Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

It took him some effort not to stare at the cleavage spilling out of her tunic in that position.

“Oh honey!” He gave a helpless laugh to reinforce his harmless facade as he strolled back to her; “I can tell you that! We’re not far from a big city called Greyhaven.”

He didn’t mention that he was camping out to avoid the shady people he owed money to, or that if she simply went into the city the Aegis people there would see to her every need.

Instead he motioned for her to sit back down, then waited as she crossed one leg under the other.

“But never mind that for now, more importantly, do you have your heartstone? It’s so important that you keep it close! Greyhaven can be a dangerous place for the unwary.”

Lies.

For the unlucky like him, yes it could be dangerous, but for a helpless young Ogre the city would be about the safest place in the world: she would stand out far too much for any unsavory type to prey on her, and ever since the Ogres collectively wrecked the Aegis’s old headquarters, the local operatives would certainly take notice of one in their city!

She nodded earnestly.

“I gots my heart, is safe.”

He frowned.

“Are you sure? You can’t keep it anywhere obvious, the city is full of pickpockets.” He was right beside her now, his eyes looking right and left as if for any sign of danger.

She blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion as she leaned in closer to him.

“What’s a pockpicket?”

“A pickpocket.” He corrected; “Thieves that specialize in taking things from people’s pockets and the like. They’ll steal your heart from wherever it’s hidden and you won’t even know!”

She gasped in fright, her hand reflexively going to the simple brass cinch for her belt below her navel.

“I not want that! I hate pockpickers! What do stop them?”

It seemed the more agitated the girl became, the more her syntax suffered.

He faced his palms skywards and gave a helpless shrug.

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you if I don’t know where you keep your heart.”

She scrunched up her face, evidently working through the logic of his words while he held his breath.

Finally she nodded vigorously.

“Okay. I show you, then you helping me?”

Her innocent sapphire blue eyes were wide and pleading, and in that moment Cole hated himself.

But staying alive trumped all of his other compunctions at that point, so he smiled his most trustworthy smile and agreed.

She leaned back, fingers already working at her belt.

“Momma told me never to show. But momma not here.” She mumbled to herself logically.

Not sure if he was supposed to respond or not, he simply waited as she loosened her belt enough to get her arm into her tunic from the side and reach her fingers under where the cinch held her clothing together.

Seconds later she had her hand out of her clothing and outstretched towards him, her deep blue heartstone looking miniscule in her enormous palm. With her other hand she fumbled to redo the cinch in her belt; her eyes, and her attention, on her waist.

Lightening quick, Cole shot his own hand out and snatched the stone out of her palm.

She drew in a sharp breath, eyes widened in shock and her attempts to redo her belt one-handed ended.

Her shock quickly turned to indignation and she scowled at him.

“Hey, I no say you take!”

“Don’t m-move.” He ordered in a shaky voice.

Tora froze in place while a wave of exultation overwhelmed him at the unexpected success of the simple ploy and he laughed strangely for a couple of moments.

Fear quickly took the place of her annoyance and her words came out in desperation.

“Give back! Please! Momma said I shouldn’t-”

“Be quiet!” He snapped.

She flinched away from him as if he’d struck her and his expression softened as the last vestiges of his morality reminded him that he was a decent man once.

The internal struggle was brief, but inevitable: she was simply worth too many coins to the desperate ex-tamer.

He lifted her heart up to the sky between his thumb and forefinger, admiring the colour in the light of the sun for a few seconds before he spoke again.

“You have no idea how valuable you are, do you Tora?”

She didn’t say anything, unable to make a sound as per his orders.

“Whatever, I don’t want to hear another word about your momma. Is that understood?” His tone was hard and demanding, causing the gentle giant to whimper.

When she didn’t respond right away his eyes narrowed and he took a menacing step towards her, his fist balling around her heart as if to strike her. She flinched again, her chin ducking low and her arms coming up tight to her breasts as she curled in on herself.

“I said... is that understood?”

“Yes.” The single word came out pitifully as hopelessness filled her breast.

Rather than making him feel sorry for the girl, her despair only cemented his thinking: the sooner he got rid of her, the sooner he could get drunk and try to forget about the hurt look in her eyes.

But they weren’t alone in the meadow.

“You are a worm, speaking to a hatchling so.” A voice hissed from behind him and caused him to jump in surprise.

Somehow, neither he nor Tora saw the lean and willowy Troglodyte sneak up on them. Which was remarkable given the size of the blade she had strapped to her back; even by lizard-girl standards it was enormous.

Before their eyes her skin changed from the vibrant greens of the meadow to a rich bronze and her stealth suddenly made sense.

“You, you’re a Chameleon!”

With almond shaped eyes that were a sharp and deadly green, everything about her