Anomaly

The young woman was sitting upon the couch in the home. She stood startled and quickly got to her feet. Her eyes looked to Freya and then to the two men that had rushed in after her. She calmed as she looked to her and a smile curved up her lips. “Perhaps that’s just what we need.” She spoke as she stepped over to the table and poured a cup of tea. “Our clients are mainly women. A woman to protect them may make them feel more protected, rather than vulnerable.” She held the mug forward. “Tea? It’s from Onya, the eastern continent has such great traditional tea.” She turned and poured herself a mug from the same tea pot and sipped upon it.

A door could be heard latching into place down the hallway and a man walked out from the shadows. He placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword. He looked to his two men whom seemed ready to attack. “Who’s this then?” He gave a smile. “You don’t look like you need much protecting, love.” He chuckled slightly.

The young woman turned her eyes to the man, she smiled sweetly. “This…” She looked back to Freya. “Woman. Is in search of a job.” She nodded. “We could use someone like her here. Don’t you think?”

The man nodded as he looked at Freya, “We can always use new blood on our team. There are a lot of people, willing to pay a hefty price for protection nowadays. You’ll get 10% of the cut. Not too bad of a deal, hm?” He watched Freya, awaiting her answer.

The woman tilted her head slightly as she took the mug of tea back, she gave a slight laugh. “We’ve plenty of ale, don’t we boys?” She looked to the two men whom had relaxed quite a bit. She chuckled as Freya argued for more money. “It’s all show dear.” She spoke and took a sip of her tea.

“Natalie, let me show this woman what sort of fighters we are.” A man stepped from the back of the room. He was easily six foot five. He wore leather armor, he had a huge sword upon his hip. He grinned as he looked to Freya. “You may just be a worthy opponent.” He snickered.

The woman glanced over her shoulder and smirked slightly. “Alright. I’ll make the deal with you. If you win I’ll give you 40% cut.” She held her hand forward. “A loss and 95% of the cut is mine. Fair enough.” She gripped onto Freya’s arm. “I’ve a better place for us to carry out this duel though. I wouldn’t want blood on my fine furniture.” She chuckled lightly. “Boys, do be sure to actually guard the door this time.” She gave a stern look to the two men that Freya had barged passed. “Come along.” She spoke as she turned and walked down the hall. She pushed a door open that led down into the basement of the home. It was well lit as they climbed down the wooden stairs. There was a large open space for sparring, splatters of blood were already on the floor. At the end of the basement was another corridor. There was a thud from down the hallway. “Fin.” She spoke as she nodded to the man. She cleared her throat and nodded her head in the direction of the sound. He gave a nod and silently walked away down the shadowy corridor.

The hulking male fighter grinned as he drew his sword. “Alright you.” He tapped the sword upon the concrete. “Let’s see what you’ve got, eh?” He grinned wildly. The man had scars upon his flesh from previous fights, even a slash across his eye.

Natalie sipped upon her tea as she sat upon a couch that was far enough away from the action. “Begin.” She spoke with a smirk.

Natalie watched as the fight played out, an amused smile upon her lips. Each time that Freya knocked down the hulking man she chuckled and then took a sip of her tea. When Freya sliced his ear off and she tossed it down in front of her the woman looked to the ear on the ground and then to the blade that was pointed toward her. She held her hand up as Fin came around the corner with his sword drawn. “Well played.” She spoke her eyes looking to Freya. “Very well played. You too must have received the bounty for her, hm?” A chuckle came over her lips. “Ripper’s men thought that she still lived at home in the bakery. They killed her brother and her father trying to find her.” She clicked her tongue. “40% is yours, darling.” She stood, the tip of the sword rest at her sternum now. “That girl is worth quite a sum of money. I’m not sure why. But…” She cleared her throat and bent down the lift the ear from the floor and wiggled it. “If you say she can help Dru. That might be why they want her.” She tilted her head. “Fin. The girl.” She spoke.

The man with the dark beard scowled. “We captured her.” He exclaimed, frustration in his tone. “You’re just going to sign off 40% of our profits?” He groaned. “I’m not sure you know what you’re doing sometimes Natalie.” He scoffed.

“I’m fairly certain that you are going to keep your life because of this deal, hm?” She took a sip from her tea and looked to the sword before she cleared her throat. “How much were you offered, hm? They offered us 2000 gold for her. Do you know what could be done with so much gold?” A chuckle came over her lips.

The sound of feet dragging on the ground was heard as Fin pulled Liliana from the room she had been locked in. Her head lulled to the side. “Not sure how much help she’s going to be.” He let go of her and took a step back.

“Let…me go…” Liliana mumbled in her sleep, her eyes fluttered. The next words that came over her lips sounded almost in a different language.

“Hm.” Natalie sighed as she tilted her head. “I may have went a bit heavy on the milk of the poppy….I wasn’t sure if the gifted were resilient to sedatives.” She glanced across the room to the man that still screamed. “Shut it would you Dru?” She snapped at him. “So.” She looked back to Freya. “What exactly is it that she is capable of?” Natalie questioned curiously.

