IMPORTANT! THE PROLOGUE IS COMPLETELY CHANGED; REREAD BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER!
Authors note: Yay! Chapter 1, it is a bit slow, but there will be action soon enough;)
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When it burns
Chapter 1
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"His name is Ian", Rei said.
"Ian Papov".
He looked at me, expectantly, almost as if he assumed the name to mean something. Of course it did not ring any bells, and I stared levelly back at him, wondering how a person I did not even know the name of could cause so much trouble. It was almost surrealistic, the fact that Rey was here, after two years, brining unanswered accusations and demands into a life I was so desperately trying to rebuild.
"Courtesy of Lee", he said, handing me what appeared to be a case file.
I did not open it. Perhaps I would read it later, when I was alone. Rey was boring his eyes into mine, trying to force a response. He should know that it was futile, and with a dismissive snort I leaned back in my chair, gaze fixed on the sky.
"Kai, please", Rey said, on the verge of exploding it seemed.
Lee. I wondered what he had told Rey. Clearly not the truth. If he had this conversation would be something entirely different right now. Perhaps Rey would not even have been here. The idea made me uncomfortable. Still, I was grateful. Both for Lee´s warning, and the fact that he had given it to Rey, given me a chance at explaining myself, at least partly. On some level I was also furious with him. He had not given me much choice, something I felt that I deserved. This was after all my life, mine! Not His or Rey´s or anyone else´s.
"I recognize him", I finally said, gesturing at the picture on the table between us.
We were sitting outside on the patio, overlooking the sea. I was taking in the sun, trying to ignore the tinge of anxiousness that was hiding just at the corner of my eyes, while Rey was eating all my exotic fruits. Not that I was particularly bothered. Even if he was a jerk I cared enough not to throw him out.
"You….recognize him?" Rey said, almost disbelieving.
Ian Papov. Yes, of course I recognized him, I merely did not know his name back then. He had been one of many, I had been the big bad wolf, the one no one dared challenge without fearing for their very life. Two years had passed since the scandal surrounding Balcov Abby. Boris was imprisoned, all other ties to grandfather disposed off. At least that was what I had initially assumed. Ian Papov had never been of any interest to me, but clearly I should not have taken this so lightly.
"Kai, look! This guy is planning on going to the media, telling them that you were there, we have to do something!"
Rey sounded agitated, deeply offended on my behalf.
"That I was were?" I inquired, just for good measure, a part of me insanely amused by Rey´s annoyance over my apparent indifference.
"In Balcov Abby Kai!" He almost shouted, incensed.
I stared at him for a long time, considering my options. The last thing I wanted was for the world to know about my bleak and bloody upbringing, the things I had done, the things he had made me do. The thought made something clench deep inside my chest, an old ache returning full force. No, I did not want them to know, I couldn´t let them know. If only for my own piece of mind I couldn´t. The truth hurt like hell. That was why Lee had given me this warning, because he knew, because he, out of all of them…..understood.
"Perhaps it is the truth", I said somewhat mournfully, once again closing my eyes.
Rey was silent for a while, before shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
"I…I…even if it is, do you want…want people to know?"
The silence stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, before I opened my eyes once more, gazing emptily at the ocean.
"No, ….no I don´t".
"Then you have to return to New York", Rey said, his tone sterner than I could remember.
The boy in the picture was staring at me, looking sly and surprisingly ugly. I suppose that was why I remembered him, because he had the largest nose I had ever seen. Combined with his slight, feminine frame he had always been an odd sight. In the Abby his hair had been purple, and I was vaguely surprised that it was now pitch black. I suppose it made him look a little bit better, if only a little.
"How did Lee come about this information?" I asked, sinking further down in the sun chair.
"He works for the government, I wouldn´t know", Rey responded matter of factly.
It was clear that he found my questions to be somewhat misplaced. I suppose he had expected another reaction entirely. Then again he didn´t really know me. Even if we were closer than most no one knew me, not completely, not like…..grandfather. A scowl settled on my features, jaw clenching. This was al his fault. Even in death he seemed to hold all the cards. The chess pieces I had crushed were replaced, and the game was once again complicating my life.
"How are the others doing?" I wondered, voice detached, distracting my own trail of thoughts.
Rey watched as I pulled off my t-shirt and rolled over on my stomach on the sunbed, basking in the warmth, only wearing my trunks. The sun was true bliss, and I closed my eyes, concentrating on the sound of water crashing against the cliffs further down. Rey was of course very distracted, and I was mildly amused when he blushed scarlet at my apparent shamelessness.
"They…they are doing fine, worried about you though", he mumbled, biting his lip in badly hidden nervousness.
Rey looked at me, continuing when I made no move to react on his last statement.
