Cairo

Chapter 25: Traitors

Crack.

Cairo winced as his fingers touched his reddened cheek. It wasn't a secret that given an hour it'd swell to the size of a balloon, but instead of being mad that he'd just been smacked, Cairo shook his head like he was a dog who just got out of water. Colatice stood in front of him, tapping her fingers against her waist as her eyes scanned his face. She gritted her teeth after a moment, and Cairo held in a laugh knowing she didn't find the irritation she wanted.

"You're just looking for any excuse to get rid of your 'mistake' aren't' you?" Cairo said.

For a split moment, Coaltrice looked vulnerable as she stared at Cairo, taking in his words. There were few times she showed her real emotions near Cairo and those few times always managed to dig up more guilt than being around his mother.

"You're not my mistake," she said, her words barely above a whisper.

Cairo scoffed, shaking his head. Aerie gripped his arm next to him as he put her card back in his pocket. She sent a glare to Coaltrice when she took a step forward, stepping in front of Cairo. With one of her arms, she pushed back on Cairo's arm. Instead of obediently stepping behind her, he placed both hands on her shoulder and moved her out of his way. He walked straight up to Coaltrice until he was face to face with her.

"You grew," Coaltrice said, brushing a hand along his cheek. "Not too long ago you were still smaller than me when I wore these heels."

"Don't touch me," Cairo said, batting away her hand from him.

Something changed in Coaltrice's manner. Her body went rigid and her face grew dark. She creased her eyebrows as she snarled.

"Don't give me orders."

Straightening herself to her full height, grabbing a fistful of Cairo's shit and pulling him forward until their noses were only centimeters apart. She barked at him, her voice rising with each word untils he was at a full out scream.

"I am still your leading officer and as such I have been kind and lenient towards you. You know who that was! He's a criminal—a rebel." The word was said with such distaste that Cairo thought she'd spit on the ground wanting to rid herself of ever speaking the vial word, but she never did. "He's wanted with accounts of treason and murder. Murder! Do you understand? He's taking lives—"

"So are we." Coaltrice shut her mouth instantly. "I don't know if you remember, but my last monthly mission was to 'handle' the rebel at Berrgport. Your kind of handling doesn't include taking it through."

"They're criminals."

"You're saying that like it's some kind of great excuse." Cairo almost laughed, but he shook his head as he paced around in a circle. "Lives are lives, Xiucolat. It doesn't matter if someone is good or bad. You can't weigh a person's soul like that. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but to most people out there we are the bad guys just as much, if not more than the rebels. You're so caught up in trying to save your own ass, you can't even see what's going on around you!"

"Get out!"

Fire surged from Coaltrice's hands that were spread at her sides. Her eyes were dilated and locked onto Cairo. The fire grew, stretching until it was flickering near her shoulders, completely engulfing her arms. She shot her one of her hands forward and the fire rocketed off from her fingertips directly at Cairo. Aerie jumped in front of Cairo at the last moment in full Kleptos form, pulling the fire to her like she was going in for a hug. Cairo stood beside her tapping her card against his cheek, his smirk growing when he heard Coaltrice's growl.

"Forgot I had a fire Kleptos?" he asked, laughing at the end of his sentence. "You can't hurt me. I'm stronger than you."

"Then why the hell did you let him go?" she screamed.