Vespertine

“I’m not sure about this,” Caiden said, feeling sore from having squatted in the same position for so long.

Scarlett waved her hand dismissively, crouched under a desk across from him. “Suck it up. We do whatever’s necessary for a mission.”

Caiden crinkled his nose. “Is this really necessary? My legs hurt. And isn’t it a Saturday? What kind of teacher comes to school on a Saturday?”

“One that realizes he’s forgotten his briefcase,” she hissed. “And you know everybody in Prima is snobby about education. ‘First city, best city’ and all that crap.”

Caiden sighed. “What does Astor even want with this guy? He’s a sorcerer, isn’t he?”

“He cheated him,” Scarlett responded without looking at him, her eyes trained on the still-closed door. The response was vague, but Caiden knew that Astor always had a reason for his targets.

“And I just have to help you subdue him? That’s all?”

“Yes,” Scarlett said softly, still looking at the door. The classroom was dark, the only light coming from the curtained windows. Caiden was really beginning to regret agreeing to this mission. He was fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to help at all, what with his legs all numb.

He began picturing a scenario in his head: the target would come in, Scarlett would jump up and they’d engage in combat. Then Caiden would spring up and wobble his way over, only to fall and tragically get in Scarlett’s way, leading to both their unfortunate demises.

The sound of a key in the lock snapped Caiden out of his dreary imagination. He tensed, watching the shadow of the door on the floor. Scarlett glanced at him and put a finger to her lips.

He saw the door open, light gliding across the floor. A pair of feet was clicking on the tiles, and soon they stepped into view. Scarlett nodded.

As the target drew near, Caiden slowly and silently stretched out one leg, then the other, and then slipped out undetected from under the desk. He crouched behind one end, watching the man. His back was facing Caiden, approaching his own desk, but once he got there he would turn around. Caiden let out a breath, and then leaped out from behind the desk, silently lunging towards the man.

The man turned, but Caiden had already gotten his arms around his neck. Then he realized that the man was much bigger than he had thought.

He reared, trying to shake Caiden off. Caiden tried to tighten his grip, but was disorientated by the wild shaking of the target. He lost his hold and tumbled to the floor.

“Dammit,” he muttered, but when he looked up, Scarlett was already dashing towards the target, eyes flashing.

The teacher caught her in the side just as she connected the hilt of her knife with his cheekbone, and they broke apart, Scarlett staggering under the weight of his blow and him cursing and cupping his wounded cheek.

She recovered quickly enough, dodging as he tried to take another swipe at her. From his vantage point on the ground, Caiden could tell that the man was a boxer. His first counterattack had been a clumsy reaction, but now that he was prepared, any blow would be a knockout.

Scarlett could tell, too. She kept him at a wary distance, brandishing her blade. Caiden scrambled to his feet and launched himself at the teacher again, and this time, when his fingers made contact with skin, the target collapsed in pain. Scarlett immediately took the opportunity to handcuff him and force him onto his stomach, her knee pressed firmly on his back.

Caiden broke contact and the man gasped in relief, glaring hatefully up at him. He moved back silently, waiting for Scarlett to do the talking.

“You know who we are?” She asked, in a calm voice that bore no hint of menace. Caiden had always marveled at her ability to sound cooperative even though she was obviously in charge.

He strained under her, but to no avail. “No,” he spat out. “Some delinquents I’ve never met before. What do you want from me?”

“It’s very simple,” Scarlett said, placing her knife adjacent to his throat. He stopped struggling. “There’s a man called Astor. Friend of ours. A couple months ago, you sold him some raw materials— a considerable amount of metal alloy and micro-elastic netting, to be precise. Ring a bell?

He was eyeing the knife as he responded. “Yes, I remember. I delivered the materials over a month ago. What’s the problem?”

“You promised,” now, a hard edge entered her voice, “the highest quality material. But after just one preliminary test, the alloy disintegrated and the netting tore. Yet you charged a ridiculously high price for both. And now, after some investigation, we discover that you don’t even work for the materials company. Instead, you’re a high school teacher in an inner city. Care to explain?”

Caiden could see a thin line of sweat making its way down then man’s face. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, trying to steady his voice. “The materials really were the best I had. I work two j-jobs. What kinds of things were you doing?”

“Irrelevant,” she responded. She moved the knife closer, so that it just barely kissed his neck. “Tell me the truth.”

“Okay,” he choked out, reluctantly. “I’m just the middleman, okay? I do some jobs for some startup materials companies. I needed the money. I promise, I didn’t know the materials were low quality. I’m an honest man, I swear.”

