DROPS OF JUPITER ▹ KOTLC | ✓

do or die (kam)

The Neverseen were a never-ending problem. A wound that grew continually and festered.

Yet, to say Keefe was surprised when he heard they'd been spotted mingling in a Forbidden City was a major understatement. Especially so when he heard that they'd be going there to investigate it.

After scrambling feeds and going over a quick list of rules (don't touch this, don't mess with that, report back anything suspicious immediately, and keep in contact at all times, to name a few) they'd light-leaped to the tiny city.

He watched Foster's silhouette disappear around a corner with Dex, before he and Tam started meandering around. Keefe kept observing the street lamps and simple buildings, loving the enamel decorations a few had on the outside. It was so beautifully decorated with cobblestone streets and hand-carved wooden signs outside of shops that Keefe couldn't stop staring. He could paint about this, he decided. There was so much to soak in, that he was sure he'd never be able to do the tiny town justice, though.

Keefe rammed into Tam's back suddenly. The boy had stopped.

"Hey," Keefe called, tapping his shoulder. "Bangs Boy, you goo–"

Tam pointed into a shop that was still open. It was so early in the morning that half the shops were closed or vacant, but there was one on the end with light sifting out through the windows. Keefe followed Tam's finger to it, looking as a shadow passed across the cobblestone street over the light coming from inside the shop.

A formless silhouette. A blob of darkness.

Someone wearing a cloak.

"Let's go," Keefe decided, grabbing Tam's hand before he could protest. He dragged him forward, ignoring his persistent tugging and cursing as he begged Keefe to allow him time to warn the others before they barged in.

They slowed when they reached the shop on the corner, slinking past the windows and melting into the darkness against the oak doors. Breathing heavily, Keefe met Tam's eyes with a lazy smirk.

"Ready?" he whispered.

"You're going to get us killed."

"You say that every time."

His smirk dissolved when they heard shuffling inside. They waited until the sound had faded for Tam to peek his head around the corner and peer into the shop.

His dark eyebrows furrowed and for a moment that had Keefe wincing, expecting the worse, but Tam straightened and returned next to Keefe, shrugging. "No one's in there," he whispered.

"What?"

"I know. I don't see anybody." Silence settled between them until Tam added, "Maybe they're in one of the backrooms."

Keefe looked him up and down leisurely. "Only one way to find out," he suggested, gripping the golden handle. His voice was playful, but his eyes were serious.

Tam nodded, unsure at first, but then with conviction. Determination fizzled in his silver eyes. "Okay."

Keefe blew out a breath, dipping his chin. he hesitated a fraction of a second before whipping the door open, swiftly striding inside with Tam behind. They went to back-to-back on instinct, swirling around, checking to see if there was anyone hiding in the corners.

Their shoulders relaxed. "Where are they?"

Keefe pursed his lips, eyebrows pressing together in confusion. "I don't know." His eyes drifted over to the aisles of shelves stocked with books. Keefe gestured to it subtly with his chin and Tam bobbed his head in agreement, again.