Niko Page 8

  Chapter 5

  After dinner everyone settled into another room but after a few minutes the Director pulled Niko aside and she followed the woman into the next room.

  The Director stood by the window watching the blazing lights of the city compete with the stars for brilliance. Wisps of blonde hair had come free of her careful coif and the light made her grey eyes look colorless. The light caught the lines of her face, lines created from stress, ambition, drive, and very little laughter. She looked her age as she gazed down at the display of wealth and utter disregard of the Slithers outside their walls; she looked her age in a way she never had at the table. She looked as if she wished to lie down and take her first real break in years.

  Niko took a step forward and the Director turned away from the window. She smoothed down the front of her dress. For a signature color everyone seemed to wear the bare minimum of it, Duc’s contribution being a red belt. Only she and the Director were saturated with the color.

  “I’m afraid Malik might have misinformed you,” the Director said. “Not purposely of course. He would never dream of doing something like that, but we’re rather low on manpower at the moment and it’s so difficult to collect people like us---”

  “If I do something for you, you’ll do something for me.” Niko interrupted. Strange to think there were some things that stayed the same inside the city wall as well as outside of it.

  “Exactly. Join us, Ms. Niko, and we’ll find your brother.”

  Niko ran her hand over the back of the couch; the fabric was so soft and fuzzy. “Maybe I can find Jared myself.”

  The Director gave her a small smile that was neither kind, gentle nor benevolent. “You won’t last long in this city without identification. It will eat you alive and use your bones to build its walls.”

  Niko said nothing for a moment. She had never planned on leaving, not yet, not when leaving meant having her bare toes nibbled on by acid.

  “Find my brother and I’ll kill as many Slithers as you want.”

  The Director dipped her head in a single nod. “I’m glad we could come to such an amicable agreement.”

  Niko turned and headed for the door. She had just grabbed the knob when the Director spoke again.

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  Niko paused. “Seventeen,” she said, wondering at the importance.

  The Director lifted blonde eyebrows. “Fascinating.” She gave Niko a smile that was almost genuine. “I believe you’ll be a great addition to our group.”