A/N: My fic for the @folklore-n-fairytales Zine (Link here) Please enjoy!
Warning: Major Character Death
Shiv ran through the streets of Moscow, the guard on his tail as he held the stolen goods in his hand. Leaping over the stands of goods in his way. He took a glance behind him to see the men in dark leather jackets still in pursuit.
"Shit, shit, shit." he muttered under his breath as he took a sharp turn in an attempt to evade them. If he didn't get this back to Tusk he was dead, worse then dead really. Eternally Damned. He managed to scramble his way up a fire escape to the top of a building. He quickly scanned the rooftops to plan a path to where he needed to be. Shiv took less than a second to steady himself before he took a running start across the concrete. from ledge to ledge he found his way across the city, wondering if this is what it felt like to fly. the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he kept his eyes trained ahead of him. One slip up and he would be nothing but a stain on the asphalt below. When he finally arrived in his neighborhood he jumped from the edge of the roof to land squarely in the dumpster behind his apartment building. Luckily the garbage bags softened his landing. He waited for the sounds of perusing footsteps to pass him by before lifting himself out of the garbage, landing squarely on his feet as he brushed off his red leather jacket. He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his slicked back hair.
"Little too close there." He mumbled to himself as he turned to walk down the familiar alleyway nothing but the sound of his own movement to accompany him. When he made it to the main street he could see the familiar fight of the nightclub up ahead. He came to a stop at the front door of The Elephant Room, Tusk's headquarters. He pushed open the door, his hands in his pockets, his fingers clutched around the small box he had snatched. It was quiet in the main room, the club portion of the establishment closed for the day time operations. Shiv knew where he needed to go, back hall way, second door on the left, that's where Tusk would be waiting for him. He raised his fist to knock at the door but before his knuckles could make contact with the wood the door swung open to reveal Tusk sitting behind his desk. As usual Tusk had a couple of beautiful elf girls rubbing his shoulders and leaning seductively in his presence. Tusk leans back in his chair, putting his feet up on the corner of the desk as Shiv stood before him.
"Did you get it?" Tusk asked bluntly as he wove his fingers, closing the door behind him. Shiv pulled the small velvet box from his pocket and placed it on the desk in front of Tusk. Tusk looked at him expectantly but he wasn't at all sure what was expected of him. His cluelessness must have shown on his face because his boss rolled his eyes. "Open it you idiot!" he growls. Shiv scrambles to do what he's told, pulling back the lid of the box to reveal the bright purple gemstone. Tusk leans forward and takes the small stone between his fingers, his eyes glimmer with greed and delight. "Perfect, absolutely perfect. "
"So…I get paid now right?" Shiv asked careful not to look at the girls lingering behind Tusk. He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and waited for the answer from Tusk, who was too busy ogling faintly glowing rock to really care. Shiv cleared his throat and shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. That finally got Tusk's attention.
"I have another job for you then I'll pay, come to this address tomorrow evening and We'll talk business." He spoke offhandedly , waving his hand and conjuring a card with an address typed out on it. Shiv held back an annoyed sigh, taking the paper from the air and exiting the room.
It's never over.
~
The sun set over the city, there was a cold breeze making its way through the back roads and alleyways. Shiv stood on the corner across the street from the old abandoned warehouse that he was meant to meet Tusk at. Arms crossed over his body, wearing his usual red leather jacket and black jeans with combat boots, the only addition to his usual wardrobe was a ratty old Black Beanie pulled over his ears in an attempt to keep the cold off. He looked over at the building across the street. The Cave of Wonders it was called. A long time ago Starkov's gang had run their operation from this place, the rival gang held way more territory than Tusk and had collected rare magic items that he had only heard rumors of. However the storage of that many rare magic items of course was difficult to manage. And eventually the warehouse became dangerous to reside in as some of the more powerful magic items had started to posses the structure. Or so everyone said, since Starkov had left the place several years ago no one that had dared to enter the warehouse lived to tell the tale.
With that thought Shiv pushed off the wall and wandered over to the lot out front. He was cautious with his approach, this was the middle of no man's land. Anyone or anything could pop out of nowhere. He scans the area, there were some old broken down cars covered in rust, a couple of rotted wicker chairs that look like they would fall apart if you looked at them wrong. Other than that nothing unusual or obviously magical about the place. He heard the familiar sound of Tusk's car engine pulling up behind him. It was time to find out what exactly what he was supposed to do. Tusk exited the sedan with a huff. Standing up tall as his body guards surround him. Shiv looks at him, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Y'know I should be at home tucking my son into bed right now?" Shiv remarks snidely as Tusk walked towards him. He knew his boss couldn't give two fucks about him living in a shit apartment with his Mother and Son, trying desperately to make ends meet since his ex left. He knew Tusk wouldn't give two shits if he died tonight and left his son an orphan. He just felt like occasionally reminding his boss that he was a man with a family, in hopes he would show an amount of mercy.
