Sweet Dreams 1.4
Okay after the drama of forgetting to save this to a disk in Cavan and being without it for a week (read: actually able to sleep on time) I have been able to write more ... Unfortunately, it's not quite finished yet... One more post I reckon!
Rage helped her down the steps bypassing Dusk's incapacitated body. Alexa turned and spat on him. As a gob of spit ran down his face, she started streaming curses at his unmoving body. When she started, Rage could barely hear her, but by the end, it would have been tough for anyone a few streets away to ignore her.
"Idi obsosi tayevo papu, kak ti delayesh den, ti shluha yebanaya!"
Freeing herself from Rage's grip, she kicked Dusk once more, connecting solidly with his side. She felt faint. Wavering slightly, darkness started to claim her. She felt a hand touch her skin before the world faded from her awareness.
(June 28th, 2016) 'Kyr i Vikati' Turf, Combat Zone, Night City, California
"The Sharks have to be stopped! That's the second time this month they have had a run come into our territory. Have everyone watch out for anyone in shark colours. The kids can watch the borders and report back if they see anything, 'bout time they earn their keep. Make sure everyone knows to bring the bastards to me. I want to personally 'reeducate' them on gang boundary lines."
A stong, tall, brown-haired man walked down the street, his face set in a mask of hatred as he gestured wildly while talking to a second man. They walked in the middle of the street, not worrying about traffic, both knowing that nothing more than an occasional vehicle would ever make its way down these streets. The road was deceptively deserted, only rubble moving occasionally as the drunken dispossessed slept under their cardboard blankets in any sheltered spot they could find, let you know that you were never truly on your own in this city. As night fell, they would move on, leaving the streets in favour of quieter spots while the gang members retook their turf and continued on the road to decadence that they were on, partying into the early hours, living on an inverted schedule.
Rage and Kern were talking about the recent problems that they had been having with a rival gang, deciding on a course of action that would discourage further acts of defiance, when a sound grabbed their attention. Human nature being what it is, they turned to see what had caused the noise, hands slipping under clothes to caress the grips of their guns, getting ready for the worst. A door slammed into the small wall at the side of the steps leading up to a building to their left. A woman was tumbling down the steps, her long dark hair fanning out behind her, her shirt flying open. Another person crashed through the doors before the woman had stopped tumbling. He managed to avoid the drunk on the steps which she had obviously not been expecting. He stepped down the steps, very deliberate in his movements. All three men watched as the young woman, hair now hiding her face, attempted to push herself up. She crashed to the ground again, her wrist giving way as she tried. She cradled her arm with its mate. With a shake of her head, her hair parted to reveal a panicked face, looking around frantically for something.
The man moved behind her and took a handful of hair, wrapping it around his wrist for a better grip. He pulled it up savagely, forcing her to bend up backwards. Stepping in closer, he wrapped his other arm around her throat. Without waiting for her to get to her feet, he lifted her up further and turned. She was being dragged, her face turning an unattractive shade of red and then purple as she fought for breath, trying to get her feet under her for more leverage. Her hands were trying to grasp the hand holding her hair, she flailed for a few seconds before latching onto it. She must have done something because the man let go of her throat to slap her across the face. Her whole body moved with the force of the blow. Her lips turned scarlet as a trail of blood traced down her chin, dripping onto the open shirt below.
"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" The girl's voice getting stronger with each request.
Kern took a step forward, broken out of his passive watching by the girls pleas. He felt a hand press against his chest. Looking down, he saw that Rage had held out his hand in a gesture to tell him not to take another step.
"Domestic!"
That single word carried more information than it seemed to. It meant that it was none of their business. It meant that they should not get involved. It meant that she was on her own, whoever she was. Kern's hands balled themselves into fists as he realised that he couldn't do anything. He could not go against the rules of the gang with the leader standing right beside him, holding him back. He, also, could not bear to see this woman getting hurt like this, just to appease the guy's inferiority complex. How could he get Rage involved? A plan formed in his head.
"You have to do something, Rage…" Kern started.
"Not my problem, they can sort it out themselves." Rage's voice took on a noncommittal tone but his eyes kept watching what was happening.
"I'm sure Nadezhda won't find out…" Kern played his trump card.
"Find out what?" Rage's eyes finally left the scene playing out before him.
"That you stood by as a woman got beaten on the street. You know how she gets with that sort of stuff."
Rage said nothing. Kern could imagine what was going around Rage's head. There would be no defense against the earbending Rage was going to get from his wife. She definitely wouldn't like the fact that her husband stood by and watched a girl getting beaten in plain sight. Rage may be the leader of the Kyr i Vikati gang, but he would invariably be the one sleeping on the couch. They say that behind every man is a strong woman, Nadezhda was definitely that woman, and the .45 she kept on her meant that no one questioned her authority unless they had a death wish.
"Govno!"
Kern mentally smiled. It confirmed his suspicions, Rage wanted to do something, but could not be seen to be doing anything and going against his own rules.
"Dusk!" Rage shouted out to get the mans attention.
The man continued up the stairs, ignoring Rage. The girl was beating her fists against his leg but did not have the strength to do much about her situation. She was still being dragged around even though she was still resisting.
"Johnny!" Rage shouted again, hoping that the use of his real name, rather than handle would break through to the guy.
The man looked around, trying to figure out who was calling him. He seemed surprised to see Rage and Kern standing in the street.
"I don't think the girl wants to go with you, Johnny."
Rage tried to keep his voice calm, but Kern could tell that Rage's anger was starting to bubble over. He didn't like being ignored.
"This ain't your business, Rage. Stay out of it!"
Hostility dripped from Dusk's voice as he kept his hold on the girl. He knew the rules better than anyone else when it came to domestic disputes.
"So, who's the girl, Johnny? Haven't seen her around before."
Rage tried a conversational approach, making his whole body relax.
"This is none of your business."
