Green Bay Bunker - Valoria Forest
The Green Bay Bunker was a beautiful sight, deep in the forest hidden underground.
The access door was a thick patch of grass that could only be lifted by users of earth magic. Katherine remembered coming down here the first time with Avery down a long slide.
She was now standing in the same spot where the slide ended - right in the middle of a bustling city.
At the center of it all was a massive tree that sustained the growing population and was home to small families. On either side of the street were vendors and shops that sold everything from clothes to potions.
Here people were able to live without the restrictions from above.
Kitty smiled as she took in the view. She pulled the hood of her cloak tighter around her head and made her way to the spot where Avery said he'd meet her. Had her brother, Stan been here he would've protested against his ten-year-old sister traipsing about alone.
A child with pale skin, black stripes on their skin, and a tail twitching in excitement ran past her giggling. A boy with brown skin and a girl with curly hair and antlers gave chase.
This, Kitty thought watching them pass, is what my father would've loved to see before his death.
Finally, Kitty arrived at Butcher and Ale. She spotted the bird's nest Avery called hair through the crowd. She ducks her head quickly moving through the tables - Stan would surely kill her if he got wind of this.
Avery was sitting in a booth staring at the table while he slowly stirred his drink.
Kitty sat removing her hood. "Are you here to update me on the lack of progress you've made in freeing my brother?" She waved down a waiter to order some juice.
"You're pretty feisty for a ten-year-old." Avery sat back wink. Then his expression fell. "I've asked you to meet because I've run into a problem."
"Is it something you can't take care of?"
"Yes."
Kitty cocked her head - normally Avery would be acting charming, bubbly, and outgoing. If she were being honest he looked like his friend just got murdered.
Unless..Kitty gasped.
"Is Stan-?"
"No!" Avery sat forward quickly. "No, he's not...dead. But...he's been sentenced to death."
Kitty balled her hands into fists beneath the table bunching up her cloak. "How! There's no evidence, how can he be charged for a crime he didn't do?!"
"Well," Avery sighs chugging down his drink. "He's been charged with two murders."
Kitty blinked. "He..what? Who?"
"The Queens and Michol Little."
So that murder did actually happen. I followed him the night he buried the noble. Kitty thanked the server when he brought her drink. Besides he was a wimp anyway.
Kitty took a sip to think. "Who came forward?"
"Michol's father, Rubin."
"I'll have him taken care of." Kitty hums thoughtfully. "You do have a plan to get my brother out, right?"
Avery frowns. "We'd have to break him out."
"Why not wait until the day of the execution? It's public, yes?"
"That could work!" Avery nods slowly, a smile forming. "The memorial for the Queen is the same day." he grabbed Kitty's shoulders shaking her in excitement. "This could actually work! I have spies inside the palace that could cause a distraction..." he paled, taking his hands back. "S-Sorry."
"It's alright." Kitty smiles. "I'm excited too. It won't be long before he'll be with us and make my mother much happier."
Avery was staring at his hands. "Why didn't I feel anything? I touched you-"
"My ability is to cause pain, yes, but I have to be angry enough for it to surface." Kitty blinks. "My mom and brother didn't know about my ability."
Avery stared. "Why?"
"My father was trying to help me - cure me if you will." Kitty lifted a shoulder in a shrug." He said if I told, my mom wouldn't want to keep a monster like me and Stan would hate me."
"That had to be awful. I'm sorry he said that to you." Avery smiled, sadly. "Do you wish you could talk to your father again?"
"Sometimes." Kitty whispered.
Avery cocked his head and smirked. "I hate to bring this up again...do you know what my fear is? Would you use it against me?"
Kitty stared.
Then she no longer was inside Butcher and Ale in a both. She saw Avery running down what appeared to be an endless tunnel with a light at the end.
Avery kept running into different bodies of Stan, each one more gruesome and bloodier than the last. One of the bodies had been hanging from a noose - Stan's eyes were wide and unseeing, his mouth open with a thick purple tongue hanging out.
