You came back

“Glad to see your back” Maria spoke relief in her voice, as Natalia walked through the tavern doors; back in full gear but just her balaclava over her face as she allowed the rest to be shown, and with no one battling an eye as she walked over to the bar happy to be back to a familiar place. “I'm happy to be back,” Nat replied, as she started to mess with her hands before starting to crack her knuckles if it wasn't for her mask, she would have started biting off her nails. (one of her bad habits she has when she's anxious) “Hay don't be doing that. you know how much I hate that sound.” Maria complained, disgust clear on her face making the assassin laugh before bowing down and hiding her eyes from the girl she didn't even realise a plate was passed to her “Here. Eat up before it gets cold. Dad and Ed are in his office.” no word was spoken as Maria moved to the next customer allowing her to eat her food in peace.

“N-Azura!” Maria fumbled, over the names as she called out the girl just before she could walk to her father's room. “I'm sorry. About before. I knew you would never hurt Ed I was just so-” “-worried?” Nat finished; she started to fiddle with her hands again before she just moved to place one hand on the hilt of her sword as she saw the disapproving look in the older woman's eyes making her sigh. “I'm sorry too I just let my emotions get the best of me. I saw Tommy last night. Things are getting harder and harder to control. I didn't want to hurt James-” “You had every right to.” Maria interrupted, stopping the girl's rambling. “he was out of line when he told me. I wanted to kill him too. Not only had he given someone a chance to tell her he was also putting this town in more danger. He didn't think of the consequences of what he's done and still probably doesn't understand. I love the man but Jesus”. Maria moaned, huffing as she leaned forward on the bar counter rubbing her face to hide her annoyance making Nat chuckle following her movement before five gruff-looking men walked through the door dressed in trench coats.

‘great’

Nat rolled her eyes as she watched James' other clients, the self-proclaimed ‘Snakes,’ as they call themself Nat couldn't help but feel nourished seeing them slither around the room. Honestly, she liked to call them ‘the Rodents.’ Everything about them was just gross—like the way they dressed head-to-toe wearing dark brown trench coats and leather pants shirts they were not even covered that screamed desperation. They had these slick smiles, all charm and no substance, and it made her stomach turn. Even so, the women around them were completely enchanted. It was like they were under a spell, hanging on every smooth word that dripped from those slimy lips. Nat couldn’t understand it. ‘How could they not see through the facade?’ Nat thought rolling her eyes, it baffled her how easily some people could be lured in by a few flattering compliments, completely blind to the truth lurking beneath the surface. She shook her head with annoyance as they made their way over before leaning onto the bar counter “Haya doll where is your dearest father of yours.” he spoke with a flirtation smirk on his face as his eyes ranked up and down Maria. “I'm here on business.” he continued, as Nat let out a growl of anger her eyes flashed red but before Nat could say anything with one quick reflex a flash of light glinted in the tavern as Maria pulled out a small dagger from under her dress that was hustled on her leg; the blade landing just centimetres where the man's fingers were “call me ‘doll’ one more time a finger won't be that only thing you lose,” she warned, her voice was low with no emotions only ounce of boredom; Nat couldn't help but smirk seeing the smirk get wiped off the guy's face.

Nat wasn't able to hold the laugh that bubbled in her chest making the man snap his gaze her way, {she made sure only her eyes could be seen without her hood after she finished eating} The guy's eyes had gone wide seeing Azure who can't help but smirk seeing the look of hatred the man had for her and a bit of fear hidden.

“Azure”

“Dylan”

Both said at the same time as both spit out the name like garbage as they both looked pissed seeing each other; Dylan was more pissed than Nat who couldn't help but smirk finding joy in seeing the anger from him. “You looking for the boss?” she offhanded says, as those around him started to shuffle around trying to ignore the hate from their boss as he looked at the girl, “maybe. what's it to you?” she shrugged, not caring for his tone as she stood up paying him no mind.

“Hay Maria I'm just going to see your dad!” she shouted, with humour as she winked at her making her laugh she shook her head with fondest as the assassin just causally strolled away ignoring the shouts from the so-called ‘snakes’ it was no secret that Nat was her father's favourite and she used it every chance she could get.

....

“Nat...” Edmund spoke with relief, as he grasped her into a hug as she walked through the doors. “Hay Ed” she whispered, inside the crock of his neck as she fell into his hug “I'm sorry I left I-” “-I know. You don't need to explain yourself.” he assured, “and about this morning. I should of ask if it was okay to touch; I should have known to give you space.” pulling back so their eyes level green mix with blue their eyes shown with an understanding, after all this time- after every fight they had they always find a way back; they were family after all.

Both now apart Natalia and Edmund looked at the half-giant who looked for the first time serious; he must have changed his clothes as he was now wearing a casual shirt and pants that looked a lot more comfortable. Now Nat noticed her surroundings she noticed the office space looked cleaner; tables were back in place and papers that were unorganised were back in their rightful order, the only new thing was the papers scatted on the desk where James sat with utmost concentration- the paper shown drawings of what looked like children from all ages with their names some even some had rewords of gold right next to them was a map of Regalia; showing the different towns that were scatted around and smack bang in the middle was the castle walls that separated us from the upper kingdom.

