[Theesa]

"unngh..."

As before, Theesa awoke in pain. It wasn't as bad as the first time... but it was enough to shock her muddled mind into full awareness. Her head hurt. Bad. She winced, then relaxed a little when she realized that if she was hurting, she must still be alive. So far.

She opened her eyes.

She was in the same bare room as before. Same bed. Same blankets.

"I see you are awake." It was December. The large, white-haired maniac was sitting in a chair beside her bed.

"What! Get away from me!" Theesa kicked her legs and threw the thick blankets back. Her head throbbed, but it wasn't going to stop her from making another run for the door.

"CALM YOURSELF!" December pushed her back down onto the bed. "I mean... you do not want to upset your wounds. You knocked yourself unconscious last night, and I went to great lengths to ensure proper treatment."

"Get away!" she screamed. "You...You...Murderer!"

"Murderer? I assure you that you are very much alive. No harm will come to you-"

"I don't believe you! You're CRAZY! Let me GO!"

"If you would calm yourself just a little..."

"HELLP!"

"...I can explain that you..."

"HELLLLLP!"

"...are free to go at any time."

"What? You- you're letting me go."

"If you will accept my apology."

"Apology?"

"For your mistreatment. It was quite necessary at the time, or so I thought. Now I believe I have carried things a bit too far."

Theesa felt the back of her head and ran her fingers across the fresh bandage. It was quite possible that this was some kind of delusion, but it SEEMED real enough. Then she studied December... it certainly LOOKED like the same man...

"So now I am allowing you to leave if you wish. Although I was hoping you will at least join me for breakfast."

Theesa blinked a few times in rapid succession.

"Breakfast." she repeated.

"Indeed... a more suitable meal than what I offered you yesterday."

A deep breath told her that there was *something* cooking in the kitchen downstairs... and it wasn't fruit. She recognized the scent of bacon, sausages, and fresh biscuits among other things. Her stomach growled... it had been empty for a LONG time.

"Yesterday? How long have I been here?"

"You were asleep for quite a while. It is early morning... just after dawn."

"All night? I was-"

"Injured, as I said. I procured some healing balm and treated you myself."

"I slept the whole night?"

"Your sleep was troubled, so I gave you sedatives to aid your rest."

"You drugged me."

"It was necessary, you needed your rest. But now you must be hungry..."

December stood and offered her his hand. She cringed and jerked away from him.

"Don't touch me! Who are you!" she yelled.

"I am December...the same man I was yesterday-"

"No, I don't think so! You're acting crazy, even for you... I think I liked it better when you were trying to kill me! What are you doing... trying to lure me downstairs so you can poison me?"

December sighed.

"I was hoping we could put those unfortunate incidents behind us and start again."

"You're insane, do you know that? No, really... are you even AWARE of how insane you are?"

"I realize how things must seem, but..." December took a few deep breaths and cleared his throat. "...ahem...excuse me..." His eyes closed tightly for a second. Theesa saw the obvious strain on December's face, and then noticed the temperature in the room. It wasn't exactly warm... but the usual chill that accompanied December's presence was missing. It felt almost normal...

"What are you doing?" she said. "What's wrong with you... why are you breathing like that."

"I...did not want you... to get a chill... so I raised... my temperature..."

"You're hurting yourself! Whatever you're doing... stop it!"

"I am in no danger...merely... out of practice... It has been... a long time."

"Stop doing that!"

"No...just a moment..."

December cleared his throat once again, and then returned to normal... or at least as normal as December could be.

"What were you doing?"

"Common courtesy. I sat by your side through the night, and I did not wish my... affliction...to disturb you."

"You? Sat here? With me? The whole night?"

"Most of it. I did leave to make arrangements for breakfast. Speaking of which, I seem to remember that most food tastes better when eaten hot. It has been a long time since I enjoyed that pleasure, but I would not wish to deprive you of it."

"You said I could leave. Did you meant it?"

December had barely completed his nod when Theesa was up and out of the room. She didn't run down the steps, but that was only because she felt she would fall if she moved any faster than a brisk walk. She reached the front door and paused.

The glorious smells from the kitchen beckoned her. She looked up, and December stood at the top of the stairs. He was watching her.

"You are strong enough to travel now," he said. "Leave if you must. I am... sorry."

"Right." Theesa yanked on the door, expecting it not to open.

It did.

The morning air wafted over her. She saw the sun... just an hour old in the eastern sky.

But there was nothing else... at least not for her. She was penniless... a stranger in a strange city. She had no possessions other than the tattered clothes on her back. She knew no one, and no one except herself and her former captor knew she even existed. Behind her was a meal... probably poisoned... and shelter... owned by a lunatic freak-of-nature.

She looked back and saw that December was still watching.

Her stomach was growling, and the smell of food was only making it worse.

"Goodbye." she said. Theesa stepped outside and slammed the door shut behind her.

---

[Lovvorn]

Freshly bathed and perfumed, Lovvorn stood naked before his closet and contemplated his garb for the day.

"Oh darn." he said. All of his favorite clothes were lying in a multicolored heap at the bottom of the closet. "No time for laundry. I suppose I'll have to make do with..." Lovvorn sighed. "... These."

Ten or fifteen clean robes hung above the colorful pile. There were all made in slightly different styles... some were hooded, but most were not. All of them were a particularly annoying shade of light brown.

"Hmmm...." said Lovvorn as he scratched his head. Drops of water raced down his large, tattooed body and ended up on the floor, wetting the thick carpet. "Which one... which one...AHA!" Lovvorn selected one of the non-hooded variety and threw it over himself. He stuffed his arms through the sleeves and made some slight adjustments, then he admired himself in the mirror that was mounted on the closet door.

Dressed in the brown robe, he looked almost... but not exactly... like a giant potato.

"Now what's the color of the day..." He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and the entire robe turned a shocking shade of bright green. Lovvorn frowned at himself and shook his head disapprovingly.

