The look of disapproval on Queenie's face said what Midge was thinking—Lydia shouldn't be here.

"You've got to be kidding me," Queen lamented.

"If I don't bring her through directly, she's getting stripped of those diskettes during transport. You know how Ruckus does it."

Queen caught a rock sailed their way. "Then you send her through and turn shit over later on."

Midge swatted down the next rock, equally as angry. "Be realistic."

The crowd grew louder, nearly drowning out their words. "We'll discuss this later, Mikael. Keep her from getting brained. Not that we'd miss a noble this broke."

Lydia made a sound but Midge had no time for her, not with a gathering this heated.

"Where's Tan?" Midge asked.

Queen stepped aside to reveal two people in the center of Colony guards.

One guard stood, verbally dressing down the younger of the two. Midge made his way to the older man. He hadn't seen Tan in months—and if he was honest with himself, it might have been longer than that. At this moment, the prospect that someone injured him made that all fade.

Midge reached out for the older man's shoulder but Queen slapped his hand away.

"Don't. Get your head on straight. What are you doing touching an unknown person?"

The words confused Midge until he refocused and realized this sixty-something year-old looking man, was a stranger.

"Where's Tan?" Midge didn't get an answer and he risked looking at the youth standing with his head hung. Midge looked between the two men until it dawned on him that the young twenty-something wasn't what he appeared.

Exasperated, the yelling guard warned, "If you don't start cooperating, then I'm letting this crowd tear you apart. Return it."

But the young man did nothing, said nothing—he stared down at the ground. A hand on the small of Midge's back dragged him back to reality.

Lydia stepped closer. "Hey, you stopped breathing for a second. You okay?"

Midge wasn't. He could barely contain his excitement. "Tan?"

The youth flinched but didn't otherwise pick up his head. Midge wanted to see his face—it'd been years since he'd seen his kid brother's proper face.

Fists clenched, the guard marched over to them and told Queen, "We're unable to transport him against his will until the portals open in the morning. That's a few hours away. But the longer we wait, the worse this is going to get. We can't say with certainty he won't drain this boy of every bit of life-force. Permission to drop him, sir?"

Midge lit up with ire. "Drop him? He's not a gaw-row imp, you slack-jawed rot. What do you mean drop him?"

Queen held Midge's shoulder but told the guard. "That is not necessary. You'll respect my authority until the Colony can officially weigh in on this. Under no circumstances should this E be harmed."

The guard regarded him in awe. "After what he's done?" He turned to point to the growing crowd. "What do I tell them? Every second that passes means we can't reverse this."

A fast response from Queen would have put Midge at ease but his twin had nothing to say.

"Look at him. He's getting older by the minute."

Tan's body jerked and Midge held his breath. The guard was telling the truth—amazingly, Queen didn't know that.

"This was an accident—not something nefarious," Queen said. "So you're imagining this increase in aging. That's not how it works. Unless an E willfully takes more years from someone, the process will stop as is. Besides, an E can't take more than a Yule is worth in years. This boy was how old?"

"Seventeen," the guard answered.

Midge listened to the back and forth, but focused on Tan—the center of it all.

Lydia's voice broke through the chaos as she tried to make sense of it. "That's an E? And the old man's actually a teen? They're saying the E stole his youth. That can't be for real."

It was true. Tan was too ashamed to pick his head up, but Midge was equally ashamed because a part of him wanted to let his little brother keep whatever he took.

A gasp came from the crowd when the old man sagged to the ground. Midge felt cold. And Tan wouldn't even look.

Queen held Midge's shoulder and Midge realized he himself was shaking with rage.

"That's why I called you. You can get him to stop this...before it's too late."

Midge met his twin's gaze. "And if I can't. If I won't?"

Blue eyes wide, Queen opened and shut his mouth again and again, disbelieving.

"Look at them. This is a god-smack. You know it, and I know it. That kid wronged him. I'll bet you a vital organ that the little piece of shit tried to beat up on what he saw as a helpless old man only to drag Tan's affliction in the process. He bought this on himself. This isn't Tan's doing." Midge fought back his upset. "Because Tan doesn't have enough power to even light a match with thought much less rape someone of their youth."

