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Another unfamiliar ceiling. This was starting to happen far too much. Sure, it had only happened twice in that last month, but that was a habit he didn't want to have. He could hear someone shuffling around the room and managed to drag himself up into a sitting position. "How long have I been out?"

The room was dark, but he saw the figure jump and turn towards him. It was Pin. "A-ah! Just a few hours. He moved forward, flicking on the gas lamp beside the bed. "You're alright, just a bit banged up. Well...more banged up. If I may ask-"

"Explosive," he muttered. "Something called a gredane. Never seen one that close..."

"A gredane? I've never heard of it." Pin moved around the room to the other side of the bed, towards the door.

"I would hope not. You could be hanged just for having one." His eyes never left the pangolin, even as he laid back down. "Thank you," he said softly.

Pin gave him a smile. "I'll go and tell your companions. They're down talking with Anvil. Come on down when you feel up to it." He shut the door.

Less than a minute later the door opened again. He watched as a very small figure walked into the room and clambered onto the bed into the light. Now there was a small opossum standing beside him on the bed, wearing an odd nightgown. "Aunty Violet says I'm supposed to call you Mr. Ozymandias," she said rather casually.

"I would prefer that." He sat up a bit and she sat down on his leg. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Lily," she said with a rather large smile. "I'm thirteen!" she said excitedly.

"Oh?" He smiled at her, giving her a pat on the head.

"Well, not yet. I'll be thirteen tomorrow. Aunty Violet says that it's super important." She kicked her legs vaguely, looking around the room as if she had never been in it before.

"Well, birthdays are very important." Even for someone so young she seemed very small. But opossum's tended to run on the short side...but she seemed small even for an opossum.

"Yeah," she said nodding. "How old are you, Mr. Ozymandias?"

Jace blinked and smiled a bit. "I turned twenty-two last month."

Her face scrunched up slightly. "Mmm that means you're nine years older than me?" He nodded. "Mmm is twenty-two an important birthday, like thirteen?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose for some it would mean a lot, but for me it's just another birthday."

She scrunched up her face a bit more. "Oh! Hey," she suddenly looked up at him as her face snapped into a smile. "Aunty Violet says you're super important. What makes you so important?"

Jace shrugged. "I'm not really sure..."

"Is it cus you're a lord?" she said, tilting her head to the side.

He stared at her. "Who...who said anything about that?"

She puffed up her chest, quite proud of herself. "There are no secrets from me."

Jace laughed nervously. "Well...don't go spreading that around."

"Oh, I know." She went back to kicking her legs, smiling up at him. "If people find out before tomorrow, you end up dead."

Again all he could do is stare at her. "And...who told you that?"

"Aunty Violet. She can see the future." She held her hands up into the air to emphasize the word 'future'. "Or, well, sometimes? I dunno. She says I'll learn eventually, but I'm too young. I can't-" she paused, trying to find the words that were said to her, "extapulate from hippothetecal cicumstances?" She frowned, knowing that that wasn't right, but unable to get the correct words.

He had to admit he was quite lost. "I...see..."

She gave him a large smile, her head tilted to one side. "No you don't. But it's okay, cus I don't get it either." She looked over at the small window of the room. "You've been having a super rough day."

Jace sighed heavily, nodding. "Yeah...and I feel it's not over yet."

"Yeah..." She looked at the door, quite unable to keep still. "I saw you fight that lion...he looked tough."

"He was pretty tough...so were his friends." He reached up, rubbing the side of his face slightly. His eyes focused and he realized she was looking at him again.

"Is that how you got all beat up?" He nodded. "People are mean...you were already so beat up and he tried to fight you."

"Yeah...but I kinda realized something today..." She tilted her head to the side. "You need to be able to stand on your own feet and move forward, even if you have strong friends."

She suddenly sagged, staring at the floor again. "Aunty Violet says friends are super important."

"Mhm." He realized that this was probably a very touchy subject for her. Children were always hard to figure out. He took a deep breath, rubbing her back softly. "Hey, I just had a thought." She looked up at him. "Do you wanna be my friend, too?"

She stared at him, blinking for a few seconds before her ears perked up as a smile crept onto her face. She nodded. "Mhm. You don't mind having some kid as your friend?"

He smiled at her, patting her on the head again. "Child or not, I've not got many friends."

"Me either." She used her sleeve to wipe at her eyes. "But, you're nice to me. A lot of adults are just nice cus that's how they're supposed to be to kids. But a lot of kids make fun of me cus I live with skunks..."

"People are mean," he said as he started to rub her back again. She leaned back into his touch, smiling.

"Aunty Violet rubs my back a lot," she said with a giggle. "She says my papa used to do it, too."

