Chapter 5: Trouble Ensues
"Hehe, look at this, I haven't seen her so calm in so long. Isn't this such a lovely sight?" Worick's voice is heard while Biserka is still lying on the couch. His voice finally takes her out of her endless contemplation. She ignores him, hoping he'll get bored and leave. Not that it has ever worked.
"It really is. Look how cute she's when she's calm without faking it," Alex giggles, standing beside him. They watch Nick and Biserka as if it's some exotic animal display.
"No, no, Ale-chan. Mademoiselles like you and her are more likely … SeXy in different ways rather than cut. Cony-chan and Nina-chan… when she becomes a mademoiselle are more cute." Biserka doesn't need her eyes to see how big a smirk is now shaping on Worick's face. Poor Alex has to put up with that 24/7.
*SMACK*
The sound of Alex smacking him echoes in the tiny apartment. "You jerk! Stupid perv!" she hisses at him.
"Aww aww! Sorry sorry, you're cute too," he teases, sucking in Alex's frustration like a vampire feeding on blood.
"Agh, anyway. I was about to say we should get a camera just to capture some rare moments. Just quiet moments without any fuss."
"Bahaha, sure. We'll die the next day," he laughs loudly, almost so loud that Nick rolls his eyes at him.
"Shh, you'll wake her up! What if she hears."
"Oh, she's awake. She's just ignoring us," he leans closer and whispers, "it's 4p.m by the way."
"4p.m?" Biserka sits up and looks at them with an annoyed face.
"And it's gone. It was too good to last," Worick's shoulders drop, emphasizing his disappointment.
"It's the weekends, what's the hurry?" Alex asks.
"Your fridge is ghosted, and I need to visit Shady's to get new blades." She stands up and grabs her bag from the ground. Nick holds her sleeve to catch her attention.
"There won't be any midget to escort you this time. Eat something,"he says with an expression that leaves no room for argument.
"Fine," she rolls her eyes, pulling her hand away. She walks into the kitchen, starts the coffee maker, grabs whatever is left in the fridge, and chomps it down. She chugs down the coffee, walks into the bedroom, and changes into her brown leather jacket, denim trousers, and black boots. It's mid-November, and the weather is getting colder and colder, but now snow. Just an insulting sharp breeze. She looks into her bag, contemplating over wearing the mask or not. She's going to visit people who know her, and she probably won't run into Levi. She's to take it off eventually, just not yet.
After ten minutes of Shakespearean dilemma, she finally decides against wearing it. Taking the unnecessary items out of her bag, she only keeps the painkillers, candies, wallet and two daggers. She shoves a push-dagger and a pocket knife into her pockets and walks out of the room.
"I'm off," she says, walking to the door.
"Already?" Alex askes, concerned.
"Just running some errands, be back soon. Well, maybe not too soon."
"Come back alive," Alex sighs as Biserka walks out of the door, closing it behind her.
Groceries, weapons, and most importantly, visiting Theo. She checks her mental list, walking toward District 7 to Theo's. She stops midway, turning left, and decides to see Theo's clinic at last. Or not today. The cold breeze slaps on her face; even though it's not that cold, it's cold enough to annoy the mob, who have not yet moved on from the sun's warmth. She walks past District 2, enters District 3, and passes the orphanage. She looks at Monroe's new orphanage after twilight hunters destroyed the old one. Everyone's still wounded by the twilight hunter attack 15 years ago. Everyone lost something or someone. The orphans who were not kidnapped ended up being homeless. It took a lot of time and effort to build this new one. All those kids who were not kidnapped have grown up and left the orphanage. Yet Biserka and people around her are still paddling in the same mud.
"BISERKA!" Two cheerful voices pierce through her thoughts. She turns back to see Denise and Darius, twins from the orphanage about nine years old, running toward her. The little girl jumps over her, loses her balance, and falls.
"Have you come to play?" Denise exclaims, staring into her soul with her emerald eyes. Her soft, wavy hair is always flipped down to her shoulders. She wears a cotton blue dress with an oversized brown coat on top of it.
