My own assassin

the funeral

The funeral was the next day. Selena didn’t want to have her father’s soul be on this planet any longer than it had to be. He should be happy in Heaven, with her mother. Selena looked through her pictures. She held each frame in her hands and massaged the glass. Her face was drawn and sorrowful. Her eyes were out of tears, and they hurt. She closed them trying to relieve some of the sensations. Selena fell asleep on her couch.

The next morning, Selena walked to the cemetery in her black boots, under her black gown. She also wore a black veil, covering her face. She tottered toward where the priest was waiting. He was by the coffin, that was hovering above the hole, that it was to go into. She swallowed hard. Somehow her feet kept moving. Once next to him, she stopped. She stared at the coffin and didn’t look up. The priest said a few lines of prayer, before the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground.

Selena watched everything despondently. Her breathing was slow and shallow. She looked up when the tractor came toward her and began to cover the coffin with dirt. The thud, from the dirt hitting the wood, was loud in her ears. Tears fell on their own. The priest had already left. When the backhoe was done, it too was loaded and left her. She stood alone at the grave of her father. Fresh dirt and grass had an aroma all its own. The smell filled her nostrils. She tried to take deep breaths. This was all too much. She fell to her knees next to the mound of dirt, and wept.

Roland was watching from a distance. He was sure no one saw him. He had become good at hiding in plain sight. He pitied Selena. He had done this! He had caused her sorrow, and took away the only family that she had left. His blue eyes glistened with their wetness. Why should he not mourn with her? She was to become his wife. He watched her fall to her knees. Again. He silently gasped. Roland felt that he was intruding on something that was more personal to her.

-Should he give her privacy to grieve? Why was this messing with his head so much? It was just another hit. Wasn’t it? -

Selena sobbed again. She didn’t remember how she made it home. Her green eyes were liquid pools of aquamarine and emerald. Her face, red and blotchy. She shivered. She sat up on the edge of her mattress and pondered her revenge. “What am I going to do?” -I need more information. How many guards are at the Derossa mansion? - She thought. “I’d get caught before I ever got that far. “

-There has to be a way to see inside. I need to know their weaknesses. Maybe I could just blow up the house. Take them all out at once! - She laughed to herself. “Right.” -Where would she get that type of stuff? - Her father had raised her to be a lady. She knew self-defense. She wasn’t a murderess.

-I need to see what I’m up against. - She stood up and went through her closet. Selena ran to the bathroom and threw up the bile that she had been swallowing. After brushing her teeth and washing her face she returned to her room. She put on a pair of black, nylon pants, black running shoes, and a black cardigan sweater.

Selena stretched her arms and legs. She twisted and popped her back, neck, and hips. Pulling her hair up into a long, swinging ponytail, she sighed. “I’m ready.”

Once downstairs she gulped down some cold, black coffee. “Ok what have I go t to lose?” She said to herself. “Except my life……“ She shook her head. “Whatever, I don’t care what they do to me, this is for dad.”

Selena knew exactly where to go. Her father had taken her there, when her mother was killed. The night air was refreshing. She loved the way the Earth smelled just after a rainstorm. She inhaled deeply. A few more blocks and she would be able to see it.

She rounded the last corner. Ahead, it was just as she remembered. She surveyed the sidewalks and the lawn. Luscious green grass surrounded magnificent trees and shrubbery. The large brick mansion glistened as if were made of precious stones. Large glass windows and doors shown everything inside.

-You’d have to be crazy to break in. These guys are deadly. Why would they be worried about anything.? There probably isn’t even an alarm. - She thought. She crouched behind a bush for a few moments watching for any movement.

She stood slowly and took her first step toward the house. She didn’t even reach the grass. Someone grabbed her from behind! The man was more than twice her size. She clawed at his arm, around her neck. “Let me go!” She demanded.

“Where ya going this late?” The man slurred in a deep voice. “It’s after visiting hours. I don’t wanna report thus, but da boss don’t do well with sneaky women.” He wavered, breathing heavily and let her free. “Get on back where ya came from.” He staggered backwards.

-Is he stupid, or drunk? - Selena thought. -I could make something up and he’s probably lead me right in.- “I came to see Roland.” She told him. She stood up straight.

He laughed and grabbed on to her waist. “Oh, a friendlier, then.” He breathed into her hair. The smell of the whiskey he drank was nauseatingly strong. She staggered a bit trying to walk with him to the front door. “He a good friend then?”

“Yeah, the best.” She lied easily. “He sees me all the time.”

He released her at the door “Well you better make it quick, miss. Roland could use some comfort about now. With his old man threatening him marry that Clemott girl, or get his balls blown off!” He swayed as he chuckled. “I know I could use” He stopped to hiccup. “Some company after a threat like that. “ His eyes widened. “But I said too much! Don’t tell anyone I told ya, ok?”

“Ok.” Selena whispered. “I won’t say a word.” She was livid, and scared. “Say I haven’t been here in a while, could you show me to his room?” She smiled prettily up at him.

“No ma’am.” He made a tight-lipped facial expression as he blinked at her. “I get inta trouble for talkin’ and I won’t be leaving my post.” He shook his head and stumbled off to where he had been, humming some show tune medley.

She watched him disappear into the shadows. “I’ll just show myself in then.” She said quietly at the door. She fought back the urge to run. The door was unlocked and there was no one to be seen.