Dusk was getting very bored with this now, he just wanted to get the bitch back inside and do what he had planned since that email had arrived in Ana's inbox.
"Let her go, Johnny!"
Rage dropped all pretense and started to walk forward, not rushing, just leisurely taking his time, making sure that Dusk knew that it wouldn't be any trouble for Rage to take him down. Dusk made no move to reply.
"I said let her go. I'm not going to ask again."
Rage snarled the last few words, his fists clenching and unclenching. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl being released. He wasn't breaking eye contact with this guy. However, all Dusk could see was himself reflected in the lenses of the mirrorshades, a cold, heartless expression looking back at him.
Kern watched the girl fumble around for a few seconds. He wondered what she was doing. A sliver of light caught the shard of glass in her hand and he knew what she planned. Even after all this, she still kept fighting. He saw drops of blood running off the glass as she gripped it. Her face was set in a wild expression as she swung at his thigh. Dusk's face changed from the cold mask that it had been to a mixture of surprise and pain. He looked to be on his way down before he managed to catch himself. The woman drove the glass in again with even more force behind it. Dusks knee buckled bringing him to his knees. As he was going down, the woman pushed herself up using every ounce of strength she possessed. He could see her pain written all over her face. She raised her leg and kicked him. She caught him in the leg, the stomach, the side, anywhere she could. With one final strike, she caught his jaw. The force spun Dusk's entire upper body. Kern could have sworn that the entire scene happened in slow motion. Dusk's head snapped around followed by his upper body. Trails of spit and blood streamed out to the side, colliding with the wall. Dusk hovered there for a second before starting his descent to the steps. His knees were dislodged from the place they had been and his body slid down the steps until he was at the bottom.
The woman stood for a few moments before her knees buckled and she crashed down on the steps. Hair, again, hid her face as she let the glass fall from her hand. Her shoulders bounced as sobs wracked her body. Both Rage and Kern started towards her. Kern noticed her hand start to search for another piece of glass. She found one and wrapped her hand around it again. Almost instantly it was dyed red. The girl was a mess. Her hair was hanging in knots, looking as if it had not seen a brush in days. Her blouse was streaked with red. Her lip was covered in congealed blood. Only her bra covered her chest from onlookers. She looked wild, like she had nothing to lose. Her eyes traveled up Rage's body coming to rest on his face. Rage smiled but not in the perverted way, he was totally genuine.
"Nice job, girl. You handled it well. I'm impressed! I'm Rage. And you are…?"
Rage held out his hand. The girl waited a moment, examining his face before answering.
"Alexa Markov."
She was still wary of him, her body language screamed it.
"Well, Alexa, what do you say we get you cleaned up?"
She took his hand, letting him help her to her feet. Kern could see that an internal battle still raged inside her over whether or not she should trust him. As she started down the steps her knees buckled. Rage caught her firmly around the waist. With his other hand, he draped her arm around his neck.
"First rule of the combat zone: Learn who to trust and who to avoid! It's a horrible rule, but you sure learned it today, Alexa. Just don't forget it."
Kern smiled. Rage must have been impressed to be sharing one of his patented survival rules.
Rage helped Alexa down the steps. She shrugged off his arm, staring down at Dusk. She spat on him. It landed on his cheek and started to run down his face. The first curse was under her breath, almost inaudible but as she started to realize what he had done, or tried to do, the volume increased. Rage winced as her cursing reached its apex.
"Idi obsosi tayevo papu, kak ti delayesh den, ti shluha yebanaya!"
She started to raise her leg. Rage stood back a little. She swung, hitting the prone body so hard that Dusk was almost turned over with the force. As her leg started its descent both Rage and Kern saw her start to wobble. Kern started towards her but Rage was far closer Stepping behind her, he braced himself to catch her as she fell backwards. As she fainted, Rage caught her in his arms. Bending slightly, Rage picked her up effortlessly. Turning he found Kern standing behind him, a concerned look on his face.
"Take her back to my place and make sure she's okay. This one has fire. Wonder who she is…"
Rage passed the unconscious girl to the other man.
Not looking up from her face, Kern replied, "See you later, bro!"
With that Kern turned and cradling Alexa, started walking down the street to the apartment Rage lived in.
Rage watched Kerns retreating back for a few seconds. He turned, staring down at Dusks unconscious body. Bastard's making a mess on my street. He turned and went up the steps. Nudging the drunk at the top of the steps, Rage was rewarded with yet another stream of curses.
Kneeling down, Rage spoke to the drunk. "Move on, old man. It's going to get busy here!"
Mumbling, the drunk roused himself, and without a word of thanks, went down the steps and off down the street. Rage opened the door to the building and walked inside. He banged on the first door he came to. Mumbling voices answered him.
"Get up! I gotta job for you!"
It wasn't long before two men appeared at the door. Both looked as if they had just been woken up. Behind them, Rage could make out more people in the room, most still passed out from last night's partying. Rage beckoned the two men. Pushing open the door, Rage pointed at Dusk lying on the street.
"Clean that up. I don't care where you put him, just make sure he's out of the way for a few hours. Give him some time to cool off. Don't, and I mean don't, kill him. I may want to talk to him later."
"Sure thing, Rage… Anything else you want done?"
"Dusk is seeing someone, right?"
"Yeah, he's seeing Tsarina."
"She about?"
"I know she left with him earlier but don't think she came back. Dusk came back with some other girl and she headed off, as far as I know…"
The sleep deprived man looked at his friend for confirmation, which was quickly received.
"Wait around for her and when she brings back that piece of shit she calls a car, bring her to me."
Both guys nodded.
"Thanks! I'll make sure you two get a bottle of the special brew later."
The men broke into smiles. That, in itself, was enough of a reward for being woken up at this awful hour of the day.
Rage walked out of the building and down the steps. He didn't even spare Dusk a final look as he walked past him.