"Where were you?" Darius adds without giving Biserka a chance to respond. He has the same features, only with short hair. He's wearing brown corduroy pants, a blue shirt, and a brown coat on top. He's the more cool-headed of the two. They are identical in looks but different by a universe in personality. It only takes five minutes for anyone to see how their dynamic works. One is the social brain who works behind the scenes until needed.
"I'm just shopping," Biserka responds, smiling at them.
"Yay! So, we can play after? Or or–" she jumps up, clapping her hands, "–or maybe tell us some secrets ?!" They pull her up, dragging her along with them.
"How about reading?"
"But we will play first!"
"H-hey wait…" Biserka tries to release her hands without pulling too hard, but their enthusiasm is like the force of gravity. She can never overcome it. And before she knows it, they've already dragged her to the shop.
"Looki here! Look who we have here!" Denise shouts into opening the door.
"What did you do again?" a feminine voice comes from the back of the shop. Miranda, a tall ginger woman in her 30s with puffy cheeks, is wearing a white shirt and a long skirt and comes to the counter. "Well, I'll be damned. Look who decided to show up," she says, looking at Biserka. She runs the grocery store in District 3 under the Monroe family and loves to mediate between love-birds. She's been volunteering at the orphanage for a long time and has helped rebuild it. The kids help her around with the shop, and she's particularly fond of the twins and has been planning on adapting them for a while now. Although Biserka tends to avoid places directly tied to the Godfathers, she visits the kids occasionally to escape her problems. Kids are the only people whose auras are not mixed with endless stains and ugly colours.
"C'mon, it's only been three months. Not very busy today, huh?" Biserka says, looking at the only other customer going through cereal options.
"It's 5p.m. people are gone."
"Well anyway, can I get the usual–" she hesitates and changes her mind, "actually never mind. Can I just get some grocery?"
"Hmm? Sure, what do you need?" Miranda raises her eyebrow.
"I need pasta, meat, chicken, milk, onions, beer, whatever fruit you have, and potatoes."
"Oh my," Miranda says with a mischievous smile. What's the occasion? Someone moved in? You should tell me all about it, girl!" She leans on the counter, winking at Miranda.
"Does that mean she got a boyfriend?!" Denise's eyes sparkle as she looks up to Biserka.
"As If," she rolls her eyes, "I'm just staying at Benriya's and their place is empty."
"Pfft, homeless again?" she laughs in disappointment as she goes to the back to grab Biserka's list.
"I'm never homeless."
"I'm sure that's true."
"Can I get my stuff already? I'm in a hurry," Biserka pleas. She can't act rudely in front of the kids.
"What you're leaving already?" Darius's head drops.
"Sorry bud, I'm a bit busy today," she ruffles his hair.
"Here you go," Miranda reappears again with two bags of groceries and puts them on the counter with the receipt.
"Thanks," Biserka picks up the bags and walks out of the store.
"I'm waiting for the TEA!" Miranda's voice fades as the door closes behind her. Biserka resists the urge to flip her off and continues to walk, only to hear little footsteps following her.
"You need something?" she turns, looking at the twins behind her.
"Can't you just stay for a little? Just one tiny tiny bit?" Denise pouts, making puppy eyes. Biserka feels her eyes could pop out any moment with all that pressure.
"I promise I visit really soon," she says, melting internally. With or without their sparkly colours, fresh and soft like a newly bloomed water lily, resisting this happy bubble has always been a struggle. If she could, she'd just hang around all the time, ignoring the nauseating bloodshed and corruption around her.
"Even if you're busy, there's still something you have to do," Denise grins, leaning forward.
"I do?" Biserka asks with genuine curiosity.
"You mean you don't remember?!"
"Well…"
"You promised to teach me how to wield a knife," Darius steps in and takes a long wooden knife, more like a sword, from behind him. "Look I even made one."
"What about the hair dye?" Denise demands as if she's collecting and overdue rent.
