Years were not kind to Garrett. Each one that passed, he grew increasingly bitter. He quickly discovered that real human interaction was not worth the effort. One wasted attempt at speaking cordially with a woman ended with a slap across the face, and he never tried it again. Instead, paying a whore to relieve pressure and sometimes provide close company overnight was enough to suffice. Other than that, his only connections were with fences, dealers, the occasional corrupt politician and unfortunately the Keepers (it seemed he would never be free from their unwanted counsel, but they continued to withhold their reasons even as the prophecy began to unfold).

Garrett was going to be 40 sooner than later, a thought which did little to calm his nerves. He knew that his body would catch up to him at some point and the thieving would have to stop. By now, his skill was remarkable. He had a name for himself and every nobleman in The City had trained his night watch on who to look out for. Garrett loved that thrill, but still recognized that his retirement would be soon. He needed one last great job to set him up for the rest of his life. Maybe he would move to Bohn. There, nobody knew his name. Nobody knew he was Garrett, Master Thief. He could just be another eccentric hermit with more money than he should be allowed to have.

Perhaps that job was soon. He had received a letter requesting to meet with a woman named Viktoria, who claimed to represent a client with interest in a nobleman's prized sword. They arranged to meet at a shady pub in Stonemarket. Garrett didn't worry about meeting with a woman since it was for business. He could always handle business interactions with confidence.

Right on time, Garrett arrived at the pub. It was almost closing time but not too near or else they would be alone. Moderate noise was always ideal for discussing jobs.

In the corner beneath a stained glass window sat a woman in a cloak of burgundy velvet. He knew it was her.

"Garrett?" the woman asked, turning her head to look at the man.

"Yes."

"Please, take a seat."

Garrett sat across from the woman and put his hands on the small table between them. She let her hood drop, revealing a beautiful face with captivating dark eyes. She was extremely graced and carried herself with delicate poise. Thin fingers touched a gemstone ring on her hand.

"Thank you for meeting me here."

"Sure. So what's this job about again?"

"Perhaps you've heard of him, Constantine, a man who just recently moved into The City. He's had a giant mansion built and, well, my client has their eyes on Constantine's many unusual collections. The most important being a certain sword."

"Sounds easy enough."

"I think you can handle it."

"What kind of pay are we talking about?"

Viktoria smirked. "Extremely generous," she said smoothly.

Garrett sat back in his chair and grinned, letting his hood fall. Viktoria's expression changed. Her mouth opened just a little bit as she examined Garrett's features. The memory of meeting that fair young lady in the park was so far away to Garrett that he had no recollection of it, but it was not so for Viktoria.

"He has agreed?"

"Yes."

"Most excellent. I'm proud of you, Little Oak."

Viktoria sat on the floor beside a great arm chair, which comfortable faced a roaring fireplace. She looked up at the man who occupied it and smiled proudly. "Remember, we go by our human names now."

"Ah, yes. How easily I forget, Viktoria. Thank you for reminding me. Helpful as always."

"I do my best for you, Constantine."

She rested her head against the man's leg and closed her eyes.

"If this thief is as good as the rumors have it," Constantine began, "Then his retrieval of the sword shall be child's play. After that, we promise an offer he can't refuse and we will get those talismans for us. And then…"

Viktoria opened her eyes again and looked up at the man. "The Eye," she hummed happily.

"And then…"

"You return to your true form, and we eliminate these disastrous cities once and for all."

Constantine's hand pressed on the top of Viktoria's head and pet her gently, smoothing back her dark hair. She closed her eyes like a kitten might, turning into his touch slightly. "A moment I cannot wait for."

"Nor can I."

Viktoria was happy to serve her god, but something nagged at her inside. How funny was it that Garrett happened to be that young man she met her first night in The City? She was afraid, lost, confused. The sounds of his feet on the grass were loud to her. She could almost see the noise in her mind. Then, his face in the light. He was so much younger than, so handsome and innocent. Now, dark lines creased his face and eternal restlessness plagued his eyes. She knew what would happen once he finally brought them The Eye.

