Daystar (90 page)

The man made gestures towards Rake’s face and body, repeating the same phrases.
 
Rake raised an eyebrow.
 
“No.
 
See, I don’t do free and if you keep up with the gesturing in my face, I am going to break something of yours.”
 

The man raised his voice until he was yelling.
 
Rake looped a finger around the metal hose that held the shower faucet in place.
 
He tsked.
 
“How impolite, I am
not
.”
 
He spat out a string of words in Mandarin and turned away.
 
Rake grabbed soap.
 
“Go away.”

The man went red in the face and leapt for him.
 

Rake tore the hose from the wall and slammed the faucet into the man’s face, breaking his nose.
 
Rake roped the metal tube around his head, kicked his knees, and pulled, snapping the man’s neck.
 

The other thug charged Rake, knife in hand.
 
Rake smashed his bottle into the man’s face, blood and wine splashed the tiles.
 
He took the knife and sliced it through the man’s throat before he could recover from the first blow.
 

Rake dropped the hose and the first thug fell to the floor next to the other, both very much dead.
 
He stared at his broken wine bottle sadly.
 
He picked the pieces up and threw it all into an empty stall, the bloody knife followed.
 
He examined the blood on his skin and wrinkled his nose.
 

He stepped into the next shower and rinsed off, avoiding the stream of blood that swirled around the other drain.
 
He grinned at Calpsan and Ravil.
 
“I told them I don’t do free.”

Ravil stared at the blood, saying nothing.
 
She waited for her heart to calm.
 
Calpsan nodded to Rake.
 
“You dealt with them quickly.”

Rake stretched.
 
“No reason to take my time.”
 
He turned the shower faucet to the men and hosed them down.
 
He searched through their things.
 
He found their guns and holsters, and he clucked his tongue.
 
“When you have guns, you should use them
idiots
.”
 

He pulled weapons off the corpses and stripped the bodies, taking the pants of one, the shirt of the other.
 
He dressed quickly.
 
He cinched the gun belt around his waist and smiled, admiring his new wardrobe.
 

Rake padded over to the sole window in the room and popped it open.
 
He hauled the first body across the floor and pushed it out the window.
 

Ravil listened and heard a plop as it hit the concrete.
 
Rake grabbed the other and did the same.
 
Her stomach churned with nausea.

Rake toweled off his clothing and hair and moved to stand in front of a dryer vent, the blast of hot air dried his clothes in seconds.
 
He picked up his leather jacket and slipped it on, concealing the weapons.
 
He counted the money the men had carried and smiled.
 
He glanced up at Calpsan.
 
“You two are pretty mellow.”

Calpsan nodded.
 
“That would not have been the first death I’ve seen, or the boy’s.”

Rake shrugged and collected the coins Calpsan had tossed at him earlier.
 
“Now that I have entertained you, how would you like to help me out in a mutually beneficial work arrangement?”

Calpsan nodded.
 
“Pitch.”

Rake checked out his face in the mirror and fixed his hair.
 
“I run a gambling table here.
 
I need people to sit and play.”
 
He examined his fading black eye.
 
“You sitting at my table makes me look legit.
 
I draw in tourists, take their money, you’ll get a cut at the end of the night.”

Calpsan stood up.
 
“Sounds fair.”

Rake handed Calpsan a few of the bills.
 
“Let me get my table set-up, join me in a few so no one thinks we’re together.”
 
He grinned at Ravil.
 
“You fuck me over though, and I will fuck you back and leave your corpses in an alley to rot, the kid too.”
 
He padded outside and left them alone.

Ravil jumped to her feet.
 
“
Him
?
 
You are leaving me with
him
!”

Calpsan smiled, pleased with his find.
 
“Strong, sensible, ruthless, self-preservation high, he’s perfect.”

“Yes, self-preservation, exactly!
 
Self!
 
Him
-self!”
 
Ravil stared at her reflection.
 
“He’s going to sell me, or get me killed, or I don’t know!”

He grinned.
 
“I do not think he will.
 
He will keep you alive and perhaps you might learn a thing or two about self-defense before he outlives his use.
 
He dropped those men quickly and efficiently.”

Her pink eyes glowed.
 
“Calpsan!
 
He murdered those men without a second thought.”

“They attacked him, quite obviously, Ravil.”
 
Calpsan looked thoughtful.
 
