Immanuel smiled. "You two really are my best recruiters, huh?"

Nik had just finished filling him in on the details of their conversation with Azaelya that morning. It had taken some persuation, but he'd convinced the man to go with Azaelya's conditions and requests.

"That's why we tell you to let us take care of the recruits, old man," Mikhael said in a long, mocking drawl, irritation coating his voice. He'd been restless throughout the entire conversation, impatient as Nik persuaded their gang leader. Nik could bet that his friend had been thinking about how everything could've been avoided if Immanuel wasn't still the gang leader.

Immanuel's eyes flashed. "So the student's talking back to the teacher now, is it?"

Mikhael scoffed. "I think it's the teacher who's confused. I'm not your student anymore, you bastard."

The shadow of something dark passed over Immanuel's face. "Remember who's giving the orders around here, boy. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead in a street somewhere."

"Oh, please," Mikhael said, scowling as he straightened in his seat. "You didn't do me a big favour by finding me that night, so stop talking like you did."

"Oh, really?" Immanuel crossed his arms over his chest. "I did do you a favour by saving Bert, didn't I?"

A sharp click rang out in the silence and Mikhael pulled out his gun. "Mind your words," he said, his words dripping with danger as his grey eyes narrowed to thin slits. "Don't you dare think you can mention him and get away with it after what you did."

"Oh, really?" Immanuel didn't break a sweat, but Nik noticed him eye the gun. "You're overstepping yourself, boy. Better put that gun away before I take any drastic measures."

"Drastic measures?" Mikhael scoffed, disdain and bitterness staining his face and tone. "Are you gonna kill me now? Is that it?"

Nik stiffened at the words, glancing between his friend and boss. Mikhael's jaw was set in the stubborn way he was known for and Immanuel's fists were clenched as he glared back. "You know what? I might as well do it." The words were a threat, uttered with soft and utter precision.

Mikhael stood up in one smooth movement, extending his arm and pointing his gun between the older man's eyes. "I dare you to do it. Age is making you confident, old man. Did you forget exactly where you found me? Do you think you can kill me and be left unscratched? Screw that — do you really think I'll go down that easy?"

Immanuel, much to his credit, still didn't break a sweat as he stared into the nozzle of the gun pointed at him. "Doesn't matter how difficult it is — I'd still get it done."

"Oh, really?" Mikhael pulled the gun's trigger — and a bullet buried itself in the wall next to Immanuel's head. "You're not the young man you think you are, Immanuel." He tilted his head, eyes narrowed and colder than Nik had ever seen them. "The man I called my teacher would've stopped that bullet with the clock next to him before it even reached his table, no problem. I think it's time you stepped down."

Immanuel said nothing, stunned into silence, and Mikhael spun on his heel and strode out of the room, smoking gun in hand. Nik stood up and followed.

Mikhael's strides were long as he stormed down the hallway. There were a few other gang members around, but they moved out of the way with a single glance at the gun in his hand and the look on his face. Nik hurried after his friend, torso and leg aching with the strain of being pushed too hard.

Mikhael jogged up the stairs and headed to the shooting ring on the terrace. Nik stopped in the doorway, hands on his knees, and listened to the sound of his friend emptying round after round of bullets into the centre of the targets set fifty meters away.

When the gun started clicking and there was no ammo left, Mikhael turned. His eyes were two pools of hard steel and metallic silver mixed together, glittering with a soul-deep fury that hadn't yet faded away.

"Sorry," he said.

"For what?" Nik had leaned against the doorway at one point so he didn't put too much weight on his bad leg.

"I made you hurry, didn't I?" Mikhael glanced at his leg. "Does it hurt?"

"Not a lot." Nik shrugged. "There's no need for you to slow down for me. I wouldn't want to be a drag."

Mikhael tilted his head, watching Nik for a long, long moment. "Alright. You ready to go get Azaelya?"

"Always." Nik straighted with a grin. "Are you?"

Mikhael's grin was razor sharp. "As ready as I can ever be, boss."

#

Azaelya was still taking a shower up when they went to pick her up. A curly-hairedhaired brunet opened the door. "Oh, you're back earlier than we expected," he said with a charming grin, extending a hand. "I'm Raz Adler, Mae's manager."

"Nikolai." Nik shook hands with the man. "This is my friend, Mikhael." 

