"You've never cared about Maelin before. Why start now that you are losing your power?" Anomie asked, her eyes darting to meet Ohashi's and the woman's lips curled up.

      "You think I've lost it all? Dear, sweet," Ohashi's voice was like honey, dipped in more honey. It forced Anomie to remember who her mentor once was underneath the rumors and lust. "You want so badly to be come the ruler of this pile of ashes that you've lost all sense of human decency."

      "We are whores, and even worse, women. We have no power outside of these walls. You speak as if your voice can change the course of a tide. Your actions are words and they inflict no such change," Anomie did wonder if it took the loss of Ohashi's daughter for this woman to change so drastically.

      "That's why I need your help," Ohashi's voice was earnest and the request unsettled her. All Anomie wanted to do was treat her wound and plan her next couple moves.

       "My help?" Anomie let out a slight chuckle, glancing at the woman through hooded lashes as she tightened the cloth against her cut.

      "I hear that one of the ambassadors from Kaho are to stop by for a lay," Ohashi leaned forward, her eyes so honest and sincere. The look she gave her made Anomie feel a moment of disgust, wishing she could sit in front of the woman who always stood so strong and like steel. The woman Ohashi had been reduced to was a shadow of the one Anomie had strived to tear down.

     "You want me to get information from him?" Anomie's brow raised, her lips curling up as she leaned forward. "Information that I would then give to you so you could attempt to save the city of strangers."

       "My daughter is there," Ohashi said slowly, and Anomie's lips quirked up.

      "Oh? And who did you have to fuck to get that piece of information?" Anomie didn't actually care. She was just hoping to irritate and belittle the woman so she would leave her alone. Ohashi's gaze narrowed, and for a moment, Anomie was reminded of the mentor she had once feared and loved.

      "You are so quick to think I am powerless, but my roots have taken hold. I could have parts of you cut away and delivered right back to you with a brush of tongue." Ohashi leaned forward and grabbed Anomie's injured hand, bringing it forward and inspected the blood and the deep cut. Ohashi dug her fingers into it, as if hoping to gain a flinch from the girl in front of her, but Anomie endured it with grace. "I know the rage you feel quite well. It is hard to slit Sakimono Haji's throat when he's imprisoned. After, we are whores and women. What can we do to fight against those that can use magic?"

      Anomie placed her hand on top of Ohashi's with a smooth smile. "You want my help that badly? I want Sakimono's head on my table."

      "I can help you with that," Ohashi agreed, causing Anomie's lips to curl further.

      "I don't want it traced back to me."

      "Is that why you didn't bash his head in when he slithered his mouth in between your thighs?" Ohashi's lips curled in amusement, her eyes once more turning into the cobra like haze that Anomie remembered. The girl removed her hand from Ohashi's grasp and leaned forward so their lips were only centimeters apart.

      "And risk the wrath of his magic? I think not," Anomie replied with a smooth dance of her fingers up Ohashi's jaw. "I don't just want his head. I want his livelihood. I want his wealth. I want his family. I want to destroy all of it."

      Ohashi always wondered what was underneath the girl's smile, and every time she caught a glimpse, a part of her wanted to look away. "You help me, I help you."

      Anomie had thought of asking for help, but it always came to a screeching halt when her pride got in the way. As much as she might need it, even if she was reduced to a mess of sweat and tears, melting into the cold ground, she still dared not open her mouth. Instead, the untarnished hand that once caressed Ohashi's jaw line swiftly cupped her neck. It wasn't rough, and her fingers held her close like a lover, but her eyes were that of a threat.

      "Unlike you, I don't need help. I will bring you his head as a farewell gift before you are tossed onto the streets," Anomie told her, gently pushing her back and reprimanded herself for not being more forceful. Ohashi's gaze searched hers, before her lips curled into smirk, but the look of fire in her gaze burned away any kindness in those ruby red lips.

      "You will come to regret rejecting me, Hana," Ohashi warned, and Anomie's jaw clenched at the name she wanted only to wash away from her life and her memory.

     For her, names were all bad memories, just waiting to stab you when your back was turned. Perhaps that was why she was so paranoid. They followed her even when her eyes were closed, she saw all of them. At the the end of that red stained day, however, her pride was what kept her standing.

Author's Note

The POV changed in these last two chapters since the beginning was my very long prologue. I don't know why it has such a short character limit. Please tell me what you think. Anomie isn't meant to be a hero of any sort. She's a girl who will make a lot of mistakes and pay for each one throughout the story. It's part of her charm aha.

Thanks for reading!