Victorian Villains [DEAD]

Despair hummed, hips swaying back and forth as she twirled her parasol over her shoulder, happily walked down the dingy stairs. The clicking of her heeled boots and the swishing of her fluffy blue dress echoed through the dim halls of the lower dungeon. She smiled, this wasn’t her first detention and it sternly wouldn’t be her last. This time the “Science” teacher had caught her donating some money to a begging child in town, an act that gained her one week of detention and made her unable to perches the new shoes she so desperately desired. This was stacked on her already standing week for both politely holding doors for fellow students and aiding pick up some books she had accidently knocked out of a student’s grasp. It wasn’t that much of a problem for her to come here, she only wished they would sweep and clean down here more often. The idea of getting grime on anything made her cringe, and the dungeon was not a clean place.
The warden guided her down the hall of mostly empty cells. There were about five other students down here, not for the normal detention. They were all, at least in Despair’s eyes, not worthy of her time. They were ones who would stab you for the simple fact it was evil, not with any motive or goal. They had committed crimes that even the school couldn’t over look and thus were locked away from the normal students. She felt a shift behind her and she chuckled, she simply hummed a happier toon to aid the unsettling feeling she got from being too close to these… she couldn’t find a proper word for them, they didn’t deserve any of her thoughts anyway. Moving away from them and their prying eyes was relieving, and luckily none of them tried to grab for her this time. They must have learned from the stories of a dainty girl in the dungeon who would beat people into submission if they so much as gave her a sideways glance. Despair hated that tale, partially because it made her seem brutish and also because it only happened twice. Rumors could get so over blown in a school. Besides, fights always ended in her parasol needing a new fabric cover, and that was a hassle to make.
The warden unlocked and opened the creaky detention cell, bringing her thoughts back. The room wasn’t huge, containing twelve filthy desks with dingy chairs. “Thank you for the escort Charles.” She said happily to the warden. She pivoted on her heals and gave him a curtsy and a polite smile. The man gave her a faint smile, then locked the door and walked back down the hall. She went to her usual desk, toward the middle of the room and brushed the seat off. She folded her parasol and took a seat, crossing her ankles. She sat her small blue messenger bag on the desk and waited for the sound of the warden’s footsteps to disappear completely. She heard a familiar voice that could barely be considered even a whisper, “Shall I get the door?” Despair heard the door to the dungeon open again and the echo of more footsteps. “No,” she smiled slyly, “I feel far more interesting things are about to happen in here. We will leave once I have had the chance to meet those whom chose to grace this little cell.” She brushed her skirt to make it lay better and adjusted her black with white tiped hair so that she knew it was nice and neat. She sat with perfect ladylike posture, awaiting the next arrivals.

Minerva walked down the hallway quietly, escorted by one of the school's guards. Her long black overcoat brushed her calves as she walked, weighted comfortably with various hidden blades and other weapons. Her leather boots made no sound as she walked. She found the stone hallways and the dungeon too closed-in for her liking, and she would have preferred the detentions to be held outside or on a rooftop. She always felt more at ease on a rooftop. She sharply shook her head once to clear it, reacquainting herself with her surroundings. Whenever they passed a point of exit she added it to her mental list. To her it was safer; she never knew when she would need to make an escape.

As they walked further down the hallway she sighed. She thought it wasn't quite fair that they had given her a detention for poisoning the city's water supply. She had meant to tell the headmaster, but it had just slipped her mind. Or so she told him. It was only enough to provide a bout of sickness, she had made sure of that. But she was proud of herself; the school had only figured out it was her because she hadn't faked the sickness well enough. She didn't care if the other students were upset with her, they weren't exactly friendly to her in the first place. As the only girl on campus, or in all of London, who didn't wear the fancy dresses she was considered a bit of an outcast by societal design. But it wasn't like she cared. She heard a door shut down the hallway, and she noted that someone else had just arrived at detention. She estimated about six attendees at that point, based on the usual crowd. The detention scheduled for that day was only her second, but she had picked up enough about it by listening to the teachers.

At last it was her turn to enter the room. She surveyed the room quietly with her usual expression, sharp but guarded, and noted two points of exit- one window and the door. Raised stakes. She always preferred at least four avaliable. "Thank you," she muttered quietly to her attendant, and took a seat in front of the girl wearing the outrageously fancy blue dress. Of course, in her opinion any of the dresses she saw in that school were too fancy. She leaned against the back of the chair, quietly watching and waiting. She wondered what the girl behind her would do, since she had just been whispering to someone. Minerva stayed on her toes all the time, especially when she was around the troublemakers of a villainous school.

