9 At Least I Didn't Die - Again.

I grin at Murph while touching the blade; it's a rare dagger – one of my most prized possessions. It's a big risk to show that I have it here; I know people will probably kill for it but I have no choice. I would trade it if it means getting us a ride out of Fuel City, but I need to get my reputation up as well.

In Fuel City, if you've got money and no skills or aren't able to fight for yourself – you might as well lie down on the ground and let them kill you; because they are going to take everything. So I need to let them know not to fuck with me and not look down on me just because I'm a girl.

Well, right now I am just a girl so I need to change that. I need to not die when I drink that Devil's Fuel.

Grizz, I hope your tonic fucking works or I'll haunt you for all eternity. No scratch that, I'll fucking haunt you every time you masturbate – you will die a virgin with blue balls.

Murph moved to touch the dagger but I moved it just out of his reach.

"Nah uh. No touching the merchandise." I grin at him.

He swallows, "That's a…"

"Piha Kaetta." I continue, "The Royal Silver dagger of Sri Lanka." I grab the handle and assessed the blade and sigh, "Too bad I lost the stylus and the sheath." I put it down on the bar again, "But I think it's still one of the most priceless artifacts in Fuel City."

Murph looks at me and tilts his head – no longer playing, "How did you get that? Where did you get that?"

I shrug, "My cousin gave it to me."

He scoffs, "No idiot would give that away."

I smile, "He thought I may need it someday, and he's right. It's coming in handy right now."

He looks at me incredulous, "You're going to bet that? To me?"

I smile, "Yup. I'll gladly hand this over to you if I die drinking that." I point to the glass in front of me, "Well, I can't really hand it over if I'm dead so I'm saying you can take it when I die."

He leans in, quite interested now, "And what do you get if I lose?"

I grin, "Aside from not dying? Well, you'll owe me a favor."

I put a finger up, "Make that a huge favor."

Just then I see some men coming closer, pushing people aside to get to Murph. He's a former assassin so I'm pretty sure he knows what's happening, he just keeps looking at me and shrugs, "What the hell. It's your funeral."

I smile, "Sweet!"

I take the glass, take a deep breath, hope Nyx is somehow looking over me and making sure I don't die – again, and just before I drink it Murph asks, "Who's your cousin by the way?"

I look at him as I say it, "Jace Cross."

And I drink.

----

"Well, at least you didn't die – again." Grizz says as he carries me out the bar.

The tonic worked, apparently I didn't die, but I feel like I'm dying. It's worse than dying although I don't really remember the moment I died, but this is the worst feeling I've ever felt; worse than having your balls kicked, worse than having sand in your eyeball.

I've been trapped in this hell for the last hour and it's not getting any better. I did not pass out but the pain was too much for me to bear. I fell to the ground and was in a fetal position for a very long time.

I grunt. Grizz laughs.

I keep my eyes closed to concentrate on not passing out from the pain. I hear their conversation as we walk away from the bar.

"I don't think your friend will die, but she needs rest." Murph says.

Grizz gets serious and says, "That's not the favor you know? She is not asking you to help her out of that bar."

In this state of pain I can still hear their conversation, and when I crashed to the floor my eyes were open, people came closer but I saw that it was not because they wanted to help me – fuck that, they wanted the dagger. But Murph stood up and blocked the way challenging anyone who wanted to come near me.

Apparently, Murph doesn't go out alone. He brings a handful of fighters as his bodyguards.

"I know. Your friend seems interesting so I thought I'd help." Murph says.

Murph continues, "She says she's Jace's cousin? I didn't think he had any living relatives."

Grizz says, "They're not blood related."

Murph keeps quiet and then says, "Oh. That's a more likely possibility. They have zero family resemblance."

I know we don't look alike, but we're both incredibly good looking so that must count for something. I can't believe I'm feeling offended while fighting off nausea and body tremors.

Murph asks, "What's her name?"

Grizz responds, "Jade, Jade X".

Murph laughs, "Oh there's the family resemblance, fucking kids nowadays. Must they all have superhero or villain names?"

I hear a door open and I feel Grizz set me down on a seat, Grizz pushes me a little and he closes the door.

"What's this going to cost us?" Grizz asks Murph.

Murph laughs, "Calm down, sonny. I think your friend and I can both use a favor from each other, consider this part of the service free of charge."

I can't answer but I hope Grizz can make decisions for both our sakes, he says, "Fine. She won't be safe at our place so we don't really have a choice right now."

Murph replies, "All righty, let's go."

Through the hum of the engine and the bumps on the road I fell asleep for the first time since I woke up as a woman.