Serpent

The Good Ol' Days

Hugo sat at the large table, twirling a pen in between his fingers. Abran stared out the window, his hands folded behind his back.

"So, Papá, that Layla girl was really something." He said. His father nodded.

"Sí, she certainly was." He mumbled. "She reminds me of someone I met long ago. Bright, sneaky, confident..." Abran trailed off. Hugo shook his head. There he goes again. Rambling about the old days. Hugo sighed, then set down his pen.

"You know, she could help us a lot. If she can climb that church like a jungle gym, maybe she could-"

"Hugo," Abran turned, cutting off his son. "She is a young girl. She may be a clever blackmailer who knows her way around a cathedral, but she wouldn't be able to handle herself in our kind of situations."

"But she's a good thief!" Hugo stated. He gestured to his wrist, grinning. "What time is it?" He laughed as his father looked down, noticing his watch had gone. "She got you good, Papá!"

"Why didn't you say anything?" Abran challenged.

"Papá, she may be just a pickpocket, blackmailer girl, but I think we could change her into much more. Into one of us, one of the Cains!" He explained. Abran grew quiet, studying his so. Then he grinned, his dark brown eyes lighting up the same way Hugo knew his does.

"You like her." Abran said.

"W-what? No, eso es estúpido!" Hugo felt his cheeks warm.

"Ha! I knew it!" Abran pointed at his son with his forefinger. "My hijo has a-"

"Oh, cállate papá!" Hugo rolled his eyes. "She's like, twelve!" Abran chuckled.

"Doesn't mean anything. Your mother was ten, I only a year older, when I fell in love with her." He stated simply.

"I'm fifteen." Mumbled Hugo.

"Yes, a fine young man you've grown into." Abran sat down across from him, smiling faintly. "Your madre would be so proud of you." Hugo nodded. Someone knocked lightly on the door. "Entrar!" Abran ordered. Three people walked in, Hugo recognized as his brothers Ciro and Cisco and his Uncle Marcos.

"Hola hermano!" Marcos greeted. Abran stood.

"Marcos, you're back from Méjico!" The two brothers embraced. Hugo also stood, nodding a hello at his brothers.

"Ah, Huberto, so nice to see you, sobrino!" Marcos pulled Hugo into a tight hug and pat his back. Hugo's hand traced the Cain Crest on his uncle's sleeve. When they pulled apart, Marcos ruffled Hugo's already tousled brown hair. "Hugo, why don't you and your brothers go help tu tía set up dinner? Your father and I need to speak privately." He stepped aside so Hugo could join his brothers out the door.

"We met an interesting girl today," Abran started, "at the church."

"Oh?" There was the sound of a drink being poured over ice as Marcos spoke. "What was her name?" He asked.

"Layla Faliva. She's an orphan there."

"Hmm."

"She reminds me of Chloe." Abran said flatly. There was a short pause. Hugo assumed Marcos was taking a sip of his drink. "Intelligent, pushy, too smart for her own good, and could literally climb the church walls, inside and out."

"Hmm." Marcos repeated.

"She caught us in the middle of our heist, and made us blackmail a homeosexual priest." Abran continued. Marcos laughed.

"That's something Chloe would do." He agreed. Hugo furrowed his brow. Who's Chloe? One of Uncle's old partners?

"She also gave us this," a thump on wood suggested Abran set the cash Layla gave them on the table, "in thanks of helping her." Marcos set his glass down with a clink!