The Blessed and the Pure┃🖋

Chapter Κ

Hallie hugged her knees to her chest, using that action to urge the uncomfortable silence to slide under the door.

"Taryn left a while ago now. And what did she mean by 'snack'?"

"She should be back soon. So should the others."

Hallie perked up. "Th-The others?"

Miscenus broke eye contact with the door, something he hadn't done in twenty minutes. "Yeah, Kirphis and my sister."

"Your sister?"

He smiled, his chest swelling with pride. "Semele. She just turned sixteen last month."

"Happy birthday to her."

"Thank you."

More silence. The gap between the door and the ground must not be large enough for the discomfort to squeeze through. A pity. Maybe Taryn was a magnet for the unawkward and bold, and that's why it left with her.

Chatter bubbled up behind the door, and Hallie sagged with relief. The magnet was back.

Taryn kicked down the door and strode in as if she owned the place. Which was debatable, but who was Hallie to judge? She rented her place.

A hazily familiar Sóma slipped in behind her, along with Kirphis and a Taktikós.

"I'm back, mortals," Taryn said, falling into her chair. "And all is well. I saved the snack."

Nikas surveyed the newcomers. "Did you eat it?"

Taryn grinned from ear to ear, and the Taktikós burst out laughing. Miscenus shook his head frantically as a hint of a smile tugged at Kirphis's lips.

The Sóma sighed and shook their head, but even they looked amused. "She means me. I'm her girlfriend. Nice to meet you."

Nikas stared at her, his shocked face urging Taryn and the Taktikós into a bigger fit of giggles.

"Nikas Tsitak."

"Perialla Kallis."

"Well." Taryn slapped her hands together, the grin still clear on her face. "You two seem to get along."

"Great observation, Taryn," Kirphis said, leaning against the wall. "Hello, Hallie. Nikas."

Nikas waved.

"H-Hi, do you want to sit?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

The Taktikós, or Semele, nudged her brother. "That he is." Miscenus burned red and buried his face in his hands.

Kirphis turned his head, either not hearing or not wanting to acknowledge.

"Ugh, I'm so alone." Semele flopped onto her back across Miscenus's legs, earning a grunt in return. She looked at Hallie and Nikas. "At least I'm not the only fifth wheel anymore."

Taryn high-fived her. "Good one."

"Anyway!" Miscenus stood up, letting Semele fall to the floor. "What took you two so long?" He raised an eyebrow at Semele's dramatically sprawled limbs. "Usually, you come back thirty minutes early."

Semele huffed and sat up. "The Purities were at it again. Blocking the streets and such. Good for pickpocketing, not for trading with Hoiples."

Nikas snapped out of his stupor. Hallie sat, ready to duck and cover.

Pickpocketing? Hoiples? The jobs Miscenus told them about were making more sense.

"Oh, um, she didn't mean for us." Taryn's eyes darted between Hallie and Nikas. "She meant for others, actual thieves. Yeah."