The Past

Luke

   “Wake your bloody ass up!”

“Cole, what are you doing in my room?”

“Father sent me. The devil returns today and she has requested that it be you who shows her around, and we can’t let the princess get what she wants all the time, now can we?” Coles cleverness scares me sometimes. He was smart but in a deadly sort of way. He loved to track down his prey and play with it before devouring it. And this time his prey was her. What was her name again? Funny how she hand picked me and I can’t even remember her name.

“Well, come on!”

“Whatever you are planning I advise you end it.”

“Brother, not even you can put an end to what I am planning. When I am done she won’t ever disrespect me again!”

“You are an idiot.”

“In which ways?! I have already made my entire plan. It’s a beautiful masterpiece. I will admit it took me all night to come up with it, but now I have it and no one is going to ruin it! So stay out of my way, if you know what’s good for you, Brother.”

“Do as you wish. But do not complain to me when it all back fires.”

Once my brother finally left me to myself I had time to truly think. It was no secret who she was. She had made one of the most feared gangs in the world, when she was 10, and placed her mother in charge. She trained all of her men personally, so it was no surprise when my father told us he wanted her to train the new slew of recruits. As I walked downstairs she had not yet arrive. My father was standing there with my brother waiting every once in awhile checking his watch. “She is late.” My father said worried. “So?” Cole didn’t seem to think it was a big deal but my father had another opinion. “You don’t understand she is never late.” Right as he said that she walked in.

   However she was covered in blood with a head in her hand. I knew that man's face, how could I not, he worked for our family. “Next time you decide to watch me and send these pathetic things you call men I urge you to think twice.” She said it so calmly, not even flinching. Then she handed the head to my father, even he was horrified, but this girl didn’t seem moved. I took a quick glance at Cole, you could tell he wasn’t going to smart mouth her again. I give it to her, although bloody she now has everyone’s attention and my brother will no longer stand up to her. This girl is willing to do anything to get what she wants, and that I can respect.

  “Now shall we get started? Or do you want to play more pointless games?”  “My apologies, it won’t happen again.” My father was at a lost for words, she was good! “Good,” her gaze look at me, “come.” What was I a dog? Yes master, I almost caught myself saying. All I did was walk towards the direction of the basement. “Your brother.” That was unexpected. What did she care of my brother? “Is he in an arranged marriage?” There was no way she was interested in my brother, so what was her angle? What is she trying to accomplish?  “I thought he wasn’t.” I hadn’t said a word, how did she know he wasn’t. Or was the a rhetorical question? Did she already know? When I looked over she was staring at me. This is a game to her, and she knew she was going to win.

  As we got to the basement she stopped to look around, as if waiting for the walls to bow to her. The confidence she had was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I was good at reading people, in fact I was born and raised to read people but her sober expression was impossible to read. Out of the corner of her eye she looked at me and caught me staring. I heard footsteps coming down the steps suddenly Cole appeared. This was going to be bad. “Good morning.” All she did was nod her head in his direction. “Luke can be a pain in the ass. If you ever need anything I’m here.”

 “Are you interested in marriage?”

“Not entirely but I’m willing to...reconsider.. if it’s to someone I’m sexually attracted to.”

“Careful, I kill people for less.”

“I think you proved that earlier. Do you have someone in mind?”

“No.” Though quiet, her voice echoed throughout the room. It was obvious she was somewhere else as we finish the tour of the basement and headed to have dinner.

         “Was it to your satisfaction?” My father seemed rushed, like he had somewhere better to be. “Yes, I have an emergency at my current house that needs my full attention.” Not only did my father seemed rush but so did she. There was an unsettling point in her voice that scared not only my family but in a way, me too. “Do you wish for me to accompany you?” I wanted to know what was so important that she was willing to come across as distraught. “I think that would be a splendid idea. Considering you two will be working together.” My father wanted to know more about her and he was willing to use me to find out information.

     “Come” with that she turned towards the door and walked quickly. I had never realized how long her legs were before but now it was apparent. The man at the door, Jeffery was it, handed her keys and she climbed into the car. I feared if I did not get in the car soon I would be left behind. Quickly I got in the car and shut the door, right as I did she took off. I give it to her she was a good driver, it was the middle of the day and in Russia. It’s rush hour and she was going 50 miles above the speed limit, yet not even close to crashing. With no time at all we pulled up to a gate and a man's voice came across. “Cheyanne, welcome home!” This man, he just called her by her first name that would make the first person I have ever heard. Not even my father dared to say her name, yet this man who more than likely worked for her was calling her by her name. This man had just earned my respect and also my curiosity.

   As we entered her house I would be lying to say I wasn’t a big creeped out. The aura of death that she had when we first met was the same one that enveloped her home. Everyone was lined up to greet her arrival. The first man we came to took her coat and then scurried away. “Cheyanne” 

That was the voice I was looking for. I give it to the man, his statue was that of a fighter, he was obviously Russian. “Explain. Now.” The urgency in her voice was back. Whatever happened it was enough to unsettle her. “It doesn’t look like any of it is missing but, no one knows if this is the only bottle he had.”

“Who?”

“His name is Michael. He started working for you two years ago. Claimed he needed money for his family.”

“Then have his family beheaded.”

“I can’t find them.”

At this she stopped. She was willing to kill a man's entire family over what? What had this man done? More importantly what was he lying to her about? “Take him downstairs and beat him until he tells you who he is working for!” Something serious that’s for sure. “Who found it with him?” “Lily” One name turned her face to having hints of anger to hints of fear. I had never seen anyone hid there fearful face as fast as she did. “I’m fine Madam! Don’t worry!” This girl, lily was it, I want to know all about her. She looked like nothing besides a common servant, so why did she turn this sober face turn into a fearful grimace?