In his chest was a gaping hole where his heart should be.
Kitty was brought back to reality when Avery squeezed her wrist.
She blinked taking in his raised brows hidden beneath unruly curls and his silver-blue eyes full of worry. His mouth pulled into a frown.
"You..." Kitty shook her head. "You care about - my brother - Stan, right?"
Avery flinched releasing her, sitting back he ran his hands through his hair in a vain attempt to flatten it.
Kitty smiled gently. "It's quite alright. Your secret is safe with me."
"Promise?" Avery whispers.
"I promise." Kitty stands slapping down some bills on the table. "Now, where can I find this Rubin?"
....
Kitty didn't leave Green Bay until midnight - when her magic works best.
She had long since taught herself to hold her own against adults - to stand taller, look meaner, and use a big voice to get what she wanted.
Bribing this noble family should be a breeze if Rubin or his family didn't put up a fight. The one thing people of his status care about is money.
When she reaches the estate she was greeted with a marble pathway free of fallen leaves and over grown tree roots. On either side of the walkway were sprawling laws and tall trees with low hanging branches - both well taken care of.
In the center of the marble walk path was a marble water fountain. The water dribbled from each level of the fountain into the little area where fish were swimming.
Kitty could name some as she passed: kingfish, starfish, and lao.
She knocked three times on the massive oak doors then peered up at the windows - all of them dark.
This would be quite an entrance, but this meeting couldn't wait until morning.
The door opened and a woman holding a duster wearing a bright red dress and white apron, stood there. Her silver hair was in a neat bun on her head.
Kitty pulled her hood back slightly. "Hello."
The woman's blue-grey eyes widened. "H-Hello miss. Are you-"
"Lost?" Kitty readjusted her hood, hiding her face. "Hm, quite the opposite actually."
"You are aware that it's past meeting times." the woman smiled gently. "Isn't your mama calling you?"
Kitty bristled. "My mother is overcome with grief at the moment. My brother has been captured - I must talk to Mr. Rubin about his release."
"Can this-"
"No, it cannot wait. My brother could be dead tomorrow." she sighs. "It was hard enough when our father passed."
Before the woman could protest, Kitty moved past her into the cool foyer. She took a deep breath and took in the shiny floor, tall white columns, and expensive items they had.
Kitty gently ran her fingertips over golden jeweled statues humming.
The maid nervously tittered then closed and locked the door. She dumped the duster in a vase beautifully and masterfully decorated. "I'd be happy to accommodate your needs in the sitting area a plate of fresh cookies and sweets will be brought out."
"Thank you..."
"Brenda."
Kitty nodded and then followed the woman from the foyer. She led her to a set of double doors, pushing them open to reveal a luxurious, comfortable sitting area. The couch was white with gold trim and velvet cushioning positioned in front of a glass table.
The fireplace was cold and empty. Kitty took a seat on the couch and looked at the portraits of the family members on the wall.
The background research she did and her source of information was spot on. Rubin was a man in his early fifties with a receding hairline and watery blue eyes. In this portrait his mouth was pulled into what he must've thought was a smile.
It looked quite painful.
His wife, Mai had olive-toned skin, brown almond-shaped eyes, and long black hair. She looked to be of Asian descent.
Their son, Weston took more after his father but got his full lips and thick hair from his mother. Their daughter Aeria was a spitting image of Mai.
The doors opened again and Brenda entered carrying two trays followed closely by Rubin, Weston, and Aeria.
Brenda placed the tray down, poured four steaming cups of tea, and then went to stand by the door if she's needed again.
Rubin glowered at Kitty as he sat. "What could you want?"
Weston snorts taking the cushion on the couch farthest from Kitty. "Perhaps to beg."
"Maybe it really is an emergency." Aeria said smiling gently. She sat in a chair facing them.