"Or the story?" Darius adds.
"But the hair dye first!" Denise exclaims with frustration. Y/N has been buying ash-brown hair dye; it's just her natural hair colour. She's approaching her 30s. But somehow, Denise has come to the conclusion that there must be some sort of magical secrecy behind it.
"Oh…that…" she takes a moment to devise an age-appropriate excuse. She's been delaying her explanation for about a year and a half now. One day, they saw her buy the dye and never let it go. "How about if you–" "NO!" they interrupt her, getting as close to her face as their height permits. "You say this every time!"
"You told us to help at the shop, and we did!" Denise protests as she gradually turns into a tomato.
"You said to make drawing for the story, and we did," Darius backs her up. They cross their arms. Biserka has lost this one. She knew that for a while but needed an answer to satisfy them for now, until they figure it out.
"Alright, you win," she raises her arms, surrounded. But you mustn't tell anybody, okay? It's a promise between us only." She kneels down and points her pinky fingers to each one.
"It's a promise!" they cheer, wrapping their pinkies around hers. Yet another pact's been made.
"The truth is my hair shines in the darkness, that blows my cover at night. So, I need to dye it," she winks at them.
"You mean like a princess?!" Denise's eyes glow with joy.
"No, you idiot! Princesses aren't strong. They're powerless and frail so she must be powerful knight or warrior," he huffs, offended.
"NO, They Are Not! They're just not tough and ugly and hairy like warriors," she leans into her brother's face. Biserka feels like a lightening is about to spark from their eyes.
"Yes they are. All they do is to sit around, like you."
"And what are you, huh?! With your head shoved into books all day. Last time I checked, warriors are fighters, not nerds," she asks bossily, losing it with every word he says. Oh…this argument is going to go on forever,Biserka thinks to herself, trying to figure a way out of this loop, only to feel an extra presence approaching them.
"Hey, hey, time out," Biserka draws a truce between them, catching their attention while keeping a lookout for the footsteps that are coming. "How about to say it like this, I am a knight and a princess simultaneously. Would that work?" She pulls them close to her in a friendly manner.
"No way! Princesses don't fight for stupid reasons. Plus, they are higher ranked, and they order others around. Knights or whatever he says, those people aren't the same," she puffs her cheeks proudly as if looking down on a peasant.
"Well, what if a princess can fight on the battlefield as well as she can dance in the castle? This way, she can save others in danger… don't you like to protect Darius if someone is bullying him? That's the same for you, Darius." They fall into deep thoughts for a moment, giving Biserka a chance to focus on her surroundings. She can feel a familiar aura just behind a block. Familiar enough to guess but not familiar enough to read it all. Fuck.
"Tch didn't know you become an actual brat when hanging around one," Levi's sassy tone rings into her ears as he walks into the alley from the next block. Biserka's smile dries as she returns to the default mode of dealing with adults before she switches back. Especially those she's not fond of. In less than a week, he's seen her faint, seen her face, and the people she interacts with while she has nothing on him. She's far behind on what she's supposed to do, and his nasty attitude is not helping. If he's going to have the upper hand, she must at least annoy the life out of him.
"You know eavesdropping is bad, don't you, Levi?" she says reluctantly, without looking back, still on her knees next to the kids. She can see the kids exchanging curious glances. "What are you doing here?"
"You're the one to talk. After fainting on me like a stubborn brat and making me walk you home, now you're chit-chatting with other brats," his forehead creases, "'a princess that can fight,' what nonsense." Self-righteous asshole. She restrains from hitting back with an insult. Darius clenches his little fists, ready to fight the short bully who's quite a massive opponent compared to his tiny features.
"And you-" "Hey Mister! Who are you? Are you Biserka's friend? Are you here to play?" unable to control her curiosity, Denise jumps in, bombarding Levi with questions. Her eyes shines like a cheetah that has chosen her prey. Biserka may not be able to annoy Levi to the max, but these two will definitely fix that.
"Huh? What?" he looks at her as if she speaks another language.
