Cairo paused in front of a mirror in the apartment block lobby. She carefully straightened her bangs, running slim fingers through pitch black hair to make sure it created the proper frame. It was cut into a dramatic a-line bob, making up for the fact that - unlike her sister - she was a very mono-chromatic person: dark hair, swarthy complexion, and dull, gray green eyes. She ran the tip of her finger down the straight line of her nose, before recalling what she came here for. It always paid off to look lovely while you did your work, especially since underestimation was one of the tools in her arsenal.
The apartment number was 703, and Cairo was a bit annoyed that the door had been left slightly ajar.
"That's right you idiot," she thought, a sneer marring her face, "close the door over but don't shut it or lock it. Over confident bull lover." One of her knives slid into her hand, the sharp, crescent shape of the blade glittered.
Voices could be heard as she edged the door open enough to use the sound to cover her entrance.
"You thought you was real smart, eh?" That was Nicholai. He talked through his nose. "Movin' here to hide behind those two bitches? What made ya think some skirts could stop us?"
Cairo's eyebrows shot up as her lips created a razor sharp grin. The thick rug in the hallway muffled the sound of her boots. She could smell macaroni and cheese on the air, a cheap, pre-made kind. Passing the kitchen, she saw the big bowl sitting on the square, wobbly table. There were peas, and chopped up hot dogs in it. A knot briefly twisted her stomach and she had to work fast to swallow her anger.
That was the same trick she used to get Luxori to eat her vegetables when they were younger.
Her other knife was now in her unoccupied hand.
"Please," said a softer, shaking voice. "I didn't pay, leave them alone. They didn't know."
"What makes ya think I care?"
"Daddy! I'm scared!"
Cairo pressed her back to the wall near the door as the child's high cry cracked down the hallway. She had to consciously relax her jaw to take pressure off her teeth.
"Luxi told me not to kill him," she thought firmly. "No killing."
No comments:
Post a Comment