Natalie grinned to Freya when she tossed the sword to the side. Though the grin was wiped clean from her face when Freya spoke of the offer she’d been given. “What? That bastard.” She growled and shook her head. “You think she’s worth more than 3500?” The grin returned, her eyes lit up in excitement. She chuckled when Freya spoke of how she was plotting who she needed to kill. “Well. I can’t say that I blame you. There are a lot of men and women that would do plenty of things for 3500 gold coins.” She chuckled. “It wasn’t a duke that offered us the sum though. It was the Temple of Shadows….I found it interesting that they would even be interested. But how could one say no to such an offer. I’m not certain whom paid Ripper’s goons to go after her.” She shrugged. “Sounds like we’ve plenty of bidders.”

Natalie shifted as she watched Freya. “Vision? Really…and a severed arm?” Her expression was astonished.

Liliana shifted and gagged slightly. A groan came over her lips as Freya lifted her up to her feet. She gripped onto Freya’s arms and her head lulled forward. When she was shoved toward Dru she stumbled slightly as the effects of the drug began to wear off. She looked to the ear upon the floor and then to the whimpering man. Her eyes lifted and she looked to Freya with an almost hurt expression. Her eyes then moved to Natalie whom had a smile upon her lips, a curiosity in her eyes. Fin stood with his arms crossed over his chest. “I think you drugged the damn girl too much, Nat.” He looked to his leader. “She doesn’t know up from down.” He scoffed.

“I’ll have you know.” Liliana spoke, her ocean eyes upon him. “I remember quite a lot.” Her eyes narrowed in on him as she pressed her lips into a flat line. She reached down to the ear as she knelt. “You want a show?” She questioned and shook her head. “Fine.” She looked to the man. “This won’t hurt, not one bit.” She gave a gentle smile. She held her hand to the side of his head with his ear within her palm. As she did this her eyes began to glow, her breathing began to quicken. Flames flickered to life within her palm and snaked about along the body of the man, healing cuts and bruises here and there. After a few moments Liliana lowered her hand to reveal that the injury was fully repaired.

“Gods…you’re right.” Natalie grinned as she looked to Dru whom felt his ear and let out a sigh of relief. “She’s worth much more than even what you were offered…”

Liliana stood slowly and looked about the room. She closed her eyes a moment and drew in a breath. “I don’t…feel so well…” She spoke as she slowly lowered herself back to the floor where she lay upon her back.

“I told you that you gave her too much, Natalie.” Fin pipped up and crossed his arms over his chest. “So now what?” He asked as he looked to Freya. “You’ve watched her for how long? How many do you think are hunting her?”

Liliana watched Freya with a hurt expression. How could she not see it? The woman was working against her. Ready to sell her off and trade her in for gold. That was the reason she didn’t want Liliana in the prison. Though her thoughts were interrupted as the dome surrounded her. She slammed forward to try to escape but the heavy dome wouldn’t budge. Then she heard the sounds of the axes slicing into flesh. She watched through the holes in the sides of the dome as Freya cut through the men and soon enough only Natalie remained.

The woman had fought against the chains that held her in place at first but now she simply stood still. Her eyes were locked on Freya. A laugh came over her lips. “To think. I was beginning to like you.” She spoke with a bit of a smirk upon her lips. “I saw a great partnership.” She didn’t flinch to the axes. “To answer your question. No. No I don’t fear death.” She leaned forward against the axe and it cut into her flesh spilling her blood. “I don’t fear much of anything since the anomaly.” She leaned back and the cut upon her neck healed rapidly. “I’ll tell you where the Ripper is though, since you seem to be so keen on it.” She smirked. She looked about the room of bodies. “Those were a few of his men. Idiots. But most of his men are. That’s how her parents died. The idiots can’t seem to listen.” She drew in a breath and tilted her head slightly. “He lives in Levenland, a bit of travel would get you there. He’s in the southern portion of the city. You can’t miss the place. Big mansion on Villa Avenue. He’s been working closely with the Shadow Temple, I know that much. They’ve offered him quite the sum to get this girl.” She glanced to the steel dome which was molten orange. Flames flickered from within the dome. Liliana couldn’t melt the metal because it was formed from magic, luckily.

“I didn’t realize that she was so special. He didn’t tell me anything about her. He offered me money up front, and he offered twice that when I return with her. So, however I get her to him, I didn’t care.” Natalie spoke. “If the Shadow Temple has their eyes on her I can only imagine that they do not want anything good of her…those powers are as you said god like….I’m certain that they have their own plans. Hm?”

Natalie didn’t change her expression as Freya seemingly threatened to lob off her head. She smirked slightly as she looked to Freya, “No. I don’t expect to walk away with her. I fully expect you to kill me. Or at least try.” She pressed her lips into a flat line.

Liliana fell forward onto her knees, the concrete where she was standing was pitch black, flames flickered around her. Slowly the flames disappeared as she lifted her glowing eyes to look to Freya. She stood and gazed to Natalie as the woman nodded. “This is true. They would study any of us. But her most of all. She has powers of light, very rare. The shadows engulfed this world. Your power is not pure. Neither is mine. But her power is.” She watched Liliana as she stepped forward.

