Faye's eyes swept through the crowded streets, landing on a man with an outline of a wallet showing through his pants' pocket. And the man had a confused, yet urgent, expression on his face. Like he was in unfamiliar territory, but needed to get somewhere fast. Easy target, Faye thought, and she followed the man.
It wasn't difficult to remain out of his sight. The man paid more attention to shop signs than his surroundings. As she approached him from behind, she pressed her entire body into him, in a way that made it looked like she had tripped. She slipped his wallet under her tattered cloak. "Sorry, sir."
The man glanced at her, then jumped. Either at her different colored eyes, or at the lumps under her grimy shirt that hid her bound wings. Most likely both. "It's okay," he mumbled, taking a few steps back with averted eyes. "Is there a potion shop around here?"
"No," Faye said quickly, then hurried away. She strode down the streets, past the pub, and turned down an alleyway leading behind an inn. Once certain she was alone, she checked the wallet's contents, and gasped.
There were bills, large bills. Enough to feed her for two months, and then some. Who carried this much money around? Guilt overcame her, but she needed the money more than the man. And she'd never be so careless with it. She pulled out half of it, and divided the bills into each pocket. And in both shoes, for good measure. She buried the wallet and its remaining bills in her knapsack.
After rewarding herself with ice cream, Faye sat down at her usual pan-handling spot out of habit. Fingering a hole in her pants, she thought about how she could use a new set of clothes. And a new cloak. Winter was approaching, after all. Yes, clothes shopping was exactly what she'd do.
She stood up, brushing dirt off her pants, and headed towards the second-hand clothes shop.
"Hey, you!" a voice shouted.
Faye turned around and saw the man from earlier. She swallowed, then forced a smile. "Hi."
The man glowered down at her, his lip curled. "You stole my wallet."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did." He held his palm out. "Give it back."
"No."
"Let me make myself clear." The man whipped a knife out, pointing it towards her neck. "Give it to me."
Faye whipped out her trusty pocket knife, and flipped it open right back at him. "Make me."
The man let out a laugh. "Cute." He made a move to snatch the knife from her, but she countered and swiped his instead.
Faye pointed both knives towards the man, jaw clenched. "Don't underestimate me."
Eyebrows raised, he held his hands up in a surrendering position. "Can I please have my wallet back?" The man's voice trembled.
"Fine." Faye slipped both knives in her pockets. She made a show of digging through her knapsack, and pulled out the wallet. The second the man took it, she bolted.
But the man chased her down, and grabbed her shirt collar. "Where's the rest of it?"
Faye turned her head away, wincing. "Spent it."
Teeth bared, the man yanked her closer. "You managed to spend 1,000 loti in a half hour?"
Faye held her hands up. "I'm a big spender."
The man reached for her pockets but she whipped out her knife again, and he jumped back. "Please," he whimpered, clasping his hands together. "I need the money."
Faye eyed the man. He wore a black jacket with golden buttons over a crisp, silk shirt. His jaw-length hair, while down, looked clean and well-kept. His pants were made out of a fine, leather material. Just like his knapsack. Faye folded her arms across her stained shirt, raising an eyebrow. "You need the money?"
"You can keep some," the man said, biting his lip. "But I lost my job, and I don't know when I can get another one..."
Faye scowled. "At least you can get a job."
"You can too, you know."
"I've tried, believe me." A sharp pain filled her chest. "I've had several. They never lasted long."
"There's plenty of factory jobs," the man said, raising his chin. "If you weren't so lazy, maybe-"
"Lazy!" Faye shouted, balling her hands into fists. "You don't even know me!"
The man looked around. Passerby's gave the two curious looks. He lowered his voice. "I'm sorry. But please... I'll die without it."
"You'll die?"
"I have to buy a potion, and I don't know how much it is." The man clasped his hands together again, and got down to her eye level. "Please. I promise to give you some after I buy the potion."
"You don't look like you're dying."
"The symptoms are internal." The man glared at her, palm still out. "Trust me."
Jaw clenched, Faye pulled bills out from her pockets, conveniently forgetting the ones in her shoes. "Here."
The man took the bills from her hands, and shoved them into his pockets. "Thank you," he said, after letting out a breath. "Where's the shop?"
"I'll lead you." Faye handed him his knife back. "I'm Faye."
Smiling, the man closed his knife, and slipped it into his pocket. "Jyri."
Faye waited for him outside Merriam's Potions, entertaining herself by watching pigeons peck at bread crumbs. Until Jyri's loud voice carried outside.
