ALICE

I walk through the streets of Bracken and stop before the flower shop, taking in the sweet scent of flowers as I look at an array of vibrant blooms displayed in vases. The shopkeeper smiles at me from behind the glass window of her shop as she attends to a customer inside. I pick up a set of flowers and inhale them, "Daffodils? Running down on luck with the investigation?"

A smile escapes me, and I glance over my shoulder to confirm that it is Major Reinberke. "On the contrary, I've uncovered evidence about them being Firelights. They're also thieves, smugglers, and are operating as a fence as well." He nods approvingly, but that is not why I am here. "There's a party happening at the Blooming Rose late tomorrow night. Do you think you could assemble a task force?"

"The Blooming Rose? That's Lord Harrington's establishment, isn't it?" His tone is surprised. Who would've thought that a member of a council might be involved in something shady? But it is likely that it's his son. Frederick has always been wild, cruel, and disgusting. I turn to stand beside him, looking at the flowers that take his interest.

"His son's. I wouldn't be surprised if he's involved." He adjusts his spectacles with a sigh before picking up a set of purple and red chrysanthemums with a frown. "My sources indicate that there will be drugs present, along with the criminal lord responsible for selling them. Taking action could bring down a significant player in the Underworld of the Outer Districts."

I move away from him to another arrangement of flowers, subtly glancing around me, wary that someone might be watching or eavesdropping on us. It takes him a few moments before he approaches me, standing with his back facing me as he inspects the flowers behind me. "Are you sure about this? We might be biting off more than we could chew." His voice is low, full of doubt and fear.

"Rest assured, I'll ensure the evidence is compelling. Otherwise, I'll signal with a flare to cancel the operation." I pick up a few of the flowers before me, turning to my right to see a couple stopping by and looking at the flowers. "You needn't worry. With this Big Mouse out of the picture, there won't be a hit order being issued." I keep my voice as low as possible.

"I will prepare a team, but what about Strangler and The Butcher? They're the reasons behind this operation."

"I'll locate them soon enough, but they're just thugs following orders. We apprehend this Big Mouse, and it's all over for them too."

"I will order them to move in at midnight, be sure you shoot your flare before." He walks away from me to pay for the flowers he picked up, and I move to the other part of the flowers on display, turning to look at the Major as he makes his exit. I put back the Daffodils in their place before entering the shop to pay for the flowers in my hands.

"Orange roses?" My eyes widen in surprise; he smiles widely at me as he holds my gaze. "Who's the lucky fellow?" I force a smile; flowers' symbolism isn't really my cup of tea. I choose the flowers because I think they fit her. "Here you go." He hands me back the flowers after having wrapped them in papers.

"Thank you." I place the coins on the counter before taking the flowers off his hands, making my way back to Marvin's home. Marvin's grandmother is fond of flowers; she reminds me of my own mother, except my mother keeps a garden of flowers, and his grandmother keeps dead ones.

I hold the bouquet of flowers close to my chest; she feels like a mother I never had. Everything I know about my mother is from the accounts of people that were close to her, and of course, from my own father. And my father, I never thought I'd miss him this much yet I could not risk going home. I should write a letter telling him that I've reached Harmonia soon.

I stop by Marvin's house, a small cottage with weathered bricks, cramped rooms, and tattered roofs. I enter the room to see Emrys sitting on the table; Marvin's grandmother is standing by the small hearth cooking her usual porridge. "What are you doing here?"

"Your grand mother told me to wait for you inside." I place the flowers on the table, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him up the stairs to my room. Marvin's old room.

"What are you doing here?"

"With the Inn closed, I figured we could spend some time together." I place a hand over my head, taking a step back to sit on the worn-out chair behind me. And he approaches, sitting on the table next to me as he brushes the right fringe of my hair away. "I am sorry, I'll leave if you-"

"I like you, Emrys." I gaze into his kind eyes, and a small smile forms on his lips. "But it is better if you stop, there shouldn't be anything between us. It's better that way."

"Why? What's stopping you?" A hint of frustration escapes in his tone. "What am I distracting you from? What do you want?"

"You don't need to know details, Emrys. All you need to understand is that we wouldn't work.

"And you won't try?" A sigh of frustration escapes me, and I turn my face away. He touches my face softly, brushing at my cheek with his thumb before gently turning my face towards him. "I love you, Mathilda. With my heart and soul, whatever is the reason you think we can't work. I will make it work."

"You can't." I hold his hand, pulling it away from my face with a soft sigh. "It would be less painful if we put an end to it now." I rise to my feet, inhaling deeply before letting out a slow exhale. "Just leave me be."

"Tell me why."

"I'm afraid I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

I meet his gaze with a frown; how can I tell him? I did not expect things to turn out this way. I never expected I would actually be friends with my enemies, let alone fall in love with one. He is in love with a lie. "Please, respect my privacy."

He hangs his head low in defeat. "I love you, and I hope you..." He shakes his head before turning to walk away. I cover my face with both hands; how long would the lie last anyway? Am I supposed to turn a blind eye to their crimes? I have to put them away eventually.

