Clotho

Lithe, and on a velvet tread, Pandora and I creep through the trees, gun in hand.

Golden rays beat down into the woodland, and I can’t help the golden iridescences that wraps around Pandora’s head like a halo.

She stops suddenly, and I slam into her.

“Dora!” I groan, followed by a string of curses.

Pandora only points forward, to a burst of electricity. Blue sparks fly, catching on leaves. The tree flames for a moment.

“A portal.” I murmur.

The space rips into a black void. A man walks through, his hair sticking up and his eyes gleaming. It seals shut behind him.

“Where do you think he teleported from?” Pandora whispers.

I shrug, craning my neck to see his identification marking. His black blazer covered it up pretty effectively, probably a deterrent for Larceners.

“You ready?” Pandora asks. Her voice drips with dread.

I nod, and wordlessly, we attire. I reassert my grip on my gun, steadying the tremor in my hands. Pandora shakes her hair out of a bun, letting it cascade down her back in amber tresses. She shrugs off a cloak, exposing a pale green dress that accentuates the colour of her eyes. The bodice is a tightly pulled corset with a low neck, and the skirt falls loosely just above her knees. She masks her deadly expression with one of a frightened girl, eyes large and glazed over and lip quivering. She looks beautiful in a different way. Before, her strength triumphed over her good looks. Now, her delicate features, her eucalyptus eyes and her wavy blonde hair all vie for that attention.  

I ruffle her hair for added measure, weaving a twig through the mess.

She skips out to the man, barefoot.

“Help me.” She whimpers, cowering before him.

It’s obvious the effect she has on him. His eyes flash with desire instantly.

She takes a step closer, swaying her hips and brushes her hand against his arm. “Please. I need you.”

He locks at her touch, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he devoured Pandora with his gaze.

“Come with me, please.” She murmured as she brought her lips against his. “I need you to protect me.”

The man nods, eagerly, gripping her hand.

I lift my gun to eye level and draw in a deep breath.

“What’s your name?” The man asks.

Pandora turns back to him sweetly. “Now, Esia.”

I squeeze the trigger.

The man crumples to floor, blood seeping from his head.

Pandora slinks away from the corpse. Her expression is horrified. In a way, I can understand, she seduced him to his death.

“Find his markings.” I order.

My fingers trace the subtle dip of his ribs, his embellished skin, now pale.

The bright red marking that colours his forearm stands even brighter than before, a brilliant swirl of cerise against white.

His identification marking.

My gaze jumps to my own. Cyan swirls and lines and dots in an elaborate calligraphy that spells out my name in an alien language. I’m glad no one can read our markings. Somehow, Theresia Annalise Grace doesn’t sound like an appropriate name for a Larcener.