"Tyson and Max are good, blading as usual, Kenny is studying computer engineering, in addition to helping the team of course", he trailed off, looking at me.
"And Hilary is also good, she is…she is seeing this guy from church".
I absentmindedly shifted onto my back again, lowering my sunglasses to send him an interested stare.
"From church?"
He shrugged, as if he didn´t understand either.
"Is he good to her?" I asked him, briefly wondering why I cared. Hilary was a good fuck, sure, but other than that she was of no interest to me.
"He is a jerk", Rey declared, annoyed.
I smirked.
"He is treating her well, but he is a jerk".
From church. Although I found the prospect vaguely amusing, I would be the first to acknowledge the fact that she was most likely much better off with him than with me. Somehow I suspected that he wouldn´t make her cry, and I knew I would. I already had. She was nice enough; I merely needed someone more…open. If such a person even existed. Rey was the one who came the closest, but he was a guy, which ultimately ruled him out.
"And you?" I inquired, feeling the tension build in him at the question.
First he looked uncomfortable, then he smiled, a happy smile I noticed with some relief. A purplish blush was creeping up his ears, and I sat up, looking intently at him.
"I….I met someone", he said, excitement evident in his tone.
I smiled, a surprisingly sincere smile. One of those only Rey got.
"I am happy for you", I said, meaning it.
If anyone deserved happiness it was Rey, and this also meant that his crush on me might be subsiding, which was indeed a relief. He returned the smile, nodding, blushing more.
"I want him to meet you, if you return", he added, glancing shyly at me.
Return. There it was again, the million dollar question. Would I return? And if I did, was I prepared to take up the fight against this Ian Papov? In retrospect I had already known what the outcome would be when I approached Rey on the beach. Of course I would return. The jaguar always picks his fights carefully, and this time I wouldn´t back down. Perhaps I am predictable that way, because I rarely shy away from a confrontation, even if this would be more of a subtle one. If he intended to go to the media I would have to return before he did. Otherwise it would seem as if I cared enough to come back only because of him. Naturally I couldn´t have that.
"He is scheduled to appear on the today show next week", Rey responded to my unspoken question.
The today show. Lee had been right in his judgement. Had it been some small unimportant newspaper, but a major news channel. It bothered me that he had decided to go after the truth in such a fashion. I had never done anything to him, so why did he feel it was necessary to drag all this to the surface. Having survived Balcov Abby he couldn´t be a complete idiot after all, and he probably knew that I wouldn´t want people to know about my time spent there.
No, I had to return. Questions had to be answered, and those answers were in New York, not here. I suppose Lee´s newfound respect for me should have been a relief, but after what I had done to him I had difficulty seeing it that way. He was clearly trying to repay me for what I had done at the mansion, but then again I was the one who had gotten him there to begin with. Still, I was grateful that he had not told anyone about what had happened that night, and furthermore that he had brought Ian Papov to my attention.
"We´ll leave tomorrow", I said with finality, standing up and stalking inside.
Tala answered on the first ring, as always anxious to know that I was alright. To my surprise he had become someone I relied on. He was trustworthy, and like Rey he seemed to care for me on a deeper level, even if I was not always the easiest person to be around.
"Something has come up", I stated, my mind already sharp and prepared for what was to come.
"Can you have the jet ready for tomorrow morning?"
"Of course", he immediately said.
"And check out an individual named Ian Papov, you might know him from the Abby. I want all there is to know".
"Potato nose?" Tale inquired, a badly hidden snicker in his voice.
I smirked wolfishly.
"Yes".
"Very well, should I arrange for someone to look after your property in Rabat?" He asked, and I could literally feel my heart sink when I realized that I would actually have to leave.
The silence dragged on for a while before I agreed with a reluctant "Hn".
I hung up. The sense of melancholy was almost overwhelming, and I looked around, taking in the sights, smells and impressions of what had been my first real home. Large arching windows facing the sea, oriental, hand-woven rugs in a variation of reds, maroons and deep orange covering the floors. There was nothing new in there. Everything was handpicked by me, bought at markets and bazars because one way or another I had felt drawn towards it. And thus this fantastic place had gradually started to feel like home.
The room smelled of sea, and I wandered further in, my bare feet sinking into the lush carpets. The staircase to the second floor was spiralling upwards, small, traditionally arching windows giving a terrifyingly beautiful view down towards the cliffs and the treacherous waves. The small house consisted of two floors. A larger first floor and then a second floor with only two rooms, the large master bedroom and a beautifully decorated bathroom in typical Moroccan style, with complicated mosaics in all shades of blues and greens.
