The pieces snapped into place. Another complication arose, and a simple solution came to mind. “Butch put down our package, quietly. We’re being followed.” She said

He complied, once again lowering the sack to the wet floor. Two pushed the squirming sack to the corner leaving it just in the light. Then, she stepped back into the gloom.

“What are we doing lass,” Butch whispered.

“Waiting for them to round the corner,”

“Then?”

“Then you kill them.”

A grin spread across his face and he rolled his shoulders. “I like this plan.”

Silence fell, interrupted by the rustles of the bag’s struggling occupant and the approaching boots.

A thud followed thud as the light grew, stretching around the corner only to suddenly stop, and explode into the sound of racing feet.

Light rounded the corner casting the sewer tunnel into sharp relief. Shadows stretched in all directions, yet despite the sudden light she saw his face clearly. He was older than Two, a few years perhaps, but still young by any standard.

He held the lamp high in one hand and stared at the squirming bag. He didn’t notice them until Butch was already in motion.

A single step and Butch closed the distance, he landed with a heavy thud against the stone. The wind he left in his wake tore at Two’s clothes.

Met with the sudden buffet, they went to shield their face only to reach for their sword as realization dawned on him. He stepped back he pulled the blade, but it was already too late.

Butch grabbed their face and shoved it into the wall. Their head snapped to the side when it hit the stone and their wide eyes pointed directly at Two. Then with a grunt of effort, Butch pushed. Their head did much as an egg might in a similar situation.

The scent cut through the sewer’s foulness. Her eyes followed the body as it slumped to the floor, trailing a red smear along the wall as it did. The lamp clattered to the ground.

Two sighed, “Butch were there no cleaner ways of doing that.” She said tearing her gaze from the body.

“What I thought you’d like the dramatics” She maintained her glare. He snorted and shook his head “Lass, you’re no fun. At least the boss knows how to have a good time.”

Fun, she thought to herself. She was so very done with this day and with him.“Wipe the blood off toy hands, clean the splatter from your face and check the body then throw it in the sewer we need to go.”

“Fine, fine,” he waved her off, yet followed her orders. ”How’d he find us anyhow?”

“I believe our package was involved.” Two glanced at the bag, It had stopped moving when she mentioned its occupant. Her eyes narrowed.

“How,” he said with incredulous amusement. ”That things made to keep cultivators in line, can’t even use essence when its shut.”

Two sighed slowly, the sound as deep as it was long-suffering. “Did you close it properly?”

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Butch froze, that was all the confirmation she needed. “Course I did, might’ve been in a bit of a rush but I ain’t stupid.” Two communicated her doubt with a sidelong glance.

She took a deep breath and confirmed that the woman’s essence lingered in the air, faint enough to escape casual notice but not focused attention.

This was a problem, Two didn’t know how to seal the bag properly, nor was she keen to be near to cultivator with very good reason to want her dead. She also didn’t trust Butch, to not botch whatever magical lock or simple tie it might require.

“You can come out. I know you can hear us and I doubt you did all that squirming for nothing.” Two added weary notes to her col voice. The bag remained inert but Two noticed a subtle change in the leaked essence.

“Lass I already told you-“

The girl opened the bag and peeked out. Two paid no heed to Butch’s muttered curse, her focus was fixed on the young woman. Their wide eyes were locked on her with equal intensity, but it was a fragile determination, She could taste their fear.

For all her power and the fact she could manage feats of strength comparable to Butch, she was afraid of Two.

It was something she could use. “You’ve brought us some trouble.”

“You kidnapped me! Just let me go.” The first statement was bold, the second was edged with pleading.

“I can’t do that..” Two hummed and trailed off. “What’s your name.”

“D-Deadra.” The non sequitur fractured her already confidence.

“Now Deadra, I’d rather not be caught up in this unsavoury business and I am partial to simply letting you go.”

“What-“ Butch half shouted, she stopped him with a raised finger and glare.

“But as should be obvious there are forces bigger than me at play.”

Deadra turned to Butch, anger and fear twisted her face and she shuffled away half rising from the bag. A breath and basic observation skills told Two that most of her ire was aimed at him. Then she noticed the body.

They recoiled stumbling almost falling into the sludge, but Two caught her. Deadra clung to her a shivering wide-eyed wreck. Two followed her gaze to Butch’s poorly cleaned hand.

“He, he.”Her voice stumbled then broke into sobs, their painfully tight grip reminded her that Deadra for all her fragility was still a cultivator. All the while Butch grinned triumphantly, all too pleased with himself. Two ignored him, his hateful nature had given Two an opportunity.

This close, Two could clearly see the injuries from Butch’s romp. “Are you going to kill me?” Two held them until they forced the words out.

“No, I promise no harm will come to you, but I can only keep that promise if you listen to me.” They lifted their interfiled eyes. “Can you you do that for me.” They nodded regaining some measure of composure.

Two sighed tiredly and smiled wanly. “Thank you for your trust, We’ll hold you for a while, a few negotiations will happen, then sooner than you’ll be back to your family and this all be a big memory.” With each word their panic eased. “Then when yout home, you can give your sister those clocks.”

Deadra’s eyes snapped open in shock and then recognition. Their mouth fell open. Two wondered what they saw in the sharp light cast by the lamp. They tensed and Two was acutely aware it would only take a squeeze to snap her in twain.

“You’ll be fine Deadra but…” she trailed off and looked at the growing pool of red and Butch, cocksure, perched above it. Deadra blanched “I can’t say the same for everyone. I can’t even say the same about me.” She finished quietly. “Please Deadra, get in the bag. I don’t want anyone else to die.”

They did. Slipping from Two’s hands after a final squeeze, they took hesitant steps toward the bag and Butch. Two helped them into the sack and tied it close, making sure her reassuring smile was the last thing they saw. Her scent lingered and then faded from the air.

Butch, finished with his rifling rose.

“Is the bag properly sealed?” he leaned over the bag and checked the knot. “Seems so.”

Two took a moment to look at the very simple, not at all magical knot. She then glanced at the corpse of the young man. She rose quietly.

Butch handed her a roll of paper. Self-satisfied as always. She stared blankly at him. “It’s a map.”

She took and to her pleasant surprise, he was correct. She managed to place their current location as Butch threw the body into the water. She continued on, Butch threw Deadra over his shoulder then followed.

“Gently Butch.”

He scoffed, “Going soft on me girl.” She didn’t bother responding.

Two dimmed the light and they fell into relative silence. Until Butch once again ruined it. “Y’know that girl must’ve been quite spooked.” He chuckled quietly. “She didn’t even notice you were tainted. I mean a hug! Can you imagine that? Quite spooked to be touching ya lass, quite spooked.”

Two didn’t comment.