Working Title III: You Meddling Mortals

Chapter 11 - Pleased to meet you, Patches

"I want to work, Bon Qui-Qui. We've been here for days and I've not had a single customer. Snow's 'compensation' for our time ended up being less than half of what we'd make in an hour." Patches stared into the darkness of the bedroom she shared with her coworker. Across the room, the double bed on which Bon Qui-Qui slept sagged visibly in the moonlight. Bon Qui-Qui turned over and faced Patches, her eyes still closed.

"Okay Miss Patches..." her voice trailing and sleep. "We'll wake up early and go get Mister Pierre for the tournament, then you can start seeing the mens..."

Patches brow wrinkled. She was not taking orders from an employee. "No, Bon Qui-Qui. I will start working tomorrow. And if you want to get paid, you'll be nearby in case I need help."

Bon Qui-Qui opened one eye, the moonlight came in through the window and danced from it, shining directly into Patches face.

"I think I'm gon' help Aster and Mistah Sinn track down Pierrot. Capt. Snow gave us this bed to sleep in and we owe him fo' it. Bon Qui-Qui don't like owing nobody for nothin'." Her eye snapped shut. "Least it's nice and toasty in here now."

A silence hung in the air. Bon Qui-Qui wasn't beholden to Patches by any means, but her own safety depended on Bon Qui-Qui's presence. "Fine. Good luck on your errand. I will be sleeping in a comfortable bed with hot food being brought to me by the end of the day tomorrow. I wish the same for you." She turned over and faced away from Bon Qui-Qui. The same silence hung in the air until they went to sleep.

                                                                                         ***

Sinn's eyes opened. This bed beneath him was soft and forgiving. Forgiving to the point of feeling constricted as he lay in it for the first time. Aster had assured him he'd sleep better than being downstairs by the fireplace. He'd not slept at all.

Adeline dutifully laid in the bend of Sinn's legs. Her open eyes greeted his, sharp and full of life.

"Papa! We're going to see the man today?!"

"Yes sweetie, we're going to see the man." Sinn's eyes drifted toward Aster. Aster slept on his back, hands folded over his sternum, deathly still. A small smile broke through Sinn's lips.

"Addy, honey. Go wake up Mister Aster."

Without hesitation, she leapt from bed and soared through the air. To her surprise, and Sinn's, Aster was awake and on his feet in a flash and was face-to-face with Adeline as she soared through the air. "Good morning, Puppy Dog." She hung in front of him, giving only a slight whimper and kicking her legs as if she were swimming. She looked back at Sinn expectantly.

"No sneaking up on you, hmm?" Sinn sat up in bed, he smiled.

"Oh no, can't have anyone being surprised. Especially not me." Aster matched Sinn's smile and walked out of their bedroom. Adeline floated gently to the floor.

"Papa, all of the rooms here are two double beds, did you notice?!"

Sinn got out of bed and scratched Adeline behind the ears. He waited for Aster's footsteps going downstairs. Without the floor creaking, he stepped out into the hallway. The door across from his own was Bon Qui-Qui and Patches'. A cold sweat overcame him as the very thought of counting the number of beds in the room and awaking Patches perished in his mind. However, there was another door at the far end of the hallway. The sunlight coming in through the windows ended abruptly, ending several feet before their designated fate to illuminate the far door. Sinn approached and turned the knob.

Locked. His curiosity having gotten the better of him, he got down on his hands and knees and peeked under the door. A warmth flowed out from under the door, in stark contrast to the empty cold that filled the house left over from a breezy night on the beach.