Encounter

After having explained Grandmother's plan we retired for the night. I find Yuri, the cat-girl has placed the girls in a room facing the City. She's dressed them in black leggings and long sleeve dresses of purple and lilac with silver shawls and fury boots. Their hair has been trimmed and braided. Cerin sits on the cushioned bay window looking out towards the shimmering city. Now that the sun has set the city has come to life. The shops now fully functional music plays in the distance the vibration in the air. Selene's too concentrated on a piece of dry meat, she chews it as if it where the best meat shed ever had.

"How would you like to have a look around the city?" I ask.

Cerin jumps from her seat her pomegranate seed eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Could we?" she asks.

"We could," I say picking up their cloaks from the bed. Cerin stands still as I fasten her cloak on while Selene seems disappointed to be leaving her food behind. "There should be plenty of restaurants open now," I say causing Selene to smile.

"Will we visit any?" Selene asks.

"What are we visiting?" Ryan asks as he enters the room.

"Papa we're going to the shiny," Cerin says pointing towards the city.

Ryan smiles at her, "it's called a city the lights come from magical stones. The Dark Realm has them as well I think you'll like it."

"City," Cerin repeats nodding her head as she walks over to Ryan taking his hand. "you'll come to the City."

"Of course," Ryan says, ignoring my silent command to say no.

"Will they have meat?" Selene asks.

"Most places do," I say summoning my own cloak.

###

The City is filled with folk from all over. It seems the Vampire really kept up their end of the treaty when they said they'd allow outsiders in. Fay and mortal children run up and down the streets. Merchants from every realm sell their goods. Cerin pulls Ryan in every direction as this and that catches her eye. While Selene just eyes every restaurant, we pass.

Finally, we enter a small bakery where the girls' eyes practically pop out of their sockets. Selene runs towards the tiny cakes while Cerin heads for the cookies. A ruddy-faced man comes in from the back-caring loaves of freshly baked bread. His followed by an older woman who carries a chocolate cake. She smiles at us as she sets the cake on the counter.

"How may I help you?" she asks her voice as warm as summer.

"I want," Cerin points at the cake.

"Little miss has good taste," the woman says.

"We'll take the cake," Ryan says placing a basket filled with cookies and colorful cakes on the counter, "and this."

The woman smiles as she wraps up our food. A boy, no older than twelve runs in snatching a loaf of bread before taking off.

"Stop," I say as the ruddy-faced man's about to chase after him. I send a shadow after him.

Ryan hands the woman a piece of gold, "this should cover it," he says. They look from Ryan's eyes to mine. Eyes wide the woman nods as if realizing who stands before her.

"Really," Ryan says as I follow the shadow I sent out.

"What's one more," I say following the shadow to an ally where the boy's huddle up eating his bread. "Have you no home?"

He looks up startled he almost chokes on his bread. I pat him on the back until the coughing ceases.

"I didn't mean to," he stammers.

"I know," I say moving his glossy black hair out of his face. One eye is violet the other silver. "Where are your parents?"

"Gone," he says as I look into his mind a shield of frosty shadow guards it.

"He's half-shadow," I send Ryan.

"I take it we're keeping him," he sends back.

"Why not?" I send him before asking the child, "what's your name?'

"I don't have one," he says.

"Would you like a home?"

"Why?"

"The girls will need a brother," I say nodding towards them. Cerin runs up to him squishing his face with her tiny hands.

"Yes," she says.

"Yes?" Ryan asks.

"Keep," she says smiling her fangs showing, "shinnies," she reaches for his eyes.

"I think she got too much of your crow blood," I say stopping her before she can poke the boy's eyes out.

Cerin pouts, "Crow," she nods.

"What?" the boy asks.

"Name," she says looking at Ryan for approval.

"I guess that's your name," Ryan says as we stand.

"Let's get you cleaned up and a proper meal," I say.

"I didn't agree," Crow says.

"Then pick a different name," I say as I take Cerin's hand and start to walk away. He hesitates before running after us.

"I want a different name."

"Roan," I say as we walk down the cobbled streets.

"Yes," Roan says, as Selene hands him a piece of dry meat she pulled from a pocket.

"I think this will work out," I send Ryan as we head back to Alexander's.