"Solids are so dull... maybe some more color..." The pudgy mage snapped his fingers and trim around the robe's collar and cuffs became an equally bright yellow. "That's better. Now for some finishing touches..."

Another snap produced clusters of orange stars and pink half-moons that were scattered randomly around the garment as if placed by a blind lunatic.

"Perfect! Now for breakfast" Lovvorn donned his boots and headed for the door.

The room was conveniently located above a small bar. It had actually belonged to the bar's owner before the man rented it out to his best customer. The bar was closed now, but the owner always showed up early to fix his tenant's breakfast. As he descended the stairs, Lovvorn smiled at the six ale steins neatly arranged on the bar. Each was full to the brim with the bar's best spiced ale.

"Good morning my lovelies!" he said. He gulped down the first drink and hauled himself up onto a barstool to begin the second.

"Mornin' Mr. Lovvorn." It was Timothy, the bar's owner. He emerged from the back room with a plate of eggs. No bacon, toast, or biscuits... just eggs. He winced when he saw Lovvorn's robe, and placed the meal on the bar next to the beer.

"Ahh..." Lovvorn began shoveling food into his mouth.

"No female company this mornin', sir?"

"Afraid not... I am saving myself for my new love."

Timothy snickered.

"What?"

"Nothin' sir. So who would THIS ONE be?"

" Ahhh... my new co-worker.... a heavenly vision in black leather."

"I see."

"Nooo, I don't believe you've seen THIS one! She is quite the vixen.. those legs... those thighs... those..." Lovvorn sighed deeply. "I could stare at those things all day. And I often DO!"

"Careful not to get your heart broken there, Mr. Lovvorn."

"Oh, she's crazy about me!"

"Yeah, she would have to be"

"eh? What was that?"

"Nothing. OH, that reminds me... a friend of yours came by to see ya couple hours ago."

"Skiny rat-faced gentleman with a knife?"

"No... this was a tall guy with a crossbow for a hand."

Lovvorn stopped the nearly continuous flow of food and drink into this mouth. He raised an eyebrow while Timothy continued.

"He had some guys with him, but they stayed outside. Said they'd drop by later."

"They said that, did they? Well...unfortunately I won't be here."

Lovvorn rushed through his remaining breakfast and left the bar.

---

Outside, most citizens avoided the garishly dressed mage like the plague, which actually suited Lovvorn just fine. Attention was good for the reputation.

He was headed for his 'day job,' as mage for the House of December. He spent about six hours a day tending to the anti-theft spells on the gaudy, over-priced baubles that were bought or sold at the store. At least that was what he was SUPPOSED to do. Actually, he ran the place more often that not... just like yesterday when December sent sudden word that he would be absent. It was boring, but it supplied him with beer-and-egg money. Plus it put him in the same building with the most beautiful woman he'd seen in at least a month... his co-worker, Zade.

He was just beginning his trek across town when his left ear twitched. The tiny rune that was tattooed behind the ear had been activated. He was being watched. He continued walking with his normal slow, waddling pace. He ran his fingers absently through his hair, and brushed the rune that was behind his *right* ear. Instantly his hearing became more acute... his footsteps were like thunderclaps. He stopped and pretended to remove a rock from his boot...

"...what's he doing?"

"...looks like he's got something in his boot. The street looks clear... wanna take 'im?"

"Yeah. Get back and wait until he walks past the alley..."

Lovvorn scratched behind his ear and deactivated the spell. There were two men... at least. Their voices were coming from ahead of him... most likely from the ally that was about a block away.

How odd... he thought. an attack in broad daylight... and on little old ME!

Lovvorn continued down the street and found himself approaching the alley on his right. He reached into his robe and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. He opened it and pretended to read it as he walked. Then without warning, he stopped and crumpled the paper into a little ball as if disgusted by its contents. He tossed it into the alley and continued on his way.

He has taken about three steps when a fiery explosion blasted two armed men out of the alley and into the street. They landed in smoldering heaps, and one man's sword clattered noisily as it hit the ground a few feet away. The second man managed to get on his hands and knees, but he collapsed again before he could get very far.

Lovvorn stopped and watched the spectacle with a shocked expression.

"My, what IS this town coming to!" he said. "We've got rogues and thieves just dropping out of the sky!"

"And fat little mages, too."

Lovvorn spun and found himself looking into the large chest of a man who's right arm ended in a loaded crossbow. The weapon was pointed right at Lovvorn's forehead.

"Ahh, Mr. Belladrox." said Lovvorn.

"Surprised?"

"No. I knew you were there. Can't miss that smell... So what brings you out of the sewers this early in the morning?"

"I'm hunting fat, badly dressed mages."

"Oh. Well I haven't seen any, but if I happen to come across one, I'll let you know."

"Don't bother teleporting. I'm blocking you."

"Really? Let's see..."

Lovvorn tried to teleport away, but his spell fizzled around him.

He smiled.

"You're trapped." said Belladrox.

"I see. So tell me how you've been...are you still playing the piano- OOOPS! I'm sorry... forgot about the hand!"

Belladrox grabbed Lovvorn by the throat and tried to lift him up off of his feet. Unfortunately, his left arm wasn't quite strong enough to deal with Lovvorn's bulk, and Belladrox succeeded only in raising the heavy mage onto his toes.

"I don't know which one of us should be more embarrassed." said Lovvorn. "You, probably."

"Look, fat-boy-"

"I'm not fat...I am short for my weight!"

"..I've got a crossbow pointed at your skull, so you'd better be showing me some respect."

"Certainly... and while we're showing things, maybe you can show me that trick you did at the PanDemonica... you know the one where you juggle the beer-mugs with both hands... OOOPS, I did it again!"

Belladrox growled...

"Now seeing as how we're in the middle of the sidewalk in broad daylight... and I've just drawn the attention of every living person in three blocks with my little explosion... it probably wouldn't be in your best interest to...ehhh... do anything rash. Not that you COULD, of course."

"Why's that?"