Queen stared him down. "That's the word you should use—rape. Because this is what this is, what it's become. No. I don't think for a second it was intentional and I don't even think he had any way to stop it once it happened." Queen swallowed hard and confessed, "But as of now...he's hanging on to it.... And he can't do it forever. So tell him to stop. Tell him to stand down."

"And spend some time in jail for something he hadn't initiated."

Silent at first, Queen nodded. "Yes."

Midge pulled away but his brother held his shoulder firm.

"I can't do any better. And I'm asking for your help before he draws blood." Queen waited for a response then finally asked, "Let's say this perfectly healthy seventeen-year-old isn't all that healthy. Advancing his years might bring on a heart attack destined for him. Forget about morality. Just ask yourself, is this something Tan should have on his conscience—after everything he's been through so far."

The words hurt but Midge couldn't bring himself to answer. He needed to approach Tan, to talk to him...but he couldn't.

"Give him time," Midge said, "and put him in binds."

Queen leaned away, taken aback. "I was trying to avoid that."

"It's unavoidable now."

With a nod of the head, Queen patted his shoulder but Midge shrugged him off. The gesture made Queen say, "We can talk about the Pan thing later. I meant to tell you."

"Save your breath."

Tan stood, ages and ages away, and it took everything in Midge to make his way there. He was shocked by how close he got in such little time. He would do the binding, he decided. If he did it, he could keep it loose.

Midge meant to prepare the cuffs by the time he reached, but he lost his nerve.

His little brother trembled, but whether that was from the fatigue of keeping the youth, shame from it, or actual fear, Midge didn't know.

Tan's face—not wrinkled, not creased, not set in a scowl of hardship. Midge couldn't remember how it looked. He wanted Tan to meet his gaze so he could see it, even if it was at the expense of someone else.

Midge held his little brother's chin to do just that but the smooth skin faded on contact and the leathery one returned. From behind him, the rightful owner of those years wailed. The process was painful for both of them, but Tan's calm reaction would make one think otherwise.

"I was just going to teach him a lesson," Tan whispered. "I wasn't planning to keep it."

One tear came and Midge equally choked back his own.

"Where you been, Midge? Even you won't come around me."

Everything in Midge wanted to leave—he shouldn't cry in front of someone who respected him. Instead, he pulled Tan close and closed his eyes at the sudden bawl.

"I don't see you in forever. And you act like I'm not waking up every day not knowing if this is it."

As old as Tan looked, he was a kid—A kid that cried out like the true victim. The seventeen-year-old wouldn't face charges, but Midge wished he could change that because everyone rushed to that youth's aide, unaware of the damage done to an already injured Elemental trying to hang on day to day.

Midge hugged his little brother tighter, soothing him. This was fate, Midge decided. Coming down to the Lower-Levels against his will wasn't about Pan or some stupid act of love that would never come. It was about this, about finding his target—finding the son of a bitch imp who'd stolen his brother's youth. This was what it was all about. Everything else was...a distraction.

"I wouldn't have kept it. I swear."

There was no telling how truthful that was. Queen wouldn't risk Midge remaining if it wasn't important. Maybe getting Tan to give back what he took wasn't what Queen needed from Midge.

"Hush," Midge finally choked out. "I know you wouldn't have. I know it. Everybody knows it. Everybody knows it." He let out a held breath and confessed, "But they're gonna arrest you. It won't be for long and as soon as you tell everybody what happened, you'll get some leniency. You can fight this."

"And mom'll hear about it, then."

Midge gave him a good squeeze and held him out. Their eyes met finally and he nodded.

"I'll make sure Queenie gives you a light sentence. You do the time and go home like it's nothing. If they ask, you were hanging out with me."

Tan swallowed hard though he tried to smile. He said nothing and Midge took that old face in. He hated seeing it. There was nothing in this world he loathed more than it, but today it didn't sadden him—it made him determined. He'd find that target, even if he had to rip the Lower-Levels in two.

He'd find that bastard...and he didn't have much time to do it.

When Midge refused the cylinder cuff the guard offered and settled for the lighter ones reserved for nobles.

