Devil's Whore

4.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. It wasn't in Winter's powers to get Mary away. They had absolutely no money, to leave her walk away would mean she would end up as a whore or maid used by master in the end. She was better and most importantly safer with them. Kids took care of them and for that Mary took care of them. She sewed their clothes, cooked for them from food they stole. Yes, of course that Mary had to accept the fact, that children were stealing even for her. And in the end not only for her.

It was in the middle of the night, when Winter was sitting on the floor and watched Mary sleeping. For last few days, it felt like she heard a voice sing. Song luring her to the streets of London, but she was scared to leave Mary alone. Until that night a woman with weird raven clothes and face painted with white and black colours came to her. She cupped her face and leaned toward her. Whispering to her ear in strange language, that she understood, even though she didn't know how. "Spread your wings and go find him. He will teach you his magic and hides you in his shelter," woman said and showed Winter the way.

Winter followed the ilusion and followed the song, that took her straigth to the house of James Delaney. She knocked on the door and James, who was sitting in the attic, came to open. "Follow me," Winter said shortly. "She told me to come for you."

"Who?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Salish," Winter said and turned, walking into the night. James didn't wait a single second. Taking his coat, he followed Winter, who led him through city. Making sure nobody would follow them, until they stopped by the old cabin. "They are waiting for you," Winter said.

"They?" He again asked only shortly, but Winter didn't say a word more, she only nodded and opened door for James. He perhaps expected a trap and after few attempts of assassins during last months, Winter wasn't surprised, he was careful. She entered the room and he followed her. He entered and it took him a while before his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the place. Only one small candle shone there. The moment his eyes trailed faces of sleeping kids, he suddenly froze. "Mary?" He opened his eyes wide, seeing her sleeping there amongst children.

Temple was curled on her chest, when he heard the sound of the door and rose his head. Mary felt the movement and woke up instantly. Looking up at first, she thought, he was a dream. One of the many she had all these months. His face appeared again, but this time she realised, it was real. "James!" She said quietly not to wake up the kids. She looked behind him at Winter then back at him and she couldn't believe, that he was real. "What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"What are you doing here?" He came to her. "Winter came and took me here. I thought you left after all," he spoke quietly. She looked tired, dark circles around her eyes, messy hair.

She narrowed her eyes slightly on his words. Truth was, that after that night Helga threw her to that pub, her words still were lurking on her head. Wasn't it him, who gave the order? All this time she thought, that after he had his fun, he decided to not see her again but offered her to his men. "Come outside," she said coldly. "We'll wake them up." She walked towards the door and walked outside the small cabin. Taking a deep breath and trying not to blast crying, she turned to see him, when he followed her outside. "What do you want?" She asked him.

"What do you mean? What is that tone about? Are you mad at me?" He asked, surprised by her attitude.

"You asked Helga to throw me to your men!" She took few steps towards him and looked inside his eyes, furious. "You asked her whores for your men and she sent me to them and thanks to Winter, I didn't end up raped or killed."

"What?" He asked with a sharp exhale. "Why would I do that? Yes, I asked Helga for cooperation, but I would never ask her to do something like that to you. I thought you left. Maybe you got scared... Mary, " he whispered, looking at her with anger filled eyes. "I might be a devil, have no sense, have no soul. But I'd never do this to you."