The Underground was the trading ground of dark magic and semi-illegal if not completely illegal substances. It was a place that made a particular kind of monster that loved feeding on the weak and luring little girls like Eroshay away.
With all that said, Shay had never felt a place where she belonged more. She was safe down here, both because of instinct and Klaus' greed magic clinging to her. Most criminals worth their shit would know she was Klaus' kid, and they wouldn't fuck with that. There were other monstrosities -- the kind with no brains to realize the stupidity of their attack or were just arrogant enough to think they could get away with it -- those were the creatures Shay looked out for when she went to the Underground.
There had been a time when Eroshay traveled this place in the midst of the night, shrouded in shadow and wishful thinking. Back when she wasn't a Rosales, when she was in the orphanage, and these decisions of hers were much stupider. But that was back then, now, Shay never traveled the Underground at night unless she was in the company of Klaus, Vito, or one of the trusted members of the Rosales' gang.
It was mid-day, bright and seemingly safe. The Underground was always on the unsafe side, but Shay had enough allies not to fear much for her safety. The little girl peered around as she pulled out her newly made silver dagger and inspected it. She had paid a pretty penny to Donny for this weapon. Shay had never held a blade so large. The idea of using it made her stomach churn.
A woman sat cloaked in shadows in the shade of a nearby building. 'It has been some time...' she thought to herself, inspecting the wandering girl from a distance. The past few days, Kelara was content watching from the shadows. It was what she did best after all.
She was hesitant to allow Shay to fall into the hands of the Rosales family, but in the end, Kelara felt there was really no safer place for the girl to be. Now, to see her again, after so many months... A mixture of emotions swirled in the hidden woman's mind. Should she approach her? No, that made little sense, why show herself now? Shay would likely not remember her, which was also for the best. It was easier to watch from a distance anyway.
What would she say anyway? Shay seemed relatively happy the past few days, and coming into her life now would only complicate things; and what would she have to show for it? Kelara had hit a snag researching a way to recover the child's parents, and without sufficient resources she could no longer progress. The only thing left to do in Kelara's mind, was to ensure that Shay was safe, no matter what would come for her. Over time, Kelara had discovered that this was best done from the background.
Another thought crossed her mind though, the Rosales family had the resources and man power to help in Kelara's search... They also would have an interest in the results, considering it seemed that Shay seemed to have found a place in the notorious leader's heart. Kelara was unaccustomed to asking for help however, prideful and lacking in trust as she was. The debate continued to rage within her head as she stayed silent, watching the girl examine her knife quietly.
She was hesitant to allow Shay to fall into the hands of the Rosales family, but in the end, Kelara felt there was really no safer place for the girl to be. Now, to see her again, after so many months... A mixture of emotions swirled in the hidden woman's mind. Should she approach her? No, that made little sense, why show herself now? Shay would likely not remember her, which was also for the best. It was easier to watch from a distance anyway.
What would she say anyway? Shay seemed relatively happy the past few days, and coming into her life now would only complicate things; and what would she have to show for it? Kelara had hit a snag researching a way to recover the child's parents, and without sufficient resources she could no longer progress. The only thing left to do in Kelara's mind, was to ensure that Shay was safe, no matter what would come for her. Over time, Kelara had discovered that this was best done from the background.
Another thought crossed her mind though, the Rosales family had the resources and man power to help in Kelara's search... They also would have an interest in the results, considering it seemed that Shay seemed to have found a place in the notorious leader's heart. Kelara was unaccustomed to asking for help however, prideful and lacking in trust as she was. The debate continued to rage within her head as she stayed silent, watching the girl examine her knife quietly.
Shay tucked the dagger away in a makeshift sheath at her back, hidden under her shirt and only made visible by a subtle slit in her clothing. She was supposed to be at dance class right then. Summer was a busy time for a girl who wanted to learn everything and truthfully, Shay would be thankful when school started back up.
Eroshay was just about to turn and head out of the Underground when something caught her attention. It was that instinctual pull she felt so often here. The pull of death, darkness, and danger. She wanted to continue on her way, oh how Shay would have loved to ignore the siren's call, but she was young and far too curious for her own good.
She turned on a heel and raced off, darting down an alley or two, though she tried to keep her traversing through those brief and uncommon. Shay came to a stop at an alcove at a dead end. The place was easily looked over.