The words 'used to' stuck in his mind. "You're alone a lot...huh?"

"Mhm..." she mumbled as she nodded. She suddenly winced and immediately he pulled his hand away.

"Are you alright?" he said quickly.

"Y-yeah...you just..." she frowned slightly and pulled down the left shoulder of her nightgown slightly, showing a rather nasty black scar upon her back and shoulder.

He recognized it immediately. Something he had only seen once, but something impossible to forget. "Magic burn?" he said softly.

She nodded. "Aunty Violet says it'll go away someday, but it still hurts sometimes...usually late at night."

"You were attacked by a magus?" They were the only types to use magic like that...or maybe a sorcerer.

"They were people who worked with my papa. I had seen a few of them come over for dinner a couple times." He could see the tears trying to form in her eyes and he gently rubbed her back again, now conscious of the scar.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

"Mama was in trouble," she continued, "These men came one night, and she started crying. Papa wasn't coming home. And then they pulled out their swords. Mama told me to run...I don't really remember what happened after that. When I woke up, I was at Aunty Violets."

He could work out roughly what had happened. Her father must have been a magus, and something happened. Something very bad...but he couldn't figure out why they would have gone after her mother. "I lost my father, too."

She looked up at him, rubbing at her eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah..." He sighed softly. "He was an inventor. An Artificer. They said it was a lab accident...but I know better." He closed his eyes, figuring since she knows who he is, there was really no point in hiding things. Especially not since she had opened up to him. "He was a Mixed, and people don't like Mixed...especially Mixed with skills, and money."

"So someone killed you're papa?"

He sighed as he looked down at her. "Yeah..."

She stared at him in silence, a rather soft expression on her face. Suddenly she jumped up. "Oh!" she grinned at him. "Mr. Ozymandias, do you wanna see some magic?"

"I...what?"

"Say ah!" She sat down on his chest, she was extremely light.

He blinked up at her as he opened his mouth. "Ah?"

"Now, don't move!" She reached up into her own mouth, and without a word ripped out a tooth.

"What are you doing?" he exclaimed, watching as blood pooled from her mouth.

"I said don't move! Now open wide!" She practically forced his mouth open with one hand, though he didn't put up any resistance, and with the other hand clasping her tooth she pushed it into his mouth.

There was a sharp pain and he closed his eyes as he winced. "Ah..." He kept his mouth open, not wanting to snap it close on the girls hand.

"There!"

He opened his eyes to see her grinning at him. No blood. No missing tooth. He paused as he reached into his own mouth, feeling his teeth. He remembered that the kangaroo had knocked one out, it hadn't bothered him, but now...there was no missing tooth. "I...wow. Uhm...thank you?"

She put her hands up into the air. "Magic!" she announced and then started into a giggling fit so severe she fell off of him.

It couldn't be helped, he joined in the laughter as well. Even the tenderness in the side of his face had gone down. "How did you do that, Lily?"

"Magic! I learned from Aunty Violet," she said proudly, sitting up and puffing out her chest again. "She says I'm super good at magic, cus I was fire branded."

That was a term that seemed...very familiar to him, but he couldn't quite place it. "Fire branded?"

She wore a huge grin on her face. "Yup! And I'm so excited for tonight, Mr. Ozymandias, cus it's suuuuper special."

A couple things clicked in his head suddenly as he started to put things together. "Why is tonight so special?"

"Cus at midnight..." She looked around and leaned towards him, motioning him closer. He paused before leaning down. "I'll be a full witch."

He looked down at the little girl. She looked back at him with a large smile on his face. "That's wonderful." He ruffled her hair slightly. "No wonder you're so excited." The pieces fit together a bit more...her mother must have been a witch, and this 'Aunty Violet' was probably part of her coven. Magus were known for hunting monsters, and as far as society was concerned...a witch was a monster.

"I can't wait! I have a really pretty dress and stuff, it's all purple! Aunty Violet says it's Royal Purple. Right now I'm just a junior witch, which means I'm not allowed to do any witch stuff. Just a lot of learning..."

"It sounds very important," he said as he rubbed his shoulder, for some reason his shoulder felt sore. "What sort of things go into a witch ceremony?"

"I don't know!" She was bouncing up and down slightly on the spot. "That's why I'm so excited!"

He chuckled softly. "Well...it sounds like a lot of fun, that's for sure."

"Yeah...but people don't like witches." Her focus was suddenly on her hands. "Aunty Violet says that's why they killed my mama." She was staring hard at her hands. "Why do people hate witches?"

"I..." he hesitated, unable to take his eyes off of her. He knew the answer. It was because every story written about a witch, made her the bad guy. Even books written hundreds of years ago. "I don't know," he said softly as he rubbed her back. "People are mean."