He thought back over the fight he had just witnessed. He had to admit that the girl could fight. He wondered first where she was from and who she was. If she was Russian, she could make a valuable addition to the gang. He would have to have a talk with her, when she woke up of course.
***
As Kern looked down at the girl cradled in his arms, he could not believe that a few minutes earlier she had taken down a man twice her size. She looked innocent under the dirt and dried blood on her face. He took in her long, brown hair and her beautiful face as he carried her down the street. He wondered who she was and what she had been doing in this part of the city, hooked up with street scum like Dusk. He could see the pulse flutter in her throat, strong and steady.
He walked through the streets, not really watching anything. He knew that he wouldn't be touched. The gang was like a family, they never touched their own but may whatever Gods they believe in help strangers walking this gang's turf.
Walking in the door to Rage's apartment block, Kern stopped outside an unmarked door. Lifting one of his feet, he kicked the door three times in quick succession. Listening for footsteps on the other side of the door, he tracked the progress of the apartments other occupant. The door opened to reveal a woman dressed head to toe in slightly abused biker leathers. Her hair hung in dark, wet strands over her face and shoulders, a towel in her hand. Her darkly hooded eyes took in the whole scene. Her lips, painted with black, twisted into a smirk.
"Collecting strays are we?" Concern mixed with laughter in her voice.
She stepped back out of the way, leaving the doorway free as she continued to rub her wet hair with the towel. Kern walked in and placed Alexa carefully on the couch. He fixed her shirt, covering her chest. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Looking up, he sees Nadezhda standing looking at him, smiling.
"So, why is there a stranger on our couch, Kern?"
Kern stood up, going into the kitchen. Calling back over his shoulder, he told her all about the incidents of the last half hour, how they had come across Dusk beating the crap out of her, her almost losing the fight before they intervened giving her the chance she needed to get the upper hand. While telling Nadezhda all about what Alexa had been through, he had been filling a bowl with water. He turned back to walk back to Alexa, he saw Nadezhda strapping on her guns and sliding her knife into the top of her boot. He hastily dropped the bowl on the nearest hard surface, not noticing the water splash over the edge.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Kern stepped between Nadezhda and the door.
"Get the Hell out of the way, Kern. I'm going to take that bastard out!" Hate filled her voice as she almost spat out the words.
"Rage is handling it!"
"That guy deserves to die. I'm not going to let him away with it."
"Wait for Rage to get back, he may already dealt with Dusk!" Kern tried to placate Nadezhda. "Just wait for him to get back, please!"
"Fine, but if he's not here in the next five …"
The door opens, distracting Nadezhda from the rest of her sentence. Rage walks in closing the door behind him. He takes a quick look at the girl on the couch, before walking over to his wife and kissing her. Kern shakes his head and goes back to the job that he had assigned to himself before the fuss with Rage's wife, his sister-in-law. He started carefully cleaning the dried blood from Alexa's face. By the time that Rage and Nadezhda stopped kissing, most of the blood had been cleaned off. Rage's lips were tinged with dark lipstick.
Wrapping his arm around his wife, Rage asked, "How is she?"
"She should be okay when she wakes up."
Kern finished washing off the dried blood and dirt.
"So did you finish the bastard off?" Nadezhda asked.
"No, I had some guys clean him off the street."
"You left Dusk alive after he beat up a girl on the street?" She was incredulous.
"You know that I don't agree with what he did but face it, we need him."
"We do not need a woman hating bastard like that!"
"Who got you the gun you have tucked into your waistband?"
"That's no excuse, Rage."
"We can't kill him!"
Drawing the knife from the hidden sheath in her boot, she smiled a malicious grin, weighing the knife in her hand, ideas appearing and fading as grisly alternatives raced around her mind.
"Just give me five minutes and I will prove you wrong."
Standing up, making himself look his wife in the eye, he tried to make his voice as hard as possible.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. You will not touch him!"
"You don't tell me what to do!"
"Yes I do!"
"What?!"
Disbelief and rage crept into her voice.
"Yes I do tell you what to do when it comes to this gang, yes I do!"
Her face darkened under the black makeup she wore. She could not believe that Rage was essentially pulling rand on her over that misogynistic cunt. Hatred bubbled up through her. Rage, the person she loved most in the world was taking Dusk's side against her.
A knock on the door disturbed her dark musings. Nadezhda threw her knife at the doorframe, embedding it in the timber. Walking to the door, she flung it open, making it bang off the wall and bounce back. Plaster fell to the ground behind the door.
"What?" she demanded.
She tugged hard, almost savagely, on the knife, pulling it free from the wooden frame. The figure on the other side of the door looked petrified. He had heard the stories of Nadezhda, the female version of Death who stalked the streets, but he hadn't expected to have to face that side of her. Suddenly his mouth was dry and every word that he went to say died before being spoken. Taking a deep breath he mustered courage.
"Rage wanted to see Tsarina…"
From somewhere beyond the very angry woman guarding the doorway a voice rang out telling Ana to come in. Nadezhda turned her back to the door and walked back into the room, cursing softly.
"Sure, invite the whole world in…"
"ENOUGH!"
A flash of red ran through Rage's hair as he reprimanded his wife. Turning back to the doorway, he saw Ana standing uncertainly on the doorstep, pizza boxes stacked on one hand as she took in the scene. Her eyes ran over the enraged face of Nadezhda, the saddened face of Rage, the concerned face of Kern and the bloody rag in his hand. Her eyes came to rest on the unconscious body of her younger sister. The pizza boxes fell to the ground forgotten as she ran to her sisters side.
"What happened to her? Who did this to her?"
She kept firing questions, no one was answering them, each question fading into silence as three pairs of eyes watched her until no more questions came to mind.
"Do you know her?" Kern broke the silence.
"She's my little sister, Alexa. Please, what happened to her?"
A tear welled up in her eye, balancing precariously before starting it's run down her cheek.
"She was beaten up!" Rage finally answered the question.
Panic crossed her face.
