How to Make a Sinner Sleep - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

They had to wait until nightfall to take action, slipping out of their rooms in the dead night where shadows ran rampant and the living slept.
The Academy's curfew was rather relaxed, though something to be followed. It was easy to apply for an extended curfew, but for those who didn't and were caught, great trouble would ensue.
It was almost as if they were like stray animals being monitored and every waking moment.
Kaden wondered, with their blessings that had them under the eyes of the Watchers, if that  made them abnormal. Different.
He lifted his head up at the starry night skies. Since the Academy was slightly away, further into the woods than the town, the skies were especially clear, twinkling high above.
He shivered at a gust of cool wind that blew through his dark cloak, a scarf masking the bottom half of his face. Crouching low outside of the Academy's gates, he waited patiently. Soon, another figure jumped down.
Noah glanced around with languid eyes, a touch of sleepiness pulling his narrow gaze. Dressed in a similar fashion that hid most of his features, it couldn't hide the domineering disposition that ran in his blood.
For the better, thought Kaden with a laugh, since status and attitude determined how others treated you in that Tavern.
Then, something tumbled off the walls dramatically, spinning around and around. Kaden widened his eyes, reaching out a hand before the body smashed into him, causing the two to form a heap on the ground.
Kaden groaned, a muffled sound, before he shoved the body off him. "Niklas... learn some subtleness..."
Niklas rubbed his waist in pain, rolling into a sitting position. "It can't be helped. I tripped over a jutted piece of stone and the top. What a safety hazard."
"They don't really intend for students to jump over, you see."
"Well, I suppose that was a successful foil then."
Kaden shook his head before noticing three masks hanging at Niklas's hips. A bad feeling washed over him.
Expectedly, Niklas pulled the masks out and spread them under the moonlight, grinning widely. "Of course, code names and disguises are a must in a stakeout! Be glad I remembered them, I almost forgot and had to run back."
Kaden wanted to disagree, but it was true that a secret name wasn't rare when such dangerous deals were made. Nobles or the high-ranking that committed heinous crimes under an alias.
At least, he praised Niklas's rare moment of remembering, when his memory was poor and unreliable.
He plucked one from the pile without looking, fastening it around his face. A white skeleton mask that covered the top half of his face.
Niklas nodded. "Wise choice, Mr. Fox."
"...animal masks?"
"It was all I could find under short notice."
He turned to Noah, holding the remaining too. "Unfortunately there are no dragon masks, but that might be a giveaway. Make your choice, Noah."
The dragon looked over vaguely, and even in the expressionless stare, Kaden felt as if he was unwilling to choose either. It was a little childish, the glimmer of reluctance.
Kaden laughed under his breath at that idea, pulling a golden coin from his pocket as he twirled it between long and slender fingers.
"Heads or tails, my dearest dragon?"
Noah glanced at him coldly, watching the coin glide between the gaps of the man's fingers before answering, "Heads."
A flick, and the coin danced high into the air before landing on the back of Kaden's hand. He smiled, lifting his palm. "It's heads."
He reached out to pull the first mask, handing it over to Noah. The dragon stared at him with a little curiosity. "If it had landed on tails, which mask would you have picked?"
"The first one, naturally. Your answer didn't matter, I asked out of curiosity."
"It's a question of whether the mask in your hand is fated for you or not." continued Kaden coolly.
Heads represented the first mask, tails was also the first. Noah's choice of heads had no say in the final decision.
Kaden's lips curled mischievously. "Looks like the first mask is meant for you, Bellamy."
Noah couldn't keep up with Kaden's nonsense, sighing softly under his breath before fastening the mask to his face. An inky black mask matching the skeleton of a ferocious dog.
"It fits you, Mr. Doggy." smiled Kaden as Niklas snorted in laughter.
"Is that a confirmed nickname? Noah, do you consent?"
"I have my freedom of speech whether he likes that codename or not. Isn't the contrast in his frightening appearance and the silly name rather endearing?"
Niklas nodded, enlightened. "Why, that's the smartest thing I've heard coming from you, Mr. Fox."
Kaden's smile didn't falter and he pointed to the remaining mask. "Did you double check which mask was left for you, Sir Bunny?"
