that physical relationships are fine, but thieves can’t afford feelings. If
your mind isn’t on the job you’re going to get caught and turned over to the
Watch and the General.” Garrett shrugged. “She didn’t like that much; got real
quiet. We came back.”
“Huh.” Basso was looking at him shrewdly. “Do you actually believe that?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t. Why?”
“Just curious. That big job is coming up, and Tay’s finished with his end of
it. There can’t really be tension between you, it’ll show. Besides, I’ve seen
the way you look at her when you think I’m not watching.”
“It’s just physical.”
“Like hell it is. You tense up whenever she walks in the room, and now this?
You’re jealous. You need to fix this, Garrett. One way or another. Before the
job.”
“So, what? I have your permission now? Because before you said…”
“I know what I said. And I meant it. You know her past better than I do. You
hurt her and I’ll kick your scrawny ass all the way over to the General myself.
So don’t hurt her.”
Garrett nodded, considering.
***** Chapter 13 *****
It was two more days before Garrett summoned the courage to talk to Revena
about his conversation with Basso. He’d left a note for her with Basso earlier
in the evening and left for the field in Old Quarter. The thief had set a hard
pace for himself tonight, and despite the distinct chill in the air was
overheating quite badly. He peeled his shirt off, threw it onto the growing
pile of clothing in one corner of the field, which left him with his pants and
shoes. Garrett ran the considerably longer course he had set up, feeling eyes
on him as he came to the end. Revena was standing there, mouth slightly ajar.
“Revena, hey.” He said in greeting, sweat dripping from his brow as he landed
on the balls of his feet next to her.
“Uh. Hi. Am I, er, interrupting?” the young woman stuttered.
“Naw. I wouldn’t have asked you out here if you would have been.” Revena’s eyes
seemed to be locked onto his chest heaving up and down for breath. “We need to
talk. I’m just not sure what to say…or how to say it.”
The young woman looked away at that. “Oh. This is about before. Look I got your
message loud and clear, okay. I’m not allowed to be happy. No happiness for me
- ever. I get it. You don’t need to rub it in.”
Lost in his own thoughts, it took a moment for her words to penetrate. “I was-
wait, what? You’ve got it all wrong.” Garrett sighed. “I was the one in the
wrong, okay? What I said was wrong. Well, sort of. When you’re on a job, you
need to keep your mind on the job, right? But that doesn’t mean that you can’t
be happy when you aren’t working - that you can’t find someone who makes you
happy. It just doesn’t do anyone any good if you’re on a job, thinking about
what to wear on your next date, and get caught. You don’t get the job done, and
you don’t get to go on your date. You just have to keep them separate. Make
sense?”
“Yeah, great.” She didn’t sound pleased.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Talk to me, Revena.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Garrett moved closer. “Please,” he pressed.
“Tay asked me out to dinner last night. I told him no.” Her eyes dropped to the
ground. “The first man who told me I was pretty – who’s ever shown any interest
in me as a person. And I told him no.”
Garrett swallowed. He gently trailed a finger down her cheek and under her
chin, lifting slightly to force Revena to look at him. “Not the first.” It was
barely a whisper.
“Wha-? But…you said…” Revena’s voice was a cracked whisper itself.
“I don’t think I was talking to you that night, Revena.” He started to bend his
head to kiss her when Revena pushed away from him.
“No! I can’t do this.” She turned away and took several steps from him before
he could grab her wrist, stalling her retreat.
“Revena, please don’t run from me.”
“What do you want from me, Garrett? To taunt me just with your presence? To
give me false hope, just to rip it away? To laugh as I fall further into that
Gloom that threatens to consume my soul every second of every day? I know
damned well you don’t want anything to do with my ugly face. You’d rather work
alone than be babysitting my ineptitude and cleaning up my messes.” She pulled
her wrist from his grip. “We must be punished for our sins. I must have really
fucked up for the Gods to be so angry with me.”
With that pronouncement, Revena ran from the field back towards the City.
Garrett stared after her, somewhere between amazed and stunned. The sweat
cooling on his body, he gathered his clothing and headed back to Basso’s,
hoping the other man could shed some light on the young woman’s behavior.
“She said what?!”
“That was my reaction.” The little thief sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”
“She isn’t back yet. You could always try again when she does.”
“And say what exactly?”
“Why say anything?”
“She’s not exactly eager to pick up where the General left off.”
“Fair point. Hmm.” Basso’s brow furrowed in thought. “HA! I’ve got it. Here’s
what we’re going to do…”
===============================================================================
 
It was a week and a half later, late afternoon. Extremely early morning for a
thief, and Basso was banging on Revena’s door.
“Come on, Sis. Time to wake up.”
“MrphnSrphmGowaytooerly.”
“Got a surprise for ya,” he offered.
“Morsleeeep?” came the hopeful reply.
“Nooo…something else. Wake up or I’m coming in there and getting you up
myself.”
“Urgggggggh.” The sound was positively zombie-like and followed by a thump that
Basso was sure was Revena falling out of bed. A few moments later the door
swung open to reveal Revena, wrapped in a robe and eyes heavy with sleep.
“That’s a pretty fantastic case of bed-head you’ve got going. Throw on a dress
and brush your hair. We need to get some food in you and get to Tay’s.”
Revena automatically reached for her comb. “Tay’s? Why? What’s going on,
Basso?”
“Told you, it’s a surprise. Don’t go back to sleep. I’ll be back in fifteen
with some toast.”
Revena emerged from her room before Basso had to return to her. Basso handed
her a piece of vaguely burnt bread, put his hat on and took her by the elbow,
leading her into the street and over to Stonemarket.
“Can you at least tell me why I had to get up so early? This is ridiculous!”
Revena knew she was whining, but was too sleepy to do anything about it.
“There’s a big job I need you for tonight.”
“A job?” The young lady was torn between a need to pout and being intrigued.
“Yes. There’s an ancient scepter I need you to steal for me. It will be on
display with others of its type, but there’s only one I want. It’s carved from
weirwood with burnished copper and has a cloudstone head. The whole display
room is probably heavily guarded.”
“So…Garrett?”
Basso just smiled at her as they entered Tay’s Fashions from the front door. A
small bell rang to announce their presence, making Revena feel strangely out of
place.
“Just a moment!” came Tay’s call. A moment later he emerged. “Oh, it’s you.
Well let’s get you ready.” Tay was distinctly unwelcoming.
“Tay I-“ Revena started, but the red-head cut her off.
“Come on then. There is a lot to do, and very little time. Basso you too. We’ll
need all the help we can get.”
“Um…what exactly do I need to get ready for…isn’t this just a job?”
“Not exactly. You’re going undercover. Lord and Lady Signoli are holding a fall
masquerade at their home in Dayport. I’ve acquired an invitation for you.
You’ll have a contact once you get inside – he’ll be a match to you but
arriving separately,” Basso explained.
“Yes, yes, so you need to get ready. It’s a rather elaborate costume.” Tay
added as Revena stepped behind a privacy panel and began to undress. Tay
scurried back and forth with armfuls of fabric, hair-brush and accoutrements,
makeup, and her mask. When she emerged two full hours later and blushing
furiously, Basso swore under his breath.
“Damn Tay. She’s supposed to be undercover. How the hell is that going to be
able to do her job if everyone is looking at her?”
“That is undercover. Everyone will be wondering what noble is under the mask,
and far too busy worrying about that to suspect her of shadow games – at least
until it’s too late. Trust me on this. I know how nobles think.”
“If you say so, Tay.” Basso turned to Revena. “Here’s your invite. I’ve got a
carriage out front waiting for you, Eve. When you’ve got it, hand the scepter
over to your contact. He’ll get it out of the party for you.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Yes. Your pass signs to recognize your contact. I’d think it would be obvious
with your costume, but…”
“I get it.”
“Good. Come on, the carriage is waiting.”
Basso escorted her into the waiting carriage. Her ride navigated the streets of
the City efficiently and within half an hour pulled up to a well appointed
manor, depositing Revena into a stone courtyard in front of a fountain. A man
dressed with a bird mask was waiting at a large double door.
“Invitation please?”
“Oh…yes.” Revena handed over the envelope, hand trembling.
“Excellent. Go right in, Miss.”
Suddenly thrust back into this world of aristocratic pomp, Revena found herself
falling back into old habits of trying to blend in and quickly found a wall to
hold up.
===============================================================================
 
Garrett had arrived at the ball some time earlier and was desperately
attempting to avoid making too many social gaffes while waiting for his date to
arrive on the scene. Sipping at his cup of wine, he couldn’t help but laugh to
himself at some of the elaborate shows the nobles were putting on for each
other. One woman was dressed as a butterfly complete with wings, antennae and
extra legs; she was having trouble on the dance floor. Garrett himself was
dressed smartly in a bright red uniform, a metal helmet covering his eyes, and
a large hammer hanging at his waist. He was clean shaven for this event as
well, and he kept having to remind himself not to scratch at his bare lip and
chin. Tay had added platforms to his shoes to give him a few inches to his
height He adjusted his helmet and was about to seek out the hors d’oeuvres when
Revena finally appeared, immediately capturing his attention.
Her dress was blue, with a highly detailed golden corset. She was wearing
matching golden gloves and shoes, and anywhere skin was showing (mostly her
bust, Garrett noted) was also gilded. Her gold mask covered three quarters of
her face, leaving only her lips – painted the same blue as her dress – showing
and was extremely mechanistic looking with gears and wires twining into her
hair. Her jewelry was made up of gold and sapphires and carried on the
mechanical theme. She was also obviously his other half. He watched as she
immediately headed towards the nearest wall, folding her arms around herself
and looking distinctly uncomfortable. He grabbed a second glass of wine and
threaded his way through the crowd to her.
“Servant,” Garrett greeted her in a voice a bit deeper than normal.
“Master,” Revena replied with a curtsy.
“Wine my dear? It might calm your nerves.”
“What? Oh! Um, thank you.” She took the glass from him but held it without
drinking.
“So what’s the plan then?”
“Plan? I thought…”
“I’m just your get away man, my sweet. You are the one in charge here. This is
your job to succeed or fail on.” Garrett explained with a smile.
Revena’s eyes dropped to the floor. “Mine? I- I hadn’t realized I was
completely on my own. I’m used to having a partner. Sorry. My first job alone
and I’m already screwing up.”
“You’re doing fine,” The older thief soothed softy. “Just take your time and
think it through. Maybe while we dance?” He offered her a hand invitingly.
A twitch of her lips told Garrett he’d struck a chord in her as Revena
hesitantly took his offer and he led her to the edge of the ball room where the
orchestra was playing a waltz. Garrett had always known the young woman was
small, but it was made blatantly apparent to him on the dance floor. His hand
wrapped nearly half way around her waist and when he lifted her she seemed as
light as a feather, skirts swirling around them in a cloud of blue and gold.
The tall shoes made her seem even smaller in comparison to him. As much as he
simply wanted to lock eyes with her, she kept darting them around the room,
taking everything in as they danced. For a few minutes Garrett forgot their
purpose there and was simply enjoying himself and his company, so it was
somewhat of a jolt when the music ended and Revena pulled him off the dance
floor.
“Master, please,” she whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down Garrett’s
spine. “Come with me.” Once they were safely out of earshot of the other guests
she continued. “There are guards at both exits to the stairs. If we wait until
late enough in the evening, I bet we can get past them by playing at being a
naughty couple looking for some privacy. I’ve seen it enough times in the past
to know the guards will look the other way. Once we’re past them we find you a
dark corner where you can play the drunken guest and I’ll go find the prize.
