Daren quickly followed her as they climbed down the twenty foot drop. They moved as quickly as possible before the gate was overwhelmed with water.
Ange dropped down the last of the ladder’s metal grips and landed lightly on the balls of her feet, scattering a few startled rats and grabbed the rope that was knotted on the release mechanism twenty feet above.
She considered opening it while Daren was still on and soaking him well, but before she could decide to take action, he dropped down the last segment of rails in a fashion that was most unlike him and stepped out of the way. She scowled annoyed as he smiled at her sadly, as if he had guessed her intentions. She roughly pulled the rope down.
A rush of water flowed down as the grate door swung shut over the stream, not even hindering its flow a bit as it rushed down into the metal meshed floor, spraying them with foul mist.
Ange pulled away before she could get soaked and made her way to the secret door at the center of the wall opposite the ladder in the twenty foot long room filled with mechanisms, gauges, and more waterfalls and sewer entrances and heavy steam flowing from beneath their feet.
She crouched and shoved her fingers through a tiny crevice under the fourth brick up the wall and pressed the button. A heavy turning of cogs and mechanisms screeched through the air as a section of wall moved back in on itself and then moved away to the left. While the door still moved, Ange strutted right into the big room where the others already waited around a large round stone table while the other people waited impatiently leaning against the walls or sat on large stone blocks.
“You’re late,” Vera’s cross voice cut through the air between them.
Ange gazed at her mentor who was pleasant only when she wanted something. Vera was known as a grand dark beauty among the Black Owls and other guilds and the deadliest thief to tangle with. She was tall with dark black hair that flowed to her shoulders, an hourglass figure with a perfectly large rounded chest and rear that made all the men swoon and the ladies cry with dismay. Full lips always painted with bright red lipstick and dark blue eyes that gleamed with intelligence and foresight. She was unmerciful and advantageous, still, Ange liked her.
Ange didn’t reply, only stared unflinchingly into her eyes. Something no one did in the guild but her and Vera’s second, Garrett. Though it was probably why Ange found herself in trouble most of the time, but she never denied that she was stubborn.
An annoyed smile crossed Vera’s face as she rested her cheek on her manicured hand which was a wonder how she ever kept perfect. Her eyes traveled to Daren as he pressed the button that closed the door.
“I can only guess the expression on Fox’s face is because you finally told her.”
Fox, Ange loved the nickname Vera and the guild often used for her. They say she was just as wily, mischievous, and just as stubborn as one. Vera’s was known as The Wolf among the other guilds though mostly out of respect and fear they spoke to her with more eloquent titles since she did come from a rich and noble family.
Daren lowered his head and gaze respectfully. “I did.”
“I told you she wouldn’t take it well, Daren. You should have told her from the start just like I said,” she scolded calmly.
Ange snorted unconvinced and irritated.
“I know Miss, please forgive our tardiness on the ill timing of my confidence,” he apologized.
Vera sighed. “Very well, take your place,” she ordered strictly.
Daren nodded in acknowledgement and took his place leaning on the right wall from the door, Ange joined him, staying several feet away from him. He frowned hurt but said nothing as they gazed at Vera expectantly.
Vera glanced at them before she gazed around at the members of the Black Owls, which consisted of thirty some odd thieves, most of which lived down in the sewers with the rest. Those who held positions and homes above ground had influence with many dealings within the city. Like Vera who was the head of her family’s house and the owners of the largest crystal mines in the Poleuthan Mountain Range that hugged the cold city of Cyridell.
“Today I wish to discuss a huge escapade for tomorrow night that will involve most of the guild, apparently the small and insignificant competitors of my family business have hit crystal,” she stated rather sourly. “And not just a small mine operation, but a horde and they’re refusing my advances to buy them out,” she smiled wickedly and pressed her fingers together, her long nails clacking together once. “So I have decided on another course of action. Robbery and of course, sabotage.”
Murmurs of excitement began to pass around, Ange blinked surprised. This was big, whenever Vera involved the Black Owls in her family business, every participating thief in the guild was richly rewarded, some even set up for life. Though Vera, like any other thief wished to keep the riches to herself, only involved the guild when her own solo and more ‘diplomatic’ attempts failed and she had no other means of obtaining what she wanted, so these chances were far and rare in between.
“I would also like to contract the Crimson Crows that are present here,” she continued on in a honeyed and confident voice.
Ange looked for the members that stirred at Vera words, it was well known that the Crimson Crows were a clan of assassins, feared and respected across the country and one of their largest bases was in their city. Cyridell was after all the city of crystal, metal, and trade, and much to the people’s denial it was run by the thieves, the assassins, and the Underground Market. ‘There is always something that needs stealing, someone that needs murdering, and something that needs smuggling.’ The city’s famous motto among the criminal and corrupt.
It was also well known that the Black Owls held the strongest influence with the Crimson Crows and that seven of its members were also assassins of the infamous clan. No other thieves’ guild could vouch as much, though it was rumored that the Silver Weasels had the Justice Guards in their pockets.
Vera turned her gaze to them. “Ange, Daren, you’re not kids anymore, we’re not stealing bread and apples here. It’s time to get serious. You’ll be joining the guild’s venture tomorrow and if you do well you’ll be joining the guild as full members.”
