Faline

After leaving the room, I see Kie looking at some belts on a display rack. Standing with her hip cocked, she doesn't look too thrilled with the selection. I walk over and join her.

"Anything good?"

"Sure, if you're twelve and like wrapping yourself in clear plastic, then you're all set."

Her face scowls, but she's right though, most of the belts are gaudy and tacky. Pink pleather, sequins, super big chain links, and others that I have no name for. We leave the belts behind and look at other items.

Not a bad store really, just gotta know what you're looking for and where it's at. We look at pillows, bedding, men's shirts, women's pants, shoes, and boots. Making fun of the assorted items as we go.

Why is it that guys have the cool designs on their shirts, but women get dorky stuff? The men have dragons, tigers, awesome designs, and band shirts. While women get bows and hearts and sappy stuff. It's aggravating.

Never really noticed it till Kierra had said something about it at the shopping center once. I had asked her why she always shopped in the men's shirts, and she explained it. Kinda sad really.

We're looking and trying on shoes when an announcer comes over the speakers, telling all shoppers that closing time is in five minutes. We've been here that long?

"What do you think of these?"

I'm wearing a four-inch heel, sandal platform that has straps crisscrossing the ankle. They're bright green with my toes peeking out between more straps.

"Yeah, uh, no."

We laugh as I put them away. She's taking off a pair of knee-high glossy black boots. They are pretty, about a two-inch heel, zippers on the inside, fringes hanging on the outer sides, and a squared toe.

"Those are cute, how much are they?"

She looks at the tag, her eyebrows raising.

"A hundred ninety-nine. Not including tax."

"Holy cow. Is that expensive or cheap?"

She studies the boot.

"Dyed leather, double cross-stitching, soft insides with a hard sturdy heel... I have no idea."

We laugh, both knowing that she has no idea what she's talking about, just spouting random nonsense off the top of her head. Kie isn't fashion savvy by any means.

"They're really nice, but I wouldn't buy them."

She says that, but the look on her face says a different story. The woman loves her boots. After we've put all the shoes away, she needs to stop at the restroom. 'Bout time.

When done she comes out, waving her hands around to dry them faster, flicking water drops at me. Together we walk to the front of the store, a harassed-looking employee standing by the doors, waiting to lock them. Kierra steps on the sensor pad once more to open them, so I walk through with her a step behind.

Out of the dozens or so lights they have in the parking lot, only about a third of them are still on and mostly centered in the middle. Saving energy and all I guess. All the cars from the other two stores are gone, only two left are probably the employee that was at the door and a security guard.

Kie and I walk across the lot, but before long, she stops and looks up. The stars can't be seen through the dark clouds, and the breeze had turned into a mild wind. She stretches her arms out and turns into the wind, her long hair streaming out around her. She loves to do that. I smile and join her.

A few wet spots hit my face a few minutes later, stopping me in my tracks. My sister has a silly grin on her face, green eyes sparkling as they reflect in the light. I grin at her, not really paying much attention to the fact she's moving her left arm.

"I do believe we should head home now, what do you think?"

I nod. I like being out in the rain, but it's also getting pretty cold out. My sister loves the cooler weather since her normal core temperature is higher than normal, but I'm anemic and therefore get cold easily and quickly.

We both turn in the direction that we need to go and start walking, my heels slightly echoing. There's a couple of people ahead of us, walking our way, but talking to each other.

I walk closer to my big sister's right side, noticing that she's got her left arm held close to her, yet she still obliges me by putting her arm around my shoulders. As we get closer to them, I see they're both males over six feet. I hear her mumble about hating tall people.

I laugh, causing them to look up. They stop in front of us, so we move to walk around. I can feel her tensing up next to me. They step in front of us again, blocking our way. My sibling takes her arm from my shoulders as she glares at them.

"Got a problem?"

I wince at Kierra's tone, she doesn't sound happy.

***

Kierra

8:21 pm

The two guys leer at us. One has muddy brown hair that's short and sticking up everywhere, looking like it was cut carelessly when it got in the way. Eyes are the same brown as his hair, nose looking too long for his face, his mouth too small.

The man looks to be somewhere in his twenties or so and his large hands keep clenching, drawing my attention to them. Faded jeans are dirty with holes up and down the legs, wife-beater tank top nearly nonexistent. My eyes travel over his body...he isn't wearing any shoes. Lean and muscular, really defined. Bodyguard looking, just not the beefy kind. The lack of footwear is a bit odd though.

His companion also looks to be in his twenties and has dark brown hair, just with red streaks. I can't tell length since it looks to be pulled back. His eyes, I think, are a goldish color. Something's off about them though.

A thin scar runs from above his left eye, over it to slide to his left ear, shaped like an L on his face. I didn't see it at first, but as he gets closer, I can make it out. Drawing the eye to his face, not distracting from it. He's pretty handsome, in a playboy kind of way.

Wearing a dark-colored button-down T-shirt tucked into black jeans, black knee-high boots encase his lower legs. Looks real slim, but judging by the corded muscle on his arms that I can see, probably really strong as well.

I try to get Faline to stand behind me, but she won't budge. The lamps near us flicker before going out altogether. Right at this time, I'm really regretting that I didn't grab any of my knives.

Lot of good they do being left at home. I usually always have one on me, but I'd been too focused on Faline's being upset with me. Muscles clench so hard in my arms that my injured one starts up its throbbing to double time.

"Well?"

My temper gets the best of me as my patience wears thin. All they do is smile and smirk at us. Mr. Red Streaks looks Faline up and down, and my temper snaps.

"Back the fuck off man, I don't care what the hell you want, but you need to leave us alone."

He looks at me then and laughs, Muddy Hair joining him.

"Why, don't you recognize me, Marion?"

His eyes shift back to look at my sister once more, asking his question. It's then I notice his eyes are slit, like a cat, dilating in the low light. Her eyes grow wide, but she looks confused. We've talked before about her R.P. character, and I know for a fact that she doesn't have a picture of herself to go with it.

"It doesn't look like she knows who I am, Anthony. Should we tell her?"

The one named Anthony just smirks and laughs, leering at me. These guys are really pissing me off.

"My Darkest Maiden, you injure me with your ignorance."

Faline looks stricken, her body starting to shake. I try to keep my eyes on them, but she keeps drawing my attention.

"Nicolaus?"

She asks in a choked voice. He claps, nodding his head with a grin and a mock bow. I look at her, then back to him. This guy is nuts.

"But how? Why?"

"I told you it was time for us to meet. I got tired of waiting for your sister. But she will no longer be a problem for us."

Faline shakes her head over and over. The rain that had started as a sprinkle is starting to come down harder, lightning streaking across the sky above our heads. My arm starts screaming from all the adrenaline and tension.

"Faline, we need to go. Now."