BLOOD OATH

CHAPTER THREE : GOODBYES ARE FOR THE WEAK

CHAPTER THREE: GOODBYES ARE FOR THE WEAK

The moon hung low above Black Shadow.

Most of the fortress had gone quiet.

Only the training grounds remained alive.

The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the night.

I stood alone before the weapons rack.

Daggers.

Short swords.

Throwing knives.

Poison needles.

I reached for my favorite dagger and ran my thumb along its edge.

Sharp.

Just the way I liked it.

"You always do that."

Vega's voice came from behind me.

I didn't turn around.

"I like making sure it still loves me."

"It would love you even if it were blunt."

I chuckled.

"You think so?"

"It has tasted enough blood in your hands."

She walked beside me and picked up another dagger.

"I heard."

"Hm?"

"You're leaving."

"I am."

"For Ethan's empire."

I nodded.

She twirled the dagger between her fingers before returning it to the rack.

"You look excited."

"I am."

"I knew it."

"I finally have something entertaining to do."

She looked at me for a moment.

"You know..."

"What?"

"I'll miss you."

I stared at her.

"What?"

She frowned.

"Don't look at me like that."

"I thought you'd celebrate."

"I considered it."

I laughed.

"You liar."

She folded her arms.

"You've never been away this long."

"It's only two months."

"If you don't get yourself killed."

I smirked.

"You worry too much."

"I don't worry."

"You do."

"I don't."

"You've been following me around since this afternoon."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"I have not."

"You have."

"...Maybe a little."

I burst into laughter.

"I knew it."

She sighed dramatically.

"I hate that you know me so well."

"I practically raised you."

"We're the same age."

"Details."

She nudged my shoulder.

"If anything happens..."

"Nothing will happen."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

She looked away.

"You'd better come back."

"I will."

"You promise?"

I looked at her for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

"I promise."

She suddenly hugged me.

I blinked.

"What brought this on?"

"I felt like it."

"You've become emotional."

"I have not."

"You have."

She immediately let go.

"Forget it."

"I already have."

"Liar."

"I learned from you."

She clicked her tongue.

"Tch."

"There she is."

"My signature."

"I know."

We stood in comfortable silence.

It was strange.

Usually one of us would be insulting the other by now.

Instead...

Neither of us spoke.

"I'm going to beat your training record while you're gone."

I looked at her.

"You wish."

"I will."

"You can't."

"I definitely can."

"I'll still hold first place when I return."

She grinned.

"We'll see."

Footsteps echoed behind us.

Balec.

Again.

Poor man looked terrified the moment he saw me.

"R-Rana..."

"What now?"

"The boss wants you before you leave."

"I'll be there."

He nodded repeatedly before hurrying away.

Vega watched him disappear.

"I think he's scared you'll kill him."

"I've never touched him."

"Exactly."

"I don't understand."

"That's because you're you."

I rolled my eyes.

"You make no sense."

"I rarely do."

"That much is obvious."

She laughed.

"Go."

"I'll see you in two months."

"Or sooner."

"If you get bored and kill Ethan on the first day."

I smiled.

"I'll try not to."

"No promises?"

"No promises."

...

Michael's office was unusually quiet.

He stood beside the window with his hands behind his back.

He didn't turn when I entered.

"You came."

"You called."

"I did."

He remained silent for several moments.

"I've prepared your new identity."

He handed me a small leather pouch.

Inside were several documents.

A new name.

A place of birth.

A travel permit.

Everything looked real.

"Isabella Morris."

I frowned.

"It sounds... ordinary."

"It should."

"I don't like ordinary."

"That's exactly why it'll work."

I sighed.

"I suppose."

"You'll be a cook."

I stared at him.

"A cook?"

"Yes."

"I trained fifteen years to become..."

I paused.

"...a cook?"

Michael laughed.

"You'll understand when you get there."

"I wanted something cooler."

"Killing people isn't enough?"

"It is."

"But cooking?"

"It gets you close to Cassian."

That shut me up.

He wasn't wrong.

I placed the documents back into the pouch.

"I'll manage."

"I know."

Michael walked toward me.

For the first time that night...

He looked almost...

Fatherly.

He adjusted the collar of my black uniform.

"There."

I stared at him.

"You've never done that before."

"I know."

"You've become strange."

"I've become old."

I almost laughed.

Almost.

"Rana."

"Hm?"

"No matter what happens..."

He hesitated.

"...come back alive."

I looked at him strangely.

"Of course."

He nodded.

"You may leave."

I turned toward the door.

"Rana."

I stopped.

"If..."

His voice was quieter now.

"If you ever find yourself choosing between revenge..."

He paused.

"...and your own life."

I waited.

"Choose your life."

I frowned.

"Why?"

He smiled sadly.

"Because dead people can't start over."

His words lingered in my mind as I stepped outside.

They were unlike Michael.

Too gentle.

Too...

Human.

...

Before dawn arrived...

I stood before the enormous gates of Black Shadow.

A horse waited for me.

A small travel bag rested across its back.

No farewell ceremony.

No applause.

No blessings.

Black Shadow did not believe in goodbyes.

Only missions.

I climbed onto the horse.

Just as I tightened the reins...

"Tch."

I smiled without turning around.

"You always announce yourself."

"I know."

Vega walked toward me.

She tossed something into my lap.

I caught it.

A small silver knife.

Its handle was carved with a wolf.

"My lucky knife."

I looked at her.

"I can't take this."

"You are."

"What about you?"

"I'll steal another."

I laughed.

"You'd actually do that."

"I absolutely would."

I tucked the knife safely into my belt.

"Take care of Zara."

"I will."

"Try not to bully her too much."

"No promises."

"I expected that."

She looked at me for a long moment.

Then smiled.

"Go make history."

I smirked.

"I'll make chaos."

"Even better."

I kicked the horse lightly.

It began moving.

The fortress slowly disappeared behind me.

Black Shadow.

The only home I had ever known.

I didn't look back.

Assassins weren't supposed to.

Somewhere beyond the rising sun...

Ethan's empire waited.

So did his son.

Cassian.

Completely unaware...

That death had already begun riding toward him.