P.B. practiced her ballet in the school's new practice room. It had been one of mom's allowances when she was young and that was a birthday wish when she was 9, just a year after their rescue. Mom had even taken the courses with her just to be sure she got home safely. She had just landed on her toes after making a perfect leap, polite clapping echoed through the mirrored room. A pale youth, with black hair and dead eyes smiled what would have been a handsome smile if there would have been enough meat on the face. It reminded her of death warmed over. "Bravo! That was an excellent leap. Like a gazelle leaping for her life." The youth licked their lips hungrily. She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want Creature?" P.B. had read and categorized all the threats from the reports in the achieves. Creature had a way of killing any who laid a hand on them. It didn't matter who or how strong they were, Creature always walked away the victor.
"Me? Why I'm here as a friend." P.B. moved toward her bag.
"Thats not what the reports say. The cold eyes burned colder.
"You have no idea what I've been through. Much less the smith who call a bunch of rats her own!" Its body turned from pale to a feverish red color. Catching themselves in the mirror Creature immediately settled down. They coughed getting rid of the last bit of red regaining the pallor it had before. " I came to tell her they are in the next town. She has a day to settle her affairs." P.B. grit her teeth. "You can't have her." Creature raised an eyebrow. Then the door opened and in walked Karen and Yuzu who were there for the dancing lessons that P.B. taught. Creature tossed its phone, Karen caught it without thought and was gone. Yuzu jumped into action and was dropped down by P.B. who held her down on the mat. "What have you done with my sister?" Creature snapped its fingers the phone came to its hand. "She is merely a guest of my masters." Creature turned to P.B. with a dead calm that made the two women shudder. "Tell the Smith they'll let the girl go in exchange for herself. This time there will be no way out. Just like when she left me." P.B. shook her head. "No! She didn't leave you! You refused to make up your mind! How you could not make up your mind with those monsters is beyond me!" Creature's mouth snarled up in perhaps the first time in 70 years, before disappearing.
P.B. waited for a few minutes before allowing Yuzu up which got her a punch. P.B. merely took it. "The Messenger has never lost a fight. Whoever dares to lay a hand on them dies. Your sister will be alright. They wouldn't dare harm her. If they did mom might not go to them." Ichigo and Toshiro suddenly burst into the room. "Where's Karen?" They said in unison. P.B. straightened and said very solidly. "This is Hoard business. We will take care of it."
End of page one.