A ruined, rusted and abandoned warehouse became lively that night. Many
of the more youthful Dark Citizens came along for drinks and dancing.
The coloured lights were almost the only colours seen in the Dark
Kingdom, but they were merely darkish hues of green and violet. The
music played had acidic basses and techno rhythms, but the mood of the
music was darkened by industrial sounds. Stern faced men and women in
black suits stalked the inside and outside of the warehouse.
Rowan walked along a balcony to a familiar figure,
hunched over a banister. Kiyor looked up. “These security
arrangements good enough for you?” he called out.
She nodded. “Absolutely!”
They both looked down, surveying the scene below.
Some members of the security opened the doors wide for one man, in an
expensive black suit, coated in black make-up with his long black hair
gelled back with four of his own bodyguards, dressed in shiny navy.
Manar led this party through the temporary Night Club to an office,
inside a tucked away cubic building inside the warehouse. There were
guards outside that door as well.
“Is he the special guest this was prepared for?” Kiyor yelled.
“Yes!” Rowan had to call back because of
the volume of the music. “My mother thinks he can offer
something!”
“Haven’t you heard?” he called.
“You should not tell a member of another family that kind of
information!”
“I can still reveal your true identity!” she retorted immediately.
The night carried on. People danced, drank, seduced,
or even found a corner for senseless love-making. Bored, Rowan once
again found Kiyor, but this time in a quieter part of the building. He
seemed distracted, judging by the way he comfortably leaned against a
brick pillar, looking up.
“What are you looking at?” asked Rowan.
“The stars,” answered Kiyor.
Rowan looked along Kiyor’s line of vision and
saw the stars between the large crack in the windows.
“Pretty.” That was her only comment.
“Stars are the only source of natural colour
in the Dark Kingdom. They twinkle hopelessly, but are always seen.
People often forget they’re there.”
Rowan hadn’t expected this kind of philosophy.
She looked at Kiyor. “And who taught you that?”
“My mother,” he answered.
They heard a distant sound of roaring motorbikes.
The sound increased and so did the bright lights. Kiyor moved. CRASH!
The windows fell apart and everyone scrambled out of the way of the
motorbikes. Rowan found herself forced to the floor by Kiyor. The riot
started. Security exercised force on the gatecrashers, using their
fists and guns. The bikers attacked back. All the other Dark Citizens
got involved; they took out guns and knives and then attacked the
gatecrashers. Security from the balconies-Manar included-opened fire
with machine guns.
Kiyor ran along the perimeter, pulling Rowan along
with him. The riots were causing crowds to run in several directions
and thunderous clashes caused murder and injury. Limp bodies fell.
Others were crushed. One of the raiders ran about with an amulet. All
this time, Rowan hadn’t resisted Kiyor’s pull. He stopped
abruptly and kicked open a boarded window. It wasn’t completely
open, so he let go of her wrist and charged it with his shoulder.
He ran through, Rowan chasing after him. The pair
were chased after by the person with the amulet. Neither showed fear. 5
armoured vans drew up and skidded to a halt. Forces rushed out of each
of them.
“About time they showed!” called out
Kiyor. “Bet your Mum never thought she had to use her
Militia!”
“No!” confirmed Rowan. They ran through
the alley, into another. “Where are we going?”
“The safest way home!”
They ran into yet another alley. That alley went
past a row of iron dens. They slowed down near a dead end, catching
their breath…only to be shocked by the click of a gun. They
faced the man pointing a gun, also holding a shiny amulet.
“The woman comes with me!” he announced.
He then gave out a choking sound, went limp and dropped his gun. He
flopped to the ground, showing the knife in his throat.
“Well this can definitely help answer a few
questions,” said a woman, coming forward from the dark, who then
picked up the amulet. She seemed to be covered in clothing impenetrably
tight.
“Don’t you ever get tired of watching me Siren?” Kiyor asked off-handedly.
“No! ‘Cos she just loves watching you do
nothing and then handling a situation all by himself!” This man
coming forward had said the above with blunt anger and sarcasm. He
appeared to wear a big, black coat.
“Just do your job,” Kiyor said
impatiently. The duo, sharing the same ethnic origin as Tonshu, went
away.
“Interesting pair of guards,” observed
Rowan. “They freely show their feelings and clearly do not have
names of a Dark Citizen.”
“The brother-sister duo of Hawk and
Siren,” Kiyor introduced. “They’re definitely not
Dark Citizens, but they can fit in anywhere. Just two of the many
valued bodyguards owned by the Vilkons.” This was stated rather
factually. He went to pick up the sewer lid.
“Then you should be glad of their services,” advised his companion.
“I don’t need their protection,” he calmly stated as a fact.
Rowan watched the seeping streaks of light from the
rising Sun penetrate the dense night sky. She also heard the sewer lid
being lifted. The grinding of the metal against the concrete seemed to
be the only sound in the entire city. She was faintly aware of another
sound. Someone seemed to resist an attack. Footsteps grew louder. The
group turned the corner and- “Manar?”
“You know this person?” Siren demanded with disbelief.
“She’s the head bodyguard of my family.
Release her.” Kiyor nodded at his guards. They released her.
Manar straightened herself, regained her composure
and reverted to her neutral, rigid self. “Mistress, your mother
had sent me to check on your safety.”
“Then why didn’t you just stop and say
that when we demanded your business?” demanded Hawk as if the
situation was Manar’s fault.
“You had appeared right in front of me,”
she stated blankly. “You should have demanded my business from
the shadows, but in that circumstance, you appeared to be no more than
threatening hooligans.”
“You have a problem with our techniques
red-hair?” Siren angrily demanded. Her brother advanced with her.
“I am merely stating that you do not act professionally.”
Kiyor burst out laughing, to the surprise of everyone. “The day
those two act professionally will be the day that an Elf weds a
Vampire. Come on, everyone into the sewer.”
They prepared to climb in.