Happy start of the week! 😁
🌘 In the same world 🌘
Initiation | A Glint Amongst The Rubble | The Ringing Harbinger
This one's themes are dark, as per usual with my work. Again, I've tried to 'tell' as much of the violence as possible. When you go by conventional means and start "showing", it tends to glorify the vile acts - we not about that here. 😤
So, mild trigger warning for violence. Although not explicit and not common. Enough to serve the story.
Kalvin landed on the windowsill, shadows ever following.
Perched like a cat, he carefully peered inside the mansion. A lavish dining area brimmed with elaborate plumed hats, flowing dresses, and brilliant suits. Harried servants elegantly weaved through the nobility, carrying bobbling trays of what had to be Swirl. Hypocrites. Above, faint purple smoke mingled with the ostentatious chandeliers. If they are already doing Swirl, I’m already too late.
Kalvin was never late, left no trace, was never caught. Ghost of the Alley, some called him. But tonight was different. He could feel it in his bones and in his soul. He almost quit the job but changed his mind halfway through. It was the reason he was late. The irony of jeopardizing an already stupid mission.
And Siv was at the heart of it. He hated himself for that, for becoming sloppy with his work. Not caring about his reputation. It wasn't like him. He was becoming weak. And the night ate the weak.
I hope she hasn’t inhaled too much of the stuff. Kalvin thought as he climbed down the mansion’s exterior. Two stories down, the kitchens bustled with activity. But no Siv. He was sure of it.
Kalvin squeezed through a small hatch one room over. The air inside was heavy with the smells of meats. He passed two attentive butchers and entered what he knew was the break room. No one inside.
The moment of reprieve carried its own weight. Why did it have to be tonight? Why here? Kalvin paced the room looking for any sign Siv might’ve left. Why Siv? There was none. He felt something... and understood it was panic. The alien sensation would've taken him whole, but he remembered where he was, why he was there. If anything went awry this night - there will be hell to pay.
He said as much back at the hideout but received only solemn nods and hesitant encouragement.
A floorboard creaked in the hallway and Kalvin became shadow. He heard muffled voices from the room over. Someone is talking to the butchers. He waited for a heartbeat then climbed a ladder Siv highlighted in the briefing. A trap door led to another break room, this one more spacious. Cloaked and veiled, Kalvin was near invisible to the world, but Siv saw him all the same.
“You’re late.” Her whisper was like a whip. “The ball is nearly over!”
The fact they were conversing in the open told him more about her state than her purplish lips. “Can you still do this?” Kalvin stared into Siv’s glazed eyes. “You don’t have to. I can go alone, you know I can. I just need you to cause a distraction while I-“
“No! I’m going.”
“But-“
“Listen Kalv, I’ve done more Swirl in the last fortnight than these pricks have all year.” She smiled a purple smile. “I can handle it. You know I can.”
He nodded; he knew he can. “West wing, master bedroom, ten minutes.” He grabbed her arm as she turned. “This is it Siv, and we’re cutting it really close… we can’t carry dead weight.”
Siv huffed but otherwise left without protest. Gods, he would miss working with her. The most efficient informant the guild has ever known.
Kalvin reached the bedroom with no guards in sight. Atta girl. He breathed once, then tried the door. Locked. Not sure what I expected. Kalvin picked locks in his dreams - this one took forever. As he heard the familiar click he half expected a gauntleted hand to haul him to his feet. But the hallway was as quiet as a morgue.
The bedroom was the most opulent chamber Kalvin had ever seen. As he searched for his mark, he mindlessly pilfered some baubles. He found it: a painting of the late Duke on a green field with a green river and purple daffodils at his feet. He took it down to reveal a wooden panel behind which was a steel safe.
As if summoned, Siv entered. Reckless. “Five minutes, Kalv, maybe less. Probably less. Yeah... less... Oh! You found the safe. Good. Good. I got the combination right here. Right... right... here.”
The safe revealed several blocks of solid gold. Kalvin promptly pushed those aside to take out the pouch in the back. He opened it and was assaulted by a foul mixture of odors. Satisfied, he pocketed the pouch.
Turned to find Siv inches from the gold.
“You don’t suppose-“;
“No. I don’t.” Kalvin took several other pieces of paper from the safe, then swiped at Siv’s hand.