Ange couldn’t help the excited smile that crossed her face, she would be a real thief! No more petty stealing for food and clothes, she could get contracted to do real thieving and earn her pocket of money.
Next to her, Daren grimaced.
Vera raised an eyebrow. “You don’t look so pleased Daren, have you decided on your future?”
His face twisted with indecision as he looked at the ground.
Vera sighed. “Look Daren, it’s against the code for me to let you participate when you’re so undecided, much less let you live if you decide to leave.”
Daren nodded in understanding and stood up straight, pulling himself away from the wall.
“But…how about this? You participate tomorrow and see what the real life of a thief is like, what the job is really like and then decide. If you decide you still want to go, then you can, you will just have to swear an oath of silence at the punishment of death, am I understood?”
Gasps of surprise and shock began to circle along with protests. Ange blinked in surprise and was silent by astonishment, feeling grateful for Vera’s unusual show of kindness.
“Silence!” Vera snapped. “I have made a decision and you will all comply and remain quiet!” she spat standing up from her elegant steel chair, instantly quieting the guild. She glared about for a moment before she settled herself back comfortably into her seat, patting her tight short black dress into place and crossing her knee-high black boots.
She turned her gaze back to Daren and stared expectantly.
He lowered his gaze. “Thank you, Vera. You are too kind to me, tomorrow after the raid, I will have my decision,” he promised and pressed his back and folded hands to the wall.
She nodded satisfied. “Good,” she stated and turned back to the rest of the guild. “All who wish to participate and have no p
ending contracts, come tomorrow and be here by the time the first sun has sunk into the horizon, Garrett will fill you in on the details.”
“Vera, I wish to speak to you first,” Garrett informed in his brusque and deep voice. His sharp green eyes and short black hair over his large and muscular form was as always, intimidating. It was a wonder how he was ever sneaky if he even was, or if he just scared others out of their merchandise. He was a cold man and all business, the only one he ever was warm to was Vera. They were after all close friends and sometimes Ange wondered if they were more than just that.
She nodded. “Of course, you’re all dismissed,” she stated, like that the guild scattered, some going to their quarters and others leaving for the surface. The room was empty in less than a minute as Garrett and Vera went into her small office and closed the metal door behind them.
Curiosity took Ange and she quickly crept to the door as Daren left for their quarters without a glance back. Ange felt like a rift had already broken between them.
She frowned and concentrated on listening instead.
“Vera, what were you thinking,” Garrett asked exasperated. “You know the Thieves Code doesn’t allow anyone to leave.”
“It’s more of a set of guidelines, Garrett, I’m not going to condemn Daren because he had nowhere else to go as a child,” she replied.
“Then he only has two options, stay or die,” Garrett insisted. Ange sucked in a painful breath as he continued. “He’s a liability if he leaves, what if he betrays us in several years when it’s to his convenience or his advantage? What’s to stop him apart from a promise that we won’t be able to carry out if the Black Owls are destroyed?” he added harshly.
“It won’t come to that,” Vera snapped. “If we must, we’ll keep tabs on him. We’ve raised those kids in the guild for ten years, we know them better than anyone else and Daren would never betray Ange’s trust.”
“He can change,” Garrett warned. “You have grown a soft spot for those kids, Vera,” he observed not too unkindly.
Vera sighed. “I see them as my own,” she admitted. “I couldn’t help being drawn to them all those years ago when I found them stealing apples,” she said the words with fondness. “Especially Fox, I’ve never seen a thief as skilled as her. She’ll be better than even me, one day,” she said with absolute confidence.
Garrett chuckled, a rare sound coming from him. “That one can steal you blind and disappear before you even knew it,” he admitted. “She certainly has a way with those daggers, even her sneaking and deception is something to admire,” his voice became dark. “We’ll have to be careful with her.”
Vera laughed. “Indeed, she’s a dangerous little minx…” her voice became sad. “You know I can’t have children Garrett…”
No reply came, Ange felt surprised by the fact.
“Well…I was planning on making Ange my successor, for the Black Owls and my family business,” she admitted quietly.
Ange had to cover her mouth from gasping in surprise.
“I suspected as much,” Garrett replied gruffly.
“She would be perfect, even you have to admit that,” Vera insisted. “She has the cunning and the charm to do it, but above all she has the skills and the guts.”
Garrett didn’t reply.
“After she becomes a full member, I’ll tell her my intentions. I’ll ask her to come live with me so she can start training in the more,” she chuckled, “‘diplomatic’ affairs. She can start learning how to be a noble and still be a thief, it will be hard since she will be considered adopted and not a true heir to the other nobles, but I have no doubt she’ll pull right through that and prove her mettle. If there is one thing that girl can do, she can most certainly earn the respect of anyone.”
Garrett grunted.
“So I don’t believe we have anything to worry about on Daren’s end, if nothing else, he will prove a useful asset to Fox when she takes over the company and guild,” Vera said calmly.
“What do you mean?” Garrett asked confused.
“I did a little digging,” Vera admitted silkily. “Did you know he was the only heir to the Black Steele Corporation?”
