Milo forced himself to stand absolutely still, silently cursing the twitches that danced across his features. He needed a minute to process the news without displaying his sudden excitement. Fate was a tricky thing, and so far it had never worked in his favor. Perhaps this was a turn of events... It was too much of a coincidence. Someone or something tugged at their strings.

He wasn't particularly spiritual, but he knew very well how this world worked, or at least he thought that he had figured it out. The Creator just couldn't keep her fingers in check and that's when you noticed these weird occurrences. The Destroyer was less subtle in his dealings, more predictable, more reliable. You knew what to expect from the Destroyer, and as strange ast it was, that held a kind of comfort. He didn't offer his prayers to any of them, never would, but if, he knew the Creator wouldn't receive them after all he had done. After he had killed this Qumo, she probably wouldn't like him any better.

To buy some more time he turned towards Annie and away from the young man's penetrating stare. The girl stood with a straight back, her eyes gleaming with excitement as if she couldn't wait for something to happen. She was definitely odd. He didn't know why he had turned back to the tavern, not until now. It wasn't his decision, it was because of the Creator's interference, and that settled his agitation somewhat. Not that he liked her meddling, but at least he wasn't becoming soft.

"So, who are you?"

The young man's question grabbed hold of him and lured him out of his musings of deities, murder and odd girls. Inside, he smirked the man's brashness. No one wanted to know who he was. The knowledge could get you killed...

"You can call me Villain," Milo offered, not knowing if he should laugh at or pity the young man's innocence.

"So, not your name then, fair enough I guess. You'll not hide it from Qumo though, he knows such things," the young man replied merrily, as if he didn't care at all. "I'm Vito by the way. Are you ready to set out immediately? I would like to reach Southwood Forest within the week, so we should get moving as soon as possible."

Milo didn't respond, but he wondered briefly what the young man had in store for Annie. She seemed to be included in their plans.

-----

Vito bit into his tongue to prevent a cheer from escaping his lips. He couldn't believe his luck. However, this was not the time, nor the place. If the tension were any thicker you could have cut through it with a knife. Despite that, he was still happy. Nyxes were a secretive bunch, and the chances of meeting one here must be slim to none.

As Villain looked away, he took a moment to study the Nyx's dark and imposing features. He was close to take a step backwards when he realized just how tall this one was, and how menacing he looked with those piercing green eyes and all those sharp angles to his face. A braid of long black hair rested against his back, and Vito had to fight an urge to touch the silky lengths and the raven-feathers at the end. However, what struck him the most was the color of the Nyx's skin. He had never seen such a dark blue tone before. It was as if it swallowed the light around it, luring it in to ensnare it. Judging from what he knew about Nyxes he also imagined intricate tattoos winding their way across the Nyx's body, a pattern barely distinguishable from the skin itself. He had seen it on others, and had been mesmerized by it. All in all, the Nyx exuded power and darkness in the way Qumo exuded light, but Vito refused to acknowledge the fear that crept up his spine. He was here for a reason, and he wouldn't shirk away from his path just because the Nyx in question seemed a little...well, in lack of a better word: dangerous.

He snapped his eyes away as Villain turned towards him, not keen to be caught staring. His gaze landed on Annie, and for a second he forgot to breathe as the wind caught her red hair. It was stupid, and he knew it. He shouldn't think about her in any sort of way. However, he had promised that he would take her to the next village, so he would, after that...well, that was then. It irked him that she looked far braver than he felt, but instead of finishing that thought he decided to borrow some of her bravery. He headed off towards his horse with his back held straight. He would see her safe, and then he would take this Nyx'gaian to Qumo. It was as simple as that.

"Miss, would you like to ride?" he offered the girl, hoping for her to say yes so he wouldn't have to sit on his sore bum.

"No thank you, I would rather walk," she replied softly.

From his left, he heard a sigh. The Nyx lifted her onto the tranquil horse, and started to walk away, ignoring her agitated glare. He chuckled at the scene. She seemed completely unaffected by the Nyx's brooding temper.

They took off without any goodbyes to the sorry little village, and for the first time since he set out, Vito felt a little stirring of hope. He had found the pond, and he might have found the Nyx he was supposed to look for. In one way, it was too good to be true.

After half an hour of walking in silence along the dusty road, he grew tired of the stifling atmosphere and tried to get a conversation going. He hated silences, the voices in his mind tended to multiply exponentially whenever they could take over. However, talking to the Nyx was like talking to a wall, and it was getting on his nerves. He didn't even know if the Nyx registered that someone tried to get his attention. Just as he was about to say something reckless, he heard a tingling, soft laughter on his other side.

"No use trying, Vito," Annie said, smiling at him in such a way that he couldn't help but smile back.

"So how come you two know each other?" he asked, because they seemed to be an unlikely pair.

"Oh, we don't. He saved me from being abused last night, that's all."

She said it like it was nothing, and he couldn't wrap his head around it.

"So he saved you, then he left you with that woman?"

He saw her direct her eyes towards the Nyx, looking at him with wary eyes. He realized that he wasn't helping her, nor him, with his incredulous question.

"He did more than enough."

