"Thanks," Gray brought the beer to her lips. "Put it on my tab."

The bartender grunted and shuffled to help another customer in the grimy pub. It was a disgusting joint with mismatched furniture, old, breaking appliances and questionable cooking ethics, but it was one of the few places with decent drink, so it was where Gray found herself most nights.

Setting her mug down, she tugged at one of her short white-dipped-blue braids. The stares weren't bad today, but she could still feel people watching her, waiting for her head just enough so they could catch a glimpse. Take a peak at her weird eye.

Gray subconsciously lifted a hand to her face. Her fingertips met the raised metal around her strange, bulging eye. Though she barely looked at herself, Gray knew the runic engravings like the back of her hand. She didn't know what they meant, but knew them all the same. The leather that held the weird-metal-eye contraption in place was pulled taut and disappeared into her hair. Gray tugged her beanie hat over it.

She was taking another sip when the door jingled open. The bar tilted toward awkward silence. Gray would've thought much of it- the people here would gossip about anything -but a little girl, she couldn't have been a day over eight, scrambled to sit next to her at the bar.

Gray gaped down at her. She had dark-bluish hair that fell gracefully down her back, almost to her waist. She wore a simple, mud-splattered tunic and loose pants. In her right hand, she clutched a red toy boat.

"Um, excuse me," Gray said. The girl swiveled her head toward her and Gay flinched at her gaze, but the girl barely blinked at her strange eye. "Er, what's your name?"

She seemed to think about it. "I don't know what it would be in this world."

Gray blinked. "Okay. What do you want me to call you?"

Her gaze drifted around the bar, as if searching for inspiration. "Em." She nodded. "Yes, I like that."

Gray sighed. "Okay Em, do you know where you're parents are? Can I take you to them?"

Em beckoned to the bartender, shaking her head. "They know where I am. They're fine. I'm supposed to be here."

Em was about to order, but Gray cut in, "One glass of milk please."

Em stared at her. Just as Gray was getting uncomfortable, the little girl said, "Who are you?"

Gray shoved down the instinct to tell her, I don't know. Instead, she stammered, "I-um-I don't know my birth name, but everyone calls me Gray." She tugged at her gray-dipped-blue hair.

Em didn't bat an eye. "Where are you from?"

Gray spread her arms. "Here, I guess. I was stuck in an avalanche a few years ago and I don't remember anything before that."

Em furrowed her brow, adjusting the sails of her boat. "That can't be right..." the little girl murmured. "No, that can't be right."

Indignation flared in Gray's chest. "Excuse me? Look, Em, I think you should go home. Where do your parents live?"

The bartender slid a glass of milk across the counter. Em wrapped her hands around it, but didn't spare it a glance. 

"My parents are very far away from here. Farther than you could imagine." Em told her matter-of-factly.

Gray opened her mouth to retort. It was time this little girl stopped playing games and get back to reality. But Em plowed on before she could get in a word.

"I'm on... a mission. For-your Queen. And-" Em scanned her from head to toe. "I think I need your help."

"Look-" Gray began, face red, but paused and looked up. Everyone in the bar quickly looked away, suddenly very interested in the planks of the ceiling or a mysterious speck on the wall. Gray gritted her teeth and lowered her voice.

"Em, I don't know what fantasy world you live in, but you need to learn some respect. Drink your milk and go bother someone else."

Em tucked her head down. Gray sipped her beer, watching the little girl from the corner of her eye.

Instead of drinking, Em only sniffed the milk before standing her boat upright. She gripped the chunky wood and when she took her hand away, it stayed upright. Her fingerprints glowed against the hull. Gray tried not to gape.

Careful not to let any splash, Em poured the milk into the toy boat, where you might place a toy sailor.

Mesmerized, Gray shifted closer, trying to block the small anomaly from the prying eyes of the patrons. Em didn't look up, but Gray could see her smile.

When the boat was full, Em sipped the rest of the milk delicately. Gray gulped down her beer and tried very, very hard not to stare at the boat standing up by itself.

It has to be some old witch's trick, she told herself. 

Em suddenly sat straight up. The glass, layered in a thin film of milk, slipped from her small hands. Clipping the edge of the counter, it splintered against the bar floor, splaying glass everywhere.

Em jerked around to face Gray, her eyes desperate. "Will you help me? On this mission? I... I can pay you-or...I mean- I... this job, it's for your Queen." The little girl's eyes were wild. "Please. I... this. Can you help me?"

Gray stared down at her, a lost little girl. "Look, Em-" she said softly.

The front of the bar exploded.