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."
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
The Sisters
"The second in command, Nicholai, wants to prove to his boss--"
"That he's brave enough to step in on our territory," Cairo completed, flicking her head to swing her hair out of her face. She folded her arms comfortably over her chest as she gazed at the nervous informant, Tony.
"Does he think just because we are new...?" Luxori let her voice fade as worry painted shadows into her expression.
"Niwa," said Tony, "is still a bit disgruntled that you kicked him out of this sector, but has personally accepted the payment for those with debts here."
"So he doesn't have his boss' blessing, then?" Cairo asked.
"No. I don't think Niwa knows what Nicholai is up to."
Cairo cackled softly, placing a hand to her chin as a grin spread her lips apart. Luxori's look of concern only intensified.
"I'll deal with it," Cairo said. She sat against the desk in the room where her younger sister sat in the executive chair. It had only been three months since they shoved all rival gangs out of Sector Delta. It was one that was right on the ocean, boasting access to an old, historic lighthouse that really only served as a tourist attraction anymore.
That's not why they took over the sector though. They took it over because they were sick of innocent people get caught in the crossfire of the gangs. Luxori couldn't go a day without hearing a story about some poor fool who got caught up with loan sharks. Cairo couldn't stand the smug expressions that dominated the faces of those cowards empowered by muzzle flare.
They promised that for every one person messed with in their territory, Cairo would go and return the favor times five.
"Please don't kill him," Luxori said quietly, after Tony had shut the door behind him.
"I won't go there with that intent," Cairo replied. Her fingers ran against her dual crescent moon knives, taking comfort in their lethality.
"Try your best to avoid it."
"Of course, Luxi. I know you don't like it."
"That he's brave enough to step in on our territory," Cairo completed, flicking her head to swing her hair out of her face. She folded her arms comfortably over her chest as she gazed at the nervous informant, Tony.
"Does he think just because we are new...?" Luxori let her voice fade as worry painted shadows into her expression.
"Niwa," said Tony, "is still a bit disgruntled that you kicked him out of this sector, but has personally accepted the payment for those with debts here."
"So he doesn't have his boss' blessing, then?" Cairo asked.
"No. I don't think Niwa knows what Nicholai is up to."
Cairo cackled softly, placing a hand to her chin as a grin spread her lips apart. Luxori's look of concern only intensified.
"I'll deal with it," Cairo said. She sat against the desk in the room where her younger sister sat in the executive chair. It had only been three months since they shoved all rival gangs out of Sector Delta. It was one that was right on the ocean, boasting access to an old, historic lighthouse that really only served as a tourist attraction anymore.
That's not why they took over the sector though. They took it over because they were sick of innocent people get caught in the crossfire of the gangs. Luxori couldn't go a day without hearing a story about some poor fool who got caught up with loan sharks. Cairo couldn't stand the smug expressions that dominated the faces of those cowards empowered by muzzle flare.
They promised that for every one person messed with in their territory, Cairo would go and return the favor times five.
"Please don't kill him," Luxori said quietly, after Tony had shut the door behind him.
"I won't go there with that intent," Cairo replied. Her fingers ran against her dual crescent moon knives, taking comfort in their lethality.
"Try your best to avoid it."
"Of course, Luxi. I know you don't like it."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)