KEITH
I came to.
The first thing I realized was that my head was still pounding from the severe beating all those men had given me when they met me on the roof, that girl's body sprawled at my feet.
The thick black blindfold which was tied way too tightly didn't make things any better. My arms were painfully gagged behind me, and I could taste the metallic tang of blood in my tightly muzzled mouth.
Several rough hands forced me to my knees, and I winced from the excruciating pain all over my body.
Had l broken a rib?
"You're dead", a man snarled"the boss will see to it".
"Felt like challenging the Mafia,huh?"another mocked.
The Mafia. He's right. I'm dead.
Just then, the many voices hushed. I could literally feel the reverence in the air. I could not hear any footsteps. I did not hear the door open or close.
But I heard the monotone voice, so icy I nearly shivered.
"What is going on here?".
It was a sleek, young voice, but it commanded fearful respect.
"Boss, this boy killed your sister. Shot her through the chest".
His sister. I killed a Mafia lord's sister. I'm really dead.
I dug my short nails into my palms, waiting for judgement to be passed on me. The silence was painful. Way too painful.
"You didn't have to beat him up so badly. He's just a kid".
Huh?
"But boss...".
"Silence".
And there was silence. Then he began to walk towards me. I could not hear his footsteps, but I knew he was approaching me: sweat broke out on my forehead.
I think I finally understand the feelings of a gagged sheep being approached by a lion.
Suddenly I felt him untie the muzzle. Then I felt his index finger tracing the thin bruised line the muzzle had left on my face. His gentle hands went next for the blindfold, and soon I was staring into a face.
The kind of face that would send Sofia squealing if she ever saw it. And that's saying something, since not even the actors on TV can move her.
"How do you feel?"he asked, leaning over to free my arms.
"I... I..." a lump formed in my throat and I gulped.
He rose to his feet and slipped his hands into his black coat pockets, looking down at me with onyx eyes as empty of emotion as holes cut into a wooden mask.
Those eyes... does he have a soul at all?
"Stand".
l blinked, speechless and unable to move.
"You heard me, didn't you?".
I rose to my trembling feet, and swayed a little. Immediately, his hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder to steady me.
Eyes widened all around us, and jaws dropped. He certainly noticed this, but simply returned his hands nonchalantly into his pockets and turned his back to me.
"Let's go".
He made for the door in gentle, unhurried strides, while I scrambled inelegantly after him. He opened the door to reveal a long flight of white stairs which took us some time to ascend. My gaze kept bouncing from my blistered feet to his soft wheat coloured hair until we arrived at a long corridor.
He led the way to a door, which he opened to reveal a bedroom the size of a standard football field.
He walked in, but I was reluctant to do so. He turned to regard me.
"Come in".
I hesitated, then placed a foot on the rich Persian rug. Instantly, my foot sank into its wine red fur. I walked further in, glancing around.
Wow. The furnishings sure are out of the world.
The Mafia lord had taken a seat on the king sized bed, which was covered with a snow white duvet.
"Over here" he beckoned with a crook of his finger, his eyes fixed on the bedside table.
I walked over to him, just as he picked a framed picture off the table and appeared to brush his lips over it.
"Is this the girl you killed?"he asked, holding it up for me to see.
I stared at it. At the smiling girl with strawberry hair and sky blue eyes.
Unable to speak, I nodded.
"I see" he replied, his voice void of emotion.
He returned it to the table and turned to me.
"Why did you kill Lisa?".
"I..." it all rushed suddenly back to me: the gunshots, the corpses, the blood "she killed my dad and my uncle. Right before my eyes".
That's right. I won't make any excuses. She took them from me. She deserved to die.
His riveting face remained unreadable. I had to drop my eyes to avoid staring at it. Really, his beauty pulled like a magnet.
"Lisa was a very good shot. How come you're still alive?".
"Huh?"I breathed, startled by the question"I... I... she didn't shoot me".
"Why?".
Why? I blinked, momentarily stunned. I had not asked myself that question.
"I... I have no idea".
"That's because she was a fool. She could never bring herself to kill anyone younger than her, yet the damned bitch always insisted on taking part in every operation".
Huh? Did I hear right? Did he just curse at his dead sister?
He rose from the bed to stand before a window, his back to me. I kept my eyes fixed on his neck length hair. Even his hair was perfect.
"I'm... I'm sorry"I muttered, suddenly feeling guilty.
"What are you sorry for?" he retorted without stirring.
"Wha..."I looked up, confused.
"She took the lives of your loved ones, so you took her life. What's wrong with that? It's only logical. There isn't anything else I could have expected you to do. This world is cruel, after all".
I couldn't believe my ears.
"So you're... not angry with me?".
"So what if I am? Does that matter?In this world, you have to take from the people who have taken from you or you won't survive. That being said, you just took my younger sister from me, so I'll be taking something back".
He stirred as he said the last words. My breath hitched in my throat as he covered the distance between us. I took a frightened step backwards.
Unperturbed,he stood right before me.
"Your time," he said, extending a hand "it's nice to meet you. I'm Percy Haudeclaire".