Despair watched the door open and smiled at the young… woman to enter. She was wearing an interesting choice of clothing, trousers and a trench coat. It reminded her of someone she had only had brief encounters with, but that was enough to make her shift uncomfortably for a moment. She took a breath, regained composer and looked back at the girl. The new member eyed her suspiciously then took a seat, clearly not use to being with good company. That would change now. “Why hello there my fellow trouble maker!” She beamed, “My name is Despair Evanescence, cult extraordinaire at your service.” She folded her hands on her lap, smiled brightly, and watched her new in mate. The girl turned sideways in her chair so she was facing Despair. "Hello. Minerva Wayward, assassin in training," Minerva said coldly. She didn’t seem to want to be friendly, but Despair wasn’t going to except that as an option, “Sooo, you don’t seem like the kind to have done something all hoity-toity and ‘kind’ to get here. Might I enquire what you are in for?” She looked at her hair, it was really long. There was so much you could do with long hair, hers would look nice if she braided it, or big ringlets! "I was the one who poisoned the water without notifying staff," she replied curtly, snapping Despair back to the real world. She vegly remembered her saying something about water supply, she probably poisoned it. She had heard that someone had done that, but hadn’t been affected herself. "I see why you're in here though, you're way too polite to be at a school that teaches evil." She paused a moment. "Compliment or insult, see it as you will. I won't sway it either way."

Despair giggled, “I would take it as both. Indeed, my lack of ‘evil’ is what put me in this situation. But I am nothing if not a product of my upbringing.” She looked her over again, the coat and pants weren’t very pretty. She supposed they served a purpose, but what was the use in wearing business attire all the time? “Interesting choice of clothing.” She noted, then gasped, she couldn’t believe she had said that out loud, “I don’t mean that rudely! I mean I can see why it would be useful to you, with all the pockets and things.” She bit her bottom lip, hoping she didn’t offend her. Minerva didn’t show any signs of being offended, or caring, or anything. "It is my choice. I don't really bother with following fashion trends, I dress how I want. I just don't see how a dress is practical for climbing, or running, or fighting." Despair nodded, dresses were not good for climbing. In fact, she couldn’t think of any article of clothing less suited for climbing. But she didn’t need to climb all the time, or ever really, but she saw where the assassin was coming form. “Its not,” she took a hand and ruffled the fluffy skirt, “But who doesn’t enjoy a good swooshy skirt. Besides, I find no need to do many of those things on a daily basses. And they are not so bad in a fight, especially with this little beauty.” She ran her hand over her parasol, then looked up toward the door. “But I think we may have more company coming. Perhaps we could chat more latter, or add our next guest to the conversation.”

“Why hello there my fellow trouble maker!” Minerva heard a ridiculously cheerful voice from behind her. “My name is Despair Evanescence, cult extraordinaire at your service," the girl continued, folding her hands in her lap. Everything about her, from her dress to the way she talked to the way she moved, screamed high society. Minerva held in a sigh and turned sideways in her chair to get a better look at the girl behind her. "Hello. Minerva Wayward, assassin in training." She figured she should indulge in the more basic of social graces, despite her somewhat monotone introduction. “Sooo, you don’t seem like the kind to have done something all hoity-toity and ‘kind’ to get here. Might I inquire what you are in for?” Despair asked. Of course she had to carry on a conversation, which was not Minerva's strongest suit. "I was the one who poisoned the water without notifying staff," she replied curtly. She could tell the girl wasn't exactly the type to misbehave, but she did seem like the kind of person who would be too kind in the school's eyes. "I see why you're in here though, you're way too polite to be at a school that teaches evil," she continued, adding a pause to formulate her next reply. "Compliment or insult, see it as you will. I won't sway it either way."

Minerva had to keep from rolling her eyes when the girl giggled, of all things. “I would take it as both. Indeed, my lack of ‘evil’ is what put me in this situation. But I am nothing if not a product of my upbringing.” When Minerva saw the girl examining her clothing she braced herself for yet another scathing remark about men's clothing, after which she would have to make yet another verbal rant that included subtle threats related to her grim profession. “Interesting choice of clothing.” There it was. She was prepared to launch into her rant when she saw Despair's eyes widen. “I don’t mean that rudely! I mean I can see why it would be useful to you, with all the pockets and things," she finished, biting her bottom lip nervously. That surprised Minerva slightly, but she didn't let it show. Of all people, she had never expected the high-class teenager to show any understanding. But as always, she kept her emotions and thoughts veiled; she couldn't give anyone any information that could be used to undermine her in the future. Her father had drilled that into her so often it had become habit. She answered, "It is my choice. I don't really bother with following fashion trends, I dress how I want. I just don't see how a dress is practical for climbing, or running, or fighting." All of which an assassin like her would be expected to do. “Its not,” Despair agreed, lifting the thick layers of her dress in one fist for a moment. “But who doesn’t enjoy a good swooshy skirt. Besides, I find no need to do many of those things on a daily basis. And they are not so bad in a fight, especially with this little beauty.” Minerva could have thought of a few different things to say, but she said nothing, making sure she remembered the hidden weapon in the parasol. It was a clever arrangement, she reflected, hiding a weapon in such a universal fashion accessory. Then the dark-haired girl looked up toward the door. “But I think we may have more company coming. Perhaps we could chat more later, or add our next guest to the conversation.” Minerva nodded and looked toward the door, awaiting the new arrival.

