The streets of Portland, Oregon, were almost deserted. It was slightly snowing, few sparse snowflakes that well decorated street lamps were lighting up. Only a few passersby were still hurrying outside for the end of this evening. Among them, a limping but decided figure was walking alone with her head raised to the street numbers hanging on each building and was obviously looking for something. He finally turned in a narrow, darker street between two buildings made of red bricks. He walked for about a hundred and fifty feet and finally stopped in front of the door of a bar whose name was written in half-luminous letters and read "Offway". The person pushed the door of the bar and a lively Latino kind of song welcomed him. A few couples were dancing on a dance floor in front of a stage where a very pretty dark-haired woman was singing with her musicians. In front of the entrance door, several clients were sitting at very long and very well lit taproom and were watching either the singer or the dancers.

The newcomer, who was indeed a woman, put down the collar of her coat and headed at a limping pace toward a narrow opening on the right of the bar, which leaded to another room that was much quieter than the first one. The young woman freed her long curly brown hair from her coat and looked around her. There were only a taproom and some booths and the room was so dimly lit and quiet that someone not used to this kind of places could have found the ambiance to be quite chilling.

But it was not Kira's case. The young woman finally spotted what she was searching and she thrust her hands in her coat's pockets before heading to the darker end of the taproom. She sat on a barstool and ordered a glass of whisky with cherry coke to the bartender as he came to her. He came back quickly with the beverage, served into a large square glass with ice and a colorful straw. Kira considered that the straw was useless and threw it away before slowly drinking two mouthfuls.

"At last," said suddenly someone to her right, the voice being probably concealed with a scarf or something like that. "I was starting to think you would never come."

Kira did not even turn to the person who was talking to her and took the time to drink another mouthful before answering:

"I like when people are waiting for me," she replied in a neutral tone.

"What have taken you so much time?" resumed the other. "Five days is quite long. I thought you were more efficient."

"I've been strikingly efficient." Grumbled Kira. "I just did it my way."

"You are quite messed up." Remarked the person, who was obviously amused.

Kira lay one of her hand on her face and gently felt the bottom of her right eye, her swollen cheekbones and her split lips.

"That's what's good about being a slayer," she said. "I'm sure Faith is already healing from her wounds whereas mine are only starting to appear."

"The effect of the magic is fading?"

"Yeah," Kira answered. "And as I had to get on a very high dose to compete with that tigress, it's all the more tough now."

"Your healing will take days," said the other, and his tone made clear the person was smiling.

"Looks like you find that funny," grumbled Kira.

"I warned you," simply answered the person she was talking to.

The silence fell while Kira was drinking again.

"I have been told you made good impression," resumed the voice.

Kira snorted to that.

"I knew you were spying on me," she said. "Don't trust me?"

"Of course I do," answered the other in an offended tone. "I was just curious to see how you will go about it."

"Did you like the show?"

"The 'trying to make friends' part wasn't necessary in my opinion."

"Don't worry, I highly doubt that Faith would send me postcards for Christmas."

"It feels like it saddens you."

"She's nice."

"You shouldn't have any regret." The other tried to comfort. "Faith is not really interested in friendship."

Kira opened her mouth to answer something, but she finally refrained herself and shrugged.

"If you say so,"

"What about Tara?" asked the voice.

"It's hard to tell," Kira answered, shrugging again. "She's too shy. And she didn't like me. But it took her more time than I thought to realize that I'm a witch myself."

"I've been told that you mishandled her a little,"

"Wasn't my intention," the young woman replied. "I don't like to mishandle witches of her kind."

"It is quite surprising of you. Except if the fact that you are related bothers you?"

"Related? What do you mean related?" grumbled Kira.

"She comes from a family where women are witches for generations and I do believe, it is your case too. You probably have some relative in common somewhere."

"Yeah! Probably!" Kira exclaimed in an ironic tone. "Everyone knows that every witches are sisters!"

"Well, let's get down to business," she resumed a second after in a serious tone. "I haven't dragged myself around here to chit chat with you. Do you have what you owe me?"

"What would you do if I don't?"

"I'd show you right here right now how good I am as a slayer."

"You're in no fit state for that." Retorted the person she was talking to.

"Well, then I'd call Faith to tell her that you paid me. And I'd tell her where she could find you. I'm sure she would be more than happy to take care of you herself."

"Are you sure they don't suspect anything?" the other suddenly asked, completely ignoring Kira's threat, but now a little worried about his question.

"Of course they don't suspect anything." Replied Kira in an evident tone. "I'm an outstanding actress. If I wasn't working for people like you, I could make it to Hollywood!"

"If you take a new departure, be sure to tell me," answered the person she was talking to, her tone making clear the person was smiling.

"I'll think about it." Kira said. "And don't worry, they don't suspect anything, all their hatred is for me and me only." she added in a more serious tone.

"You should try not to meet Faith again." Advised the other.

There was then the sound of folded paper and a gloved hand appeared from the darkness holding a white large envelope out to the witch.

"You worked well. Here is your reward."

Kira took the envelope and opened it. It was filled with several wads of bills that the witch conscientiously counted

"Don't trust me?" asked her contact, mimicking her own question a little sooner.

"Of course I do," replied Kira ironically. "But I like counting."

When she was done, she carefully closed the envelope and slipped it in an inside pocket of her coat. Then she finished her glass in one go, stood up and started to close the buttons of her coat.

"What are you going to do now?" asked the voice.

"I'll stay in Portland for a day or two," Kira answered. "I'll take advantage of these days to visit my mother who must be turning in her grave by the way. Then I'll get back home."

She finished to button her coat and turned to the shadow of the person she was talking to for the first time.

"If you need me again, you know where to find me," She concluded. "Goodbye."

The other did not answer anything but waved slightly and Kira hardly noticed in the darkness. The witch turned on her heels and crossed the bar up to the exit. In the main room, people were still having a very good time.

Once outside, Kira glanced one last time at the blinking sign above the door of the bar. Then she thrust her hands into her pockets and went away slowly, her limping increasing with each step, and she eventually vanished in the night.

End of 'Dark deeds'
To be continued in 'Insights'...

Hope you enjoyed this one, please let me know what you think about it!