A spiral of stone stairs led upward, worn from age. Shay had hesitated only a second before she followed them, one hand placed on the wall to help keep herself stable, in case of any unexpected force. The way up was just big enough for her to walk without turning sideways.
The stairway led to a small room, decorated only with an old, wooden table, jars of various body parts, and pointed tools that looked downright ominous to Shay. But if this place hadn't been ominous, then Shay wouldn't have been brought here in the first place.
From the shadows and the rooftops, a man followed the little girl. A member of the Rosales gang, no doubt, meant to protect what was undoubtfully the Rosales' most prized possessions.
Kelara watched as the girl took off. If Eroshay was heading home, she could feel at ease again, but as was often the case in Kelara’s life, things did not go as she had hoped. Quietly following her from a distance, Kelara watched as Eroshay moved into the alleyway and out of her sight. Kelara sighed internally, noting that this girl was more of a handful than even Rien was, always running headlong into danger. Perhaps she felt secure in knowing who she was associated with, that no one dare touch her, but Kelara knew better. There was always someone deranged and crazy enough to try and sate some sick primal desire, even seeing someone with her namesake as more of a challenge than a warning. Kelara had heard whispers that Eroshay had been kidnapped before, and while that ended up turning out well enough, she would not give any new threats the benefit of the doubt.
Kelara took a quick look around before heading into the alleyway herself, still a short distance behind Shay. She used the shadows to her advantage, along with her agility to bounce between the walls and make her way to the roof. She did not wish to risk the girl turning back and running into her, and regardless, a high vantage point was always preferable. There were always stray shadows scattered about in case she needed to move or hide, but she wasn’t alone.
A little ways into the distance, across the rooftops, Kelara felt a presence. She could see a form moving, a man? It was hard to tell, she needed to get closer. She moved, as quiet as a mouse, towards him, still keeping her distance, any shadow she passed by she faded into, masking her presence whenever she could. She knew Eroshay was below, she could feel her to a certain degree, if not just for the demon, Klaus’, mark, but also that inherent feeling she always had near her wards. The man was watching her, wasn’t he… A member of the Rosales gang perhaps? She did not want to attack him out of suspicion, it was not her way, plus attacking a Rosales would only make her life more difficult. She could not confront him, not yet, as she had no noteworthy name to give and no clear reason as to why she was on the roof herself.
Things were so much simpler in the past, when the law was vague and enforcers were pathetically incompetent. Crime was no where near as organized either, which added another layer of complication. While Kelara was not unfamiliar with how the world worked in the current day, it did not stop her from remembering and longing for a simpler time when she could simply remove the threat and take her ward away from harm, but for now… She would watch.
Kelara took a quick look around before heading into the alleyway herself, still a short distance behind Shay. She used the shadows to her advantage, along with her agility to bounce between the walls and make her way to the roof. She did not wish to risk the girl turning back and running into her, and regardless, a high vantage point was always preferable. There were always stray shadows scattered about in case she needed to move or hide, but she wasn’t alone.
A little ways into the distance, across the rooftops, Kelara felt a presence. She could see a form moving, a man? It was hard to tell, she needed to get closer. She moved, as quiet as a mouse, towards him, still keeping her distance, any shadow she passed by she faded into, masking her presence whenever she could. She knew Eroshay was below, she could feel her to a certain degree, if not just for the demon, Klaus’, mark, but also that inherent feeling she always had near her wards. The man was watching her, wasn’t he… A member of the Rosales gang perhaps? She did not want to attack him out of suspicion, it was not her way, plus attacking a Rosales would only make her life more difficult. She could not confront him, not yet, as she had no noteworthy name to give and no clear reason as to why she was on the roof herself.
Things were so much simpler in the past, when the law was vague and enforcers were pathetically incompetent. Crime was no where near as organized either, which added another layer of complication. While Kelara was not unfamiliar with how the world worked in the current day, it did not stop her from remembering and longing for a simpler time when she could simply remove the threat and take her ward away from harm, but for now… She would watch.
Shay touched the glass jars, inspecting the insides. Eyes, tongues -- things for alchemy? She crouched lower, so she was at eye level with one of the jars. She breathed out in a huff and tried to get a feel for the place, or why she had been led here when a thin wooden door leading into a wardrobe shook.
Shay held her dagger, the sound of her heartbeat deafening in her ears. Adrenaline had coursed through her veins and for the brief second or nothing before the door opened, Shay felt everything around her. She breathed the fight. Lived for it.