Despair watched the door curiously. The loud noise of someone taking a tumble had echoed into the detention cell, and it hadn’t sounded pleasant. When the door finally opened, Charles shooed in a young boy, then shut the door behind him. Despair looked him over. He looked as though he had once been well dressed, but everything was now wrinkled and crooked. Other than looking disheveled he looked rather interesting. He walked over to a desk and sat down reading. He, like Minerva, didn’t seem to want to start up a conversation. “Excuse me sir,” she started, but he didn’t look up. She felt the restlessness behind her again, but this time more intense and angry. She glared down at her shadow for a moment, but it didn’t calm down. If anyone had looked, they may have seen little wisps of black smoke emanating from it. She sighed and continued, “Um excuse me, young man with the… oddly colored hair?” she hadn’t noticed till now. His hair was an intense and unnaturally red. This was interesting, maybe he knew something about what her parents had been up to. Maybe he could help.

“Hm?” The boy finally looked up and seemed confused. He shut his book and when he looked over at Despair his jaw dropped, "Pretty-Eyed Girl." Despair was taken back by this. No one really said that kind of thing to her, especially not in the school. She blinked in confusion, not sure what to say. The boy was smiling at her, “Long time no see Dessie.” She was very confused now, she hadn’t been called that since… since a little demon boy was summoned to her basement when she was twelve. She smiled, a little demon with fiery hair and gold eyes and obsidian skin. A little demon who would talk to her and share cookies. A little demon boy named Luke who was one of her only friends she had growing up. Despair gasped and covered her mouth, this couldn’t be him… could it? This boy was tall, and human looking, but then again… “Luke?” he had those pretty golden eyes and it had been a long time. “Luke! Oh my goodness, it has been far to long!” She sprang out of her desk and lunged over to give him a hug. She had missed him, and now he was here at the same school. This was a pleasant surprise. She saw the surprise on his face when she hugged him, and for a brief moment she thought she saw his old form. She must have really taken him off guard. He hugged her back, "I missed you too, even though I don't miss the Monday Summoning."

She giggled. She couldn’t believe this, it was him. It was Luke. Despair was smiling, she let him go and took a step back, “I agree entirely. Its nice that you are out of the circle now. But I did not imagine that you would grow into such a dapper young gentleman. I mean look at you!” She gestured to him, looking over the tall young man in front of her. He twiddled his fingers when she was complementing him, probably not used to that or something. Luke had grown a lot since she had last seen him, and was more human than the last time as well. He must have gotten more powerful in the past few years. But his personality seemed to have stayed the same, still reading everything he could get his hands on all the time and so sweet. She felt the unease behind her as if it were screaming now, making her a little uncomfortable. He could wait, she was talking with Luke. Whatever the problem was it could wait. Luke was looking at her now, "You've grown a lot too but you're still the pretty girl I knew. I see your skills have improved" He said referencing her sewing. She smiled, it wasn’t often that someone knew she had made something. It was nice to know she was doing well. She grabbed up some of the skirt in her hands pulling it out a little and twirled, “You think so? This one took ages, I am glad it wasn’t for not. I see you have learned a lot too, last time I saw you you were not human looking.” Luke giggled when she twirled, how adorable. He was just as Despair remembered. She was so glad she didn’t sneak out of detention yet, she would have missed seeing Luke. "I've learned a lot more than just this form since we last saw each other. Apparently I'm a fast learner if I try." Luke said, and she believed it. He was always reading and learning when she saw him, if he hadn’t gained all this knowledge she would have been surprised.

She felt the tugging again, the angry and nervous feeling swirling around behind her. Why was he acting up so much, he wasn’t normally this twitchy. Despair kept trying to ignore him, but he didn’t seem to want to drop this. She heard his faint whisper, “You need to get away from him, now. His kind are not safe.” Her smile dropped a little at that. She didn’t know what he meant. Luke had been nothing but kind and had never tried to hurt her. Why would he start now? It was getting harder to ignore the constant bothering, but it wasn’t making her want to leave Luke. It was just making her annoyed at him. Despair nodded, “I knew you would be able to do all sorts of magicky things if you tried. Sadly I cant manage to do a lick of magic anymore.”

Luke looked at her confused, “You can't? Now that's rather odd. It should be easy for you considering, and I'm sorry if this seems rude, you're better than your parents combined." She didn’t know what to say. She bet that he said that because of the fact her parents had accidently summoned him every Monday for a whole year, and the times he had visited she had been dabbling in the arcane but nothing great. It was kind of sad that she couldn’t do any of it any more, it certainly made her studies and research more difficult. “I suppose it is not common for one to lose their magical abilities, I just woke up one morning and they were gone.” Despair felt the craziness behind her freeze. She knew she shouldn’t have said that, that it was a touchy subject for the both of them and it upset him more than her. He stopped pestering her to stop talking to Luke for the moment, she felt the sadness he was trying to hide, and immediately regretted saying anything about it. She wasn’t smiling or looking at Luke anymore. Despair just looked down at her shoes. The presence returned to its pestering, but weaker this time. Despair was happy he bounced back form that rather quickly, and would apologize later, but for now she was with company and it was rude to ignore them.