She nodded, shoving her sleeve against her face. "But you're nice...even though I'm a witch..."

"Witches never bothered me." He stretched a bit, looking around the room a moment. He could see his cloak and other belongings sitting on a nearby table. "I prefer to hate people who give me reason." She grabbed hold of his arm and he looked down at her.

"I'm glad you don't hate me..." She was hugging his arm quite tightly.

He smiled at her. "Of course. You're my little witch friend." She smiled up at him. "You know, I just had an idea."

Her head tilted to the side slightly. "Hm?"

"How would you like to be my little magic user?"

~

Jace had never gone down a staircase that was this narrow...barely big enough for him to fit through. He had no idea how Anvil, who was roughly twice his size, would manage it. Even Pin seemed too large for it, but somehow they were both down the stairs. They were sitting at a table, along with as a skunk covered in purple streaks.

The conversation immediately stopped as all eyes went to him. The battered man being held up by nothing but determination at this point. "Good evening," he said as he stood on the last step.

The entire room felt tense. He felt Lily grip onto his cloak, trying to hide behind him. "I believe I told you not to talk with him, Lily," the purple streaked skunk said.

"I guess that that would make you Miss Violet," he said coldly.

Her eyes sank into him, as though she could beat him down with nothing but her eyes. But Jace was beyond that sort of intimidation at this point, and walked towards the table. "Mr. Ozymandias," she said with such coldness it sent a shiver down his spine.

"I-"

"Do not speak to me. Get out," she said, continuing to glare at him.

"I was not aware that this was your home," he said flatly as he stood at the table, matching the glare that she was giving him.

"I do not want someone as dangerous as you anywhere near my family," she said as she stood up. "Get out."

He was about to retort, to continue mouthing off to her. He wasn't in the mood to be talked down to by someone he had never met. "Fair enough," he said instead, and he saw Pin and Anvil noticeably relax. He turned to Anvil and bowed slightly. "Thank you, for everything."

Although, even as he made his way towards the door he was stopped by her words. "Lily."

His eyes looked down to the little opossum that was clinging to his cloak, not wanting to let go. "No..." she muttered. "I don't wanna stay...I wanna help Mr. Ozymandias."

"Lily!" she snapped, now glaring at the little girl.

Jace knelt down, putting his arm around her and hugging her softly. "It's alright, Lily."

"Do not touch her!" she shouted at him.

"And what-"

"Be quiet!" she shouted at him again. "She will not walk down that road with you. Lily has her own path to take. Your road leads to nothing but despair!"

Lily was shaking against him, clinging to his shirt. "Yanno, I never believed in the nonsense of fate, or destiny, or paths."

"Because it is beyond your comprehension. Someone like you could-"

"Like me?" he snapped. "You think my life has been easy, because you believe I have money and power. Do you think I have lived my life in luxury?!" he shouted at her. Lily took a step back.

"Someone in your position-"

He took several steps towards her. "You think you know me, witch?" Everything went silent. All the noise that had been in the background had stopped. All there was was his voice and the tick of his clock. "A mother who has no time for me. A murdered father. Murdered in front of my own fucking eyes by those who hated him because of what he was, not who he was. Thousands of people who hate me because of what I am. You can make all of the accusations you want of who I am because of what you think I come from, but you know nothing."

She seemed to be smaller now that he stood face to face with him. He had not realized how large she had felt earlier. "You will watch your tone when you speak to me, boy." He could see the soft spark of magic.

"Do not for a moment think that I am as the world sees me. I do not fear you, witch," he said simply.

"That is a great mistake on your part," she snarled at him.

Yet she seemed even smaller. "I have no reason to fear you," he said, lowering his voice to a more appropriate level. He had not realized he had still been yelling.

"You are going to die."

"And you think that bothers me?" he said calmly. Now even she was silent, staring at him. He stared down at her. "Lily is going to be the greatest witch, and I am going to help her."

She blinked at him. "What?"

"Goodnight, Miss Violet." He turned and walked away. "Lily, once you've become a witch, come to the Palace. If...you would still like to help me out." He walked purposefully out of the building, closing the door softly behind him before walking out into the street.

The door flung open behind him. "I'll see you at the Palace!" Lily screamed.

From inside came the shout of, "Lily!" and the door slammed shut.

That made him chuckle softly. He could see Stella across the street. "What was with the yelling?"

"Just figuring out some things. Where's Jersa?"

She pointed a bit down the road. "Over there. Apparently the twins locked up shop and went home."

"Twins?" His brow furrowed and he looked over, looking for Jersa. But he couldn't see her, all he could see was some woman in a blue dress picking the lock of some door. He looked at Stella. "I don't see Jersa?"

