The Angel of Death

Family Dinner

    My mind races as Andrew, Blue and I take the elevator back upstairs. Staying at the house? I've never stayed at the main house of anyone who's hired me before. How am I supposed to act? Is it like back in The Academy dorms? Will I be bunking with others? It’s only been me since I graduated at eighteen, I don't remember what it's like to live with others.

    Blue puts on his white button up and tucks it into his black pants before the elevator doors open on the first floor. We walk out of the elevator and he turns to Andrew.

    "Don't worry A, I'll show her to her room. Why don't you go get ready." He gives him a smile and Andrew raise’s his hands as he backs off, winking at me as he walks to the ballroom. Blue turns to me.

    "I'll have to find my parents to see where you'll be staying. Come with me? They're probably out in the garden right now." I nod and Blue leads me to one of the doors next to the main staircase. He opens it to a beautiful hedge garden with roses of every color. We walk at and I take a look around, amazed at how beautiful it is.

    Blue watches me and smiles, slowing his pace so I can take it all in.

    "It's beautiful isn't it?" He asks me, putting his hands in his pockets. I nod.

    "Breathtaking, really." I mumble back at him. He lets out a small laugh and turns his gaze farther on.

    "There they are." He states, snapping me back into reality. I look ahead to see a garden table where John and Agatha are peacefully reading. Agatha notices us approaching first and waves.

    "Good evening to the both of you." She speaks, voice soft and kind, but also strong and sharp. We both let out a good evening while John looks up from his book.

    "How did training go?" He asks us excitedly. Blue smirks and looks down to me.

    "Honestly dad, she didn't need it." He says matter-o-factly. John seems to relax from that.

    "Good I'm glad. Then what can we do for you, Aura?" He turns his attention completely to me. I shift my body, almost standing like a soldier.

    "Sir, I didn't know I would be staying here. Also, my things are already here? I don't understand." John can sense my nervousness, leaning forward he looks at me kindly.

    "My dear, everyone I hire is a member of the family until I say otherwise, and family members live in the house," he leans back in his chair and once again picks up his book, "as for your things, I had George bring them over." I called it, George is on his payroll. I nod to let him know I understand.

    "Forgive me, sir. This is the first time I've been invited to live in a household. I'm not completely sure how to behave." I tell him. John doesn't look at me, he seems unbothered by my state of nervousness.

    "Well, my dear, just act like yourself," he quickly glances at Blue, who still has his full attention on me, "son, Aura's room will be right next to yours. Why don't you take her up to get ready for dinner." He tells him. His voice is fatherly, but also stern and commanding.

    Blue ushers me away from the table and back towards the house. I glance over my shoulder as we leave and see Agatha with the biggest smile on her face, turn to John and whisper something. I wonder what's got her all excited.

    We step back inside and Blue leads me to the elevator once again. Once we enter, he pushes the button to the fourth floor.

    "You'll be seeing a lot of me, now that we'll be neighbors." He blurts out, an excited smile forms across his face. I giggle at his goofiness.

    "We'll see how long you can stand me as a neighbor for." I tell him jokingly. He laughs and turns his eyes to the door of the elevator.

    "I look forward to it." He mumbles, almost lower than a whisper, but I heard it.

    The door opens to the fourth floor, its dome shaped and no one is up here. There are only four doors. I look at Blue and raise an eyebrow. He must know what I'm thinking because he gives me the grand tour.

    "This first door is the nursery, this is where I was until I was around five, this will also be the nursery for my children after I get married." He explains. Yikes, children. I don't mind them, they're actually quite cute, but in my line of work that is never an option. We continue to the second door.

    "This is my parents’ room, strictly off limits to everyone, including me. Believe me, although the rooms are soundproof you do not want to go in there." I shiver at the thought. I don't even want to know.

    "Third door is my room, feel free to come in anytime whenever you're lonely." He winks at me and I roll my eyes as we reach the last door.

    "This is your room. It's the guest bedroom for whenever someone important comes to stay, so it's super nice and has everything you need." He says, watching me and crossing his arms. He's always just staring at me, it makes me uneasy and self-conscious, and yet I want his gaze on me constantly. Nodding, I clear my throat.

    "Ok then, I guess I better get ready." I tell him, looking up and meeting his gaze. Once again, I get stuck in his eyes, they're like honey.  We stare at each other for a moment before I realize what I'm doing and pull my gaze away, even if I don't want to. Quickly I open the door and enter the room.

    "Thank you, Blue!" I shout behind me at him and slam the door, pressing my back to it. I can hear Blue walk to the room next door, shutting the door behind him.

    Slowly I sink to the floor and put my head in my hands. Seriously? One of the deadliest assassins in the world gets lost in a boy’s eyes? Are you kidding? Sure, I've had a crush on a boy before, a very specific boy back at The Academy, but that only led to heartbreak and pain. I need to pull myself together.