I’ll give it to you, and we’ll go back the way we came looking properly
flushed. No one will be the wiser until it’s too late.”
“You want to be…naughty with me?”
“No, of course not. Only make the guards believe that we are. And I hardly see
a choice. I don’t have the strength to overcome one of these other gentlemen.
You’ll stop once we’re clear.”
“I see. Quite a lot of trust you’re putting in someone you just met.”
“Not in the slightest. I’m trusting Basso. You try anything, you’d better
believe he and Garrett will hear about it – and I suspect neither will be
pleased.”
Garrett couldn’t help but smile as his own name was mentioned as a giver of
retribution. “No doubt they wouldn’t. Very well. It seems to me we have some
time to kill then. Another dance, m’lady?”
Another couple hours into the evening and it was obviously time to begin
Revena’s plan as the wine had flowed freely and more than one couple had
already left, doing exactly as the lady thief had outlined. Garrett pulled his
‘servant’ by the hand from the floor with a hoarse whisper of ‘It’s time,’
before capturing her chin with one hand and her lower back with the other. A
soft squeak was all Revena had time for before Garrett lowered his head to
cover her lips with his own. She stiffened in his arms in surprise but quickly
melted, her body seeming to mold itself into his as his lips gently caressed
hers.
A breathy “Oh!” was all she could manage when he finally released her from that
first kiss. More kisses followed as Garrett slowly backed Revena towards the
nearest wall, suddenly desiring to pin her there and nibble along her neck and
ears. She let him with soft whimpers of desire, hands twining up around his
shoulders. They might have continued in this fashion but another guest let out
a wolf whistle at them. Revena pushed Garrett away with a blush, then took him
by the hand and giggling, led him towards one of the staircases. The two guards
smiled indulgently and said nothing as the two thieves sprinted past them. They
found an empty guest bedroom and laid claim. Garrett moved behind her, gently
holding her shoulders and kissing her neck lightly.
“Any chancing of continuing where we left off downstairs?” He asked with a lazy
smile.
“Nope. Eyes on the job.” She stepped away from him as Garrett sighed. Revena
knelt to reach the bottom of her dress, which apparently hid several things,
including a release for the skirt, leaving her in tight blue leggings.
“Wow.”
“What? I can hardly skulk around in that thing. It’s huge.”
“That wasn’t what I meant, my dear. I was talking about you.”
“Eyes on the job!” Revena repeated, rolling her own. The underside of the skirt
was hiding a long black hooded cloak which she flung on, somewhat covering the
gold of her corset and skin. “Okay, I’m gone. Act like you’re passed out drunk
if anyone comes in. That will explain the skirt as well.”
Garrett reclined indolently on the bed. “I thought I was the Master?” he asked.
Not deigning to give his barb a reply, Revena slipped out the door. Garrett
tried to think calming thoughts and not about how soft her skin felt under his
fingers, how sweet Revena tasted on his tongue, or how well her body seemed to
fit into his.
===============================================================================
 
Master, indeed! As if that man were a master of anything except making a fool
of himself…and kissing…he was pretty good at that. Okay he was great. I mean,
wow. And his body? Whew! And he wanted me! Me! I’m a fool for telling him no.
Maybe later I could- ARGH! Eyes on the job, Revena!
The lady blackhand ducked into yet another shadowed doorway as yet another
guard rounded a corner and passed her. As he went by she dodged behind him,
silently turning the corner and running down the hallway before finding another
shadow to hide in as the guard came back, his circuit completed. She watched as
he made his way to the end of the hall, stood for a moment at a pair of large
double doors then turned and began his circuit once more. When he’d passed
Revena’s hiding place again, she snuck behind him and examined the doors in
front of her. There was a plaque to one side proudly proclaiming this to be the
‘Exhibit Hall’. Checking for wires, she could see three different alarms or
traps set to the doors as well as the fact they were just plain locked. She
raked it lightly and felt a rather complicated pin set. She heard footsteps and
ducked back to her hiding spot, letting her eyes follow the near invisible
wiring into a room just across the hall from where she current was.
Once it was safe again she walked over and quietly unlatched the door glancing
inside. It was empty. She slipped in, leaving the door open just a crack so she
could keep an eye on the hall patrol guard. There was a desk with several
switches and even more buttons, and none of them labeled. Revena gritted her
teeth, knowing that pressing the wrong one could set off the alarm rather than
silencing it. She peeked out of the door and tried to follow one of the wires
to its source, but lost it when it entered an electrical panel under the desk.
Opening it, she found an extremely tidy fuse box. The switches and buttons may
not have been marked, but the fuses were. Revena pulled all seven of the ones
that read ‘Exhibit Hall’ and then closed the panel and hid, waiting several
minutes for any response to her actions.
When there was none, she dared to move again. She made sure the guard had just
started his circuit, giving herself the maximum possible time to work on the
lock. She was glad she did, finally clicking home the last pin and slipping
inside just as the guard rounded the corner. She breathed a quiet sigh of
relief before looking around. Apparently the lights had been one of the fuses
she had pulled, as the entire room was quite dark. The hall was full of ancient
things, keystones, vases, jewelry, all still beautiful, and Revena found
herself fascinated by the beauty they held even now. She walked the hall
slowly, taking her time to appreciate the collection even in the dark.
Eventually she came upon her prize. The glass case was locked, but she made
quick work of it and slid the scepter down her corset next to her spine, before
closing and relocking the case. She knelt at the double door to peer through
the keyhole for the guard and slipped out when it was safe, again locking it
behind her. She reset the fuses in the fuse box before carefully returning to
where the ‘Master’ was awaiting her return.
===============================================================================
 
“Took you long enough. Did you get it?” Garrett asked gruffly, sliding off the
bed and trying to hide his relief.
“Would I be back if I didn’t?” Revena retorted, pulling the scepter from behind
her.
A low whistle showed Garrett’s appreciation for the piece. “Where was it, a
throne room?”
“Close enough. An exhibit hall on the top floor. This floor is loosely guarded
but from the next floor up it is tight security. You’d think they’ve been
stolen from before.”
“Oh they have. I- ah- Garrett cleaned them out pretty hard a couple of years
ago. They’ve been paranoid ever since. Which is why Basso wanted you to take
only the scepter and leave no trace. It’s fun scaring the nobles.”
“Heh.” Revena slid her skit back on over her leggings, handing the cloak and
scepter to Garrett.
“Hey, come here.”
“What?”
“Well, we were supposed to be doing something else up here. You should look
properly ravished when we go back down.”
“Are you offering to ravish me?” Revena asked archly, hoping that the
quickening of her pulse wasn’t blatantly obvious at her neck.
“I wasn’t after the warning you gave me, but…” Garrett stepped up to her and
crushed his lips to hers, his hands winding up her neck and into her hair,
loosening a few locks from their gears and wires. He kissed down her neck,
trailing with his tongue, intentionally smearing the gold paint applied there;
over her collarbone and shoulder, pulling down her sleeve slightly to give him
better access. Revena whimpered softly, her eyes closed and head tipped to the
side. Garrett allowed his hands to drift further down, unlacing the bottom of
her corset. He kissed her again, cupping her face gently in his hands before
pulling away and admiring his work. She was flushed and breathless.
“There. Now you look like you’ve had quite a good time in bed. I’d say we can
safely go back and make our way out and back to Basso.”
Reality seemed to snap back into place for Revena, the moment broken. “Yes, I
suppose we can. Let’s go.” She spun and walked out the door, leaving Garrett to
appreciate the sway of her hips as he trailed in her wake, scepter hidden by
the cloak that was thrown over his arm. As they entered the main ball room the
guards gave each other and Garrett a knowing wink and a sly thumbs up. He
caught up to her and wrapped an arm possessively around her waist as he guided
her to the exit and hailed one of the waiting carriages.
“I think we’d like to get a mug of ale before heading home. To the Crippled
Burrick if you please.” He told the driver. “I’ll see her safely home from
there.”
The driver snorted disbelievingly, but clucked his horses into motion,
depositing the two outside the Burrick no worse for wear. Garrett paid the
driver (and promptly stole it back) before the two made their way to the back
and into Basso’s office where the fence was waiting for them.
“You’re back! How did it go? Did you get it? Of course you got it, what am I
saying? Why are you all roughed up like that? What did you do to her?!” Basso
demanded.
“Easy there, Basso. It was her plan.” Garrett pulled out the scepter from under
the cloak and tossed it to the fence with a smirk.
“It went fine, Basso. Nothing went wrong at all, and no one will suspect
anything until they actually look in the case and see the thing is missing.”
Revena added, beginning to take her hair down. “There were quite a few guards
but none of them saw me, and I put everything back like I found it before I
left, just like,” She stopped to take her mask off, and Garrett was surprised
to see the gold paint covered her whole face including her eyelashes and brows,
“you told me. I need to get this make-up off, it’s starting to itch.” She went
upstairs.
“And?” Basso asked once she was gone.
“And what?”
“She sure didn’t get lookin’ like that on her own. And you said it was her
plan?”
“Oh that. Apparently it’s a thing for nobles to pair off at this sort of party
and take advantage of their hosts spare bedrooms, or balconies, or dark
corners. It was how we got past the first set of guards. She had to look proper
when we came back so I made sure she did.”
“And?”
“And we kissed, more than once. And it was amazing. And if I don’t get to do it
again I think I or at least my pants might explode. And…And she has no idea
that I’m me,” Garrett sighed. “I think at the end – after we had the scepter –
she would have let me go further, but dammit, I want her to know that it’s me.
I don’t want her first willing time to be with someone she considers a
stranger. But how do I tell her it was me under here the whole time?” He
knocked on the helmet to make his point.
“Golly, that’s a toughie. Maybe you could, Idunno, just tell her?”
“Tell me what?” Revena reappeared at the top of the stairs and came down to re.
She had washed most of the gold off and dropped the full ball gown skirt of the
evening. She had pulled her hair up into a simple ponytail to keep it out of
the way.
Basso pointed cleared his throat and glared at the other man who sighed again
and removed the offending helmet revealing his face and allowing his own
ponytail to trail down between his shoulder blades. Revena stared, mouth agape,
and the room was dead silent for several minutes.
“Garrett.” She finally managed. It wasn’t a question. Garrett nodded anyway.
“Garrett.” She said again, except this time it was more of a whispered curse.
“Revena, I can-“
“No.” She cut him off. It was quiet, but forceful.
“Come on, sis. You-“ Basso tried.
“How could you? How could you lie to me like that?” Revena accused. “Of all the
people in the world, I trusted you, Basso. I asked about Garrett, and you
implied he wasn’t involved. You made me think that you trusted me enough to do
jobs on my own without him babysitting me, but it was just a lie. He was there
to clean up my mess because you were expecting me to screw it up. Just like
always.” She spun and pounded back up the stairs, disappearing into her room.
“Oh yeah. That went great.” Garrett deadpanned.
It was Basso’s turn to sigh. “Let me go talk to her. She’ll calm down and see
reason.”
“No. This is my mess. Let me clean it up. Please,” the thief added at Basso’s
look of disbelief. He stood and followed after Revena. As he reached the top,
he could hear sniffles emanating from Revena’s room. Her door was open so
Garrett let himself in and saw her sprawled on top of her bed, face down and
sobbing quietly into a pillow.
“Oh, my sweet, please don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Garrett began,
walking slowly. When she didn’t respond at all he kept going, reaching the side
of her bed. “I’m sorry I hid who I was from you. Please believe I never would
have if I’d known this would have been the result. I never wanted to be the
source of discord between you and Basso.” He reached down and stroked Revena’s
hair. “It wasn’t you or Basso who did anything wrong. It was me. I messed up
and I’m sorry. Between what you said the other day at the training field and
now this, it’s clear that you don’t feel anything but disdain for me. Maybe
that’s for the best.” Garrett stood and moved to the door.