Minerva sensed a deep lull in the conversation, knowing a touchy subject had been broached. It had become apparent to her during their exchange that the newcomer, Luke, was a demon. She looked at him and said, "I'm Minerva Wayward, assassin in training. You're one of my new classmates, I take it?" He smiled, rather uncharacteristically for someone of his heritage. "I'm not that new... I have been here a month," he said in a smooth voice, holding a hand out toward her. "I'm Incendo Arach, Demonic Prince of the Fire Dimension which is one of the hell dimensions. But you can call me Luke." She nodded a bit, looking slightly stunned, and cautiously shook his hand. She knew he was a demon, but a prince had to be exceptionally powerful. "That's... Interesting," she said, stumbling for a reply. "I've never seen a demon before. I must say you look pretty human, except for the hair."

Before anything else could be said Minerva heard harsh whispers on one side. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Despair, who was seemingly talking to her shadow. Minerva never could be sure about people in that school; the girl could be talking to some sort of shadow beast or she could be genuinely insane. Either possibility was equally likely at that place. It unnerved Minerva. She had to stay alert at all times, since there was so much occult activity and witchcraft that was not only allowed, but encouraged. She suppressed a shudder at the thought. When the girl looked up again Minerva looked back at Luke, letting the sense of normalcy continue to lull her into a false sense of security. After a few seconds passed she spoke. "Does that shadow of yours have anything interesting to say?" Despair's eyes widened and Minerva felt a slight twinge of satisfaction. She was glad she could keep her present company on their toes. After Despair sighed she uttered, "Not really, not today anyway. He is intent on me leaving..." Minerva let a touch of confusion color her expression to prompt further explanation. When nothing was forthcoming she shrugged. "Well? What is it? Whatever it is, it's probably nothing worse than anything else I've seen here." She really was curious, and she wanted to know as much as she could about those who seemed mysterious. They usually had something to hide.

Meanwhile the demon prince awkwardly shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Alright... I'm not great with these kinds of situations, but I think this is a bit of a too public place. If it's in her shadow, it's in her shadow for a reason." Minerva agreed with his tidbit slightly, but at the same time she wanted to pull the mystery into the light. She knew from personal experience that things cloaked in shadows were more dangerous than those you knew about. Despair took a deep breath, apparently ready to explain. "It's not a 'what,' it is a he, and his name is Frederic," she said quietly. "He...is not exactly enrolled at this school, so the teachers don't know of him, but-" Before she could continue a shadowy voice, cold and deep, echoed around the area. It was impossible to tell where it came from. "But that does not mean I will hesitate to show myself if necessary." At first Minerva hadn't thought much of a creature hiding in a shadow; she figured it was hiding for a reason, it couldn't possibly be dangerous. But when she heard that voice echoing around the room- dark, sinister, mysterious- it was unnerving. She felt her heart rate increasing as adrenaline flowed into her system. Fear. She was afraid for the first time since she was a little girl. She tried her best to keep her breathing even and control it, but the voice- Frederic- intimidated her. Despair huffed in annoyance, snapping Minerva's attention back to the present. "Don't mind him, he is just being cranky." She forced a smile as she tried to move on.

Luke's eyes widened as he pointed to the ceiling. "Oh! I understand what he is...well, kinda." Minerva was baffled that he wasn't fazed by any of that. She looked at him, curious. "Then please, enlighten me. I would like to know who- or what- I'm dealing with," she said in a firm whisper, hopefully keeping the rest of the chamber oblivious to what had just transpired. He leaned toward her cupping his hands close to her ear. She leaned away quickly, wariness showing in her expression. With a slight eye roll Luke retorted, "Oh my God. Come on, how am I supposed to whisper in your ear?" She sighed and leaned close again, fighting the urge to retreat to a safe distance. He whispered, "He's like me and those who visit my parents." Then he leaned back again, smiling. She nodded, understanding that Frederic was another demon. Apparently. Speaking of which, Luke was ridiculously friendly for something that was considered inherently evil. To her it was very odd, but what did she know of demons? Despair nodded. "You are indeed right, Luke," she said, daintily folding her hands in front of her. “He’s harmless, I swear. He has decided to be a pain today for some reason.” Then Minerva saw the slight movement of Despair’s lips as she whispered to Frederic. She understood that the behavior was a product of habit, not of mistrust. Either option wouldn’t have offended her, but she did prefer the former. It meant she had an ally in a hostile environment. Though she doubted the fact that Frederic was completely harmless she feigned acceptance for the time being. “I guess everyone has their moods,” she muttered in reply.

