I’ve been sitting tearing my hair out, and I can’t seem to see a way through the weeds at the moment. Having a flaming pile of dogshit passed down to me as my responsibility feels like even more of a tainted chalice than ever before. It seems like Felix has done his best to undercut and bankrupt the district by spending money like it had a limited shelf-life. He’s fucked over the entire district for decades.
And I’m the idiot stuck here trying to pick up the pieces.
In between bashing my head against the wall, I’ve also been kicking myself over what happened earlier. I should never have taken Silver with me without checking the lay of the land first. And now she’s in trouble again. This time with the Archarcans focusing their attention on her.
We knew it was only a matter of time, but I’m still surprised at their speed in reacting. I spoke to our Archarcan contact just last night, and she had no interest in anything I had to say, or in trying to make a pre-emptive strike against the Bad Vamps.
I’m out the door and on my way to find Silver in moments, texting Z to meet me in the foyer of The Spire as I go. I also send a few messages to our contacts for information on where they might be holding Silver or what they plan to do with her.
Stepping out of the elevator, I run right into Hanna and Rook, who have clearly just returned inside from the cold. Hanna’s face is red and her eyes look strangely puffy.
My stomach drops.
... oh shit. Has she been crying?
I’m not sure I’m equipped to deal with tears. Especially when it’s Silver’s sister.
“You heard about Silver?” I ask. I mean, what else am I supposed to think? We hear that Silver’s been taken somewhere by the judiciary and then I come across her sister crying.
Too bad that apparently isn’t the thing she’s upset about.
“Wh-what?” She looks up at me and sniffles, and I realize I just fucked up. Glancing at Rook, who has his enormous paw on Hanna’s shoulder, I check to see whether he’s going to steer this interaction.
He just glares at me without speaking. Very helpful.
“Uh, you were outside?” I ask awkwardly. My brain is tumbling over itself, unsure of what to do right now. We need to get to Silver, but she wouldn’t forgive me if I just left her sisterwhile she was all teary like this without at least finding out what was wrong.
But I don’t know how to do that. Do I ask outright? Hand her a tissue? I am way out of my depth here.
Then something twigs in my brain. “Oh shit, did you go to the cafe?”
That would explain this rare display from Hanna. Their workplace and their apartment were both burned and trashed.
Hanna’s lower lip trembles and she bites it, shifting from foot to foot. “It wasn’t me,” she blurts out. “I didn’t do it.”
“Oh, okay.” I nod a few times and clear my throat, trying for a brotherly pat on the shoulder, but quickly withdrawing my hand when Rook growls at me.
“Didn’t do what?” I figure it’s probably better to check since I’m not sure what she’s talking about.
“The cafe,” she explains. “It had... burned down.”
“Oh, yeah.” I nod again. “It seems like arson was the popular choice last night.”
Finally, finally, at least two minutes too late, I get what she’s so upset about.
“You didn’t think we were going to blame you or think you did it, did you?”
After all, Hanna has fire magic, and I’m pretty sure she got kicked out of school for it. I wonder if there’s history there of people thinking she was to blame for stuff that wasn’t her fault.
“I was down there after midnight when I picked up Luna and the twins,” I explain. “Someone must have done it after that. Sorry, but I reckon you’re going to need all new stuff. I doubt anything survived it.”
“Y-you believe it wasn’t me?” She sniffles.
“Why would you burn your own apartment down? Plus, you were here last night.”
“See? Told you they’re not total dicks,” Rook mutters.
“Uh, thanks. I guess.” High praise from the man with twenty words a day as a speaking limit.
