Kyna was not very excited about the uniform chosen for her to wear to the security detail she had been assigned to. Not only was it made of some of the finest materials she’d ever seen, it was a dress revealing enough to be uncomfortable and also drew more attention than she would like. But Kyna put up with it, because if she didn’t comply she wouldn’t get paid.
After getting the dress on and with a little help on her hair, she was ready. She met Turik outside his rooms and they went down to the armory to find what weapons they could conceal under their clothes easily. Kyna’s dress only allowed for a couple of knives strapped to her thigh. Turik took what he could, which wasn’t much either, but more than what Kyna had.
Turik led Kyna out of the armory to the main entrance where they waited for their transportation. The ride was quiet except for Turik double checking Kyna’s knowledge, as he had the habit to do before any gig. They arrived at a large mansion dressed up with lights lining the roof and windows. Kyna and Turik went inside where they were greeted warmly and shown to their employer. The man hiring them for the evening was a tall man, well dressed in the latest of fashions. He smiled a perfectly straight smile and welcomed his two security guards with handshakes. The man struck Kyna as odd.
“I am Luri Fulmin” the man introduced himself “It is my pleasure to have such well known mercenaries as my personal detail tonight. As you probably know, I am hosting a large gala in honor of my wife’s birthday and the anniversary of the establishment of my company. Both of which happen to fall on the same day.” Luri smiled warmly at them and led them to a small table off to the side of the room. Two plates with a small meal had been set on the table.
“You may eat, if you wish, while we finish setting up.” Luri told them. He then hurried off.
Kyna sat at the table and ate what she could. Turik doing the same. They finished and began a sweep of the rooms being used for the gala as well as nearby and adjacent rooms. They gave Luri their approval and he announced they were ready to receive guests now. It was about fifteen minutes from Luri’s announcement that the first guests arrived. Kyna and Turik stood off a ways as Luri greeted guest after finely dressed guest. As the flow of arrivals slowed, Luri began to wander around the large room packed with people. Making small talk with those in attendance.
Close to an hour passed and Luri began to direct the guest into another large room directly adjacent to the entrance hall. In this room set up in the very center was a long table set with fine porcelain plates, crystal glasses, and polished silverware. As the last guest took their place, Luri stood to toast the passing of another profitable year for his company and another wonderful year to his beautiful wife. All raised a glass to him and his wife. Dinner was then brought out on brightly polished platters. The guests ate until they could eat no more and moved onto the next room.
From dinner the guests moved to a very large ballroom with an exquisite chandelier lighting the room and tables of food lining the walls. Waiters walked through the room carrying trays of drinks, offering them to guests.
The night continued on uninterrupted, the guests enjoying themselves. Couples danced to a lovely orchestra while others stood around the dance floor making idol chat with one another.
Kyna soon began to regret the choice of shoes but made no complaint. It was another boring evening for a security detail. Or so was her train of thought until Luri walked up to them, his face speaking novels. He was sweating and his skin had gone pale.
“I am concerned,” he began “that something is going to happen soon.”
“You have no need to worry, Mr. Fulmin.” Kyna assured him.
“But I do.” Luri looked around quickly, obviously anxious. “I received a letter the other day, no return address. It was a death threat. It clearly stated that they would come for me tonight. At my gala. The festivities have gone on so smoothly I worry what might happen within the next few minutes. The gala is almost over. Have either of you noticed anything unusual?”
“I haven’t” Kyna said.
“Not yet,” Turik growled. He then shoved Kyna away and grabbed Luri by the wrist. Kyna fell hard to the ground landing on her shoulder. She let out a moan as she tried to push herself up feeling the pain in her shoulder. She then noticed the knife in Luri’s gut with Turik’s hand wrapped around the handle. Turik yanked the knife free and let Luri slump to the ground. He turned toward Kyna, his knife dripping. Kyna scrambled to her feet and ran. She could take Turik in a fair fight, of this she was sure, but her skirt was in the way and her shoes only caused her grief. She threw her shoes off as she ran, hearing the screams from behind her as the guests noticed Luri. She slid behind a table still piled with food. Pulling a knife from its sheath on her thigh she peeked over the table to locate Turik’s position. The mass of guests had begun to run around wildly, frightened of the man with the bloody knife. Kyna couldn’t see Turik so she assumed she had at least a moment to cut her skirt to a more manageable length.