Despair smiled. “Yes, he is merely cranky. Thank you for understanding.” After a brief moment Frederic spoke up again. “I am in no mood, I am merely doing my job. And you, young fire prince…” he said harshly, leaving some horrible threat hanging open-ended. Luke, obviously confused, looked back and forth between the two girls. Then he looked at the shadow and quietly responded, “Yes…sir…?” The other demon responded quickly. “There are beings in this realm, and others, who would wish you harm. I would recommend keeping your true name to yourself.” So he wished to deliver a warning. Minerva reasoned that he was less spiteful and more irritated. No matter what the shadow said he was just in a mood. “Why would…?” Luke started to ask, then trailed off, pondering. “I’ve never done anything to anyone.” The other demon laughed, rather cold and sarcastic. “Do not patronize me, more has been done in the name of your throne than I can scarily say! If you take pleasure in hiding behind your innocent façade then you-“ Despair cut him off, looking rather upset. “That’s enough, Frederic. Please, that’s enough.” He spoke no more to them. Despair, however, sighed in relief. Another whisper, Minerva guessed. Despair was still rather upset, burying her face in her hands.

While she reflected on how tedious social bonds were, Minerva still felt a twinge of sympathy toward Despair. While the former was accustomed to loneliness, it was obvious that the latter saw it as a lonely experience, a painful barb in her side. Minerva dared to reason that Frederic was one of her only friends. “Why are you so upset?” she asked calmly. “The fact of our acceptance has already been proven.” She was trying to soothe the girl’s worries, but she had never been good at social interaction. Despair looked up, smiling faintly. “Thank you Minerva, you are very kind.” Minerva inwardly doubted that comment. Kind? How could an assassin be kind? She was always cold, compared to her current companions, and that could hardly be called kind. The logic baffled her. “Frederic is normally calmer, I have no idea why he is being so inhospitable today. I promise he won’t hurt either of you,” Despair continued. Minerva answered, “Alright, I’ll believe that.” But she didn’t mean a word of it. However, she didn’t want to be left without a friend. She thought it was time to stop hiding in her hermit’s shell and maybe make a few friends like her father told her to. But he hadn’t quite used those words. Allies, he had said. Find allies. Why would she need allies with those at a school for evil? Unless a major power shift was in the cards, she saw no point in it. But she decided to indulge in his request. A demon prince could hardly be a bad person to know, and there was more to this girl than she originally thought. They would make good allies, or even friends. The true idea of friendship was foreign to her, but she was willing to give it a try. Especially with these two. She had always wanted friends.

Minerva looked around the small cell and sighed heavily. She had much better things to do than sit in detention all day. She hadn't been told how long it would last, but with a lull in the conversation it was quickly growing dull. She was seriously contemplating escape, but she would need a plan that couldn't be traced back to her. Examining the demeanor of the others in the room, they would jump at any chance of escape if it arose. Someone just had to set it in motion. She had the ability, but was it worth the risk?

Despair would have gladly stayed there for as long as detention was going to last, but Fredric spoke up, “Do not forget, we made plans. I have already checked as usual and the coast is clear.” She nodded her thanks. She didn’t wish to leave, these people seemed so nice and interesting. Then she thought a moment, perhaps they would be able to help her, or just come along for the trip. Besides this would be an interesting way to show Fredric was really nice. She stood up and straightened her dress, “As fun as detention in a dungeon is, I may have an appointment to keep. I recommend we move this rendezvous elsewhere, or just see each other in detention tomorrow.” She then picked up a few things and looked over at Luke, “I shall be headed into town to the book store for those who wish to come.” She gave him a sly smile, she knew that would get his attention. He loved to read, and she enjoyed his company, it was rather convenient that she had to go there. With that she gathered up her messenger bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Fredric, would you be a dear and get the door?” She could hear his exasperated sigh, he knew she was doing as a stunt to get brownie points with these people, but he helped anyway, he was always the one to get the door. The click of the tumblers opening were faintly heard, the creaking of the door as it opened echoed faintly through the chamber. Fredric mumbled to himself, making her chuckle. “Now, to those who wish to come with me, I may know of a way to sneak off campus without a headmaster or any teachers knowing. Just a random tidbit of information I thought you might like to hear.” She smiled at Minerva, one of those ‘I bet you can’t not come along now’ smiles. She knew she had both of them interested in this little adventure, it was only a matter of how quickly they realized it. Minerva stood up, smirking slightly. Apparently Despair had played her cards correctly, that made her happy. "I have my own means of escape, but I think I will tag along. I was thinking of an escape plan myself. How do you propose we deal with the guards?" Despair set her parasol on her shoulder and started walking out, “I have been in detention enough times to know that Charlie never sticks around long after the initial drop off, and Fredric and I have a plan for the others. For some reason the mean boy who tried to steal my stuff a while back always seems to go mad and see bizarre shadowy things whenever I try to leave, conveniently distracting the guards.” Minerva laughed slightly. "I like it. But why do you get to have all the fun?"

