"Elena."
I didn't give Henry a glance and continued walking. He stalked me and called my name again. Because of irritation, I threw a dagger at my back without looking.
"Shit! I almost got hit! What was that for?"
I knew he was good enough to dodge that simple attack. He was not Mistress Hera's right hand for nothing. He was also partly my mentor when I was still training way back four years ago.
"That was for messing my mission, you moron."
"Messing your mission? You completed it successfully, so what is the problem?"
This time, I stopped and turned to face him. He stood still a foot away, towering over me.
"You know I like working alone, do you not? I do not need your help. It is my mission, you should have stayed out of the way. If you were bored, you should have searched for someone else you could kill."
"I did not mean to provoke you, all right. I was just supposed to watch, but your prey saw me and attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself. I was not planning to kill him—"
"But you did, regardless. Now, will you stop following me? It pisses me off." I glared at him once more before I went back on my track.
He did not stalk me anymore but he spoke. "Be sure to be at the house before night! The Mistress has something to discuss with you!"
I didn't gave him any response. I mounted my horse and left without a word.
This was how my life has been going on for the past four years. I accepted Miss Hera's offer to be one of them. And even I didn't fully understand what was the meaning of being an assassin before, my decision was final because right that moment, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be a strong and fierce woman. A fighter who can defend herself, not a weak and useless girl that I was in the past.
Where would being weak bring me anyway? I would only look pathetic and worthless like how I looked like in the eyes of my own parents years ago. I have not seen them again since that night. I do not know if they had tried to find me, but I doubt that they did. They truly hated me. They loathed me. They wished that I was never been their daughter. I was a big trash in their life, something they did not need.
"Good evening, Mistress," I greeted once I was inside Mistress Hera's chamber.
Sitting on her chair, she looked at me, eyes empty and cold as it was before. Only that, those didn't intimidate me now. I was not frightened anymore. The only thing I feel every time I look at her was respect and nothing more.
"Sit," she demanded.
I went to the chair in front of her table as calm as she was.
"I have a new mission for you. A big one."
"Who?"
I was not blind of what we were doing. We were assassins, people pay us to kill anyone they wanted. And hearing it from the Mistress herself that this was a "big" mission, means it was not something a newly trained assassin could do. The one who was needed to be killed must be a wealthy person or who has the ability to protect himself.
"An alpha of a pack."
Now this is interesting. An alpha, huh?
It was centuries ago when it was discovered and accepted that there was actually another kind of humans who were living with normal humans. They are called wolf shifters, they are basically humans who can transform into wolves and are stronger than the average man. They age with the same pace as us. They also consume the same food. However, even though civilized, they have a different set of beliefs and practices.
There are also other humans who are capable of doing beyond ordinary. One reason is that they practice sorcery. Some though has innate special gifts such as clairvoyance, sharp senses, and other supernatural abilities one may have.
"Alpha of what pack?" I asked Mistress Hera with the same stoic expression.
"Raven pack from the west."
I nodded. I could not ask as to why he is needed to be killed. That information is confidential and not to be disclosed even to the assassin who will do the mission. Only the Mistress knows all the reasons behind every mission and who our patrons are. Besides, I do not think it is necessary for me to know those informations. My job is to execute the plan and nothing more.
"Do you accept it?"
"I do," I answered without hesitation.
"All right. Plan the mission as soon as possible. It has to be done this month."
"Noted, Mistress."
"Good," she simply said and dismissed me.
I never had problems with my missions ever since so I am confident that I can complete this one too like what I have done in my past missions. This surely would not be light but I would definitely do something about that.
So the following day, I gathered informations about Raven Pack and their Alpha. Based on my sources, their Alpha is a man named Rage. And this month's new moon, they will be conducting a yearly celebration, and that is I think the best time to kill the Alpha. At a time of celebration, he would likely not expect someone to attack him. Everyone would be distracted, and when the Alpha is already alone in his chamber, that is when I will kill him.
"You sure you can do it alone?" Henry asked while I was preparing some things for my mission.
"I told you, did I not? I can do my job alone. Don't you dare mess my mission again, Henry or else..." I glared at him.
"Or else what?" He smirked and his voice went a little softer. "You would kill me?"
"Do you think I am being funny here? Yes, Henry. I would kill you if you do." Sure I could kill him. But only if he would not fight back. I am completely aware of my own capabilities, but that does not mean I would not try to strike an assault if he provokes me beyond tolerance.
He groaned. "You are honestly absurd, Elena. Do you even have a heart?"
I ignored him and continued cleaning my sword.
"But seriously, I heard some things about Raven Pack's Alpha. Do not underestimate him, Elena. Based on what I have heard, he is a very skilled fighter."
