Sunshine: Tales of an Assassin

Chapter Five

***Katrina's POV***

    Matthew had walked to with me to the rooms that I was allowed to keep here, it was known that some of these missions, right after we completed them, we were either too stressed or too worn out to properly function in the regular world, so some of us were able to stay here after missions.  There were a few guest rooms as well, but not many.  

    "Well, my dark princess, seems like it's been a rather crazy night for you.  Need anything?"  Matthew was in full father mode as we reached my room.

    "Coffee, food, and a change of clothing  while getting out of these ankle breakers, not necessarily in that particular order."  I heard Matthew chuckle as he threw an arm over my shoulders, pulling me in for a quick hug.

    "Go get changed, I'm certain that I can handle getting you some food and coffee."

    "You are my favorite person on this planet right now."  I moved to the bedroom area where I kept some spare clothing and shoes and other essentials.  Getting changed and getting some rest was highly important to me, but I also knew after all the work I'd done today, I had to eat as soon as possible or my stomach wouldn't let me sleep later.

    I changed into some relaxed fit pants, a baggy shirt and some slippers, wanting nothing more than to eat and curl up and sleep.  I headed back out to the living area, thankfully Matthew had procured food and coffee, setting it up on two plates.

    "We need to talk for a little bit princess, about what we are going to do for now until we figure out what is going on.  It isn't something that you are really going to like for a bit, and I'm sorry, but we are going to have to do this to make sure that nothing happens for now.  Per the boss, you are now considered on an active mission until further notice."  I started digging into the food waiting, Matthew would have pushed back on this if there wasn't a reason for it, so I would hold my piece for the moment.  "Those boys were saying they felt the pull of a potential partner, and unfortunately, with the one i***t in particular providing your normal name, it's better this way."

    Thinking about this, for a claim to occur, the persons name must be used and that person must respond accordingly.  However, training taught me that when I am working Katrina doesn't exist, yet Sunshine also isn't real, so claiming when I am working wouldn't work either.

    "Makes sense.  I take it that also means that I won't be seeing my other apartment for a while either?  Can you send some one to get more clothes and shoes for me?  Maybe Amy?  She has pretty good taste for work and leisure."

    "Wow, I was expecting a bit more of a fight than this, don't worry, we'll find plenty to keep you busy.  I'll get out of your hair now, and let you get some rest, and we'll have someone go get stuff for you."  Matthew headed out and I finished the food, before cleaning up and heading to get some sleep.  At this point I was so mentally exhausted I felt like I could sleep for a week.

    I stretched out on the bed, thankful to be off my feet and alone.  My eyes closed almost immediately after I laid down.  The darkness behind my eyelids was a great comfort, and I felt myself falling into sleep with welcome arms.

******

    I found myself alone, walking in the dark, though I could hear something whispering in the distance, voices and sounds that set my nerves on edge, something moving in the darkness around me that had me switching to a defensive stance, anticipating an attack.

    What came next was not what I was expecting, flashing back to when I was getting the injections, the pain flashing through my body again like a fire, while I heard my own screams echoed back at me.

    Where are you?  Why can't I find you.  A smooth whisper of a voice inside my mind, male, one I haven't heard before.

    Who are you, and how are you talking to me now?  I responded back in my head, trying to focus on that instead of the other sounds and feelings.

    You can hear me now?  You couldn't hear me before, but you can now.  I was right to ask her to bring me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes in the dark, what is it with all these males not answering questions for me.

    No, I just thought I was talking to a new personality that I had just started developing in my own head.  What do you mean before?  Not that I expect an answer, it might be part of the dream.  I did hear a dry chuckle, it helped cool the pain running through me.

    I'm real, I've heard you before, in my dreams, or at least heard something that sounds like this before, farther away, yet now it's crystal clear.  Are these your memories?

    Yes they are.  Is that all you can hear?  Whatever was shifting in the dark was getting closer, it was more than one thing, I sensed multiple energies shifting in the shadows, they and it felt like they were enjoying my pain.  They were getting closer, I could feel it.

    Are you wondering if I can feel whatever it is, waking in the dark?  It's there, I feel it too. I can't make out what it is saying, but it's there.  I still wasn't sure who this was that talking to me, but it felt a little better to be talking to someone.

******

***Kai's POV***

    Her voice was a nice husky tone when it wasn't screaming or crying, and she had a rather dry sense of humor that showed strength even though what she was dreaming of wasn't pleasant.  It sounded like she was extremely close, and I kept focusing on her in this dream state that I kept finding her in.  The darkness was all around me, but I've figured out that I can move in this darkness.