"Where's Dusk? He was supposed to be looking after her, protecting her. Where is he? Is he okay?"
She flicked between each person in the room. Rage didn't know how to break the news to her.
"It was Dusk."
"What was Dusk?"
"Dusk attacked your sister. He's responsible for this!"
Her face was puzzled, as if she didn't understand a word he was saying.
"No! No, he can't be! He didn't… You're lying!"
Ana was shaking her head emphatically as if the words wouldn't catch up with her ears if she kept moving it.
"You're wrong, he wouldn't do something like that! He's not like that!"
"I was there, I saw it! It was Dusk!"
Ana got to her feet, indignation shining through on her face. She stood toe to toe with Rage.
"He couldn't do a thing like that! He's a good man! He's a good man!"
"I watched him beat up your sister."
"No! No …"
Ana went weak at the knees, falling against Rage's chest, beating her fist off his chest as the other supported herself, using his shoulder as a grip, denying the charges with every strike.
A moan behind her made her swing around. She watched Alexa's eyes flutter open. She looked around her, not recognizing her surroundings she looked like she was starting to panic. She was trying to back away from Kern but she was already back against the couch. Ana took a step forward. Alexa's eyes locked on her sister's face, panic draining from her face again. Ana walked forward, falling to her knees beside the couch. She took her sister in her arms and started rocking her back and forth. The sisters comforted each other as Rage, Kern and Nadezhda looked on, tears rolling down both sisters' cheeks.
"Lexa, honey, what happened?"
"It was Dusk!"
Alexa searched her sister's face, looking for her reaction. She watched her face switch from concern to a mask of denial. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel the words that her sister had told her. Alexa could almost see the thoughts running through her sister's mind.
He wouldn't do that. What did she do? Why did he have to hit her? He must have had a reason. No, he couldn't do that. Is that why he sent me for pizza? Did he plan it? No, he couldn't have. Deep down, I know he is a good person! He couldn't! She's mistaken! She must be…
"No, that's not right? You must be mistaken!"
"So I mistook his hand hitting me? I mistook his fist punching me? I was imagining him trying to rape me, too I suppose!"
***
Nadezhda's face darkened as her temper flared again. Her fingers tested the edge of her knife as she thought about the slowest and most painful way to cut Dusk's miserable existence short.
Rage watched everyone's reaction, trying to keep his own temper in check. Another ripple of red ran through his hair, his eyes momentarily flashed the same color. He saw Kern's reaction of barely veiled hatred. He saw Alexa's indignation. Ana's face was a mask of denial. His wife's was much like Kern's but less veiled. He moved closer to her, moving behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry, baby. I love you," Rage whispered in her ear.
He lightly place a kiss on her neck, just under her ear. He felt her relax in his arms and placing one of her hands on his and squeezing it gently.
***
Alexa's mind was working overtime, putting together parts of a puzzle. Suddenly, it clicked into place.
"He did it!"
Her eyes opened in enlightenment. Everything fitted together.
"He did that to you, didn't he?"
"I don't know what you are talking about?"
Ana's hand flew to her neck on reflex, wincing slightly as she touched the angry, red marks.
"He beats you, doesn't he?" Alexa persisted.
Ana looked panicked.
"No, of course not!"
Her words sounded hollow, like she had said them too many times before.
"Well then, how did you get the marks on your neck?"
"I … eh … I was … That's none of your business."
"Your boyfriend tried to rape me and beat me up when I refused to just stand there and take it."
"He …" Ana was frantically searching for something to say.
"How long have you been with him?"
"A while, about a year I suppose," Ana was slightly puzzled at the question.
"Why did you never mention him in your emails, Ana?" Alexa's voice dropped to a whisper.
"I did. I'm sure I did! I had to…"
Alexa didn't say a word, just shook her head. She watched the truth dawn on her sister's face, cracking through the mask of denial that she had worn for too many months.
"Oh my God!"
Ana got to her feet, fumbling backwards. Tears ran in rivers down her cheeks. She almost fell over obstacles she didn't even see. Her back touched the wall, blocking her escape. Looking around the room, she saw everyone watching her.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" Her voice barely audible.
Throwing the door open, she ran through it and down the corridor, banging off walls as tears clouded her vision.
Alexa watched her run through the door, suddenly realizing that there were three people in the room with her. Looking from one to the other, she forced a smile.
"Uh… Sorry. I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Alexa!"
Rage moved forward, unwrapping himself from his wife.
"I know, we met earlier! I'm Rage."
He turned, indicating the woman now behind him.
"This is Nadezhda, my wife." Both Rage's face and eyes lit up as he introduced her.
"Pretty name," Alexa said, looking straight at her.
"Thanks, it means…" Nadezhda started.
"Hope, I know!"
Raising his hand again to point towards the room's other occupant, Rage introduced the last unknown face.
"This is Kern, my baby brother and the one that has been taking care of you since you collapsed."
Alexa turned to face her apparent saviour and smiled.
"I guess I should thank you!"
"You're welcome, it's not every day I get a chance to help a pretty girl."
Alexa blushed at the compliment, finding it hard to meet his eyes. She lowered her head and for the first time noticed that her blouse was open. She remembered Dusk ripping it open. The blush spread as she tried to wrap both sides together to cover herself.
Rage and Nadezhda watched the pair blush at each other, both avoiding each other's eyes and smiling at the little things. Rage coughed, attracting their attention.
"That was a good fight, took a lot of courage to stand up to Dusk!"
"Thanks!"
"You got guts, girl, I'll give you that!"
A little smile played at Alexa's lips.
"Everyone reckons I got too much of my Dad in me, I reckon I have just about enough."
Rage stared at her for a second, before starting to laugh.
"I reckon you do!"
The smile stayed on his face for a few seconds before a dark thought tugged at the corner of his mind.
"It's a pity that Tsarina, Ana, doesn't have a little more of your father in her."