"Indeed. The patron would not offer that amount of money just for his head if he is an ordinary man."
"You could be defeated," he said matter-of-factly.
"If that happens and I would be killed, continue the job for me then," I said in a monotone as if I was not talking about my own death.
"Are you serious, Elena?" He looked at me with disbelief.
"I always am. Why? You love messing with my missions. If I die, then you can continue my—"
"Elena," he cut me, his look was now lethal.
"What? I am just being realistic."
"Come back here alive."
I looked at him blankly. "No need to tell me."
"You should—"
"We have guests," Gideon appeared from the shadows all of a sudden, playing with his dagger.
"Guests?" Henry raised a brow.
"Yes, a bunch of uninvited guest." The way how Gideon's lips curved evilly gave me an idea what kind of "guests" he was referring to.
"Heads?" I asked.
"More or less twenty-five. Anyway, I just came here in case you want to join the party. I will go ahead. I would not dare miss this." Then Gideon disappeared from the shadows like a ghost.
"Now this is interesting." Henry leaned at the wall near where I was. "Maybe those fools are thinking that without the Mistress and ten of our members, we would be weak enough."
Mistress Hera had to live for two days for some important matters, while ten of our members were out of the town for a group mission.
I traced the sharp edge of my sword with my index finger. "I think I should grab this opportunity to practice."
"Yeah. You are the fearless Elena. I know you would join the bloody party."
The corner of my lips raised a bit. I then held my sword tight. "I am leaving. How about you? You should have fun tonight so you would not think of messing my mission tomorrow."
He laughed. "I will not mess your mission, all right. I am afraid you would kill me this time."
"I will surely do," I muttered before I leaped out of the window down to the other side of this huge manor.
One swift move and I was already at the hallway of the west wing. The whole hallway was silent, but right that moment, I knew someone was watching me.
"What's with the hiding thing?" I asked, my voice was enough to make an ice out of a boiling water. "I am not fond of hide and seek, so better show yourself now."
I heard a chuckle. The next moment, a man showed from the dark corner behind the big statues a few yards away.
"The only female first class assassin in the House of Spades. Such an honor to meet you," he said playfully. My eyes drifted to his sword at once, searching for any ensign of his group. But I did not find any. They must have planned to not expose what group they belong. Wise.
"I was told that you are a skilled fighter, but I did not know you are such a beauty. Now I am thinking twice of hurting that beautiful face of yours."
Talkative.
"Are you here to praise me or to kill me?"
He laughed that made me want to wince. The sound of his laugh was not so pleasant in my ears.
"You know what? I am willing to give you a chance. If you only accept my proposal to be my wife, then I will gladly spare you—fuck!"
One dagger was enough for his sword to fell off the floor. Blood drippped down his hand.
"You!" he shouted angrily and picked his sword with his other hand.
I anticipated an attack from him. I held my sword tight, eyes were alert, and standing still and calm.
When I knew the proximity was enough and the timing was right, I leaped and stepped one foot to the wall and welcomed his attack with mine. The sound of sharp metals against each other echoed in the whole hallway.
"Note that I gave you a chance, lady. But you chose the hard way. I will give you the death you deserve—"
One swift move and his lifeless body fell on the floor together with his sword. I was supposed to make this fight last for a bit but I just could not take his filthy mouth any longer.
"Give me the death I deserve?" I smiled evilly at my lifeless victim. "I am the death myself."
"Did you know what guild they are from?" Gideon asked after the invited guests were completely washed out."No traces in their swords and daggers, nor in their bodies. And no one dared to speak.""What guild must be behind of this?" it was from Henry.There many assassin guilds but the biggest and most prominent is ours, the reason why we have a lot of enemies. This did not happen only once that was why we were not surprised of the attack."That is hard to know since we have a lot of enemies," I said before walking out from the group."Where are you going, Elena? We are still in a meeting." Henry is such a nuisance. He really gets into my nerves most of the time."I need to prepare for my mission tomorrow."Before he could talk more, I was already out of the room.The following night, I left the manor before sunset as what I have planned. It was already dark when I arrived at the Dark Valley where the base of Raven pack was sit
I was too dumbfounded to speak.He was the patron? Did he mean he asked for his own death? Worst, he even paid for it!"Are you making a fool out of me?" I asked with my coldest voice. I was very mad already but I could still not free myself from his grip. I was dying to punch him straight to his face."Who is making a fool out of you?"I gritted my teeth. His eyes went down to my lips when he heard the grinding sound. He then smirked and moved his face closer."A little impatient, are we?""I don't know what game you are playing, but if you want a fight, then let's do that! Stop pinning me on this damn bed!""Why would I? I like it this way. The only first class female assassin in House of Spades, under me... on my bed... in my room.""You are really testing my patience, aren't you?""Hmm...""If it's true you are the patron for this mission, then that means you want to die. Why don't you let me do my job?