Luke spoke up finally, he had looked like he had been thinking about something and was a little concerned. "I would like to go to the store with you, but are you sure it's alright leaving?" Despair figured he had gotten the lecture of how they were not supposed to leave campus unless accompanied by a teacher or guardian. Despair fallowed most other rules, but that one was the one she could never fallow, to many of the things she needed were outside. Plus, the rules were encouraged to broken so long as you didn’t get caught, and she hadn’t this far. She spun around on her heals and gave Luke a reassuring smile, “It is completely expectable to so long as you manage to leave without the teachers knowing. It is even written in the students handbook, there is nothing to worry about.” Luke nodded, he seemed convinced enough to her. Despair then turned to Minerva and was about to speak when Fredric interrupted her, “The assassin has a point, why must I create the diversion again? And even though it works we should not always rely on it, the guards will realize it is us.” She hadn’t thought about them catching on, that would be a problem for then if anyone got suspicious of them. She looked expectantly at Minerva, “If you have a plan I am more than happy to let you execute it.”

Minerva smiled slightly, but it was a rather mischievous one. It was finally her time to prove her skills- prove that a human without any magical gift or training could hold her own alongside demons. "If you two- three, excuse me- can scale a wall, then we're in business. Just a few smoke bombs with a flash charge in the outside clearing and the guards will be sufficiently distracted. If you can't climb that wall in under a minute, tell me now or the whole thing needs revision." She watched them carefully, looking for the slight hesitation that would give her their answer. Despair blinked a few times. "Um, Minerva dear, we had a discussion about wardrobe problems earlier, and well..." she trailed off, gesturing to her dress. Minerva sighed a little. How could she have forgotten that? She had brought it up in the first place. That was just bad form, she had to keep that from happening again. Getting Despair over the wall would be a problem in that case; the front gates were too obvious. Getting her out the staff entrance would require a change into a less flamboyant outfit, which would take too long. It was time to gather information. "Can Frederic help in any way with getting over or under the wall?" Minerva asked. She was devising a secondary escape plan as she spoke, but it all depended on how Despair could get past the wall.

Despair's eyes darted to her shadow for a few seconds, then cleared her throat. "Um, perhaps I will just meet you on the other side of the wall. I will just go take the tunnels under the school if that is alright with you," she said cautiously. Minerva smiled slightly, pleased with the girl's forward thinking. "Good," she said firmly. "You and Frederic take the tunnels. And please show me where those are sometime, I would love to map those." She did want to master the school as much as she could, and those tunnels might be valuable at some point. Then she looked at Luke, who had been silent the whole time. His expression was blank, so she assumed he would be unable to scale the wall either. She had always taken her skill for granted and never realized how frustrating life would be without what she had. After thinking for a moment she spoke again. "Luke, you sneak out through the staff entrance. I'll scale the wall as originally planned. We regroup on the main road outside. Understood?" Belatedly she realized she had gone into a more businesslike mode, which didn't go over well with many people. She pressed her lips together slightly, inwardly berating herself for acting so strict in front of her friends.

"Seems like it could work, I suppose. If you want, Luke, you could just come with me as well," Despair added. So far neither of them seemed too disgruntled, so that was a good sign. Despair glanced at her shadow again, so Minerva was rather unsure of Frederic's opinion of her. It was so easy for her to forget his presence, so she vowed to attempt to remember him more. Luke shrugged at both of them. "I'll just do whatever is easier for everyone. If splitting up is best, then I'll go out the staff entrance. Is the main road the one right outside the gates?" He finished with a questioning tone, prompting Minerva to respond with a shake of her head. "No, just take a side road leading away from the castle. The street this castle is on is a bit more out of the way, even though it has decent commerce. It'll be easier to avoid the guards on the next shopping street, and it's bigger anyway." He nodded a little in response with a slight smile. Then Despair stepped away from the door, smiling sweetly. "After you," she said, looking at Minerva.

Minerva stepped through the door, leaving it to them to follow at their own pace. "Now we split up. Remember where you're supposed to go. We'll see each other again soon." With that she quickly strode away, down a hallway. She didn't look back, leaving each of them to their own devices. She walked through the castle, evading the eyes of the guards and teachers, until she made it to the courtyard. Time for the real fun to begin.

Minerva darted through the open space into the towering rose bushes beside the wall. Then she opened a pocket, hoping she remembered the right one for that day. Two glass bottles filled with blue and light grey powder. That was yesterday's explosive pocket. She checked another one and found the items she desired. Looking around the clearing, she decided the guard towers were placed far enough apart for her to escape unnoticed. She pushed her right sleeve up, revealing a miniature crossbow mounted on the underside of her arm. It was pre-loaded with ten bolts, each only the size of one finger. She attached a smoke bomb to one of the bolts and took aim, right at the center of the common clearing. One slow breath in...double check aim... and release. It sailed away and exploded upon impact. The clock started ticking then. Without moving her right arm she attached a flashier explosive to another bolt and let it fly, then sent a third one identical to the second shortly after. The display was quite impressive, and it appeared supernatural in origin. By the time the third charge blew she could hear the surprised and worried exclamations of the guards. It was time to fly. She turned to face the wall, towering nine feet high. With a powerful leap she cleared the first four feet and propelled herself the rest of the way up by running up the wall, letting the seams between bricks give her traction. Her fingers latched onto the top of the solid brick barricade and hauled herself over. Glancing toward the ground, she let herself fall and landed softly. Then she sprinted away onto a side street and slowed to a walk, blending with the crowd seamlessly. The whole maneuver had lasted less than ten seconds, and the guards were still confused over her initial distraction. She stopped close to the exit of the street, leaning on the wall between buildings. The only thing left to do was wait for Despair and Luke to make their escapes and find her. Then she saw a figure examining a vendor's stand- one who looked familiar to her. She had never seen him in person, but the description was one she knew well. Minerva kept her eyes on him, hoping to determine once and for all that he was the person she thought he was. It would reflect poorly on her if she approached the wrong person with such sensitive information.