“Wait…” Revena’s voice was shaky but Garrett stopped, frozen in his tracks. She
still hadn’t lifted her head from the pillow, so her voice was muffled. “Why?”
The question was thick with tension and multiple meanings. Garrett moved back
to her and gently pulled at her shoulders. Revena allowed it, sitting up and
cradling the pillow in her lap.
“Why. Because you are ready to go on jobs on your own. Because you needed to be
confident of your moves knowing that I wasn’t at your back. Because you are a
beautiful and capable woman. Because I can talk to you in a way I can’t with
anyone else – even Basso. Because it hurts me when I look at you and see how
much pain you’re in, how wounded your heart is. I want to do nothing but heal
it, and I can’t because you don’t trust me, or anyone enough to let them in to
see the real you. I had hoped that you would realize that you deserved to be
happy – that you could be happy if your masked prince turned out to be me.
Because I wanted you to know it was me, and not some stranger. But I did
everything wrong. And now you must hate me. I'm not even sure that's a bad
thing.”
“I could never hate you,” Revena replied faintly.
“No? You make a pretty good case for it…”
Revena shook her head. “Never. I…” She shook her head again, unable to speak.
Garrett smoothed a strand of hair from her face. “What is it? Please. If you
don’t hate me then what? Teacher and student? Friends? Foes? Revena, I’m
confused when it comes to you. What are we to each other?”
Revena finally looked up at him. “I don’t know, Garrett. I don’t know anything.
I’m scared.”
“Scared?” The word choice startled him. “Of me?”
“Yes. No. Sort of.” She sighed and hugged her pillow tighter. “I don’t think I
could handle being hurt. I mean, I’m well aware that you enjoy truly beautiful
women and I’m definitely not. The second someone else – anyone else – comes
along, I’ll be left in the dust, forgotten, with nothing but a broken heart. I
don’t think I can handle that.”
Garrett had to close his eyes briefly as her words crashed over him. “Firstly,
broken heart? Are you saying…?” Revena nodded miserably. “Huh. Well. If it’s
any help, me too…I think.” Revena sat up straight and really looked at him for
the first time since he’d entered the room. Garrett cleared his throat, feeling
a touch uncomfortable.
“And second, I do enjoy truly beautiful women. And you are one. Maybe you
aren’t to everyone’s taste, but so what? You’re to mine, and I happen to have
excellent taste. Will…will you come with me? There’s something I’d like you to
see. We can talk too and maybe…” Garrett trailed off helplessly.
Revena stood, wiping her cheeks. “Okay.”
Together the two thieves stepped into the night.
***** Chapter 14 *****
Garrett led Revena across the plaza to the Clock Tower. He held her hand as
they scaled the scaffolding, not out of support, but simply because he could.
She paused at the small maintenance door.
“Isn’t this place haunted?” Revena asked with some trepidation.
“Only by me. Come.” Garrett led her inside, and let her gape at the clockwork
mechanisms for a few moments before leading her around to his living area and
motioned to a plush chair, taking for himself a seat on the bed where he
removed his shoes. “At the field, you told me there was a darkness in you that
threatened to consume you every day. I’ve wanted to ask for a while what did
you mean by that, exactly?”
Revena considered for some time before answering, removing her own shoes as she
did so. “Imagine that you are in a valley, with incredibly steep hills all
around. There is no level ground at all. And the place where these hills
converge at the bottom, instead of being land is a hole, dark, forbidding, and
bottomless. The hills are endlessly tall. All you can do is climb or hang on to
the sides. But you can’t let go, even for a second because if you do you’ll
fall. Maybe you’ll catch yourself further down the hill, maybe you’ll fall into
that hole. And anything can knock you off - other people, harsh words,
yourself, a stiff wind. Sometimes you get really tired of hanging on. Sometimes
you don’t see the point in doing so any more. I mean, that hill goes forever.
Why bother fighting? It would be so much easier to just fall forever.
Especially when you can see other people just walking up their hills like it’s
no big deal. Especially when you see other people helping each other up, going
up hand in hand, and you’re alone, and know that you always will be. That other
people only offer to help you in order to fling you off your hill and laugh as
you fall, spiraling into that darkness.”
“I’m not here to laugh at you, or hurt you, Revena.”
“So you say. But how can I believe that, when I’ve had my whole life proving
otherwise?”
Garrett shook his head. “I don’t know. I’d say to trust me, but…” he trailed
off and breathed deeply before unveiling a full length mirror. “This is what I
wanted to show you.”
“A mirror?”
“You.”
“I don’t understand. And I hate mirrors.”
“Heh. Something we have in common, then. But try it for me. Stand here and look
at yourself. Really look and tell me what you see.”
Revena moved to stand in front of the mirror and stared for several moments,
Garrett standing behind her watching her face in the mirror, before he noticed
a tear fall down her cheek. “What do you see that makes you so sad?” he asked
quietly.
“Everything.”
Garrett considered, then shook his head. “Now I’m the one who doesn’t
understand.”
“I am so short most children would consider me a playmate. My hair is has no
life in it without at least an hour of preparation from a master like Tay. It
has no color at all. My eyes are dull bland grey. My skin looks like I just
crawled out of a morgue. My cheekbones are too sharp, my chin is too pointed.
My mouth is permanently downturned. I have no breasts to speak of and my hips
are too wide. My back is covered in scars. Thadeus has left no part of me
untainted by his touch.” Revena took a ragged breath and then spoke the thought
that was at the basis for everything that drove her. “I hate me.”
Garrett wrapped his arms around her frame. “I don’t,” he said quietly. “Can I
tell you what I see?” He waited for Revena to nod her assent. “I see a woman
who is perfectly suited to me. I’m not exactly a tall man myself - it’s hard to
find a woman who doesn’t literally look down on me. Your hair is the color of
moonlight filtering down into the City. Your eyes are mist grey and every time
I look into them I’m lost to you. Your skin is a creamy alabaster. They write
about skin like yours in romance novels. Most women would kill to get what you
have naturally. Your face is heart shaped, with a delicate bone structure. It’s
beautiful. You have a pouty mouth with full lips that beg to be kissed. Yes
they are downturned most of the time, but that just means that when I manage to
get a smile or laugh out of you it lights up the whole room. I haven’t managed
to get a good look at your breasts,” Garrett smiled with a wink, “but what I’ve
seen has been plenty for me. As for your hips; I can’t look at them too long,
or Basso will hit me and my pants will stop fitting. Your back has scars. So
what? I have them too, earned very similarly.”
Revena looked startled. Garrett worked to shed the shirt of his costume and
turned so she could examine his back. Her fingers were feather light as if she
were afraid to touch him, giving him goose bumps instead as she traced his
various scars especially as she reached his lower back.
“I didn’t know…”
Garrett didn’t turn around. “You never let me tell you. As for your brother’s
touch,” he paused, unsure how to phrase his suggestion and ultimately deciding
that the direct approach was best, “you could wash it away, physically and
metaphorically. With me. If you wanted, I mean.” He could feel himself blushing
and mentally cursed.
“Oh. I…um...” Revena stuttered. Garrett turned to find Revena with her back to
him, looking intently at the clockworks once again. “Everything in my head is
telling me this is a bad idea. To run and never look back. But the truth is…I
was lost to you a long time ago.”
“Lost?”
“My heart, Garrett. You’re the best thief in the City, and you’ve gone and
stolen my heart, even when I was guarded against you. But now it’s yours to do
with as you will. I’m yours Garrett, and no one else’s. Not ever.”
Garrett was stunned. “That’s an awfully big promise. And I’m not sure that I’m
ready for that.”
“You don’t have to be,” Revena replied softly. “I just thought you should
know.”
“You’re eighteen, Revena. There’s a lot of life ahead of you.”
“Nineteen. And I mean it. I don’t see how my age is a factor.”
“Nineteen?”
“Yes.”
“But I thought-?”
Revena shrugged. “It happens every year. Everyone celebrates, but never for me.
No big deal.”
“Today is your birthday?”
Revena nodded.
Garrett walked to his collection and began to sort through it, finally
selecting a piece. He wrapped the silver chain around her neck, letting the
pendant dangle just above her breasts as he worked the clasp. Garrett pulled
her to the mirror so she could see. The pendant was made in the shape of a
keyhole, filled with onyx, and surrounded by a thin border of mother-of-pearl.
To either side, crossing behind the keyhole was a key etched in silver from
which the chain hung. Garrett didn’t know why, be he’d always liked it.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Happy birthday.”
She spun, startled, and ended up chest to chest in his arms. “Oh!” Revena
pulled away and glanced over him, blushing furiously. “Oh!” she repeated.
Garrett chuckled. “Like something else you see?”
Revena could only swallow noisily as she nodded.
“How about that bath?” The male thief asked huskily, and Revena agreed again
her eyes still travelling the length of his chest. Garrett took her hand and
the two went down a level where the little thief had hacked into the piping
system and set up a bathtub. Slowly the tub filled with hot water. Revena
couldn’t keep her eyes off the man in front of her.
“Heh. Sweetheart, you’re staring.”
The lady blackhand blushed, but for once didn’t look away. “I can’t help it.
I’m afraid that if I look away you’ll disappear. Or I’ll wake up.”
Garrett stepped closer. “Dream of me often, do you?”
“Most nights,” she admitted. “But nothing compares to this.”
“This?”
Revena hesitantly reached a hand out, tracing his collarbone with a single
finger before sliding it downward. A small thin patch of dark hair in the
center of his chiseled chest asserted his maleness without being overwhelming.
Revena let her fingers glide over the outlines of his pectorals and down his
abdomen, hesitantly tracing the outside of his navel. Garrett growled
possessively and captured her hands with his own.
“As much as I hate to interrupt you; the bath is almost full, my sweet.” He
reached over to turn the water off. “Unless you plan on bathing dressed, I
suggest we fix that.”
Before she could protest Garrett pulled her close, crushed his lips into hers,
and finally gave into his desire to let his hands wander freely.   He pulled at
the closures of golden corset as Revena curled her arms over his shoulders and
twined her fingers into his hair, clearly lost in his touch. Garrett finally
discovered the trick and Revena gasped as the corset came free. He took the
opportunity to spin her, gaining access to the buttons on the back of her shirt
as his mouth moved to her ear, tracing the curl with his tongue and sucking
gently at her lobe. Revena’s hands had dropped when he turned her, and now they
hung helpless at her sides as she whimpered under her breath, voice thick with
desire. Quick fingers had the blue shirt undone in moments and Garrett shed it
from the woman’s small form. He moved his lips around to the nape of her neck,
his hands gliding over her sides but not yet daring to explore her unseen
breasts. Her back was indeed badly scarred – far worse than his, and he made a
point of tasting several of the scars that were within easy reach.
Revena took a deep breath but didn’t turn. “We should get in before the water
gets cold.” Garrett stood, fixed to the spot, as she knelt to slide her blue
leggings and underwear to the floor revealing dangerously curved hips and ass
also scarred from the General’s abuse.
“Gods,” Garrett whispered hoarsely. “Get in the damn tub, Revena. I need you.
Badly.” As she did so, Garrett shed his own pants and climbed in behind her,
his erection brushing against her back as he straddled her and continued to
kiss and caress her from behind. The warm water sloshed around them and Revena
moaned quietly in pleasure.