The smile faded from Alexa's face. She couldn't help thinking about her sister and how she could have ended up in a situation like this.
Incidentally if you want translations, just ask!
Rage helped her down the steps bypassing Dusk's incapacitated body. Alexa turned and spat on him. As a gob of spit ran down his face, she started streaming curses at his unmoving body. When she started, Rage could barely hear her, but by the end, it would have been tough for anyone a few streets away to ignore her.
"Idi obsosi tayevo papu, kak ti delayesh den, ti shluha yebanaya!"
Freeing herself from Rage's grip, she kicked Dusk once more, connecting solidly with his side. She felt faint. Wavering slightly, darkness started to claim her. She felt a hand touch her skin before the world faded from her awareness.
(June 28th, 2016) 'Kyr i Vikati' Turf, Combat Zone, Night City, California
"The Sharks have to be stopped! That's the second time this month they have had a run come into our territory. Have everyone watch out for anyone in shark colours. The kids can watch the borders and report back if they see anything, 'bout time they earn their keep. Make sure everyone knows to bring the bastards to me. I want to personally 'reeducate' them on gang boundary lines."
A stong, tall, brown-haired man walked down the street, his face set in a mask of hatred as he gestured wildly while talking to a second man. They walked in the middle of the street, not worrying about traffic, both knowing that nothing more than an occasional vehicle would ever make its way down these streets. The road was deceptively deserted, only rubble moving occasionally as the drunken dispossessed slept under their cardboard blankets in any sheltered spot they could find, let you know that you were never truly on your own in this city. As night fell, they would move on, leaving the streets in favour of quieter spots while the gang members retook their turf and continued on the road to decadence that they were on, partying into the early hours, living on an inverted schedule.
Rage and Kern were talking about the recent problems that they had been having with a rival gang, deciding on a course of action that would discourage further acts of defiance, when a sound grabbed their attention. Human nature being what it is, they turned to see what had caused the noise, hands slipping under clothes to caress the grips of their guns, getting ready for the worst. A door slammed into the small wall at the side of the steps leading up to a building to their left. A woman was tumbling down the steps, her long dark hair fanning out behind her, her shirt flying open. Another person crashed through the doors before the woman had stopped tumbling. He managed to avoid the drunk on the steps which she had obviously not been expecting. He stepped down the steps, very deliberate in his movements. All three men watched as the young woman, hair now hiding her face, attempted to push herself up. She crashed to the ground again, her wrist giving way as she tried. She cradled her arm with its mate. With a shake of her head, her hair parted to reveal a panicked face, looking around frantically for something.
The man moved behind her and took a handful of hair, wrapping it around his wrist for a better grip. He pulled it up savagely, forcing her to bend up backwards. Stepping in closer, he wrapped his other arm around her throat. Without waiting for her to get to her feet, he lifted her up further and turned. She was being dragged, her face turning an unattractive shade of red and then purple as she fought for breath, trying to get her feet under her for more leverage. Her hands were trying to grasp the hand holding her hair, she flailed for a few seconds before latching onto it. She must have done something because the man let go of her throat to slap her across the face. Her whole body moved with the force of the blow. Her lips turned scarlet as a trail of blood traced down her chin, dripping onto the open shirt below.
"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" The girl's voice getting stronger with each request.
Kern took a step forward, broken out of his passive watching by the girls pleas. He felt a hand press against his chest. Looking down, he saw that Rage had held out his hand in a gesture to tell him not to take another step.
"Domestic!"
That single word carried more information than it seemed to. It meant that it was none of their business. It meant that they should not get involved. It meant that she was on her own, whoever she was. Kern's hands balled themselves into fists as he realised that he couldn't do anything. He could not go against the rules of the gang with the leader standing right beside him, holding him back. He, also, could not bear to see this woman getting hurt like this, just to appease the guy's inferiority complex. How could he get Rage involved? A plan formed in his head.
"You have to do something, Rage…" Kern started.
"Not my problem, they can sort it out themselves." Rage's voice took on a noncommittal tone but his eyes kept watching what was happening.
"I'm sure Nadezhda won't find out…" Kern played his trump card.
"Find out what?" Rage's eyes finally left the scene playing out before him.
"That you stood by as a woman got beaten on the street. You know how she gets with that sort of stuff."
Rage said nothing. Kern could imagine what was going around Rage's head. There would be no defense against the earbending Rage was going to get from his wife. She definitely wouldn't like the fact that her husband stood by and watched a girl getting beaten in plain sight. Rage may be the leader of the Kyr i Vikati gang, but he would invariably be the one sleeping on the couch. They say that behind every man is a strong woman, Nadezhda was definitely that woman, and the .45 she kept on her meant that no one questioned her authority unless they had a death wish.
"Govno!"
Kern mentally smiled. It confirmed his suspicions, Rage wanted to do something, but could not be seen to be doing anything and going against his own rules.
"Dusk!" Rage shouted out to get the mans attention.
The man continued up the stairs, ignoring Rage. The girl was beating her fists against his leg but did not have the strength to do much about her situation. She was still being dragged around even though she was still resisting.
"Johnny!" Rage shouted again, hoping that the use of his real name, rather than handle would break through to the guy.
The man looked around, trying to figure out who was calling him. He seemed surprised to see Rage and Kern standing in the street.
"I don't think the girl wants to go with you, Johnny."
Rage tried to keep his voice calm, but Kern could tell that Rage's anger was starting to bubble over. He didn't like being ignored.
"This ain't your business, Rage. Stay out of it!"
Hostility dripped from Dusk's voice as he kept his hold on the girl. He knew the rules better than anyone else when it came to domestic disputes.
"So, who's the girl, Johnny? Haven't seen her around before."
Rage tried a conversational approach, making his whole body relax.
"This is none of your business."
Dusk was getting very bored with this now, he just wanted to get the bitch back inside and do what he had planned since that email had arrived in Ana's inbox.
"Let her go, Johnny!"
