The Royal Shadow

Chapter 1: The Assassin

            Three Years Later

        "Natasha are you there?" Stacey asks through her earpiece.

        "I'm here Stacey," I answer.

        "Where are you?" She asks me.

        "I'm outside the target's apartment," I reply

        "Okay let me hack into the security cameras." 

        I look around making sure no one was following me that I was alone. I held my phone in my hand and leaned against the building. So I looked more causal. But I could feel the cold metal in my pants. I stare at my phone as I scroll up and down on my contact list. Waiting for Stacey to give me the cue to move. A couple walks out of the apartment. I don't look up from my phone but I can sense them walking past me. As they talk quietly to each other. Then Stacey comes back on. 

        "Natasha." She says my name trying to give me a cue.

        I don't say anything. The couple is still too close and I can't risk being overheard. So I keep my eyes on my phone.

        "Natasha." She repeats.

        The couple is further away so I decided that it is safe enough to answer. "I'm here."

        I hear Stacey sigh, "You need to stop doing that. Boss would kill me if something happened to his top assassin."

        "A couple was in range. I couldn't risk being overheard." 

        "Well I manage to hack into the security cameras and it seems that the halls are clear but, there are no cameras inside the apartments. So I hacked the street camera outside his room. He's not alone. I think he had a midnight booty call." 

        "Why can't nothing be easy. I'll knock the girl out make sure she doesn't see anything and kill Mr. Reeves. Then I'll be out." 

        "You got this." She assures me.

        I roll my eyes easier said than done. I walk into the apartment. And go to the elevator. And type the code in that Stacey gave me. I hear a beep and the elevator opens and I go inside. I push a button that reads floor 4. I wait quietly as the elevator goes up. Until it stops and I hear a ding. The door opens I walk out into the hallway. I start looking for room 4C as casually as I could even though I know Stacey cut the camera's off but I always have to be cautious.

        When I finally get to the room I slide a card through the crack of the door. Then the door clicks open. I casually walk into the dining room. The apartment was fully furnished and it was stylish. I walk to the back of the apartment where I hear snoring coming from the room that's on the left of the hallway. I quietly open the door. Two people lay on the bed I quietly make my way to the side of the bed where the girl laid. I reach for my gun. The girl suddenly starts to fidget and I quickly grab my gun and hit her in the head with the butt of the gun making her go completely still but the guy wakes up and before he could turn around to look at me I put a clean shot through his head. He falls off the bed and onto the floor.

        "Natasha. You have a company heading your way. You need to get out of there." 

        I look around the room and I see the window I open the window and look down. I forgot I was on the fourth floor I start to hear voices in the apartment. The number one rule never get caught. I step back away from the window then I run towards the window diving out of the window. I land onto a smaller building rolling onto my side my whole body was in pain. I stay there for a few seconds. Turning onto my other side to face the window as the light comes through the window followed by a scream that was my cue. That I should go. I stand up and to the edge of the building and climb down a drainpipe. And onto the streets where I walked all the way home.  

            The Next Day

        I wake up and get straight into my daily routine as I usually did. I live in a warehouse where all the assassins live. Gavin is my boss he is the one who is in charge of everything. He makes all the assassins live in here so that we would be safe from danger and he always wanted us working or training bein

"g an assassin with a personal life was very rare but, Stacey and I shared a room, she is my best friend. She understands me more than anybody. And she has a kick-ass attitude. Which I love. I go to get me some orange juice before I had to go down and meet Gavin. I go to the kitchen and Stacey is already up. Watching the news on the TV. I pass by her and head for the refrigerator. And grab the orange juice. Then go to sit next to Stacey.

        "What are they talking about today?" I ask Stacey but my eyes were on the TV.

        "You won't believe it. It seems that Mr. Reeves was found dead in his apartment. With an 

unconscious girl laying on his bed." Stacey says sarcastically.

        I roll my eyes but couldn't help the laugh that escaped.

       I listen to the news reporter. “We are at Mr. Reeves apartment he was found dead after being shot in the head with an unconscious girl laid out on his bed. She has been identified as Miss. Evans. Lord Miller's daughter. She says that she didn't see anyone.  It seems that this might be the work of the same person that killed our last twenty-three victims. They all seem to be connected. Meaning the security cameras were all hacked..."

        "Your welcome," Stacey says.

        "And they all have a clean shot in the head. This person leaves no evidence and is also as known as a shadow in the works."

        "See you might be the brains but I will always be the muscle." I say

        "You want to bet on that." She tries to punch me but I quickly dodge and pull my gun out and press it to her cheek. She goes still. 

        I smile,  "Why not."

        "Show off." Stacey huff under her breath. We turn back to the TV.

        "This person is wanted by the Royal Family the reward of this person getting turned in still stands but, King Gilbert is growing impatient he has sent his royal guard out on this case." As the reporter talked about the Royal Guard she starts to blush and bit her bottom lip. Which I found quite annoying. "That is all the information we have today folks.  I think the people are ready for you Rachael.”

        Stacey turns off the TV and turns to me. "I. Am. So. Jealous." I looked at her confused. She rolled her eyes. "Have you seen the Royal Guard he is a fine piece of meat and, all his attention is going to be focused on finding you." 

        I rolled my eyes. "You know sometimes I worry about you."

        "I say what I think," Stacey says shrugging it off.

        "What do you think Gavin is going to say about this? I mean the Royal Guard is known for finding people?" I say turning to Stacey.

        "I don't know. This never happened before." I sigh as Stacey states the obvious. 

        What if I get caught. I will get sent to the Palace and they will no doubt kill me.

        "Don't think about it so much. Gavin will know what to do. Everything will be okay." Stacey always knows how to make feel better but, somehow it wasn't working. I just had a bad feeling and I always go with my instinct rather than reason. I just hope this time my instincts are wrong.