"Well... remember that spell you're using to keep me from just popping away?"

"Ye-"

Lovvorn vanished.

-----

[Eric Hood]

"Wha-!"

Eric awoke with a start... instantly making the transition from deep sleep to keen awareness. His adrenaline was high; his heart was pounding in his chest. He immediately cast his eyes around the abandoned building in which he had spent the night... checking each corner, every wall, every dark shadow along the floor AND the ceiling. He repeated the process four more times before hem allowed himself to make the slightest movement. The room was clear. It was just another typical morning.

He stood and brushed a considerable amount of dust off of his clothes. Sleeping in abandoned buildings made it hard to keep clean, but it had kept him alive more times than he cared to count. This place was one of a half dozen 'safe houses' he kept throughout the city. Some were palatial suites in local inns, others, like this one, were just empty rooms in old, unoccupied buildings. He rotated through them nightly... never sleeping in the same place two nights in a row. Then, every month, he discarded them all and chose an entirely new set of homes. He was very seldom taken by surprise, and no one ever found him when he didn't want to be found.

The sunlight beaming through the smashed windows told him it was after dawn... probably even mid-morning. He had overslept. Not that it mattered. This was a light day, with only five or six collections to be made and a few storekeepers to be 'invited' into the business. That wouldn't take long at all...

Eric stretched and walked outside. He greeted the sun with a wince and a few grumbles, then got his bearings. He was in a low-income area. The street was bustling with beggars and thieves, plus a few generous souls who had come to supply meals and healing to the less fortunate. Most of the buildings were filled with screaming babies, lazy men, and annoying women who spent their time with the first and yelling at the second. Eric frowned as he looked at his surroundings. He could have sworn that this wasn't the area he had chosen to bed down for the night. Perhaps yesterday had left him more exhausted than he thought.

The previous day was a hectic marathon, chasing rumors from one end of the city to the other. His newest problem...Chain... had proven to be almost as elusive as Eric. He would show up in one part of town mere seconds after being sighted in another place blocks away. Trailing him was difficult, and it eventually became impossible for one man. Finally, Eric had to call in the Night's Bloom. Rivus's men kept tabs as best they could... which wasn't very well according to the conflicting reports Rivus had given him late last night. The man was an enigma who could apparently be in at least two places at once. And he was moving fast. By noon yesterday, the stranger had spoken with most of the remaining 'career criminals' and 'information brokers' in Montfort. By early evening he had gathered a motley crew of miscreants that were foolish enough to show interest in whatever he had to say, and shortly after nightfall, the lot of them had disappeared. Eric was accustomed to the long complex plots of his employer... December's plans sometimes took *years* to come to fruition. Sometimes it would take weeks and months of study before December would make the slightest move. Of course, those moves were always flawlessly planned and perfectly executed. But this 'Chain'... he moved like a man who knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how he was going to get it. Like the only thing standing between him and his goal was the limited number of hours in the day. And his goal? Eric could only guess...

Eric made his way across town with his usual ease. He walked with a forceful, determined gait, but not so much so that he would stand out. He hid in plain sight, losing himself in crowds where they were available, and simply looking like an ordinary citizen when they were not. He drew no attention to himself whatsoever, but all the while his eyes were studying everything around him. He studied everyone that shared the street with him, as well as the alleys and rooftops of the buildings that lined his path. He missed nothing... not the slightest detail... like the man that had been trailing him for the past four blocks. Or his comrade on the other side of the street, who's eyes lingered a bit too long on the edge of the building ahead, where the sunlight glinted revealingly off of some archer's crossbow.

He was being followed.

He didn't know why or by whom, but he would find out soon enough. He doubted anyone would be foolish enough to make a move in broad daylight, but then there were no shortage of fools in Montfort.

Eric altered his path and walked toward another one of his safe-houses. His two shadows followed suit, and were joined by a third man that Eric had *almost* missed. No doubt, the archer would be joining them shortly. He circled around the abandoned building and approached from the rear, where the sun wouldn't reach for another few hours. There were plenty of shadows... plenty of places for him to crouch and hide.

Not that he planned on doing much hiding...

[Alp and Gith]

The two rugged pursuers met each other just outside of the dark building.

"He saw us," said Gith. He was a brown-haired man who's stomach had seen one-too-many ales in the course of his life.

"That was the plan," said his companion. Alp was short, but wide with muscle. "Now let's go in and get him."

"Shouldn't we wait for the others?"

"What good's a crossbow gonna do in there?"

"What about Selton?"

"Yeah, what ABOUT me?" A large, burley man joined the duo behind the building.

"You wait here and watch the door. Bradley'll watch the front. Me and Gith have been wantin' a piece of this Hood guy ever since he came to town. I ain't sharin my glory with nobody 'cept him."

Alp and Gith entered the building while Selton stayed behind.

The sight that greeted them inside was an obstacle course of collapsed walls and piles of garbage. Rats scurried about undisturbed by the presence of the humans. The light inside was dim, but not completely dark. Strong beams of sunlight created a striking patchwork of large, brightly lit areas framed by deep imposing shadows. The intruders paused just inside the door to allow their eyes time to adjust. They were standing in what must have been a living room or common area. Though the building's outer walls were all brick and still in good condition, the inner, wooden ones were in various stages of collapse. The men could actually see into some of the other rooms through the rotting holes. The details were in the dull gray darkness. But it was obvious that Eric Hood was not in this room.

Alp stepped over a pile of rotting wood boards that used to be part of an interior wall. He reached for his weapon... a short-handled battle axe. Both of the edges were as sharp as razors.

"He could be anywhere," he said. "Let's spit up."

"Is that a good idea?"

"Yep. Go look over there..." he pointed to what must have been a kitchen at one time. "I'm going down there..." Alp motioned his axe toward a dark hallway.

