The Mist and the Lightning. Part II

"Stop drinking in the morning," Enriki said.

"Enough of watching over me," Squint-Eye snapped. "Ooh, there is a lot of shit." He opened a casket on the table. "No, he'll definitely come. There is all his money, jewelry and drugs."

"Squint-Eye, stop rummaging through someone else's things!" Enriki gasped.

Squint-Eye took out a few capsules.

"I wonder what it is. A medicine or…"

Lis and Tol walked up to him. Lis took several capsules from the casket and put into his pocket.

"What are you doing?" Orel asked darkly.

"I'll show them to knowledgeable people to check something. Soon I'll know everything about your beloved."

"You fool," Orel said. "Ask him, he'll simply tell you."

"No, I've had enough of his tales, now I know their worth."

"Don't play an insulted gentleman, he didn't deceive you. Nikto didn't touch me, not even once!"

"Yes. Calm down, I know."

"I think it was stupid to demand such promises from Nikto," Squint-Eye said. "No matter how much he'd try to control himself, his real essence would come out, sooner or later. He is not human, the whole city knows that. He is a dangerous predator, you have to be careful around him – since Orel decided to take him on our team. I don't mind Nikto but we have to take his nature into consideration and remember that he lives according to different concepts."

"He is human! You don't know him at all!"

"Well, now you know him," Squint-Eye smiled dreamily.

Tol took out Nikto's jewelry, the chain with nose and ear rings.

"Wow! It's heavy!" Tol admiringly weighed it in his palm.

"Put this disgusting thing back," Enriki winced.

Tol looked at Orel.

"Can I try it on? I wanted to see how it looks on me for a long time!"

"Why are you asking me, it's not mine," Orel turned away; he felt sick.

Tol came up to the mirror.

"Beautiful!" he whispered admiringly, pulling out the ring from his nose to put on Nikto's chain.

"We need to bring a doctor," Lis shut the casket. "We're wasting time."

"I won't let the doctor touch me," Orel shouted, "I'll kill him, I have enough strength for that, rest assured!"

"But why, for fuck's sake?"

"Because Nik will heal me, that's why! He wounded me and he'll heal me!"

"But it is stupid, Arel! Let me take a look, at least!"

"No! Get your hands off me! Get your hands off, Lis, or else!"

"You're burning! Oh gods! You have fever!" Lis grabbed Orel and yanked the bandage off. Orel screamed wildly. There was a crimson swelling in the place of his eye, seeping blood and white mucus.

Enriki covered his mouth. It seemed Squint-Eye's bad eye managed to look straight at the moment when he stared at Orel. Tol dropped the chain, forgetting to stick the ring into his ear, and the chain hung swaying onto his chest from his nostril.

"He knocked out your eye!" Lis screamed holding his head. "What shall we do? He mutilated you! Gods, what shall you do? You're a warrior! How will you fight without an eye? How?"

"Well, I do fight, after all," Squint-Eye said. "Orel will get used with time, I'll help him."

"What? What are you talking about?" Lis was ready to pull out his hair in anger.

"Nik will heal him," Tol said taking off the chain. "He did heal Asa."

"Orel, my poor Orel, forgive me! I'll bring the doctor!"

"No!" Orel tried to get up to stop Lis.

Lis ran to the door and at this moment it opened and Nikto entered the room. He and Lis nearly bumped into each other. Everyone froze.

"Curse you!" Lis shouted. "Curse you, you freak!"

He slapped Nikto's cheek, then the other, the first again, then once more, it happened very fast. Nikto pressed to the door, he was without his mask. Lis yanked off his glasses. Nikto screwed his eyes shut, tried to cover them, he didn't even try to counter Lis. Lis grabbed his hair, yanked it with all his force, pulled Nikto closer at first and then pushed slamming Nikto's head against the door.

Orel got up but grabbed his face moaning and fell back onto the bed.

"Pull Lis away!" he yelled with his last bit of strength.

Tol rushed to Lis, wrapped his arms around him from behind. Lis turned to him.

"Don't touch me, I'm all right. It's over."

He walked away from Nikto.

"If I'd wanted to kill or maim him, I'd have done that, you wouldn't have time to stop me. But I didn't harm this animal because I hope he might really help Orel."

Nikto slowly slipped down and sat on the floor; his cheeks were aflame, Lis's fingers left imprints on them. He pressed his head to the door and didn't open his eyes.

"I challenge you," Lis said.

"No," Nikto shook his head, "I don't accept your challenge."

"You cannot refuse to accept it, I insulted your dignity slapping you like a cheap whore."