"I see." Raz's gaze darted to Mikhael, who was leaning against the wall next to the door with a cigarette between his lips. "Please don't smoke here, sir. I have a young daughter." His smile was forced. So he'd heard about Mikhael's reputation.

Mikhael nodded and put out the cigarette, pushing himself off the wall with the smooth, sinuous method that was his trademark.

"Come in," Raz said, stepping back and smiling again. "Mae is still getting ready, so feel free to make yourselves comfortable."

"Nik-o-lai!" Julia ran into the room and hugged his legs. "You're back! Will you teach me chess?"

"Sure," Nik said with a grin, ruffling her hair.

"Yay!" The excited girl ran out of the room again.

"Heh," Raz said, his blue eyes full of affection. "I've never seen her so energetic before." He looked back at Nik. "She's a huge fan," he said. "Never misses any of your matches."

"That's nice to hear." Nik sat down on the couch.

"Also, there is something I wanted to say." Raz's voice took on a hard edge, and both Nik and Mikhael looked at him. "I want your word that no harm will befall Mae. Exterior forces? That's okay. But I'm saying this now: if I hear that she was hurt by a member of your gang, you'll both be very sorry. I swear on it."

Nik tilted his head, studying the man. His hands were shaking. He knew the risk of issuing threats to the most dangerous men in Kin, yet he did it anyway. Was it just out of a sense of protection, or fuelled by a past incident?

Mikhael snorted next to Nik and stretched out his long legs, his gun in full display as he put his hands behind his head. "Don't worry about it, man. Any traitor daring enough to hurt our own members would have to go through me."

Raz swallowed, glancing at the gun. "I see. Good."

Just then, Julia ran back into the room with her chess pieces and a board, flinging herself down next to Nik. "Let's play!" She cheered and put her board on the space between them.

Nik took out his own box and set up his pieces so she could mirror his arrangement.

"Okay, so here are the basics," he said when everything was in place. "These are all your pawns." He gestured to the first row of chess pieces on the board. "When they move for the first time from this row, they can take as much as two steps, but can only take one step forward after that. Suppose there is an enemy pawn diagonal to yours." He picked up one of his pawns and put it diagonal to one of hers. "What do you think you should do next?"

Julia's blue eyes widened. "Oh, I know!" She picked up her pawn and knocked over his. "Your pawn is dead!" With an evil laugh, she picked up the pawn in question and put in her box.

Nik grinned. "Hey, give that back. The game hasn't begun yet."

"Aw." Julia pouted and handed back the pawn.

"Okay, so this is your rook." He tapped the top of a piece in the corner of the board. "He can only move sideways or straight. If there are no pieces next to him, he can swap places with the king."

"Ooh!" Julia clapped. "That's a nice rook!"

"Mmm-hmm." Nik smiled. "Now, what do you think this guy can do?" He tapped the horse on her board.

"He can jump!" Julia grinned, picking up the piece. "Aunt Mae said that he goes two squares forward and then turns."

"Yeah, that's right. And what about this piece?" He pointed at the piece next to the horse.

"Oh, this is a bishop! He moves diagonally, like this." She traced a path on the board with her chubby little finger.

"Wow, you know a lot. I'm impressed." Nikolai ruffled her hair, and she glowed with joy.

"This is the queen," Julia said, pride in her voice. "Papa said that she can go anywhere she wants."

"That's right," Nik said with a smile. "And what about this guy?"

"He's the king, duh." Julia frowned. "He can only move one step, but in any direction."

"Correct." Nik picked up his own king and showed it to her. The dark, glittering piece was carved with attention to detail, complete with a crown, a sword and a mustache. "Now, this guy is your most important piece. If he dies, you lose. You know why? It's because there'll be no one left to command the army." He gestured to the rest of the pieces of the board. "All of these pieces will protect him with their life, so keep him safe, alright?"

Julia nodded, entranced by his piece. "It's so pretty," she said. "Can I touch it?"

Nik smiled and handed her the piece. She studied it, turning it over in her hands. "He looks like a very smart king," she said. "But his moustache is so funny!"

"Is it?"

"Yea! It makes him look like an old man. Like this." Julia pulled a strand of hair in front of her face, holding it over her upper lip like a mustache.

Nik burst out laughing. "You look ridiculous!"

