Vash and I descended the gangplank and strolled down the cobblestone street. I'd had Emily-Rose glamour us so we'd look like a typical British couple of the time. I caught a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye as we passed a dark alleyway, and something tugged at my wrist. I tugged back on my money pouch, and Vash caught the would-be thief as they stumbled.
"Hey! Lemme go, ya big lout!"
The girl looked pretty nice for a streetrat under the filth of the London streets. Looking to be about sixteen or seventeen--marriageable age--and a little shorter than me, with curly brown hair that came to her waist, wily hazel eyes, a black skirt and corset over a creamy top. Her shoulders were covered with a threadbare grey shawl, and there was a bright blue scarf around her neck. Not the best idea for a pickpocket.
"I don't think so, luv. Why dontcha tell me why ya went after my purse rather than somethin' in a rich man's back pocket?"
"Don't look like you need it much." She stuck out her tongue.
"Well ain't you an impertinent li'l thing?"
"Rae!" Great. Another one. An older girl--looking like she'd just come from the jungles in brown leggings, a brown tie-skirt, and a dark brownish-green shirt--ran from the same alleyway and started pounding on my husband's arm. He looked at me quizzically and I shrugged.
"Go 'head and let her go, Vasharl."
The girl ducked behind her friend as soon as she was free. The older girl raised her arms as if too block her from my sight, and I caught a glimpse of a pointed ear under her black hair. I brushed the black curtain behind her ear and let it fall. She stiffened and backed away at my touch.
"An elf, eh?" I chuckled. The elf's eyes flickered toward the roofs above and behind us.
"Tai!" And yet another girl landed between us. This one had silver hair and ruby eyes shadowed by a newsboy's cap. She growled, baring her teeth. She smelled of dragon, and I actually had to look up to meet her gaze.
"Could you tell your guard dog to stand down, luv?" I asked over her shoulder. "We won't hurtcha. On my honor."
"Can we trust your word?" The elf-girl inquired.
"Didn't I just say I wouldn't hurt them?" I asked Vash somewhat sarcastically. He nodded with a bit of a smirk touching the corner of his mouth. "See?"
The elf nodded tersely at the dragon-woman, who stepped aside.
"What's your business in London?" the elf asked, the little thief still clinging to her.
"Looking for something."
"Looking for what?" The elf's tone was more than wary.
"Revenge." I bared my teeth in what was more like rigor mortis than a grin. "See," I said quietly, "I'm a pirate, and there's a man I know who's shot my best friend and taken my daughter."
"We know someone who can help you with that," the thief-girl piped up.
"Really?" Now it was my turn to sound suspicious.
"We've a friend who's on the vengeful track. He might be willing to assist you," the elf offered, shooting a reproving glare at her friend.
"Where can I find this friend of yours?"
"Round about Fleet Street. We'll show you the way."
"And might I know who's my guide?"
"I'm Anastasia," the elf said. "This is Rachel, and the woman you so rudely called my 'guard dog' is Tai Haku."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another chapter done. Keep reading and commenting please. I've got plenty more where this story's coming from.
SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath Community Member 
|
|
Community Member