Part 2

Earlier that day...

I took a bite on the peanut butter sandwich my brother made for me for breakfast as I walk down the lanes towards the guns shop where I work as an apprentice to my Uncle Grubber who is a gunsmith.

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand after finishing my sandwich. I grabbed the water bottle that I always bring with me everywhere I go, only to find it missing on my utility belt. I remember I left it in the kitchen today, which I can't do anything about it. I don't want to go back to the house which is a ten minute walk from the Hob, and if I do I'll end up late for work and Uncle Grubber will tell me off to Papa.

Also, I can't lose a silver for being late. Every penny counts, and being an apprentice is already hard work, and we get paid less.

"Psst." I paused for a bit and look over my shoulder, to a building with red painted wooden doors.

A woman, or what I think is a woman because she has stubbles, is standing in front of it, hand on one hip while the other is holding an unlit cigarette. She wore a red corset what made her waist look tiny and an hourglass shape. A pair of black skimpy shorts with net panty hose, and a pair of black shiny boots that reaches below her knees.

She looks at me from head to toe with a creepy look in her gray eyes and a sly smirk, "Wanna work for me? You look like you can do buckets with that nice curves."

My brows furrowed at her offer and the comment that comes after it, "Sorry, but I have a more better job than doing... whatever it is your offering." I said, "Have a good day." And I walked away in a hurry before she could call out to me again.

In Asphodel, it's normal for kids ranging from ages ten to eighteen to do apprenticeship to earn money. There comes a time where kids had to grow up and face reality that not all things you want can be handed out to you, you have to work for it in order for you to get it, and that's where we have to sign up to any open apprenticeship. Other than doing labor to earn money, it also teaches a child the hardships on earning money and know how to save it for the important stuff. But sometimes, the work you're getting in to is not age appropriate.

Kids in Olympus won't experience this type of work. They can laze around, slack off, and glue their butts on their chairs doing whatever they do to survive a day without getting bored. They wouldn't know how an Asphodelian kid experience because they have people who work for them and do the job for them. All they have to do is pay them and they can get whatever they want.

"Good morning, Uncle." I greeted the man at the counter who is inspecting every guns we put on display before opening.

He glanced at me, and I saw his lips curve to a grin from under his blonde beard. "Ah! Here's my favorite niece!"

I chuckled, "I'm your only niece."

Uncle Grubber is my "master", since I'm his apprentice. Papa wouldn't let me work for anyone, especially with shops that make their apprentice do inappropriate work, like the one I passed by earlier while coming here.

At first, I was extremely mad that I have to work on my tenth birthday, instead of celebrating it by going shopping with Papa and Alois like we usually do on my birthday, but after I saw how Papa and Alois struggled to get me a dress with their combined savings when I followed them to the Hob after escaping apprenticeship, I realized, I shouldn't ask for anything from them, because I don't deserve it, I shouldn't be a burden to my family especially when our money is supposed to be used in more important stuff. I realized if I want something, I should get it myself from that day on.

I never skipped a day of apprenticeship again. I will do side jobs like walking my neighbor's stinky, ugly dog in exchange for three silvers. It's rare to find gold when you're just an apprentice, gladly, Uncle Grubber is a fair guy he would tip me two golds every payday, that way I could afford at least a nice dinner for Papa and Alois to eat after hard day's work.

"How is yer father and brother?" Uncle asked, putting a rifle back to its case. "I didn't get to visit on the weekend before, I had to finish this baby over here."

He pointed to the new sniper rifle displayed on the pedestal next to the counter. It's in the color wooden brown and gold.

"Papa's alright," I replied, eyes still on the beautiful gun, "he spent Sunday reading with me after listening to the mass. While Alois slept half the day, and we went hunting in the afternoon, we have wild chicken and berries for dinner."

"Ye paid yer bills, didn't ya?" He ask, taking out a smaller gun from its case.

I nodded, "I did. Thanks for the gold, Uncle."

"Aye, ye don't have to thank me, it's what family do." He pats my shoulder, squeezing it lightly at the end and proceed to cleaning the gun in his hand.

Grubber Smith, is not related to me—by blood at least, but since I could remember, he's already part of the family and helped raise me and my brother.

As me and my brother grow older, our needs are getting expensive, especially he bills we have to cover. Papa had to work double time, and Alois had to do two apprenticeship, being a blacksmith apprentice by day, and a bartender at another tavern that's smaller than ours on another lane.

Papa offered to hire me as an apprentice in the tavern at night and get paid, but I refuse the idea, because it will only mean I have to share his savings. He already has six apprentice to pay and it's already taking up half of his supposed to be salary for serving drinks.

Stocks of drinks are getting higher in price which I find unfair. The Olympians could get liquor at a low amount and still get paid higher, while we suffer and try to split it evenly to fill in the bills and debts we have to cover.