Rage dropped all pretense and started to walk forward, not rushing, just leisurely taking his time, making sure that Dusk knew that it wouldn't be any trouble for Rage to take him down. Dusk made no move to reply.
"I said let her go. I'm not going to ask again."
Rage snarled the last few words, his fists clenching and unclenching. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl being released. He wasn't breaking eye contact with this guy. However, all Dusk could see was himself reflected in the lenses of the mirrorshades, a cold, heartless expression looking back at him.
Kern watched the girl fumble around for a few seconds. He wondered what she was doing. A sliver of light caught the shard of glass in her hand and he knew what she planned. Even after all this, she still kept fighting. He saw drops of blood running off the glass as she gripped it. Her face was set in a wild expression as she swung at his thigh. Dusk's face changed from the cold mask that it had been to a mixture of surprise and pain. He looked to be on his way down before he managed to catch himself. The woman drove the glass in again with even more force behind it. Dusks knee buckled bringing him to his knees. As he was going down, the woman pushed herself up using every ounce of strength she possessed. He could see her pain written all over her face. She raised her leg and kicked him. She caught him in the leg, the stomach, the side, anywhere she could. With one final strike, she caught his jaw. The force spun Dusk's entire upper body. Kern could have sworn that the entire scene happened in slow motion. Dusk's head snapped around followed by his upper body. Trails of spit and blood streamed out to the side, colliding with the wall. Dusk hovered there for a second before starting his descent to the steps. His knees were dislodged from the place they had been and his body slid down the steps until he was at the bottom.
The woman stood for a few moments before her knees buckled and she crashed down on the steps. Hair, again, hid her face as she let the glass fall from her hand. Her shoulders bounced as sobs wracked her body. Both Rage and Kern started towards her. Kern noticed her hand start to search for another piece of glass. She found one and wrapped her hand around it again. Almost instantly it was dyed red. The girl was a mess. Her hair was hanging in knots, looking as if it had not seen a brush in days. Her blouse was streaked with red. Her lip was covered in congealed blood. Only her bra covered her chest from onlookers. She looked wild, like she had nothing to lose. Her eyes traveled up Rage's body coming to rest on his face. Rage smiled but not in the perverted way, he was totally genuine.
"Nice job, girl. You handled it well. I'm impressed! I'm Rage. And you are…?"
Rage held out his hand. The girl waited a moment, examining his face before answering.
"Alexa Markov."
She was still wary of him, her body language screamed it.
"Well, Alexa, what do you say we get you cleaned up?"
She took his hand, letting him help her to her feet. Kern could see that an internal battle still raged inside her over whether or not she should trust him. As she started down the steps her knees buckled. Rage caught her firmly around the waist. With his other hand, he draped her arm around his neck.
"First rule of the combat zone: Learn who to trust and who to avoid! It's a horrible rule, but you sure learned it today, Alexa. Just don't forget it."
Kern smiled. Rage must have been impressed to be sharing one of his patented survival rules.
Rage helped Alexa down the steps. She shrugged off his arm, staring down at Dusk. She spat on him. It landed on his cheek and started to run down his face. The first curse was under her breath, almost inaudible but as she started to realize what he had done, or tried to do, the volume increased. Rage winced as her cursing reached its apex.
"Idi obsosi tayevo papu, kak ti delayesh den, ti shluha yebanaya!"
She started to raise her leg. Rage stood back a little. She swung, hitting the prone body so hard that Dusk was almost turned over with the force. As her leg started its descent both Rage and Kern saw her start to wobble. Kern started towards her but Rage was far closer Stepping behind her, he braced himself to catch her as she fell backwards. As she fainted, Rage caught her in his arms. Bending slightly, Rage picked her up effortlessly. Turning he found Kern standing behind him, a concerned look on his face.
"Take her back to my place and make sure she's okay. This one has fire. Wonder who she is…"
Rage passed the unconscious girl to the other man.
Not looking up from her face, Kern replied, "See you later, bro!"
With that Kern turned and cradling Alexa, started walking down the street to the apartment Rage lived in.
Rage watched Kerns retreating back for a few seconds. He turned, staring down at Dusks unconscious body. Bastard's making a mess on my street. He turned and went up the steps. Nudging the drunk at the top of the steps, Rage was rewarded with yet another stream of curses.
Kneeling down, Rage spoke to the drunk. "Move on, old man. It's going to get busy here!"
Mumbling, the drunk roused himself, and without a word of thanks, went down the steps and off down the street. Rage opened the door to the building and walked inside. He banged on the first door he came to. Mumbling voices answered him.
"Get up! I gotta job for you!"
It wasn't long before two men appeared at the door. Both looked as if they had just been woken up. Behind them, Rage could make out more people in the room, most still passed out from last night's partying. Rage beckoned the two men. Pushing open the door, Rage pointed at Dusk lying on the street.
"Clean that up. I don't care where you put him, just make sure he's out of the way for a few hours. Give him some time to cool off. Don't, and I mean don't, kill him. I may want to talk to him later."
"Sure thing, Rage… Anything else you want done?"
"Dusk is seeing someone, right?"
"Yeah, he's seeing Tsarina."
"She about?"
"I know she left with him earlier but don't think she came back. Dusk came back with some other girl and she headed off, as far as I know…"
The sleep deprived man looked at his friend for confirmation, which was quickly received.
"Wait around for her and when she brings back that piece of shit she calls a car, bring her to me."
Both guys nodded.
"Thanks! I'll make sure you two get a bottle of the special brew later."
The men broke into smiles. That, in itself, was enough of a reward for being woken up at this awful hour of the day.
Rage walked out of the building and down the steps. He didn't even spare Dusk a final look as he walked past him.
He thought back over the fight he had just witnessed. He had to admit that the girl could fight. He wondered first where she was from and who she was. If she was Russian, she could make a valuable addition to the gang. He would have to have a talk with her, when she woke up of course.