Queen met him, appreciation written all over his face. "Knew he'd listen to you."

Midge walked by him without a response. The first thing he needed to do was get Lydia home and regroup with Ruckus to see about the target but a quick scan of the crowd and the clearing made Midge's stomach drop.

She was gone.

***

Lydia hit the ground hard from the full-speed tackle. Midge scrambled off and checked her over.

"Did you take anything? Did you?" He struggled to calm but could barely lower his voice. "Answer me!" Despite his large size, he remained over her, frustrated with the silence. He pinned her by the right hand. "That was your life. Do you get that? That was your life. Better to betray the devil himself than an Elemental. That was your life! Do you wanna know what that could do to you? Ask Joshua's grandfather. He crossed an E and doomed that family with a plight. Joshua can cut himself up and stitch it all back together but it won't last and his children won't escape that very visible revenge that E took. He at least has the money. What about you?"

Lydia's arm went limp. Her head was still turned away but Midge knew he'd made his point.

He was gentler when he said, "That money's not an option. It never is, it never will be. Joshua's family's curse is topical. You don't want an E who'll make an example of you." When Midge sat back, he did so hoping she'd fire back with some defense—even a lie.

Nothing.

In the dim light, Lydia picked herself up and knelt, refusing to meet Midge's gaze. The terror coming from her in waves was palpable.

They said nothing. Everything in Midge wanted to know no diskette was disturbed from that E house but he barely had the power to ask again considering how fast he ran here.

"I couldn't move, Mr. Osbourne. This time I couldn't move. I felt so stupid for coming back here."

On a normal day, Midge would have given comfort but he needed it more as of now. "Tell me...tell me you didn't disturb anything. Please...."

Lydia finally shook her head. "I told you, once I got in I couldn't move."

Letting out a held breath, Midge sat back. He wanted to move away but decided Lydia was too shaken to find her footing again so easily.

And there they sat in silence.

Midge felt sorry for her. "The money you have is enough. You have to believe that."

The distraught noblewoman gave no response.

"It's enough," Midge assured her. "I'm certain of it."

"You said once...not to go up against Joshua. Can you honestly say he lies or...miscalculates?"

Midge couldn't. Joshua was a lot of things: a slug, a craven wanna-be hero. But he was no fool. In fact, his accuracy in predicting money was frightening. Queenie coming with fifty-years-worth of credits was no coincidence, either.

"I'll help you get more money," Midge said, unsure where those stupid words had even come from. He didn't have time for this, not with hunting for his target. When she looked in his direction, her eyes failed to focus but Midge could make her out. "But it's gotta be small and fast and you'll have to leave with the regular transport out so we'll stay right here until it's close to that time."

"Well now, ain't that one interesting thought," a voice called out. "Here we've come all the way down here to cut a throat and reclaim my property, and here you are, E, offering something even better—entertainment." Mitchellii held up the lantern and his face looked twisted when he smiled. "Ruckus went to square away that bad fight, but I won't hold my breath on her coming back—not with nothing useful. So.... Let's talk."

Growling, Midge shot to his feet and charged. "I don't have time for this."

Mitchellii dropped the lantern and grabbed Lydia by the hair. She cried out.

Midge caught a glimpse of the knife by Lydia's throat and reversed course.

"Now, don't get cocky, E. Because I can't hurt you, but Ruckus already told me. Yules shouldn't hurt no E's. But Yules can hurt Yules."

Mitchellii wasn't all that much taller than Lydia's small frame but his strength had the noblewoman on her tiptoes.

"Wish I could say I wouldn't cut a woman's throat, but you don't get a reputation like mine outta nowhere. I will cut her from chin to navel if you take another step."

Midge stared Mitchellii down. "Ruckus didn't tell you about me, then, I guess."

"Oh, she did. S'why I'm holding this little darling by the throat. You know, guaranteeing you'll give me long enough to say my piece."

"I don't meddle in Yule affairs." Midge leaned forward. "You cut her, you kill her, and then what?"

A noise from the darkness meant Mitchellii didn't come alone. That hardly mattered.

"Then what?" Midge asked. "That ain't my Assist. My obligation to her is through. I have no love, devotion or time to spare. What happens when her body drops and you realize that you've just pissed off a very busy E? What then?"

