Dead Men Smiling

3.2

Go ahead and cry. Eventually, that frustration will become your fangs. Living means knowing sadness; use that sadness to sharpen the fangs of your heart.

_____

Wynter let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she examined Sora's back, her hands still wet from applying the salve. She noted how the irritation gave way to this white lines. She lightly prodded at one, frowning at the wince hat Sora gave with a look of pity in her eyes.

"Maximus? Rowan? Could you come over here?"

The pair walked to Wynter who motioned at Sora's back. "The reaction seems to have reduced. Isn't that a good thing?" Maximus observed. Rowan lightly traced Sora's back. "Look at the thin white lines. That can't be good, can it?"

"it just means that my wings will actually come out soon." Sora sighed as he got off the bed and pulled a shirt on.

Maximus grimaced as he remembered the first time that Sora had explained his punishment to them. He watched his friend's movements for some time before speaking. "Doesn't it hurt though?"

"That's why we're looking for Dolly, isn't it?"

"I guess."

The brunet shook his head before leaving Sora to himself. He sighed heavily before following after Maximus to the kitchen where Wynter was looking through cupboards while Rowan was holding a basket. Sora grabbed an apple from the basket and took a bite. "What's got her underwear in a twist?"

Rowan shrugged his shoulders. "She's saying a lot but from what I've picked up, we don't have enough food to start this adventure." "The Lord will provide for sure," Sora snorted sarcastically as he took another bite.

Maximus rose a brow at the sentence and chose not to comment, considering how bitter the dark hair male got whenever his pat was brought up.

Wynter suddenly straightened her back and furrowed her brow. She then faced the three males with urgency in her eyes. "Pack what you can and leave," she instructed, "Use the back door, don't wait up and we'll meet at the Stone Circle. Someone's here."

"But-"

Rowan put his hand on Maximus' shoulder, making the latter realize how bad the situation actually was. He nodded his head and followed behind Sora who held the basket I one hand and their mask in the other.

Wynter put on a smile as she opened the door. "Hello?"

The men in front of her door exchanged glances before one spoke. "Rumour has it that you're hosting three Dead Men Smiling members here is this true?"

Relief crossed Wynter's features as she lowered her voice. "Actually, yes. They were here but I wasn't necessarily hosting them; they took hostage of me."

The pair locked eyes and nodded as if having a silent conversation. The slender one soon had Wynter in handcuffs. "You're under arrest for hosting wanted men. You are reminded of your right to remain silent; everything you say can and will be used against you in the Court of Law."

Wynter rose an unimpressed brow and shrugged as if resigning to her fate. She watched as the other man walked into her house and bit back the grin threatening to decorate her face. She then counted to ten in her head before throwing her head back to hit the man's face and snapped the cuffs around her wrists with ease. She picked his fallen sword and grimaced at it and shrugged before decapitating him.

she groaned at the blood in disgust as she walked to the door and locked it before she placed her palm against it and watched as her house slowly caught fire.

She took a step back and admired her work. "I better get to the Stone Circle soon."

-----

"And then there was three," Sora, now Autumn, muttered as he stared at the burnt house. "what a plot twist," Beast acknowledged, "She's a Fire Demon and that means that there's chance that she's alive."

"Let's find her then."

Muse shook his head while adjusting his straw hat. "She said she'd meet us at the Stone Circle. Besides, we have to find Hex and-"

Beast muttered a curse under his breath causing Autumn and Muse to turn their attention to the debris of the house where a man clawed himself out of the damage. "I always thought Fire Walkers were a myth but guess you learn something new every day," Beast said as he backed away.

The suspected Fire Walker suddenly turned his head in their direction only not to see anyone. He rose a soot covered brow. "I swear I heard voices."

With a shrug, he walked to his headless partner and kicked his body, letting out a sigh when he didn't stir. "Well he isn't coming back. No matter, I have much to report."

The trio watched the man leave before coming out of their respective hiding places. Muse from a tree, Beast from the nearby bush and Autumn allowing himself to become visible.

"That was close." Muse's relief was contagious.

"Let's move out," Beast instructed, "We have enough money to at least visit a pub."

Like Beast had said, they were able to visit a pub where they sat nursing drinks they didn't really want to take. Rowan had settled for drumming a random beat on the table with his fingers while Maximus had his head on the very table humming to the beat with his eyes closed.

Sora looked around the pub, trying to guess who was Unwanted without having to try too hard.

His eyes landed on a drunken man. Definitely not him unless he's a Fairy of a sort.

The woman the drunken man was flirting with had an air of boredom surrounding her before she drained the last of her drink and walked away from the man, sharp eyes scanning the pub before they landed on them. Sora let out a muffled groan as she walked towards them looking like a cat who caught the canary.

"Who wants to dance with me?"

Sora had a feeling she had never been rejected before and with this thought, he pressed his forefinger to his nose. "Not it."

"We're busy." Rowan didn't stop the beat while Maximus flipped the bird.

The woman, obviously offended, rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty certain that you haven't taken a proper look at me."

The trio assessed her appearance from head to toe. Sora quickly got bored and turned his attention to a nearby plant. "Still not it."

"Still busy," Rowan said as he changed the beat, throwing Maximus off guard.

He then stood and tilted the woman head using her chin with a slight smile. He then leaned towards her until she could feel the light brush of his lips against hers causing her breath to hitch as she closed her yes.

"You have a ketchup stain on your dress."

Her blue eyes widened in horror as she pushed him away causing Maximus to burst into laughter. The woman glared at him as her cheeks reddened causing Maximus' laughter to get louder while his friends softly snickered at her expression.

Her glare dissipated before a soft smile made its way on her face. "Bingo," She said as she left the trio and walked towards some cloaked figures who Sora had watched walk in.

Rowan, however, was laughing so hard he broke off a piece of the table which made him laugh even harder, barely registering when Maximus plopped onto his lap.

Sora rolled his eyes before turning his attention to the cloaked figures when he locked eyes with one who quickly looked away.

Sora kept his gaze on the odd group as his brain went into overdrive as he tried to recall where he had seen those dark soulless eyes from.