“What’s going on?” she whispered to herself as she cut her skirt. It seemed a shame to ruin such a nice dress but she had bigger problems at the moment. Once Kyna’s skirt had been ‘fixed’ she peeked over the table again. Turik could now be seen, and he was holding a second knife, also dripping in blood. Kyna then noticed the bodies. So many innocent people, lying dead or dying on the floor. At least a dozen, maybe more.
Kyna quickly ducked back behind the table and moved silently behind it. She came around the opposite side and charged at Turik as she pulled her second knife. Turik saw her just in time to block her blades. He caught her attack on his forearms, upon which he wore some kind of armor.
“That’s cheating” Kyna spat. Turik only smiled in return. But this was not the smile Kyna knew; it was a cold, malicious smile. It wasn’t the smile she had woken to so many mornings, or the smile she had fallen in love with. This smile was something entirely different, something sinister. It was a smile filled with hate, an evil smile.
Kyna was lost her composure for an instant and in that instant Turik slashed across her body. He cut her from shoulder to hip opening a large tear in both skin and cloth. Her dress began to fall away but Kyna caught it and moving with skilful swiftness, ripped a strip from her already ruined skirt and wrapped around her torso, holding her torn dress in place.
As she finished the repairs to her dress she turned back to Turik, who was patiently waiting. Kyna was now much more confused. Not only did he just ruin the mission, but he just hurt her and then waited until she was ready to fight again? Something really strange is going on. Turik is unforgiving in a fight, but he just stood by while she righted her dress. He is not himself.
Kyna only had time to realize her situation before Turik was on her again. He slashed, she dodged. She attacked, he parried. Back and forth, back and forth. Kyna could feel her shoulder protesting every movement, but she continued on. Yet, Turik was beginning to gain the advantage. But in a moment of lapse, he let an opening and Kyna took it. She pinned him to the floor and held her knife to his throat.
“Why?” She panted “What are you doing?”
“I am a mercenary, my dear.” Turik said coolly, although he was breathing just as heavily as Kyna. “I work for the highest bidder.”
“So you’d kill me,” Kyna snarled “for money?”
Again, Turik just smiled.
“I had thought,” Kyna whispered “we were more than partners. Or were you using me too? Was I just a tool for you?”
Turik didn’t respond. He smiled again and threw his leg up hitting Kyna in the back. She lost her grip and Turik shoved her off of himself. She scrambled to her feet as Turik pushed her back into a wall. She hit hard, the wind being knocked from her lungs. As she gasped for breath, Turik pulled a thin, long dagger from his belt. He pulled Kyna’s right arm out straight and pinned it to the wall. She continued to struggle for breath.
Turik took the dagger and slowly, ever so slowly, began to push it through Kyna’s arm, between the joint in the elbow, the sharp edge of the blade parallel to the floor. If Kyna had any breath she would have screamed. Turik pushed the dagger though her arm and into the wall, pining it. He backed up slightly, releasing Kyna, as if to examine his work from afar. Kyna regained some control over her breathing as she looked at her bleeding arm. She couldn’t move her fingers. She reached over, careful not to move the pinned arm, and lightly touched her forearm. She couldn’t feel anything.
Turik came back in close and grabbed her other arm. Kyna struggled against his grip as he pulled this arm straight out to the other side and pressed it to the wall. He held it in place as he pulled another long blade from his belt. Kyna struggled against him as he put the point of the dagger up to her undamaged elbow. He then began to push it through. It seemed to take an eternity for him to push it through her arm, Kyna screaming all the while. Turik eventually let go of the dagger and backed away again. He pulled two more daggers from inside his jacket and quickly pushed these trough Kyna’s forearms. Somehow, Kyna felt the pain. She didn’t scream, however, for she had no strength left. She looked at Turik and whispered, “Why?” before passing out.