Part 1

DISCLAIMER:

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Language: English

P.S. 

I'm not a professional writer, so expect grammatical errors, cliché scenes, and other unprofessional writing mistakes. Feel free to say anything regarding the story in the comments. Thank you.

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I was hiding in the shadows as the thumping footsteps of the Knights drew closer from my hiding spot.

Above a building, I lay on its metal surface, peeking down below at the men wearing royal red uniforms with funny  hats, and watch as they scramble on splitting up on every direction just so they could find me. But I doubt they will.

When the men are gone, I quickly but quietly climb down to the balcony. I peeked inside to see if there's someone, but the darkness of the room speaks for itself. I waved a hand, and a black, shadowy key appeared in midair. I took it and use it to unlock the door. I slip inside, quietly closing the door just in case.

Using a flashlight, I light a small area of the room, and went to the worktable where trinkets and an unassembled invention is laid openly under a blueprint of a flying contraption.

"An inventor?" I ask myself in a whisper as I wander around the room.

Shelves of books. I wanted to grab one to keep for myself but I'm not into science books or any non fiction books in particular so I went pass it and went to the other side of the room where more trinkets are laid around.

I put some inside my pocket, thinking of ways how to sell it to the Hob tomorrow.

"Where is it?" I ask myself, moving my flashlight everywhere to look for that one thing why I'm here for.

My heels are clicking against the wooden floor as I paced back and forth just looking for that object.

How small is that object, really? Why can't I find it?

I turn around again, moving my flashlight to illuminate some areas of the place, and notice something shining from the corner every time the light hits it.

On a shelf, just a little above the worktable, is a gold bangle, and on it is a dark blue stone about the size of a coin.

This must be it. The one my client said.

I pocketed the bangle, just in time the door bursted open, and Knights barged in, lighting a flashlight at my direction. I froze for a moment, surprised by their sudden appearance, which I'm sure I was being careful not to get caught, but that is not the time to think of how they caught me, I have to get out of here.

My eyes wander around the room, looking for places to escape, but my only way out, is through the same way I got in here.

"Raise your hands!" Ordered a Knight.

Slowly, I raise my hands. I can't believe I'm doing things, I'm not yet giving up just because they caught me off guard.

"Turn around." Said the Knight.

I didn't do it, instead, I inched toward the balcony door, hands still up in a surrender.

"Stop." Ordered the Knight. "I said stop!"

A smirk formed on my mouth, "Make me."

With a swift move, I grabbed the curtain and yank it off, throwing it towards the group of Knights about to grab me and distracted them.

Kicking the balcony doors open, I run out and jump off without having any second thoughts.

I waved a hand and a giant shadowy hand emerged from the ground and caught me just in time. I went back to my feet and began running through the alleyway of the lanes, hearing Knights shouting from the distance.

I held back my laugh, holding tight on my pack to secure all the things I stole from that place from falling out.

"Halt! In the name of the Empress!" Said a Knight that I'm about to crash in to.

Grabbing to a pole, I swung myself to turn to another alleyway and run into the crowded night streets of Asphodel, blending into the crowd.

I took off my hood, pull my hair tie and letting my long hair fall on to my waist, give it a little tousle and walk as if nothing happened.

I heard the Knights shout to each other to split up again to look for me, but they're in no chance of ever catching me. Not tonight.

The buildings of Asphodel district loomed before me: different shapes and sizes made from scrap metal and wood put together. It's like a steampunk paradise at the outskirts of Olympus City, filled with colorful people under rags and used leather boots.

With a grin, I bounced towards the Hob—our version of the marketplace—and went to the tavern with neon blue and red lights glowing for the signage, where jazzy music is being played on the jukebox, and people are drinking their faces off with strong alcohol.

"Hey Leslie, care for a drink?" A boy around my age called from a table, with his group of friends that have creepy looks towards me.

"I'll pass, Jeremiah." I said and went to the counter, where a large man with brushed back hair and a beard is serving drinks.

"Evening, Papa." I greeted, climbing on a stool.

Papa turned towards me, a smile on his mouth, but it quickly disappeared.

He sighed, "Don't tell me you're out doing dirty work again."

"Correction: were." I said.

His thick brows made a straight line, "What am I going to do with you, Leslie."

I shrugged, "Maybe a strawberry milkshake?"

He sighed again, and waved a hand to his apprentice to go get my requested drink.

"How many times have I told you, not to do... whatever it is that your doing ever again?" He said in a whisper.

"Papa, I promise, this will be the last time, I just can't stand the offer this baby will give me." I said, patting my pack.

"You said that a lot of times before." He grumbled.

"I know but I promise, it's going to be the last time, I'll start working here like you want me to do." I said, putting hand out like making a promise, but my other hand is hidden behind my back, making crossed fingers.