Grumbling under his breath, Gith crept toward the kitchen area, which was behind a mostly intact wall. He walked on his toes, holding his breath for no apparent reason. When he rounded the corner, Gith found himself looking lengthwise down a long, empty room. A single rat scurried across the floor. Perhaps this room had been a kitchen at one time, but there was no way to tell now.

A sound behind him caused him to turn... but he found only an equally empty hallway behind him.

As he returned his attention to the demolished kitchen...

"Yaaah!!"

Gith jumped backwards and drew his weapon... a long hunting knife. There was no one there now... but he could have SWORN that someone had been standing at the other end of the room. Gith frowned and crept forward with his knife held in a ready position.

He hadn't imagined it... someone WAS standing there when he turned back around... but where did they go? The far side of the room was a dead end... there was no place to go or hide...

"I'm losing my mind." he said to himself.

A floorboard creaked behind him.

Gith spun and lashed out with is knife. The blade whipped through the air and would have easily disemboweled any unprotected man... had anyone actually been standing there. But there wasn't.

"Wha-?"

A shadow moved out of the kitchen and back into the main room.

Hood, thought Gith. But how did he slip past me? He placed his back to the wall and slid along toward the house's main room. He reached the end of the wall and paused. He held his breath... and heard nothing. He smiled, gripped his knife...

"YAAH!!!" He leapt out into the main room and slashed with his blade. Again, it passed unimpeded through empty air, but only because Alp had stepped back to launch a strike of his own. The double-bladed axe slashed past Gith's face... missing it by less than an inch... and imbedded itself in the rotten wall.

"What the Hell!" both men yelled simultaneously. "You could have killed-"

"He was here." said Gith. "In the kitchen."

"No he wasn't... I saw him in one of the bedrooms and followed 'im this way."

The two men looked at each other in the darkness.

Alp opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when they heard the unmistakable sound of a creaking floorboard.

"That was back in the bedroom." said Alp. He dislodged his axe and crept back toward the hallway with Gith just behind him.

"I think we got him now, Gith," he said. "Ain't no way out back there 'cept past us."

"That's what I thought when I saw him in the ki-..."

Silence swallowed the end of Gith's sentence.

"What was that you were sayin'?"

Silence.

"Gith? Gith?"

Gith was gone. There was nothing behind Alp but empty space.

"What the Hell?" Alp readied his axe. He stood perfectly still and listened...

There was a sharp cough back in the kitchen, followed by a wet gurgling sound from the same direction. Throwing caution to the wind, he ran through the room and turned the corner ready to behead the first thing he saw.

Gith was laying on the floor, twitching in a pool of his own blood. He was dead, only his body didn't quite know it yet.

Someone had sliced open Gith's throat just below the chin. Then they had reached into the wound and yanked the man's tongue out through the hole... the pink fleshy lobe lay across Gith's neck like some grotesque piece of formal neckwear.

"...gods..." Alp backed away.

He looked towards the door, then back to the kitchen, and finally down the hallway to the bedrooms. No one was in either place, so he looked again...and then again...

"What!"

There he was! At the end of the hallway, hiding in the shadows...

"DIE, BASTARD!" With is axe raised high, Alp rushed him.

Eric Hood stepped out the shadow and came forward... not at a run or a sprint, but at a calm, leisurely walk. He never said a word. The small knife in his hand dripped blood onto the floor.

When a wayward beam sunlight hit Eric's face, Alp stopped cold.

...his face...like a mask... THE EYES!

"AIIIIIGH!!!!!" Alp turned and ran for the door, leaving a trail of urine behind him as he went. He leapt over a pile of *something* and when his feet hit the floor he made the mistake of looking behind him.

Hood wasn't there.

Still running, Alp reached out for the door...

---

[Selton]

The burly man had his hand on the hilt of his sword. He had heard his comrades bumping around inside, and then there was nothing. Just a second ago there was a scream and it sounded like someone was running for the door.

He got ready.

The running stopped.

Hear it comes... he thought to himself.

There was a thump... then a thud... then the door burst open. Selton had his sword half-drawn before he realized it was Alp.

"I heard screaming, did you get-"

Alp collapsed, throwing blood all over Selton and everything else nearby.

"What the Hell?"

Selton had never seen a man with so many stab wounds. Never. It was like someone had used Alp's back to draw some kind of sick pattern,

He looked up just as a man stepped into the doorway. The face was hidden in shadow, but the body was too thin to be Gith.

Selton drew his sword.

"You've met you match THIS time, Hood!" he yelled.

"Hood?" replied the man. "Who's Hood?"

---

[Bradley]

The waiting had gotten to be too much for him. The others had entered the old building across the street and had left him to watch the front door. He wanted to stay and follow orders... but after a while it became apparent that nobody was going to be stupid enough to walk out that front door. Hood knew he was being followed, and he had damn near looked Brad right in the face just before he circled back here.

Maybe they need some help... he thought.

With his new crossbow loaded and ready, Brad crept down the side of the building and around to the back where the others had entered. He heard a sound, and at first thought that it was fighting... but no, the repetitive pounding was too regular... like someone driving a nail into soft wood.

He saw the body immediately after he rounded the corner.

"Selton?" said Brad. The body was lying face down, but the shiny new sword that lay nearby had belonged to Selton. There was lots of blood... too much blood. From the looks of things, another body had been dragged back inside the 'abandoned' house.

Hood was still here.

Bradley reached for the door... and screamed. He backed away, pointing his weapon before him... There, hanging from the door...

Bradley's stomach voided itself all over Selton's body.

The archer staggered away, mumbling and grunting incoherently as his stomach continued to spasm.

He made it to the street where he walked headlong into some poor shopkeeper.

"Wha! Watch where you going!" said the man. "Whas wrong wit you!"

"Hi...His face!" shouted Bradley. "He...He CUT OFF HIS FACE!!!"
-----

[Theesa]

Theesa had no memories of this neighborhood from she she arrived two days ago... she was wounded and dazed at the time. And now she had no idea where she was. She vaguely remembered that the name of the town was Montfort, and that somewhere... somewhere *very close to here,* she had been assaulted and nearly killed.

