“These streets… Don’t like,” Ko whined, as they walked through the silent night of Vortia in devil’s hour.
Vo hunched her shoulders against the evening’s chill.
“You didn’t have to come. Manon said so,” Vo retaliated.
Ko sent her a piercing glance.
“I help,” he growled, folding his arms in defiance.
Vo smiled and turned her attention back to the road ahead. The Devil’s hours were always quiet in these streets, unlike the rest of the city, everyone here had beds and homes to go too. Who would be out at such a stupid hour if they had no other choice?
The streetlamps blared down at them like search lights, but they strode down the center of the road regardless.
“Ooo,” Ko yelped.
Vo stopped in her path, eyes scanning the streets for a watchman.
“Kitty.” Ko pointed.
Vo’s shoulders relaxed as a black cat wandered idly onto the road in front of them. Ko crouched beside her and made his little tutting sounds, holding his hand out in hope. Vo folded her robust arms but didn’t intervene.. Instead she looked around, taking in all of the huge garden fences, the grand gateways, the perfectly flat cobbled street.
Number 10… Manon say number 10, Vo recalled.
***
Ko’s heart pounded in his chest as the cat tentatively made its way towards him. It’s black fur was sleek and shiny, it’s eyes bright green and glinting. Ko gulped and continued his begging, until finally, his hands touched the soft fur of the cat’s head. He smiled like a child. He played with the cat’s ears, tickled the bass of its tail, rubbed under its chin. The cat vibrated with purrs.
“Ko, we get going soon,” Vo whispered above him.
Ko nodded and bent down towards the cat.
“Have good nights, kitty.”
He rose to his feet, his muscular legs aching after their previous days chase. He smiled warmly at his sister and strode ahead, eyes searching for number 10.
The house they stopped before was painted, perhaps in the daylight it was a golden red but at night, and to Ko, it looked like mud. Vo walked ahead of him and put her hand on the gate.
“Locked,” she said.
Ko moved forward and joined his sister in looking down at the lock contraption.
“We smash?” Ko asked.
Vo shook her head.
“Manon said quiet… and respectful.”
Vo placed a foot on the gate and pressed a little of her weight down upon it, the gate creaked in protest.
“We climb,” she stated.
Vo reached both hands up towards the top of the gate. Ko nodded in understanding and knelt down beside his sister, holding his knee out ready for her to step upon.
She didn’t weigh much, not to him. They were twins. The same blond hair, blue eyes and strong build. But he had long hair and she short. He liked his long hair, he could play with it.
As her weight lifted from his leg Ko stood and watched Vo clamber over the fence. She swung her leg over the top and made to jump away, but her foot got stuck. A loud clang sounded as she fell back against the gate, hanging upside down with her foot still trapped between the metal bars.
“Ow,” she complained.
Ko stifled a laugh and began his own climb, jumping over his sister with ease before bending down so his face was next to hers.
“Silly,” he said, tapping her on the nose with a single finger.
Vo attempted to bite him but he was too fast, snatching his finger away like one hiding a treat from a dog.
A light shone in the distance behind them and Ko hurried to get his sister down. He hoisted her up which allowed her to untangle her own foot and then lowered her to the ground. Together they dived behind some bushes in the nearest corner of the garden.
***
“Who’s there?” The servant called.
Vo’s palms sweated as she watched the torchlight flicker over their hiding place and then back to the gate.
“Meow.”
Ko’s arms straightened beside her and she held his hand, his cold skin a contrast to her own heat. The cat Ko had previously seen rubbed itself against the gate, meowing to the guard. The guard tutted and strode away.
“Good, kitty,” Ko whispered.
Vo smiled and pulled her brother to his feet. They stayed close to the wall, tiptoeing around the garden as if the guard was still watching from the window.
‘Where did Manon say to enter from?’
Vo racked her brain whilst practically staring open mouthed at the mansion before her. Countess Laria’s home was huge, and yet Manon always said she was a poor excuse for a countess. Vo couldn’t see why, it looked posh enough to her.