Papa stared at me, his brows still furrowed, but sighed afterwards, "You better be true to your word, child, if you get into trouble, I won't be saving your butt out of it."

I nod, "Yes Papa, I promise I will not."

"Alright, try not to get into trouble tonight, I'm busy." He said, going to the back, leaving me with the other customers at the counter asking for drinks.

Stefan Phantomhive, is known around here in Asphodel as the most feared man. Maybe because he keeps things in order. He deals with any trouble everyone is causing, and makes good negotiations just to keep everything peaceful despite having lack of order from the main city we're under.

Asphodel is considered the dirty domain, where criminals and mostly the poor reside. If you're different and go against the rules, you belong here where there are no rules as long as you don't cause any trouble.

"Here's your drink, Leslie." Papa's apprentice, who I don't know the name, served me a tall glass with light pink liquid inside and whipped cream on top with tiny slices of strawberries for sprinkles.

"Thanks." I said.

More people are coming in the tavern.

From a table at the corner of the tavern, just beside the counter, I notice three teenagers sitting. One of them, a boy with narrow eyes with only one eye having a double lid, is staring at me.

I chuckled in my head at the idea of him hitting on me.

I mean, I can't blame him, some guys around here tried grabbing my attention, but they're not in luck, and same goes for this boy—if he's ever trying to hit on me. But what made me not take my eyes off him, is that he looks...clean.

His clothes, it may look like he's from here, but the level of cleanliness is different from what he have here. The tunic under his leather jacket is very white it almost resemble the snow on winter, his boots don't look overused and worn out by running through the lanes.

He raises his glass with a nod. I look beside me if there's someone he's gesturing to, but no one, I'm the only one looking at his direction.

I took my glass of milkshake and returned the gesture to him.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, when I turn my head, I saw the only apprentice I know by both name and personality, Ellias, "Leslie, you free? Can you serve this to that table?"

He pointed at the same table I was looking at moments before.

"What? I'm not even working here." I said.

"Just do it, I'm quite busy at the back, some apprentices haven't showed up yet," he said, giving me the tray, "besides, you practically own this place so why not do your part?"

Before I could protest, he's already disappeared into the back, leaving me no choice but to give this to that table.

I took one last sip of my milkshake and went to the said table, holding it with one hand like most of the crew here does when serving drinks.

"Here are your drinks." I said, and put every glass down, avoiding to look at the guy.

I saw the faces of his friends. One of them is a dark skinned guy with curly black hair tied back in a puffy ponytail.

And the last one is a girl, I think. She got lighter skin than the narrow eyes guy beside her, her hair trimmed to a boy cut with an under shave, a white streak bleached on her bangs, and I notice a scar on her left eyebrow. I'm not sure if she's wearing makeup but she got heavy eyeliner with smudges that made her look like she has eyebags.

"Thank you." Said the dark skinned guy who also smiled at me.

I smiled back and hurried back to return the tray at the counter.

I told Papa I'll be going home now, and left the tavern.

Even at night, the lanes are still crowded. I still see Knights going out and about, probably still looking for me. I passed by a Knight, looking suspiciously at me, but he went pass me and went to the other direction.

I smirk every time that happens, until I reach the less crowded area of the district, the village that is still quiet despite how late it already is.

The trinkets in my pack jingled as I hurried to my house.

Tap tap tap

I paused, turning my head to look over my shoulder when I heard that different noise.

Nothing. There is no one behind me.

With a shrug, I continued on, holding tight on my pack, just in case someone is following me.

I felt some movement near me, but every time I look around I find no one.

"Maybe it's just the wind." I told myself and went to my house which is at the edge of the village.

Taking out a set of keys, I unlock the front door and went inside.

I went upstairs, closed my door and windows, closing in the curtains and light my scented candles to light the room and add the smell of strawberries and cream in the air.

I take out all of the things I got tonight, putting aside the bangle I'm giving my client tomorrow, and one by one look through each one.

Some look like parts of an invention that's still going to be assembled because when I tried putting each one together, they fit. Some are made of gears, and some are just useless, but could still cost something at the trade shop.

My powers could come in handy at times.

I flick my wrist, and a shadowy bird appeared in front of me, and disappeared like puff of smoke.

I can control the shadows. Make them appear or disappear. I can also bend light or something like that, I only tried it once and Papa was not happy about it so I never tried to do it again. I can also levitate and make things float. Papa also said I can do things whenever I chant stuff. One time in my sleep, my brother told us over at breakfast that he saw me chanting words in my sleep that he couldn't understand, and the candles on my bedside table just lit up on their own.