“Freya.” She reached up and placed a hand over her wrist. “Enough…death…for one day.” Liliana looked around to the men in the room. None were left alive, she couldn’t save them. “Please, no more death.” It pained her. The shadows in the room seemed to scream at her, to mock her in a way for failing to save the lives of these bandits.

“You want to stop this?” Natalie questioned as she looked to Freya. “Do you truly want to stop these men in their tracks? The shadow temple is driving the cults. It is behind all of this…if you can stop them from spreading their lies…perhaps Liliana could be safe.” She bit her lip slightly. “So go ahead then…do it…” She leaned her head to the side slightly, opening herself up for the blow.

“No.” Liliana turned, her brows pulled together. She stepped forward and gripped onto Natalie. Flames flickered around her arm. “You do not get to choose when you die.” She spoke. “You must pay for what you have done.” She placed her hand over the woman’s eyes and her hand began to glow bright white. Natalie fell to her knees upon the floor whimpering. All of her bad deeds began to play before her eyes. Liliana lifted her eyes to Freya. “Thank you…” She whispered softly. “Thank you.” She nodded and drew in a breath. “We should go now.”

Liliana looked to the extended hand of Freya, her ocean eyes lifted to the woman a moment. She shook her head slightly before she turned and walked up the staircase. When they were confronted by the two men she was thankful that Freya took the lead. She glanced back to the door as it was barred shut. “No, we wouldn’t want them following us...” She nodded and then followed behind Freya. She brushed a bit of blood from her arm that had splattered into the dome that she was trapped in.

“The Temple of Shadows is in Harada, that is where the captain of the ship stated that the ship will be headed...” Her voice was soft. She gazed about to the shadows of the city, the moon was hidden behind thick rain clouds which made the city streets much darker than on clear nights. When Freya paused Liliana nearly ran into her chest. She stopped and looked up to the woman, her expression was soft. Her brows furrowed slightly as Freya explained that it was merely a facade, that she was only acting in order to gain the trust of the smugglers. The smile that the woman gave her caused Liliana to give a brief almost forced smile. “You can’t blame me...can you? You never told me that you were secretly an actress.”

Liliana seemed to loosen up slightly. “I need a real drink.” She spoke as she glanced to the woman. “Not an ale, come on...I’ll show you.” She offered a smile then. She led Freya through the city then her eyes gazed about as she walked along the streets. The closer to the center of town they became the more street lamps lit their path. She stopped before a business that appeared rather busy. People stood about drinking from glasses, laughing and carrying on. Liliana glanced to Freya a smile upon her lips. “Come on.” She led her inside. Music filled the air as a small band played a flute and guitar as well as a drum and their fourth member sang.

Liliana made her way through the crowd of people and to the counter. “Lilly!” A quirky woman from behind the counter called out. “Oh it’s been too long!” She smiled as she looked to her friend, though her smile broke slightly as he looked to Freya. “You’ve a tall….very tall friend.” The woman behind the counter turned and grasped several different bottles of liquor. She began mixing things together in a metal shaker. She held her hand to the side of it and ice encased it. A chuckle came over her lips as she strained a glowing blue liquid into two glasses. “Just how you like it. Consider it on me...I heard about your brother and father...” She frowned slightly for a moment. “It...it’s truly good to see you.”

Liliana smiled as she grasped the drink, “Ruby it is good to see you as well.” She spoke and took a sip. The drink was sweet, but the taste of alcohol was not fully masked it was strong. The young elf gazed to her friend, “Oh!” She exclaimed and looked to Freya. “This is Freya, she’s um...my bodyguard. Right Freya?” She took another sip. “Thank you for this Ruby.”

“Don’t mention it.” Ruby chuckled, “I’m going to keep that glass of yours full, Lilly.” She winked before she was called off by another patron.

Liliana walked over to an open hightop table and sat down. She drew in a breath as she seemed to think over the events of the day. So much had changed in so little time. She drank from her glass and soon enough Ruby came over and smirked before the woman poured more into Liliana’s glass, whom already had rosy cheeks just from the first drink. Ruby giggled slightly and looked to Freya. “She needs a few good drinks after what she’s been through. The poor girl has lost everything she’s ever loved...” Ruby placed a hand on Freya’s shoulder. “Keep her safe, hm?” She pressed a coin into Freya’s hand. “She’s my best friend.” Ruby grinned before she walked off once again.

“Freya.” Liliana spoke up she held her glass with both of her hands, her fingertips curled around it. “The ship. It’s going to the Temple of Shadows….” A grin curved up her lips. “You...you’re wonderful at playing the part. You fooled those smugglers without even trying...” A plan was formulating in her mind. She sipped from her drink again. “Tell them you’re my captor. We would get inside the temple...we would be able to destroy it from the inside...” She pondered for a moment and then giggled. “Or we would be killed for trying.” Another laugh came over her lips. “What do we have to lose huh?” A drunken smile formed on her face as she looked to Freya. “You could fool them. I know it.” She nodded and then giggled again before she took another drink.