Hello again!

We now have the point of view of dear reader, who has a... Peculiar job. Who are you, and what are you doing ?

Good read!

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You felt the footsteps fading above you, and let out a breath.

You weren't expecting the headmistress of Alfea to come back to her office after drinking with her friends. You suspected she was a workaholic, and even alcohol couldn't deter her. You were almost caught!

But then, you could feel her from afar. It was even worse when she was closer, to the point you had to fight for your magic to not react to hers, even walls apart. It was what almost got you.

Maybe it was time to retire.

This job had been the only way for you to survive, once. Then pride took over, and you decided that if this was the only thing you could do, you'd be the best at it, better than anyone else; slowly, you made your way up until your name was spoken in hushed tones, between people with a heavy bank account and with very little conscience.

Now, the passion was starting to fade, and a quiet resentment build up. Was this really all you could do?

Maybe it was because you felt lonely, lately. Your line of work wouldn't allow a soulmate, for it was too much of a liability. What if they saw something they shouldn't through your eyes? What if they decided to denounce you after one particularly incriminating scene?

No, you couldn't let that happen.

Was is worth it, though?

You shook your head, driving those thoughts away.

Speaking about guiltless men, you had a meeting to set up with your contractor.

A secure text through a burner phone and a change of clothes later, you were ready to meet him in a public location. You didn't trust him; you could practically feel his bloodlust, barely hidden behind a baritone voice and a seductive smile.

Oh, he was charming, and you might have been tempted, if you weren't resolutely gay and too professional to attempt anything with a client. What was more, was that a particular lie by omission that could have made you break your rules.

-Are you sure this is safe?

You scoffed.

-I've never been caught, and I am not starting today. More importantly, we have a problem.

-What kind of problem?

-The prize is not what we talked about.

-Did you find her?

-So you did know this was a human being, behind all those protections.

-Why do you care? You promised zero judgement on the prize.

-With the condition it was an object. If it is a person, it isn't stealing but kidnapping.

-It isn't stealing, but releasing.

-And I am a thief. The very best you'll ever see. I have a knack to find the best objects, artefacts, paintings, and to cross all barriers without ever being caught. I don't do human, be it kidnapping, trafficking, or politicking.

-So you know who it is.

-And I am bound by secrecy. My contract was very clear on that; whether or not you break your terms, I'll keep my mouth shut. That being said, you not upholding your part means I won't uphold mine.

-Don't you want the truth? Why would a war hero be locked up under a school? What kind of woman exactly is in power to brainwash thousands of kids at Alfea? What is our Queen hiding -because the Headmistress couldn't do anything without the queen's approval- and what kind of world are we living in?

A long silence stretched between the both of you. You frowned behind your sunglasses, trying to piece together the information he gave you, trying to find the grand picture of things. If you were right, this was dangerous, too dangerous for you to get involved.

-No.

-If not for your curiosity, then for the kids! Do you think they should be taught by people who can only manipulate them, to learn a twisted version of the truth?

-If you're trying to appeal to my moral sense, you're barking at the wrong tree. Thieves have very limited morals.

-And yet you have never killed anyone. You pride yourself on your rapidity and professionalism, and you gave a piece of money to the beggar right there.

-Cover. No one expects a thief to give money; concerning my rules, I do have some, and you tried to break them. Our collaboration is over, Mr. Sardane.

-My daughter is in there.

-Congratulation.

-I have no news of her. If the Headmistress was capable of hiding her predecessor for sixteen years, how long should I wait before I see my teenage daughter again?

-Not my problem.

You got up, and he quickly announced:

-I'll double your fees!

You gave him a cold glare, trying to push him. In truth, you were already starting to tip towards helping a little bit, but you wanted to see how far he could go, and how far you could go without cheating with your morals.

-You don't have to free her, he continued, just to locate her and analyse the security around her. That way, you don't break your little rules, you still get paid and I get my daughter back.

-Triple.

-Two and a half.

-You are in no position to bargain, Sardane.

You weren't stupid, you had realised what anagram it was, and what it meant. You were considering putting yourself in a dangerous situation, but then you were a sucker for kids. No kids deserved to be imprisoned, and certainly not put in stasis for years.

-No one else can infilter Alfea's barrier, and no one can locate your daughter. If there were others, you wouldn't be begging.

-I am not begging.

-You should be. Triple or nothing.

-Fine.

-Pleasure to do business with you, you smirked.

He looked absolutely pissed off, but you didn't care. The contract that was binding you was also binding him; this was why you took the risk of writing magical contracts. This was the reason why you were the best thief.

-I want the information today.

-I do not make a habit out of visiting twice the crime scene in one day.

-It shouldn't be a problem, since by your own admission, you've never been caught.

You held back from gritting your teeth, clapping back with the truth:

-I have never been caught for a reason; I am careful. I will proceed the same way I've always done, with scouting and planning. If it takes a week before I can ascertain if it is safe, I will.