Biserka takes a deep breath, stands up, and wraps her arm around Levi's shoulder, pulling him closer, "he is my new colleague at work and REALLY loves kids," a grin curves in the corner of her lips as she looks at him, "isn't that right Levi?" she squeezes him seeing he's getting uncomfortable and annoyed. She could see him saying "fuck you" with his eyes. Throwing this whole show feels vomitus, but if that pushes his button, it's worth it. And the kids will enjoy it too.
"Really? Does that mean he's smart?" Darius' eyes glimmer with hope.
"Unfortunately, I'm not sure if he is smart enough to fit your standards," she shrugs in disappointment, letting go of Levi. Levi frowns and pulls himself away, stepping aside and crossing his arms. His facial muscles have stiffened from his trying to not react.
"Ohh…" Denise's lips curve into a smirk as she exchanges a devilish glance with her brother, "remember what Miranda told us to do?" She tilts her head as if she's sending a message through telepathy.
"Uhh…? Oh…that. What of it?" Darius asks. The two adults watch as the kids steal the conversation again.
Her eyes shimmer as she observes Levi and Biserka from head to toe. "They're new colleagues, and she's disappeared for three months, so you know…!" she purses her lips.
"No…? I don't get it," Darius responds, sharing the same confused look as the adults.
"Dude! It's simple math! Miranda said she is hiding something, and I have never seen him around. And I get out WAY more than you. So, he's probably why."
"Oh, come on, there's no way," he rolls his eyes. Biserka watches, trying to decode the conversation, but that's not something she can read through their auras. Especially untainted and clear auras that kids have.
"You need to read more novels," she says as she starts circling around Levi like a hawk, deciding if her prey is worthy of a dive. "Well, he's a bit rude. Not very gentlemanly."
What on earth has that woman been telling them?!Although she can't read through the kids' minds, she can clearly see that Levi is getting more and more impatient in seconds. But somehow, he hasn't left yet. Maybe he wants to punch her after they depart. "You just got dumped by a nine-years-old," she grins at Levi, adding salt to the injury.
"But he just said she fainted on him…hmm that gives him some qualification," Denise keeps analyzing Levi, "not enough for a prince though." It was getting better and better each moment. Biserka feels she might as well play along only to fuck with Levi. But that's a slippery slope for her future interactions with the twins.
"Now now, sorry to burst your bubble Deni, but in no universe, Levi can be a prince. Not even a knight."
"I'm a cop," Levi finally says something to defend himself. In the end, he couldn't keep silent.
"Ooh! Okay! I give you that, mister. Hmm, Hmm," she takes a final look. "Well, he's short, but not that bad looking…I mean, he's wearing a leather jacket." Levi clenches his jaws, watching.
"Oh my god, Deni…" Darius lets out a big sigh, "a leather jacket isn't a way to measure how handsome someone is. You spend too much time with those old ladies." His disappointment with his sister's trivial logic seems beyond measure. He then takes a deep breath to provide his counter-observation, "Cop or not, he's an impolite man who looks like he hasn't slept for decades. Princes and knights are not even an option. Even the Benriya duo who deliver our packages are better. One of them even has a katana." He shrugs and makes a final note, "Well, I hope he's at least a good cop. Is he?" he looks at Biserka.
"Haven't put it to test yet. I hope so," she smirks, holding her laughter. Then she asks, "So what's the total score?"
"Meh," they say in unison.
"Pft! Poor guy," she pats Levi's shoulder, who has just been annihilated. "It's okay. You can dream big too. Maybe you change for better," she nods sympathetically, seeing as Levi is at the edge of bursting up.
He pushes her hand away, glaring at her and whispering, "don't touch me." He inhales and continues, "why did I even stay wasting my time with a bunch of brats? Unlike you, I have work to do."
"Because you love kids just like I said," she pokes him with her elbow. "Where are you going anyway?"
"Weapon store."
"Oh…" she falls silent, realizing her next station is the same as his.
"Does that mean he will come to play next time?" Denise calps her hands with excitement.