Mitchellii stood defiant. That made Midge nervous but he should hardly be surprised. This was a thug who'd caught Ruckus's interest. And it must have been for a reason. Midge only prayed this so-called hitman was at least smarter than Ruckus.

"I just want what's fair," Mitchellii said, sounding more reasonable. "Proper entertainment. Don't get me wrong, that fight wasn't bad. But hardly worth seventy-five."

"That's a gamble you made and you must have profited."

Midge turned to walk away and Lydia shrieked, "What is all this? What is all this stuff around us? What is all this?"

"What she going on about, boss?" someone asked.

Mitchellii did nothing to mask his disgust. "Her eyes ain't focusing. Faulty enhancement by the looks of it."

Each step Midge took away made his feet feel heavy. Distance might get Lydia out of this. What was the alternative? No. Her being an Elemental's bargaining chip was a death sentence either way.

"One race, Elemental," Mitchellii called in a last-ditch effort. "One race and it'll square you. Ruckus said you loved them races. What's the harm? Maybe you can make a few more credits."

Midge was nearly at the tunnel's exit when he paused. A race didn't interest him in the least. But there was something he wanted.

"In exchange for a record of every nobleman you know who's robbed an E of youth?"

Mitchellii's response took a long time to come. "A Yule smart enough to rob an E without repercussions is on another level. I ain't got nothing solid. I can't give you more than two names—low hanging fruit, ya know?"

That wasn't worth a race. Mitchellii knew that, too because he didn't offer up more.

Letting out a held breath, Midge turned to them and said, "Fine, but no big finale. Not without more than two." At the cautious nod, he said, "And it'll cost you another ten. I'll break as many bones as you need."

A smile took time to form on the hitman's face, but when it came, Midge had a pit in his stomach. He should have been pleased—this would help everyone. Lydia could take that ten and be satisfied. She'd live long enough to make that transport out, too.

Within seconds of that smile forming, it faded again to a look of concern and it took a moment for Midge to understand why. The tunnel shook.

Midge's right knee buckled, dragging him to the ground. One heave came from his mouth, blood along with it.

A collective, "Whoa," from the men around Mitchellii started the panicked chatter.

Hand clenched at his chest, Midge tried to breathe but it was to no avail, he felt....

"Cold," Midge gasped. "I'm cold."

Silence rushed around them until one of Mitchellii's goons lamented, "I knew it. I knew it. Nobody deals with dem damn Elementals fo' a reason. I knew it. We're gonna die if we're lucky. Or we're gonna end up sterile and deformed."

Mitchellii slapped him. "Hold it together. We didn't take anything; we didn't verbally agree to the deal. And look," he lowered the knife and wiped Lydia's throat. "Nobody drew blood." He sounded less sure when he insisted, "We're clear. We're clear." After whispering it one more time to himself, he fumbled under his sash and rifed through his lower pant leg pocket for a diskette. "Rucku?"

A voice short of breath erupted. "Not now, darling. Got a few War-gens on me. But I've got what you wanted. And a good thing. You go up against Midge and he'll rip off your leg and ram your femur through your throat. I'll be late but I'll be home."

The screen went black and Mitchellii swallowed hard.

"Pull back," he whispered. "Now."

But while they feared Midge, Midge feared something else—he couldn't stand. Each attempt weighed him down more.

"Boss, what's wrong wit 'im?"

Shaking his head, Mitchellii said, "I don't know. But I know we ain't sticking around to find out. Pull back. Ruckus has what we need. And it's worth more than any damn seventy-five. Look lively and remember it's your entire family getting a plight from an E this strong. Move."

Heavy boots shuffled and skidded away, leaving Midge gasping. He was cold.

When he looked up from the ground to find Lydia watching him, eyes wide with terror, her breath showing in the air thanks to the lantern she picked up, Midge came to a raw conclusion.

"I'm grounding."

Lydia blinked at him. "What?"

He tried to sound calmer when he repeated himself and added, "It sometimes happens to Elementals because of fatigue. I'm just grounding—I'm turning to stone. Once I calm, I'll come back out of it." He gestured to the path Mitchellii and company took. "They won't touch you. You just head out. It's not safe here with those E houses being right on top of us."