I packed light. Just as when I had left two years ago I only brought the essentials. A few clothes, toothbrush, deodorant. The Muramasa was resting peacefully on a display table by the window, and I picked it up, feeling the perfect balance as it melted into my hands.
Again something I should have gotten rid of. It contained so many memories, so much suffering, so much….death. And I still wouldn´t let it go. I gazed thoughtfully at the dragon tsuba, before placing the sword on a chair by the door, on top of the duffle. Perhaps there were some things I needed to remember.
That night I left Rey to his own devices. I spent most of the afternoon in the medina, memorizing everything one last time before I left. Despite myself I bought a couple of new carpets, some Moroccan spices, just a few things I could bring with me. Something to remind me of home while I was away. I ate dinner at a local place, and then I went surfing into the early hours of the morning, the moon providing the only light.
Rey met me on my way in, soaked in saltwater and wearing only the wetsuit. He blushed profoundly at the sight, and I went straight in the shower. We ate breakfast in silence, dates, Moroccan bread from the market and grilled salmon from yesterdays dinner. And just like that it was time, and I closed the shutters on the windows facing the sea, locking the door with obvious regret.
"I am glad you are coming", Rey said, clearly aware of my reluctance as I slung my bag into the backseat of the car.
I didn´t answer him, but secured the Muramasa in between the front seats, the cotton wrapped handle facing the sky. Rey looked at it with a combination of wonder and unease, and with one last look at my wonderful little place by the sea I backed the car up, leaving my safe haven behind.
It took most of my self-control not to look back; instead I watched the small, sandstone building disappear in the rear-view mirror, along with the dark ocean. And then it was gone, forcing my attention back to the road as we speeded along the dirt trail, headed for the highway and then the airport.
The sleek, cream coloured company yet was already refuelled and waiting when we arrived, and Morocco disappeared a bit to fast for my liking, hidden beneath fluffy white clouds. When New York appeared beneath us 7 hours later I was still feeling preoccupied and anxious, and although my face was void of all emotion my insides were raging. When the plane touched down it was late afternoon, and I grabbed my stuff from the flight attendant, Rey scrambling to catch up as I strode purposefully down the ramp.
I silently thanked Tala, smiling for the first time in days as I spotted the Ferrari waiting just outside the plane. It looked striking and aggressive, its slanted headlights blinking a couple of times when I pressed the button on the key. What a machine! With badly hidden excitement I gently touched the emblem of the prancing horse on my way past, before entering on the drivers side.
Rey barely had the time to put his seat belt on before we blasted out of the airport, a few people dressed in yellow overalls directing us towards the parking lot and then the highway.
The car was just as I remembered. Temperamental, eager, sensitive on the steering; a beast. Rey held tightly onto his seat most of the way, his knuckles whitening as I made a particularly nasty turn up the driveway to my house.
"Jeez Kai, I should get a medal for surviving that", he mumbled, staggering out of the car, face pale.
"It is a Ferrari", I simply said, as if that explained everything, and Rey looked at me, smiling.
We stared at each other, and he seemed suddenly unsure. Like I was some big jungle cat ready to rip his throat out at any moment. Perhaps I was.
"Would you like to come in? Say hi to the others and stuff?" He wondered, hesitantly tugging at the hem of his jacket.
"Perhaps I can come for breakfast", I allowed, voice serious.
With that I turned, proceeding to unlock the door, I could feel his presence behind me, by the car. Why did he not leave? He never left I realized. I suppose that was why I valued him, because one way or another he never left. Strange I pondered, how I actually considered him a friend. How he had gone after me, even though I had been gone for two years, leaving without even the slightest hint of goodbye. I sent him an appreciative look.
"Thank you", I slowly said, before going inside, closing the door behind me.
Tala had arranged for someone to clean the house, remove dust blankets from the furniture, and said person had even been considerate enough to fill the fridge. I helped myself to some orange juice before sitting down by the kitchen island. At the back of my mind I could vaguely recall leaving a suit hanging over one of the stools, but it was gone now, and I realized just how impersonal this place actually was.
I wandered mindlessly through the rest of the house the remainder of the day, looking, touching, brooding. Deep down I regretted turning down Rey´s offer, but I was too proud to go over there after declining in the first place. In Morocco I had mostly been on my own. Every no and then I had a fling with some random girl on vacation, but otherwise I kept to myself. There I had preferred being alone, because even if there were no other people present I still had the waves, the sea, the wind. This entire building felt hollow, empty, and when I went to bed that evening I couldn´t sleep.
Ian Papov I reminded myself, that was why I was here. The faster he was dealt with, the faster I could return home. With a sigh I grabbed the case file from the nightstand, turning on the light. It was 4 O´clock in the morning. Time to start working on the problem at hand…