“He did not take pleasure in it.
 
He is not a sadist.
 
He does not intend to harm you or me as long as we do not harm him.
 
I watched his feelings while he bathed, while he attacked.
 
He is an interesting sort, but he will do.”
 
Calpsan dropped down to her height and gazed into her eyes.
 
“I can sense your feelings as well, Ravil.”

She blushed and looked away.

He patted her head.
 
“At this stage attraction is dangerous for your type, Ravil.”

“He is not my subspecies.”

“Regardless, you cannot care for him or you’ll start the change.”

“He is disgusting!
 
He has no shame!”
 
Her cheeks heated up.
 
“The way a person looks says nothing about them.
 
I know not to be so foolish, Calpsan.
 
I would never care for him, let alone let him affect me that way.
 
I hate him already!”

“Good, but still.”
 
He forced her to look into his eyes.
 
“He may save you, he may appear friendly, charming, but that does not mean anything.
 
You have to think of your duty.
 
Your duty is to run and stay alive at all costs.
 
If you sicken, you put yourself in danger.
 
No attachments must threaten your task, or your health.
 
Pay attention.
 
If your feelings for this one become a problem, you will flee, that will halt the process.”
 
He sighed.
 
“Sirana was supposed to tell you and guide you through it when we rejoined the others.”

Ravil blushed.
 
“I am aware of the basics, she told me some.”

Calpsan frowned.
 
“Ravil, your biology is far more complex than you understand.”
 
He held her shoulders.
 
“You need to be free, in all regards, mental, emotional, and physical.
 
Just run if any of those start to be a problem.”

Ravil nodded.
 
“I know, and I will!”
 
She held on to Calpsan.
 
“I do not care about anyone besides you and Sirana and once you are gone, I will care for no one.”
 
She looked at the disappearing blood on the tile.
 
“Besides,
he
obviously does not care about anyone besides
himself
.”
 
She gestured to the floor.
 
“He killed those men easily, and he has obviously done similar before!
 
He dumped the bodies!
 
He robs corpses, Calpsan.”

Calpsan shrugged.
 
“This does not rule him out as a bodyguard, Ravil.
 
You cannot afford to judge, that is my job.”

She looked at his white hair.
 
“Are you sure you are not going senile?”

He flashed a wry grin.
 
“Feelers do not lose their talent with age, stop being smart with me.
 
He is the one you need.”

Ravil raked her fingers through her hair.
 
“Calpsan, there has to be another with less—”

“
No
.
 
Ravil, he has the skills you need and he is damaged enough not to be a problem to you in the future.
 
He is far beneath you, Ravil.
 
He poses no threat to you, but definitely is threatening to others that may choose to harm you.”
 
Calpsan stood.
 
“Short term, he is the one.”

“Calpsan!”
 
Tears formed in her eyes.
 
“Do
not
leave me with
him
.
 
I despise him, I do not trust him and I do not like him!”

“Good!
 
He is not meant to be your friend, Ravil.
 
You
must not
trust him, you are right in that regard.
 
He is nothing more than a thief and killer, but for now he will be
your
thief and killer.”
 

“Calpsan.”

He tugged her hat down over her hair and grabbed her hand.
 
He pulled her towards the door.
 
“Lose the tears, you’re a boy.
 
Come.
 
Let’s see how well he cons.”
 
He smiled.
 
“Another useful trait you should work on acquiring from him.”

She rubbed her eyes.
 
“You are leaving me to my murderer, Calpsan.”

Calpsan ignored the comment and entered the smoke-filled room.
 

Rake sat at a table against the far wall.
 
He practiced with cards and watched them approach.
 
“Game?”

Calpsan threw a bill on the table.
 
“Deal me in.”

“The boy as well?”

“No.”

“All right old man.”
 
Rake smiled.
 
“Is the boy your luck charm then?”

Calpsan frowned.
 
“Luck?”

A waitress interrupted them.
 
Rake ordered a drink, Calpsan got one as well and ordered a water and dinner for Ravil.
 
Rake fanned cards out.
 
“Names for the evening?”

Calpsan pointed to his chest.
 
“Calpsan, the boy is Ravil.”

Rake nodded as he scanned the room.
 
“Mine is Rake.”
 
A man walked in, alone and bright-eyed.
 
Rake grinned.
 
“Time to make money.”