Gladly, I taught myself how to hunt, and sometimes I would sneak to the edge of the village where there's a forest full of wild animals I can hunt for free. All I have to do is bring a gun with a silencer, because it's illegal to go to the woods—which is weird because Asphodel is already filled with illegal doings that everyone takes a blind eye, but going to the woods is considered illegal and shouldn't be neglected. I have to be as quiet as possible to not get caught. Because of this, I can get some stocks for the tavern, like berries, fruits, and some quail eggs that are popular lately and customers are asking for it in every drink they have. It saves more of Papa's income, and more customers coming over.

I can also sell some of my catch to the meat shops, and restaurants, a chef that was a good friend of mine and a regular buyer tricks his customers on saying the squirrel chunks in his soup is beef.

"Ey Lele, could ye get me that shot gun over there," he pointed at what he was talking about on the high shelf, "I need to get it clean, it's been two weeks and we have to move it to a different spot. Those rich laddies might find a liking to it."

"Got it, Uncle." I said, taking a stool and used it to reach the shot gun, I even pulled the trigger by accident when I grabbed it because it's a bit high for me. Gladly it doesn't have any bullets in it and it just clicked.

"Careful, we don't want ye two having any damages, do we, Lele?" Uncle chuckled.

I wrinkle my nose with a smile as I hear that nickname for the second time. Lele is his nickname for me, since Leslie is still long for him, he made it even shorter. I don't know, in my family, I have the most nicknames.

The door rings open, and my friend Bry came in.

"Good morning, Phantomhive." He greeted me with a suspicious grin.

Uncle grumbled to let his presence known.

"And, Mr. Smith." Bry added, nodding to my Uncle.

"What're ye here for, young Cortez?" Uncle ask, not even bothering to look at him.

"Can I borrow Leslie for a moment?" Bry replied with another question, nodding at me.

"What for?" Uncle ask again, still busy with the sniper.

"I have some...things to tell her, if it's okay." Replied Bry, his grin now a smirk.

My lips curves to a smile, understanding what he's going with.

"I think Le—

"I'll escort him out, Uncle." I cut him off, pulling Bry out the door, closing it behind me.

"Be quick!" I heard Uncle say.

I turn to Bry, hands crossed over my chest, "What is it this time? Is it big?" I ask.

"Very big!" He exaggerated, "This guy, is from the nobles, and he promised to pay fifty gold if you could find him a bracelet."

I snorted, "Really? A bracelet? Don't Olympus already has tons of jewelry shop that sells those kind of stuff? Why don't he go look for it there?"

"Oh it's not just any bracelet," Bry countered, "he said it's the only one of its kind, made of a very expensive gold, and a blue stone that is very rare it can't be found anywhere."

"Tsk. Fifty gold for just one bracelet?" I tap my boots on the ground, "That's kind of cheap."

"We can negotiate, we can ask for a more higher bidding, you can get the seventy-five percent of it." Said Bry excitedly, eyes wide I can fully see his black irises. "What do you say? Are you up for it?"

Seventy percent? That's not bad at all. I was only acting when he said fifty gold, but I was actually shocked for someone to pay that high for just a jewelry. I could pay the bills for three months with that money, and weeks of food stocks for the extra.

"Okay, where should I find it?" I ask.

Bry grinned, he's bouncing on his heels, "On a penthouse near the entrance of Asphodel, the one we always pass by after stealing from the fruit carts in the marketplace."

I pictured that building immediately. I've been into that building before while accompanying Papa to deliver barrels of ale. Our prices are way cheaper than in the taverns of Olympus that's why some Olympians order their drinks from us and would pay double, but rarely.

It's a pretty big one inside than the outside, but I've never been into the penthouse. I was always curious about it because whenever we pass by there, I hear noises like little explosions, clanging sounds to tools dropping and buzzing.

"Got it. Consider it done." I said, giving him a pat on his shoulder.

"I knew I can count on you." He said, "thanks Leslie!"

I roll my eyes as he hurry away.

I went back inside, and Uncle is looking at me with his brows meeting each other.

Other than taking a few side jobs, and learning how to hunt, one more thing I learned to do is to steal. I wasn't a professional at it of course, I just learned to do it from some guys older than me. But we don't steal without a reason, we do it as a service for those who can't do the job properly. We get paid, depending on how big and difficult we're going to steal from.

"Yer goin' to steal again?" He said.

"This is the last time, I promise." I said.

"Ye said the last time was the last time," he crossed his beefy arms, flexing the muscles that I was scared of since before. "and here ye are again, doing dirty work."

"Uncle, I promise, this time is the last time, the catch is big this time." I said, putting a hand up to pledge. "Please, Uncle, this is going to be the last, don't tell Papa until the job is done, please?"

Uncle's brows furrowed even more that his forehead wrinkled, but sighs, "Fine. Just don't get caught, alright? I won't save yer butt if ye bail, even yer father won't do it."

I smiled, "I promise, I won't get caught, you won't need to save me for a mistake that I'm positive won't happen."