***
As Kern looked down at the girl cradled in his arms, he could not believe that a few minutes earlier she had taken down a man twice her size. She looked innocent under the dirt and dried blood on her face. He took in her long, brown hair and her beautiful face as he carried her down the street. He wondered who she was and what she had been doing in this part of the city, hooked up with street scum like Dusk. He could see the pulse flutter in her throat, strong and steady.
He walked through the streets, not really watching anything. He knew that he wouldn't be touched. The gang was like a family, they never touched their own but may whatever Gods they believe in help strangers walking this gang's turf.
Walking in the door to Rage's apartment block, Kern stopped outside an unmarked door. Lifting one of his feet, he kicked the door three times in quick succession. Listening for footsteps on the other side of the door, he tracked the progress of the apartments other occupant. The door opened to reveal a woman dressed head to toe in slightly abused biker leathers. Her hair hung in dark, wet strands over her face and shoulders, a towel in her hand. Her darkly hooded eyes took in the whole scene. Her lips, painted with black, twisted into a smirk.
"Collecting strays are we?" Concern mixed with laughter in her voice.
She stepped back out of the way, leaving the doorway free as she continued to rub her wet hair with the towel. Kern walked in and placed Alexa carefully on the couch. He fixed her shirt, covering her chest. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Looking up, he sees Nadezhda standing looking at him, smiling.
"So, why is there a stranger on our couch, Kern?"
Kern stood up, going into the kitchen. Calling back over his shoulder, he told her all about the incidents of the last half hour, how they had come across Dusk beating the crap out of her, her almost losing the fight before they intervened giving her the chance she needed to get the upper hand. While telling Nadezhda all about what Alexa had been through, he had been filling a bowl with water. He turned back to walk back to Alexa, he saw Nadezhda strapping on her guns and sliding her knife into the top of her boot. He hastily dropped the bowl on the nearest hard surface, not noticing the water splash over the edge.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Kern stepped between Nadezhda and the door.
"Get the Hell out of the way, Kern. I'm going to take that bastard out!" Hate filled her voice as she almost spat out the words.
"Rage is handling it!"
"That guy deserves to die. I'm not going to let him away with it."
"Wait for Rage to get back, he may already dealt with Dusk!" Kern tried to placate Nadezhda. "Just wait for him to get back, please!"
"Fine, but if he's not here in the next five …"
The door opens, distracting Nadezhda from the rest of her sentence. Rage walks in closing the door behind him. He takes a quick look at the girl on the couch, before walking over to his wife and kissing her. Kern shakes his head and goes back to the job that he had assigned to himself before the fuss with Rage's wife, his sister-in-law. He started carefully cleaning the dried blood from Alexa's face. By the time that Rage and Nadezhda stopped kissing, most of the blood had been cleaned off. Rage's lips were tinged with dark lipstick.
Wrapping his arm around his wife, Rage asked, "How is she?"
"She should be okay when she wakes up."
Kern finished washing off the dried blood and dirt.
"So did you finish the bastard off?" Nadezhda asked.
"No, I had some guys clean him off the street."
"You left Dusk alive after he beat up a girl on the street?" She was incredulous.
"You know that I don't agree with what he did but face it, we need him."
"We do not need a woman hating bastard like that!"
"Who got you the gun you have tucked into your waistband?"
"That's no excuse, Rage."
"We can't kill him!"
Drawing the knife from the hidden sheath in her boot, she smiled a malicious grin, weighing the knife in her hand, ideas appearing and fading as grisly alternatives raced around her mind.
"Just give me five minutes and I will prove you wrong."
Standing up, making himself look his wife in the eye, he tried to make his voice as hard as possible.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. You will not touch him!"
"You don't tell me what to do!"
"Yes I do!"
"What?!"
Disbelief and rage crept into her voice.
"Yes I do tell you what to do when it comes to this gang, yes I do!"
Her face darkened under the black makeup she wore. She could not believe that Rage was essentially pulling rand on her over that misogynistic cunt. Hatred bubbled up through her. Rage, the person she loved most in the world was taking Dusk's side against her.
A knock on the door disturbed her dark musings. Nadezhda threw her knife at the doorframe, embedding it in the timber. Walking to the door, she flung it open, making it bang off the wall and bounce back. Plaster fell to the ground behind the door.
"What?" she demanded.
She tugged hard, almost savagely, on the knife, pulling it free from the wooden frame. The figure on the other side of the door looked petrified. He had heard the stories of Nadezhda, the female version of Death who stalked the streets, but he hadn't expected to have to face that side of her. Suddenly his mouth was dry and every word that he went to say died before being spoken. Taking a deep breath he mustered courage.
"Rage wanted to see Tsarina…"
From somewhere beyond the very angry woman guarding the doorway a voice rang out telling Ana to come in. Nadezhda turned her back to the door and walked back into the room, cursing softly.
"Sure, invite the whole world in…"
"ENOUGH!"
A flash of red ran through Rage's hair as he reprimanded his wife. Turning back to the doorway, he saw Ana standing uncertainly on the doorstep, pizza boxes stacked on one hand as she took in the scene. Her eyes ran over the enraged face of Nadezhda, the saddened face of Rage, the concerned face of Kern and the bloody rag in his hand. Her eyes came to rest on the unconscious body of her younger sister. The pizza boxes fell to the ground forgotten as she ran to her sisters side.
"What happened to her? Who did this to her?"
She kept firing questions, no one was answering them, each question fading into silence as three pairs of eyes watched her until no more questions came to mind.
"Do you know her?" Kern broke the silence.
"She's my little sister, Alexa. Please, what happened to her?"
A tear welled up in her eye, balancing precariously before starting it's run down her cheek.
"She was beaten up!" Rage finally answered the question.
Panic crossed her face.
"Where's Dusk? He was supposed to be looking after her, protecting her. Where is he? Is he okay?"