Julia's returning smile was a bit dazed, her bright eyes sparkling with awe and admiration for a moment before she shook herself. "I am the King," she said in a nasal old-man voice. "I rule over this house! Bow to me, peasant!" She turned and pointed at Mikhael. "Bow! I am King!"

Nik burst out laughing again; the expression on his best friend's face was priceless. "Yeah, that's right, peasant," he said, forcing out the words because he was laughing that hard. "Bow to your King."

Mikhael feigned a frown, but ruined it with his twitching lips. "What blasphemy! I am no peasant."

"You dare question my words?" Julia's tone was more imperious than Kayovahn's. "Off with his head!" She turned to Nik. "Go, my loyal knight! Off with this peasant's head!"

Nik bowed. "Your wish is my command, my Lord."

Julia giggled before resuming her imperial stance. "Where is my queen?"

"Here I am," responded a voice. The three turned. Azaelya stood in the room's doorway, arms crossed as she smiled.

"Aunt Mae!" Julia jumped off the couch and ran into her aunt's arms. "Look! Nikolai was teaching me chess!"

"What? Were you playing chess without me?" Mae picked up the girl and swung her around. "I'm heartbroken, Julia. This is a betrayal."

Nik laughed along with Julia. He stood up. "Are you ready?" he asked Azaelya.

"Yeah." Mae set her niece down. The young girl tottered before turning to Nik.

"Are you going?" she asked, pouting.

"I have work," Nik said, kneeling and bopping her nose with a finger. "Here." He pulled out a spare King from his pocket. "Hold onto this for me while I'm gone, my liege." He grinned and handed it to her.

Julia's eyes widened. "Oh! Thank you!" She threw her arms around him and he gasped, flinching as white-hot pain exploded all over his torso. "Uncle Nikolai?" Julia pulled away, eyes wide with fright and worry. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm fine." He forced a smile. "Come here."

Julia hugged him again, more careful this time. "Did someone hit you, Uncle Nikolai?" she asked when she pulled away, eyes inquisitive and wide with the kind of innocence only a small child could have.

Nik blinked. "Yeah, I got into a fight."

"That's not nice," Julia said, frowning at him. "Papa says that only bad people fight others."

"Does he?" Nik's smile was weak. "That man said really bad things about my sister."

"Oh. You have a sister?" Julia asked.

"Mm-hmm." Nik nodded.

"Really?" Julia's eyes brightened. "Is she nice? Can I meet her? Does she play chess too?"

"I'll bring her with me next time," Nik said, smiling as he thought of Misha. "She's the nicest person in the world."

"Pinky promise?" Julia held out her little finger. "I want to meet your sister."

"Okay. Pinky promise." Nik hooked his finger with hers.

Julia grinned and hugged him again, her grip surprisingly tight and strong for such a small girl. "Don't get into fights, Uncle Nikolai," she said into his ear, whispering as a sweet, floral scent invaded Nik's senses. "I will punish the man who hurt my loyal knight."

"Okay," Nik said. His eyes stung and he swallowed down the lump in his throat. "Thank you, Julia."

Julia nodded and pulled away, grinning again. "Peasant!" She turned to Mikhael, who was frowning, his brows furrowed with concern as he glanced at Nik and then at Julia. "Take care of my knight, peasant!" She shook a tiny fist at him. "Then, I will consider not having you executed."

"Okay, your Majesty." Mikhael's smile didn't reach his troubled eyes. He gave Nik a hand and the latter stood up. "Let's go."

Azaelya didn't say anything as they went downstairs, for which he was glad. He couldn't stop thinking about Mira, his hands trembling at his sides as grief and guilt clouded his mind.

It's your fault she's dead, said the ever-present voice in his head. You're a fucking failure. If Julia knew what you've done, then she wouldn't call you her knight anymore. You can't protect anyone. You aren't worthy of that title. Admit it already.

I know, alright? Nik hunched in his shoulders. I know. There's no need to tell me. I know I'm not worth anything. Please leave me alone.

They walked to Mikhael's, where both the men had their horses.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Nik turned to Azaelya, looking at his shoes instead of her face. He didn't want to see what was going through her mind. Didn't want confirmation of how pitiful he was.

"Yeah," Azaelya said, and he glanced up for a brief second before turning to his mare.

"Hey," he said, stroking her head. May whinnied and nudged her head into his shoulder, sensing his mood. Nik wrapped his arms around her soft neck for a moment before stepping back. "Azaelya will be riding you today. Say hi."