Kitty took her cup clasping her hands around it to warm up her fingers. "I don't beg." she cast a sour glare at Weston. "Well, maybe not as well as you."
Aeria choked on her tea then giggled.
"Enough," Rubin grumbled. "Why have you summoned me?
"To talk about your-"
Rubin held up a hands waved Brenda out then looked at her again.
"I summoned you to discus our involvement with putting Stan in prison." Kitty took a sip of her tea.
Weston lurched from the couch, his face beet red from her jab from earlier. "You dare! That bastard killed my brother."
"I'm aware." Kitty put her mug down. "I did not come here to gloat or defend him. I simply came to ask you to drop the charges."
Before Rubin had a chance to say anything, Weston lunged at her ignoring Aeria's cries to stop.
Kitty faced him and grabbed his throat. Her power tingled at her fingertips and she pushed. Weston's eyes widened and he began screaming trying to pull himself from her iron grip.
His skin was starting to pale and dark veins slowly crawled up his neck.
"Stop! Please!" Aeria gasped, her eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry for his actions, please don't kill him!"
Kitty released Weston who collapsed face-first on the couch them scrambled back moments later, eyes wide.
"So, you came here to kill us?" Rubin snarled, eyeing his wheezing son. "My wife is-"
"With child?" Kitty raised a brow. "I'm well aware." she turned toward Weston who flinched under her gaze. "Try to harm me again and it'll be your last act on this earth, understood?"
Weston nods.
"Now, Mr. Rubin, let's hope it doesn't come down to death. I was hoping to avoid it." Kitty took a cookie bitting it in half.
Aeria swallowed choosing her words carefully - smart girl. "To do that means we'd have to pay a fine meaning-"
"Hm. Thirty thousand notes to be exact. I'll give you an extra twenty if you keep this conversation between us." Kitty dipped her remaining piece of cookie in her tea.
"That means...we've falsely accused your brother." Weston rasped, narrowing his eyes.
Rubin leaned forward. "If I don't agree?"
Kitty licked the sugar from her fingers. "I strongly suggest you do sir - if you don't want any harm to come upon your wife or unborn child."
"You dare-" Rubin roared.
"Move toward me with ill intenet you'll regret it." Kitty stared calmly up into the man's furious face. "One wrong move and your children will be fatherless."
Slowly Rubin sat back in his chair growling low in his throat. His brows furrowed and lips pursed.
Kitty took her time finishing her tea. With an annoyed sigh, she set down her now empty mug.
"I was hoping to get an answer today."
"If I-"
Kitty smirked. "My next visit will be quite bloody."
"How do you expect me to-" Rubin started.
"I think it's an easy choice." Kitty tapped her chin as though deep in thought. "Stay out of my way and save your family or stay out of my way and die. It seems simple to me."
Aeria scoffs. "You're sick." she reaches into the folds of her cloak then throws a dagger at Kitty's chest.
Kitty caught it then flicked it in the same motion catching Aeria in the throat. Her hands fly to her throat.
"No!" Weston leapt up but Rubin held him back. "Aeria, breathe!"
Aeria gurgled as blood pooled around her head coming from her neck and mouth. She began twitching then she went still, her eyes wide and unseeing.
Weston melted into the sofa sobbing.
"Hm." Kitty stood. "It seems you've picked your answer."
"Wait!" Rubin muttered. "I'll drop the charge."
Kitty smiles. "Lovely. I'll have the money sent to you."
"Where would a street rat like you get fifty thousand notes?" Rubin snarled, teeth bared.
"That's not nice." Kitty pouts, pulling a dagger out fingering the blade. "If this is how you'll show your gratitude..." she twirled the blade between her fingers.
"We'll take it." Weston hissed. "Monster."
Kitty whirled to snap at him but Rubin stood, hands fisted at his sides. "Leave, child. You got what you wanted and caused enough headache for one night."
Kitty hummed tucking the weapon away. "As for where I get the money - its for me to know and you to find out."
She pulled her hood over her head and left.