Her soft voice held something precious within, something intangible. Like she wanted to express how she felt, but found it impossible. Vito looked at the Nyx, and yes, he understood her completely. The Nyx'gaian was detached in a way he had never encountered before. Like he wasn't actually there with them. Villain scanned their surroundings with unwavering attention, but ignored his companions as if they weren't even there.

-----

The sun had begun to set when they reached the next larger village; the red light reaching them from the west to cast their long shadows on the dirty ground. It had been a slow journey, and Milo frowned at their pace until he reminded himself that he had no reason to rush. The young man with the white eyes would take him to his target in due time. It was more important to avoid suspicion, and he knew he was doing a poor job with that. However, silence worked better than talking for him, especially as he didn't want any more attachment than necessary to the people he would betray.

The village they entered was big enough to host two taverns, and Vito guided them to the one that Milo wouldn't have chosen. Of course... but he followed without protest even if his gut told him otherwise. He let the others enter first, which was his first mistake: the door creaked when the two humans entered, the sound preventing him from hearing the approaching knife. It hit him in the shoulder, and he swore angrily as he turned around, weapon already drawn.

"You're getting slow old man."

He recognized the strange whisper. Vigilante.

"I'm not old," he spat back, covered himself in the near darkness and moved away. Another knife hit the wall where he stood just a second ago. Damn, he didn't even see where it came from.

"And you are not a man either," the eerie whisper returned. It annoyed him that he couldn't locate the man's position, the voice seemed to come from everywhere.

"You are right..." he replied and dodged again. The third knife hit another plank, but this time he saw where it came from. He moved quietly and held the shadow close to his skin. The man would be standing behind the next corner. He flashed a confident smile; he was certain that the fight was over, but as he took the last step forward he was attacked from behind.

There was no time to be surprised. He forced away cold blade that scraped against his exposed neck. Ha! A mistake. He was much stronger than any Human, and this one didn't seem very strong at all. The man should have known he wouldn't stand a chance in physical combat. He shrugged the man off of his back and turned around to counter the next attack. However, he misjudged the situation again. The lithe man stood several steps away, daggers drawn in his hands, ready for another throw.

Milo got tired of the game, in a swift movement he closed in and disarmed the pathetic man who had thought he could beat him. He huffed in contempt and removed the man's black mask. A mass of brown soft hair was released and he found himself staring into a pair of light brown eyes, almost golden in color. It was a woman...

She used the moment of confusion to point a dagger against his stomach. He felt the edge and raged over his own stupidity.

He threw her around, her back against his chest, and was ready to rip her head off when he heard Annie's pleading voice.

"Stop, stop it! Don't hurt her!"

He just gave the foolish girl a cold stare in response, hoping it would silence her forever.

"Please, Vito collapsed inside the tavern and is talking about your fight, and he didn't even see it. He says you have to let each other go." Her soft voice turned insistent, demanding them to stop.

Milo bent down, growling in the woman's ear, "We will continue this later." She nodded in reply, not rushed, but calmly, as if she was the one in control and not he.

He released his hold and threw her knife away, letting it dig into the ground. He stared at her, and she stared back. "Who sent you?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"I might as well tell you, you'll be dead soon anyway..."

She laughed at him! He couldn't believe it.

"Oh, don't be so pouty, it really doesn't suit you," she continued, and Milo forced himself to stop the hand that fingered for a weapon. He wouldn't let her win easy points by sneaky remarks. He wouldn't lose his temper.

"Well?" he said when he had cooled down a little.

"It was an order from the Council. Apparently you have been stirring up too much trouble here in the Southern Lands. Perhaps you shouldn't be so surprised, they hate when someone other than themselves do the killing."

He couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. Her words held enough truth to be believable. The question was why she offered the information voluntarily.

"Quit stalling, didn't you hear what I said? Vito dropped down on the tavern floor describing your fight. He's some kind of magician! You have to come!"

Milo turned towards the tiny girl. She looked completely unfazed by their fight and extremely excited about the young man's ramblings. He shook his head and began to follow her inside.

He felt a dull ache in his shoulder as he walked, and he almost cried out as he touched the wound. He had removed the knife as soon as it hit, but he needed to get it cleaned up. He must have winced because Annie's concerned eyes found his.

"Are you wounded?" She spoke with her soft voice, the one that would probably soothe even the wildest of animals. "I'm pretty good with stitches."

She smiled at him and he winced again, only this time it wasn't from the pain. Her apparent interest for his well-being bothered him far more.

"Where is he?" he asked instead. She looked around, apparently not sure herself.

"They must have taken him somewhere," the girl answered.

Annie scanned the room again, and he saw the first signs of distress in her face. She walked over to the bar, and that's when he realized that something was very wrong. The big oaf behind the counter grabbed the tiny girl by her red hair. "I should make them arrest you too!" he shouted before throwing her away as if she was nothing more than a piece of trash. She landed on one of the tables with a thud and a shriek. He went to get her, but he wasn't the first. Vigilante appeared out of nowhere and scooped up the girl.

"Let's get out of here," she said on her way out, and Milo grudgingly agreed.