I approach the bed, turning my back towards it wanting to fall on my back. But my memory flashes; I nearly broke my back falling into it. Even as I add multiple layers of bed rolls, I doubt it is enough to soften the fall enough that it won't hurt. I sit on the bed instead before laying myself out. What should I do with them? I close my eyes.

FREDERICK

I take her to the finest room of the Blooming Rose, locking the door as she stands before the brocade curtains that adorn the tall windows. She takes a sip of red wine from the glass in her hand before placing it gently on the table. "I wouldn't want some drunk fool barging into the room and ruining our evening." I smile at her, and she returns with a subtle but alluring smile.

"I'd dislike that too." She sits on the bottom edge of the bed. I can see her leg through the slit of her dress as I move to sit right next to her. The air is tense; I can feel her sensual energy burning, threatening to explode out of her. Slowly, I reach for her open shoulder, brushing at it gently, but she shoves me into the mattress. Her hands grip my wrist as she presses down on it. "I distaste mundane things."

"Mundane things?"

Her grip loosens as she reaches for the tie around my collars and unties it. "Will you allow me to have my way with you?" A wide smile escapes me; with a face like that, I thought I scored an angel, but instead, she is the devil herself. I scoot up the bed and put my wrists close together above my head. "I am all yours."

My heart races as she straddles me, wrapping the tie tightly around my wrist before reaching towards the bedrest. Her chest above my face as she ties me to one of the spindles. It's only a handful but beautiful regardless. Then she stands up, her white dress contrasting the red floral colors of the wall behind her. The chandelier above her puts her into the spotlight as it casts a warm glow on her.

The flames of the fireplace flicker; my body heats up, and sweat escapes my skin. Her hand reaches under the slit of her dress with a smile, then her underwear drops to her ankles. She lets out a chuckle, and I chuckle with her. "Be a good boy and remain silent." I open my mouth as she stuffs it in. "Mathilda!"

She turns to the voice, brows furrowing before she looks at me. "Would you mind opening up and sharing?" My eyes widen; I've been with many women at once but sharing a woman with another man? I shake my head to disagree. "I knew you wouldn't be the dull type." The door slams, and she walks away. It slams again, and I speak up to protest, but only incoherent mumbling escapes me.

She turns to look at me as she stands at the door, blowing me a kiss before she places a hand on the knob. It unlocks, and a man stumbles into the room as she opens it; it is a young man. His eyes wide with shock, jaw dropping in disbelief before he turns to look at her. "Quite capable, aren't I?" She smiles widely.

Then another man enters, slightly older; cold shivers run down my back as his eyes stare at me menacingly. He slams the door close, locking it and pushing the cabinet to block it. "Are we doing it right here? Right now?" The young boy questions.

My mind races with all sorts of thoughts; what sick fantasy are we playing here? "We're not going to get another opportunity." The younger boy turns the girl around, dragging another piece of furniture to block the door.

The older one stares at me, my eyes wide as he takes out a knife, my screaming muffled as he approaches. A sharp pain on my shoulder as he slices me; I bite down on her underwear in pain, his hand gripping at my collar roughly to pick me up slightly, my nose stinging as my head whips back from a punch, blood trickling down my nose.

A sharp pain on my thigh as he stabs it, and a muffled scream escapes me. I scream again as he stabs the other thigh with a crooked smile, my pleading words coming out only as mumbling. What the hell does this kid want? "You're a dirty and sick man, do you know that?" He grabs me by the jaw and tilting my head up as he stares me down. "Do you know why I am doing this?" I shake my head, the wounds on my thighs stinging. Burning. "Soraya."

Soraya? The whore Junior brought me? Is he her lover or something? He lifts his knife up in a reverse grip, my eyes wide as I plead for him to stop. The blade pierces through my front shoulder, searing my flesh, and I let out another muffled scream, biting down hard. "Where is she?" He yanks the knife out, and a grunt of pain escapes me; I could feel blood flowing out from my fresh wound.

He pulls out the underwear from my mouth, and my sore jaw muscles finally relax. "I'll tell you where she is, please. Spare me." His eyes narrow into slits, and a scream escapes me as he stabs me in the other shoulder. "For God's sake! I thought Junior was the only crazy person in the Outer Districts."

"I hate liars most."

"Well, I am not lying!" He slices at me, leaving a burning pain across my cheek and a shriek escapes me. "You-" He stares coldly; it might be better not to provoke him further; who knows the depths of his cruelty? He is worse than me.

"Then where is Soraya?"

"Stonewell district, in a warehouse on 145 Avenue." He places his knife against my neck, its sharp edge cold and biting. "I am telling you the truth, I swear it!" He smiles, letting out a suppressed chuckle. "Please."

"Let him live." We turn to look at the girl; she refuses to look at us directly, but her expression remains horrified by the brief sight. "You've got what you needed. Does murder truly solve anything?"

The knob turns with a click, then the door slams. "Enforcers, open up!" The door slams once more; the young man looks out the window, opening before he jumps out. Then the older one helps the girl out and down the window; he glances at me one last time as if contemplating a kill before dropping down the window.