Freedom

WITH his new blessings Lucius live begin to turn more bright. It took some good months for his stomach to accommodate again but with the constant stealing was all better . First people he stole beside  the first ones, were the ones that always have the pleasure to haul him up and throw him in the street or the ones that thrown sea water at him just for fun. When he stole his first mirror he saw for the first time in 2 years how he looked and now he could say that he really was suspiciously clean . Beside the others urchins running around and even a good half of the adults his teeth were abnormally clean, white and straight with the occasional milk tooth falling. Seeing all those change at him ,his teeth, stronger hair and his new stealing powers ( the problem was that now he didn't realize he is using it) he was more happy and relived that he found out about Calypso at that time.

With his new ,,mist'' powers ,comes his first allies ,others urchins, there was Bill a red-haired, freckled boy that was great at distraction of any type at any moment, Lola dirty-blond with brown doe eyes, pouty lips she was already in the eyes of the Matrons around ,,new meat'' they called her, she steals jewelry like no other ,her friend, Scarlet , was too on the Matrons eyes, she was fast on her feet but that's about it.

Zira was what you could call an nasty and adorable child at the same time, she has black colored skin, hair even darker and eyes the same, she run away from the brothel were she was born and since then all the Matrons tried to catch her to make her a working girl. From all of those Bill and Zira were the ones he worked the most though Bill was more helpful then anything. They stole from jewelry ,alcohol, canisters to food, beads and bandanas.

Personally Lucius liked to hoard all his stolen goods in his wooden box, every morning before leaving he wished very hard that no one would find his little treasure, his powers never left him.

The only children that weren't let out of at all, were the ones from the Black Stars, rumors say that all women and girls have stars names and all of them are related. That all of them look so closely to each other that you couldn't know who was who. If you asked Lucius ( or Zira) he would say that all that business was pretty sick and the place should be avoided at all cost, if you asked the locals ,sailors or anyone that set foot on Tortuga they would say that is a bloody paradise. 

With his allies (friends) comes enemies (drunks) and with all his successful thieving, well let's just say that the bony ,sunken eyed child become one more filled and tall.  Not everything was pink and roses but he was having food now ,that he can keep down, allies ( '' friends Lucy!'') didn't get sick and he wasn't caught even once. Sure it was cold and  half the time wet and his wooden box and his wooden box was half full so he was sleeping beside her all and all it was pretty good.

'' Old man Carl wined a big cooked bird last night, he was too drunk to eat anything then but he hide it in his cabin.'' say a dark skinned girl ,Zira

'' True but ye need to sneak past his dog not sure how great it will work, the mutt will not see me but he sure as hell will smell me'' say a white haired child with unruly hair, Lucius

''  And that's when I go in. I can lure him with a bone and if it's doesn't work then I just make him come after me, not my smart plan but I'm too hungry for anything else.'' says a red haired, freckled child, Bill

'' Sound good, what about you?'' Lucius ask Zira 

'' I say be more direct, make him chase us, I haul Bill somewhere high, take it , get out simple'' Zira say certainly it will work

Bill approved but Lucius was not sure, it wasn't really his style and old Carl shaggy giant dog was no joke. But the prize was too good to say no. In the final Lucius convinced them to wait some time to find out if Carl was in the house at least. Later and with no move beside the dog they set the plan in motion. Some stones a bark and yelp later the dog chased after the other two. 

With silent steps making sure no one is around Lucius opens the door. In a single word the place was a dump. Moving around he opens some cabinets where he finds a silver coin, numerous bottles of rum ( he takes a small flask) and lots and lots of junk. Finally he finds the food an----

WHACK 

Pain , ringing in his ears, swaying 

'' Ye filthy urchin!'' he tries to hit him again but Lucius put a distance between them. Trying unsuccessfully to find hid balance Lucius is hit again by Carl.

'' Ah, I recognize ye, ye are Lyra urchi'n eh. Pwa! Let's see if you have something'' Carl rips Lucius worn out shirt    '' Hah! It's your lucky day boyo I don't fuck the likes of ye.'' he hits him more and when Lucius looks like it's gonna pass out he takes him by the neck and throw him in the nearest garbage pill.

'' Good radiance.'' 

 It took hours to understand why and how he was in the pill of garbage but when he understand he couldn't help but be resigned Again.. it's like bad faith  He is not gonna work with Zira or Bill ever again.. fine maybe Bill but fuck Zira. Lucius tries to get up but a splitting headache stops him  Fuck it, it's nap time  Immediately he pass out.

