The Mist and the Lightning. Part II

"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."

"I don't care. You just love Orel, and so do I."

"Shit," Lis turned away and lit a cigarette standing at the window.

Orel clenched his teeth with pain and walked up to Nikto, sat down next to him. He picked up Nikto's glasses and put them into Nikto's hand.

"Nik, put on your glasses, it's too light for you," he said and his voice shook. Nikto turned to the sound of his voice.

"Arel, you shouldn't get up."

Orel hugged him.

"Nik, Nik, forgive Lis."

"I've already forgotten," Nikto smiled.

"Will you heal Orel?" Enriki asked.

"Yes." Nikto put on his glasses. "My vision will restore now and I'll take care of him."

He passed his palm over Orel's face.

"You're in pain! I was away for too long," he pressed Orel's head to his chest. "It'll get better now, my poor Arel."

Orel clung to him. Nikto leaned to him and kissed his damaged eye.

"Let's go," Lis stubbed his cigarette.

Tol looked at Nikto and Orel grinning like a madman.

"Yes, I think we should leave," Enriki said.

"Really? What a pity," Tol said laughing. "I wouldn't mind staying and holding a candle for them."

They left.

Chapter 3

A New Set-up

Orel woke up and yawned with enjoyment. Still half-dreaming, he stretched lazily and covered his face with his palms, trying to rub his sleepy eyes.

"Oh gods!" he flinched feeling thick cloth of the bandage over his right eye and recalling everything. He shivered, his sleepiness gone without a trace. He sat up in bed abruptly trying to suppress trembling.

Nikto who slept next to him opened his eyes and reached his hand squeezing Orel's palm.

"Easy, easy, don't be afraid. Lie back," he said.

Orel lay down obediently.

Nikto didn't let his hand go, kept squeezing it. "Don't tremble, calm down," he smiled at Orel. "C-a-l-m d-o-w-n."

With his free hand Orel stroked Nikto's fingers, black with tattoos, and gently touched the short stump of his ring finger.

"Nik, you're here, with me," he said, moved.

"Yes," Nikto stopped clenching Orel's palm but didn't let it go. "Though it is you with me. It is my room." He laughed softly.

"What happened yesterday? I don't remember anything," Orel tensed again.

"I healed your eye and soon you will be able to see as before."

Orel touched the bandage on his face.