Post by RaisinHell on May 11, 2013 17:50:46 GMT
-OBVILOUS SPOILER~!-
Sanguine started up the boat and they moved off, sticking close to the small islands. Tanith secured the dagger in the lockbox, then heard something in the trees as they passed. She looked up and a Ripper dropped from the overhanging branch, sent Tanith into Sanguine, their heads cracking together. Tanith stumbled, dimly aware of the Ripper shoving Sabine into the water as the boat stalled. Jack flung himself at the attacker, his nails dragging uselessly against the Ripper's coat.He got a headbutt as a reward, and a kick to the shin, and then the Ripper was wrapping an arm around his throat.
Her good mood evaporating, Tanith fought through the pain in her head and pushed herself up, swayed a little, and went straight for the Ripper. She yanked him away from Jack who went to his knees, gasping for air. The Ripper's elbow collided with the side of Tanith's face. He followed with a punch that she dodged, but her bare feet slipped on the wet surface and she went down. She crossed her arms, blocking his kick, catching the glint of the sickle blade a moment before it slashed at her.
She threw herself back, head over heels, coming up to a crouch in time to see the sickle arcing in to take her head. She was up, both hands blocking the sickle hand, her fingers wrapping round his wrist, and she was jumping, her strong legs folding beneath her as she used his wrist as a fulcrum on which her whole body spun. Her shins smashed into his jaw. He bent over backwards, all strength leaving him even as she was landing. Her feet touched down, but she slipped again and fell into Sanguine's arms.
"Don't worry," he said, "I'm here to save you."
"I'm so lucky to have you," she replied, disentangling herself from his hands. "Jack, you OK?"
Jack spat over the side of the boat. "Nearly choked the life out of me, the git. And me with so much to live for." He stood up and looked around. "Where's Sabine?"
Sabine pulled herself out of the water behind him, and glared up as she hung there. "You spat on me."
"Oh." Jack said. "Sorry." He held out a hand. Sabine hesitated, regarding the gnarled fingers and long nails warily, and then allowed him to help her up.
"What are we going to do about him." She asked, looking down at the unconscious Ripper. "If we let him go, he'll tell Starke we stole the dagger, but if we keep him prisoner, we'll have to take him everywhere with us."
Tanith pretended to mull it over. "That's a good question. Sabine. Whatever shall we do with this most unexpected of guests. Billy-Ray, so you have any ideas?"
"I may have one." Sanguine said, taking out his straight razor and cutting the Ripper's throat.
Sabine stumbled back. "What are you doing?" she cried, "You can't just murder people! What the hell are you doing?"
"Murdering people." Sanguine answered.
Sabine took two steps and shoved Sanguine. "He was unconscious! He was unconscious and defenseless and you murdered him!" Sanguine grinned as she shoved him again. "Sabine," Tanith said, "Sanguine did what had to be done. We can't leave witnesses. You said it yourself - we couldn't release him or take him with us."
"I'm out." Sabine said. "I didn't agree to this. I steal things and I cheat people, but I don't kill anyone." "No one is asking you to. " Tanith said gently. "And it's because we have you on the team that we can do this with as few deaths as possible. If we didn't have have you, we'd be going in guns blazing, killing whoever got in our way. Sabine, you're what some people call a godsend. You're a good influence on the rest of us. We can't afford to lose you."
"Then you promise me, right here, that there won't be any more killing from now on. " Tanith's face took on a pained expression. " I can't do that Sabine."
"Then I'm out."
"Sabine," Tanith said, "Please.
"Yeah," said Jack, "Don't go. We're a good team, you and I." Sabine frowned. "Us two? We're not a team."
"Ain't we?" Jack asked, actually sounding surprised. He looked at Tanith. "Ain't we?"
She ignored him. "Sabine, I can make you a promise, but it's not the one you want. I can promise you that we will only kill to defend ourselves. That's fair, isn't it? That's reasonable?" Sabine pushed her wet hair back off her face. She chewed her lip. "No more killing unconscious people." she said. Tanith nodded. "Agreed. Billy-Ray?"
Sanguine held up three fingers. "Scout's honor."
"And no killing innocent people.", said Sabine.
"I agree to that in principle," said Tanith, "providing you understand that some people just have it coming. "
Jack nodded. "Innocent is a murky area where killin' is concerned."
Tanith stepped forward, took Sabine's hands in hersand looked into her eyes. "Sabine, are you with us? We need you with us. We can't do this without you." Sabine didn't answer for a while, but it didn't matter. Tanith knew she had her.
"I'm with you." Sabine said eventually, and Tanith hugged her."Thank you." Tanith whispered. She broke off, found a towel and handed it to Sabine. "OK, now we have to concentrate on finding a place to dump the body. Until it's recovered, Johann will hopefully think that I eloped with his bodyguard. It should give us plenty of time to get to the other three weapons. "
"Which one are we going after next?" asked Sabine, sitting on the edge of the boat as it started up. "The bow." Tanith told her. "It's in the possession of some rather unscrupulous people." "There might be some violence, " Sanguine said over his shoulder, "There might be some blood needs spilling." "Criminal blood," Tanith said quickly, "Bad guy blood. Not innocent blood."
"And you have my solemn oath," Jack said, patting Sabine on the shoulder, "That I will only kill those who are awake, and if they ain't awake, I swear to you I will wake 'em up and then kill 'em or kill 'em as they're wakin, depending on the situation and what course is called for. But they will be awake, on that you have my word. "
Sabine sighed.