Theesa hadn't walked very far before she encountered her first presumably *non-insane* Montfortian. The old woman was sweeping dirt off the front steps of a house just a few lots down from December's sanctuary. The woman looked up at Theesa and frowned.

"Nothin' for you!" said the woman.

Theesa looked down at her clothes and realized that she was still wearing the same tattered clothes that she had arrived in. They were clean, but she still looked like a beggar.

"I, uhh.."

"Move along..." the woman shook her broom at Theesa.

"Uhh, could you tell me what you know about your neighbor? The man in the house down there-"

"You people leave that nice man alone!"

nice man?

"Go away... and tell all your begging ingrate brood to stay out of this neighborhood! Mr. December might throw you crumbs every once in a while... but that doesn't mean you've got an open invitation to STINK up the whole BLOCK whenever you get the notion!"

"No, no... I was just-"

"Go on! GIT!!!"

The woman hobbled down the steps, brandishing her broom at Theesa's head. Theesa hurried away. A few houses down she saw a woman with a child. She approached, but the mother scowled at her and yanked her young one back inside the house as Theesa got within speaking distance.

Theesa stood alone on the street, not knowing what to think. Were all the people like this?

"GO AWAY!" came a shout from above. A man was leaning out of a window one house over. He spat at her and made an obscene gesture, then ducked back inside before Theesa could respond.

So THIS is the city... she could hardly hear her own thoughts over the growling of her stomach.

Theesa continued until she reached the end of the street, and every few houses she was jeered and cursed for no reason other than her appearance. Theesa wanted to sling a few choice words back at them, but her head was already hurting, and the last thing she needed was to be beaten to death by a broom-wielding matron. Theesa crossed over into another neighborhood which, while slightly less affluent, nonetheless treated her with the exact same disdain. This time, people actually managed to spit *on* her from the safety of their second-floor windows. She wondered if their spitting aim was practiced or if it was an innate talent.

She wandered in a growing daze of hunger and... more hunger..., searching for any person or house that looked *remotely* inviting.

She found one. One house.

Theesa mounted the familiar steps and knocked on the door.

When it swung open, she looked December square in the face. Theesa cursed herself for being here, but then there was much to be said about the 'devil you know' vs. the 'devil you don't.' Or at least the 'Devil you Sort-Of know...'

"Nice city you have here." she said. "I LOVE the people."

"You have returned." the slight lift in his voice would have been endearing from anyone else, but from December's lips, it was unsettling.

"Well at least you haven't spit on me," said Theesa "Yet."

"I apologize for my neighbors... their generosity has soured over the months from constant abuse. Mine appears to be more robust."

"You could have warned me."

"Would you have listened?"

"No."

"Well do come in..." December stepped to the side and Theesa entered.

The door slammed shut behind her.

---

[Zade]

Zade rolled over in her cot and swung her long legs over the edge. She sat up, then immediately lay back down while the room finished its twirling dance. Zade was in what she called the pre-hangover state...

where one was still too numb to feel bad, but just sick enough to dread what was coming. Her head had that full, tight feeling that it got just before the throbbing began. Her stomach gurgled, but at least her digestive system was still working in the forward direction for the time being.

"What the Hell was I thinking..." she mumbled. "...never going hunting with THAT madman again."

Zade's memories of the hunt ended with her chasing Sottie into the woods, and began again with her waking up in the back of the Ridgeman's wagon just after dawn. They were headed back towards town, and Zade remembered that, as she awoke, Sottie was playing a tune on his flute that was somehow enchanting and extremely annoying at the same time.

"What happened?" she had asked.

Sottie smiled, "Why Zade, you have awakened at last. I was wondering how long the shock would take to wear off. My apologies, you were doing so well I failed to warn you adequately. The elk was quite a kicker."

"What elk-"

Sottie pointed to the tarp at the other end of the wagon. The morning sun clearly outlined the large antlers and the scent was thick in the morning air.

"You...we...huh?"

"We went hunting, Not long before dawn I caught the spoor of an elk, we tracked it and you brought it down in fine style. Unfortunately, you received a most inauspicious shock to the head just after striking the mortal blow..."

Zade felt her head, preparing to wince when she found the bruise. There wasn't one.

Sottie waved his hand, "You're fine now, you are traveling with a priest after all. You can bless the gods of drink, your head is now whole. Your skill at the hunt, particularly the kill, was most impressive, Zade."

"I don't remember anything."

"How unfortunate! It was a magnificent hunt. Mayhap we can get together sometime for a few drinks and I can jog your memory. I had the sneaking suspicion you'd hunted before, you did so well. Chances are I need not have used my teeth at all and you'd have brought down the elk just as easily, but I commiserate. On occasion my drinking buddies tell me what a wonderful time I've had on a previous eve, and having consumed far more ale than a man was designed to hold, my next morning's memories of the event are foggy at best."

"Uh-huh."

"Your memory will no doubt return in time. Probably the shock you received knocked your brains for a loop. After you've had a little sleep and time to recover, I'm sure if you think on it, you will at least recall bits and pieces here and there. Oft times various sights and smells will help jog your memory and put the puzzle back together. It is most unfortunate your memory is not as clear as mine. I had a wonderful time and I believe you did as well. It is most fortunate you are now awake. Ridgeman and I were at a loss as to where you might live, and I imagine you'd like to be dropped off so that you can get some sleep. I spent too much time teaching you the sights and smells of the forest, the principals of tracking and so on, before we finally caught wind of our quarry and you showed off your magnificent talent for bring ing down a kill. Our outing lasted nearly all night."

"Uh... I rent a room west of here. Down that road there..." Zade reached for her weapons, which were all in their proper places. The buckles and ties on her armor were all fastened exactly as they should be except for one that was ripped. It could have been torn in the hunt... or maybe something else had happened. There was a splash of blood on her leather bodice, but neither she nor Sottie bore any injuries... save for the mysterious vanishing head-wound that Sottie had mentioned.

gods of drink indeed!