Out of the wardrobe fell a girl no older than Shay, wearing baggy, torn clothing. Her hair was knotted and ratty, looking as if it hadn't been washed in a good ling while. Shay reactively pulled herself into a defensive stance. One of the few things she'd picked up from training.
They stared at each other for what felt like hours before the ratty girl lunged for one of the sharp tools on the table. Shay's eyes widened, and reflexively she lashed out with her dagger to prick the other girl's hand with the point.
The raggedy girl hissed and snatched her hand back. After a moment's hesitation between the two of them, the girl pulled out a strange glass ball of energy and magic and smashed it on the ground at her feet. A gust of wind and the entire room went dark.
There were slivers of light on the stairwell and against the table from a series of windows, but beyond that, it was as if the orb had swallowed all the light in the area.
Shay could hear the little girl shuffle from somewhere at her side. Across from the table, maybe? Something heavy collided into her, sending Shay sprawling on the ground.
It did not even take a moment for Kelara to notice something was wrong. The sounds of combat, though faint from her position, were very familiar to the battle hardened woman. She took her eyes away from the man ahead of her and looked towards the building Eroshay had entered. What she saw was also very familiar, a blanket of shadow. Something was definitely happening down there.
There was no time to determine if the man she had been watching was friend or foe. All Kelara knew is that she had to do something; she could not leave Eroshay's fate to chance. She quickly focused her energy and faded into darkness, moving between the shadows of the buildings within the blink of an eye, finding herself inside the dark room.
Kelara was at home within the darkness. It was a part of her, it gave her strength, and as such, she was quickly able to assess her surroundings. She sensed Shay on the ground, and the other small form hovering over her. Kelara wasted no time, moving like lighting, she struck out with a powerful side kick, aimed at the ribs of the hovering figure. If her attack landed, Kelara would then kneel before Shay while her target reeled, touching the girl's shoulder. Within a moment, a shroud of hardened shadow would envelop her, helping to protect her from further attack while Kelara returned her attention to the potentially stunned, childlike, figure.
There was no time to determine if the man she had been watching was friend or foe. All Kelara knew is that she had to do something; she could not leave Eroshay's fate to chance. She quickly focused her energy and faded into darkness, moving between the shadows of the buildings within the blink of an eye, finding herself inside the dark room.
Kelara was at home within the darkness. It was a part of her, it gave her strength, and as such, she was quickly able to assess her surroundings. She sensed Shay on the ground, and the other small form hovering over her. Kelara wasted no time, moving like lighting, she struck out with a powerful side kick, aimed at the ribs of the hovering figure. If her attack landed, Kelara would then kneel before Shay while her target reeled, touching the girl's shoulder. Within a moment, a shroud of hardened shadow would envelop her, helping to protect her from further attack while Kelara returned her attention to the potentially stunned, childlike, figure.
The weight was gone and Shay would have been back on her feet had she not felt something cold and familiar wrap around her like armor. It didn't stop her from backing up until she was pushed against the table's leg, trying to squint through the darkness and see who else had joined her and her attacker. The body shape wasn't the same as either of her bodyguards.
The attacker was already back on her feet and facing the two of them. She rose her hands to her mouth and shot a string of fire from between them. The flame fanned out, enveloping the wooden floor in a flurry of orange, red, and blue. She needed out because she already knew she wouldn't win this fight. The risk wasn't worth the reward.
The attacker looked to her left and to her right before darting toward the wardrobe in the hopes of locking herself within it once again.
Kelara squinted as the flames rushed towards her and Shay, the light allowing her to make out the attacker, another small girl, who could breath fire apparently. She erected a barrier of shadow from the ground, keeping the flames at bay before glancing back at Shay to make sure she was alright.
"Get out, now." Kelara said, in a mildly raspy and monotone voice. It was a command, though while the words held a sense of urgency, there was a calm to them as well; it was as if everything was under control.
She looked back at the fire breather as she ran for the wardrobe. It would be a simple thing to kill the girl, but as she was retreating, Kelara saw no need. She remained like a wall holding back the flames, waiting for Shay to comply, her eye glued to the aggressor in case she went back on the offensive.
"Get out, now." Kelara said, in a mildly raspy and monotone voice. It was a command, though while the words held a sense of urgency, there was a calm to them as well; it was as if everything was under control.
