"Thank you, Cara!" Brynn leaps into my arms again, knocking be backwards. It's only then that I notice the overturned chair in the corner and rumpled bedding strewn across the room. I turn to Kaya for an explanation, but she doesn't say a word.

"Cara, Cara." Bryn tugs my arm. "Look what I learned today." She looks to Kaya, who shuts the door before nodding. Bryn runs to her bed by the window. Her eyes take on a blank stare for a few moments. All I can feel is the dread manifesting throughout my body. Then, the air in the room shifts ever so slightly and the only thing I'm capable of thinking is no, no, no, please no. A breeze slips through my hair but the only window in the room is closed and fear clenches me.

Kaya watches her sister solemnly as a phantom wind tousles Bryn's black hair. She laughs in delight and her joy for her power only makes everything all the more terrifying. She has no idea that something so incredible isn't meant for her and can only mean a fleeting life of agony and misery. Echoes of the past ring, of another time in another sector where another young life was snuffed out in mere minutes. Every Transfer I've so much as heard of flashes in my mind.

I grab Kaya's arm. "No," I whisper, begging for her to say the sight before my eyes isn't real and it's some sort of elaborate trick. Begging for Bryn to stop and rip away her power before someone else can snatch away the rest of her years. But Kaya doesn't move. A tear drips from her lashes.

Watching the air weakly alter to the little girl's manipulations, a rush of resolve hardens me. Even if Relicts truly do go mad from their powers, Bryn won't become a Transfer. I won't let her. I refuse to allow another child's life to end before they take their last breath.

"We'll figure this out, Kaya." I promise.

Kaya turns to me, despair written on her face. "How? She's so young – she won't understand how dangerous it is for her to use her powers even in privacy. She'll let it slip and the King's men always manage to find Transfers, no matter how well they're hidden or lock away their powers, they're eventually found. Whether it be as a Transfer or a Relict, their lives are still as good as gone."

"We'll keep her safe," I say firmly. "We'll find out a way to keep her powers from overtaking her mind. She won't be taken away, I swear."

She must see the determination in my eyes because she nods. We observe Bryn a little while longer until someone raps at the door. The sound startles Bryn, causing her to lose her control over the air. Kaya pokes her head out and Wes speaks outside.

"Hour's up," he says. "Time to go."

Kaya's head bobs. "Sure," she says in a falsely calm voice. "C –" she trips over my name and I wince. "Lynn and I will be down in a few minutes." She shuts the door and leans against it. "Sorry," she says. "I've never messed up, it's just Bryn's.... situation has me out of it."

"It's fine." I say. "You know, you could charm him into giving us more than a few minutes." She blushes. "Wait, if you're going to the Boar's Head, who's staying with Bryn and Nona?"

"Sera is. After her break from last week's fight, she can't go out."

"She won't be too happy about that." I guess. "Even injured, she's not going to want to miss a Pits night." But I'm not worried. Sera's trustworthy. She never asks too many questions and though she prefers to be in the action, she can be counted on to do anything.

I look to Bryn, who tries to regain her grip on the air. The sight has me nearly breaking out in a cold sweat. Out of the corner of my eye, Kaya doesn't look much better, either.

I walk over to Bryn and kneel to her height. "Bryn," I say. She doesn't seem to hear me, her eyes focused on the empty space before her. "Bryn." I try, louder this time. I touch her shoulder and it snaps her back.

"Yea?" she asks, eyes blinking innocently. My heart twists at the possibility that I might fail her, too, just like I failed all those years ago. Words that I've tried to bury rise up. A pointless, worthless, hopeless case who can't do anything right and has doomed herself and all who touch her.

No. I'll protect Bryn. If it costs my own life, if it ends with me as another victim of the square's bloody reputation, then so be it.

"Bryn, this...new skill you've found...you can't tell anyone."

She cocks her head. "Why?"

"Well," I search for an explanation that won't terrify her, but at the same time be enough to convince her not to use her power. "You know how I tell you to only call me Cara in front of Kaya?"

"You said it's because it's our secret treasure. Because if anyone else knows, it won't be a treasure because it won't be for only us. And not everyone can have a treasure, because then it's not special."

"That's right." I smile at her understanding. Despite being barely five years old, she's always been able to comprehend just about anything I've said to her. "Your skill is like a treasure, Bryn. Not everyone has something like that, that's what makes it so special."

"This," she manages to drag a sheet across the floor with a small wave of her hand. Chills run down my back. "Makes me special?" she smiles.

"No, that doesn't make you special." Her smile falls. "You are special. With or without your skill, you're special."

Bryn brightens.

"But this," I gesture to the messy room, "this is something more. Like my real name is my treasure, this new thing about you is your treasure. You have to keep it hidden. You can't use it without me or Kaya saying it's okay – and that's only when we're alone. If even one person knows, it won't be your treasure. It will be someone else's."

