// Today nine years ago I made my first post on this blog! Can’t believe it’s still here after all this time, to be honest. I know I haven’t been as active lately as I used to be, but I hope this will change again at some point. Eric will not be abandoned, he is my baby, my brainchild, and I love him way too much - not to mention that I love all you guys who have stuck with me over all the years! Thank you all so much for being there, for writing with me and this idiot thief!! 🧡🧡🧡
The skepticism was to be expected, really, and well, if he thought about it a bit more, well there were clues that perhaps she was not what she seemed. The eyes, the wolves. Things that were typically something a human would possess.
“Yes, I have a small family of wolves that live in my guest room, the father was injured when he was a puppy and I helped him, he found me when he was older and brought his mate who was pregnant back to me. Then they had the puppies and no matter where they roam, they always come back.” She replied with a small shrug. “Oh, cab’s here.” She replied with a smile, sliding inside as she waited for him to join her.
Even when the cab was finally there and Harli made herself comfortable on the backseat, Eric was just staring at her. She was kidding. She had to be kidding. She didn’t have actual wolves at home, that was…no, that was impossible. She was teasing him, that’s it.
A nervous chuckle escaped him as he sat down beside her and closed the door, giving the driver the address they were headed to. “D’I tell ye ‘bout t-rex I go’ in me livin’ room?” he joked. “He brought his mum with him, they asked noicely if they could move in with me. It’s a bi’ small sometoimes, bu’ we manage t’arrange us.”
“Oh, now, don’t tell me you believe all that nonsense about the city being cursed,” Evy said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, but her expression softened at Eric’s next words. “I believe your story, of course, and what happened to your friends is terrible. But I’m sure there’s a perfectly rational explanation for it.”
“I won’t be going on my own,” she reminded him. “My brother will be with me.” There was one problem, however – Jonathan didn’t know the way to Hamunaptra any more than she did. They could ask the convict from whom he’d stolen the puzzle box, but what were the chances that he would help them, and even if he agreed, how much help could he be from inside his cell? Eric was their best bet. “But we’ll still need a guide. Very well, then. I’ll teach you on the way – I imagine it’s quite a long journey.”
“A couple days worth.” He nodded his head, feeling defeated. Though he wasn’t quite sure why - after all, he had been the one to offer her to lead the way to that godforsaken ancient city. Felt as though it was his duty. There was no stepping back now, though, and when the first sunbeams came up the next morning, he was already up and running.
Though the closer they got to the boat, the faster his heart would beat. So much so that it already began to hurt. But they had made a deal, and it was way too late to suddenly say no and turn around.
Jim smiles and nods, “I thought you might be glad with that, but even so, I do know it’s important to treat people well, even in, or especially in, work like this,” He admits. “I’ve heard of and seen some of your work, I am sure the quality will live up to my expectations and I have no reason to stab you in the back. I have the money and you will certainly get your pay as soon as I have what I’m asking for. No backstabbing involved.” Not to say he would never backstab, if someone deserved it or was of no use to him, he wouldn’t hesitate. That being said, he knows he has nothing to worry about here.
The man’s claim actually has him
curious – how does he know about Eric and his work in the first
place? The call came rather unexpected, as it has become rather rare
for the thief to gain new clients – he mostly works for the same
ones. Still, he somewhat trusts Jim. At least as far as a criminal
can trust another criminal. He nods his head, smiling. “A’righ’
then. Le’s start, shall we? Ye want…jus’ this specific oitem,
or is there more? I mean, since I’m a’ready in the house.” And
he knows what else there is to get. Seems rather a waste to leave
everything else behind, but he will only touch what he has been hired
for, of course. “An’ may I ask wha’s so special ‘bout it?
Jus’ outta curiosity, of course.” He lifts his hands in
surrender.
Sabrina smirked at his words, the man was clever not as much as her boss but more intelligent than many people she knew.
“Who is he ? That’s a question you’d better not ask, you won’t like the answer. And why you ? Because you’re among the best, finding a thief in London is as easy as breathing… and yet it took days to find you and with a network like his it’s quite impressive.”
She tilted her head back watching the man’s reaction to her words. “You got balls to say no, I respect that. It’s more interesting than those crawling at my feet to meet him, I’ve killed people for less.”
Putting a strand of her hair back in place, she smiled. “You didn’t answer my question… drink ?”
“Tha’s a great conversation starter - ‘I’ve killed people for less’. Must be fun.” He would have freaked out if this wasn’t an ordinary thing for Eric. After all, his own biological father and mentor was a hitman; Eric heard remarks like that on a daily basis. Even worse ones.
“Ye still found me, which means I’m pro’ly no’ tha’ good after all.” The thief shrugged his shoulders. “An’ I’d say yes ta tha’ drink, bu’ I’m no’ so sure if I should, I mean…ye jus’ admitted ta killin’ people, an’ ye go’ ev’ry reason ta no’ be pleased with me answer, so…”