Sottie dropped her off and promised to have Ridgeman deliver her share of the meat later. The first thing Zade did when she reached her room was to carefully examine herself. There were no signs that anything untoward had occurred during her lapse of memory, but neither was there any evidence of a head injury. The pieces didn't quite fit together... but Zade decided that a few hours of sleep would help put things in order. And what a short few hours it was.

Zade's bloodshot eyes wandered to the window, where the mid-morning sun taunted her with its brightness. She would have to get up soon...

"Damn."

With another moan, she got up and threw a bathrobe around her body. She didn't bother tying it. She went to the closet and snatched up the first reasonably clean suit of leather armor that she saw, as well as a clean towel. She laid the armor out on the cot, and took the towel with her into the bathing room. She was going to be late... there was no doubt about that, but she wouldn't let that keep her from a nice long, hot bath.

After her bath, Zade felt 100% better. Her adventure last night... whatever it entailed... apparently had no lasting effects other than her ability to remember it. Still, she made a mental note to question the Ridgeman when he arrived with her meat. Hopefully he wouldn't come when she was at work.

Zade coiled her black leather whip and hung it from her waist, then she headed outside. From the looks of things it was maybe an hour or two until noon. December would be pissed, but she was just a figure-head anyway. That was her new 'official' job... 'Store Security" Basically she stood in a corner and looked menacing while rich slops ogled December's over-priced gems. Of course, her real job didn't begin until well after the store closed... that was when the head-busting and arm-twisting usually got underway.

Zade had walked about five blocks when she realized she was being followed. She didn't even have to look... the same three sets of footsteps had been behind her since she left home, and they had *remained* behind her even after she switched from one side of the street to the other. Then there was an odd smell in the air... the scent of nervousness that was easily detectable above the unwashed bodies were sharing the avenue with her. At least it was easy for *Zade* to detect. She figured that the first follower was just a few yards behind her, with the other two much further back, probably watching for signs of trouble.

Zade wasn't going to disappoint them.

She headed for a shop that was just a few blocks down. It belonged to a glass-blower that used to pay regular 'protection' money to Sinterbourne... which meant that he now paid December. She entered the shop yelled for the owner.

"ANDER!" Zade's shout rattled the shelves and display cases, which were crammed will all manner of glass goblets, candle-holders, ornaments and trinkets.

A short, thin, balding man emerged from the back. He stopped short when he saw Zade.

"Hey, I pay Mr. Hood this week!" he cried, thinking that she was here to ask for more money. "I have no more money! I pay already!"

"Good." replied Zade. She turned to the door... outside, she heard one set of footsteps pass by and stop at the corner. Another set was further off... on the other side of the street. He was probably ducking into the alley that was just opposite the store. The final set of footsteps walked right up to the door.

"Get in the back room, Ander." said Zade.

"What? What going on? No fighting in store! I pay my money! I pay on time...no fighting in store!"

The door swung inward...

"NoFightingInSTORE-PLEEEEASE!!"

As soon as the man's arm became visible, Zade grabbed the door and yanked it fully open. An oily crooked-nosed man stumbled inside. He had a knife in his hand, and he used it to slash at Zade. The blade glanced off of her steel arm-bracer.

"My turn!" said Zade

She snatched him by the collar and flung him clear across the room. He collided with a set of shelves against the far wall, smashing a display of hand-crafted ornamental wine-glasses.

"AAIIIIGGHHH!" screamed Ander. "You Break My Glasses!!!!"

Ignoring the blood pouring from his scalp and neck, the attacker reached for his waist, where there was a set of throwing knives arranged on his belt.

"No Throwing Knives in Store!" shouted Ander.

Zade reached for her own belt, but realized that she had left her silver throwing stars behind. She grabbed her whip instead. Her arm made an up-and-down motion, and the bare leather tip of the weapon snapped wickedly.

Her opponent released his knife-

*CRACK*

Zade knocked the perfectly thrown blade out of the air. It collided with an ornamental mirror and shattered it.

"You Break My MIRROR!!"

"No way," said the man. He reached for another blade...

*CRACK*

"OUCH!" The man's arm flew back. He flexed his fingers, which were stinging from the whip-burn.

"No Whip in STORE! You Stop! You Stop Right NOW!!"

"Answer me some questions or you lose fingers next time." Zade reached for one of the small bladed attachments on her belt. She fixed it onto the tip of her whip.

The man held his head down and rushed straight for Zade. She squared herself and prepared to kick him into the middle of next week, but the little man veered toward the door at the last moment. Zade stepped to one side-

*CRACK*

The man's left ear became a spray of blood.

"AHHH!!!" he cried. The yell was echoed by Ander.

"No Bleeding In Store!" the shopkeeper added.

The fleeing attacker reached the door just as it was being opened from the outside. Another man entered. This one was huge... about 7' tall... with a body that seemed to be all arms and chest. Zade recognized him as one of Soloman Nale's old enforcers named Soco. He was mute... which meant that she still needed the first guy alive if she wanted any questions answered.

"Get Back Here!"

*CRACK*

Zade's whip curled around the smaller man's leg just as he tried to step around his friend. She yanked him back inside. The man slipped in his own blood and hit the floor chin-first.

"See, I tole you... No Bleeding In Store!"

"NNNN!" mumbled Soco. He lumbered toward Zade.

Damn... he looks even BIGGER than the last time I saw him. This is gonna be FUN...

She dropped her whip and dropped into a fighting stance.

"NOFIGHTINGINSTORE!!!" screamed Ander.

When the Walking Chest got close, Zade leapt into a spinning back-kick. The heel of her boot bounced off of Soco's chest, and the rebound sent her stumbling backwards. She staggered into a display case filled with expensive glass ornaments, knocking it over. What didn't shatter when it hit he ground, was smashed to bits when Zade landed on top of it.