She gave him a look that was equal parts incredulous and offended. “We should steal some gold. Won’t it be too obvious if we only –“
“We, Siv. We. Not you.” He checked his pilfered supplies, was surprised to find some shinnies which he proffered to her. “And yes. It will be obvious because that’s the point.”
Siv’s smile was as glistening as the items she just made disappear. “Always a gentleman.” She pecked his cheek, then left to keep watch.
Kalvin closed the safe, returned the painting. He then scratched out the Duke's left eye as per instruction. The guild leader sure enjoys playing his games... He spilled some ink on a desk, also by instruction, and unlatched the window -
"You wench!" A yelp. Something hit the ground. "Don't you ever talk back to me again! Or I'll have you in chains, you understand? Say it!"
Siv was buying time for his escape. Seeing as how she was "guarding" the bedroom that got robbed, she would certainly boil for this. As per plan. Kalvin almost threw up.
But he had to leave this room, or none of the instructions he did would matter. As he closed the window behind him, he felt his heart break a little. He climbed to the mansion's roof and a night filled with song and color. He noticed none of it.
The guards have entered the bedroom by now. They will take Siv to the dungeon. The dungeon was in an underground tunnel connecting the mansion to the mines. It was late so the workers were tired or asleep. He would just have to worry about the guards. He knew his route.
Reaching the secret mine shaft was easy. Inside, the air was sparse, the light limited. Kalvin went through the estate's schematics in his head. He was soon out of the dreary minds and in a weeping stone tunnel. As he moved he saw torchlight in the distance, moving away.
He found Siv in the third cell over, they had left her in the upper cells for a reason... Siv was shaking, her purple turned red lips quivered in the dim torchlight. Kalv broke the lock instantly, and Siv stilled.
"It's me, Siv. Come on, let's get out of here."
They obviously beat her, she adorned several discolored blotches on her face, it was still too early to swell. "W-why, Kalv?" She sobbed, her eyes wide and watering fast.
"We never leave one of our own. You know that." He was unlocking her shackles. "Pull yourself together and follow. Your head clear enough for that?"
She let out a stifled chuckle. "A beating to the head sobers you up, yeah."
Siv's knees were wobbly, her condition was worse than he feared. They would not escape.
"Lay down, Siv. Stretch your legs." He got out the pouch of herbs he'd just stolen, let its contents drop on her legs. He then ground the many herbs against her legs, rubbing them against her skin.
"These are anesthetics?"
"Some... maybe..."
"What will you say to the guild?"
"I'll... think of something." He gulped down a lump of regret, feeling... free... "Better?"
"A little. Ugh, it smells disgusting."
Kalv helped her to her feet. She was no longer wobbling. Good. "That's how you know they're working." He handed her the papers from the safe. "Take these. They are important." She did, hesitant. "You remember the schematics?" She nodded, hesitant. "You exit the mines then take the sewers near the southern exit, yeah? You remember? They'll take you under the wall. Then once you're over you find the sea gall and -"
"Kalv! Please don't! I-I-I-"
"Shhh-shhh-shhh. I know what I'm doing, Siv." He patted her knuckles. "Trust, eh? Trust the Ghost."
Hot tears fell on his consoling hands and he had to let go. Siv was strong, but he wasn't. He almost left with her, the fool. The complexion of the tunnel changed, and they both knew what that meant: torchlight
Siv let out one last hopeless sob and pecked his cheek. She turned, her gait a swaying half-run, but it was enough. She would reach the sewers, he knew she would.
Metal boots drew ever closer and closer. Kalvin thought about becoming shadow, but thought twice. They would certainly find him, and all he would accomplish was give away a valued guild secret.
He entered Siv's cell and closed the barred door behind him. As he set down his body became light as air. It's better this way. He relaxed in the dark. Siv knows the way to the hideout. They know her face down-side. She'll be ok.
The guards came, shouted, threatened. Then others, these kicked, punched. When he opened his eyes next, he was in front of a well-dressed gentleman.
"I saw my sleeping quarters. Very...bold of you." The man said in a clipped voice as if holding back something terrible.
Kalvin made sure his spit's aim was true as he hit the man's boots.
Siv was safe, the job was done, that's all that mattered.
"You will...have to suffice then."
The pain was sudden, sharp, and blinding.
A bit on the longer side this one, curious to her what you people think.
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Have a good week folks. 😙