The Act of Duplicity [General Kirigan]

twenty-six

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    Nataliya felt a soft nudge to her shoulder. It made her come to her senses but she couldn't open her eyes as her head was already spinning making her sick. She made no motion either only the sounds of the surroundings slowly came to her and she managed to make out words of the people talking around her.

    ''Don't just nudge her, she isn't going to wake up from that.''

    ''I don't know what else to do.''

    ''Hit her.'' Came a voice from much further away than the other two speaking before.

    ''She looks like she was in pain enough.'' Spoke the second voice.

    ''When did you become such a softie?'' The third voice asked.

    All was quiet after that but then footsteps echoed through the room and to Nataliya's ears they sounded as if they were coming closer to her. Something swung and came in contact with her leg shooting pulses of pain up her body and she screamed loudly and opened her eyes. She first looked down at her leg, noticing she started bleeding from the bullet wound again. It meant that whoever hit her, purposely hit her right where it hurt the most. She screwed her eyes shut before looking up at the people standing not far away from her.

    Jesper was standing off to the side with obvious concern over his features and he's the only one Nataliya recognised. At the centre stood the same guy she saw exit the inn the night before and on his other side was the Suli girl in deep blue. Nataliya tried to move but she found that it was not possible. Her hands were tied together behind her back. All she could do was stare helplessly back at the group of three people.

    ''And the foxy awakens,'' said Jesper.

    The guy in the black trench coat frowned when Nataliya glared at him. ''She was already awake when you nudged her Jesper.'' He said. Nataliya wanted to widen her eyes. There really was nothing that escaped that guy, he had eyes and ears everywhere.

    ''Then why did you hit her, Kaz?'' The girl asked in disbelief. Kaz didn't answer.

    ''What the hell do you want?'' asked Nataliya, her voice coming out a lot raspier than she thought it would.

    She didn't move her eyes away from Kaz. It seemed like he was the best source to ask that, the other two looked clueless. Nataliya noticed the glances they were giving Kaz, who Nataliya guessed was their leader.

    ''What is the Black General planning?'' asked Kaz.

    Nataliya didn't react. ''How am I supposed to know that?'' Her eyes flickered from Kaz, to Jesper and then to the girl whose name was still unknown to her.

    ''I'm pretty sure you're well informed, Nataliya Safin, Second in Command to the one and only Black General.'' Kaz leaned heavily on his black and golden cane.