Josh and Silion slept in one corner of the house Nira had just banished its owner from it using her torments. For a long time, the trees and caves and rocks were their shelters and skin their beddings. She sat on a wooden chair sharpening her daggers while her sword rested on the little table next to her. She did not let the comfort of the house distract her from preparing for any threats, since she was fully aware of the threats that awaited them once it was winter. As if Silion had foreseen, that fateful night that Silion had used winter to lower tension between her and Josh is the exact time she became aware of the danger winter would bring with. No wonder she did not challenge her sister.
It was almost midday. Still, Josh and Silion laid on the bed with their arms around each other. Nira returned her blades into their respective sheath then walked across the house to a small window. She pushed the window open then peeped outside casually. Activities were normal. Businesses were running smoothly as the busy town strived for certain success.
Like an eagle that had just spotted a prey, she walked from the window to the door. She opened the door,her daggers hidden but in her company. The stares continued even though she had dressed up decently, just like any other Neekan citizen, as she surfaced the busy streets of the town.
" Wild bitch!" A woman shouted as soon as Nira walked past her. In one swift move she dragged the woman by the hair, took out her dagger and placed its edge on her neck.
Looking straight into the woman's eyes, she entered her soul just like she did to anyone who would dare stare into her eyes. She smiled as she let go of her and returned her dagger into its scabbard. People had gathered by then, everyone watching in fear and curiosity as the events unfolded. Letting go of the woman's hand, she whispered, "go in peace, you don't deserve it!"
The woman, having being granted second chance, immediately got up on her feet and fled the scene hastily.
Nira watched her run away until she was out of clear then continued walking towards her target, the very first thing that had made her walk out of the house. She stared at the crowd, her eyes cold as ever, as if she was looking for something. She was certain her target was within, if not in the crowd, but within.
Everyone stared at her with shock and confusion. The mid town had never witnessed any form of violence, physical violence since the days of their forefathers, when they fought in the battle that rendered them independent and free from all kingdoms. From the stories her father told them and the numerous books that cared to mention the town, insisted that love was the most important aspect of the town, something she came to believe was not exactly true.
They had spent a night and a few hours of the day since they got to mid town and she was yet to feel the love. If she could feel there was no love in Neeka yet she knew nothing about love, how possibly could any one explain that it was the only town that love lived? Rumours filtered the air as she continued looking for her target, ignoring the hypocritic bastards.
In her heart, she knew exactly how those people felt. First, she drove an innocent man out of his home, second, they came into the town dressed as wilds. The despise may be was excusable but she thought of burning the town to the ground. Even though she did not invite any one to have a relationship with her, whether platonic or not, she always advocated for fairness and justice. She believed in strength in numbers and inclusivity. In her eyes, everyone was entitled to fair treatment, something she had held since she was four years old.
You could wonder why she would struggle to get what she was looking for in the crowds yet she could summon one of her special gifts and hustle free walk, home with her prize. She thought of delegating one of her gifts actually. As she stood staring at the crowds that had gathered around her waiting for any occurrence, a man dressed in a golden robe and a silver crown on his head approached in company of several guards, about ten, tearing through the crowds and in front of Nira.
As if he had gotten the memo, he stared into the ground as did his guards. Nira stared at him head to toe, studying each part of his body like a book. The man was of an average height, bald and of middle age. He had on some fancy sandals. His face was well shaped, introducing his balanced lips, bean shaped ears and sizeable eyes, well placed in their sockets. He was neither fat nor thin and his skin tone that of mixed race. Nira staring at him, she had read his soul, mind and heart like a fancy romance novel on the best seller novel shelf. Part of her wanted to tell him exactly what he was to say and also shame him for all the dark secrets chained in his secret box.
" Afraid to look at this beauty, afraid you will fail to control yourself?" She said as she let a cold grin.
" We are not here to fight you!" He said as he maintained his pose and eyes fixed to the ground. He swallowed down some saliva then went on with his statement," I know you know why I am here. So would you care to join me to somewhere more...decent?"
" If I refuse?"
" You have no choice! I know you feel you are untouchable but your gifts won't favor you, not around this walls" he stated pointing around using his right index finger.
" You know a lot of things, it seems!" She retaliated trying to get hold of his eyes.
" I am the master here and I have known of you since you were born. It took you a while to come home!"
" What is my name?" She asked desperately to put that engagement to bed. She tolerated him trying to make him look right into her extreme beauty and she would have gotten hold of him, dominate him like her puppet. As she stood there, she was aware of everything he said. She would have chosen to end him, shame him or escape from him but for what end? She had no business with any of the hypocrites. It was not her place to judge them. She gave a cold stare to the crowd before agreeing with him. He was yet to answer her question.
As she walked besides the mysterious man, self proclaimed leader and master of the town, her nerves were burning inside. She had to find her target. The target was the most specific issue that had her travel to the town in excuse that Laminites town was not enough. She barely listened to a word he had said all the way to a fancy castle, in the middle of the town. More guards stood still and vigilant as she walked inside it and the man in front of her.
" You know me?" Nira asked as they came to a hall, only the two of them- the guards were instructed to wait outside.
" You are Nira, Nira Beast!" He said as he walked around the hall to a window and stared down the street from his position.
" Why would you ask, yet you can see for yourself?"
" Well, you seem to be offended by my face. Am I not pretty enough for you to look at? Come on, you could spare me some self doubt, men crave to see my face!"
" Hmm! Your face is a ...curse! No man should be allowed to look at it. So beautiful, the most beautiful woman on the planet to ever exist yet the beauty comes as a curse!" He spoke subtly, showing a sense of domination and composure.
" You haven't asked for my name!" He further stated after some minutes of silence between them.
" I don't like asking for names for people I kill!"
"I will tell you anyway! I am Welter Westers!" He said turning from the window. He walked to a seat and occupied it.
" I feel you won't kill me! I have what you are looking for, if you kill me , your curse would further. You will watch as everyone you love die in cold blood, just like Cale..."
" Don't you dare mention his name in your filthy mouth again!" She interrupted, her dagger's edge on his neck such that it become sore. She took a deep breath then let go of him and walked to the other side of the hall.
" What are you anyway?" She asked firmly desperacy stealing her ever constant composure.
The man, Welther struggled to get hold of his breath then stared at her. She was facing away from him. He got up from his seat then walked towards her.
" I want what is best for my people, as I know you want best for yours. I might have not been the saint I should have been neither have you. You loved, we are not allowed to love..."
" Who is 'we'?"
" We are the same. We are cursed to serve them. To represent them in the human world. These people don't understand us, our purpose! They see us as tools!"
"You speak as if you are so different!"
" You are right. I am not different. I am old, I have lived almost a century, cursed not to age completely for the things I did when I was thirty."
They stood besides each other silently as they stared outside the window and to the people of mid town.
" We have a purpose, I am glad you are here. This world needs saving, will you join me, or will we all perish?" She turned to him fury in her eyes. Of course she knew exactly what he was or who he was but was she ready to take that path? For a moment it felt like her hand was forced. She knew the worst was coming, from all the books, stories and teaching she learnt from the prophetess in Jarn, a village in the forest, she knew exactly what he was talking about. She even knew of him, she had met him couple of times. He was the living museum and was not as vulnerable as he acted. He was stronger and perfect than her, he could easily kill her, something she could not. The man was immortal. As she stared at the man who had finally gotten over his act and locked his eyes with her, she was confused of the choice she had to make. Was she taking a deal or was she not? She stood completely in a dilemma as the man patiently awaited for her answer a warm smile all over his face.