Despair didn’t feel the need to run out after her, whatever happened would probably be enough time. Watching as she darted down the hall to do whatever unspecific plan she had decided, they would have to teach Minerva to be a better communicator. She turned, shrugged at Luke, then walked out. Despair heard some things explode and watched as all the guards went for it. “She is not very subtle is she?” Fredric commented, “For an assassin she makes an awful lot of noise.” Despair slipped out and casually walked toward the Library where one of the doors to the basement was. She had found that if you just acted like you weren’t doing anything wrong, no one would think anything of you being there. Saying hello to the Librarian as she walked in and around the massive shelves of old tomes and textbooks. This place was nice, but could only help her so much with the things she was researching. At the back wall a large, old, wooden door stood, one that led to the basement and, more specifically, the furnace room.

The door creaked slightly as it opened, “Fredric,” she whispered, “Is it ok?” He quickly moved down the stairs and came back to her. “Yes, the Ifrit says no one has been down there all day and will not speak of our comings.” She nodded her thanks and quietly shut the door behind her. Slowly walking down the stairs, this room always made her nervous, there was so much fire everywhere and the Ifrit always looked at her funny. But it was the best way out of the school in her mind. “It will be alright, I have already spoken with him and everything was turned low just for you.” Fredric spoke very calmly to her, trying to reassure her that everything would be fine. She hated they had to go through this every time they came down her, but the fires made her so uncomfortable. Despair picked up her pace at the bottom of the stairs, almost running to the shelf covered in dust and old textbooks that had the passage behind it. She opened it as quickly as possible, the roar and crackling of the fires sending chills up her spine and causing her hands to shake. She pulled the shelf out of place just enough to fit behind it then pulled it back as quick as possible. “There, we made it its ok.” Fredric said reassuringly. Despair nodded and continued onward.

The clicking of her heals echoed down the tunnel, the light dwindling to the point she couldn’t see past the end of her nose. Holding out her hand in front of her, she felt a coldish one grasp hers and she smiled, “Thank you Fredric.” He sighed, “It is my pleasure to escort you, though why you could not make a rune that glows is beyond me.” she squeezed his hand lightly, “Because I enjoy walking with you more.” She knew he was smiling, stuff like that always made him smile even if he didn’t want to. It wasn’t long before they reached the stairs upward. Fredric let go and disappeared again, back into her shadow. She walked up and pulled down then back up the lever. It opened the door, which from the outside looked like a brick wall of a pub. She always debated the placement, her best guess was that it was because you could always tell someone that ‘no I didn’t just come out of a wall, you’re just completely drunk’. She checked the street, she would have to go back a little ways to find everyone. But that was fine, Minerva and Luke were probably already there waiting.

Minerva did her best to blend in. She tailed the man through the market, marking him as her target, and completely forgot about the meeting place. They would be easy enough to find but she might never get the chance to approach him again. Keeping track of the man would be no extraordinary feat; he stuck out like a sore thumb with his flamboyant robes and ornate staff. All she had to do was follow his crystal. The real challenge would be to stay hidden. She knew very well that he hated assassins. He would notice he had picked up a little shadow.

Alexander walked through the open air shops and searched for things to buy. He felt he needed a little reward for his efforts, so he purchased a silver ring set with an emerald in the midst of his gathering of supplies. He decided he would store energy in the gem to use for later, therefore justifying his frivolous purchase. While he walked, however, he occasionally saw a fleeting glimpse of a figure in a long black coat. After the third sighting he knew he was being followed. Very few people had a reason to follow him surreptitiously like that, and those people were the ones he liked to follow. So, the sheep comes to the slaughter of its own free will, he thought with a grim smile. He walked down a side street of shops, attempting to lure his follower out into the open.

Minerva cursed under her breath. His change in demeanor meant he had seen her, and that he was building a trap for her. This meeting had to be conducted under her terms, not his. She had to be the master of the chessboard. There was only one way to maintain that, since she had so carelessly let him see her. One shot. That was all she had. When he turned down the side street she decided to follow. Carefully planned, she allowed him to catch a brief glimpse of her in the crowd. That last sighting would do it. He made one more turn, walking into the depths of a deserted alley, and turned around to face the entrance. In the shadows between buildings the crystal atop his scepter emitted a soft glow. Minerva's silhouette entered the alley. She walked toward him and stopped within the radius of the scepter's light, letting him see her face.

