Chapter Six

The next day—well few hours later, when Morrigan had woken from a fitful sleep, the man reappears.

He carries her daughter in his arms, an unusually soft smile on his lips as her daughter rambles about something.

As soon as they are through her cell door, Morrigan snatches her daughter away from him, clutching her close in her own arms. She might be fearless and self-sufficient, but she is also a mother and at that moment, it did not matter that she was exposing a side of her that could very well land her in knee-deep trouble.

All that mattered was making sure her daughter was alright.

Because Hestia might be smarter than most her age, more conscious than people double her age, but she was still a child of barely seven who was forced away from the comfort of her own home and away from her parents.

All that mattered was making sure her daughter was alright.

The man did not seem bothered by it. Instead, he turned away giving the mother-daughter duo some privacy, and Morrigan, despite her hatred for any and every person who works for heroes, felt grateful toward him.

Once she has assured herself that Hestia was unharmed, she put her daughter down.

She clears her throat.

"Thank you." She says, feeling out of her skin. Uncomfortable is an understatement. "For keeping her safe."

Because it does not take a genius to realise that the man had truly worked to keep her daughter away from all the noise with how her daughter had been relaxed in his arms.

The man's eyes glint.

"No worries, Morrigan Rosa." He says with a chuckle.

"Still, I must thank you," She says with an expectant pause.

"Neil Robinhart." He says, lips tilting in a smirk. "Or as most have taken to calling me, 'The Blue Robin.'"

If she were any lesser, her shock would have shone through her façade but as it stands, Morrigan stifles her surprise behind a smirk of her own, leaning forward in an attempt to look unbothered.

"And what does The Blue Robin require of me?" She asks, feigning innocence, "You already have me captive and my husband in a well-arranged trap."

"Little girl," the man—Robinhart—chuckles, leaning forward equally, peering into her face, "Don't play innocent with me. You know very well what I want."

Morrigan flings the façade away.

"And how presumptuous of you to assume I will give it to you."

"Morrigan Rosa," Robinhart grins sadistically, "I think you should be grateful that we made you out to be a trapped maiden, kidnapped by the cruel villain rather than who you really are." He straightens, waving a dismissive hand. "Phantom Spider."

Morrigan can't help the laugh that bubbles out of her. She leans over, shoulders shaking as she laughs.

"And you thought I would be grateful for it?" She straightens, eyes meeting with her interrogator. "Phantom Spider, I was called. For good reason, Blue Robin. I earned that name. Masking my identity is not as favourable as you might think. In fact, does that not put me in an advantageous position?"

"Russian Spider and Phantom Spider." Robinhart muses, "Truly a match made in Heaven." The mirth wipes from his eyes. "I wonder what that little girl of yours will be called."

"You won't risk a child in your schemes, hero." Morrigan laughs despite the fear in her heart spiking to her throat. "You have created an image for me that will allow me to entrap the whole Committee if I so wish. Threating my daughter's safety to get me to be your puppet will not work."

"Oh, little girl, I don't stoop that low." Robinhart laughed, "Your daughter will be safe either way; children are no plaything."

"Well, isnt that a relief then?" Morrigan snarled, "You heroes, always trying to be so moral and just, only to be the rottenest from the inside."

The man huffed again, as if dealing with a spoiled child. "Little girl, you were barely even a toddler when I was leading teams to exterminate crimes. I believe my experience is worth more than your flimsy opinion."

"Let's cut to the chase." Seriousness weighed on his tone. "Tell me about The Incident. Everything you know."

Morrigan was struck speechless at the demand. She had been playing a blind game, not knowing what was wanted of her—only that she needed to wheedle out some hints about her current position. Out of all the things she had imagined him demanding, asking about that horrid day was not one of them.

The shock must have reflected on her face for the Blue Robin sighed, suddenly looking much older than he seemed moments ago. It was then that he looked like a man weighed by old age yet tied by something that does not offer him peace even when pushing old age.

"Why?" Morrigan managed to choke out.

"I am curious." Robinhart returns, though it sounds off the moment it leaves his lips. "You mustn't care about such frivolous things. Just—listen to this one request. Tell me all you know about that day."

Morrigan fought to keep her voice steady, the atmosphere changed so suddenly that she did not have the time to truly process her thoughts yet.

"No." she gritted out. "I won't."

The old man sighed in exasperation. "You need to. Morrigan, please."

"No!" she yelled, "I will not relive that day for a reason I don't even know. Go ask that Head of yours what happened that day. I am sure he will gladly tell you what went on that day. He was the reason for it after all."

"I have my reasons for asking you." Robinhart told her, voice calm despite her outburst. "I know this request is sudden, but I will not ask you to relive the trauma of that day without a proper, valid reason. Tell me all you know; Hero Candidate 3670 and I promise that you will not regret it."