“What?!” Garrett gasped shocked.
Ange blinked, not understanding the significance of the news.
“Yes,” Vera replied pleased. “Surprising isn’t it? I thought his name seemed familiar when I first found them, but I took no notice. I should have guessed that it was his father and mother, the Steele family that died in that fire that was announced in the paper. I never knew they had a child though, then again, our family relationships weren’t so good,” she sniffed. “The government has since taken control of the company, but when he announces himself, he’ll get his family company back.”
Ange’s face twisted in contemplation. Wait…didn’t Daren tell me that his nursemaid controlled the company now?
“Who would have guessed?” Garrett sighed. “That our little thief Daren was the sole heir to the largest metal industry in the country, they have their hands in everything. Metal production, coin pressing, and even the invention and production of the steel horses and any other metal transportation unit you could think of,” he snarled enviously.
Vera giggled. “Exactly. Who knew? I bet he didn’t even really know the power his family had. He only found out recently, I doubt he’s even explained everything to Fox,” she sighed sadly. “It’s too bad he probably won’t be sticking around, he was a decent thief, but the boy’s heart is too pure.”
Ange crept away, not interested in hearing anymore and walked quietly into their quarters and brushed the curtain door aside, she paused in surprise, finding Daren sitting on the edge of their bunk bed twiddling his thumbs. Behind him the pipes leaked and occasional creaks filled the room. The blue little lanterns around the room where the only source of light, casting a soft glow around their stony room. Ange scowled and ignored Daren and grabbed the edge of the top bed and flipped herself into the hard stone bunk covered by a few blankets and faced the wall after closing the curtain behind her and leaving her in darkness.
She felt hurt her best friend hadn’t found it in himself to confide in her and tell her everything. Didn’t he know she would be there for him no matter what?
“Ange…I…I want to talk to you,” Daren’s voice echoed up to her with a pathetic note.
She ignored him and instead pulled her lantern off her belt and flipped the switch, she listened as the tiny mechanism inside spun and revealed the glass covered crystal and lit her tiny sleeping space. She hung it up in the ceiling on a small hook and removed her pack and began rummaging through it. She took out a loaf of bread and took a bite, chewing it carefully as she tried to calm down. Any other day that she was not in a bad mood she would have told Daren about her exiting eavesdropping adventure, now she felt like holding a grudge till he apologized.
She took another bite, trying to focus on more positive thoughts. Instead she tried imagining a life as a noble woman and as the head thief of the Black Owls, a new excitement flamed through her at the very idea. She lay down and stared up at the ceiling. Unconsciously, her hand reached up to the center of her chest, right underneath her collarbone.
She pulled the neck of her shirt down and craned her neck to look at the strange tattoo on her chest. She remembered growing up in the orphanage and the woman who had ran the place, she had told Ange she was left at the doorstep in the dead of the most ominous night, when the sky was clear and all five moons hung in the sky, full. A rare event to behold.
The woman had always scoffed how cruel her parents had been to leave her right after her birth and with a tattoo inked onto her chest, which had led everyone to believe she was the daughter of traitors or bandits, or any other form of criminal.
The woman, whose name she didn’t bother remembering, spent most of her time trying to get rid of her by finding the people that had the same brand on their bodies. She never did find out anything, and when the orphanage had to close due to
inadequate funds, Ange had been the only one left behind in the empty building.
She scowled at the thoughts and instead observed her unique tattoo. It was beautiful in her opinion, it was a five pointed snowflake that was two inches in height but what was odd apart from the intricate and detailed layout of the light icy-blue ink, was that in between each corner was what looked like a dragon with its wings spread out to touch the corners it laid in between. Each dragon looked like it had feathered wings and glorious horns, each slightly different and unique. This made Ange think it looked also like a pentagram with five different dragons in its heart. But it was only noticeable if one looked closely at it, from afar, it was a beautiful and strange snowflake.
She sighed and pulled her shirt back, wondering if she would ever discover its meaning. She smiled at the idea that she could investigate it further when she became leader of the Black Owls and Vera’s company running the Star Mines. Though she truly had no interest in finding her parents.
They hadn’t even left her a name. She sighed, remembering how she had gotten her name. At the orphanage, she had been called several nasty things, the most common name had been Bandit. She had actually rather liked it. She remembered venturing out to the street out of hunger after the orphanage closed and she was left behind, any person she asked for food had kicked her or thrown rocks at her. Tired and hurting everywhere, she walked back to the orphanage with bruises and an empty stomach. That’s when she had found Daren, crying his eyes out in the darkness of an alley and covered in soot and his clothes black, ravaged, and smelling foul of smoke.
Right that instant, without thinking, Ange had run back to the market and sneaked up behind the vendor of an apple stand that was closing for the night and stole four apples before anyone could have noticed and ran back to the boy. She had then taken him back to the abandoned orphanage after he had stopped crying and ate his apple in silence. He didn’t speak or move for days.
Ange closed her eyes and remembered the old memories, on the fourth day, she had brought him new clothes to rid him of his old damaged ones. That was when he had spoken for the first time, his voice hoarse.
Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1) Page 2
