The Sprinter

Chapter 7

He walked across the square for the third time since he'd arrived. Still no light shone in the window. He sighed. How long did it take?

He shivered, and pulled his black overcoat tighter against the cold. The icy metal of the lamppost bit into him as he leaned up against it, resting casually. Nothing suspicious, nothing strange. The simple facade of the average young man who'd let his good looks get to his head.

The black paint flaked off at the touch of his fingers, as weary and cold and dead as the city it stood in. He supposed that was a good thing, for just as vermin could not inhabit a live body, nor could his investors survive in a live, watchful city. And he needed his investors - his human vermin. Oh yes. Although, it wasn't them who'd asked him to be here.

He had been with one of his friends, not the smartest of people, but he could be counted on, and in this business, that was all really that mattered to him. Someone - something - had approached him. It had overheard what he was saying, which was impossible, because he was the most aware and silent of all his kind save one, and she was long gone. Or so he had thought.

The man had asked for a deal - an alliance of the most temporary sort. He knew that who he was going after today was a debt coveted by many, so he was rather surprised when he'd asked him for a young girl instead. Not that he had let it show. The man had offered him back-up, and extra force to ensure his victory, in return for this girl. This pale, short, seventeen year old girl, with mousy brown hair. He hadn't been sure about it - he had no use for extra force, and as he was well aware, every additional person was a possible liability. But he'd seen this man before. Or at least seen people like him.

They all looked the same, with pasty, pale skin, and deep, glittering eyes, like a jewel hiding behind human irises. It made him shudder just to think about them. Thank the Eternals he'd kept his cool when he was with them.

They'd shown him their soldiers, the things that they trained, left barely remnants of people because of that training. It'd shocked him - a thing he hadn't been sure was possible - but despite it, he couldn't help but feel a strange, untamed adoration when looking at their fighters. It thrilled him.

That kind of strength, he could use. That kind of strength, it would pay to be on the good side of. For future use. Just in case.

So he'd accepted the offer, after making sure that there was no way for it to turn on him. The creatures put forth a flawless plan within five minutes; a plan that far exceeded his own. It had made him feel - insecure. Out of his league. But also - sidelined. Waiting - that wasn't his way of doing things. He was in and out, and they - they waited for their prey to walk into their arms.

He recalled realizing the true cunning of these people and being - frightened. He shook his head. That kind of emotion wouldn't do now.

He looked up towards the window again, the one he was supposed to be watching. A light flicked on. He pushed himself off the lamppost, and turned his head to look down the alleyway, angling his ears towards the open window. Eventually, he could make out voices. Two women.

"Glad you could find it in yourself to grace us with your presence, O great beast hunters,"

A pause.

"Who's she?"

"Important."

"That's not an answer."

"I can't give you an answer beyond that."

"You can't just take anyone off the street. We don't have enough money to care for another."

"I told you, she's important. Besides, we're moving on tomorrow. Wash her, heal her, and take her to the spare room."

Another pause.

"Salene. I need you to trust me."

"I know."

"This girl is important."

"I know."

"I'm sorry. It won't be for long. She'll be easier when we're on the move, especially along the route to-"

A deep, male growl cut in.

"Shut the window."

There was a muffled thump as strong hands pulled the window closed. He repressed his smirk. It wasn't information that mattered to him. Not tonight.

Indeed, he thought as he walked away, none of their little plans mattered to him anymore. Or at least, they wouldn't. Not after tonight.

~*~