Eric left the modest manor belonging to the Winters family. Mildly surprised, but he had what he came for. He adjusted his shoulder bag and drew up his scarf to hide his face. There wasn’t enough self-control in the world to hide his disdain for the Winters district. Everything about it was just tragic. There wasn’t a single house that had a complete roof that wasn’t covered with tarps or other patches. Even the Winters Manor desperately needed repair.

There was no good reason for this and Eric was ready to strike a match and let it all burn. He adjusted more of his scarf and hat, giving him an excuse to avoid eye contact with the beggars and derelicts. Only to realize they weren’t trying to make eye contact with him. Eric paused as he absorbed the surrounding behavior. The people had their eyes down and were hurrying away from the gates.

He could see the gates from main street and he couldn’t see anything interesting. But he could see people avoiding the left side of the street. His curiosity piqued, Eric crossed to the left side of the street. Impressed at how quickly the streets had vacated, he sped up his pace. Slowing it again as he neared the last alley between the gate and the homes. From there he could hear the sounds of a struggle.

It squashed his interest entirely. He stepped off the sidewalk and into the street, not bothering to look out for carriages that didn’t exist in the district. He couldn’t help the quick glance out of the corner of his eyes as he passed.

The pale blonde hair tucked in the fur lined hat warned him something was amiss. Eric paused to confirm his suspicions. A brief sigh and a rise of withstanding rage had him pivoting back toward the sidewalk.

“What do we have here?” He called, his tone layered with mild politeness layered atop something threatening. Jasmine Winters jumped in surprise, her porcelain white face contorted into an ugly sneer.

“This has nothing to do with you, move along.” She snapped.

“Oh?” Eric said as he hopped up onto the sidewalk. “You know I thought you would be with your parents right about now.”

“Is that right?” Jasmine folded her arms. Her companion stopped to turn and stand menacingly beside her. Though he withered slightly once Eric was close enough to tower over him.

“Your parents are very curious,” Eric stared at her through his cold lenses. “They didn’t know you were aware.” The pink tinge of cold on Jasmine’s cheeks vanished as all color drained from her face.

“You didn’t,” she said.

“How was I supposed to know?” Eric shrugged coldly. “But I would think of a pretty good explanation on your way. If I were you. Which, thankfully, I’m not.”

“Yeah,” Jasmine spat as she sauntered past. “At least my family lets me live in the manor.” Eric grabbed the girl by her jaw, like the strike of a snake, drawing her close to look her in the eye.

“And if you want it to stay that way.” Eric said under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear. “Learn to hold your tongue.” He shoved her toward the street and stared coldly at the companion as he slunk past as pitiful as a dog on its back. Catching up with Jasmine where she immediately yelled at him. Eric rolled his eyes and turned to Serenity. They were weaving up to their feet, leaving blood in the snow.

“You all right?” Eric asked as Serenity spat more blood into the snow. Their face was a mess, arms covered in defensive wounds, and interestingly enough, their knuckles were bloody. Serenity kept their gaze low and didn’t answer.

“Let me see,” Eric said. Approaching Serenity and holding out a hand, but they didn’t move. “All right, don’t then. What were you thinking? What were you doing?”

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“I wasn’t doing anything.” Serenity snapped. “I don’t like her so I avoid her.”

“Don’t you get an attitude with me.” Eric snapped back with more force than the child could muster. Shutting them down entirely. “You clearly weren’t avoiding her well enough.”

“Why is this my fault?” Serenity looked up finally with bitter anger. “I didn’t seek her out, I said nothing mean or rude! I tried to leave, and SHE cornered ME!”

“And you let her. You’re only as weak as you allow yourself to be.” Eric said.

“She had fae silver-”

“Doesn’t matter. You aren’t fae, you’re human so act like it.” Eric’s tone was sharp as a whip. And it clearly lashed Serenity to the fullest effect. They wiped their misty face with the back of their coat sleeve. Smearing blood and dirt over their face. Eric grimaced in disgust.

“Come on.” He said. “You need to be cleaned up.” Serenity spat again.

“I’m just going home,” They said. The waiver in their voice managed to tug on one of Eric’s heartstrings.

“Will that include a bath and washing your clothes?” He asked. Serenity didn’t answer, they possibly didn’t have one. “Then you can go home after you get cleaned up. Let’s go.” Eric started walking. Whether Serenity followed wasn’t even an afterthought in Eric’s mind. As he left the Winter’s district, he caught sight of the child following dutifully behind him.

Eric led the child to the Summer district. After the one glimpse of Serenity following, Eric never checked a second time. He marched up the steps to his house, pulling his scarf free at the same time.

He slipped off his coat and opened his front door. Hanging his winter coat and scarf on the coat rack. As he was taking off his winter boots, Serenity slipped in behind and let the door fall shut. Eric noticed as he put his boots to the side that the child now had new boots and thick wool socks.

“Mrs. Houper!” He called into the floors of his house.

“Yes?” Came the reply from the higher floors.

“Bring me the medic kit and a wet rag please.” he yelled, hearing her on the stairs a minute later. Serenity still avoided his eye but handed him their coat, hat and scarf. He laid them on the coat rack and rested his hand on Serenity’s shoulder to lead them through the foyer to the bright sitting room.

“Touch nothing,” Eric said. Wiping the dirt from Serenity’s shirt off his hand. He took a protective sheet from the closet, just as Mrs. Houper rounded the corner with a tin box on her arm and a bowl of water and a rag in her hands. She gasped when she saw Serenity in the sitting room.

“Oh my god, what happened!?” She asked shrilly as she ran to the child’s side.

“Get them cleaned up and laundered, I need to make a call.” Eric said as he draped the protective sheet over the sofa and all its decoration.

“What? No. You need to give me a hand with this.” Mrs. Houper placed the bowl down and sat Serenity on the sofa.

“Monica-”

“Don’t.” Mrs. Houper growled, glaring over her silver-rimmed glasses in a way that could turn lesser men to stone. “Get over here and help me.”

Even Eric felt his resolve tremble under Mrs. Houper’s stare. He nodded and came back to the couch.

“I’ll get the bandaging and cleaning done, you just keep things organized and hand me things as I need them.” Mrs. Houper directed. Turning her attention back to the nearly catatonic child. “I was a nurse not too long ago, dear. You can trust me entirely.” Serenity didn’t respond, in fact they didn’t move at all as Mrs. Houper gingerly wiped at their face. Getting their split lip and their minor cuts cleaned and bandaged up.

“All right, now let’s get the rest of this cleaned up.” Mrs. Houper stood up and handed the kit to Eric. “You can put that away on your way.” Eric rolled his eyes and took it upstairs with him. Stopping by the medical closet to put the kit back into it. He idly thought about moving his study to either a lower floor or getting some sort of window cleaner pulley put in. Stairs always made Eric feel his age.

Eric got up to his study and fell into his office chair.

“Are you appeased for now?” He grumbled to the empty room. The air in the room cleared a bit and Eric could breathe a little easier. The idea of a good night’s sleep made the smallest of smiles touch the corner of his mouth.

He picked up his phone and dialed the number. He sat back, almost feeling like he was melting.

“Ah, hello Master Winters.”