[attr="class","nodenscharright2"]
"I have a job for you."[break][break]
The man's voice was like grating steel against steel, guttural yet thin, like a blacksmith sharpening swords. Hedy fidgeted her fingers near her mouth, then at his words they fell to the table. Gently rounded nails (a stark contrast to the blackened, chipping wood) drummed rhythmically against the ridges and dips.[break][break]
Then came the faint smile. "You know I don't have jobs handed to me. I choose them."[break][break]
When there was only a stiff silence, Hedy took it as an indication that her meaning had been carefully brought across. "Something that needs covering up again, yes? When will you leaders and agents learn to properly hide your tracks?" her tone was light, speaking in that clear, lyrical manner that was typical of Hedy. "You know there'll be a time when my magic becomes useless, don't you?"[break][break]
At this, the man grinned, his teeth a knife flash. "Oh, no. I don't think it will. You see, messing with people's memories and minds is a delicate thing, and you do it so well."[break][break]
The corner of her mouth hitched up into a half-smile. Flattery was an indisposable part of life with the Grimm Troupe, but even so even she had to admit the invaluableness and versatility of her own magic. Hedy sank into a thoughtful silence, fingering a lock of her dark hair between thumb and forefinger, then ever so slyly vivid blue orbs slide up to appraise the man beneath long eyelashes.[break][break]
"That-" she opened her mouth to speak, to demand, no, request for payment for her services (there was no free lunch in this world, after all), when the man cut her off. It seemed, he knew exactly what had been the question on her mind. "No, Hedy. It's a small task, so very small that in fact, any sort of secondary boon is strictly unnecessary.[break][break]
No, Hedy. An angry breath hitched in her throat, and not simply because he had so casually thrown out her name, but also the patronizing edge to his tone certainly did not go unnoticed. Hedy's fingers stilled, and for one quivering moment she was rather tempted to fling the table in his face.[break][break]
Yet her voice emerged carefully modulated. Devoid of any sliver of fury that may have slipped through her cracks. That was Hedy being Hedy - always taking precautions, always expecting the unexpected, never once faltering in maintaining her superb facade. "Don't you jest. I may be one of your own, but I'm not a commodity." If there were a gold piece for outright confronting every single person who had insulted her during her lifetime, Hedy would without a doubt strike a fortune. She wouldn't be the aggressor, raising a hand against her antagonists. She wanted to play smart, to smooth her ruffled feathers, to caress her pawns till the time came to advance.[break][break]
"Of course not, Hedy. Which is why we picked a simple job for you. One of our agents left a trail of destruction through a marketplace and now the Council has launched investigations. And you know how members of the Council always are - needy, nosy, and irritatingly cultured. Or not." The thin slit that was the man's mouth curved into a grotesque grimace, though she knew that was simply his attempt at a gentle smile. As one would speak and regard a child. "Your mother would be proud of you, I'm sure."[break][break]
One, two, three. Hedy steeled herself to remain composed, her bosom giving one slight, indiscernible heave. But blood was roaring in her ears. From the base of her throat, a hollow, incredulous laugh bubbled, in a pot of her simmering rage. "My mother?"[break][break]
She stood.[break][break]
The harsh screech of wood against wood squealed through the air, and it pleased her to see him wince. "As if that would mean anything to me," Hedy said coldly. "Hveather Lochan is dead."[break][break]
Then a pale blue film seemed to slide over her eyes, and though this was hardly a stark alteration in her appearance, the results weren't quite so unostentatious. The man jerked out of his chair with an almighty crash, clutching his head, screaming bloody murder, and as his shrieks ricocheted across the walls Hedy allowed herself some room to step back and admire her handiwork.[break][break]
Oh, yes. A simple job indeed.