Lapis groaned, sitting up and rubbing her head. She must've slept, since she felt rested. But something was definitely off.
Thanks a lot. She growled at her dark from.
Your welcome. It growled back to her surprise. She hadn't previously known she could speak to the thing, and the prospect of it frightened her a bit. What if this thing had been listening to her the entire time.
Hmph. You wish. I can only hear what you say when you address me. Your more dull than I expected. It snapped, like a ghostly voice in her mind. She blinked at the insult, but decided it wasn't worth worrying about. One look at the glowing light on her neck signaled she had a new target. She stood up, going to the balcony again. The street had gone silent since the previous night. And she caught view of a little paper flying past her in the wind. In a quick movement, she snatched it out of the air. She drew it to her, eyeing it. She smirked. The face of last night's target smiled back at her. She briefly thought about how she recognized the woman's familiar smile, but she once again cast it away.
Your welcome for that pretty penny at the bottom. The voice said in her mind. She rolled her eyes.
I thought you only replied when I addressed you? She teased. She could almost feel it's groan shake her body.
Shut up and look, will ya? It snapped. Her eyes moved to the bottom of the paper, reading a number with way more zeros than it needed.
"What?" She breathed in shock. She would be able to pay and buy her freedom from Boss in no time at all!
He'll never let me do that. She reminded herself. She was just happy her dark form didn't make some snide comment back.
Don't tempt me. It remarked, knowing it's "glorious presence" was requested. By no one. She felt a pulsing sensation in her collar, and looked down. She touched it gently, and her vision was flooded with the image of Boss. His white scales gleamed in the dim light, and the green stripe down his sides moved with him. His black mane stood up, flowing around in an imaginary wind.
"You requested me?" She asked. He nodded.
"I have a job for you." He said slowly, eyeing her. She closed her eyes, bowing her head.
"Yes, master." She said, the name stinging her tongue to speak. She was this dragon's play thing, and she knew she'd have to listen to his every command, or he'd take off her collar, and release her demon on the world.
That wouldn't be so bad, would it? It questioned dreamily.
You'd kill everything in your path. She thought back, biting her tongue so she didn't snap out loud  in front of Boss.
"I have another target for you." He said, and something in his eyes changed. "They're an... old friend." He said, his voice slightly breaking. Lapis opened her eyes, puzzled, but willing for payment.
"Give me the information, I'll handle it. As always." She said, nodding respectfully.
"Hmm." He hummed, looking distant. She watched him silently thinking for a while, before clearing her throat to get his attention again.
"Sorry...I was..." He stopped.
"Thinking?" She guessed, smiling. He gave a forced smile, and she frowned slightly.
"Yes. Here's the information." He said, handing her a little paper, with all the usual credentials. She examined it, coding it into her brain. She remembered every single detail, from smudges in the ink writing, and little rips in the paper.
"I'll get to work." She said, going to close off her vision.
"Wait." He said, crossing the office to her. He looked like he was going to reach out to her, but realized he couldn't. Something clouded his vision but she couldn't recognize what it was. He sighed, closed his eyes, and met her gaze.
"Give them a quick death." He said, and she nodded, closing off her vision. Once it faded and she was once again standing in the tavern room, she let herself breath. She hadn't taken a deep breath since she'd started her vision. Something about Boss today was off, he was usually confident, knowing exactly what he wanted her to do. But this time...he seemed reluctant to give her the information for her target. She wasn't complaining, payment was payment, not matter how hard it was to achieve.
Can you stop worrying and let me kill something already? The voice screamed, frustrated being locked up for so long.
You'll get your time. Be patient. She said back, asserting her dominance. The voice stirred, shocked, but didn't retort. Lapis smiled to herself.
Thank you. She said, and walked to the balcony. She sat on the wire chair, watching people in the street again. She noticed two little shapes, huddled in an alleyway, shaking. She squinted, seeing they were two little children, huddled in potato sacks for warmth, the littlest one crying. The other held the little one to their chest, rubbing their back and whispering into their hair. Lapis watched them for such a long time that eventually the little one cried themself to sleep, but the older had to stay awake in order to guard what little belongings they had, which was nothing more than a coin pouch and a little ring. Lapis sighed, and leapt of the balcony, landing in front of them. The eldest went to scream in surprise, but Lapis shushed her.
"Your alright. I won't hurt you." She said, kneeling down to their level. She eyed the sleeping child beside her, pity fueling her actions.
What are you doing? Pitying little street rats? The voice snapped. Lapis shoved them from her thoughts, knowing what she wanted.
"Come." She said, rising. The older child watched her hesitantly, but realized she meant she wouldn't hurt them. She stood up, cradling her younger brother. The little dragons stirred, and the girl nearly dropped him. Lapis scooped him from her arms, smiling down at her.
"I've got him." She whispered, and the girl smiled, following Lapis to the ladder to the balcony. She used one arm, hefting herself and the boy up, and turned around to help the girl the rest of the way. Once they were inside. She laid the little boy on the bed, pulling the dirty sack of a blanket off of him. She tucked him into the sheets, and he sighed in his sleep, contempt. He little girl's eyes were droopy, and Lapis nodded towards the bed.
"Sleep." She said, and went back to the balcony, happy with her good deed.
You've made a mistake, taking care of them. The voice said. Lapis rolled her eyes.
They're little kids, I'm not leaving them out here to die. She said, eyeing the place where they'd been moments before.
You kill people for a living. How will these two be any different? The voice pointed out. Lapis frowned.
Your wrong. I only have to kill my targets. Two kids won't effect anything. Now shut up and help me track down the next target. She said, fingering the collar.
Agreed. It said, and her mind flooded with power.