No, of course he wasn’t going to die. Arden had far too many fun plans for Gray to let him get away that easily.
She was starting to get bored with the selection down in the tunnels. Killing junkies were convenient, but it’d lost its zeal almost immediately. There wasn’t any challenge to it. Nothing special or eye-opening about it, and it'd eventually just became more like a passing activity than anything with actual appeal to it.
But that was her problem, she supposed.
Arden could never escape the persistent hold of monotony that enveloped her day in and day out. Her passions were as fleeting as her interest in them. Although she did retain a few hobbies and cravings, she couldn’t say for certain that she genuinely enjoyed them either. She wouldn’t be upset if they were wiped entirely from her life. It would simply make life itself that much more, well, stale.
But she supposed she was fortunate depending on how one defined fortune. She had her piccolo terrapene to cheer her up. He wasn’t doing a particularly impressive job these days, but he had his moments – like today. Today, Nico had brought her a gift (and, as it had always been explicitly stated, she loved receiving gifts). It was a rather large one too! Whoever said size or quantity didn’t matter because she would tell them otherwise. Size and quantity were extremely important.
In this case, her present met one of those factors. So big, so tall! It’d ignited an instantaneous spark of mischief in her eyes as she slowly circled her new toy, curiously examining it. Good quality product, it looked like. Very sturdy and strong. She couldn’t have expected any less from Nico and she rewarded him with a flash of her smile. Boredom was no longer going to be an issue – at least not for a little while.
It always came back. The boredom. She was used to it. She expected it. But that was why she would make the most of any entertainment she could find. Sitting down cross-legged in front of her gift, Arden rested her chin on the palm of her hand as she continued to stare up at it. She had rifled through the items that came with it and she’d found a name card, a photo, and a couple of accessories. Her gaze dropped down to the identification card: Grayson Wolfe. She bit her bottom lip. How perfect.
Looking back up, Arden watched it begin to stir. “È sveglio,” she said with a small clap of her hands, “Tempo per giocare!” A smile settled onto her countenance as she gave a little wave up at it. “Happy American Independence Day!” She greeted, spreading her arms out, “Welcome to my residenza, uomo lupo.” Rising onto her feet, she removed a thin blade from its sheath as she tapped its tip. “Before you say anything,” she pointed out, holding up a finger to stop it, “I am a fantastica padrona, so, since you did not bring me a housewarming gift even though it is your American holiday, I will give you one instead.” Without missing a beat, she stabbed the knife directly into the center of its right hand. “This is my gift to you,” she released her hold on the hilt, “A painful but quick start. Cherish it because it will not be so quick from here on out.”