Garrett allowed his hands to skim around to her front and gently cupped her
breasts, discovering they were pleasantly heavy and each was slightly larger
than his hand. He squeezed lightly as his clever fingers found the nubs of her
nipples and pinched them into hardness causing Revena’s head to roll back into
the cradle of his neck as she whimpered and gripped his muscular thighs, nails
raking his skin.   The blackhand stole a kiss from the lady, caressing her lips
with his tongue before plunging in fully and plundering her mouth. Revena
wasn’t passive but most definitely allowed him control, opening herself to him
and his ministrations completely. Garrett was pleased to find that she tasted
sweet, almost like an unidentified flower. His hands wandered lower, flitting
across her smooth stomach and over her legs, trailing slowly up her inner
thighs to the apex between her legs. Revena’s breath caught in her throat,
fingers tightening on Garrett’s legs once more.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, not wishing to break the mood, but needing to
know that it was acceptable to proceed.
“I-“ Revena started, but then stopped, pulling away slightly. “You said you’d
wash him away. I think I need that. Before we go further, I mean.” She sent
water over the edge of the tub as she rearranged herself, turning in his arms
and straddling him.
Garrett said nothing, simply getting out a wash cloth, soaking it and lathering
in soap before applying it to Revena’s chest. Revena leaned forward and locked
her lips to his once more, working the leather thong in his hair free. Dark
hair spilled to just between his shoulder blades as tongues entwined. Garrett
worked the cloth lower, once again reaching the apex of her thighs. This time,
however, Revena didn’t stop him, and the cloth rubbed her lightly, eliciting a
light moan from the woman. Garrett dared a deeper cleansing and Revena wiggled
on his lap, her eyes half lidded in pleasure. Keeping one hand rubbing with the
cloth, he dropped the other down over her back and across her ass cheeks before
reaching under her and daring for the first time to touch her most intimate
softness directly. She was wet, deliciously so, and her folds already parted
slightly due to her position and the wash cloth, giving him easy access to her
slit. Garrett played the edges of that wetness with his fingers, stroking her
lightly. Revena whimpered into his mouth as her hands raked into his hair,
clinging for life. Garrett abandonded the cloth, letting it sink into the tub
as he sought out her clit, knowing he’d found it as she jumped slightly in his
lap and her whimper became a groan. Teasing that nub as he had earlier done her
nipples, Garrett slowly slid a finger inside of Revena, who gasped. Her hips
rolled forward to meet him as he stroked her both on her sensitive nub and
inside. He slid a second finger into her and increased his pace slightly,
earning another groan from Revena, her mouth separating from his now to breathe
more easily as she kissed down into the crook of his neck. Her walls clenched
around him, and Garrett knew that despite her quiet, she was close. He slid a
third finger into the woman on his lap and sped up once again, continuing his
ministrations with his other hand on her clit. Revena’s hips began to buck into
his hands and he could feel her stomach fluttering as her walls continued to
tighten around him, water sloshing violently around them.
“Oh! Garrett!” Revena whispered desperately before her teeth found purchase in
the meat of his shoulder. Garrett felt a rush of heat and wetness that had
nothing to do with the bathwater as Revena came into his hands. He continued to
pump into her until her walls began to release his fingers where he finally
slowed his pace and eventually removed himself from her.
“Better?” Garrett asked with a smile.
“Mmm.” She sighed softly, burying her head into his chest. “Sorry about your
shoulder.”
“Don’t be. I’m not. I intend to have many more of those before I’m done with
you tonight, my sweet.”
“Oh…?” Revena sounded somewhere between alarmed and intrigued.
“Indeed. Is there anywhere else that needs washed? Because if not…” Garrett
motioned to himself and his rather obvious need.
Revena nodded. “Like I said before. There isn’t a place on me that Thadeus
hasn’t tainted. Not one. But I guess we don’t need to do everything at once?”
“Not…one. You mean he took you-“
“Everywhere possible. But I’d really rather be with you, Garrett. And that
looks uncomfortable, and wonderful.” She added with a smile.
Garrett grinned and pulled her closer onto his lap. Now Revena skimmed her
hands over his chest and down to his manhood. He was larger than Thadeus,
Revena noted, both in length and width, but not enough to be out of proportion
with the rest of his body – it was simply that Thadeus was in fact quite small.
Revena giggled to herself at the thought. She stroked him once lightly, causing
Garrett to buck hard up against her.
“Augh! Revena, don’t tease me. Please.” Garrett begged hoarsely.
“I wasn’t- I didn’t mean to. I only know what heliked. Show me?” Revena replied
uncertainly.
“Too light. That was too light. Please…”
Revena adjusted her grip to a more solid one, her hand firmly around Garrett’s
member, fingers brushing the vein beneath as her pinky circled his head. She
dropped her index finger in between his balls to lightly give them stimulation
as she stroked him.
“Oh...Gods…” Garrett breathed into her ear. “Yesss.”
The lady thief kissed her way down, licking Garrett’s pale nipples while her
unoccupied hand traced small circles into the small of his back. She slid
further into the water, kissing his well cut abdomen before taking a breath and
disappearing underneath the waterline. Garrett felt her tongue caress his tip
and let out a moan as her tongue swirled around him head to base and back,
before replacing her hand again and coming up for air. Filled with desire,
Garrett grabbed for her hips and pulled her roughly on top of him, vaguely
lining himself up with her.
“Need you…” He panted.
Revena could only nod, adjusting him slightly before settling on an angle and
sheathing him into her heat. Both groaned at the sensation, pausing simply to
feel one another as well as allowing Revena to expand to Garrett’s girth. A
sudden clench from her was all the signal Garrett needed to begin moving within
her. His pace was measured but forceful, causing Revena to moan with every
thrust, her nails digging into his shoulders, head tilted backwards. Taking
advantage of the view, Garrett dipped forward, and sucked a nipple into his
mouth and teasing it lightly with his teeth, keeping his rhythm steady with
both hands on her hips. She groaned at that and rolled her hips, inviting a
faster pace. Garrett obliged, feeling his own pressure building at the base of
his spine. The water around them sloshed in time but neither heard it, lost in
their own pleasure.
“Garrett…Garrett, please. Please. Oh Gods. Garrett.” Revena whispered to
herself with each thrust.
The thief could feel her walls beginning to flutter around him, and he
quickened his pace, his need building rapidly with each push. She suddenly
gripped him tightly, both inside and out, clinging to him desperately as she
came without any further warning. It was enough to send Garrett over the edge
and he released himself in hot spurts within her. The two slowed their pace,
eventually stopping altogether, and simply sat in each others arms, breathing
heavily.
“Damn, sweetheart.” Garrett eventually managed. “That was…”
“Best…bath…ever…” Revena finished with a lazy grin before reaching up to kiss
him. “Don’t think I can walk…legs shaking too much.” She added.
“Well then.” Garrett disentagled himself from his lover before exiting the tub
and retrieving two towels. One he wrapped around his own waist haphazardly, the
other he left to one side as he carefully lifted Revena free of the tub before
wrapping her in it and then carrying her up the stairs to his bed and lay her
down before curling next to her himself.
***** Chapter 15 *****
Garrett woke with a pleasant but unfamiliar weight on his left side. He cracked
a chocolate brown eye to find Revena snugged into his side, head on his
shoulder and one arm draped across his chest, while one leg twined in between
his own. Planting a kiss on her forehead, Garrett set about disentangling
himself and getting feeling back into his fingers without waking the younger
woman. Successful, he pulled on a pair of pants and found some arrow bolts that
needed fletching.
Now what? He wondered to himself as he worked. What she said before about being
mine...that’s scary. I don’t know that I’m ready for that. Don’t know if I ever
will be. But I’m afraid she’d see that as rejection. I don’t want to hurt her –
she’s been hurt enough as it is. And she’s given herself to me, heart and soul.
That’s quite the gift. Not something you throw away lightly. That description
she gave me…what a bleak world view. No wonder she tried to kill herself if
that’s how you see everything.
Movement interrupted his thoughts as the figure on the bed stretched and yawned
luxuriously, capturing Garrett’s undivided attention.
“Welcome back, my sweet,” He smiled.
“I- Uh!” Revena snapped her head around, taking in her surroundings. “It wasn’t
a dream?”
“Not at all.” Garrett moved back to the bed and planted another kiss on her
forehead. “Disappointed?”
“N-no! Of course not! I just… I’ve dreamed this so often, it’s hard to believe
that it’s real,” she explained.
“Dreamed it often. Hmmm. How often, I wonder? And what else do you dream
about?” His voice dropped, becoming huskier.
Revena blushed furiously, and Garrett was charmed to see that the flush ran
down into her breasts. “Very often. And I have…lots…of dreams.” She said
softly, voice full of embarrassment.
“Really? Do tell. I’ve had a few of my own. Maybe some of them are the same and
we can make them reality?”
Revena somehow managed an even deeper shade of red, but she was made bold by
his words and spoke anyway. “Your hands, Garrett. They’re so pretty. I love
watching you work. I love watching you pick a lock, or search for a switch.
Just the idea of your hands on me. Finding my…switches…Gods breath.”   Garrett
smirked but said nothing, allowing her to continue. “Having you climb into my
window some night and just take me for everything I’m worth, in every way
possible. Having you in some tight corner while guards pass by inches away and
never know what’s happening.”
“So you’re an exhibitionist then?”
“No, but the idea of the danger and you taking me like that is great fantasy
fodder…I don’t think the reality would live up somehow.”
“Good. We can’t let this get in the way of our jobs. Eyes on the prize and all
that.”
“Get in the way? So, you’re saying…?”
“This was no one night stand. I’d never hurt you like that. You’re mine now.
Mine.”
Revena sucked in a breath and a smile flickered across her face. “Really? You
mean it?”
Rather than responding in words, Garrett simply lay down the bolt he was
working on and wrapped his arms around the woman, drawing her in for a
domineering and thorough kiss. She melted into his arms, instantly molding
herself to his body.
“Oh my love,” Revena whispered reverently. “Yours. All yours.”
Garrett smiled into her mouth and feathered kisses across her cheek and jaw.
“Damn right. And I don’t share terribly well, so Tay’s just out of luck.”
“He never had a chance, Garrett. Not against you.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“What about you? You said you dreamed?”
“Yeah.” Garrett took a breath. “Fantasized, more accurately. About different
things. Chasing you across the thieves’ highway again, but this time I catch
you and make love to you on the rooftops,” He could feel himself growing hard
at the thought. “Or taking you in the bath, which we’ve done. But I have to
admit my favorite is about having you completely at my mercy. Nowhere to run,
nowhere to hide, just you, all tied up and utterly exposed to me. To touch, to
taste, to have as gently or hard as I want. To have you scream my name to the
sky.”
“You want to tie me up?” Revena’s voice was small.
“Very badly. But I’d never do anything you aren’t comfortable with.”
“It’s just…Thadeus would tie me up to the bedposts when he’d whip me. He liked
to hear me scream too.”
“I mean a different kind of scream, my sweet,” Garrett said, nuzzling Revena’s
ear. “But if it ranges too close to him then so be it. Maybe someday we’ll get
him out of your head completely. Until then, we’ll take it a day at a time.”
“That- that sounds good.” Revena’s eyes grew wide as she suddenly pulled away
from Garrett. “Oh sweet Master Builder! What do we tell Basso? He’s gonna
know!”
Garrett chuckled. “He already knows, and he’s okay with it. Actually, we should
head over and see what he’s got for us.”
“He knows? So we can take the day off?” Revena wriggled her hips against his
seductively.