The sound of urgent footsteps caught my attention. Rage also heard it and looked at the door."A kid's footsteps," I said matter-of-factly. It is easy to identify a kid's footsteps from adult's. "Who is that? Your child?"Rage's eyes drifted back to me. "Do I look like a married man?""Why, are married men are only the ones capable of reproduction?"He grimaced. "Sorry to disappoint you, but your assumption is wrong, woman. I prefer to marry first."I didn't say anything. Why are we suddenly on that topic, anyway? It's not something relevant."Uncle? Are you there?" It was a cute boyish voice.Uncle. So it's his nephew. Rage looked like he was thinking what to do with me.I raised a brow at him. "What are you waiting for? Go to the kid. Don't worry, I won't show myself to him. I don't kill children.""Do you think I don't have any idea what you are thinking? You would escape once I get my eyes off
"What the heck is this thing?!" I stood and tried to push him to prove a point but it was like pushing a huge granite."A werewolf's band. That is the proof that you are under a contract with me.""You told me nothing about this!" I fired, very ready to attack him."I didn't tell you because I was under the assumption that you already knew since I thought you probably gathered some informations about me and my kind before you went through this mission. Why, did you not?"Yes, I gathered informations about him but I didn't go in details. I never had any idea about this stupid contract thing. I thought our deal is just purely verbal!"Explain to me how this thing works, you mongrel," I said sharply. I was close to reaching for his neck and twisting it. Or maybe I could just make his eyes pop out since I don't have the strength to twist his neck."As what I've said, it is the proof that we both agreed to in a deal, like a contract. However, you
"Thought you changed your mind," Rage said playfully when I arrived at our meeting place on the day of our departure."If only I had thought of another way to kill you, I could have changed my mind."He hissed but still smiling. "Honest as always.""I don't lie to make anyone feel better.""Yeah. Sounds like very you.""Now are we not going yet? I don't like chatting with you for long."He shook his head with a ghost of smile on his lips and mounted his horse. "You really don't care if you hurt someone else's feelings with your words, do you?""Do I have to care?"His lips parted in disbelief. I then reigned my horse towards the right way. Rage followed at once and coped up with my pace."You are so heartless.""I don't need to be kind to live." In fact, my principle is the other way around. To kill is to live. That is the only thing I need to do. Why should feel those unnecessary sentiments when all o
"You should rest for the night now. Elena must be tired," Richard Black finally said. I'm very bored of all the storytelling."Right. Let's now go, love?"I looked at Rage. This mongrel never really listens. It makes me want to punch him straight to his face right there and then."Dang, I'm jealous. I really need to find my mate soon," Tyler teased.As soon as I stood, Rage's hand was at my waist at once. I breathed, trying get a hold of myself. I should get used to this for the time being."Have a good night, Elena, Rage.""We will, Grandpa," Rage answered and he then led me out of there."Do you really need to hold me all the time?" I asked irritatedly once we were already inside the chamber. "And why do we need to sleep in one chamber? You should have said that we will be needing two!""Keep your voice low, Elena. Someone might hear you."I hissed and gritted my teeth."Look, as what I have told you
"Why do I have to come with you? You should have done this by yourself!"Rage's grandfather asked him to buy some stuffs in the town for the preparation, and he dragged me with him. I couldn't say no because Richard Black was in front of us."And your grandfather has a lot of subordinates. Why did he have to make his grandson do the job?""It was just an excuse."My forhead creased. "Excuse? What do you mean exactly?""He is thinking that you might want to take a look of the town. He wants us to give alone time together, if your pretty head still don't get it.""Why do we need to have alone time together? We have been together yesterday and last night. Your face is already giving me an eyesore."He winced as if he was hurting. "Your words stung, love."My expression turned grim."Do you really want to die?""If you would be the one to kill me, then it would be my pleasure." He winked. He is not really
"Want to come with us? I promised Tyler to join them on playing football," Rage said after he had given the stuffs we bought to his grandfather. "Why would I? I'm not interested on watching that kind of sport. I would rather stay on the chamber or walk around the forest." "But Aunt Cordelia is expecting you to come. She told me to ask you to go because she wants to get know you more. But..." he hesitated but still continued. "If you don't really want to go, I can just tell her that you are tired..." I sighed. "Fine. I'll come." His face lightened and the ghost of smile on his lips didn't go unnoticed. Later that noon, we went to the wide clearing beyond the forest for the football. Cordelia went too along with several younger women to watch the game. It looks like doing this is somewhat a hobby to them, something usual. I also noticed that all those younger men are friends of Rage. They all consider themselves as "brothers" which I find ridicu