Instead of running, she took a step forward, toward him.

"No." Midge warned, "No. It's not safe for you. This place will be freezing. I don't even know how far it'll reach."

"Then I'll stay till you come out of stone. It's the least I could do."

Midge couldn't believe his ears. What a stupid thing to say. He debated telling her what staying with a grounded E could do...what he thought it could do but there was one problem—E's don't get cold. Ever.

"Get outta here," Midge finally begged. "If you wanna help me, then get yourself outta here. E's run hot. Hell, we heat the Colony, a cold one's not a good sign. So go. Go tell someone."

Lydia pursed her lips together. "No." She gripped the lantern tighter. "I'm not leaving you."

Unable to believe his ears, Midge gaped.

"I'm not leaving you. What if—what if I do and...and I come back and you're...what if I can't come back? No."

Another sharp pain ripped through Midge dragging a wail from him. His heart. The slowing thumps left him numb. Frost was rare in the Colony but Midge recognized it when the lantern turned white in parts.

"Run," Midge begged, allowing his second leg to buckle as well. On his knees, he hung his head, enduring the pain. "Get the hell out of here, idiot! What you staying for? Get some help. Warn somebody. Don't you know you'll turn to stone with me if I ground?" He picked his head up to see Lydia's look of defiance. "And you'll die with me if I die."

She tried to step closer but Midge shoved her back. His next attempt at swinging was fruitless—he couldn't use his arms.

They stared each other down. Midge knew no help would come in time. Even if she found Queenie by some miracle; even if they got past that E house without Lydia triggering it to snatch her up yet again, even if they risked making a portal into this very tunnel.... That tightness in his chest and his inability to stand meant he was at an end.

A tear escaped Midge's right eye—even that felt cold.

"I'm frightened," he confessed. "But don't tell them I was scared."

Lydia broke down as she rushed him and grabbed hold. "Mr. Osbourne. Mr. Osbourne, please get up."

She repeated his name. As much as Midge wanted to tell her to get away, he savored her hot flesh against his. The heat felt good but his heart broke at how much she cried for him.

"I was gonna leave you down here," Midge said, "you should have left me, too."

Lydia held him tighter. "No, you weren't."

She sounded so sure of that.

"At least Mitchellii's hunters are off your back," Midge assured her. "You can wait on that transport by yourself now."

Nothing. She wouldn't budge.

"Please. Please don't do this," Midge begged. "Think of your family. Leave. Get out of here. Please." He wheezed. "Think of me. I can't have this on my conscience, too."

"I'll never leave you behind. I've been left behind all my life. I think even death doesn't feel as bad. You didn't leave me behind with that diskette. You didn't leave me in that hotel room when it got trashed. You didn't leave me at that transport wall to get robbed of everything." Lydia tightened her hold. "I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving you."

Her words made Midge sick. He only gave that diskette back because of karma—something E's lived by and manifest on their own. And checking the hotel was to make sure he'd fulfill his commitment to her. The transportation wall was an act of panic. What the hell was she here for?

"Please," Midge whispered. "Please don't do this. If it's the diskettes...."

And there they remained. Midge kneeling, and Lydia holding him close. He lost track of time.

Her body was hot, though, and Midge took a chance. He tried to move his arms. The first few attempts gave no yield but after some time, he wiggled his fingers.

Lydia risked looking down. "Mr. Osbourne, you can move?"

Midge shook his head. "I don't know. I think your body heat's helping me. You have a strong aura for a little lady. I don't want to damage it so you have to let go before it starts on its own. If you really care about whatever it is you think I've done...." He swallowed hard and said, "Please let me go."

This time when he managed to push her back, she complied—though not far.

Lydia couldn't meet his gaze. She stayed close to him, though, clenching his right arm to keep him steady.

"After all we've been through so far, I can't ask anything else of you. I'll leave you in peace. But let me try to help you. Just this once."

"Listen," Midge warned. "That house, no matter what, that house is not an option."

Whatever Lydia said next, Midge never heard it. All motion stopped—she let go.