The axman's axe cleaves my brother's head off. He was caught thieving. To feed me. The gnome he hung around with is next to me. We leave the execution grounds together.
-----
“Ain’ nothin’ I can’ steal.”
“Pfft your dumb, Hec.”
“Hector.”
“Whatever. Still a dumb lizard.”
“I am a proud Drakenoid, who can trace himself back to the Calamity.”
“Yaaa, you and every otha lizard.”
I look annoyed at Rekintae. I was at eye level with the gnome. Finally, soon I will be the one patting him on the head. He was my tutor in the ways of cutting purses.
-----
The lizard boy was so eager. To be better than his brother. He is getting bigger. Soon I can have him mugging for me. Boys are great for stealing. Men can take more. Until they get caught. Better to have them do the dirty work. They always feel so indebted to me.
I lead him to our next mark.
-----
“You sure they ain’ home?”
“I watched them leave myself.”
The adults at least. If there are any children there…well Hector can always cut his teeth. I hand him a knife.
“Keep a good grip on it, Hec.”
-----
Another drawer, just some random crap. Nothing valuable. I riffle through more. Nothing.
I hear a creak. I turn and see a bigger boy trying to sneak up on me. I lash out with the knife. Miss. The boy turns to run. His back to me. I remember how my brother was executed for thieving. No way was I going to be reported. No way am I losing my head.
I jump on the boy's back. I stab down. It pierces his shoulder. We both fall to the ground. I get up. The boy turns his body and kicks me. Damn it. I stumble backwards as the boy yanks the knife out. He was bleeding more. He walks towards me, knife in hand. He stumbles a bit when he reaches me. I tackle him. The knife is out of his hands and away from us. I start wailing on him. My blows are random, unfocused, the boy flailing trying to ward the blows.
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-----
I walk in and see the mess. The boy was still hitting the lump of meat that had already bled out. He was exhausted. Cutting his teeth indeed. I look over and see a younger boy in the corner, frozen in fear. Damn I've been seen with him. Nothing for it. I pick up the knife and walk to Hec.
“Hey, he's dead dummy. Didn't you hear the voice telling ya so.”
“My brothers.”
He sounds morose. I hold the knife to him.
“You still got a witness.”
-----
I drink down my beer. It's my first. My brother announced my tenth soul day and Rekintae said it's time to enjoy the better things. I was a head taller than him now. Closer to two.
“So what ya think.”
“Awful.”
“The first one always is, but the second will be less so.”
Just like killing. I drink the rest down. We were doing pretty good. Rekintae found scores and I did the work…I did all the work. Another beer comes my way. The second was no better. Not like killing after all. The third though…just as bad but I think I care less.
“Been casing a new place. I think there should be some good things to sell.”
I gave him a look, and studied the gnome who was selling our goods. No… my goods. I wave off the offer of a fourth beer.
-----
I know that look. His brother gave me the same six years ago. Punk aims to cut me out. Time for him to get caught. My little killers always need to be put down. This one came early to his greed. Doesn't matter. He doesn't take a fourth beer. Annoying, he will still be fairly lucid.
“How bout a walk to the river, Hec?”
“Sure.”
-----
I think he knows I'm going to strike out on my own. Don't matter. What is he going to do about it?
“‘Bout time we go separate ways Rek.”
“Ten souls old and you think ya can cut me out.”
“Better out then up.”
The gnome sighs. Then he looks out to the river.
“One last mark before we part?”
I follow his gaze and see a woman on the shore.
-----
I watch him approach the woman. I keep watch for a guard. To summon. Right as he is about to stab her, the woman speaks.
“Have you come to rape me?”
Hector answers in a monotone voice, “No.”
Bitch is a mind mage, guess I won't need a guard afterall. She'll call the guard herself.
“To kill me?”
“Yes.”
Her body shifts into a monstrosity. A spider has replaced her legs. She lifts the boy up. Wrapping his legs in her silk.
“What is the name of the gnome lookout?”
My eyes widened.
“Rekintae.”
I turn to run.
“Rekintae, come to me.”
-----
I regain my senses. I'm being held in the woman's arms…legs. She has spider legs, one of which holds me up by my arm while the other holds Rekintae by the neck. His legs are being bound. The same red silk that binds my own. She cups my face with her hands.
“You are so young. Your level is so high. You only smell of the city. Your prey is this city. You will last a long while.”
Before I can understand what she means she bites down on my neck. The pinch hurts. I feel my blood being sucked into her. I don't die immediately.
-----
I snap out of the compel watching as this black spider horror bites Hec's neck. His once lustrous green scales begin to dull and grow old. What is this damn thing doing? Her body grows as Hec ages. It takes forever before she is done. A withered husk is all that remains. She drops the body, there is blood smeared on her lips. It slowly absorbs into her skin. Why…
“A pity my life core can't take you both.”
She looks at me. Her cat eyes pale blue tinged with red. They look ready to cry…
“Did this boy kill for you, always under your watch?”
“Yes.”
My senses snap back. Her eyes are no longer sad. The red that tinged them has grown. It is hatred not sadness. Her mouth is too big for my neck. It's my shoulder she clamps down on. Systems, the pain is immense. She drinks my blood. The jaws tighten.