    I rise up off of the floor to see the magnificent room before me. The entire front wall of the room is a window, looking out onto the parking lot and the forest below. On my right a king size bed sits with white sheets and a black comforter, sitting on a dark oak bed frame. Across from the bed a 70" TV hangs on the wall with a small bookshelf below it. Next to the TV an archway entrance leads me to a walk-in closet. My clothes are already in here but the closet is also full of various women's clothing. A yellow sticky note sticks to the closet wall reading,

                                    We thought you could use some more clothes, I hope you like them!

                                                   -Agatha

    I'm speechless. I look around the room at all of the different clothing. Most of them are black and white, thankfully they got that right, but some have color. These people are strange.

    I look through the closet in a section that just seems to be dresses. I finally find one, it's short, fitted, black, and strapless. Just my style. I take it off the hanger and lose my baggy clothes to put this on. Looking in the standing mirror in the closet I do a spin for myself. The dress shows off my fit, hourglass figure nicely, as well as all of my tattoos.

    I decide I need a shower before heading down so I hop in, shave everywhere I need to, wash my face, and decide to put on a bit more dramatic makeup. Black eyeshadow smoked out with thick black eyeliner, false lashes, dark filled in brows, and pink tinted lip-gloss should do it for me. I blow dry my hair and straighten it, it ends up reaching down to my waist. I put on the dress and spray on some rose scented perfume.

    Walking out of the bathroom I walk back into the closet and find a pair of black, spiked heels. Perfect. I notice a small jewelry box and decide to look through it. I find a thick chain necklace I decide to wear and a few simple silver rings. In the box I find black nail polish. Universe, bless Agatha for me?

    After painting my nails and waiting for them to dry I look to the clock on the wall. Just five minutes until 5 p.m. I decide that's a good enough time to head down so I open the door and step out, right in time to see Blue step out as well.

    He doesn't notice me at first, he's adjusting the collar of his all black, fitted suit. As I shut the door behind  me, he looks up and meets my gaze. Just like before, my eyes are stuck to his. His hair is messy, but perfect, his suit pressed to perfection, his lips full, begin to form a smile. He walks over to me, not leaving my gaze.

    "Aura," he says, voice sweeter than usual, "you look beautiful tonight. Would you like to go down together?" He asks me, offering me his arm to hold. I break my gaze and pull myself together.

    "Blue, you look rather handsome. I'd love to go down with you." I tell him. At the sound of handsome I can see his smile grow even bigger than before. Ugh, why did I say that.

    I take his arm and we make our way to the elevator. The door opens and we step in. I know I can let go of his arm for now, but I don't.

    The elevator dings as we reach the first floor, opening to a flood of people pouring into the ballroom where they have set up various round tables with black table clothes.

    As Blue and I walk in to the room the crowd parts for us and whispers begin.

    "f*****g slut." I hear a soft yet aggressive whisper to my left. I glance over and see a girl glaring at me as if she wants to kill me. Her skin is flawless and glowing, her blonde hair curled to form her sharp features, and a baby pink dress clings to her perfect figure. She looks a bit younger than me, but not by much.

    I look away, I don't need the trouble. Blue leads me to the table at the head of the ballroom where his parents are already sitting. John and Agatha smile kindly at us as Blue pulls out a chair next to his seat for me. I take a seat and he does so in between myself and his father.

    As the last of the members enter the room to find their seats, John clears his throat and stands.

    "Good evening everyone, tonight will be our last night of peace before the war begins. I want all of you to enjoy your time, and help me welcome a special guest to the household, "he motions for me to stand, I do so as gracefully as possible in front of a large crowd, "this is Miss. Aura Alstad, but many of you might know her as the Angel of Death. She will be helping us out during this time, so please be respectful and do not get in her way. That is all, enjoy your meal." John takes a seat and I follow. At the mention of the Angel of Death there were many whispers among the crowd. Some sound excited, some sound terrified.

    As soon as John takes a seat there are carts rolled out with platters stacked high with food delivered to every table. The first bit of food is delivered to the head table and set in front of the four of us. A perfectly cooked steak, lobster tail, bacon wrapped asparagus and mashed potatoes. My mouth begins to water when I feel Blue's eyes on me.

    "Don't just stare at it." He tells me, taking a bite of his food. I quickly turn my eyes back to the meal and as delicately as possible begin to dig in.

    After eating the plates are taken away and tables moved out of the ballroom. A group of violin players set up and someone wheels in a small piano. As the music begins playing, I move myself off to the side to watch people couple off and begin dancing. I was never much of a dancer myself.

    "What do you think you're doing?" Blue pops up behind me, almost startlingly me. I really need to get back on my game, I can't relax here. I turn to him as he walks up, getting closer to me than usual.

    "I'm just watching." I tell him, trying hard not to meet his eyes. He chuckles.

    "Not for long you're not." He states as he takes my hand and drags me to the dance floor. I flinch at the touch of a friendly human interaction but Blue doesn't seem to notice or mind. He turns me to face him and puts one hand on my waist and takes the other in his. I lean in closer.

    "Blue! I can't dance!" I whisper yell at him. He smirks at me, almost devilishly.

    "The deadliest girl in the world can't dance?" He asks playfully as he starts to move my body around. I thought I would stumble but Blue's grip is firm, yet gentle. No one has touched me like this in years.