“What's all this?” Nat asked, removing her mask and showing her full face revealing a frown stuck to her face.

James finally broke out of his thoughts as Nat and Edmond took a seat “This. This is the missing children were missed-” “-there so many. how could we have missed this?” Nat stuttered, her eyes holding worry as she scanned every page “Well you not going to believe this.” getting the look “There a least five children here that are from the inner walls.” James explained finished, as he took a swing of his whiskey, “What!?” Natalia yelled; her eyes went red making the glass he had shatter making the three jump back in shock “shit.” she spoke her eyes widened as the giant wiped away the glass on his clothes “Well that one word to put it.” he grumped, going over to make himself a new one before glancing at the girl as she started to analyse each paper again, he watched as her jaw clenched and her hand became fist as she held a page that shown a baby that was taken; no photo no name nothing {only say is that it's she and was only 6 weeks old} James couldn't help but feel the anger and the sadness that she shown; he couldn't think of what she is going through after trying to fight to stop this abuse for children for the past two years and turn around a see all the effort she had done is for nothing and still see the same abuse happening right under her nose.

‘Life is just full of Surprises’

James's thought grumping as he shot off his glass ‘Full of disappointments’ he huffed, annoyed as his jaw tightened as he poured his seven glasses that day, he would be drunk if he was a normal human but well, he was not. It takes him a while for him to feel at least dizzy it's a blessing and a curse.

“Here you look like you need it more than I do” he urged, allowing the teen to take the glass knocking it down without a wince she raised her eyebrow when she just slammed the cup on the table before glancing at his bottle he had before she just yanked off him. “Sure, drink as much as you like.” he sarcastically spoke, rolling his eyes as she straddled the chair and continued to drink making him huff. “So, what are game plan.” Edmund asks bringing the group back into the matter at hand, “Right. Well as you can see I've highlighted each town where Tommy was known his hideouts to be I've already sent some groups out and five of them except this one.” James informed, pointing at each red cercal across the map and what five he had sent his people out as both Natalia and Edmund listened carefully. “the only one left, well that's where I'm having a hard time about-” both teens mirror each other as they leaned forward as they looked at the map see only one red cercal around them but-

“shit”

“shit”

“It unfortunately just happens to be the nearest one to the castle walls.” James hesitated frustrated as he continued, “We covered every over hideout Tommy had and they all came up empty and that is the only one left,” he sighed, “that's just great.” Natalia muted under her breath, as she got up from her seat as her face showed defeat, “but how is it possible? The knights patrol the outer wall; surely, they could-” Edmund started, but Natalia interrupted him, her voice low and shaking “-it's possible.” she wouldn't even look at the two as she started to mess with her hand again hoping to clear away those dreaded memories she had seeing.

“Well,” James demanded making her sigh, “there are tunnels leading to and from the castle Tommy, as much as he's crazy, he planned everything meticulously. When the fighting ring started, he needs a way to get his customer's in without getting seen, the tunnels were for his ‘undercover’ missions his customer paid a shit load of gold to him just to get a chance to see the fights. He had a lot of the children make them, I had to create the first tunnel using my magic” Natalia said, her voice betraying hints of fear and anger she felt for that man. “He made sure he had backup plans of his backup plans. I'm not sure how he kept it a secret from the queen, as my magic was brand new so much more unstable than it is now but I was too scared to even think back then. And if we didn't follow his orders the consequences were dire. When they told us to jump, we jumped ten feet in the air as they send in poisonous snakes. I had no choice but to follow orders.” Natalia's voice trembled as she spoke, her memory of the twelve years in that hell was harder and harder to ignore.

Both James and Edmund tried and failed not to look disgusted and anger felt; not only the thought of people paying to see children fight they couldn't understand human greed but the sheer decency of Tommy made them angry-

Growl

Snap

The sound of water splashing forcibly could be heard outside the tavern making Natalia shoot a look at James who had the decency to look sheepish “You need to calm down. It's all we need for that beast of yours to wreck havoc.” she ordered, as the growling and snapping of the water continued outside making James take deep breaths trying to get rid of the anger he felt about Tommy. “sorry” he apologized, thankfully the splashing had stop everything, and everything went quiet at once allowing all three let out a breath of relief “seriously James.” rolling her eyes as the giant shrugged his shoulders as he sneakily picked up more of his stash he had hidden {more from Natalia, as she like robbing his acholic than paying} why the two assassins work out what to do James could feel his beast was still angry the way she was growling in his mind wanting to break through; he couldn't blame her of course it was his anger that was being redirected to the beast.

“We can't just go up there with swords blazing we need to plan; the second I even use an ounce of magic the queen knights will come running as they are literally around the corner.” Natalia spoke with caution as she looked at Edmund, both with serious expressions as she spoke, “We have the advantage of a surprise attack with the forest there.” she informed, as she pointed at the small forest trees that were on the map the same once she had left two hours ago, she made each word she spoke clear to Edmund as going this close to the castle was dangerous and for Nat it was going back into the place of childhood were all her nightmares came from in the first place. “You should both attack at night it might give you more of an advantage being in the shadows.” James informed, as the two as they shake their head in agreement, allowing Natalia to beath just one last time before she spoke again, “Let's go. We don't have much daylight left before the sun goes.”