I don't tell her that it won't be hers because it will be ripped away without a moment's notice. "Do you understand? You can't ever do this when someone is near you or even when you're alone – only if Kaya or I are with you. You have to promise me that you'll do as we say. Please," I desperately take hold of her shoulders look into her widened eyes, pleading with her to understand. "Please, Bryn. Promise?"

She nods. "Promise."

I know she means it, but it's not enough for me. "And what do we say about promises?"

"A broken promise means a broken heart." She recites.

My shoulders that I didn't realize were tense relax. I embrace her, holding her for as long as I can before Kaya's eagerness for time with her sister forces me to let go. I step back and allow Kaya to rush forward, having her own moment with Bryn before Kaya hugs her as well. Kaya releases Bryn and goes over to her own bed beside Bryn's. She reaches down, and the sound of the clattering wood tells me she's removing the loose floorboard that hides her and Bryn's most personal belongings. Kaya pulls out a few of the simple books I've brought for her to use as a substitution for Bryn's schooling.

The books are also used to keep Bryn occupied when neither Kaya nor I can skip a week at the Pits and she's left alone. Not that she minds – no matter how many times Bryn pours over the pages, she never fails to be entertained by them.

"Bryn." Kaya comes over to Bryn and I and crouches in front of her sister. "Cara and I won't be here tonight. We have to leave in a few minutes for work."

"Again?" Bryn says in a disappointed voice.

"I don't want to leave you, either, but we have to. Sera will be with you, though. You like spending time with her, right?"

At the mention of Sera, Bryn nods eagerly. "Uh-huh. She's fun. Once, she showed me how to break someone's arm."

"Okay, let's try to stay away from breaking bones." I cut in.

From below, Wes call for me and Kaya, saying that everyone was leaving immediately.

Kaya looks to me apprehensively. "Don't worry," I say in what I hope is a reassuring tone, but I can't tell if my own concern seeps into my voice.

She shifts her gaze to her sister and wraps her arms around her tightly one more time. She whispers something into Bryn's ear, but it's too low for me to hear. Despite the fact that I've cared for Bryn alongside Kaya since she was little more than a baby I don't mind them having their own secrets – Kaya has nothing but Bryn. If she loses the last of her family, I don't know what it would do to her.

Finally, Kaya pulls herself away and I follow her to the door. Just before we leave the room, I turn back to Bryn. "Remember what I said, Bryn. Remember what you promised."

She nods. "I won't break it."

I shut the door behind us, wishing I could close off the world to her just as easily as the door. As we walk downstairs, Kaya turns to me. "Wait, did she mean the promise or bones?"

* * *

By the entrance, Wes hands out the Curfew Permits – Work passes for the Boar's Head and Leisure ones; five for men, three for women.

Kaya and I line up with the others. However, standing in front of me is Sera. I whip my head around to Kaya and it's clear we both have the same question; who's staying with Bryn and Nona? I tap Sera on the shoulder. She turns in an awkward circle, her cast dragging along the wooden floor.

"Sera, I thought you were staying tonight?" I question.

She scowls. "I saw the schedule a few minutes ago. I'm not supposed to skip the Pits for another two weeks. I have nothing against staying back when I'm supposed to, but I won't let Wes keep me here because of a stupid injury."

My eyes travel down to her broken leg. Does she really mean to fight with a cast? Although, she could always knock someone out if she kicked them in the head with it.

I shake my head. "But, Sera, you can't fight with your leg like that. Wes will never let you go."

She crosses her arms, leaning on her crutch. It teeters against her tenuous perch, but she doesn't waver. "So, you talk to him. You're second in command, so you must have some say in who stays."

I study her. With Sera's short height and small build, she would appear almost harmless if it wasn't for the scars running all over her brown skin from years of victories at the Pits and the dangerous glint in her eyes whenever approached with a challenge. I remember when I first met her, I didn't underestimate her like people usually do when they first see her step into the Pits or rise up to issue a match. She holds herself with a certain confidence and moves like a fighter, every turn precise, every move preparing for an attack. Everyone was stronger than me when I first joined; everyone bigger and smarter and more experienced. But out of all the crew members that scared me, the person I recall terrifying me the most was Sera.

I refuse her. "Sorry, Sera. Wes wouldn't keep you out of the fight if he knew you were able. If you really want to join, take it up with him."

Her frown deepens, and she faces the front. Once Sera reaches Wes, he sighs. He must've known Sera wouldn't accept her exclusion easily. "Sera, you know better than to try and question my decisions. My word is final: you are not to attend the Pits tonight. You may have won that last fight, but your opponent attacked you once your back was turned. It may not have been your fault, but you know the risks of fighting. There are always going to be men that don't appreciate being bested by a woman. You accepted those terms, so now you have to accept that responsibility."