She flicked between each person in the room. Rage didn't know how to break the news to her.
"It was Dusk."
"What was Dusk?"
"Dusk attacked your sister. He's responsible for this!"
Her face was puzzled, as if she didn't understand a word he was saying.
"No! No, he can't be! He didn't… You're lying!"
Ana was shaking her head emphatically as if the words wouldn't catch up with her ears if she kept moving it.
"You're wrong, he wouldn't do something like that! He's not like that!"
"I was there, I saw it! It was Dusk!"
Ana got to her feet, indignation shining through on her face. She stood toe to toe with Rage.
"He couldn't do a thing like that! He's a good man! He's a good man!"
"I watched him beat up your sister."
"No! No …"
Ana went weak at the knees, falling against Rage's chest, beating her fist off his chest as the other supported herself, using his shoulder as a grip, denying the charges with every strike.
A moan behind her made her swing around. She watched Alexa's eyes flutter open. She looked around her, not recognizing her surroundings she looked like she was starting to panic. She was trying to back away from Kern but she was already back against the couch. Ana took a step forward. Alexa's eyes locked on her sister's face, panic draining from her face again. Ana walked forward, falling to her knees beside the couch. She took her sister in her arms and started rocking her back and forth. The sisters comforted each other as Rage, Kern and Nadezhda looked on, tears rolling down both sisters' cheeks.
"Lexa, honey, what happened?"
"It was Dusk!"
Alexa searched her sister's face, looking for her reaction. She watched her face switch from concern to a mask of denial. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel the words that her sister had told her. Alexa could almost see the thoughts running through her sister's mind.
He wouldn't do that. What did she do? Why did he have to hit her? He must have had a reason. No, he couldn't do that. Is that why he sent me for pizza? Did he plan it? No, he couldn't have. Deep down, I know he is a good person! He couldn't! She's mistaken! She must be…
"No, that's not right? You must be mistaken!"
"So I mistook his hand hitting me? I mistook his fist punching me? I was imagining him trying to rape me, too I suppose!"
***
Nadezhda's face darkened as her temper flared again. Her fingers tested the edge of her knife as she thought about the slowest and most painful way to cut Dusk's miserable existence short.
Rage watched everyone's reaction, trying to keep his own temper in check. Another ripple of red ran through his hair, his eyes momentarily flashed the same color. He saw Kern's reaction of barely veiled hatred. He saw Alexa's indignation. Ana's face was a mask of denial. His wife's was much like Kern's but less veiled. He moved closer to her, moving behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry, baby. I love you," Rage whispered in her ear.
He lightly place a kiss on her neck, just under her ear. He felt her relax in his arms and placing one of her hands on his and squeezing it gently.
***
Alexa's mind was working overtime, putting together parts of a puzzle. Suddenly, it clicked into place.
"He did it!"
Her eyes opened in enlightenment. Everything fitted together.
"He did that to you, didn't he?"
"I don't know what you are talking about?"
Ana's hand flew to her neck on reflex, wincing slightly as she touched the angry, red marks.
"He beats you, doesn't he?" Alexa persisted.
Ana looked panicked.
"No, of course not!"
Her words sounded hollow, like she had said them too many times before.
"Well then, how did you get the marks on your neck?"
"I … eh … I was … That's none of your business."
"Your boyfriend tried to rape me and beat me up when I refused to just stand there and take it."
"He …" Ana was frantically searching for something to say.
"How long have you been with him?"
"A while, about a year I suppose," Ana was slightly puzzled at the question.
"Why did you never mention him in your emails, Ana?" Alexa's voice dropped to a whisper.
"I did. I'm sure I did! I had to…"
Alexa didn't say a word, just shook her head. She watched the truth dawn on her sister's face, cracking through the mask of denial that she had worn for too many months.
"Oh my God!"
Ana got to her feet, fumbling backwards. Tears ran in rivers down her cheeks. She almost fell over obstacles she didn't even see. Her back touched the wall, blocking her escape. Looking around the room, she saw everyone watching her.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" Her voice barely audible.
Throwing the door open, she ran through it and down the corridor, banging off walls as tears clouded her vision.
Alexa watched her run through the door, suddenly realizing that there were three people in the room with her. Looking from one to the other, she forced a smile.
"Uh… Sorry. I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Alexa!"
Rage moved forward, unwrapping himself from his wife.
"I know, we met earlier! I'm Rage."
He turned, indicating the woman now behind him.
"This is Nadezhda, my wife." Both Rage's face and eyes lit up as he introduced her.
"Pretty name," Alexa said, looking straight at her.
"Thanks, it means…" Nadezhda started.
"Hope, I know!"
Raising his hand again to point towards the room's other occupant, Rage introduced the last unknown face.
"This is Kern, my baby brother and the one that has been taking care of you since you collapsed."
Alexa turned to face her apparent saviour and smiled.
"I guess I should thank you!"
"You're welcome, it's not every day I get a chance to help a pretty girl."
Alexa blushed at the compliment, finding it hard to meet his eyes. She lowered her head and for the first time noticed that her blouse was open. She remembered Dusk ripping it open. The blush spread as she tried to wrap both sides together to cover herself.
Rage and Nadezhda watched the pair blush at each other, both avoiding each other's eyes and smiling at the little things. Rage coughed, attracting their attention.
"That was a good fight, took a lot of courage to stand up to Dusk!"
"Thanks!"
"You got guts, girl, I'll give you that!"
A little smile played at Alexa's lips.
"Everyone reckons I got too much of my Dad in me, I reckon I have just about enough."
Rage stared at her for a second, before starting to laugh.
"I reckon you do!"
The smile stayed on his face for a few seconds before a dark thought tugged at the corner of his mind.
"It's a pity that Tsarina, Ana, doesn't have a little more of your father in her."
The smile faded from Alexa's face. She couldn't help thinking about her sister and how she could have ended up in a situation like this.
Incidentally if you want translations, just ask!