-My daughter may not have that long.

-Then best not keep me too long here.

-I'll quadruple your fees.

You were attracted by money, sure, but you also were attracted by life. Having money was of no use if you were in prison. But the girl...

-Double that again, and we have a deal.

-You are greedy, he protested.

-And you knew exactly who you were working with, you replied. If you are asking me to take more risks, you are paying up.

-I want to know this afternoon.

-No time to draft a contract, so you have to pay upfront.

You expected protests as you presented him with a secured QRcode, again, but he whipped out his phone and paid. God, you loved rich clients. They really lost touch with reality, didn't they?

Your bank account made fuller again, you changed clothes, expecting more trouble, this time. If Dowling felt you earlier, there was a chance that she upped her security, barriers, and everything. Even if a teenager was less of a risk than an old war general, she wouldn't want anyone to see it.

You couldn't take any risk.

Slowly, you advanced towards your goal, prodding every barrier to make sure you weren't missing anything. You didn't spring any traps, didn't leave any trace, tripped no alarms; in no time, you were near the room.

It felt too easy.

But then, she was a teenager, even the location wasn't so secretive; any student in the school could know where she was held captive, and you couldn't even feel a sound barrier or something. If the girl cried, the whole perimeter would hear it.

What kind of a sloppy job was that?

A part of you wanted to yell victory, hail the stupidity of some allegedly smart Fairy; another part of you was quiet, observing, and expecting it to be a bigger trap. Still, if there was no one around except for measles guards -kids, really- in front of the door you'd never need to pass.

It was time.

With experience, you found out that timing was everything. You could feel when the time was right or wasn't; a mix of magic sense, anticipation, experience, vibrations, sounds... You knew when to act and when to lay low.

You entered the room, going unnoticed by the young frazzled girl. She had an air of arrogance that didn't surprise you at all after dealing with her father, but looking closely, you realised this was a front.

She was scared.

Still, you were too careful to reveal yourself, even if your heart went to her. Observing quietly the room, feeling the magic around, analysing the barriers, you made note of everything of importance for your client.

Then you left as quietly as you came, without leaving a trace.

Making sure that no one followed you, you went to the place agreed upon. Changing again and leaving your stuff in the bathroom for someone else to take, you were ready to meet Sardane again.

-So?

You opened your mouth to answer, and then you felt him move around.

-Are you sure you weren't followed?

You frowned.

-Who do you think I am? I am not that sloppy.

More by habit, you scanned the crowd once more, before freezing. You couldn't see her, but you felt her energy, her magic.

Dowling was here.

-Go away, you whispered. I'll meet you later.

Yourself used every ounce of your talent to get out of there unnoticed, using another keepsafe bag -you had hidden several of those everywhere, always preparing for the worst- to change yet again. This time, far from the practical but elegant clothes you wore at both meetings with your client, you wore a pretty dress, cute shoes and a cane.

Walking away, thinking furiously -how could she find you? This was impossible, you changed appearances, clothes and no magic trace was put directly on you- you used the cane to sweep the paveway gently, accepting a helping hand with a graceful smile to cross the street.

When the soft hand pressured you away, you frowned.

-Thank you for your help, but I can handle myself from here.

-I am sure you can, answered a calm voice, and I need to speak with you, in private.

-This is at the very least, preying on the weak, and at worst, kidnapping. Who are you and what can you possibly want from me?

Like a wave dripping down, the feeling of the woman by your side changed, and you recognised immediately the magic emanating from her. You distractedly noticed her hands were still just as soft, while your mind went into overdrive.

Shit.

-I know who you are and what you've done. If you don't want me to make an official complaint and ruin your reputation, you'll follow me quietly.

-I'm afraid you must have the wrong person. I don't know who offended you enough to prey on the blind, Miss, but it isn't me.

-We both know you aren't blind.

-Do we?

You laughed, removing your sunglasses to reveal closed and probably encrusted eyes from lack of use. You felt the woman freeze, while you disentangled from her grip and addressed her with a brilliant smile.

-Well, you are being rather rude, Headmistress Dowling. 

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Tadaaa! What do you think? Do you love the reader? What kind of magic do you think you have? How will this encounter turn out?

On a personnal note, I don't like the scene between Farah and Beatrix. This seems so out of character for the by-the-book headmistress, a pitiful attempt of discovering things by prying into one of her students' mind... And then letting everyone know about it, when she at least proved that she could keep big secrets.

My opinion? This was a trap. Farah never intended to actually force her way into Beatrix's mind (she is powerful, she probably could have managed it), she hoped that the girl would cry and make a scene to attract the outside help. Why else put her in plain sight, with only two gards, and no kind of barrier? 

Soooo that's my theory, I'll stop ramble now. Next chapter comes tomorrow!

See you soon~