The Alphas Assassin (Book 1)

The encounter

She slithered through the darkness like a shadow herself, the glint of the dagger clutched in her hand the only sign that she existed amongst the shadows. Crouching underneath the cabin bedroom window, she listened. Nothing. No snoring, no shuffling of bedsheets. Silence. Unusual. He was always snoring by this point in the night. Had she gotten the time wrong? Was they even in? No. She never got it wrong.

Peeking over the window ledge into the bedroom, through the small gap in the curtain drapes that hadn’t been closed properly, she saw them both. Lying there in bed, still as death. Something wasn’t right.

Quick and silent as the wind, Valkyrie moved around the wooden cabin towards the back door entrance. She picked the back door so there would be no witnesses amongst the dense forest. Darkness surrounded her, only the moonlight through the canapé of leaves above gave her enough light to have a sense of direction. Her black tunic and tight combat leggings helped her blend into the shadows, becoming near invisible.

Valkyrie had already disabled the back door lock earlier that evening, less noise when it came to sneaking in tonight. She slipped into the old wooden cabin, everything in darkness. The fireplace embers long burnt out and in ash. The cabin was decorated spectacularly old fashioned, with thick patterned curtain drapes, old furniture and dusty shelves. At first glance, one would think an elderly couple live here in comforting solitude. But, if they look close enough, the modern metal briefcases which we’re full of money and stolen jewellery and the copious amount of weapons scattered intricately throughout the cabin, proved different.

As silent as a shadow, she made her way towards the back bedroom. Knowing the route already after having done it numerous times whilst she monitored the couple over the past 3 weeks, memorising it. She did this for every task she was given. Valkyrie stopped in her tracks outside the bedroom door, heart bouncing at an uneven pace. The door was slightly ajar. That never happened. Every night without fail, Jacobson would always close the door when going to bed. She knew the time they would turn their bedside light off, all down to the exact times Jacobson would begin snoring, and his wife Madeline would stop twisting in her restless sleep. Something was wrong.

Entering the bedroom quietly, the only source of light in the room being the rays of bright moonlight shining through that gap in the old drapes shed peeked through earlier, lighting up the bed. The light casting the remainder of the room in deep shadows. Then she felt it. The presence of another behind the door, deep in the shadows, hiding from the moonlight. She ignored them, let them think she’s a fool.

Valkyrie stalked towards the bed, dagger still clasped in her hand and knew straight away, Jacobson and his wife were already dead. Someone killed them before her. No blood, no signs of a struggle. She got closer to double check their vitals and confirmed they were indeed dead, cold. Then she saw it, the blue veins in their necks clawing up into their hairlines. Poison.

Feeling the presence behind her get closer and closer, she knew who it was before even turning around. Only one man she knew was this skilled in the art of poison.

“You should know better than to kill my targets for me, Matthew” Valkyrie said, in a bored tone as she turned around and looked at the man before her, sheathing her dagger. She didn’t need weapons to kill.

He was handsome, his dark copper hair that was short on the sides and long on top, his ginger fringe sweeping across his stern brows. The black mask he wore up and over his nose hiding the smirk he was clearly showing. Dark green eyes stared down at her, glinting with humour. His pale skin that was showing began flushing. His dark black trousers and tunic made him near impossible to see in the shadows.

“You just weren’t quick enough this time, V” Matthew said, humour lacing every word.

Valkyrie snarled at him, “Don’t do it again Matthew, I mean it”

Matthew placed his palms up towards her, a submissive action showing her he meant no harm. The silver emblem on his right shoulder glinted in the moonlight, drawing her attention. The snake that was entwined around a jewelled dagger. The emblem of the Assassins Guild. One she used to wear proudly too. Interesting, he still works for the guild.

“I know, I know” Matthew said, uneasiness in his voice. Good. He didn’t forget how deadly she could be then.

Valkyrie span on her heel, aiming for the window. A quick exit. She launched the window open, one foot on the window ledge but stopped when she felt Matthew reach for her.

“V wait. I have something for you”

“What is it Matthew? I don’t have time” She hissed at him. Turning to look over her shoulder, she saw Matthew holding what appeared to be a small envelope, stamped with a wax seal closing it tight. Huffing, she stalked towards him, like a predator does it’s prey and snatched it from his outstretched hand. Turning on her heel she again, made her way to the window.

“It’s nice to see you again V. We’ll meet again” Matthews voice carried to her as she climbed out the window, not looking back at him, not replying either and dropped out the window to the bouncy forest floor beneath. Like a shadow herself, she disappeared into the night. She missed him, but she’d never tell him that.