She looked back at the fire breather as she ran for the wardrobe. It would be a simple thing to kill the girl, but as she was retreating, Kelara saw no need. She remained like a wall holding back the flames, waiting for Shay to comply, her eye glued to the aggressor in case she went back on the offensive.
Shay didn't need to be told twice. She scrambled up, nearly tripping once as she jumped down the stairs three at a time. Once safely outside the tower, she took a second to catch her breath and figure out what exactly had happened.
Maybe if Shay were another child her age, she'd have ran as far as she could, but as it were, she wanted to know who this mysterious woman who had saved her life was. She leaned against the wall of the alley and looked to the rooftops and into the darkness.
“Jericho? Ayaka?”
OOC: Sorry, took me a moment. 
IC:
One minute. One minute! That's all Jericho let Shay out of his sight for. The dance class was supposed to be good for her. He thought she had fun at those. But no, she decided to slip out from Jeri's watchful eye. He didn't even know what Ayaka had been doing. The moment that Jericho felt that Shay had slipped away somewhere he became frantic. The sad thing too was that Shay probably didn't intentionally leave him behind. She probably thought that he was right on it and probably heard her say where she was going. That girl gives me too much credit, Jericho thought ruefully. He grabbed his phone and texted out to her, Where are you? Receiving no immediate reply he grimaced as he knew he'd have to track her the old fashioned way.
Using his heightened senses, he tracked her path ahead of him. How the HELL, is she able to move so quickly? Through the city streets he went until his gut began to tell him that things were about to get real rough real fast. Jericho turned a corner swiftly, sliding around the edge. Just then a pit formed in his stomach. Her scent lead directly into the Underground. A place that no thirteen-year-old girl should be by herself. Especially Shay. Jericho gulped, he didn't want people to see him. Undesirables would know that he wasn't around her. He looked around, thinking quickly. He spotted a fire escape that lead to a rooftop. He sighed. It'll have to do.
Jericho wished that he had his rifle with him. It would allow him to better see Shay from the roofs. All he had was his handgun. Best for close quarters, but he could make it work for longer distances if he was careful. Jericho made quick work on getting to the roof and began sprinting along the tops, jumping over gaps while Shay's scent kept getting stronger until he finally caught sight of her. Clearing another gap, he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. Jericho went to the edge of the roof and knelt on one knee, surveying Shay's surroundings. Did you even get my text? he messaged. Once again, he didn't get a reply. She was probably wrapped up in her own curiosity to notice her phone going off.
Rolling his eyes, Jericho got up and followed while hidden on the rooftops. He felt a shiver go down his spine and he looked behind him suddenly. Something watching me? he thought. Not seeing anything, he moved along. Jericho's eyes widened as he lost sight of Shay again.
Dammit!
He ran quickly, again following Shay's scent, to another set of roofs which lead by an alleyway. Jericho deduced she went down that one. Before he could reach the end, he heard. "Well well well, what's one of the Rosales gang doing in my turf."
Jericho shoulders stooped as he halted and slowly turned. "Not being a cliche, that's what."
There were three of them. Each were wearing disheveled clothing and looking like they hadn't bathed in weeks. The thug in the center had long black hair that concealed one of his eyes. His head was angled downward menacingly with a wicked grin on his face. The one on the left looked slightly better than the other two. He was blonde with short-cropped hair with a part on the left side. As for the thug on the right, he was large and brutish. Jericho actually wondered how such a muscular person could be living as a common street thug.
"Oh, a funny one eh? You've got a lot of nerve to be scouting out what is rightfully mine," the black haired one in the center said. The brute on the right laughed while the blonde only gently smiled.
Jericho rubbed his eyes. "Look, guys, I know you wanna fight and all, but I've really got more important matters than to deal with you three small fries."
"Who you callin' small, shrimp?" the brute said.
"Ohoho, obviously not you Tiny! I was referring to your pretty boyfriend over there. Of course you!" Jericho said. The brute, taken aback, only growled back. Their leader looked to either side of him and met his comrades eyes. They then shared a laugh.
"I'm gonna enjoy taking that suit of yours," the leader said.
Jericho sighed and put a hand on his hip. Pointing lazily to each of them he said, "Let's see. Pretty one," blonde, "stupid one," brute, "aaaand the one with the weird powers," leader. Cracking his knuckles Jericho said, "Let's do this."
"Jericho? Ayaka?" Shay called out.