Scarlett considered this for a second.

“I want the money back,” she finally said, relinquishing her hold on him and sheathing her knife. She stood up straight, taking her knee off her back. He sat up, still trembling a bit. “And I want it back immediately. If by tomorrow morning the money isn’t in Astor’s account, we’ll be back.”

“Understood,” he answered immediately, and then held his hands out to her timidly for her to unlock the cuffs.

She looked at him like he was crazy. “The cuffs stay on until we receive the money.”

His eyes widened. “You can’t do that. How am I supposed to do anything with these on? I can’t go home like this! My children will ask questions!”

She shrugged. “Better hustle then.”

Caiden followed her as she strutted out of the room, her calm expression never faltering. She threw one last, piercing look over her shoulder. “And if you try to turn us in or cheat us again, you’ll have hell to pay.”

The man didn’t say anything, but from his grimace, Caiden could tell he wouldn’t risk retaliation. They exited the classroom and made their way down the various empty hallways until they reached the elevator that led down to the parking garage.

As soon as they stepped in, Scarlett collapsed against the wall.

“Scar!” Caiden said, alarmed. He rushed forward, catching her head and shoulders as she slumped. He probed her torso frantically, and drew back when she winced.

“Probably a fracture,” she mumbled, sounding weak. She indicated her ribs, where the target had slammed into her. Apparently it had been worse than Caiden realized.

He quickly put both hands on her side and concentrated. A few seconds later, Scarlett let out a breath of relief and Caiden moved his hands away, watching her cautiously as she stood up shakily, just as the elevator door opened into the dim parking garage.

“You okay?” He asked as she pushed herself off the wall and began walking out. He held his arm near her, ready to catch her if she fell again.

She smiled at him. “I’m fine, Caiden. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied absently, still monitoring her steps as they reached her car.

They got in, but Scarlett didn’t start the car. Caiden turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “Tell me the truth.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “What do you mean?”

She looked at him, resting her hand on his gently. “Caiden, I know your screw-up with Quinn wasn’t really a mistake. You didn’t want to hurt her, did you?”

He took his hand away and ran it through his hair nervously. “No, I just panicked.”

She gave him a look.

“Fine,” he confessed. “I didn’t want to hurt her. I don’t like using my power to hurt people. I mean, that’s not what it’s for.” He looked down at his hands. “I was born a healer, Scar. Not meant to hurt.” Not like you, he almost said. Never like you.

She took a moment before speaking. When she did, her tone was sympathetic and kind, the way she had spoken to him when they were kids. “I know, Caiden. I know you’re not a violent person. Even when we’re training, I can tell you hold back. But the world isn’t a nice little place, you know? Not everybody is like you. Not even Quinn. She has no qualms about killing people. You know Charlie? She was the one that killed him. She, and everybody else in their little resistance, needs to be stopped. For the better, I promise.”

Caiden bit his lip. “It just seems hypocritical.”

She sighed deeply. “Maybe. But the thing is, there isn’t going to be peace until this…conflict is over. And if you’re not helping to end it, you’re just prolonging the pain and suffering that people will undergo.”

He stayed silent, and Scarlett could see he was still somewhat unconvinced. She reached out again, this time resting her hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s hard to understand. But you have the power to do all kinds of good, Caiden. Some of it just isn’t as straightforward.”

He let out a breath, but he knew as he leaned back in his seat that this was not something he could escape easily. And for all he knew, Scarlett was right— he was in no place to condemn anyone’s actions.

He looked at his hands and saw how smooth they were. Just like the rest of his body, completely unmarred by little things that affected everybody else, no childhood scrapes or bruises, no little scars to show for it. That was the thing about healing every wound he ever encountered. It was almost like he had never been alive.

“By the way,” said Scarlett as she pulled out of the parking lot recklessly, edging the car into the stream of vehicles out on the main road, “get ready for tomorrow.”

Caiden frowned. “What’s happening tomorrow?”

“Something big.”

“I think I need something a little more specific than that,” he replied, a touch of irritation in his voice.

She smiled at that. “You’ll get the brief when we get back to the compound. Our man on the inside has told us about a little attack the V’s have planned for tomorrow.”

“Your informant is good, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” she answered, another smile playing on her lips. “Why are you surprised? They’ve been operating for a while now.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just kind of incredulous, I guess. How someone can so flawlessly feed us information and not blow his cover. You don’t think there might be a spy on our side, do you?”

“No,” she answered immediately as she pulled onto the highway. “It’s easy for a sorcerer to pretend to be a mortal, but it’s impossible for a mortal to pretend to be a sorcerer.”