Flashback: A fair exchange

[marinabeauvais]

'The irony of it: the Masters themselves would not be inconvenienced! But their designs, their enterprises, their iron grip on the populace... oh, yes, that will certainly be interrupted. So not a word. Soon, my friend. Soon.'

Marina does not trust this man with whom Danni had scheduled a meeting with, this thin, bald man with brown skin and a oily smile focused entirely at the bag she held, the eyeless skulls knocking together with her every motion. His gaze was hungry, like a cat self-assured in its own power as it cornered its prey, his eyes cruel and bright even in the dim gaslight.

I am not his prey, she tried to remind herself. I am not what he is seeking, or what he is truly paying attention to.

The thought was meant to reassure; instead, it made the bones she was carrying feel even heavier.

Behind her, oddly silent, Danni leaned against the lamppost.

'We were very close to the Nadir once. Very close. If we could work there... not only would we be certain of safety from discovery, but the energies of the place. The energies! The Device's power would be unmatched. Even the Mountain...eh, those same energies would destroy us before we could finish. And we'll never find the place.'