May turned her head towards Azaelya, who stepped forward, before turning back to Nik. She whinnied again, pawing at the ground.

"I'm fine, May. Don't worry about me. I'll be right next to you, with Mikhael."

May looked at his friend, who had already swung onto his stallion, Thunder. Satisfied, she turned and presented her saddle to Mae, who swung on without any trouble.

Nik turned to Thunder, taking the hand Mikhael offered. The bruises on his torso hurt at the exertion as Mikhael pulled him up onto Thunder, but he gritted his teeth and endured it. He deserved it, after all the sins he'd committed. At least Misha was safe as a result. 

#

Mae followed Nik and Mikhael to the third floor of their hideout. The paperwork for her recruitment was done and the men were taking her to meet their crewmates. Nik opened the third door to the right in the hallway and stepped inside.

"Look who's here!" A female voice said.

"Oye, Nik! You got a job for us?"

"Hey, Mikhael! Still got a stick up your arse?"

"Finally ready for that game of chess, Mikhael? I'll beat your ass!"

Mae stepped into the room and the voices died down. Eight pairs of curious eyes swung to her.

"Who's this?" The only other girl in the room stood up. She had flowing brown hair and a muscular physique, eyes warm as they studied her. "Azaelya Mae?" She turned to Nik. "Aye! Don't tell me you hired her?"

Nik grinned. "Surprise."

The room burst into cheers. A moment later, all eight people crowded around Mae, friendly and curious.

"I'm Lorcan," said the girl, baring rows of gleaming white, crooked teeth in a wide grin. "This idiot is Warrick."

"Hey, who're you calling an idiot, huh?" Warrick was a tall and muscular man, with deep white scars marring his thick biceps and brown arms. He pulled Lorcan into his arms and squeezed hard enough to make her squeal. Mae blinked. Seeing such a big, muscular girl squeal was something in itself.

"These two are idiots, leave them. Us, however? We can take you right past heaven, pretty woman." The voice belonged to a scrawny blonde guy with a carbon copy standing right next to him. "Alarik," he said with a coy smile, sidling up to her. "This is Arkyn. You can tell because he's got a scar over his brow, see." He pointed at the scar in question. Arkyn said nothing.

"Forget these two," said a third voice. It belonged to a handsome man with jet black hair and dark, soulful eyes. "I'm Leven," he said, extending a hand. "Nice that you decided to join our little group."

"Little?" Mae smiled. "There's ten of you."

"Well, if you put it like that..." Leven shrugged, smiling.

"Hey," Nik said and the two of them turned. The leader of the little group still looked a little out of it, his gaze vacant and haunted by the shadow of something dark. "Let me tell you everyone's roles. Assemble!"

All eight people in the room snapped to attention, quickly assembling themselves in a file. "Brendan and Warrick here are my 'rooks', so to say. Any hard work involving fists is best handled by them."

"Damn right, boss!" Warrick grinned and flexed his biceps. Brendan, on the other hand, just smiled and shook his head. He was a large hulk of a man, with warm brown eyes and brown hair that fell to his shoulders.

Nik clapped Warrick's shoulder and moved on. "Alarik and Leven are our knights. They're both extremely agile, stealthy and sharp. Lorcan and Arkeyn are our bishops. They're both fast, strong and deadly. Mikhael here doesn't fall into any one particular category. Rather, he specializes in all four areas and is better termed as a backup. Before your arrival, he took the role of a queen, doing any job in any direction. He's proficient with guns as well, and is often our sharpshooter, sniper or spy, whichever the event calls for."

Nik passed his gaze over his crew, pride in his gaze. "These are my handpicked men, Azaleya. They will protect me with their life, and each other as well. That includes you too, now." He glanced at her. "Any questions?"

"Not as of now." Mae shook her head. "Okay, so who is going to work as my bodyguard?"

"Me." Lorcan raised her hand, grinning. "No one will dare touch you while I'm around. Cross my heart and hope to not die."

Mae nodded. Lorcan was as big as Matthews had been, and there was a threat to her stance that she didn't miss. "Excellent." 

* * *

So we've met Nik's infamous crew! Thoughts?

Looks like our adorable little sweetheart Julia triggered some memories for good old Nik! Any theories? 'Cause I sure have 'em!

Don't forget to colour that star orange and send me your love! 

See ya!

*moonwalks out of the room*