The moon was full, illuminating the streets and lighting up the sky.
There was fury in her eyes. She would taste blood tonight. The summer night was warm and warranted her trademark backless black dress. The dress made a show of the large black dragon tattoo on her back. As she stalked through the alleys she thought of her mother. Her mother was dead now and she knew who was responsible for her mother's death. Tonight, though, would serve her only in the satisfaction of slaughter and reuniting with her sister. They had taken her. The Felt. They were the ones responsible for this. She wondered for a moment if she could be any more angry at the situation. The rest of the family would be furious if they knew that she was going in alone to receive her sister. She had a katana on her thigh and knives in her boots. She was ready. She knew they weren't. Oh, the looks on their faces. She was giddy with excitement. As she neared the warehouse that she knew her sister was being kept in, her blood boiled further. She broke into a sprint and leaped to the roof. She let out a breath as she landed on her feet. Her fangs almost ached with anticipation. She drew her sword, the only sound breaking the silence being the twang of the blade when it came fully unsheathed. She kicked in the door. The Clearing to the warehouse was a blur. The sweet tang of blood soaked the air. When the last of the foot-soldiers were dead and she was satisfied of her blood thirst, she made her way to the basement. She kicked in that door too. Perhaps with a bit too much force. The door flew into the opposite wall where she heard a gasp. She saw her sister tied to a chair in the middle of the room. The gasp momentarily forgotten, Kanaya was relieved to find her sister alive.
"Kanaya." Kanaya couldn't tell if it was relief in her voice or anger. Perhaps both. Porrim had clearly been blood-starved for days.
Kanaya used her blade to cut Porrim's Bonds. "Go feed. Meet me at home."
"Thank you Kanaya." With that, Porrim was gone.
Remembering the gasp, Kanaya turned toward the metal door. Clearly someone was behind it. Kanaya sheathed her sword as she approached it. Any human would have a struggle pushing it off of them but this person seemed to not be trying at all. Kanaya pushed over the door and it landed with a loud bang. There was a blonde chained to the wall. The bang of the door did not stir her. Kanaya realized that when she kicked in the door it must've knocked her out. The blonde was beautiful. She looked worn. She must've been chained to the wall for a couple of days. Being in a gracious mood from finding her sister, Kanaya removed the blonde from the wall and took her home.
When she got back to the manor that the Maryams call home, Kanaya laid the blonde down on a guest bed on the third floor. Kanaya wandered back to the first floor to check in with Rogers. Rogers was the man who ran the numbers in the family. He was the guy who kept track of the money and kept the business going. He, along with Porrim or Kanaya would run things whenever the Dolorosa was gone. Now that the Dolorosa was no longer in the picture, Kanaya would have to get used to having more responsibility in taking care of the family business.
"Salutations Rogers." Kanaya said, leaning in the doorway to Rogers' office.
"Kanaya! Where have you been?" Said Rogers, Looking up from his desk.
"Rogers I went to receive Porrim."
"Kanaya-"
"I know what you're gonna say Rogers, I knew the danger. I came out on top."
"Yes, but what if they'd been too much for you, Kanaya? What if you hadn't come out on top? I don't know what I would've done had you, your mother, and your sister been gone!" Rogers stood from his desk and made his way to Kanaya. "I'm so glad you girls are alright." Said Rogers into Kanaya's shoulder. Kanaya returned his embrace.
"Me too, Rogers. Me too."
"Where is she then, where's Porrim?" Asked Rogers, Breaking the embrace and returning to his desk.
"She should be getting back any time now, I left her to hunt. You should get to bed, Rogers. You look tired."
"You're the one who kept me up! Just up and disappearing like that! I ought to ground you!" Kanaya chuckled.
"Come on Rogers, let's get you upstairs. Everyone else is already asleep"
"Fine, fine, let me shut this down first."
"Allright Rogers, I'll trust you to make it upstairs on your own." Kanaya turned and meandered back to the third floor with a soft smile gracing her black lips. Rogers could always make her feel better.
After taking a bath, the sun was nearly up. Just after Kanaya put on a fresh set of clothes, Porrim burst into her room smelling like night air and sweat.
"Kanaya tell me you did not bring that girl home with you."
"I did." Kanaya replied with caution.
"You don't know who she is, do you?"
"Who is she?"