She cursed her non-functional leather armor that left most of her chest and arms exposed. Tiny shards of glass sliced into her skin in a hundred different places. She also cursed her stupidity for not realizing that the reason Soco was so much larger was because he was wearing REAL body armor under his clothes.

"DAMN!!" Zade got to her feet as quickly as she could. Every movement drove the glass shards deeper into her skin. Wincing with pain, she barely saw Soco in time...

The behemoth swatted at her. She ducked, but didn't bother punching him in the stomach... the move would only break her fist. Instead, she kicked at his knee and was rewarded with a satisfying 'pop'.

"NNN!" Soco grunted and sent both of his huge fists hurtling toward Zade's head. She danced away, and Soco demolished a cabinet filled with gold-trimmed glasses.

"You Break, You Buy!" shouted Ander.

Shattered glass flew everywhere, Zade barely turned in time to avoid getting glass in her eye... but Soco wasn't so fortunate.

"MMMMMMMMM!!!" he mumbled. He raised both fists to his face and began rubbing his eyes. They immediatly began to bleed. "MMMMMM!"

"That's gotta hurt," said Zade. "Here, lemme make it feel better..." She executed a spin-kick that brought the heel of her boot across Soco's mouth.

"NNN!"

The large man began coughing as every one of his front teeth tried to slide down his throat. He staggered back and knocked over the one remaining display case in the shop.

"HEY!!!" shouted Ander.

Soco fell to his knees,

"You know... a good healer can probably restore your sight. Then again, maybe not. Either way, it's probably a good time to find another line of work."

"NNNN!!"

"Still hurt? Maybe this'll help-"

Zade put the man out of his misery with a hook-kick to his temple.

"You destroy my STORE!" shouted Ander. "Look! Look! Everything BROKEN!"

"Don't worry... you're covered Hood will pay for it."

"Hood? Where Hood?" Ander backed away. He had been content to watch while the bloody fight destroyed his handiwork, but the mere mention of Eric Hood threatened to send him scurrying into a dark corner.

"Oh, he's around here somewhere..." said Zade.

"Hood here!?!"

"Boo!"

Ander zipped into the back room and did not return. Zade would have smiled if it weren't for the pieces of glass piercing her skin in some rather uncomfortable places.

A moan brought her attention back to the first attacker, the man with the knives. He was just regaining consciousness on the floor. Zade retrieved her whip and rolled the man over onto his back. He looked up at her...

"Now you CAN'T tell me I looked like an easy target... so who sent you and why?"

"Not tellin you nothin!"

"I guess we do this the hard wa-"

"Do what you want... I'm more afraid of HIM than I am of YOU!"

"Who?"

The man reached for a knife from his belt. Zade crushed his wrist under her boot, but he just grabbed a blade with his other hand. Before she could stop him, he put the blade to his neck and sliced open his own jugular.

"Damn." said Zade. This one was gone, and Soco was a lost cause. Then she remembered the third man hiding across the street. "One more..."

Zade left the building, walked down one block, then circled back. As she walked she tried to pick as much of the glass out of her armor as she could... but she was only partially successful. After a few minutes, Zade stepped into the alley across from the store. The third man was there.

He was dead. A small knife had been driven *deep* into the base of his skull.

"What the Hell?"

"I took care of him for you." said a voice from further back in the alley. A shadow stepped forward. Zade reached for her whip...

"Oh, please." said the voice. This time she recognized it, as well as a familiar scent.

"Speak of the devil." said Zade. "Are you behind this, Eric? Is this another one of December's tests?"

"A test, yes. From the boss? Afraid not."

"What's going on, then?"

"Yes, tell us Eric." Lovvorn appeared in his usual fashion... popping into existence at the mouth of the alley.

"You, too?" said Zade.

"Never fear... Lovvorn is here! Oh, my..." Lovvorn ogled Zade's breasts.

"You were saying, Eric?

"All of us were attacked."

"I wonder if they went after N'Doki, too?" said Lovvorn. "I'm sure he's eating their livers with some fresh beans and a nice herbal tea..."

"This isn't funny."

"Who's joking?"

"These goons could have taken us out at any time..."

"Speak for yourself," said Zade.

"No, all of us. There was more involved than you know... I thought there was just one set of guys after me, but as I was leaving I noticed *another* group that had been watching the first. Same with you, Zade... there were two more guys besides the ones you fought. They stayed back and watched, and then split when I arrived. I recognize a test when I see one. And this was it. Someone wanted to see what we're made of... I gave mine the slip in one of my safe houses and I saw Zade take hers out. What about you, Lovvorn?"

"I blew up two of mine."

"You're right." said Zade. "It was too easy. They were testing our first response... "

"Either of you recognize your goons?" said Eric.

"You know, the third one was that obnoxious fellow from the PanDemonica..."

"That would be YOU." said Zade.

"No, the OTHER obnoxious fellow... the one with the hand..."

"Belladrox. I recognized Soco from Sol the Snail's payroll. You recognize any of your guys, Hood?"

"Didn't get a good look. But the Snail is dead and even Belladrox isn't stupid enough to try and move against us unless he's got some backing. And I think I know who that is?"

"Well why didn't you SAY so?" said Lovvorn.

"Who is it?"

"Guy by the name of Chain-"

Zade frowned.

"-he showed up the night we took out Sol. Started askin' questions, and then puts word out that he's gathering troops. Then they vanished... until now."

"Chain," said Zade. "You sure about that name? 'Chain'?"

"Yeah, he's not making a secret out of it. Why... you heard of him?"

"Gods..." said Zade. "If this is the same guy..."

"What? Who is he?"

"Trouble. Big trouble."

"Can you be a little more SPECIFIC?" said Lovvorn.

"The kind of trouble that we can't deal with. He may have signed on a bunch of Montfort goons for now, but Chain always has something up his sleeve."

"And where do you know this guy from?"

"We fought together once. Long time ago."

"How long?"

"Excuse me, but is that any of your business?"