Wes hands her the three Leisure passes. Sera takes them, but her eyes linger on the Work Permits. She limps away, her expression furious. Sera is not one to allow someone to push her around, but she acknowledges and respects Wes's leadership.

"Oh, and Sera?" Wes calls.

She pauses. "Yes?"

"Use your other crutch. You're only making your leg worse with all that dragging and banging."

She turns back to Wes. "I don't need it." She argues.

"Sera – use it. That's not a suggestion."

She grumbles something under her breath and spins back around. Wes runs a hand through his hair and faces me. He hands me the Work Permit, but not the Leisure.

"Come on," I throw up my arms. "Just give me the Leisure ones. It's not like I'll go running off through the night looking for trouble."

He raises a brow. "You don't need a pass for that." He refers to the night I led the guards on a false chase a few winters ago.

"You're breaking laws just by having these." I raise up the Work pass. "You're really going to follow the eighteen-year minimum?"

"We may be a group of criminals, but there's a valid reason for the age limit. Would you give a reckless young person permission to run through the night?"

"I'm not reckless." I argue. Wes gives me a skeptical look. I look at Kaya for a vote of confidence, but all I get in return is the same expression as Wes. "Oh, come on."

"Lynn, you get the work pass because the bets always peak when they concern you. Also, a guard won't pay much attention to a Work Permit pinned to you than they would a Leisure one. They won't risk affecting dockworkers or tavern employees' shifts. Leisure passes are easier to buy on the black market, so there's more reason to stop anyone suspicious. And you know more than anyone how you're a pretty big target to the guards."

I roll my eyes at the same precautions he recites whenever I try to reason for a Leisure Permit. Kaya takes my place to receive her Work and Leisure passes. Her hands brush Wes's, and a hint of pink touches her skin.

We step aside as Wes distributes the remaining Permits. "You could give me one of yours, you know. It wasn't too long ago when you were in my position."

"Come on, Lynn," she says, using the same name as the rest of the crew while people brush past us. "You know I can't do that."

I glance down at the pass she pins to her shirt, the alias printed in large bold letters. "Of all the pseudonyms Wes could've chosen for your Leisure Permits, he picks that?"

"It's hard enough for him to fool the guards into letting him pass with this many Permits, I'm sure the last thing on his mind is coming up with a nice fake name for everyone." She defends.

"Trust me," I scoff "You're far from the last thing on his mind, Kori." I tease. Her face turns bright red, even though she tells me just about everything between her and Wes.

"Laugh as much as you like, I still have Leisure passes."

I look at my nameless Work Permit. "If not having Leisure passes means my Work Permit is spared from Wes's awful names, I'll make sure to never take one."

Kaya laughs, and Wes finishes with the Permits. His hand hits the wall behind him. The noise ceases.

"Okay, everyone. I know today was troubling to say the least. Just because we're still heading to the tavern doesn't mean everything will be back to normal. From now on, no one is to travelin less than groups of three at night, whether you are going out with a Work or Leisure Permit. Daytime outings are to be in pairs. We will continue with our schedules and tasks as usual, but you are all required to keep an eye out and keep from drawing attention to yourselves. Up in the tavern, try to linger around the guards' tables and pick up whatever information you can, even if you feel it's worthless, the smallest detail could save you. Down in the Pits, there's not much to say other than continuing to make sure not to draw any of the guards down there."

Wes examines the crew, minus Sera, looking for any sign of confusion or misunderstanding. No one shows any concerning behavior, other than Finn sulking in the back. Kaya follows my glare to him. "I still think he should have to sleep in the tavern for an extra week, and Darren should join him." Her voice has an angry edge at the mention of Darren. Some one must've told Wes what Darren said, and he never keeps anything from Kaya.

The reminder of Darren makes me look down at my hand again. You hit someone because of your temper. You hit someone for no reason other than their words. You're just like her. I try my best to expel the thoughts, but a shiver crawls down my back. No matter how much I attempt to distance myself from the actions of the past, they just keep creeping back to me. What if that one slap of anger is just the beginning to becoming just like Ms. Elodie?

Simply the thought of the woman is enough to send a shudder through me, too strong for me to try and hold back.

Kaya doesn't miss it. "Cara?" her voice is too low for anyone to hear. "Cara are you alright?"

"Let's move out." Wes orders.

Trios are formed as everyone leaves. Wes makes his way towards us, leaving it impossible for me to explain without him overhearing.

"I'll tell you later," I whisper. She sees Wes coming and gives a slight nod.

"Lynn, as second, it'd be best for the three of us to head out together."

I cross my arms. "Really? And here I thought I was a reckless child. Unless..." I purposefully glance from him to Kaya. "There's another reason for this grouping?" I ask innocently.

The sight of their flushing faces is more than enough confirmation, even though I didn't need it. "Let's go." I walk to the door, leaving the two of them to follow. "I don't know about you two, but I've got some gambling to do."