"Rose Lalonde!"
"That rings no bells, sister."
"Kanaya, she's the Lalonde of Beta Squad of the Pack!" Kanaya knew of the Pack, though, not much. She knew that they divided themselves into three groups. The Alpha, the Beta and the Theta. She knew they had four members each. The Pack were the best hired hands in the world. What one of them was doing here, was a mystery to Kanaya. They were fast and clean with hits, plants and heists. They managed to keep their location a secret from all the major crime families and even the Midnight Crew and the Felt. If you wanted them for a job, they would know about it and come to you. Kanaya supposed that she would have to ask the blonde how she came about being trapped in the warehouse with Porrim. The Pack had alwas been a neutral party when it came to gang wars.
"I'm not worried."
"She's dangerous, Kanaya!"
"She should at least show us consideration. I did save her after all and she is now a guest in the House Maryam." Porrim regarded Kanaya for a moment, then spoke.
"Fine. But she's your responsibility. I'm going to get some rest. We'll talk more later." With that, Porrim swept away.
Kanaya decided she would go check on Rose Lalonde. When she reached the guest room, she pushed open the door and sat down in the armchair in the corner. The light of dawn warmed her skin and she heard the stirring of one Rose Lalonde. Rose sat up slowly.
"Where am I?" Rose groaned.
"You're currently a guest in House Maryam, Rose Lalonde."
Rose stiffened. "What have I done to get myself landed here, of all places?"
"I picked you up from a former warehouse of the Felt." Rose's face fell into a stormy look.
"The job was a set up" Rose nodded, as if answering a question.
"So the Felt are moving in on even the Pack. What are they planning?" Kanaya wondered aloud.
"Wouldn't we all like to know. You didn't answer my question, though. What am I doing in House Maryam?"
"I took you home, after I knocked you out with a steel door."
"Oh well thank you for hitting me with a steel door, it has graced me with a wonderful headache this morning." Kanaya narrowed her eyes.
"You seemed to have been stuck in that position for multiple days. You ought to be thankful to me." Rose straightened.
"Yes, my apologies, thank you for saving me, Kanaya Maryam." Kanaya wasn't surprised that Rose knew who she was. News of her mother must've spread like wildfire.
Rose rubbed at her eyes. "What day is it?"
"June 15." If it were possible for Rose's eyes to get bigger, they did.
"God, Raye must be so worried about me!" Exclaimed Rose to herself. "May I borrow a phone?"
"Give me a moment." Kanaya rose from her seat and exited the room. When she came back, Rose was laying on the bed, arms spread wide, staring at the ceiling.
"Rose." Rose sat up again. Kanaya passed her the phone.
"Thank you." Rose took the phone and dialed a number that Kanaya couldn't see. "Hello, this is Rose. Checking in. Yeah, let me speak to Raye. Thanks. Hey, Raye, how's Roxy? Did she check in yet? Good. I'm safe now. Yeah. I'll be back soon. Okay. See you then. Goodbye." Rose handed the phone back to Kanaya. "Did you get your sister out?"
"Of course I did. That's what I went for." Rose grimaced. Kanaya found herself displeased with Rose's face forming such an expression. Rose was beautiful. She deserved to be happy. To have a mother, Kanaya thought. Don't get ahead of yourself Kanaya, you don't know her story, and she probably won't tell you. Don't get your hopes up. "Would you like something to eat?" Kanaya asked instead of what was really eating at her. What did they do to you? To my sister? Those were questions better left for another time.
"Please." Kanaya left the room and walked out to a balcony hallway.
"Dalton!"
"WHAT?" Came the answer from the kitchens.
"Whip me up something would you?"
"You got it Kan!"
Kanaya went back to the guest room to find Rose asleep. She didn't want to think about what the Felt had been doing to her. It Must've been hell. Kanaya closed the curtains and the room darkened. Having had a long night as well, Kanaya decided to get some rest herself, and returned to her own room.
"Send it up to guest room four would you? Thanks Dalton!" Kanaya called as she passed the balcony.
As her face hit her pillow, and the soft glow of her skin was swallowed up by blankets, Kanaya Drifted into sleep. Her dreams were plagued by screams. The screams of her mother. And the impending screams of Lord English himself. She would bring down the Felt. She had to.
Next chapter up soon!