And back to me!

So there I was, stood in our hideout, panting and terrified. I hadn't even had time to remove my ball gown instead I’d just thrown on a cloak over it and grabbed one of the backup masks I hid around the house.

Realising how conspicuously noble I still looked I dashed up to my room and got changed as quickly as I could, whilst I was struggling with a particularly incalcitrant corset I heard muffled bumps thumps and curses as the rest of the Brigade arrived in our hideout[130].

A few minutes later I scurried down the stairs and saw my friends standing around our main room in varying states of disarray. Ara was soaking wet (not really all that unusual for her) and holding a bag of equally drenched vegetables which seemed to bother her greatly[131].

Skull was arguing with her and looked as ruffled as I have ever seen her before or since; I mean one of her gloves didn't match, her mask was slightly skewed and she seemed out of breath which until then I didn't think she could be. Only Blood gave the appearance of calm huddled on the arm of a (guess what colour?) padded chair we’d stolen from some long forgotten count or other but... I didn't buy it.

She tries to look perfect at all times but I could see her hands from where I stood on the top stair and they were gripping the handles of her rapiers so hard that her red leather gloves were turning white around the knuckles. I honestly don't think she knows but she always does that when she's really nervous.

As I hurried down the staircase the three of them ceased their individual styles of panic and converged on me like reef-sharks gathering around a sinking corpse. Before I could open my mouth they all began yelling at cross purposes. I was only able to pick out a handful of words from the resultant cacophony.

“...Up on walls all over the docks...”

“...Have put out a death warrant...”

“...Three million gold Lire...”

“...Sending out the Inquisition!”

“...Hunting us, what should we...”

“...Run? Should we...”

“What should we do?”

All three nearly harmonised on that last utterance before they were forced to stop for breath. Whilst they were busy gasping I focused my will and tried to still my heartbeat which hadn't slowed down since I left the party (pleading a sore stomach to father) after a moment of looking at my friends and our treasures I finally got a grip on myself again.

Taking a measured breath I walked into their midst, trying to project the air of measured grace that nobles learn to cultivate around age five, whilst my mind raced like a runaway horse and I desperately tried to come up with a plan.

“Ok!” I said injecting every drop of nobility I could into my tone and trying to sound as confident and unflappable as my father did. “We need a plan... does anyone have one?”

We looked at each other for a minute and then Ara shrugged, “this isn't the first time the law has been after me, I thought I’d just skip town for a while...” She smiled at us with an unexpected air of bashfulness. “...You guys are of course welcome to come with me; if you like.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I thought I’d just abandon my mask,” said Skull after a moment's thought. “I mean if I take it off I'm just a normal girl again so I was just going to ditch it and stay home; maybe make a new one in the fullness of time.”

“Isn't your mask an heirloom thought?” I asked. “Doesn't that mean people could still find you?”

She shook her head. “Ah no not really this particular mask is an heirloom but... well do you know where it’s from?”

We all muttered in the negative so she continued. “It’s from the Masque of a Thousand Nights the last ball that the Doge ever held; the actual Doge I mean, not the Arch-Doge. He had one thousand of these black masks made and distributed amongst the nobility I....” She looked at us for a second then shrugged. “I am a noble; I'm sure you knew because I'm pretty much certain you two are as well.”

I remember thinking for a second “so this is what a heart attack is like” as my blood froze in my veins... then I realised how silly I was being and mentally slapped myself. This was my dear friend Skull not some stranger so I nodded in agreement. “Yeah... well yeah I am.” I looked across at Blood who nodded but kept silent.

“So they might suspect I'm a noble but they can't prove even that; let alone which one I am.”

“Why?” I asked and Skull shot me a pitying look (yes through a full face skull mask don't question it).

“I’ve expected something like this from day one so some of our heists have specifically targeted nobles who own... well owned, some of the thousand masks and I’ve got twelve spare’s up in my room.”

“So if they ask around about our crimes they’ll find out that we stole these masks before anyone saw yours, so they can't be sure you didn't just take it!” I finished smiling widely. “That's brilliant!”

“Well I am an int...” She paused and looked at us. “... I mean; my job requires me to be pretty devious.”

“What about you Bright?” Blood’s voice sounded slightly shaky and I saw that she was gripping the hilt of her rapier again. “I mean... are you thinking of going the Ara or Skull route?”

I sighed and shrugged, “I’m going to go the Skull route, ditch the mask and hideout for a few months or as long as the Inquisitors around...” I felt the panic rising in me as I mentioned the name, “I mean... we can't fight them... you can't... nobody can and if you try... you just die, you always die, you just have to hide... hide and pray and....”

As I spoke my voice became shriller and shriller and I felt my chest begin to hurt again, my vision seemed to dim and I tasted copper. For a second I thought I was going to blackout until suddenly I felt something, something tiny which nonetheless extinguishes the rising tide of terror. Blood had reached out and taken my hand.

“Whoa there girl.” She whispered into my ear. For once her voice was entirely free of coldness or arrogance, no trace of teasing or sinful softness instead she just sounded... well like a normal teenage girl talking someone down from the edge of a panic attack. “It’s ok Bright; it’s all ok, no matter what happens I promise I’ll keep you safe,” then she pulled back slightly and rested her hands on my shoulders and looked me right in the eye. “You're my best friend after all.” She said and I could hear her smiling.

I can still remember that moment all these eons later, when I'm tired or sad I can close my eyes and hear those soft words and that kindness again (or just call for Blood to come and give me a hug but I don't like to bother her too much then or now).

I started crying right then and there... Thankfully my mask meant they couldn’t tell[132] I think they just thought that I wasn't speaking. After a moment Blood hugged one of my arms and Skull took over the conversation.

“And what’s your plan Blood?” She asked, obviously trying to give me a moment to calm down.

“Well I was thinking of making a stand and cutting a few Inquisitors to pieces,” replied Blood in her normal voice instantly back to the dancing laughing hellion persona. “...But I recognise that even I can't beat an entire army singlehanded. I’d like to follow Ara’s lead but I'm probably stuck following yours.”

Skull squared her shoulders and looked around at us. “Ok then it’s agreed we scatter and follow our individual plans, we’ll meet back up right here on the last day of the season of Frost next eon until then nobody uses this hideout.”

“Good idea,” said Ara, “I just wish that....” But whatever Ara was about to wish we never ever found out because just behind us someone spoke.

“Uh... hello can you hear me?”