Hour later he is found out by a working women that was having from a client. She looks at him long and in the final she takes the half naked ,surprisinly warm child in her arms back at her home. Arriving at her rickety house she let's him on the bed, takes a damp cloth and cleans his face, checking his head for any injuries. Two hours later the child wakes up with the smell of broth around him, in a bed? ...time travel?

'' Mornin' kid.'' an even womanly voice says, Looking at her attire Lucius say

'' Ye are a whore?''

'' I prefer the term working women but sure-'' she shrugs unbothered ''-that works too. Here some broth.''

'' Who are ye?'' he say taking the bowl

'' The name' Molly and I find ye in a pile of garbage after work, not the most unusual thing but you are a kid through.''

'' .. Thank ye.'' he say taking a small sip from his bowl, he didn't meet kindness from an adult since Rose died.

'' Ye are an urchin, usually ye lot stay in groups or at least pairs no?'' she begin searching in her shelves

'' I don't have a group um lady, I work alone most of the time.'' at this she pause and looks intensely at him

'' Oh, and why is that?''

'' I don't like sharing.'' at his blunt answer the women let's an hyena like laugh

,, Ha-hah! Well now this is new.. hmmm say, if ye work alone how about an exchange?''

'' ... what's that? ah so innocent she though

'' An exchange is when ye give something and I give you something of the same value. Got it?'' she explained smirking

'' Yes.. but that doesn't explain why ye want to do that with me.''

'' Lad if ye work alone and it's clear as the day that ye are good at what ye do. In plus if you are alone there's no need for a split.''

'' ..thus was the first time i was caught.'' her eyes begin to sparkle

'' Perfect, so for the first time what about ye tell me what would you want and ye see from there eh?'' with a sly smile she see how his eyes sparkle

'' I want to read and spell, oh and numbers I can give jewelry, clothes um rum.''

'' Ye bring me a necklace, a good one!  and I teach ye how to make clean water.''

'' Deal!'' he says excited and with a big gulp he finish his broth and runs off. Molly blinks startled. 

One hour later Lucius presents a necklace with green stones. Shocked the women touch the emerald jewelry with a trembling hands.

'' Well let's show ye how to make clean water kiddo.'' Molly says with a bright smile.   No wonder he doesn't like sharing

After this everything begin to fall neatly in their place. It took month of stealing shiny items ,silky materials but Lucius learned all his letters, reading and writing. On the other side Molly was overjoyed with the big clients she was having with the goods help, on the other hand she wasn't having more to teach him. Growing fond of him and his bluntness  she talked with one of her .. friends, Lolly ,a blond, brown eyed with voluptuous body women. Lolly looked at her like she was mad.

,, Ye want me to teach a brat? Is yer or what?''

,, snort No way but he sure as hell is a good thief.''

It took some time yes but after a silver ring she say yes and the circle begin all over again. This time Lolly wanted alcohol, fine alcohol, Lucius sneaked in the Bride Tavern kitchen ,stole bottles of ale and left without anyone seeing him. Learning his members was more easier then letters, in short time Lolly proponed sewing for more ale. Sewing was hard but at last he wasn't having so many holes in his trousers.

'' He is good not gonna lie, very smart, too smart even and his stealing.. swear I didn't see something like that before.'' say Lolly after she finished teaching him.

'' True.. do ye think Minnie would help?''

'' Who?''

'' Ye know, the Black women, pretty old.''

'' There a Black that is not locked in that place!?''

'' ... ''

A week later , with the prettiest ring in his pocket, Lolly left Lucius in front of the nicest door he has ever seen. He knocks like instructed by Molly and waits. Soon a striking old omen opens the door, her hair was still black, eyes of stormy-grey to white, red lips and a scowl on her face. Gulping Lucius shows her the ring (he cleaned at it until his fingers were raw)

'' What do you want child?''

'' I can bring ye anything ye want from the here if ye teach me what ye know.''

'' .. and why I would do that?''

'' Because I'm bored and I need to learn anything I can before I board a ship or find a family.''

'' Bring me a ruby.'' with those words she close the door in his face. 

With his mind set Lucius begin to search for a ruby but first of all  what is a ruby?

Closer to sunset , annoyed Lucius comes back at the old woman door couldn't she say that it was a shiny red rock it was that hard!   Knocking again, she opens the door and upon seeing the stone she looks at him impressed. Looking at his she says after minutes of silence. 

'' Come back tomorrow at dawn I should teach you some manners boy and if you learn fast I will answer any question you have.''

That night Lucius sleep without interruption, Minnie stayed late and looked at ruby  Well now.. that's a witch if I ever saw one.