Man Eater

4 • Civil War

Tiny wasn't sure I'd live very long, but months later I found myself in the superior lounge. I had never been in here before in the many years I was affiliated, and feeling nervous was an understatement. I stood back with Brandy by my side, holding my cue and watching Moon and Setting Sun finish a game of pocket billiards. Snake-heart like the royal asshole he was scowled from across the room. The dim but warm lighting made the gold jewelry on Moon seem to glow and drew a lot of attention to the half-blind underboss. She wore her usual suit, her golden watch sitting proudly on her wrist. Her fingers were decorated with rings, a gold chain hung from her neck over her white button-up shirt below her open suit coat. She made a careful strike, the cueball crashing into the solid three and sending it sailing into a corner pocket.

Brandy rolled her eyes a bit and bent her knees, leaning back for a moment. "Damn." she whispered before leaning forward on her cue again. "Lord what I would give to be her pillow princess." she whispered.

"Brandy!" I hissed, nudging her with my elbow as I rolled my eye. "You're pathetic.  You know she's always had her eyes on Rising Sun."

"Sun." Brandy echoed. "What a little homewrecker. God, could you imagine what Cheyenne would do if she found out about Moon and Rising Sun? She'd send her daddy and kill us all."

I couldn't help but accept that she was right, and those two were getting a little too bold agin. If I want to live, Snake-heart can't become leader. That day was the day I realized not only that Snake-heart had to be done away with, but the day I realized my ambitions. I didn't care for leadership at the time, but I knew that Moon had to get to the top, and I knew I would serve her best. My thoughts snapped back to reality when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck raise. I turned my head ever so slightly and glanced back with only my eye, to see a slender younger woman sitting poised on top of the bar counter. Her hair was a platinum blonde, close to white. Her eyes seemed to shine in the darkness, they were heterochromatic- one brown one green. She had porcelain white skin and light freckling across her face and arms. She was beautiful in a shocking way, like staring in the face of Man-Eater. She was quiet, light, and stalked like a cat. Fittingly, she was called Kosh. Not only from where she came, but for being just like a cat. She hunted like a cat. She was a natural-born assassin, she killed for sport. Her work was done for cheap, as if she was just itching to kill- for her own sick amusement. She terrified yet enchanted me- but I knew I was not safe. Alone, unarmed, I had the upper hand- but that woman was downright psychotic.

Her movements were unpredictable, she would stalk her prey, she was a merciless beast. I quickly looked away, if anyone were to get rid of Snake-heart, she would be our best bet. I knew I would have to wait it out, though. Everyone hated him, but no-one was crazy enough to commit such an act of treason, or so I thought.

As the game finally ended, Snake-heart cleared his throat, and heads turned. All except for Moon, who just bit the inside of her cheek and kept her gaze towards the table as she slowly stood upright. "Setting Sun." his deep and scratchy voice rasped. "I have a favor for you, brother. I need Rising Sun, tomorrow, to get some information out of an old rival of mine." he said smoothly, waltzing his way over as if he owned the world. "Thought I would ask her brother and guardian, it's a dangerous mission."

Setting Sun had taken his place beside Moon, he was her most trusted support. "Why ask me? I mean, I understand when she first came here she was my responsibility, but she's been here for years now. She is one of Moon's."

"Because you and I have an understanding. I consider you a brother, Setting Sun." He moved closer to the two. I shifted uncomfortably, Moon clenched her jaw, and Brandy seemed to move closer to me. Manipulation was his best skill. "Moon is just like the rest of them. Like One-eye, Kosh, they're all like Man-Eater. They don't belong here, they're just here for something to prove." He turned to look at Moon. "She needed a reason to kill after the Marine Corps threw her out."

"I'm not here for something to prove." the taller growled. "I was honorably discharged; I was Sergeant Major. You know how this works, Snake-heart. You kiss ass to the boss being his little secretary of a right-hand, and I lead. Rising Sun is one of mine, and therefore I command her. She will not work for you tomorrow; she is not for your dirty work." She raised her chin, standing her ground. "My men respect me, but they do not respect you. You were chosen as right-hand, because I was away on Cheyenne and I's honeymoon when Steele was killed. You know that when the boss dies or steps down, you will be overthrown. You are nothing but a useless snake. Know your place."

Snake-heart scowled, taking a step back like a defeated mongrel. "Sounds like you care a lot about this Rising Sun. There are rumors, Moon. Wouldn't want the boss to find out you're cheating on his precious girl." he smirked, turning and swiftly exiting the lounge. Moon watched him go with a piercing silence, keeping her strong composure.

"I gotta go." I whispered urgently to Brandy, handing her my cue and leaving after him. I watched which we way he turned before jogging down the corridor, I had to find Rising Sun, and quickly. I knew he was trying to get Moon to try and follow her to protect her. Or was he trying to get Moon alone? What if he was getting rid of Sun to force the truth out of Moon? I felt sick to my stomach, the world seemed to spin. I found myself stumbling down the stairs and breaking into a run to the front entrance, pushing open the grand glass French doors and finding Sun going down the front steps with a lit cigarette between her fingers.

She turned around quickly, looking at me with her brows raised while she took a drag off the cigarette. "God why are you panting like that? What's the matter with you?" her words were sharp as a knife, but I saw a flash of concern behind her brown eyes.

"Look- Snake-heart wants you for a job tomorrow- and you need to watch your back when you go, I think he's trying to get rid of Moon." I panted, my hands on my knees. I was never a runner.

She furrowed her brows, dropping her cigarette and snuffing it out with her shoes. "How? How with me? I've been ordered on many jobs for him, Moon always just comes along."

"Moon can't go, Sun. He's trying to prove her affair with you." I hissed in a hushed voice. "If she goes with, he's going to put you in danger or make a move to get a reaction out her- he basically just threatened her over it in the lounge. Either you need to stop seeing her or do-"

"I'm going to stop you right there, One-eye." she narrowed her eyes in a glare, her lip seeming to curl into a snarl. "I've been here longer than that bitch and been with Moon longer than she's ever known her. I was the first. That woman was never interested in that marriage until she found out my feelings. She forced me to attend the wedding. She made me lace up her god-awful dress, and she seems to have some sort of vendetta against me. I'm not going to stop seeing Moon just because her daddy's the boss. She doesn't love her, she doesn't deserve her, and she doesn't belong here." The little blonde looked away. "I'd rather go see Man-Eater face to face than break up with the only person I could ever love. I'll... I'll convince Moon not to follow- but stay out of this."

I watched as she turned and walked towards the back, presumably for the river. I was dumbfounded. How would I convince Moon to stay here tomorrow? To stay guarded? What if Snake-heart had Kosh after her? It would be the only reason she was even in the superior lounge- she didn't have the rank to be there. I turned and paced back up the steps, I needed to go talk to Tiny.