"Hell-" "Of course he will. But you won't tell Miranda anything about it."
"Aww but why?"
"He's a bit shy you see."
"Oi wait, I'm not doing that," he hisses at her.
"Are you sure?" she glares at him.
"Yes, I'm–" he suddenly stops talking, his head turning back and looking at the block's end. His demeanour changes from annoyed to alarmed. "I think it's time for you kids to go home," he says in an unusual tone, narrowing his eyes—almost like a warning. Biserka takes a look at him; he has his guard up. Is he threatening me?
"Whaaat? It's not even six yet!" Denise says, pouting in utter disappointment.
"Suck-" Levi stops himself from making a sarcastic remark, biting his tongue, then says, "Biserka and I have to go somewhere."
"We do?" Biserka asks in a low voice, almost as if she's asking herself.
"Yes," Levi replies, trying to convey a message through his eyes. A sudden chill runs down her spine as she hears a faint frequency of what sounds like wood breaking.
"I guess we do. We're gonna walk with you to the store, what do you think Levi?" Biserka gestures, passing the ball to him. But he only nods.
"We can go by ourselves. You go take care of your work," Darius says, trying to help.
"Oh no, you're on our way there anyway, right Levi?" she says again, more firmly this time. Expecting a spoken answer.
"Right. Let's go, it's late." He walks ahead, leading them to the next alley with the kids walking in the middle and Biserka at the end of the line. Denise follows gullibly, while Darius senses the change in the atmosphere and keeps looking around for clues. They arrive at the shop, and Levi opens the door.
"Welcome…?" Miranda's usual energetic greeting tone lowers into a confused merchant who's seen her rival business. "Back already?" she adds, looking at Biserka and the kids.
"We're dropping the kids off on our way to attending something. We thought it's time to get them home." Biserka says, sending her message across.
"Ohh, of course! I totally lost track of time. Silly me. You go ahead. Thanks for accompanying the kids," she smiles, walking out from behind the counter and leading the kids further inside.
"Your welcome," Levi says in a voice so low only the ants could hear, and walks out.
"See you guys," Biserka waves at the kids and follows Levi out.
They walk a couple of houses away, making sure they're far enough away. Levi looks at Biserka as she puts her groceries down. He seems to be expecting an action from her. "Do you always let your guard down so easily?" he asks presumptively.
"Fuck off."
"I know you heard it," he says, going straight to the point.
"So, what if I did," she says indifferently.
"What's your plan?" he asks impatiently. She can feel he's already done with her.
"Levi, you're the cop not me."
"You're a detective, aren't you? Then act like-"
BOOM
Levi is interrupted by a sudden loud sound that feels like a massive crash. He carefully walks into the next block, his hand slowly moving toward his belt, taking a colt out from under his shirt. Biserka begins to follow him, taking her knife out. She covers her nose with her hand as a nauseating smell runs up her lungs. She looks down to see the bloodstained ground, a trace that keeps going to the next block.
"We should stick together," Levi's voice breaches into her thoughts. He hides behind the wall and peeks at the next block.
"We should go back," she suggests in a rather uncertain voice.
"Are you fucking insane?"
"We don't know who's involved. We should go and come back with a plan."
"Someone's dying over there!" Levi shouts in lower-case, obviously infuriated.
"Someone's dying here every day," she responds calmly. This is not the time for her to act seriously. She doesn't have a mask on, nor does she want to partake in a severe fight next to Levi yet. She doesn't know anything about him. There can be anything waiting on the block next to them. It can be an average gang activity, or it can be linked to their case. She can't risk the latter.
"Your twins live right at that corner," he warns, pointing at the end of the block.
"They're not mine," she says, trying to change the subject. He has a point, and she hates to admit that.
"HELP!" an outcry echoes between them before Levi can argue. Gritting his teeth, he runs into the next alley.
"Damn it," she follows him. The smell gets stronger and stronger with every step they take. And the blood trace becomes deeper and deeper, splashing against their shoes.