Jericho stood up so he could be seen. "Don't do that to me next time! I had to kill, like, a dozen people just to keep up with you. And why don't you answer your phone, huh?"
IC:
One minute. One minute! That's all Jericho let Shay out of his sight for. The dance class was supposed to be good for her. He thought she had fun at those. But no, she decided to slip out from Jeri's watchful eye. He didn't even know what Ayaka had been doing. The moment that Jericho felt that Shay had slipped away somewhere he became frantic. The sad thing too was that Shay probably didn't intentionally leave him behind. She probably thought that he was right on it and probably heard her say where she was going. That girl gives me too much credit, Jericho thought ruefully. He grabbed his phone and texted out to her, Where are you? Receiving no immediate reply he grimaced as he knew he'd have to track her the old fashioned way.
Using his heightened senses, he tracked her path ahead of him. How the HELL, is she able to move so quickly? Through the city streets he went until his gut began to tell him that things were about to get real rough real fast. Jericho turned a corner swiftly, sliding around the edge. Just then a pit formed in his stomach. Her scent lead directly into the Underground. A place that no thirteen-year-old girl should be by herself. Especially Shay. Jericho gulped, he didn't want people to see him. Undesirables would know that he wasn't around her. He looked around, thinking quickly. He spotted a fire escape that lead to a rooftop. He sighed. It'll have to do.
Jericho wished that he had his rifle with him. It would allow him to better see Shay from the roofs. All he had was his handgun. Best for close quarters, but he could make it work for longer distances if he was careful. Jericho made quick work on getting to the roof and began sprinting along the tops, jumping over gaps while Shay's scent kept getting stronger until he finally caught sight of her. Clearing another gap, he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. Jericho went to the edge of the roof and knelt on one knee, surveying Shay's surroundings. Did you even get my text? he messaged. Once again, he didn't get a reply. She was probably wrapped up in her own curiosity to notice her phone going off.
Rolling his eyes, Jericho got up and followed while hidden on the rooftops. He felt a shiver go down his spine and he looked behind him suddenly. Something watching me? he thought. Not seeing anything, he moved along. Jericho's eyes widened as he lost sight of Shay again.
Dammit!
He ran quickly, again following Shay's scent, to another set of roofs which lead by an alleyway. Jericho deduced she went down that one. Before he could reach the end, he heard. "Well well well, what's one of the Rosales gang doing in my turf."
Jericho shoulders stooped as he halted and slowly turned. "Not being a cliche, that's what."
There were three of them. Each were wearing disheveled clothing and looking like they hadn't bathed in weeks. The thug in the center had long black hair that concealed one of his eyes. His head was angled downward menacingly with a wicked grin on his face. The one on the left looked slightly better than the other two. He was blonde with short-cropped hair with a part on the left side. As for the thug on the right, he was large and brutish. Jericho actually wondered how such a muscular person could be living as a common street thug.
"Oh, a funny one eh? You've got a lot of nerve to be scouting out what is rightfully mine," the black haired one in the center said. The brute on the right laughed while the blonde only gently smiled.
Jericho rubbed his eyes. "Look, guys, I know you wanna fight and all, but I've really got more important matters than to deal with you three small fries."
"Who you callin' small, shrimp?" the brute said.
"Ohoho, obviously not you Tiny! I was referring to your pretty boyfriend over there. Of course you!" Jericho said. The brute, taken aback, only growled back. Their leader looked to either side of him and met his comrades eyes. They then shared a laugh.
"I'm gonna enjoy taking that suit of yours," the leader said.
Jericho sighed and put a hand on his hip. Pointing lazily to each of them he said, "Let's see. Pretty one," blonde, "stupid one," brute, "aaaand the one with the weird powers," leader. Cracking his knuckles Jericho said, "Let's do this."
* * *
Mere moments later, Jericho was dusting his hands off with a pile of bodies in front of him. Now, back to the matter at hand. He turned and walked back to the edge of the roof. A bright glow of flames shot from the only door at the end of the alley. Shit! He readied his handgun and prepared to vault over the edge and careen into the building to rescue Shay. As it turned out, he didn't need to as Shay came running out from the door.
"Jericho? Ayaka?" Shay called out.
Jericho stood up so he could be seen. "Don't do that to me next time! I had to kill, like, a dozen people just to keep up with you. And why don't you answer your phone, huh?"