Her arm jiggled with the tap of Ko’s hand. She turned to him as he pointed to the side door to the house.
“But Manon said to be nice,” Vo whispered.
Ko shrugged. “Taking too long. Bored.”
Vo smiled softly and shook her head. He always hated sneaking. They weren’t her favourite bit either but Manon always said you couldn’t always have what you wanted. But, Manon wasn’t here.
Vo giggled wickedly and they both skipped towards the door. Ko bowed to her and offered the door as one would offer for another to go first. Vo shook her head and repeated the movement back to him. Ko took her hand, his cold palm cooling her sweaty heat and gestured towards the door. Vo sighed happily and together they thrust out their legs, kicking the door in with as little effort as shifting a chair.
***
It was dark inside, but warm. Ko ventured into the kitchen of the Countess's home. A rich kitchen, filled with food. A pile of bread rolls sat upon the table and Ko picked one up and stuffed it in his mouth. Cinnamon burst onto his tongue mixed with the softness of fruit. It tasted good.
Wood creaked above them and Vo grabbed his arm, shutting the door behind them, sort of. It looked closed. In the dark anyway.
They rushed towards another door next to the oven and stepped inside the pantry, closing it just as a light appeared in the distance.
Should we wait or go? Ko thought, but his sister had already decided that.
She pulled the jar of jam down on the shelf. The clang of a lock clicked and Vo pulled the shelves aside, revealing a dark tunnel. Ko stepped inside with Vo fast on his heels. He helped her close the entrance, plunging them into complete darkness. Until flickers of light blinded them through the cracks in the shelving.
Why can’t that stupid servant go to bed?
“I’m going insane,” the servant moaned. “Utterly insane. I need some time off. This is ridiculous. Traipsing around..” His voice drifted into silence as he left the pantry and returned to the main house.
Vo exhaled heavily and Ko aimed to grab her shoulder reassuringly…
“That’s a boob,” Vo muttered.
Ko readjusted his hand and gripped her shoulder tightly.
“All good,” he said.
With his free hand he reached into his belt and pulled out the torch Manon had given them in preparation. The smell of oil fumes tickled his nose as he searched for the lighting sticks.
With a shimmer Vo’s face came into view, holding the lighting sticks before her.
“We always share,” she reminded.
“Of course,” Ko agreed, holding the torch out to her to light.
Once the flames grew the tunnel illuminated before them. Two walls, a floor and ceiling and a blackness ahead of them. So much fun.
They strode forward, each sticking close to the other, though really with no other choice. The tunnel was thin and they were wide.
***
They walked for what felt like hours, shoulders brushing against each other, whilst Ko’s sighs seemed to be getting louder and more frequent.
“Why go down this tunnel?” Ko asked.
“Because Manon say we are plan B,” Vo replied, trying to keep her voice a whisper.
“What is plan B?”
Vo stopped momentarily, trying to recall what the plan was.
“I’m not sure, but we’re it.” She strode on.
Ko jogged to catch back up with her.
“Countess Laria, who is she? And why does this tunnel become plan B?” Ko asked.
Vo walked in silence for a moment, thinking. What did Manon say? Why did her brother always want to know things? Just do the job, that’s what brutes were for and she liked it.
“Countess friends with Lord Karsha. Manon said they have a tunnel between house and palace to see each other. We using the tunnel as plan B.”
“They need a tunnel to be friends? Why not walk to each other's houses? They rich. They can pay people to get horse and carriage for them.”
Vo furrowed her brows.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“But I want know.”
“Stop it. You can ask Manon later.”
They walked on in sulky silence until a barred gate loomed before them. As always, it was locked.
Ko propped the torch into a holder upon the wall
“Locked gate. Now what?”
Vo reached into her pocket and brought out a key.
“Now we wait.” She inserted the key into the lock and turned, opening the gate with a creak. “Plan B. We stay here, Manon come, we go together. Manon no come. We leave.”
Ko nodded, before scratching his head.
“How long we wait?”
Vo sighed and took out a cat picture puzzle from her pocket.
“You play, I sleep.”