Stella laughed, and pointed at the woman in the dress.

Jace looked again and his mouth fell open. "Jersa?" he said and watched as Stella nodded, giggling. He walked over to the woman, she was beautiful. Her short hair had been styled, the dress flowed over her body, there was a subtle amount of makeup on her face with...black lipstick... "Jersa?"

He saw her entire body tense and then she shot up, turning around and pressing her back to the door. "A-ah...Jace...uhm...hi..."

"Wow," he said looking her up and down. "You look...really good." Her face was red and turning redder by the second.

"Doesn't she?" Stella said with a large smile. "I told you he'd like it."

"My clothes are locked up in the shop," Jersa muttered.

"Well...that will have to wait. We need to go to the Palace."

They looked at each other. "The palace?"

"What for?" Jersa said, hiding the lockpicks.

"Something very important just came up and I need to speak to the Patrician. And I figure it will also be the safest place to stay until tomorrow's meeting." He was already walking and they had to rush in order to keep up with him.

"Jace?" Stella said softly.

"What?" He looked at her, but she wasn't looking at him.

She was looking at the ground. "Do you hate us?" He looked passed her at Jersa, who was also avoiding his gaze.

He sighed softly and rubbed his face. "No...I don't hate you," he said.

"Then kiss me," Stella said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I..." He looked from Stella to Jersa, and back again. Jersa was refusing to look at him.

"It's only fair," Jersa mumbled. "Since you kissed me..."

"I..." He looked at Stella and swallowed. His heart was racing.

"Please..." she said, her eyes closed.

He look a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Alright...but...not now...not," he paused, looking at the two of them, "Not...out in the open."

She looked up at him with her bright red eyes and his heart skipped a beat. "Promise?"

He took in another deep breath. "Yes...alright? Yes. You two just...get along, alright?"

"Oh don't worry about that," Jersa said softly as she wrapped her arms around Stella from behind. "We're good friends now. We did a lot of talking."

"I...see..."

"About you. And us."

He paused, watching at how Stella leaned against Jersa. Apparently they were really good friends now... "Alright..." Now he just felt confused again. But that was better than the miserable feeling he had had. "Let's get going."

~

Jace checked his watch; it was half past midnight. The guard in front of the Palace was eyeing him suspiciously, him and his two companions. The other guard had gone up to find out if the Patrician was alright with him coming in.

It was late, and usually they would have automatically turned him down...but there were extenuating circumstances. Like the fact that he was Mr. Ozymandias. They hadn't had any problems since leaving Dead End. "Safety in numbers..." he muttered.

Something about the way the guard's attention suddenly snapped to something behind him made Jace turn around. He watched as a little opossum slowly descended riding upon a broom. That was apparently something stories had gotten right. "G-good evening, Mr. Ozymandias," she said with a a rather jerky bow.

He gave her a large smile as he knelt down. "Does Violet know you're here?"

She shook her head. "I told her I wasn't gonna go, and then snuck out..."

"Already acting like a true witch, hm?"

She gave him a large smile. "Mhm!" He opened his arms and she practically leaped at him, nearly slapping him with the broom. "My heart wont stop racing!" she said, nearly out of breath. "That was the first time I've flown without Aunty Violet nearby."

He chuckled softly as he stood up, lifting her off the ground. "Well you did a very good job to make it all the way here."

"Who is this?" He was rather surprised that it was the guard to regain his composure first, and actually manage a question.

Jace looked at him over his shoulder. "This is my witch," he said quite calmly.

"I...I don't know if...I..." Lily muttered.

"This is a witch?" Jersa said, standing in front of Jace, examining Lily.

"Yes. She's our little magic user. Her name is Lily," he explained as he held her up a bit more. She was almost disturbingly light. Maybe that was how witches flew?

"You have a pretty dress," Lily said, red in the face.

Jersa's face went slightly red. "Thank you..." she murmured.

"And look at you!" Jace said excitedly, holding Lily out at arms length. She flailed a bit, nearly dropping her broom. "You and your pretty purple dress."

Somehow the little girls face turned even redder as she nodded. "Mhm! It was a gift from the twins."

"Oh yes, we met them," Stella said as she gave the little girl a soft and squishy hug. "So you're our witch, huh? Well, I'm Stella." She leaned in and whispered, "the assassin."

Lily giggled. "I know that. You get paid money to inhume people. Inhume is a weird word..."

"Agreed," Jace said with a chuckle.

"Th...the Patrician...will...will see you..." the guard came up, panting. It looked like he had just ran from the palace.

"Oh, good." He let Stella take Lily as they began the long walk up to the Palace. "I have quite a lot to discuss with him."