Of course, my family is against that. Who's sane parents would. But they can't do anything about it. No one is making the rules down here—not for me at least. No one would even care if I run dow the streets being chased by Knights trying to get away after getting caught stealing an apple from one of their precious fruit carts. During my first tries Papa and Uncle have to save me, but as I get older and getting good at it, they don't have to save me all the time.

I  promised I won't do it again, and I will, after this. I just hope I won't mess up later tonight.

***

Present time...

Alois, Papa, Uncle Grubber, and I are sitting in our kitchen table, all three of them glaring at me. If looks could kill, I would've died by now at how dangerous their stares are.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?" I ask, "I didn't do anything!"

"You just stole this evening." Alois reminded.

I open my mouth to protest, but realized he was right, "Well...yeah, other than that I didn't do anything!"

"Really? Then what is that?" Uncle pointed at the black marks on the walls.

Like the ones in my room. I didn't realized that blast affected the entire house. Now, everyone is accusing me of doing it when I literally didn't do anything.

"I swear, I wasn't playing with... my powers." I said, whispering the last part.

"Then how do you explain those?" Alois made gestures with his hands, "no one can do something strange in all of us except you."

"Hey, even if I have abilities you don't have doesn't mean I did all...this." I defended, copying his hand gestures.

Papa sighs, "Lower your voices you two, some neighbors are already sleeping, we can't afford to be heard."

"I'm sorry, but Alois is accusing me with something I didn't do." I glared at my big brother with crossed arms.

"Then who did it?" Uncle ask, impatiently.

"This!" I showed them the bangle around my wrist.

They stared at it for a moment and all hold the same expression afterwards. They don't believe me.

"Uh-huh? A bracelet did that." Alois nods, unconvinced.

"It did! Why won't you believe me?!"

"Leslie, how come that made that blast? Surely your powers had something to do with it." Papa said calmly.

"Yeah, sister, don't make up lies just so you can get away with it," Alois said, "and why do you have that bracelet? You stole it, didn't you?"

"Obviously." I roll my eyes. "It's supposed to be for the client I'm getting it for, but now it's stuck on me all of a sudden."

"How exactly did it got stuck on you?" Papa ask.

I told them everything that happened, how I was only inspecting the trinkets I got for myself to trade, and how I suddenly got that weird feeling of being pulled to the bangle and then the explosion which my powers did not take part in it and now it's stuck on me and can't take it off no matter how I try.

"How come it won't take off?" Alois tried pulling it, but my skin goes along every pull, hurting me.

"Careful now, Al," Uncle Grubber said, "your sister is getting hurt."

"Let me see that." Papa took my wrist and look at the bangle closely.

His brows furrowed as he stared at the blue stone at the center.

"Where did you get this?" He ask.

"The penthouse at the edge, near the entrance." I confessed.

A heavy sigh escaped Papa's mouth, "This is what happens if you do something without deeply thinking about it," he saud, standing up from his seat, "be sure to hide that from any Knight on sight, until we find a way to remove it."

I nodded, feeling a bit guilty now that Papa is upset.

I watch as he went to his room, closing the door with a soft click.

Uncle Grubber and Alois both stared at me.

"If you get into trouble with this, I don't know what I would do." Alois said disappointingly, and got up to go upstairs.

Uncle Grubber sighs also, "G'night Lele." He pats my head and left to go back to his house which is only across from ours, leaving me alone in the kitchen with our cat, Milku, jumping on the table and laid there.

This night is full of sighs, and I'm sighing as I return to my room.

Flicking my wrist, the shimmering dust floated in midair, and navigated it to the trash bin under my reading nook.

I ditch my dirty clothing for an oversized shirt and sweatpants. Ate least my other clothes are saved from all the mess that I made today which I really didn't do it—maybe not in purpose.

I look at the bangle on my wrist. Annoyed at the thought that this thing gave me two headaches tonight.

Now I have to think of an explanation to Bry tomorrow and how I will not be able to give this thing to the client for some amount of time.

It can't be helped now. I'll try to find ways to take it off tomorrow.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

I open my eyes, looking over to the window where that sound came from.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

"Milku, is that you again?" I ask with a grumble.

Then I remembered, Milku was in the kitchen when I left him. And the windows are surely closed and so is the front door.

I got up, push the curtains aside and found nothing but the branch of the guava tree from the neighbor's yard that's extending to my window. The wind must've blown that's why it's tapping.

Shrugging, I grabbed the curtain again to pull it close, when I notice something outside.

Furrowing my brows and narrowing my eyes to get a better vision, I saw a strange looking shadow, standing in the middle of the lane, facing my direction, and it has..eyes. yellow glowing eyes and a slit across the face that is supposed to look like a mouth, grinning at me.

I rub my eyes, and when I look back, it's now gone.

Creeped out, I close the curtains, jump on my bed and pull the blanket over me, praying that I was only seeing things because I'm tired.

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