“Oof. Not fair.” Garrett whined. “It would be better if we didn’t. Besides, you
only have your costume from last night here.”
“Ugh. It is the only thing I have isn’t it?” This seemed to motivate her more
than any other reasoning as she clambered downstairs to gather her clothing.
“No way am I getting stuck wearing that thing any longer than I have to. Let’s
get going.”
Several minutes later, the two thieves crossed the plaza and entered Basso’s
office, one looking rather smug, the other utterly embarrassed.
“It’s about damn time you two showed up!” Basso chastised them in greeting.
“Curiosity has been gnawing at me all day. Are we all good here Sis, or…?”
“Yeah, we’re okay.” Revena replied as she made for her room. “I’m still not
thrilled about being left in the dark, but I get why you did it. Now, I really
do want to get out of these clothes and into something more comfortable.”
She disappeared and the fence raised an eyebrow at his friend. “You look
inordinately pleased with yourself, Garrett. Can I assume that your tension
with my sweet almost-sister has been successfully resolved?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” the thief grinned. “She and I talked. And then we-“
“LALALA!” Basso cut him off loudly, clamping his hands over his ears. “Just
this once I don’t want details! I’m glad you two have worked it out. That’s
good enough for me.”
“Right so…”
“Yeah yeah, a job. Let’s see.” Basso flipped through his book looking for
likely candidates. “I don’t have much, actually; two choices. One, I need
someone to get me a piece of art. Supposedly it belonged to the Widow Moira.
The other is just a possible client.”
“Huh. Give Revena the client. She could use the boost and experience. I’ll take
the art job.”
Basso made a few marks in his book. “Done.”
Revena chose that moment to return, dressed in her usual thieving blacks.
“What’s done?”
“I have a job, and you have a client to meet,” Garrett answered unabashedly
eyeing her.
“By myself?” Revena’s eyes were wide.
Basso laughed. “Yes. We told you that you were ready. And it may not come to
anything. You have prerogative to take the job he offers or not. You can find
Mr. Trent just off of Traitorsgate.”
“Oh. Okay.” The lady thief began to head for the door.
“Hey!” Garrett protested.
“Hmm?”
In two long strides Garrett caught up to her and kissed her soundly, leaving
her breathless. “Now you can leave,” he said with a smirk.
***** Chapter 16 *****
Chapter Notes
     A short chapter.
Revena knocked lightly on the apartment door before letting herself in. Invite
a thief to your home, expect a few things to go missing, she thought to
herself, picking up a pile of change left by the door. To the left was the
kitchen, but it was clearly empty. She heard someone clear their throat ahead
of her and followed the sound to a living room. A man was sitting in a chair,
reading the latest newspaper. He was average looking, and his dress was
appropriate to his living conditions; all-in-all nothing special.
“Mr. Trent?”
The man looked up, startled. “Oh my! Ahem. Yes, I am. Who are you? Wait, Basso
sent you, yes?” His eyes shifted from side to side nervously.
Revena nodded, ready to run.
“Oh thank heavens. I have a problem you see. I’ve lost my watch.”
The lady thief bit the inside of her cheek to keep from rolling her eyes. “So
take out an ad.”
“You don't understand. I didn’t lose it. Well, not like that. I lost it. In a
bet. And it’s a family heirloom. It’s worthless to anyone but me. But well, I
can’t get it back myself. He’d know! But if he were to be the victim of a
robbery, and the watch happened to be one of the items stolen...” the man
trailed off helplessly.
“I get the idea. Who’d you lose it to? And how much are we talking for this
job?”
“Poul Edison,” Trent sighed. “A good friend. I hate doing this to him, but I
simply must have that watch back! I’ll pay you anything you like!”
“Done.”
“Oh thank you! You’ve no idea how much this means to me! Poul lives in the poor
part of Dayport.”
“I can find him. I’ll be back in a few days.”
===============================================================================
 
Even the “poor” part of Dayport was large townhouses and Revena wanted a look
at what she was up against. The night was young so she crossed the bridge,
weaving through the streets until she reached a likely neighborhood. Dodging
patrols of City Watch, Revena flitted from house to house, looking for clues of
who might be the occupants. Most were easy, the owners proudly displaying their
names and family crests within sight of the street. She found herself wishing
Garrett were with her as a great many of the people she passed had fat purses.
Revena herself was almost able to pickpocket a drunken sailor without him
noticing. Almost.
She finally found her quarry, a modest sized home surrounded by a low wall.
With a quick glance to either side, Revena hopped the boundary, crouching on
the other side so as not to be seen. She paced the entire wall, keeping eyes
open for doors, windows, guards, and dogs. A balcony on the east side looked to
be the best entry point. There was a dog at the front and back door each, but
no other protection that Revena could see outside. There were several figures
moving inside, however, and Revena didn’t want to risk getting caught without
all the proper equipment, so she headed home.
“I’m back! And I took the job,” Revena smiled.
“Oh? Good for you! Just be careful, eh?”
“No problem. I’m headed to bed. G’night.”
Garrett was waiting in her room. “Welcome back. How did it go?” he asked.
“Hello to you too. It was fine. He wanted me to get back a family heirloom he
lost in a gamble to a friend. Wish you’d been there.”
“Oh? Missed me, did you?” Garrett purred and crooked a finger at her.
“Mmm.” Revena obeyed, slowly advancing. “There were a lot of pockets that
needed picking over there tonight. Must have been payday or something.” She
stopped half a foot short of his knees.
“Is that the only reason?” he asked huskily.
Revena’s eyes went wide in innocence, “I think so. Should there be another
reason?” Garrett snarled, grabbing at Revena’s hands and pulling her in for a
kiss, while she laughed into his mouth. “Oh right. That. I knew I was
forgetting something.”
“Shaddup and kiss me, wench.” Garrett reached over and snuffed out the nearby
candle, plunging the room in darkness.
***** Chapter 17 *****
Revena shifted from shadow to shadow as silently as she could, creeping behind
a mercenary to reach the next doorway before slipping into the master bedroom
where a woman was sleeping soundly. She’d been inside Poul Edison’s house most
of two hours and had picked up several valuables, but had yet to find the watch
in question. Revena rifled through the closet with no lock before carefully
moving to the nightstand which revealed a pure silver hand mirror but no watch.
She closed her eyes in frustration, this being the last room of her search. It
simply wasn’t here; Edison was probably wearing the watch to work. It was time
to make her escape and report her failure to Trent.
Revena made a pit-stop at Basso’s office to drop off her loot bag. “Here’s
everything I took, Basso. I couldn’t find the watch. I don’t think it was
there. What do I do?”
“Nothing you can do, sis,” the fence replied with a shrug. “Sometimes things
just go south. We can try again if he wants. Just let him know.”
“Okay.”
Revena continued on to Traitorsgate and Trent’s apartment. Trent was in the
bathroom. When he emerged he didn’t seem surprised to see her.
“Is it done? Do you have my watch?” He asked eagerly.
“No, I’m sorry to say. I went, but it wasn’t there and we’ve lost the
opportunity. I suspect he’s carrying it to work with him. Obviously no pay is
required since I didn’t get you your item, but I can try again if you’d like.”
“What do you mean you don’t have it? I have to have that watch back! Surely the
plan will still work?” Trent asked plaintively
“I doubt it,” Revena shook her head. “I was expecting to find the watch so I
cleared him out as I went. It would look suspicious if I went back just to take
the watch.”
“I suppose it would.” Trent’s voice took an odd tone. “Of course, you just
admitted to stealing from Poul Edison, yes?”
“Well, I am a thief. It’s what I do, and what you hired me for.”
“Yes well. I had good reason. You on the other hand…” Something in his voice
made Revena pay closer attention to him, but it was too late as two members of
the City Watch appeared from other rooms and leveled swords at her.
“Where are my things?” One of them growled at her. “If you hurt my wife…”
Revena froze, unwilling to risk a confrontation when she knew she would lose.
“I’d never do such a thing. She’s sleeping just like I found her. Your things,
on the other hand, are long gone.” She edged towards a window.
“Dammit. Well, don’t even think about escaping. We’re taking you in. Thanks for
working with us Mr. Trent.” The watchman who was obvious Edison prodded her
with his sword, and Revena had no choice but to lead the way to the nearest
watch station.
“Name?” The bored clerk asked. Revena remained stubbornly silent. The clerk
huffed. “Anon. Crime: Theft. Evidence: Admitted within hearing of an officer to
being a thief and to stealing from an officer of the Watch. Punishment: To Be
Determined.”
A loud laugh from the hallway made Revena’s blood freeze in place. “I’ll see
you made Captain for this, Edison! Well done! Now, let’s see what we have,”
came the familiar voice. Revena closed her eyes in fear as the door opened and
revealed the Thief-Taker General, smiling. As his grey eyes fell on the woman
before him, the smile dropped as recognition slowly dawned. “You. You?!”
Thadeus grabbed her upper arm harshly, pulling Revena out of her chair. More
loudly he told the clerk that he wanted a paddy wagon immediately brought
around as Thadeus dragged his sister outside and tossed her inside the waiting
carriage before climbing aboard himself. The carriage wound through the streets
of the City to the Watch headquarters. Another rough transition along with the
order to not be disturbed brought Revena to an unoccupied room. As Thadeus sent
home a lock, Revena realized she was in her worst nightmare.
“How dare you defy me? I told you. I warned you against the criminal element in
this city. But you just couldn’t resist could you? I always knew you were
rotten! Thank the Gods Mother isn’t here to see this.”
Revena shuddered at the hatred in her siblings voice but remained silent, eyes
lowered to the floor demurely.
“Oh no. That isn’t going to work anymore, bitch! I was gentle before. I mean to
break you, now.” With that he grabbed her harshly, snatching the cowl from her
head. “Strip, you little whore. And be quick about it.”
As Revena removed her clothing she looked around for the first time, and
realized she was in one of the infamous ‘interrogation’ rooms. She shuddered at
the chill, standing naked before her brother except for her necklace, who
looked her over with a practiced eye.
“Thieving suits you. You look better than you ever did when you were with me.
Too bad.” He advanced on the woman before him and motioned to the pillory. “Get
in.”
Revena meekly stepped up to the T-shaped wooden frame and raised her arms and
set her head to the cross bar which Thadeus secured. Her brother stepped in
front of her and showed her what was next – an iron bar with a cuff at each
end. Thadeus set it at her feet, forcing her legs apart. Next he prepared a
razor and with great precision shaved her entire body completely bald including
eyebrows and pubic hair. Nor was he gentle about the process. By the end Revena
was bleeding from several cuts. Through the whole thing neither said a word.
When he was finished, Thadeus stood and moved behind her. Revena could hear him
flexing something leather and anticipated the sting of a whip, but nothing
prepared her for the agony that fell onto her shoulders. Rather than the usual
thick band, a thousand tiny knives cut into her back all at once. She could
feel rivulets of blood trace their way across her ribs and down her spine. She
screamed.
“Do you like it?” Thadeus asked. “It’s my new toy. A cat-of-nine-tails, but
each has a fishing hook attached to the end. It must feel something like being
flayed alive. I wonder how long you’ll stay conscious.” Another slap and now
Revena could identify each tail and feel each hook as it pulled through her
skin before tearing free even as she screamed again.
“Who is your fence, Revena? Where do you take your stolen things? Do you have
friends? A lover? Is he a thief too? Give me names!” Each question was
punctuated with another swing of the whip.
With a sob, Revena shook her head as best she could, knowing that if her mouth
opened, she would in fact break as easily as Thadeus claimed.
