Going Rogue

Admittedly, I had been a bit careless. I had taken my time, stealthed through shadows as the raving party rambled on downstairs. But the safe’s lock had taken too much time to pick, and… I was careless. It’s why I come to consciousness in a dark room I don’t recognize. I pull at my arms and legs and surmise they’re tied down, and tightly. Forcing a long breath, I focus on the movement of my chest and swallow a curse word. Okay. It’s okay. If I can find my daggers-- “Looking for these?” a male voice asks from somewhere in front of me. Even with my inhuman eyesight, his form is only a black shadow on an even blacker background. I do catch the glint of my daggers as he shows them off in his hands.  I bite my lip too hard, piercing it and tasting blood. “I don’t suppose you’ll be giving those back?” I ask coyly. His blurry stature moves a couple of steps closer, enough that I can make out a hooded cloak and heavy boots. “First, you can explain how you’ve ended up here. Sneaking into a very exclusive party, fiddling with the treasures… “Does it really matter how I’ve gotten here?” I growl, baring my fangs. The calmness I instilled within myself has been snuffed. I tug on the rope tying my wrists to the chair. I only have a few more moments of hot anger before it sizzles and reveals chilling, debilitating fear. I can’t stay here, I can’t be tied down like this. There’s a dagger in my boot. If I can slip from the ropes binding my ankles… “You’ve gone through too much trouble. Why don’t you just kill me already?” I snap. “It does matter,” answers the smooth, deep voice. In the darkness, the figure in front of me steps in, and he’s a gray, bland male shape with a smug face. I glare with silver eyes. “Fine. You want a story. How about the very beginning? I was born to two humans who loved me very, very much.” Though I can't see him in detail, I feel his agitation rolling off his body. “That’s a lie.” My legs bounce up and down as anxiousness crawls through my trapped form. “So observant.” “Tell me a piece of your past. Real and true. And then I’ll match it.” “By freeing me?” He shrugs. “Maybe.” A deep inhale slows my heart rate enough to think a bit clearer. “I don’t know my parents. My favorite version...the slave owners told me. I had an ordinary father, but a warlock mother who made a pact with her demon so that I may survive. She died giving birth, and my father sold me to the Chofan family. They bought me, a wet nurse, and her own baby girl.” “They bought you…because of what you look like?” “Hn.” He’s right. “Because I’m Helltouched. They liked my horns, my fangs, my tail. Knew I could be useful for something.” “So did I catch you doing a job for them?” I chuckle. “Oh, hells no. They sold me to…a different group of owners,” I explain vaguely. “But that’s in my past, too.” “So you’re just out here making a living by sneaking around and stealing from safes?” “You’re insightful, aren’t you?” “Look, I don’t know what you were looking for. But whoever sent you in there-” “I don’t work for anyone,” I interrupt. “I don’t work well with humans. Can’t blame me for being untrusting.” “Well, you’re lucky I found you and not them.” “Ah, yes, very lucky.” “You know, I consider myself lucky as well. You had to have been pretty stealthy to get around the guards. It wasn't easy.” For the first time, my eyes narrow as I try to gauge the man before me. “You don't work for them, do you?” “No. I think I may be able to help you.” “You can start by untying me,” I say with a plastered smile. He contemplates my words for a moment. Swiftly, he steps into my space, grabbing the arms of the chair and leaning in so close I pull back to avoid touching foreheads.  At this lack of distance, I can see his golden eyes as they glow in the blackness. “I’m part of a guild of adventurers--” “I don’t do much adventuring.”  “Whatever you’re looking for, however trapped you feel, the guild can help. I think you’d make a very good rogue.” “I don’t think you realize how much s**t I’ve been wading in.” “I don’t think I care. There’s strength in numbers. We help you, and you can help us in return.” When I hesitate to make a sassy comment, he adds, “There’s always warm food and a bed to sleep in.” The thought dances in my head as he smoothly brandishes my own dagger and cuts the rope from both my wrists. The freedom allows my shallow breaths to expand in relief, muscles relaxing and tail uncurling from a leg of the chair. “I've got it,” I say when he reaches for my legs. I take back my weapon and cut the remaining tether myself.  I’m about to stand and thank the guy for his hospitality when I look up and his hood is off his head. It takes me aback, and I make a weird gasping sound like a troll just tackled the air out of me.”Y-you’re like me?” I can’t tell what color his skin is, but golden eyes twinkle at my question, and the gray shape of twisted horns decorate his otherwise human-looking form. My pale horns are ram-like, small and light on my crown; this man’s horns are less curled, but still angle back and nestle atop his dark, mussy hair. “A rogue? Yes.” When he smirks, he too has fangs.  My usually-warm body flushes, and I can feel the hellish heat sit on my cheeks. “Part-demon. Helltouched.” “Oh. Yes, that too.” I manage to stand, and he’s a whole horned head taller than me. “Well, what do you say? Will you at least give the guild a chance?” I can still feel the blush on my face. My thoughts are still scrambling.  I don’t have a high tolerance for people. Especially humans. But he’s right about strength in numbers. And I could have a roof over my head, a stable money income, maybe even a place to call home for a bit. “I’ll take a look around your guild. I’m not saying yes quite yet.” “It’s not a no.” He flashes his two sharp teeth once more as he holds out his hand. “I’m Rune.” Begrudgingly, I shake his hand. “I’m Tenacity.” Rune nods once, an eyebrow perked. “I suppose that isn’t your birth name?” “I never had a birth name. I chose my virtue name at a very young age.” “I see. Well, Tenacity, let’s get out of here.” “Lead the way.”