Reverse Perception

Immediate Initiation

I'm lined up with four other rogue children all my age or even lower in front of three fully gang dressed men expecting one who appeared to be three years older than me at probably 16, yet carried himself just as highly as the other two. The man they seem to call Bydel is relatively short but has an eerie vibe. The man that stood close to him was tall and clearly built. The only name I caught in between the ramblings of the two was boss.

"What's with this one" the tall man asked as he pointed me out to the man dubbed Bydel.

he replied "Rhythe picked her up somewhere near Faarka, he said that she had gotten in some trouble, figured Riika could use her for the brothel. We don't have much room for her since she isn't very useful with a blade or as a thief."

Rythe must be the Northerner that brought us into the crypt we are being examined in, his complexion to the one similar to my own. The brothel I thought, I didn't sign up to be a used up street girl.

The tall man spoke again "No" he interrupted, "she can stay with me "

What? This gang was spoke of in a much crueler light when I was in the wagon riding to Sandri.

"Are you su..." said the short man.

"Yeah, take the rest to Vlakaya, she could use some more dealers. Besides Riika has more street girls than she has customers these days if I've seen correctly." said the tall man.

"Alright your the boss. Rythe get her all cleaned up for the top dog." says Bydel.

Rythe smiles at the tall man mischievously as if he were going to be using me as some toy.

"Right back to the old days huh boss" Rythe says.

"It's not like that guys, I see some potential in her."

"Yeah, potential." Rythe says chuckling.

He approaches me. I notice a scar crawling from his neck and curving forward barely grazing his cheek.

"I'm Vaas, what' s your name newbie?" says the tall man.

I clear my throat and say,

" Um, Xandria."

"Well Xandria, I'll make sure both you and that Northern accent of yours fit in without work with Riika"Vaas says to me.

I don't know what to say besides thank you. "Thank you sir"

"You'll be staying with me and my mother, hope it's no inconvenience for you newbie, she's blind so take that into account before you say something unthoughtful"

"Yes sir". I bite my tongue quickly, this man just saved me I should be more grateful.

"You don't have to call me sir. You can just call me Vaas. "

"Yes sir.. I mean yes Vaas."

"Alright lets get going."

Vaas leads me to a wagon that wasn't too fancy but fancy enough for you to know that it was high class quality for a thief. I look over at him thinking about thanking him again. If it wasn't for this strange gang leader i'd be working the street by this evening, that is if fellow gang members didn't ravage me before then. Without Vaas's interference i'd be living in a filthy whorehouse and not a home with two to keep me comfortable.

Just as I open my mouth to express my thanks, the wagon abruptly comes to a halt.

"What is going on up there?" Vaas says to the driver.

"Blitzers, whole wagon full, looks like Aakalath and his crew sir", the driver says in a slightly panicked tone.

Vaas pulls a long wicked looking dagger from his belt and pushes open the door.