The wizard's green eyes widened slightly. Merlin's beard, she's only a girl. For a moment his razor-edged desire for vengeance was dulled by doubt. Every assassin he had faced in the past was an adult. Most of them were male. The female assassins had reminded him of jungle cats with the way they had looked at him- tigers sizing up their prey. But this girl wasn't like them. Not yet. But she would be, someday. A threat to everyone. And just like that his resolve was back. He was prepared to strike the girl down before she could turn into a dangerous tool. His hand tightened on his staff.

Minerva smiled a little when she saw that shadow of doubt cross his mind. The seed existed, all she had to do was make it bloom. "Alexander Wulfric Cornelius Blackwood," she recited slowly. His eyes narrowed. "How do you know me? Any assassin I meet doesn't live to tell the tale." She waved her hand around as if shooing away a fly. "Oh I know that nasty reputation too. There's a lot about you that I know, more than you know about yourself even." When he gritted his teeth she chuckled. "Rest assured, your secret is safe with me. I only want to speak with you."

Alexander was positively baffled. He had put a lie detection spell into effect the moment she started speaking, and every word of it was true. What kind of assassin was that girl, and how could he trust her? It left him very confused. With a jolt he realized that his own game had been turned around on him. He had just been out-maneuvered by a teenage girl. No matter how much it irked him, it was not wise to turn her down. The way she had said it didn't imply a choice though. He kept his gaze leveled at her. "Then speak." He kept the lie detection spell active as the tense conversation's burden fell back to her.

She nodded slightly. "I remember that you had a sister once. The memory must be a lingering burden, and a pain." As his mouth opened to deliver a scalding remark she held up a finger. It effectively silenced him again. "But... What did you know about her family?" she asked. "An assassin killed her and her infant child. Her husband didn't lift a finger to save either of them," he answered bitterly. Minerva raised an eyebrow. "What proof was there that the child died?" He retorted, "She was gone. It was obvious that whoever killed Catherine took Minerva somewhere else to dispose of." His voice cracked as he spoke, betraying his sorrow.

Minerva's hardened heart trembled when she heard him talk about his family. He didn't deserve to lose them all like that. At least she had decided to return one of them to him. "What if Catherine's husband took the child to keep her safe? What if he trained her as she grew up, and sent her to a school?" The wizard was watching her carefully. She smiled. "My name is Minerva Wayward. Hello, uncle."

She sat on the bench across from the street sign they were to meet at. People leisurely strolled up and down the sidewalks, sounds of sales people attempting to part with their wares and window shoppers who were simply enjoying the weather and smells of different restraints. Despair sat patiently, ankles crossed, back straight, waiting for her new friends to arrive. She couldn’t tell if Fredric was just being quiet or if he had fallen asleep, either way he wasn’t demanding she leave anymore which was nice. Girls in beautiful laced dresses passed by and Despair forgot all about her guardians earlier tantrums. The skirts were rather flat with bustles and fluffy lace all over it. “What do you think Fredric?” she felt him stir and sigh, “I suppose they look nice, though I am not fond of the colors.” Despair nodded, only barely paying attention. She was busy thinking of fabrics if she were to make one like it. Minutes passed, at about ten minutes Fredric spoke up again, “Despair, as much as I love sitting here window shopping for patterns, I am afraid that the others shall now be coming. If we do not go and get the book today the likely hood we will get it at all.”

She nodded, he was right. Perhaps they had gotten lost, or maybe didn’t make it out of the school? If they were lost then she would need to look for them, but this was her last chance to get the book. This book meant a lot, it would hopefully help propel her research forward. She stood up and straightened her skirt. “Despair, we need the book, the children will be at the school even if they are lost now. I would not be upset if the fire child were to disappear for a while.” Despair huffed and started walking toward the school again. “I do not like him Despair, I do not want you” but before he could finish She cut him off, “I do not care for your opinion, so just stop.” Fredric sighed, “I only want what is best for you, I am only trying to keep you safe.” With that, he was silent the rest of the way as they looked for her missing friends.

Despair combed over the people walking, trying to pick out her new friends from the crowd. She wasn’t sure how far back she should go to try and find them, nor did she have any idea where they could have possibly walked off to. It was pretty much a straight walk to get there from the school… ok, a slightly curvy walk to get there but it was all one street. How was it that they both disappeared? “Despair, I believe the assassin girl has found us and has decided to tail us rather than make her presence known.” Despair stopped and spun on her heals to turn around. It took her a second to pin point her, but when she saw Minerva she smiled. “Hello again Minerva, have you seen Luke?”

((Nope, Luke is going to be MIA until Thursday - Saturday. Depends on my work load.))

Despair looked concerned, this wasn’t good. She glanced around the crowd once more, then toward the sky to guess the time. “Despair we are running out of time. Just forget the fire child and get the book, they will not have it for us tomorrow.” Fredric’s voice seemed annoyed, like trying to persuade a child to not do something that it shouldn’t do in the first place. She bit her lip and fiddled with her parasol for a moment, “We… we should try and find him.” she smiled at Minerva, “He has never experienced England streets and even I get lost on them.”