I reached for my phone with the cucumber in my hand. The incoming number was unregistered on my phone; it was probably Azel. I picked up and pressed the handset to my ear.
"Hello, who's this?" I asked.
It was clear the person on the other end was in traffic; I could hear the sounds of a motorcycle and horns.
"Rüzgar, it's Azel. I'm taking you somewhere. Leave the house immediately, let's meet at the first place we come across," he said.
"I have to go to work," I objected. "If I miss two days in a row, the boss will fire me."
Azel's voice hardened:
"Didn't you make a deal with me? From now on, you will work only for me. Get to the lot immediately!"
Before I could say "that won't happen," the call ended.
"We've fallen into this bastard's hands," I muttered. "He's got the man wrapped around his finger." I bit the cucumber, quickly changed my clothes, grabbed my phone and wallet, and left the house. Just as I started walking, I wondered if I had unplugged the TV. When I went back, I saw the plug was already out. Muttering under my breath, I headed toward the lot. I wished I hadn't passed by that place that evening; I wouldn't have gotten mixed up in this.
As I crossed the lot, the scene of my struggle with that monster replayed before my eyes. It had been a life-or-death fight. Wait… if that person works for Azel and I had taken his place, could I end up attacking people in the future? My mother, or even my friends… The best thing would be to ask Azel.
In the middle of the lot, a shiny motorcycle and a long silver-haired figure appeared. He wore a professional motorcyclist suit. I quickly approached him:
"Hello, boss. Why did you call me?"
Without answering, he mounted his motorcycle and put on his helmet.
"Get on, we need to go somewhere," he said.
"Wait a minute! I have to go to work now. If I don't, I'll get fired. So, are you going to watch out for me? I'm not going anywhere until I get an answer to that."
Azel lifted his visor.
"I'll explain on the way. Get on the bike now."
The bike looked like a racing machine — expensive, high-end. So Azel was quite wealthy. His being rich suited me well.
When I climbed on, I instinctively warned him:
"Please ride slowly."
He didn't seem to care. He turned the ignition with his thumb. The bike first shivered like a cough, then roared to life with a deep, resonant growl. The exhaust sound turned into a hum in my chest. Azel eased the throttle slightly with his right hand; the growl sharpened into a roar. It felt like a steel beast, impatient to break free of its chains.
"Slow down!" I shouted, but my voice was lost in the engine's roar. Azel suddenly closed his visor and floored the throttle. The bike shot forward like an arrow; the rear wheel spun for a moment. I clung to his waist in terror. The wind ripped across my face; the surroundings blurred into streaks.
"Please, please slow down, I'm still young," I shouted. Azel merged onto the main road, overtaking cars, finally squeezing between a truck and a car — a space only a motorcycle could fit through. That's when I glimpsed the Azraili; my legs gave out. I clung to Azel so tightly that anyone watching might have thought I was a koala holding onto a tree.
"For God's sake, please slow down!" I started yelling, but he didn't listen. The faster he went, the faster he went, overtaking cars or slipping between them. Eventually, I closed my eyes and silently wished he would stop.
When I felt the bike slow, I opened my eyes. We had turned off the main road onto a side street. After a short distance, an old hangar appeared; a huge sign read "Yeşil Tekstil Fabrikası." There was a large loading door, but Azel didn't stop there — he parked in front of a small iron gate. Lifting his visor, he said,
"Stop clinging, get off."
Apologizing, I got off the bike — and inside awaited a completely different world.
Although the factory looked like an ordinary old textile mill from the outside, I immediately realized it had nothing to do with the outside world. The floor was old but carefully polished wood; each step creaked softly, giving the space life. My eyes scanned the surroundings; large glass panels with black frames divided the area in two.
One side behind the glass looked like an office. In the center stood a magnificent dark-brown desk with detailed carvings; chairs and sofas were arranged carefully around it. The remaining furniture was also placed symmetrically and functionally around the desk. The desk's presence gave the space a sense of both weight and order.
The other side opened into a sports area, almost detached from the rest of the factory. In the center of the sports area, a raised ring drew the eye; around it were training rigs and simple but functional equipment. Thanks to the glass, the office and the sports area could see each other, but the black frames added a harsh, mysterious air to the space.
"Wow, what a classy place," I said. Azel went to a dark-brown chair with ornate carvings, sat down, and leaned back. I remained standing, taking it all in.
Azel said, "Sit, let's talk about what's on your mind." I sat in a chair in front of the desk. I had to remain calm; I needed to make a deal with this man.
"Lean back. I have a few questions," I said.
Azel replied, "Say what you want."
First: I need money, so I need a job. You brought me here today; you disrupted my work life. To understand Azel's thoughts, I looked into his beautiful eyes and almost feminine face. No reaction, he just said, "Continue."
Second: Why did the man I fought that day attack me? Will I go mad and attack my loved ones? Again, I waited for the answer: "Continue."
Finally: What's your plan, and what is my position in this unknown world? Suddenly, the room filled with the smell of coffee; a large man opened the door carrying a tray. On the tray were Turkish coffee and two glasses of water. He placed the coffee and one glass of water on Azel's desk, then came over and handed the other glass to me. After taking a sip of his coffee, Azel began speaking:
"The answer to your first question is simple." He pointed at the ring with his index finger. "On Tuesdays and Saturdays, there are fight tournaments. People watch and bet. I want you to fight in the ring. You'll improve your fighting skills and earn money for each match you win."
"What? No, no! What if I get seriously injured — what then?" I asked.
Azel said, "Healing is easy for people like us. You just need to drink as much blood as required."
So that was why I healed when you drank my blood, I realized.
"Good, you catch on fast. Now let's move to your other question. You have the same ability as that man because I gave him my blood; I gave it to you as well. But back then, I gave that power to the wrong person. He was talented, but the substances he used made him do insane things, and eventually he died. So when he attacked me, he wasn't in his right mind."
Azel nodded slightly, "Exactly."
And the answer to the third question is still unclear — for neither you nor me. Because a war, unseen but near, is already making itself heard. If you try hard enough, you can secure your position on my side.
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