Mercy, the curious white kitten, sniffed the creaks of the windowsill only to sneeze seconds after. Specs of dust danced in the air as Nikki lifted her from the scene.
There was no telling how long they would stay this time. She expected months. The threats on the government had grown far too strong just to walk armed up a few streets, or arrest outspoken protesters. Hell, it was extreme enough for house arrest, even curfews at dawn. Nikki pressed her fingertips in to the glass, then exhaled a shallow breath on to the surface.
Chaos would have killed her three years ago. But order...order would put her in a eternal suffocation.
Thankfully and thankless the stress had changed her appearance. Not unrecognisable, but if the Queen hadn’t crossed your mind for some time, neither would she, strolling down the crowded streets of Armenia. Her headwrap, her walk, and her eyes were misleading. Smiles were something left reserved for moments that deserved them.
Chadwick made it clear on the day of arrival no one was allowed in. The clips on the windows shrieked, as he forced them in to place. He bought groceries and told her to make herself comfortable. Nikki understood what he meant by this. Comfortable to him was fitting in. Not feeling at home.
“Call me on this phone,” she rubbed her fingers across the worn buttons, nodding. “I’ll be here on the fourth of every month. When I arrive I’ll knock three times. If you don’t answer, I'll come in.” Chadwick tugged the ends of her hair, “Dye this a dark brown, eh?”
Mercy tucked her agile body on the top of the staircase. Her eyes moving only when he did. “The plants are healthy,” Nikki started for the kitchen but he stopped her, hand ever so slightly cupping her shoulder. “Keep them that way.”
Chadwick paused, gazing in to her worried stare. “It won’t be long” he promised, reaching into a old messenger bag to pull out two large candles. One white, the other yellow. “I hear there aren’t anymore in the stores,” he whispered, placing them in her grasp.
“Thank you,” she breathed. The wax filled her nails, colliding with her skin. She grinded her jaw.
“Stay out of trouble.”