"....." Niklas fell silent for a moment, feeling the smooth ears that pointed on the top. Thankfully, it was a rabbit's skeleton and not a fluffy mask. "You know, I think I look dashing in anything, actually."
In fact, with the jagged edges and hollowed eyes, the masks looked anything but welcoming or cute, as the original animals were. It was like a bone carving of the animal's skull.
There was a carriage waiting outside. A silent carriage, one that couldn't be tracked and was recycled from tossed out carriages. A business in town that was for transporting all kinds of secret deals.
Niklas slipped inside, followed by Kaden who turned and stretched out an open hand. "Might I help you inside, little doggy?"
Noah lifted his obsidian eyes, locks of pure white falling over the dark mask before his lips curved ever so slightly. "Behave, sly fox."
Kaden, not expecting the retaliation, paused before raising his eyebrows. He retracted his hand, stepping inside the carriage and allowing Noah to peacefully enter behind.
Niklas, leaning back and taking up an entire seat to himself, stretched his legs out so that Noah and Kaden would have to sit on the opposite seat together. He wriggled his eyebrows. "Nicknames for each other, hm?"
"Do you feel left out, my sweet, dear bunny?" muse Kaden, causing goosebumps to shiver along Niklas's skin as he grimaced.
"Note taken. I said nothing, I don't exist, I'm just air."
The carriage lurched to a start, and the driver peeked behind through a slit in the carriage, his expressionless gaze dead and unfeeling. It made chills run up the people inside, as if being watched by a ghost.
"Location?" A gruff, scratchy voice called.
"The Inky Tavern." said Niklas calmly, peering through the skeleton mask. "Do you need directions?"
"Not needed."
After replying curtly, the corpse-like man fell silent, staring blankly ahead to the road.
The Silent Carriage was a service that ran cheaper at nightfall, unlike regular carriage rides. This was because blending in the shadows was much easier than during the seen daytime.
An underground service that was typically unknown by regular people, even nobles. Kaden's eyes skimmed over Niklas' dozing face. A sleeping, or pretending to sleep, expression that was seemingly innocent and regular. Youthful and free.
Why would he know of the Silent Carriage services?
Feeling a heavy stare on him, Niklas cracked open one eye and smiled lopsidedly at Kaden. "What's the matter?"
Kaden turned his head away, looking outside at the passing trees. "Nothing."
He didn't want to suspect a friend.
That was an issue he had, after a short lifetime of being alone, even after death. Those who approached him had sly intentions, the only family he had ignored his suffering and used him. He died worth less than a rat on the dirty town streets.
He sunk further into the seat. If he was betrayed by Niklas, he didn't think he'd mind so much. At least he got to experience what it was like having a proper friend.
And... Kaden's eyes glazed over as he thought of the laughter, the crude jokes and the care he'd been shown. Had he a brother, a real one who treated him as such, perhaps one similar to that fool wouldn't be so bad.
"Kaden?"
"Chauvet."
Noah and Niklas spoke at the same time, wearing matching frowns, though one was a little deeper and more frightening to look at.
Kaden looked up, confused. "Hm?"
Niklas leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm as he squinted. "You're thinking of some negative things as always, aren't you?"
Noah's frown deepened. "Is there something you want to say?"
Kaden pressed back into his seat, still confused as he shook off his thoughts. The other two waited patiently without saying anything else, waiting for his response. Finally, he shook his head slowly. "There's nothing."
The dragon asked once more, "Really?"
And in the vortex of sinking abyssal eyes, Kaden was almost compelled to answer. However, there was really nothing he wanted to say.
"Really."
"I understand."
The carriage stopped, and the rasping voice came from the front. "We have arrived. Leave your payment at the same location as your booking."
Niklas agreed, pushing the door open. "Thanks."
Kaden nodded curtly in thanks at the driver whose eyes were hidden by the shadows. Noah copied his actions, closing the door behind them.
The cold gust blew past them, and the carriage disappeared silently into the night, leaving behind a few creaks as it rolled over the cobblestone ground, before any sounds disappeared completely.
After confirming they had no trails or unwanted ears listening, Kaden tugged his robe and straightened his back. He hooked a finger underneath his scarf, tugging it down. In an instant, the air around him turned icy, his lips curling into a thin frown that lacked patience.