"Have you ever heard of Genies?" Tusk asks, completely ignoring what Shiv said. Shiv nodded.
"Yeah, weird spirit dudes that live in cups and grant wishes." Shiv replied entirely seriously. Tusk gave him a look then shook his head.
"Yeah, sure, close enough. Anyway, apparently Starkov had one. Left it behind here. I want it." Tusk explained spinning something shiny between his fingers as he talked. "There's a Faberge Egg that is entirely red with golden flowers on it. That is this Genies…Cup as you say."
Shiv knew couldn't argue with him, even if he had the words to protest this insanity he needed the money. He had a family to feed, and very little dignity left to his name.
"Where should I start looking?"
~
The Cave of Wonders was a good name for this warehouse. Despite the outward appearance of a disheveled building the insides were lined with gold and jewels. Every remaining surface was covered with items that glittered with value and magical properties. Shiv may be an idiot but he's not stupid enough to try to take anything he wasn't sent here to get. As per the warning Tusk gave him. He kept his eyes peeled for the ruby red egg. Tush had said it should be somewhere obvious, like on a pedestal or in a display case. His eyes scan every inch of the room.
"Red Egg with gold flowers, could be anywhere in this place." he muttered to himself as he squeezed himself between a tiny opening in the massive stacks of crates and boxes. He was thankful for his slim figure as he wiggled out the other side. The room is full to the brim with piles of gold bars and stacks of cold hard cash from every nation in the world. Shiv's eyes widen and he feels his hands start to sweat. The opportunities this room could give him were endless.
"This has to be a fucking joke. Can't take anything but what I came for. Boom! A room full of cash." He threw his arms up in the air in exasperation. This was frustrating, but at least he knew at the end of this Tusk would pay him and he could try to make a better life for his family. So he continued on. Navigating his way through the stacks of treasure and crates filled to the brim with things that glittered and glowed with a sort of magic he could not explain. He reached the end of the long room entering what must have been an office space at one point. Inside the room, sat upon a table stood the Faberge Egg. Glowing ruby Red and etched with golden lilies, an ornate latch on the seam around the middle. It was a sight to behold. He knew he had to be careful, not wanting to fuck this up in anyway. He cautiously approached the table, reaching to take the egg from its stand, turning it in his hand before putting it in his pocket. The building began to make an eerie creaking sound and the lights started to glow brighter Time to get the fuck out of here.
~
Shiv exits the warehouse unscathed, but exhausted from running for his life. Tusk was leaning on the hood of his car, an elven girl under his arm as he whispered in her ear. It was a nauseating sight to see. Several body guards stood nearby along with another car. Shiv approached pulling the egg out of his pocket to show he had it. The Elven girl was the first to notice, tapping Tusk's shoulder and pointing in his direction. Tusks gaze followed her finger, a grin spread across his face.
"Ah, good you got it, excellent. Give it here." Tusk commands holding out his hand. Shiv froze in his tracks, his mind racing. He can't just hand this over, he needs to get paid.
"No." he muttered sternly. He clutches the egg a little tighter.
"No? What do mean no?" Tusk tilted his head as his eyebrows furrowed. The air was suddenly thick with tension. The girl's eyes were wide with fear, Shiv felt a pang of guilt for getting her involved in this dispute, but there was no other way.
"I mean I won't give it to you until you pay me." He stated, as he clutched the egg even tighter. He was trying his best to be as intimidating as possible, but he could tell his tactics were not super effective. "I mean if this egg means so much to you, it should be easy to hand over the money you owe me first, right?" Easy peasy."
"No, No,Not easy peasy. This isn't easy peasy at all! I'm in charge here. You work for me!" Tusk was getting angry now, he pushed himself off the hood of the car and stood up, rolling his shoulders back as he cracked his knuckles.
Oh fuck, Shiv had most definitely screwed up.
"Hey now, this can be easy! Just give me my payment and you'll get your egg. Do-si-do, this and that y'know?" Shiv spoke rapidly as he took a step back, trying to put some distance between him and the mage. It didn't matter though. Soon enough he will have to give-
There was a snap in the air and a bolt of blue magic shot from Tusk's fingers and hurdled towards him. Before he knew anything happened he felt an Ice cold feeling in his chest, the cold spread from the center point through his veins and heart, slowing everything in his body down. Shiv fell to his knees. He was dying. His vision went blurry as he felt someone yank the egg from his hands and push him to the ground. He gasped for air as he felt his lungs start to grow cold, this was it.
