How hard could it be? • LM / SS

Chapter 95

                    "Took the breath from
                       my open mouth."

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've been formerly introduced. You seem to know me, but I don't have a clue who you are," Jade painted a smile on her face, placing a candle back onto the shelf and turning to look at the teenager in front of her.

This girl seemed to have been hidden in the back room, obviously wanting to stay away from the main fight until she had her chance. She had to be the youngest staff member of the group, roughly sixteen or seventeen at a push, although her heart shaped face made her look years more mature. She returned the begrudged smile, her dimples taking away the attention from her pink lips. "Liberty."

Jade hummed, returning to the armchair that she had been sat in a few minutes prior. Maybe if the two could come to an agreement, she would be able to get the stone easier. "Liberty. Nice name," she observed, tapping her fingers tauntingly against the cotton material.

"My grandmother's name, too," Liberty replied casually, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as her eyes hopped back and forth between the blonde's face and fidgeting hands. They both seemed to know what was going to happen next, yet neither of their mannerisms seemed too bothered. In fact, for a murderer and someone who was about to be murdered, they were both relatively calm.

An idea struck Jade, making her smirk yet also want to hit her head against the pavement at the same time. God, how could she have been so stupid! This was a sprite's shop, right? If there was one thing she knew about the creatures, it was that they would do anything to save themselves- including stabbing you in the back, so long as they got something in return. So, why would the owner of the shop- a sprite- come out in the midst of a fight and risk dying like the rest of the employees? It was foolish- laughable even. No, the owner would be sitting back, watching everyone get killed and enjoying the chaos that was brought with it.

And what made even more sense was if that owner had the stone. Safe and sound, out of harms way.

"Now, Lib- can I call you that?" she brushed it off with a dismissive wave, not waiting for a reply. "Good. Now that we've got the pleasantries out of the way, where's the fairy and where's the stone?" She smirked, narrowing her eyes at the sudden falter in the girl's behaviour.

Liberty sighed, tossing her brunette hair back and regaining herself. Seriously? She had one job; don't let her catch you off guard. She couldn't even do that, the easiest task of it all. Well, if the amethyst enchantress didn't kill her, her boss most definitely would. She cast a glance over her shoulder, standing up straight when the woman herself walked in. Speak of the devil and she would appear.

"Ah, Jade," she clapped her hands together, holding eye contact with the blonde rather than the other girl beside her. Liberty would pay for her slip up, that was guaranteed. But a witch could be of use right now. She could be disposed of later, when this was dealt with and no sooner. "You took a lot longer than what we expected, to be honest. I see you've done a number on killing my staff. It's a pity but it sure was fun to watch. Calliope Mason. It's a pleasure to finally meet the woman behind the rumour."

"Mason," Jade arched a brow, twiddling her thumbs together as she stood up. Here we go again. "The one who works with the stone."

"You've done your research." Calliope clicked her tongue, heels tapping as she moved to lean against a bookshelf. She looked similar to a standard sprite, or what the majority of the creatures looked like, anyway. Her skin was fair and her ash blonde hair was swept up in a half-up, half-down style. There was black ink on both of her wrists, showcasing the small wings that were going to be there for eternity. It was a myth that fairies and sprites had wings, which was exactly why it was tattooed on them, simply as a reminder that humans 'didn't take them seriously.'