Too Broken To Fly, Too Innocent To Die

Chapter 3:

Chapter 3:

Her eyes opened wearily, as she wondered how that could be. Angels could not feel fatigue... Her mind told her. She sat up quickly and drank in her surroundings frantically, as everything came flooding back. Her talk with Fate.... The burning of her wings.... The Bullet.... Luke. Estelle's heart gave a small flutter at the thought of his name but she put it away, convincing herself it was nothing.

She was laying on a worn leather couch with a blanket loosely covering her cold body. The curtains were all drawn tightly eclipsing the room in darkness. A low rumble echoed from the other end of the room, like a small cat purring. Estelle took a hesitant step forward, not letting fear take control of her. She put her hand out slowly, reaching toward the noise. Her hand glided through the air finally connecting with her target. Soft hair slipped through her fingers and the low rumble stopped. Two strong arms shot out and pulled her down onto him. Her face was buried into his chest her senses intoxicated by his deep aroma of pine needles and smoke. "Come on, let's go." Luke said suddenly. He sat up quickly causing her to fall slightly as he rose. "Where are we going?" she asked.

He gave her a long stare than said, "First rule around me, don't ask questions." he said flatly before grabbing his leather coat and heading for the door. She followed closely behind him, a frown etched on her face.

He pushed the door open and jumped down into the alley jogging up to a beat up Jeep parked on the side of the street. She stood awkwardly on the side walk for a moment causing Luke to notice her hesitation. He sighed and opened her door giving her a pointed look, "Well, are you coming or not?" he asked slightly annoyed. She put on a brave face, remembering why she was here in the first place. She stomped up to the truck and climbed up into the seat, "Thank you." she said calmly. Luke nodded once in response before slamming the door and walking around to his side.

Luke started the engine and drove down the black streets turning every so often, an empty silence surrounding them besides the growle of the engine. After a long while he finally pulled up beside a small building with a strange smell surrounding it.

"What is this place?" She asked glancing around the dark narrow street timidly.

"A bar." He said like it should've been obvious. Estelle wasn't stupid she knew what a bar was, she just never expected to find herself at one. They got out of the car together and walked into the bar, the sour smell thickening.

It seemed mostly empty except for a few scattered men, who were completely wasted and babbling incomprehensible nonsense. A bar tender stood behind the counter a deep frown on his face and bags under his eyes.

Luke stepped up to the counter his eyes suddenly a wall, not letting any signs of emotion through. "I've been informed that Mr. Moriarti is unavailable for Wednesday's performance." He said in a hushed whisper. The man's eyes lit up and replied, "Please send my deepest condolences then." Luke nodded, letting a small smirk onto his face as the bartender came out from behind the counter and led Luke across the room to a door marked 'Employees only' in the back. The man opened it leading them down a dim corridor, the lights flickering every now and again. Estelle tapped on Luke's back, with uneasy look, "What was that about?" She questioned softly, feeling a sudden chill with the odd exchange of words.

"Listen more and ask less and you'll find get better answers." He replied calmly.

She dared not say anything else so stayed quiet as they came to another door. The man gave Luke a small nod and opened the door allowing us to enter. For a couple seconds Estelle couldn't make much out, apart from the thick clouds of smoke floating around her face, but it finally cleared a bit and she could see a circular table with a bunch of men and woman sitting around it.

The man farthest from Estelle called out, "It's about time you showed up Kane!" The man was fairly young she guessed about thirty with messy blond hair and a bowlers hat on his head.

Patch took a step forward into the single light beam that hung from a chain in the ceiling. "I know Patch, but I believe I've found her." He replied with a triumphant smirk.

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh and where is she?" He asked amused. Luke turned around a grabbed her arm pulling her forward. "Right here." He said.

The five people's eyes opened wider a smug smile spreading across there lips. They all seemed to be having a secret agreement which made Estelle feel extremely uncomfortable. "Well done Kane, she's just what we need." An old man with a wrinkly face and graying hair said with a genuine smile. Estelle couldn't help but like him at least a little.

"I'd like to know just what exactly is going on please." She said firmly, a slight edge to her tone. "Course, course, sit down Angel and I'll explain." The older man said pulling out a chair from next to him, as Luke sat on the other side of him.

"To start I'll introduce you to the gang." He said pointing first to the man who had spoken before and Luke had called Patch. "That is Patch, he is our eyes so to speak, whatever we need to know he can find out for us." Patch gave Estelle a cheeky grin before winking at her. The man rolled his eyes discreetly before moving on.

He pointed next to the lady beside Patch. She was stunningly gorgeous with her striking green eyes, blood red lips, and luxurious brown hair. "This is Darcy. Her usual job is distraction, if you can understand why, but she is also our persuader, seducer, and black mailer." Darcy gave her a cold stare not giving the tiniest hint of a smile.

Next to Darcy sat a very little man who could almost pass for a kid with square glasses perched on his nose and mousy brown hair sticking out from under his cap."Here is Charade but we all call him Char, he is the 'Phone Man'. Char, show her your stuff."

Charade smiled obligingly and said, "Here is Charade but we all call him Char." Mimicking the man's voice perfectly.

He next pointed to a very fit handsome man with smooth black hair and brown eyes. "Now this is Edward, he is our best actor, there's not a soul that wouldn't believe a downright lie if he told it to him." Edward gave her a small smile, and leaned back in his chair slightly.

"And of course Kane who of course you know already. Kane is our secret weapon. Kane is our shadow player. He waits in the dark and then strikes when they're least expecting it. He also often plays as they targets ally, without ever rising suspicion." Estelle could easily picture Luke being a 'Shadow Player' it seemed to fit his personality very well....

"And Joseph is the master planner." Patch said referring to who could only be the old man sitting beside her, "He comes up with all our game plans and in other-wards runs this show." He summed up.

She frowned, "But I still don't understand. What are all these jobs for? And why am I being involved?" She asked. Edward smiled slyly, "Why we're conners of course." He said.

"That's right Con Artists, and as for you, you're the most essential part of our grandest plan." Patch added.

Estelle looked over at Luke who was staring back at her with a troubling smile that seemed to bore into her soul. He licked his lips slowly and said quietly, "The face of innocence."