The man behind the stall shrank away from the tiny brunette girl, his pupils dilated and his breath catching.
She lowered her gaze and walked away with the apple she had taken, casually examining it before biting into the crisp red fruit. Her bored gaze wandered across the throngs of Myrkenfolk that filled the marketplace, chewing the apple thoughtfully as she contemplated how easy they were to manipulate. She heard a chuckle behind her.
"Something funny, Selwyn?" she asked drily.
The slender man behind her, dressed in a red uniform similar to hers, smirked, pushing hair the color of wheat out of his face. "You're a living terror, do you know that?"
The girl, no more than five feet tall, chose not to answer him. She continued to watch the people around them as they walked aimlessly around the marketplace. The orders they had been given were lackluster at best, but the two of them had learned long ago not to question their sister. She knew what she was doing, and that was all that mattered.
"You've certainly made yourself at home." he continued. "I mean, Frightening a man just so you wouldn't have to pay for a piece of fruit? That's terrifying."
She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Sister said that we won't have to keep looking now that Alcara is with us again. Why shouldn't I be comfortable?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I wasn't criticizing you, Venette. I'm impressed. Just don't get cocky or you'll end up like Molleine--"
"Molleine was a fool without a leash. I was getting tired of her, anyway. I'm glad she's dead."
"And Bale?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He's even more of a fool to fall for her the way he did. Love is such a disgusting concept."
Selwyn fell into a fit of snickers behind her. "Yikes. I'm almost afraid to hear what you think of me."
"It's a long list." she muttered, tossing the half-eaten apple away. It rolled out of side in a lopsided fashion, disappearing between the feet of the market goers as they milled around the bazaar. After a moment, she announced: "I'm bored."
"Yeah, me too." he agreed, regaining his perpetually casual demeanor. "But Sis said that we could expect company today, so maybe things will start to pick up soon."
"I hope it's the Kestrel." Venette mused, mostly to herself. "Or the half-elf. They'd be fun to Frighten."
"Nuh-uh-uh." Selwyn chided, smiling. "We aren't allowed to Manifest unless they make the first move. You know that."
"I was just thinking out loud." she said, tossing a dirty look his way. "And just because you can't do anything until someone moves to gut you doesn't mean that you're an obedient little pet. You break rules all the time."
He shrugged. "Nothing big. At least none of our guests have died while I was taking care of them."
She stopped, turning to face him. "Are you implying something?"
He bent at the waist so that they were eye level. "Just that you've got a nasty temper. You should do something about it."
Her eyes glinted. "Giving you something to be afraid of would definitely help me cool off."
He smirked, eyes lidded. "Go on, then."
They faced each other without blinking for several seconds, the world continuing heedlessly around them. Eventually, Venette sighed, turning away from him.
"We have a job to do." she said simply, dismissing his challenge. "Stop bothering me."
"With pleasure." He grinned over his minute victory, glancing around them. "I hope this important guest of ours gets here soon. I'd like to finish before you end up killing someone out of boredom."
She didn't reply.