Caedmon paused, his brows gathering as if in an attempt to recall.
" Hmm, the graffiti painter. Ah, she made most of the city's designs"
" And had been arrested multiple times as well" Kieran added and Caedmon bursted out in laughter.
Allistair pressed a small smile as they all sat. He remembered Tyron's words. Kieran a death sentence and Caedmon a disaster. Right now, he was sitting with death and disaster but yet, he was yet to experience any.
Kieran slipped out his phone, a large screen considered to be smarter than the recent telephones. He made the transaction with Caedmon since bitcoin was traded online.
" When do we go ?"
Caedmon smiled, " Next week" ..
Kieran drank from his wine, flashing Allistair a glance. Allistair returned his gaze but he appeared withdrawn from the conversation.
" Why not today or …."
" Caedmon, did Lila ever came to your doorsteps?"
Caedmon's smile trailed for a bit but was immediately replaced by an even brighter one, " Lila is the city's beauty. I'd be honoured to have her at my doorsteps but unfortunately she seems to stay at arms length" he answered.
Allistair's jaw clenched, " then what's her bangle doing here ?" he asked, holding onto the bangle he had snuggled in. He had sneakily taken it in the last minute to examine. Indeed it was hers.
Caedmon's smile faltered. A strange glint flashing in his eyes.
Allistair stood up, the bangle sill in his hands, but this time, his expression was unreadable.
Caedmon looked towards the stairs, Allistair's gaze followed by him.
Thwre was a figure looking down at them. It was a woman, he could tell and from her hold and few visible blonde strands, he could tell it was her. The woman who had attacked him.
His gaze darkened, what was she doing here?
Caedmon smirked, " what if …she is with me?"he asked, his lips tugged up.
Kieran's gase snapped to Caedmon. " The magazine? It is was you ?"
Caedmon's smirked deepened, " yes" he shrugged.
Allistair lunged forward, grabbing Caedmon by the collar but the next second, guns clicked, daggers escaped their hold. Bare and ready.
Kieran pulled Allistair back, " don't act recklessly"he said but Allistair pulled his arm away.
Reckless? If his guess was correct, the blonde woman worked for Caedmon and he was after the locket as well.
Caedmon stood up, wiping his lapels, specifically touched by Allistair.
Allistair gritted his teeth, his eyes wider than usual.
Caedmon let out a small laugh, " your anger is unjustified but I'm not the enemy"
" No, you are not?" Allistair asked with a scoff, " if she works for you, that means you are after the locket as well"
" Yes, you are right ….and wrong"
Kieran frowned, " what do you mean?"
" We wanted to take away the locket from him and kill him but we thought against it."
" That meant you had been the one following me?" Kieran asked with a cold smile.
Caedmon seemed to pause, then continued " no, we only got to know that Allistair was with it. Whoever had been following you, wasn't one of mine"
Kieran sneered, " a merchant lies to another merchant? Ridiculous!"
" Choose to believe or not but he is not leaving. He is coming with me"
Allistair clenched his first, watching two men banter for a piece that was in his possession was ridiculous. But hearing someone seal his fate was even disastrous.
" You know what this safe holds since you seem to want the locket" Allistair said, flashing the locket to him. It creaked, ticking as it's shape changed. A thorn-like key appearing once more.
" You'd know if you follow me" he said and began to exit the door, his footsteps excited.
" I'd go nowhere with you" Allistair spat.
Caedmon paused, his men still with their weapons as if waiting for an order.
" You have no choice otherwise"
Kieran stepped out behind Aliistair, his steps calculated with a cold glint on his expression. " He has" he said, folding his sleeves with nonchalance.
Caedmon's men exchanged nervous glances, each taking a step backwards. Their confidence seemed to have been shattered to breadcrumbs as they didn't dare proceed.
Allistair noticed this subtle movement. First it was the arena and now it was here. With their weapons, they would take them all out but why did it seem like they didn't even dare try.
Caedmon pinched his nose as if frustrated, he exhaled, " Pevensie's project" he breathed out.
" What is that?"
" I'm taking you to the last remaining file, the knowledge of it, what that locket holds"
" What's in it for you?" Kieran asked with a raised brow.
Caedmon have a short sarcastic laugh, " a share of what the safe holds." He answered, " Tell me Kieran, we are both merchants, what's in this for you?" He asked.
Allistair turned to look at him but Kieran didn't bother to return the gaze.
" Repaying depts"