?Good evening.? She said. Her words were nothing more than a whisper. They wove in and out of the tapestry of the bets being placed. But, her words fell on deaf ears so she moved in for a more tactile approach.

?Did I hear two-thousand? Asked the auctioneer and he pointed to a bidder who held up their numbered paddled.

The man?s shoulders stiffened beneath the finely tailored linen suit as Fury laid a gloved hand on his forearm and leaned in. Her lips near his ear, still talking in that quiet tone.
?I hope you haven?t been trying to avoid me, James. I would be terribly disappointed in you.? James waved her away, which the auctioneer took as a bid for three thousand. He just hissed at the Fallen.

?Go away will you? You?re interrupting me. We will talk in a couple of days. I can?t be bothered with you right now.? His heart was beating rapidly and he hoped the false bravado would keep her at bay. He?d spent the money she?d fronted him to purchase a set of crown jewels. He?d spent it all. And had nothing but the clothes on his back to show for it and a nice pair of pistols which given the opportunity he?d shoot her with. James tore his attention from the auctioneer for a moment to see where Fury had gone and was relieved to find her no where in sight. She was not lurking in any doorways. No sight of her in any aisles, or seats. She wasn?t even in the hall. He let out a sigh of relief and went back to watching the auction. Although, it was unsettling to have her just disappear so quietly. Twisting around one more time, making sure she wasn?t hiding in some blind spot. No, it seemed Fury had taken his advice and had gone away.

James should have known better. He had dealt with her before. And it had gone smoothly, but she had warned him from the beginning. Do not lie to me. And do not play me for a fool. He seemed to have forgotten these things. But, men will do funny things when money and power are involved.

So, she waited. A lean was taken. The white of her pea coat a heavenly white against the red brick of the building. Her hands were stuffed into coat pockets. She kept her chin tucked down, but her eyes were trained forward on a singular spot on the street. People kept passing by. Some would say hello or good evening. But, she would remain a statue. Focused and waiting.

Minutes, or perhaps hours had passed, time has no meaning to her, when the herd of people began to pour out of the building. This was when her focus shifted from the spot on the street to the faces in the crowd. Feathered hats, bowlers, up-dos, all blended into one mass of pretension. James wasn?t hard to spot. He staggered. He stumbled. He loved his drink.

?Hey, leddy. Ya whaana come home wit me?? He slurred and draped an arm across a woman who looked to be in about the same state. She was about to answer. But, Fury shoved through the crowd, locked one arm around James? neck and one around his waist and dragged him away. He tried to voice a protest but she just squeezed. There was nothing but a squeak from him. They were safely away from the crowd before she released him. He rubbed at his neck and blearily looked at her.

?Crazy bitch.?

?Now, now let?s not get into name calling, James. Either you give me my money or the jewels. Or we have a big problem. You?ve had plenty of time.? Fury was patient person. She had all the time in the world.

?I don?t have your jewels here. You know they?re at home. I?ll bring them to you first thing in the morning.? He lied. She knew it. From the expression on her face James knew that she knew he was lying. It was a sobering revelation. He fumbled to grab his pistols.

?I wish you hadn?t said that. I really wish you hadn?t said that.? She said quietly. A hand reached up to rub at the back of her head, pulling out a steel hair pin. It was a wicked looking thing. She tapped it against a fingertip as she took a step closer to him. James was cornered. Rhy?din was full of dead end alleys. This was one of those alleys. They were well hidden by shadows. Not that anyone cared. This was also one of those parts of town.

?Awww. C?mon. I?ll get you your jewels.? Another lie. But, he was trying to buy himself time. He found the pistol and wrapped his sweaty palm around it. He barely had time to whip it out and pull the trigger. Fury?s shoulder muffled the gunshot. James grinned when he saw her look of surprise. But, that look surprise faded. When she pulled back a fist and slammed it into his face. His head bounced off the wall behind him. He crumpled like a rag doll.

?You shot the wrong shoulder.? She knelt down in front of him, and hugged him to her. The hair pin was taken and stabbed with such force into one ear that it plipped through out the other. Whoever said she didn?t smile missed the moment. Her lips curled into something unnatural for an angel, even a fallen one. He sagged against her. Truth be told that hurt. The ass shot her. She?d be in an even worse mood for days. She?d been screwed over?again?One more reason not to trust people to get things done when asked. It was better not to delegate. And to just do things for yourself.

Now, to get the body back to her to house.
A couple of bribes here. A few paid beggars there.
And the world would be none the wiser.


Where?s the penance now?