“Perhaps you need another kind of whip…” his voice was nearly a whisper. With
no further warning Thadeus forced himself inside of her heat, pulling another
sobbing scream from her throat. His thrusts were rough and deep, each lifting
her on her toes. She struggled against him, but the between the pillory and the
bar there was no escape. Thadeus laughed and brought a hand around to her sex,
finding her clit easily, the other harshly grinding a breast.
“You are going to like this, Revena. I’m going to make you learn to like pain.”
He manipulated her clit expertly and Revena cursed silently as her body
betrayed her, a tingle beginning in her toes. There was too much pain to ignore
or distract herself. Thadeus’ pace was relentless and soon he was on the cusp.
At the last moment he pulled out of her, his cum jetting onto the lacerations
on Revena’s back while he was replaced with something cold and metal. She
moaned in pain, head wilting onto the crossbar, barely able to stay conscious
between blood loss and pain.
“Now now, none of that. There’s so much left to do.”
A nearby bucket full of vinegar was splashed over her, bringing tears to her
eyes and ragged scream from her already raw throat. Thadeus fucked her with the
metal thing even as he continued to finger her clit. Revena’s eyes closed and
she prayed to any and all Gods to just let it be over as the orgasm continued
to build within her. Despite her best efforts, her breathing began to get heavy
and she actually started to try and buck her hips against Thadeus and his toy.
“So eager to play the slut,” Thadeus laughed. “Not yet I think. Try this
instead.” He removed his fingers from her clit and she heard a soft click.
Somehow the metal thing expanded inside of her, stretching her uncomfortably.
When the General moved the metal thing again it scraped at her walls and she
cried out.
“Can you guess what it is? No? It’s a pear. And I mean to open it all the way.
Of course I could stop now. Finish you off like a gentleman. But I’d need
something in return for that. Like a name.”
Revena swallowed, mustering her courage. “To the abyss with you!” she spat. She
couldn’t see her bother’s face, but she imagined it must be scowling.
Without further response there was another click and the pear was opened to its
maximum width. Revena’s sight turned black with pain and she passed out.
===============================================================================
 
When she woke she found herself lying down and for a moment dared to believe it
was a horrible dream. Then she tried to open her eyes and move her limbs,
finding neither to be possible. Worse, the pear was still in place and another
had been inserted into her ass, also on its maximum opening. Whatever surface
she was lying on was uncomfortable against the wounds on her back.
“Back with me? Good. I want names, Revena. And I’m going to get them. You’re on
the rack. If I dislocate everything you won’t be able to work for at least a
month. If I rip your joints completely apart, you’ll never work again. What’s
your choice?” In demonstration, Thadeus turned the wheel slightly, putting
tension on her shoulders and hips.
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, that’s going to happen regardless. I might even keep you as a reward to my
men for a job well done. How would you like that, eh? The personal Blossom of
the City Watch. Not much you can do about it if you can’t even crawl to get
away, eh?”
“I’d rather die.”
“Yes, I did notice those lovely scars of yours. Still, you always did have a
low pain threshold.” He spun the wheel and Revena shrieked as her shoulders
unhinged with a sickening pop.
“Oh Gods! Stop! Stop, please!” Tears streamed down her face in shame.
“Hmm? Something to say?”
“Garrett. Basso and Garrett.”
“And who are these people to me?” When the thief shook her head, Thadeus spun
the wheel a little more, and she could feel her hips giving way.
“Basso is my fence,” Revena sobbed. “Garrett is a thief. The best.”
“And where can I find them?”
No! Courtier lesson one; mix truth and lies so none can separate them. You gave
him a truth, now feed him a lie. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie, girl!” Thadeus shifted the wheel a little more in warning.
“I’m not! Basso uses drop points. Garrett is secretive.  Please, please let me
go!”
In reply, Thadeus merely returned to his earlier ministrations, climbing on top
of her to nip at her nipples as his hands spread her nether lips to play with
her clit again. The earlier almost-orgasm came rushing back and Revena
involuntarily bucked into his hands. A few moments later and she found her
release, wetness seeping from around the pear.
“There now. Was that so bad? Didn’t a little pain make the pleasure that much
better?”
“As you say, Thadeus. Will you let me go now?”
“But we still have so much to discuss…” Thadeus replied with a wicked gleam in
his eye.
***** Chapter 18 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Dawn came and went, and dusk returned. Garrett slipped silently into the
fence’s office.
“Hey Basso,” the thief said in greeting. “Is Revena up yet? I have a surprise
for her.”
Basso’s eyes grew wide. “You mean she wasn’t with you last night?”
“What? No! Shit. She was on that job for Trent. Can you check with your
contacts to see if she ran into trouble? I’ll head over to the mark’s place and
see if I can find any trace of her.”
The two went their separate ways. At Trent’s house Garrett found no trace of
Revena or anything that might implicate that she had ever been there. Garrett
repeated the process at Edison’s townhouse, but other than looking scarce on
décor, he once again found no clues. Frustrated, he returned to the Burrick,
hoping that Basso had more luck. The look on Basso’s face quickly assured him
that his friend had found success, and that the news wasn’t good.
“What is it, Basso? What happened?”
“It…” Basso hung his head. “The job. It was a set up. Trent’s wife is the
primary reporter for the newpaper. They were working with the Watch. I was
supposed to send you, I guess. Maybe I should have. You might have gotten away.
She- Revena wasn’t so lucky.”
Garrett’s voice dropped to a hiss. “What are you saying?”
Basso sighed. “The Watch has her, but it gets worse. The General was involved
in the sting. Harlan has her, Garrett. Personally.”
Garrett could only stare in horror at his friend. “Oh shit,” he finally
managed.
“Yeah.”
“No. Basso you don’t understand. Her brother…” Garrett ran a hand over his face
in worry. “He used her Basso. Has since she was twelve.”
“Used…her…?” Basso’s brain refused to process the information. “I don’t-“
“Rape, Basso. Incest. And you’re telling me that she’s locked down with him
having all the power. And nothing I can do about it. Builder’s Hanging Hammer!”
“Fuck,” Basso agreed.
===============================================================================
 
Three days later a paddy wagon rolled through the square, barely slowing as the
back doors opened and deposited a small figure along the side of the road who
moaned weakly as she rolled to a stop. Revena struggled to a standing position
and darted to the nearest shadow, using her hands to cover her nakedness before
collapsing again. From the relative safety of the darkness, Revena took in her
surroundings. Revena saw the clocktower and the sign for the Crippled Burrick
but found she could make no move for safety. Darkness edged her sight and the
world spun into nothingness.
It wasn’t until several hours later as Garrett made his way home, that he
spotted the small naked figured tucked into the shadows. Curious about the
anomaly and desperately hoping that it was the missing blackhand Garrett
hurried down to the figure. At first Garrett didn’t recognize the lady thief
with her missing hair and her back shredded like so much raw meat, but upon
rolling her over there was no doubt. God’s Breath, what did he do to you?
Garrett thought to himself as he lifted her. Revena’s arms fell at unnatural
angles. With practiced movements Garrett ascended the tower and arranged her as
comfortably as he could in his bed. Surrounded by his familiar scent, Revena
sighed and seemed to fall into a deeper sleep. Basso needs to know… Daring to
leave her alone, Garrett made his way to Basso’s upstairs apartment of the
Burrick and burst in.
“Basso! I-“
“SHIT! Garrett, how many times have I told you to use the fucking door?! Go
home! Beat it!” Basso was entwined with a winsome red-head who was clinging to
a bed sheet, eyes wide.
“-found Revena. Thought you’d want to know. Sorry for the interruption.”
Garrett finished wryly. Suddenly he had Basso’s fully attention.
“Wait. What do you mean you found her? Is she okay? Is she…alive?” The red-head
was momentarily forgotten.
“She’s alive, but badly hurt and unconscious. I don’t know just how bad it is
yet. I should get back. As soon as I know anything I’ll tell you.”
“Make sure you do.”
“Sorry for the interruption. Have fun.” As Garrett disappeared out the window
he heard a girlish shriek and couldn’t help but chuckle. Returning, Garrett
quickly lost his humor as Revena hadn’t so much as moved. Yawning, he carefully
stripped down and climbed in next to her, providing what comfort he could with
his mere presence.
Hours later Revena woke screaming. She flailed wildly against Garrett’s
embrace.
“Shh-shh-shh! Revena, Revena, it’s okay. It’s Garrett. You’re safe. Shhh.”
Slowly Revena ceased her protests. “G-garrett? Is that you? Is this real?”
“It’s me, sweet. It’s real.” He smoothed her head where her hair would have
been, wiping the tears from her face. “Tell me what I can do to make it
better.”
“Oh Gods. Garrett!” She pulled away from him suddenly and began to sob
uncontrollably. “I- he-“
Garrett moved closer. “Shhh. Time enough for that later, Revena. You’re hurt. I
need to know how badly.”
“No! Now. You need to know now. I-“ Revena’s voice grew very soft. “I broke,
Garrett. He broke me. Completely. I…I told him everything. About Basso. About
you. I was able to keep back the clocktower, but that’s it.” She hung her head.
“I’m not yours anymore. I’m his. He let me go so I could tell you. I have to go
back.”
“Like hell you are. We’ll just wash him away again. I’m not letting you go.”
“You can’t. Not from this.” She tried to shrug and gasped in pain.
“And how exactly do you plan on leaving with two dislocated arms and who knows
what else?”
“If you won’t take me then I’ll figure something out. I have to go back,” she
repeated.
“Never going to happen, Eve. Now let me at least fix your shoulders for you?”
Revena assented, yelping in pain as Garrett worked quickly to pop the joints
back into their sockets before creating a makeshift sling that supported both
of her arms. “You need to rest. We’ll talk more later.”
“But-“
The thief silenced her protest with a kiss. “Later. Rest now.”
‘Later’ turned out to be just over three weeks in the future. Having said her
piece Revena went into a nearly catatonic state, eating and sleeping, but
steadfastly refusing to speak of her experience or anything. Her eyebrows grew
back, as did about a half-inch of hair on her head. Her back scabbed and slowly
began the ugly process of scarring. Even so, her rest was fitful and often
interrupted by nightmares that she either would or could not elaborate on upon
waking. In the intervening time Garrett and Basso both kept a sharp eye on the
Watch, but they did not seem eager to act upon whatever information the General
had gleaned from his sister.
The day her arm slings came off, so did whatever was holding Revena back. In
the darkened gloom of the tower, Revena clung to herself. In whisper and great
detail she revealed to the master thief everything that had happened to her,
fearing and expecting rejection. Garrett stood. The look on his face was
unreadable as his rich brown eyes stared into her mist grey ones. Without
saying a word he turned away. Internally, Revena crumbled to dust.
Chapter End Notes
     My deepest apologies, beloved readers, for taking so long with this
     update! A bad tonsillectomy combined with good prescriptions meant I
     was physically incapable of stringing together more than three words
     at a time and still having them make sense. Hopefully this chapter
     doesn't follow suit.
***** Chapter 19 *****
For several long minutes the tower was silent except for the ticking of the
gears. Revena watched Garrett’s back for some- any- indication that it was
going to be okay. That what she had done would be forgiven.
Garrett nodded to himself as if deciding something, before moving with a
purpose to his storage chest. When he returned his face was still
indecipherable, and he carried several things; several portable locks, a long
length of rope, and a small wooden box with an ornate inlaid lid, closed. He
laid them on the table before her like some kind of offering, arranging them
carefully before speaking. His voice was measured, wary of betraying any
emotion.