I'm not sure how I got my powers, but my father said I was born with it. Mama could be the reason why, but Papa wouldn't tell me. He gets sensitive whenever I ask about my mother, and I didn't dare ask him again, since I'm still not gonna get the answers I need.

I've trained my powers in the walls of our house. No one knows around here I have this kind of ability, though magic is possible in this world, but the people in it are just not ready for that. Papa and I agreed to not use my powers if I'm around a lot of people, he feared some mad scientist will show up in our door one day and take me to experiment and drain everything I have. As ridiculous as it sounds, I kept that promise. But that doesn't mean I can't use it for my little mischief.

In this world, you can't live by waiting for others to give something to you. We can't wait for the Olympians to dump their junk to Asphodel and we find a way to make use of everything. Sometimes, we have to do the illegal to survive, even if it means running away from those Knights and pretend everyday.

Papa was against it of course, being the orderly man he is, but he couldn't blame me for not being patient. I will try to find a way to feed our mouths. The money in the tavern isn't enough to fill our stomachs, with all the bills and taxes we have to pay because of that stupid Olympian rule, it's never enough. Even my apprenticeship isn't very that high of a pay.

My mind won't be at ease to see my father have that wrinkle in between his brows every morning while having coffee, deep i thought. It just breaks my heart seeing him worried, so I have to at least do dirty work, I'll be fine anyway, as long as I don't get caught.

I put everything away and was about to get ready for bed when I notice a faint glow from beside my bed.

It's the bangle. The blue stone on it is the one glowing.

Blue sparks flew out of it and fill the air like little stars, so pretty I'm being pulled towards it like I'm hypnotized, but I'm conscious about what I'm doing.

As I drew closer to it, the brighter the glow goes. I want to back away but my body couldn't do it, I just know I have to touch it.

When my fingers reached the bangle, the glow bursted throughout my room, a strong energy pushing me back and I fell to the floor, blinded by the light in my hands.

The light faded in split seconds, and different shades of blue sparks rain on me.

"Leslie?"

I scramble to get to my feet when I hear my brother's voice outside my room.

The door swung open and Alois came in, looking like he's not gotten any sleep for a week. There are dark circles around his eyes, his brow are furrowed to keep his eyes open, and he looks like he's about to pass out.

"Alois, what are you doing here?" I walk up to him.

"I heard a loud noise, so I came to check what you're up to again." He looks around my room, looking for something that wasn't there. Then he looks at me, raised one brow, "Are you using your powers again?"

"Uh...yes..." I lied, "I know I'm not supposed to use them at this time of the night, sorry I just couldn't help it."

He sighs, "Just, do cause any more trouble okay? I heard from Papa you were stealing again."

"I wasn't stealing, I was only doing some work for a client." I defended.

"That's still the same." He sighs again and pats my head, "Get some sleep okay? And please do clean up, you're a mess. I'll see you tomorrow."

Alois went to his room which is only beside mine and close the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief and went back in my room, locking the door this time.

When I turn around, I stop in shock when I saw what happened to my purple and white bedroom. Large black splotches are everywhere, destroying my well maintained clean room. Blue and black shimmery dust are on the floor, my bed, and on the shelves.

I blinked a few times, squinting and rubbing my eyes, but it's still there, all the mess.

"What the f—

I didn't finish what I'm about to shout, realising my brother is at the other room and will hear me and scold me for cursing.

Instead, I grab my hair, holding back on pulling it out of my head in frustration.

Taking a deep breath, I went to my small bathroom, run the shower for no reason and face the mirror hanging above the sink.

My eyes widen like saucers that I could clearly see my brown irises when I saw what I look like in the mirror. My hair, that used to be just plain jet black, has dark blue streaks, and has soft curly ends instead of the natural wave, and my clothes has those black splotches as well, making it look like a failed tie-dye on my army green shirt and camouflage jumpers.

"Papa will kill me." I mumble to myself, brushing my hair to straighten it but it bounces back to its curly tips.

I turn on the faucet and and wash my face with cold water, making my peachy cheeks go a bit red, and my pale heart shaped lips even more pale. I splash my face with water one more time, and paused for a moment when I notice that the bangle is wrapped around my wrist.

I look at it and tried taking it off, but it's not coming off. "How did you get there?" I ask myself, trying to find the thing that unlocks it but I can't see anything.

"What the heck??" I pulled it off, only to hurt myself by pulling my wrist and it made a crack sound.

"Oh no..." I said, wide eyed staring at my wrist.

"Leslie Elois Phantomhive!" I hear my brother shout.

I rush to to the door and open it to find him there, his thick, black brows meeting each other and he doesn't look happy at all.

"What the heck did you do??" He glared at me, and my heart is beating like crazy.

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