    I brushed against a wall in the darkness, which as I felt along it, matched the wall along of the room I'd been given.

    Hey, new voice in my head, are you still there? I couldn't help but snort at her comment.  I'm going to look forward to proving to this person that I am real.

    Still hear, I found a wall, and it seems to be the same as a the room I was put in, I haven't had that happen before.

    Well, I hadn't exactly gone looking for walls in a dream before, so I wouldn't know.  What do you mean room you were put in?  Her voice had gone into another tone, gone was the woman who was joking about voices in her head, and in her place was a warrior getting ready to do battle.

    I traveled with a friend to search for someone, little gem, stand down.  My friend is looking for information on another situation, something that is confusing her, while I am searching for a person.  I continue to feel along the walls, but I also reach out with other senses.  There's several other energies around, some stronger, some weaker, and some that are just confusing my senses.

    "Be strong children."  A small spot of light, and a warm voice in the cold darkness.

    Tell me you heard that too?  The voice I'd searched for came through.

    Yes, I heard it as well.  The light?  Do you see that?

    "Children we can hear you, and we are here.  There is trouble ahead, the pain has been for a reason Guardian, the time has come to waken and you will be needed."

    So much for mental conversation to keep things private, but that explained the voice at least, only the old gods and goddesses could eves drop on the private conversations of dragons, we couldn't even do it to others.

    "You are one of the old gods aren't you."  I may as well say it out loud to test another theory.

    "Yes, one of them."

    Did you ask them something?  Or are these voices talking just to talk?  And what is this Guardian they are talking about, is that you?

    "Oh child, he did," Evidently either these walls are sound proof or she is too far away to hear me speak. "We've been trying to aide you as you can, but not as much as you will need yet, there are those who will try to destroy what you need first Guardian, before you finish wakening.  Be strong children, the pain will help you in the future, now the time has come for you both to leave, as we can't have them find you here.  Now wake."

*******

    I jolted awake in the bed that I'd been sleeping in, the dream still clear, and I walked to the wall where I had been before, placing a hand there.  With my hand on the wall, I extended my senses, there was an unstable energy pulsing on the other side before it closed off completely.  I'm certain now that I am in the right to be here, and that dream now confirms that whoever this woman is, she is one of these Guardians that were mentioned in the book.  

    Moving away from the wall, I decided to dress for the day, knowing soon I would need to get some food, and most likely talk to Lydia again in regards to what would be going with giving me a chance to get to know this mystery being.  Just as I was buttoning up my shirt when I heard a knock at the door.

    Opening the door, I was greeted with the sight of an older wall of a man, his scent gave him away as a bear shifter.

    "Morning, you are Kai, correct?  I'm Matthew, Lydia sent me to take you to show you around, and I've got to collect my dark princess and make sure she gets up to eat as well.  I've got to wake her now, I'd say you could join me, but since she hasn't had any coffee yet, might not be the best idea."

    I shrugged stepping out into the hall and closed the door waited for Matthew to lead the way.  Matthew smirked a touch, moving to the door next to mine, knocking.  It popped open a crack, not much and absolutely nothing I could see past the bear.  

    "She'll be back in a moment, you don't seem like an overly talkative one, but I still feel the need to warn you again for your own sake, she isn't a morning person, and she won't really like talking till she's had a couple cups of coffee."

    A tall slender woman came out with long black hair, and light silver eyes.  She was dressed in pants, a tee shirt, and sneakers, and she smelled divine.  Keeping silent, I waited to see what Matthew would do.

    "Sunshine, we have another person with us that I'm playing tour guide to, he's a guest of Lydia, so play nice, and no zapping."  She grunted some kind of response towards him and started walking, as they both started heading one direction, I followed, doing my best not to cause a noise but just paying attention to everything.

    We entered the cafeteria and I watched the two split for a moment, the woman headed towards a coffee pot, while Matthew headed towards food, and given the double warning from him, I opted to follow him for food, while letting her get coffee in peace.

    "Why don't you sit with us today lad, seems you have a better head on your shoulders than some others I've met recently." I considered this for a moment, and evidently it was a moment too long.

    "If Matthew says that you can sit with us, you can, I won't bite, or zap.  I don't feel like getting a lecture this early."  Sunshine spoke, her voice the same one that had been in my head during the dream.  

    Nodding slightly I followed them to the table, settling down to put together the pieces in my head.  Of course, if she was a guardian, then I would have to meet some others soon too.  I wonder how different they will be from dragons.