Erin walked through the familiar hallways of the nones, the musty smell due to old age overpowering her nose with every inhale. Her cape hit the floor, sliding back and forth collecting the dust particles spread throughout the hall until she reached Damien's room and knocked quietly. The sound of Damien fumbling out of bed was heard by Erin who had rested her ear against the cold door.

"Coming!" He yelled.

The door opened to Erin, standing tall with a small grin on her face.

"Hey," Damien attempted to keep himself looking calm and collected, but the redness shimmied up his cheeks. Erin smiled, her blushing giving her away as well.

"Mind if I come in?" She asked. Damien stared at her for a few moments before registering the request.

"Oh yes, please do."

Erin walked over to the cot and sat down, bouncing up and down to test out the comfort. Content with the plushness she bent down and removed her boots, while Damien looked on. He noticed the perfect skin peek out and he took a deep breath. Erin looked up at Damien.

"You don't mind, do you?" She asked.

"No, not at all. Please make yourself comfortable."

She smiled and threw herself on the bed, wiggling around and moaning softly at the feeling of finally laying down. Damien watched her, unsure of what to say or do. Erin sat up quickly and looked at him, her bright blue eyes piercing through him. She gently patted the area of the bed next to where she was sitting, still keeping eye contact with Damien. He pointed a finger at himself in confusion and Erin replied with a giggle, nodding her head rapidly.

     "I won't bite," she said.

     "Its the sharp objects I'm worried about," Damien blared out, attempting humor. Erin lowered her head, clearly upset," oh no, you misunderstand--"

     "No I understand entirely. How could anyone want to get close to someone like me," she tried to fight back tears and turned her head as an attempt to better keep them hidden.

     Damien walked over to the empty side of the cot and sat down next to Erin, gently enough to not interrupt her. He placed an arm around her and brought his head to rest on hers. The hood she normally wore itched at his cheek, so he brought his other arm up to slowly pull it down, careful to not upset her. Her hair was soft and golden like the sun and smelled faintly of the earth, with a small hint of a flower he just couldn't place a name on. He breathed her in deeply, enjoying her scent until her body began convulsing from a fresh set of tears.

     "Don't be upset," he whispered.

     She mumbled against his shoulder with words that he couldn't quite make out, and then he felt the warm water from her eyes soak up on his shirt. He released his hold on her only to place a hand on each of her shoulders. Her sobs continued, although they were soft it was still enough to break his heart.

     "Look at me," he said. She snuffled and dried her eyes with her small delicate hands before looking up at Damien, her blue eyes now reddened with sadness.

"You aren't a heartless killer. No one so beautiful and kind such as yourself could even come close to it," he reached up and dried a tear that streamed down her cheek. He felt the heat and the liquid with his fingertip,"why are you even here?"

"Furies don't have choices," she said softly, still sniffling,"we're born into it."

"Well I still think you are a wonderful person," Damien placed a hand on each side of Erin's face and smiled softly to her. She returned the favor and went in for a hug, her lips catching Damien's before they had a chance to fully embrace. He tasted the salty tears that curved around her mouth and the warmth that made his lips tingle against hers.

          ~*~

     "Mr. Hilder, waiting for you is getting boring," Dia yawned and brought a hand up to her mouth. She crossed her ankles together and rested her feet against Tomas's stomach while sitting in her favorite armchair and sipping on expensive imported wine.

     "What in the--," Tomas rolled around grabbing onto his head as he winced in apparent pain. He reached down to feel the shoes that were nearly embedded in the pit of stomach and panicked at the sudden realization he was not in his cot at the inn.

     "Finally! I thought I'd have to have one of my girls slap you until you woke up," Dia rose up from her chair. Tomas watched the woman before him, clad in fine jewels and overpriced fabrics that clung closely to her curves. Tomas sat up slowly, his stomach making a quick rise a difficult task.

     "Where am I? And who are you?!" He demanded to know.

     "My dear Mr. Hilder," Dia began pacing in front of the confused man sitting on the marble floor,"it seems you have something that belongs to me."

     "I don't even know who you are. I'm sure you're mistaken," Tomas replied as he crossed his arms. Dia took a moment to pause her pacing and turned towards a satchel of sandalwood sitting on a cabinet in the corner. She took a small portion out, taking her time to breath in the pouch's contents then placed it on a silver plate. She grabbed her stones and sent sparks at it until it finally began smoking and filling the air.

     "Did you really think that you could manipulate the justice of the furies and make a profit off of it?" Dia said still facing the burning sandalwood. Tomas gulped and tried pushing his bottom closer to the door.

     "I'm afraid I'm unsure of what you speak of."

     "Do not think me a fool Mr. Hilder!" Dia yelled loudly, making Tomas flinch. Sweat poured from his brows as he watched the angry slender woman walk towards him, "how much?" She whispered, bending down near his ear.

     "What do you--" he muttered.

     "How much?!" She screamed one more time. Tomas began whimpering, his sweat spreading throughout his face while he shook against the marble floor.

"Only 2500 gold coins," he stuttered.

"The entirety of your town was worth only 2500 gold coins?!" Tomas cried out softly at the tone of her voice and the hot air hitting his cheeks with every word she spat,"my dear Mr. Hilder, I think you could have done much better than that," Tomas lightened his rigidness and stared at her confused. She rose up from the floor and began pacing while waving the cloud of sandalwood against her face.

"Now, once you hand me the 1800 gold coins that I am due then we can discuss further business," she smiled at Tomas who kept his mouth open and his eyes fearful at the wicked woman before him.