"Yes. I need to know what YOU know-"

"You already do. He's dangerous and if he's moving against December, you can bet he's got something planned besides a few street-fights."

"What about the Boss?" said Eric. "They coulda moved on him, too... Lovvorn, can you still monitor the wards at his house?"

"Just some stray magic lately," said the mage. "No alarms. Big Frosty is fine."

"That remains to be seen. You two head for the store and warn the Boss. I'm gonna talk to N'Doki and Rivus and tell them to get ready. Zade... we'll talk later about you and Chain."

"Have fun!" said Lovvorn. Eric stepped out of the alley and disappeared into a passing group of people.

-----

[Theesa]

She tried not to make a pig of herself as she stuffed her small cheeks with bite after bite of the delicious food. December had provided a feast the likes of which she hadn't seen since her wedding day.

Four types of bacon. Two platters piled high with biscuits and toast. Ham. Three kinds of sausage. Eggs prepared five different ways. Large pitchers of juices from fruits that Theesa had never heard of.

The first few dainty bites passed her lips with poise... but the remainder was an incessant storm of food that Theesa couldn't prevent if she tried. It was as if her mouth and hands hand taken on minds of their own. December merely watched silently from his seat across from her at the kitchen table. He had a plate of his own, but it remained empty. Theesa thought it was strange... but she didn't care.

"I'm sorry..." she said between mouthfuls.

"It is I who owe YOU the apology. Do you accept it?"

"No. I'm just hungry... and at least I can understand YOUR problem. WHO KNOWS what's wrong with these other people around here."

"I see."

"So what happens to this food? I know I must look like a pig right now-"

"Certainly not."

"-but I'm not going to eat all this. What happens to the rest? Going to throw it away?"

"It will find its way to one of the many nearby shelters."

"Oh. And you weren't going to tell me about these shelters?"

"They are not pleasant places. Crowded and over-run with thieves. I assumed you would rather eat here among more comfortable surroundings, but you are welcome to leave if you wish."

Theesa looked at him.

"Okay," she said. "So where does your EVIL TWIN sleep? The one who tried to kill me?"

The corners of December's mouth twitched. It was almost a smile.

Theesa was about to compliment him on his near-humanity when she noticed the temperature in the room.

It wasn't cold.

"You're doing it again, aren't you? The thing with the temperature. Stop it."

"I merely want you to be comfortable-"

"Well you're hurting yourself. Stop." Theesa noticed the temperature beginning to drop.

"I am surprised. You show concern for someone who has so badly mistreated you."

"I don't like to see people hurt, that's all."

"Even someone like me?"

"And who are you that you think you're above simple kindness?"

"I am who I am."

"Ahh.... I see the 'evil twin' is still lurking in there somewhere."

"You use that word. 'Evil'. Do you really know what that is? Have you ever experienced true 'evil'?"

"Other than when you tried to kill me TWICE yesterday... no, I guess not. Have you?"

"Many, many times."

"The King brothers, right?"

December gave an almost imperceptible wince, as if he had been stung by an insect.

"I'm sorry," said Theesa.

"They have not plagued my thoughts in many years. Is that what you saw in your vision?"

"I saw them. They were... in the store with you and the old man. You stood up to them, even though you were afraid. You beat them with your... whatever it is that you do."

"And what about your vision makes you think of them as evil?"

"Well, I just figured that.... You said your wife died... and then I saw them mention her when they threatened you. Did..."

"Did they kill her? No."

"But there was something about that day... something that left a very strong impression."

December nodded, but he didn't elaborate any further.

Theesa finished up her plate of food and pushed back from the table.

"I'm stuffed," she said. "I suppose I should thank you for the hospitality... but then you OWE me that much for trying to kill me. This is assuming that none of this was poisoned."

"It was not."

"I know... I scanned the food for impressions before I took the first bite. I was hungry and desperate, but not stupid. Not THAT stupid, anyway. Give Mrs. Knapp my compliments on an excellent breakfast."

"She caters many of my affairs. I shall convey your comments. Now, may I ask what your plans are for the day?"

"I'll find work. A place to live. Your neighbors scared me off once, but now that I've got a full stomach I think I'm ready. I can spit BACK at them, now."

"Employment may not be as forthcoming as you would like. Perhaps I can help."

"You're going to offer me a job? No thanks. I don't work for psychos."

"A tour of the city, then. With me as your guide."

"A tour. With you."

"We shall begin with my store. I have neglected it for a day, now I must see what damage my employees have done in my absence. After that, we shall see the sights-"

"And I suppose we're going to waltz around the city with me looking like a beggar?" Theesa looked down at her clothes.

"No. I would not be seen with anyone dressed like that. Which I why I took the liberty of procuring some clothing."

"What?"

December walked into the living room and returned with a box. Inside was a complete change of clothes... a fashionable silk skirt and blouse, a skirt, a brand new pair of shoes. December handed the items to Theesa and she examined them. Everything seemed to be a perfect fit.

"For me?" she said.

"They are not quite my size." said December.

"Oh, Ha-Ha."

"You may bathe and change upstairs. Even if you decide to forego the tour, the clothes are yours to keep. A gift."

"You could have given me these before I left the first time." said Theesa.

"I could have done a lot of things. So... will you join me?"

"Clothes are mine either way?"

"Certainly."

"I'll think about it."

Theesa stood and started upstairs with the clothes. She knew December was watching her, and she knew that it would be utterly *ridiculous* for her to continue their 'association' any further. He had helped her that first night, but then he had tried to kill her. Twice. On the other hand, he had obviously gone to great expense to feed and cloth her... but only after sending her out among the wolves of this 'fair city'.

She bathed and dressed herself with the full intention of walking out the front door alone, never to return.

As she descended the stairs, December was waiting for her. He smiled... an expression that looked painfully out of place on his pale, frozen face.

"Have you decided?" he said.

"Yes." Theesa opened the door and started to walk out. She paused and looked back at her 'host.' "Well... you coming or not?"