“I’m not him. I would never keep you here against your will. If you want to go
back to him, to his-“ Garrett cut himself off with a shake of his head. “I
won’t stop you. Or you can stay.” He took a breath, making sure his voice
stayed level and motioned to the items in front of him. “But if you do, I will
free you from him.”
Revena trembled in dread. “I don’t want to go back,” she said quietly. “I have
to. He said-“
“FORGET HIM!” Garrett suddenly bellowed, eyes blazing. “What do you want,
Revena? What do you need? Tell me!”
Revena shook her head. “I don’t know…” she whispered. “I don’t know anymore. I
barely know who I am. I’m lost…”
Garrett moved closer, rubbing her lower lip with his thumb as he tipped her
chin up to him. “Then let me guide you home.” He leaned in and kissed her
tenderly. Revena’s eyes fluttered closed as she automatically returned the
kiss, curving her body to meet his. As he pulled away Revena dropped her head
to his shoulder. Her words were so quiet Garrett could barely hear them, though
his ear was only two inches away.
“Make me yours.”
After a month of constant worrying with no relief or release, those three words
were not the three Garrett had expected to hear from her. It was enough. It was
too much.
With a feral growl Garrett pushed Revena into the wall, tearing at her clothing
with little regard for buttons or snaps. Her corset laces were undone with a
simple blade. He didn’t even bother removing her brassier, but simply pulled
the offending material down and out of the way as his mouth sought out her
coral nipple, sucking hard as his hand quested for the band of her underwear.
He found it at her thigh and shoved it to one side, three clever fingers
parting her folds and sliding home with little preamble while his thumb drove
heavily into her clit.
“Ahh!” Revena cried out, arching her back.
Garrett wasn’t sure if it was protest or encouragement. He wasn’t sure if he
cared. He slid up to her neck and ear, letting his scruff scratch her skin. His
tongue traced the curve of her ear before he whispered, “Mine, Revena. You’re
mine. Everything about you is mine. Do you understand?” Each statement was
punctuated by a thrust from his fingers.
“Ya-yes. Yes!” She reached for him, trying desperately to match his ferocity,
or at least her level of nakedness, but Garrett slapped her hands away, and
stopped his ministrations only long enough to free himself from his pants
before he drew Revena up and plunged deeply into her. Garrett dug his hands
into her waist and hips, trying to hold her down even as he continued to thrust
upward at a hard and unrelenting pace. Revena threw her head back as she cried
out, wrapping her legs around his thin waist to meet his pace and keep her
balance. Flesh met flesh and Garrett quickened his pace, his end near. Revena’s
walls tightened around him as she cried out, her eyes closed in utter bliss.
Garrett groaned in pleasure-pain as he pulled out and spilled his seed on the
wall and floor beneath her, breathing heavily as he leaned against the wall of
the tower.
“Garrett! What..why?” Revena was looking confused and hurt. “Did I do something
wrong?”
The thief moved to wrap his arms around the semi-naked woman. “No. No, of
course not. I’m just…not exactly father material, you know?”
“Not with me, you mean. Not with a traitor.”
“Not with anyone.” Garrett sighed, partially in relief and partially in
frustration. “Everyone has a breaking point, Revena, and he knows yours too
well. Come.” He guided Revena over to the bed, and with a wicked gleam in his
eye he motioned for Revena to remain sitting. “On your knees, my sweet.” As she
did so, Garrett uncoiled the rope he’d placed on the table. Revena’s eyes
widened.
“What are you doing?” Her voice trembled.
“I told you. I’m going to free you. And I’m going to make you mine. And we’re
both going to get a great deal of pleasure out of it,” Garrett replied huskily.
He began to wrap the rope – made of some soft cloth – around her thighs and
calves so that she couldn’t unbend her knees, placing a padlock at each knot he
made.
“You’re going to…free me…by tying me up…?”
“That’s the idea. Put your arms above your head with your hands grabbing the
opposite elbow.”
As Revena moved to do so, her trust in the thief outweighing her discomfort,
she couldn’t help but continue to question. “I don’t understand. How does this
help?”
“Well,” Garrett explained as he bound the entire length of her forearms, “you
once told me a metaphor about a hill and hole. I figure this can be the same.”
Garrett pulled the rope down and crossed it around her breasts, squeezing them,
before crossing it behind her once more and tying the whole thing together. He
stepped back to admire his handiwork.
“You work to unbind yourself from this mess that is Thadeus Harlan. Every time
you get somewhere, I reward you. By the time you’re completely undone you’ll be
– hopefully – completely undone.” He smirked.
“Garrett! How am I supposed to get out of this? I can’t even move! I’m trussed
up like some oversized bird ready to be eaten!”
“Oosh. Now there’s an idea…” Garrett’s smirk turned into a full blown grin as
he once again pulled Revena’s underwear to one side and began fingering her
with small lazy circles. Her eyes rolled upwards as she lost herself to the
feeling, her breathing heavy. Grinning, Garrett pulled his hand away and
sensually licked his fingertips. Revena whimpered.
“Now, now. Get out of one of those locks first and you’ll get a reward.”
Revena began squirming as Garrett scooted back to remove his shirt and hood,
crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her work. She glanced up, and
her breath caught in her throat as her eyes skimmed his trim muscles. Her
fingers caught a nearby padlock and she began to fiddle with the combination.
After several minutes, the lock clicked open and Garrett pounced, trailing hot
wet kisses up her inner thighs. Revena moaned softly as he approached her sex.
He inhaled deeply, and smiled; she smelled like a strong floral perfume.
Garrett stuck his pointed tongue out and licked a single stripe upwards,
tasting her for the first time – a sweet metallic flavor – and sighed in
pleasure. His hot breath ghosted over her, causing her to shudder violently. He
set to work more diligently, gently drawing her clit into his mouth and sucking
as he flicked his tongue across the top of that sensitive bud over and over
again, unrelenting. The thief’s hands were not idle either. One played with her
nether-lips, feeling the new wetness growing there. The other busied itself
playing with the tiny hairs at the very base of her spine, causing rows of
goose bumps to rise all along his captive’s skin and her well exposed nipples
to become hard and pert.
A soft groan escaped from Revena, and Garrett glanced upward. His lover’s lips
were parted in a quiet pant, cheeks flushed, and eyes half-lidded in pure
pleasure. Her hips ground forward, insistent and demanding. In response,
Garrett switched his positions, the hand beneath her now stimulating her clit
while his tongue plunged directly inside of her again and again. His release
earlier allowed him to tease her at his will, but the scent of her arousal was
beginning to re-stimulate his own, his growing hardness pressing against the
leather in his pants. It wasn’t uncomfortable yet, but it soon would be. Revena
bucked against him as she moaned his name, her legs suddenly trying to clamp
around his head as she neared completion. With a gentle strength Garrett forced
her knees apart and held them there as he teased her over the edge with his
mouth alone. He watched as she came, dripping, empty of him or anything, her
body desperate to be filled, and smirked.
“That was one lock. Only six more to go,” Garrett commented. Revena looked like
she was about to cry as she desperately fumbled for the next lock within reach.
By the time Revena had freed herself completely several hours had gone by and
Garrett had indeed completely claimed her with tongue, fingers and cock – there
was no part of her body he had not explored. As the last bit of rope was shed
Garrett wrapped his arms around Revena, pressing his chest to her back and
presented the long forgotten wooden box. With a raised eyebrow, she opened the
lid and gasped. Inside was a set of beautifully crafted lock picks, akin to his
own masterwork set. Made from a metal that was strong enough that, unless she
exacted a ridiculous amount of force on them, would never break, yet thin
enough to transmit the smallest details of the interior of a lock to her
fingers. They were a work of art.
“There is nothing you can’t get out of, my sweet. You just proved that. And
these will help.”
Revena turned into his arms, her breasts brushing lightly against his chest.
“Not true. But I never want to escape you.” She kissed him them, and the two
thieves stole pleasure from each other once more. Eventually they lay entwined,
sleeping peacefully and utterly satiated as dawn broke over the city.
***** Chapter 20 *****
Undefined nightmares continued to plague Revena’s sleep as winter crept into
the city, mitigated only by complete exhaustion and often not even then.
Slowly, and despite the two men’s best efforts, the woman withdrew further and
further into herself.
Garrett returned from a particularly long night of lifting never expecting the
scene that greeted him. The tower was…different. Empty, which was concerning,
but it was something beyond that, something else that wasn’t in any way
immediately identifiable. He wandered it slowly, careful brown eyes taking
everything in and slowly growing wider as realization dawned. He ran for
Basso’s apartment at top speed.
“Tell me she’s here!” Garrett yelled as he burst in.
“Wha-? The hell are you talking about, Garrett?”
“Revena. Is she here?” Garrett didn’t wait for an answer, pushing past his
friend to the spare room Revena sometimes occupied. It was as empty as the
tower. Garrett cursed.
“What is going on?” Basso asked as he caught up to the thief. “Whoa. Where is
Revena’s stuff?”
“Gone.” He closed his eyes against the reality. “She’s gone, Basso, and I don’t
know where or why.”
===============================================================================
Darkness engulfed her. It stretched in every direction, above and below.
Somehow she knew that no matter what direction she travelled, nor for how long,
she would never run into anything or anyone. She was completely alone. She
walked anyway and her footsteps made no noise. There was no trace of her
passage, as if she’d never been there. Perhaps she hadn’t.
The Balance is shifting.
The hoarse voice was too close to have been heard, but she knew it was there,
what it had said. More like it was speaking directly into her head.
“I don’t understand!”
You don’t need to. He is the one that is needed. You are extraneous.
“Extraneous?”
Unnecessary. A distraction from what must be done. You do not belong in his
story.
“I love him.“
Immaterial to my purposes, girl. You are nothing. You are Nothing. He is better
off without you.
She screamed into the darkness. Alone, no one heard her.
Revena woke alone in the clock tower, and with a sob suddenly understood her
nightmares. She knew them to be true. For a long time her mind was blank,
simply refusing to process any thought at all. Eventually, however, a single
thought penetrated and like a rock descending a mountain continued to roll over
and over, gaining momentum and pulling small additional thoughts in its wake; I
don’t belong in his life.
She stood and began cleaning the tower of her presence. Anything that was hers
disappeared into a small bag. Bandages were cleaned, folded and put away.
Dishes were washed. So were Garrett’s bedsheets, on the off-chance that they
smelled like her. She searched every nook and cranny of the clock tower living
space. She took the bag and followed Garrett’s path out of the tower, making
her way to Basso’s apartment. She entered silently, and applied the same to the
room she had occupied there, wiping away all evidence of her existence in the
two thieves’ lives. She now had two bags, one full of gear that was easily
identifiable as hers regardless of circumstance, the other more generic items
that on their own would never be presumed to be hers. She nodded to herself
once and left, Basso never knowing she had been there. In Mourningside she
distributed the generic items as she could to the beggars within that district,
careful to avoid the main chapel and the ‘queen’ within. She dropped the other
bag into a bonfire, watching as it burned to nothing, the smoke stinging her
eyes.
Tasks complete, Revena made one final trip – this one longer, as she was moving
extremely cautiously to avoid not only the Watch, but also any other thieves.
As dawn broke over the city she slipped into the familiar room, bathed in the
familiar tub, dressed in the familiar (if oversized) clothes, went down the
familiar stairs for breakfast.
“Ah, Revena!” greeted a familiar (if hated) voice. “So glad you could finally
join me. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
Revena shook her head in small negation, refusing to meet her host’s eyes. “I’m
sorry it took so long. You were right. Like always.” Her host motioned to a
chair and she sat down, her body trembling in fear and nearly uncontrollable
sorrow.
