Faceless Instincts

Guns and Mirrors

There was an hour or so remaining before sunset and I was sitting in Dorian's room working through my notes while Nikolai said he was going out.

I didn't ask why - more like didn't feel like I deserve an explanation - and since then I was pondering on my notes. I had update Mr Wembley and once again he had tried to tell me what a big risk this was. He didn't leave any opportunity to make me realise that all of this will have an extensively bad effect on my brain and that it would be hard to reel out.

I also talked to Tanner and asked him about his phone number that was used to inform Nikolai about Dorian. Shockingly, Tanner didn't hesitate at all, he simply told me that his phone was stolen and that's the reason he had to get a new number, which I then remembered was true.

I was circling some key terms when I heard shuffling in the next room. I looked up, "Nikolai?" I called out, "are you home?"

There was no response, which honestly, instantly put me on edge, "Nikolai?"

The shuffling grew louder and I stood with to bolt towards the bathroom and lock myself in. However before I could do it the door to Nikolai's room opened and I heard a deafening shout, "Kiara, Down."

I knew the voice and reflexively I ducked just as a deafening gunshot rang up into my ears. It was high pitched and rough, it started to hurt my ears and head.

"Not bad at all." Nikolai casual tone jerked me back to reality. I was ducking under the table with hands-on my ears.

I looked up and there he was standing by the door, tucking his gun in the back of his jeans.

My blood boiled as I stood up, "what the hell was that?" I questioned in rage that was flowing from my head to toe.

"I was just checking, how nicely you take the commands."

I threw my pen at him and it hit his head, "ow."

"You just barged in and shot a fucking gun at me?" My voice was loud while I tried to maintain my breathing.

"Well I can't warn you about it, you never know when some will attack you. So I was just testing how quickly you react and trust me I am impressed." He walked towards me and I rolled my eyes.

I pinched him in the arm as soon as he came closer and he wriggled in pain, "guess you are lacking instinctive reflexes. Work on that?"

He snickered, "I just needed to know because we are going down there tonight, all guns and blazing." He pulled out his gun again and swirled it in this finger.

"Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God..." I ducked down, "stop doing that, you'll pull the trigger.."

He laughed heartily, "aw... You are cute.." he  said giving a small pat on my head, "it's not even loaded."

I stood straight, quite embarrassed, "still..."

"Anyway, come, you need to have this." Before I could protest, he took my hand and walked me into his room.

My eyes almost popped out and fell on the floor when I saw at least four guns and several knives laying in his bed, "where do you steal these from?"

He twisted the corner of his mouth, "they are mine." He bent down and grabbed a knife, "you'll have this" He turned my palm and placed the heavy metal, "isn't it pretty?"

It indeed was. The dark red leather that covered the steel was covered in fine gold wired embroidery and so did the dark wood. I glanced at Nikolai and he watched me intently as I pulled the knife out; it was sharp, the edge was black while the remaining steel was silver and intricately designed. I understood why he would love it.