Seren sat in their room, feeling their heart pounding in their ears. It clouded their hearing, but that didn’t blind them to the glittery powder in the cracks and crevices of the firearm.

Seren covered their face, they couldn’t believe they’d stolen a firearm from under their dad’s bed. From behind the thin curtain, the bed frame creaked, Seren froze. In their head they could see their dad suddenly pulling back the curtain and…

And what? Seren couldn’t imagine him being anything more than just severely disappointed. It was a strange disconnect in their head to know their dad, but also trying to imagine him using the pistol. Why would he have it, if he hadn’t used it? Seren uncovered their face, they crawled to the curtain and peeked under it. Their dad was still laying in bed, presumably asleep. Seren sighed and dropped the curtain. Still staring at the pistol.

Seren placed the lid back on it and put it into the lowest drawer of their dresser. They just didn’t want to think about it anymore, it was causing their head to hurt. Pulling on their new boots, Seren grabbed a few ingts from their savings jar and shoved them in their pocket. Shutting the front door as quietly as they could behind them.

The snow was still falling and the roads hadn’t been swept clean yet. Leaving at least an inch of snow wherever Seren stepped. Their footprints filling up as fast as they were made. Seren left the Winter district, they listened to the steam works in the center, watching until they found who they were looking for. Seren, looking at the copper ingts in their hand, walked over to Wynne’s partially buried hulk and dropped the money into the little bowl in front of them.

“Seren, you shouldn’t have,” Wynne said.

“But I am,” Seren said, and sat on the wet ground next to them. “Why make the money if we can’t all benefit from it, right?”

“You’re too pure for this world, child.” Wynne chuckled. “Some would say more fae than human.”

“I would like more magic if I’m more fae then.” Seren said irritably. Crossing their arms and leaning against the warm walls of the steam works. Wynne laughed aloud.

“What is it? What’s got you in such a mood?” Wynne nudged a little closer to Seren, as if they were telling secrets. Seren crossed their arms and tried to push themselves harder into the walls.

“There’s just lots of talk about my dad,” they said finally.

“Ahh… yes.” Wynne nodded sagely. “Not pleasant talk I suspect.”

“No.” Seren rested their chin on their arms.

“Too afraid to ask him yourself?” Wynne shifted, the snow on the parts of the winter pile shifted as well.

“No I did. But I didn’t get an answer I didn’t already know.” Seren shrugged. “Miss Jass told me a long time ago that dad killed my mom but I never believed her.”

“You shouldn’t,” Wynne agreed.

“She said it’s why no one can know that he’s my dad, cause they’ll treat me the same way…” Seren said quietly.

“I…” Wynne started but shook his head. “I think that is something you have to talk to your dad about. He’s going to have quite a bit of insight to that.”

“Why?” Seren asked, staring intently into the hooded figure that was Wynne.

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“Not my place, child. This is a family affair and I make it a point to never get involved in family affairs that aren’t mine.” Wynne shifted. Absorbing the bowl and what money was in it into the winter heap.

“Family affairs? We are related!” Seren gasped, jumping to their feet alongside Wynne. “Say it, Wynne! Tell me the truth.”

“Seren. Enough.” Wynne said with a very strong tone of ‘don’t push it.’ Seren stepped back and sighed. Crossing their arms sheepishly.

“I just want someone to answer me. Honestly for once. Why is that so.. So damned hard!?” Seren said, swearing felt awkward in their mouth. They could feel the cold stare of Wynne through the hood.

“Look,”

Seren glanced behind briefly. Not seeing what Wynne motioned toward at first but once it registered they looked again. Between the falling snow there were tiny cinders in pale fading colors dancing with the snowflakes.

“Sorry,” Seren murmured. They looked up but Wynne was already shambling off. Seren grit their teeth together, the frustration built up in their fists. They hit their thigh as hard as they could tolerate to absolve it.

“Oh, Seren, I was just thinking about you.”

Seren snarled into the snow as they heard the fake sweetness. They turned to look at Miss Jass standing in the opening of the Winter district’ gate.

“That’s very nice of you,” Seren said “I’m afraid I’m a little preoccupied today so I can’t chat.”

“Oh really? What are you so busy with?” Miss Jass asked. Seren tried to duck past her but she stepped in front of them. “Can you make a little time for me?”

“No,” Seren said without hesitation. “Excuse me.” Seren ducked to the other side but Miss Jass blocked them again. They took a step back and crossed their arms irritably.

“It’ll only take a second. I just need your help really quickly, you can spare a little time. Come on,” Seren tried to keep from glaring at her, but it was getting harder to control their face.

“I really shouldn’t,” Seren said. They couldn’t come up with a good reason as to why, just that they didn’t want to.

“Oh, come on. It’s not like anyone’s going to miss you.” Miss Jass laughed. Seren dropped the mask that hid the glare. “Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true. I bet your dad doesn’t even know you’re gone.”

Seren tried to will themselves to just walk away, but they felt like a wind up toy. One that Miss Jass was winding up until the key started grinding.

“How is he, by the way?” She asked, Seren could feel their nails biting into their palms.

“Better.” They bit out.

“Better?” She said with a small note of surprise. “Well, good to hear.”

“I need to go now.” Seren stormed forward, this time they didn’t stop when Miss Jass stepped in front of them. Shouldering past her and knocking her off balance. Seren stopped as their path was blocked again but this time by a man who towered over Seren without any false pretenses masking his glare.

Seren felt icy cold as Miss Jass moved around to help corner them. They didn’t want to back up, but Miss Jass and her companion started advancing. Seren frantically looked for an exit, every direction they looked was blocked by either Miss Jass or her large companion. Their panic heightened as they backed up and trapped themselves further between a pair of dilapidated buildings.

“What are you doing?” Seren asked, putting up their hands for the fight that was coming whether they liked it or not.

“Everything was going great.” Miss Jass said. Her smile was unsettling, it was all fake and putting her perfect white teeth on display. Eyes wide and added to the deranged look on her face. “And you just never shut up. You just keep running your mouth, nobody wants to hear it. No one wants to hear you talk. And I’m so sick of hearing your voice.” Seren’s stomach flipped as they sunk into a snow pile. They were trapped with nowhere else to run.

Seren lunged, trying to startle Miss Jass into letting them slip past. Stars exploded in their vision as the man backhanded them. They fell into the snow, not even registering the pain against the cold of the snow.

“You aren’t running away this time,” Miss Jass said. “This time, you’re going to listen.” Seren’s face was burning, their fingers were going numb buried in the snow. Their heart sunk into their stomach, their head was pounding but they still got to their feet. Shaky but ready to defend themselves as the pair loomed over them.