“What troubles you so, my dear? You’re shaking like a leaf. It’s very
distracting.”
Revena’s answer was quiet, but sincere. “I have sinned, so very badly.”
“And what was this sin that you committed?” Her host asked archly.
“I dared.” The tiny woman took a shaky breath. “I dared for one brief moment to
believe that I was allowed to be happy. I was a fool. You always say that we
must be punished for our sins.”
That grabbed his full attention. “Are you saying you…want to be punished?”
“Make me hurt, Thadeus,” Revena whispered, nodding miserably. “Make my skin
hurt as much as my heart. Kill me if you want. I don’t care anymore.”
Thadeus Harlan’s smile was positively wolf-like as he motioned for his sister
to follow him up the stairs of their family home. The screams that followed had
nothing to do with the pain he was applying to her body.
***** Chapter 21 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Garrett and Basso spent the next several days and even weeks searching the city
for any sign of Revena, checking with Basso’s contacts, investigating recent
unknown thefts, all to no avail. It was as if she had vanished completely. With
no other choices, the two slowly returned to life as normal.
The Watch never exploited the knowledge the General had, in fact they proceeded
as if they had no information at all, leading the two to wonder if the General
had ever shared his intelligence with anyone or kept it to himself. Of a
surety, the General caught many thieves and became something of a hero in the
eyes of the people of the City, but never once did he manage to touch Garrett
or Basso, though he got close several times. Garrett resumed his
‘relationships’ with the willing women of the pub, but refused to get close to
any of them. Basso continued to court his red-haired beauty. Time passed.
Hearts healed, if not exactly in the same shape they started.
Over a year later, in the depths of winter, Garrett found himself attending
another ball in Auldale. He stealthily made his way from room to room, lifting
jewelry, watches, purses, and wallets from the unsuspecting guests. As he
entered the next room in the hallway however, he froze. Inside a man and woman
were in the middle of an intimate moment. He had a woman on her knees, her face
a buried into mattress and he pulling her arms up and behind her, locking her
elbows to hold her arms straight. Garrett had the momentary thought that can’t
possibly be comfortable for her before realizing who the man was – the Thief-
Taker General himself. Harlan groaned as he finished. He pulled away from the
woman, wiping himself on her under-dress before buttoning up.
“Get up, you little harlot. We have to get back downstairs.” When the woman
beneath him didn’t immediately move he reached forward to grab at her shoulders
or head – Garrett wasn’t sure. With a pained moan she was flipped over and sat
up. Garrett nearly gasped aloud in recognition of the short pale woman. The
dress covered her form head to toe, including her neck. Garrett had no doubt
that it needed to be so. Gloves covered her hands. Shoulder-length hair had
been pulled into a messy bun. Her grey eyes were dead and emotionless as if she
barely saw the world around her. They flicked over the blackhand’s form, but
there was no sign of recognition there. He sidestepped into a shadow away from
the door and the two Harlan’s exited the room without incident.
As Garrett turned back to the room, his eyes caught a glint on the bed. Curious
he moved to inspect whatever had been left behind. This time he did gasp aloud.
It was a necklace – the pendant in the shape of a keyhole, and crossing behind
was a pair of keys from which the chain hung; the one he’d given to Revena for
her nineteenth birthday. As he picked up the necklace by the chain he noticed a
tiny piece of paper that had been hidden underneath. Garrett unfolded the paper
with a frown. ‘I’m so sorry.’ was all it said.
“Damn,” he cursed quietly.
He moved through the rest of the house quickly, not wishing to spend any more
time than necessary there. Even so, he couldn’t help but pause at a balcony to
look down on the dancers below. Knowing who he was looking for, it was easy to
spot Harlan in the crowd. Revena stood at his side, passive as a doll, head
down eyes refusing to meet anyone’s face. A young man came forward to ask
Revena to dance, but Garrett saw that his friends were laughing in a corner.
Garrett scowled. Revena glanced to her brother who subtly shook his head no
before declining the invitation and the young man beat a hasty retreat, relief
evident on his face for all to see. The thief found a small growl forming in
his throat and swallowed it.
Knowing he may never get another chance, Garrett stalked one of the male guests
that was his approximate size until he went to use the restroom. He courteously
waited until the man was finished before blackjacking him and stealing his
outer clothes, hiding the body in an adjacent room. It wasn’t a perfect fit –
Tay would have had a conniption – but it would do for his purposes. Finding a
nearby mirror he carefully removed the kohl from around his eyes. With a smirk
he made his way to the dance floor and bowed deeply to the Harlan’s. Thadeus
frowned, knowing his face, but not being able to place it in the current
setting.
“Forgive the interruption, sir, but I was hoping to ask this beautiful woman
for a dance. May I steal her from your side for a brief time?” Garrett didn’t
wait for an answer before taking Revena’s hand and whisking her away to the
dance floor. As they took their places, he was startled to find that she
weighed even less than previously. “Revena?” he asked, almost scared of the
answer.
Revena raised her eyes to his face briefly, before looking back down and
locking them on his chest. “Yes sir?” Her voice was as dead of emotion as her
eyes.
“What are you doing?! Why did you disappear like that? Why haven’t you come
home?”
“I don’t know what you mean, sir. I am at home most of the time.”
“That isn’t home, he isn’t home – and you know it. Come back Revena. Please.”
Revena never shifted her eyes as they progressed across the floor. “I’m where I
belong.”
“The hell you are.”
“I don’t take your meaning, sir.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “I think you do. And stop acting like you don’t know
who I am.”
“The man I think you are,” she answered woodenly, “You couldn’t possibly be.
That man would never be foolish enough to show himself in the middle of a ball
with Watch all around just for the chance to see a woman. Especially a woman
like me. I don’t belong in your life, Garrett. I don’t deserve such happiness.
This is what I deserve. This and nothing more.”
“What you deser- Revena you can’t be serious?” Garrett turned them to avoid the
corner where Thadeus had been. Revena winced as his hand dug into her waist.
“I tried my best to keep our lives from ever crossing again, but I’ve failed.
Again. I’m sorry.”
“Tell me this is some kind of joke. Are you really saying you don’t want to
come back with me?”
“I can’t.”
“Of course you can. I ha-“
“No.” Revena stopped moving, “I’m sorry, but no. I deserve this. Please, get
out of here before he realizes who you are.”
She drew away from him and began weaving through the dancers towards her
brother. Garrett watched as she reached him; Thadeus angrily grabbing for her
wrist and mouthing something, Revena wincing but meekly following his lead,
Thadeus dragging her to the sidelines. Suddenly Revena whipped her head around
to stare directly at him.
“RUN,” she mouthed across the floor. It earned her a slap across the face that
sent her to the floor. The thief looked around to find several guardsmen
advancing on him and frighteningly close. Garrett ducked to one side, twisting
past a pair of grabbing hands. The dancers were an impediment now, keeping him
from the safety of the shadows, and he could see the predatory smiles on the
guardsmen’s faces. Desperately trying to avoid them, he used the large bustles
of the women’s dresses as cover. Even so, one managed to get hold of his
jacket, which he left in the guard’s hands before reaching the hallway. He
collected his loot as he ran for the nearest exit, the guard hot on his trail.
He felt a crossbolt slide past his ribs but refused to slow down. Once outside,
it was an easy matter to lose them on the rooftops. Once in the safety of the
shadows the thief shed the rest of the dress clothes and determined his next
stop. It wasn’t difficult.
Garrett’s mind spun as he made his way to Basso’s office. Did she still care or
not? Why would she warn him if she didn’t? Why wouldn’t she come with him if
she did?
“’Bout time you showed up…” his fence greeted him. “I was about to close up.”
“Save it.” The blackhand practically threw the back of loot at Basso.
“What? Was the General there or something?”
“Yes. He had enough Watch there for it to have been at least somewhat of a
trap. It was slow so he couldn’t have known for sure…”
“Shit. You aren’t hurt are you?”
“One of their bolts grazed me. I should be fine. Physically.”
“Huh?”
“Basso,” Garrett sighed. “She was there.”
No need to clarify who she was. Basso was much more earnest in his cursing this
time. “Was she okay?”
Garrett shook his head, relaying the brief conversation and events leading up
to the chase. “I don’t understand,” he finished lamely.
“It’s simply, really,” came an old female voice from the stairs that lead to
the alley. Slowly shuffling into view was the Queen of Beggars. Both men turned
to face her. “Basso, I told you once before, that the face you looked upon was
what it looked like when you could no longer go on. To imagine what her heart
must have felt.” Basso nodded silently. “Most who attempt suicide believe they
deserve it – either to die or to be cursed into non-existance depending on the
particulars. Revena has somehow gone past that.”
“What are you talking about?” Garrett demanded.
“She believes that she deserves to live.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Basso questioned.
“You tell me.”
Garrett cocked his head, the pieces slowly coming together. “Everything that’s
happened – she thinks it’s her fault. Living is painful. Living with him, with
what he does to her. To die would be…peaceful. And Revena doesn’t think she
deserves peace or hope or happiness of any kind.”
“Indeed,” came the old woman’s approving reply.
“Dammit, Garrett, we need to do something!”
“Like what? He knows we have a connection to her. He knows he almost had me
tonight – because of her. His place is going to be swarming with Watch. You
know I’ll take any challenge, but that…? Thieves and swords do not get on
well.”
“Then we wait and see, I guess,” Basso replied sadly.
===============================================================================
 
They did not have long to wait. Garrett was awoken a few hours later by
Jenivere pecking lightly at his fingers, matchbox next to his hand:
G-
Papers say she could use
a friendly face at noon.
-B
Garrett checked the clock face – ten minutes ‘til – it didn’t leave much time
to investigate the mysterious message. He dressed quickly and stepped outside
to an unexpected scene. Beneath him in the square was a throng of people
despite the winter chill. Some were faces he knew, and he was able to quickly
spot Basso’s signature hat. Seeing him emerge, the fence merely pointed to the
nearby watch station then turned his own gaze the same direction. There, nearly
level with Garrett were several Watch officers, including the General who
stepped forward to speak.
“Citizens! For too long has our fair City been ruled by the black hands of
thieves who come in the night. Who steal your hard earned wealth and make light
of the laws that out good Baron has set forth to keep us all safe! No more! You
all know that I have pledged to clean the City of this filth. What you may not
know – what I did not know – is that one such was living in my own house! I
will not have it! I aim to prove to you all today that NO ONE is above the law.
Not even my own kin.”
He stepped back from the edge to allow two officers, one of whom Garrett
recognized as Poul Edison, to bring forward their prisoner. Dressed only in a
prisoner’s shift, she stared straight ahead, seemingly impervious to the cold.
A noose had already been fitted around her neck.
“Does the prisoner have any last words?”
Her eyes scanned the crowd. Basso took off his hat. The woman’s grey eyes met
Garrett’s brown ones. Both knew there was nothing more to say. She smiled and
stepped off the ledge of her own accord before the Watch officers had the
chance to push her. Garrett turned away from the twitching figure as the crowd
below began to disperse and Basso knew they would never speak of her again.
Jenivere flew from the clock tower with a stolen treasure – a necklace of a
keyhole.
Several years later a ship sailed into port bearing a small dark teenage
stowaway. Basso saw in her a potential not unlike the Master Thief’s, and
silently swore to himself that this time would be different.
Chapter End Notes
     Thus begins the comics for Thief (2014). I hope this was an enjoyable
     read. I would love R&R.
End Notes
     Let's play a game, beloved readers! I'm dropping references to both
     the old and new games all over. Can you find them all?
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!