Nightbound

Chapter 11- Heart of Persephone

"You want my...help?" I said, unbelieving.

Katherine inspected her nails which were enamoured with glitter paint, "You heard me correct. While Ryder has left you alone with these creatures, I am sure you would find my company sufferable."

The drink was abandoned, "What makes you think I would want to help you? I don't know you!"

Katherine's piercing gaze softened a little, and she lifted her drink to me.

"Well, don't tell Ryder...but I'm a little impressed. I've never seen you around city before, and yet here you are, in its most coveted venue."

I stopped myself from retorting immediately. I did not know this woman in front yet it seemed she has been studying me for quite some time. The other women nearby avoided looking in our direction, aware of the Nighhunter among them. That faction was dealt with caution by every being— were they that dangerous? Of course they were and the way Nik had spoken earlier, about breaking rules and then letting your own life being slipped away beneath meant I needed to deal with her with caution as well.

"How can you be sure that I am not an associate of Nik's?" I said in a cool tone, "I could be from the League out of your leagues."

She raised a brow, mouth quirking, "How do I indeed, uh? Well it's simple." Her tone became flat, "Because he never worked with anybody. He never had any side-kick taking care while he busted the city for crimes. Not since last ten years, not since he—not since something went down ten years ago."

"I keep hearing about something ten years ago which happened?" I asked, "What was it?"

"Now that would be past and like you had earlier told me, none of your business." She smiled but I noticed bleakness lingering behind her dark coloured eyes. She knew everything here and had the better hand upon the Night than me, naturally. But...with all these secrets surrounding these beings, I was unsure how much of those was going to impact me and my life. If impact at all.

Then a thought occurred. What if she could be useful to me as well, to get some answers I was looking for? For the questions Nik never explained or answered, I could demand the way this world worked and gain more insights than my protector was providing. I trusted Nik but I did not like his way of keeping me in the dark to protect me. How could I be safe when I was not aware of every next person being dangerous, the different rules this world followed—if broken, then erased its victims from existence?

"What do you need me for?" I said, making sure my eyes stayed upon hers.

She drummed her nails on the bar table, "I am working on an extremely sensitive case. The reason I don't want to be around Ryder is because everyone knows how hot-headed that man is. People might not know me which is a feat for me of course, but everyone—literally everyone knows Nik around the city and perhaps the region encompassing the League's coverance." She glanced behind my shoulders, "He could do it without a trace but he likes to keep his things messy. Things have changed with him, his methods have changed which was one of the reasons we both took separate paths.

"I like to keep my things under wraps. If they realised he and I are of same faction, they will prude my ass with silver batons. Attracting unneeded attention, especially in the World of Night would be a grave mistake, Alex."

"How do you know my name?"

She tapped her ears, "Training. I don't want this cover to be broken, so I need gal Friday."

"What?" I glared at her, "You want me to be your wing-woman in whatever thing you are here for?"

"Precisely." She replied, taking a slow swing of my drink, "Uh. Nobody makes this better than the fae."