"What is important," Constantine began suddenly, interrupting Viktoria's train of thought, "Is that you do not get emotionally involved with this man."

Viktoria opened her eyes wide. "What? Why would I?"

"Being human as long as we have to be sometimes gives us human desires. Let's not do that, shall we?"

"I don't like being human."

"It doesn't matter."

He grabbed a bunch of Viktoria's hair and jerked it backwards, forcing her to look up at him. "Let's not do that, shall we?" he repeated through tight teeth. Viktoria nodded very, very slowly.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

Garrett came into a pub he often frequented to find whores and get a cheap drink, but was surprised to see Viktoria sitting in the corner with her velvet cloak up. She startled upon hearing Garrett's voice.

"Nor did I expect you," she said softly. "Join me for a drink?"

Garrett stared at her for a moment. He blinked. She blinked. "Can't hurt," he said quickly, then sat down across from her. "So…"

"You have an incredible reputation," said Viktoria. She smiled flirtatious but kept her hands close to her side.

"I know."

"You must be proud of your work."

"I am."

This was starting to make a dangerous shift from work to personal and Garrett did not like that. Viktoria wasn't being paid to talk to him, or was she? Either way, she wasn't like a prostitute. This was a real conversation with a genuine woman with opinions.

Viktoria smirked. "Are you going to order me a drink or not?"

"What?" Garrett narrowed his eyes at her. "You don't have any money?"

Taken aback by his apparent selfishness, Viktoria sneered. "Fine, then. Don't worry about it. I'm simply helping you make a generous living."

"You're right," Garrett agreed stiffly. "What do you want?"

"No, no. I said don't worry about it."

The smile that appeared on Viktoria's face confused Garrett greatly. Were all women this difficult? Reading his strained expression, the woman let out a soft chuckle. "I'm teasing you, Garrett. I'll take a glass of spiced wine. It's wonderful on an autumn night like this."

"...oh."

He hated paying for her wine, but two glasses and a few pints of ale later, he wasn't as concerned. Viktoria opened up slightly and was giggling like a schoolgirl.

"I haven't always been in The City," she said, thumbing her third glass. "I grew up to the west."

"The west?" Garrett asked, wrinkling his nose. The alcohol was making it much easier to converse with Viktoria, but they also had a natural chemistry that became apparently early on. "Isn't that just a forest?"

"On the outside," Viktoria corrected in an instant. "Just outside of the forest."

"Weird."

"It is not weird! It's where I grew up. I'm sure your childhood was completely normal."

Garrett rolled his eyes. "Hardly."

"And there you go." Viktoria folded her arms proudly. "I rest my case."

"Yeah, whatever. I should probably head home now, anyway. I have to get ready for this sword."

"So soon?"

Viktoria's face dropped as Garrett stood. She didn't finish what was left in her glass and got to her feet with him.

"Stop," Garrett said, pushing her aside softly.

"But, Garrett…why like this, all of the sudden?"

"I have to go."

Just like that, he was gone. Viktoria stood in the middle of the pub with her arms hanging by her sides, staring at the door where Garrett had passed through.

"Darling," an older woman's voice said behind her. It was the barmaid on duty. "He's an odd fellow."

"How so?"

"The time you spent with him was the most I've ever seen him have with anyone."

"Is that true?"

"Believe me. I know. I've seen what he does."

"Oh…"

Viktoria looked back at the door. She thought of Garrett as a young man, looking so shocked by her touch. How could he not remember that moment? For her, it was fresh on her mind since they met again. For some reason she really enjoyed being around him. He wasn't like the other humans she interacted with. He was unique. He was special. He was terribly awkward and difficult but perhaps it was his isolation that she loved. After all, since Viktoria was taken away from her adoptive parents in the village, she had known nobody but the Trickster.