Chapter 1
Gifts
"Nik, Nik, open up!"
Orel was shaking. He yanked the doorknob several more times, with no result. There was no sound coming from Nikto's room.
"Gods damn you," Orel hissed through the clenched teeth. He rummaged in the pockets of his jacket with his bloodied hands. At last he found what he was looking for: the door key. He pushed it into the keyhole abruptly.
"Shi-it," he whispered looking at the locked door, not daring to open it. Trying to suppress shivering, he leaned with his shoulder against the doorpost not letting the key go. "Never mind, never mind."
He turned the key. The door opened with a slight click. Orel grabbed his head, squeezed his temples as if expecting a blow but nothing happened. It was as quiet behind the door as before. Orel relaxed. He pulled out the key carefully and looked into the room opening the door slightly. His face lightened – he saw Nikto. Nikto slept in his bed as if nothing happened. His fair hair was very visible in the darkness. One of his braids hung down almost to the floor.
Orel came in shutting the door tightly.
"Nik," he called softly. "Nik?"
Nikto flinched.
"Arel, go… mm… that is, get out," he muttered hazily. "I want to sleep."
Orel came up to the unoccupied side of the bed. He took off his jacket and stayed naked down to his waist. He crawled up on the bed.
Nikto rose slightly, mumbled angrily:
"Fuck your mother! I'm tired of you!" He glanced at Orel and hissed. "Ooh, enjoyed my gift? You're covered in blood."
Orel understood just now that he'd smeared himself in blood all over when cutting the slave. He looked at his hands.
"Oh shit," he said in surprise and started unlacing his leather armbands soaked in blood.
"No need," Nikto slowly sat up in bed. He watched Orel with curiosity, then laughed softly. "So, you really like to fuck dead women, don't you?"
Orel froze, his armband half-unlaced.
"Don't," he said quietly without raising his head.
"Arel, I injected myself a crazy dose of various shit, I can't think straight, let's talk tomorrow."
"I'm sorry," Orel looked at him with insane eyes. "But I couldn't, I need to tell you now…"
"What else?"
"I, I…" Orel swallowed convulsively. "I can't any more! I… I…"
His face distorted, he screwed his eyes shut as if the words he said hurt him.
