Winter Hearts

Mikhalis Sees Leo

He was staring down Siana, who held her own, looking back at him with a steady gaze. Mikhalis felt a strength emanating from deep within her eyes. He knew in that instant that she would fight if she had to, which was something he had never expected to see in her. Then again, they had never been in this situation before, where she seemed to be the target. It was a great reassurance to him that she had that fight in her.

Just then two men appeared in the stairwell, who seemed to be taking the steps four at a time as they chatted idly, coming down the stairs.

Mikhalis and Siana didn't let their gaze waver as the men behind them took in the situation and stopped talking. Mikhalis heard them step forward immediately, bristling in anticipation. He noted that they were two of the group of guests, but not any of whom he had just spoken to in the studio.

"Is everything okay here?" He heard one of them say in Korean. Siana said, "Mhhhmmm. They were just leaving."

The gypsy with the cap in his hand glanced between the men and Mikhalis and Siana, seeming to weigh the situation. He must have decided it was worth leaving, as he put his arm around Mad Eye, who seemed to lose focus at his touch and start looking around furtively again.

"Thank you for your kindness, sorry to bother you," he managed to say as he pulled on Mad Eye and guided him out the door.

One of the men walked forward with powerful strides, as if to usher them out the door, using his height and bulk to advance menacingly, right outside to the kerb, where he watched until they were out of sight.

Mikhalis looked at Siana to check if she was okay. She turned calm and steady eyes up at him and smiled a rueful smile. To his relief, she wasn't so much scared as sad that there was such a situation.

"Those two... they seem desperate. Not like the other gypsies we have seen who tend to keep to themselves."

Siana talked in a calm voice. She looked past Mikhalis to the two men that had gathered around them.

Mikhalis turned to thank them for their help. They were two of the guests who had come into the dance studio with the other character, the one Mikhalis had warned Siana about that morning. One was all dimply smiles and genuine concern, the other a glowering hulk of a boy, the one who had made sure the vagabonds had left the building.

"Thank you for your help boys, your timing was perfect."

Siana introduced them - Dimples she called Hongbin, and the other she called Leo. He liked the look of them both, even the angry-browed Leo, because they had stepped up as soon as they saw they were needed.

"Well, usually I am the one the guests call upon to get rid of unwanted people, not the other way around. Perhaps you boys would like to join us for dinner? It is the least I can do," Mikhalis said graciously.

Dimples bowed and said they would love to, but that they had arranged to meet up with the others for dinner.

"Oh. Where will you all be going?" Mikhalis asked.

"Delphi," replied Dimples. Mikhalis and Siana looked at each other.

"You seem to be reading our minds."

Dimples' eyes widened. "Are you going there too?"

"Yes. Do you boys know where to go? How to get there?" Mikhalis asked.

"Yes we have the navi. We looked up some reviews on the net. We're going to Taverna Vakhos."

"Oh, the owner is my old schoolmate. Why don't we all meet there?" The boys nodded, and Mikhalis noted that Leo was looking at Siana in concern, though he wasn't saying anything. Siana seemed to be in her own world of thought and didn't notice him staring.