"However I am, remember. This is an act." warned Kaden, watching his two friends nod before he turned down the gloomy alley.
Niklas' gaze dimmed after widening in surprise, adapting to the scene. He put on a joyous, arrogant and free smile, sauntering with pride brimming in every step.
However he wondered, staring at the hidden displeasure that was both calculating and terribly cold displayed on his friend's face. He wondered, 'Is that really an act?'
Or was it the Kaden he never knew?
Kaden rapped three times on the door, waiting for it to open cautiously, a sliver as a pair of menacing eyes peered out. This time, the guard was malnourished and timid, glancing over nervously.
However, to guard such a place, one shouldn't underestimate the other's ability.
"The password, sir?"
Following the same method as last time, he raised his hood an inch to reveal the frightening eerie green gaze that deemed him a monster. His lips curled at the corners, but impatience dripped in his stance.
"I'm here to find a person to take care of my dogs. They've been getting a little disobedient recently, so I need to train them a little."
His smile widened a little more, as if delighted by the idea, imagining all sorts of devious methods to 'train' the disobedient mutts. The guard translated the words easily—most likely, this was a noble looking to teach somebody a lesson.
Kaden cocked his head, the bone fox max creating a sly and tempting aura. "Don't tell me you hope to prevent me from doing so?"
"Sir, are you perhaps...?"
"Oh, you recognize me then?" chuckled Kaden darkly, eyes void of life. "I'm thrilled my humble reputation has reached so far. After all, aren't I a simple mutt?"
"I wouldn't dare address you in such a manner, sir." bowed the guard politely, opening the door wider for the three to enter. Although timid, there were no new rises of fear after learning his identity.
The guard this time should be more powerful than the previous large man who stood tall like a stone wall. Kaden passed by, taking note of the pale colour in the sickly guard's eyes that seemed to blend with a mixture of violet and fuchsia.
He naturally took a seat at a corner table, leisurely walking over and sitting down before calling for three drinks.
Niklas hopped over eagerly, matching his own mask as he grinned with a devious curve of his lips. "Well, well. Isn't this interesting, Mr. Fox?"
Noah's sharp gaze swept over the bar indifferently before he pulled up a seat, sitting down without a word. The dark pupils reflected the dim lights of the bar, swirling with a deadly sort of quiet.
Kaden raised a finger to his lips. "For the best information, you need only listen."
Noah's eyes glanced over at him, frown seeming to deepen further. "You know a lot about this place."
It was a simple comment, but it was probing and questioning.
Kaden's response was to lean forward, tapping on the table with a faint smile. "My lovely puppy, don't you think I'd do thorough research to ensure your safety?"
The other man scoffed, shaking his head. "Even a fox should learn when not to lie. No matter how sly you are."
"To you, I'd never lie."
"Do you guarantee that? From now, to the future?"
The question took Kaden for surprise as he blanched, almost slipping his head from where it rested on his hand. He turned sideways to avoid the deadest eyes of Noah's that never strayed, and found Niklas looking at him with a complicated expression.
Kaden raised an eyebrow, grasping to change the subject. "Am I handsome to the point you can't look away?"
Niklas' frown deepened as he furrowed his eyebrows, opening his mouth slowly.
"Don't speak nonsense, I personally already can determine that your face has a certain level of charm, but I would've been desensitized by now considering being in your blinding presence every day—"
"Forget I asked." Kaden stopped Niklas quickly, before the man could happily rant simply to irritate the other party. "Now, listen quietly."
He swirled the drink in his hand with lowered eyes, blending with the atmosphere of the bar as he listened to the whispers surrounding him. He raised the glass to his lips, swallowing the burning alcohol as it warmed him throat.
Tapping the glass on the table, he gazed at his two friends who were unaccustomed to such a filthy place. His other hand rubbed the coin in his pocket, as if to ease his turbulent mind.
Perhaps one day, they would be the one to drive a sword through his chest.
And free him from the curse of obedience that shackled him.
The thought made him laugh self-deprecatingly to himself, chasing away the dark thoughts the came too easily in the lowlights of this bar. He smiled.
"Can you hear it? The dirtiness of the world we live in."