"But I'll die!"
Faye tore her eyes away from the birds, and tilted her head towards the open door. But the shopkeeper's words were hard to make out. Something about health insurance?
"To demons with insurance!" Jyri shouted. And then, "I can't afford that! Who can afford that?"
The shopkeeper said something else. Jyri said something back, and walked out empty-handed. He slumped onto the ground, hands over his head.
"What happened?" Faye asked.
"My insurance expired last week." Jyri's voice shook. "I lost my job, so I can't renew it." He pounded the side of his fist against his forehead. "How could I forget to renew it? I never forget anything!" He muttered a stream of words, and banged his head against his knees.
Faye went back to watching the pigeons, wondering what her life would be like if she had health insurance. Probably not much different. She chewed her lip, then looked back at the man. "Can't you buy the potion without it?"
"Of course." Jyri grinned at her through clenched teeth. "Guess how much it is."
Faye shrugged.
"4,000 loti!"
"4,000 loti!" Her eyes widened. "What kinda potion are you getting?"
"A life-saving one." Jyri buried his face in his knees, and let out a groan that made the pigeons take flight. Faye found herself feeling sorry for the man. The extra bills in her shoes poked at her feet, and a weight of guilt settled in her stomach. But not even adding what I kept, would cover it.
"Why not steal it?" Faye asked.
"Steal it?" Jyri whipped his head up, gaping at her. "I'm no criminal."
"I'm a criminal." Faye straightened, then smiled. "I can get it for you."
"How?"
"I have my ways. But I want payment."
"Anything."Jyri checked the gold watch on his wrist, and closed his eyes. "I only have a couple hours left."
"And I'll have it in a couple minutes. What's it called?"
"Carogizen. It's a black liquid. There should be just enough for a few sips."
"Right."
It had been awhile since Faye last used her powers to steal. She preferred going by hand, in case someone saw her using magic. But stealing from a potion shop would be harder than pickpocketing, and she'd have to figure out a way to get inside the stockroom. I'll just wing it. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the shop. The shopkeeper turned out being an elderly women. Faye smiled. Elderly women were easy. She strode up to the counter. "Excuse me?"
The shopkeeper looked up and jumped, pressing her hand over her chest. "Great Odis! What's wrong with your eyes?"
Faye bit back a retort. Instead, she clutched herself, lowering her head. "That's why I'm here. I need a potion that'll make them normal again."
"I don't... think we have anything."
"I was told otherwise," Faye said, forcing her voice to shake. "Someone told me the name of it, but I can't remember. If you take me back there, something might jog my memory." She inched her way behind the counter, towards the stockroom door.
"Employees-"
Faye whipped her arm out. She concentrated on the energy flowing through her body, and directed it out her palm. The shopkeeper froze in place, and Faye ran into the stockroom, straight to a shelf of potions. "Carogizen," she muttered under her breath, palm held out. A black vial shot out from the shelf, and into her hand. She slid it inside her pocket, and turned to leave. But the freeze spell had worn off.
"Witch!" the shopkeeper shouted. "Give that back!"
Faye ducked under her outstretched arm and fled the stockroom. She leapt over the counter, and zipped out the front door. Jyri stood up, open-mouthed. People jumped aside she veered through the crowds, cutting off horse carriages. Once certain the old woman had given up, Faye dipped into an alleyway. There, she plopped down next to a rubbish bin, clutching her chest for breath.
She jumped at the sound of Jyri's voice. "Faye?"
Faye stood up, panting, and stumbled over to him.
"Did you get the potion?" Grey eyes rounded, he clasped his hands under his chin. "Please tell me you got it."
Faye pulled out the glass vial, shaking it side to side between two fingers. "Told you I would."
Jyri snatched the vial from her, popped the cork off, and downed it in one gulp. He scrunched his face. "Thanks."
"Don't forget, you owe me. Is she gone?"
"Who cares." Jyri's eyes darted towards the busy sidewalk. He fled.
"Wait!" Faye chased after him, into the crowded square.
"That's her! That's the thieving witch." The shopkeeper stood on the edge of a fountain, an audience surrounding her.
"I knew witches were criminals!" a man shouted, raising his fist.
"She should be put to death!"
The thin soles of Faye's shoes slapped against the pavement as the angry mob chased her. But all the running from earlier caught up, and she kept stumbling, a stitch piercing her side. Letting out a cry, her aching feet gave in. The crowd closing in was the last thing Faye saw, before she lost consciousness.
ns 15.158.61.21da2
