The Assassin
1159 Words
Aria's POV:
The assassin smiled.
"There you are," he said.
Time felt frozen. The injured guard fell to the ground, blood flowing beneath him.
The hooded man moved across his corpse as though it were nothing more than a barrier. His scarlet eyes stayed fixed on mine.
Every instinct within me told me to flee. My legs, however, couldn't move.
"Stay behind me," Elder Rowan said. Despite his age, he moved in front of me, his shoulders squared as he met the invader. "You have no place here."
The assassin chuckled lightly.
"I didn't come for you old man," he said and his eyes moved back toward me. "I came for the girl."
My heart pounded violently.
"Just what do you want from me?"
He started smiling more.
"Your death."
He attacked without warning and Rowan pushed me to the side.
"Run."
A deafening bang resonated across the space as Rowan stopped the killer's blade with a small silver dagger concealed under his clothes. There were sparks as the blades came together. The force of the impact pushed Rowan backward.
I never imagined the older man could battle.
The killer tilted his head slightly.
"I expected better."
He attacked once more but this time Rowan barely had time to block. The floor cracked beneath them.
I ran towards the dead guard. His sword had fallen right past his extended hand. I wrapped my fingers around its hilt encircling by my fingers.
It weighed more than I anticipated. Before today, I had never carried a sword, but I was not going to just stand there and watch Rowan die.
The killer pushed Rowan against the wall and his sword went up.
"No!" I yelled and charged without thinking.
Just as I swung the sword, the assassin turned, and he caught the blade with one hand.
My eyes widened in disbelief. His palm started bleeding, though he didn't seem to mind. He just chuckled.
"You're brave," he said.
With a flick of his wrist, he snatched the sword from my grasp and tossed it all the way across the room. The sword embedded itself in the stone wall.
I fell backward and the man approached.
"So this is the last Lunar Princess."
My breath seized.
"You know who I am?"
"Oh, I know exactly who you are."
His grin turned cruel.
"And if I kill you tonight, my boss will give me a significant reward."
My wolf growled within me. For the first time since my rejection, I experienced something more intense than fear. It was rage.
"You will have to catch me first."
I turned and ran quickly. The room blurred around me. I went through yet another door and came into a long corridor.
I heard noises of battle and saw guards running toward them. None of them saw the assassin just few seconds behind me.
The castle had turned into mayhem. Steel collided and warriors yelled commands. Smoke hung throughout the hallways, as someone had started a complete assault.
I arrived at a staircase and dashed down two steps before someone grabbed my arm. I started screaming in fear.
"It's me," the person said.
I saw it was Kael and I felt relieved. Blood covered his clothing and a fresh cut crossed his cheek. His Golden eyes scanned my face agitatedly.
"Are you hurt?" He asked and I shook my head.
"No," I replied.
His shoulders relaxed slightly. Only then did he see the assassin coming out of the corridor.
His face lost its warmth. Now, only the king remained.
"You," he said and the man smiled.
"Your Majesty."
Kael stepped in front of me.
"I warned anyone who threatened her."
The assassin shrugged.
"I have never been good in taking instructions."
The air around Kael became unbearably thick. Every warrior close by instinctively drew back. Even I felt the weight.
Slowly the assassin drew out two curved daggers.
"I have always longed to battle the mighty Lycan King."
Kael's lips bent into a chilly grin.
"You won't live long enough to tell anybody."
The killer pounced first . He moved so fast I barely lost sight of him. Kael ran across him head on and their weapons met with explosive force.
They went again once more. The assassin was remarkably talented, but Kael was still quicker. All his movements were effortless, his strikes precise.
The assassin was able to cut Kael's arm, and my heart stopped.
"Kael!" I yelled.
He hardly turned to look at the wound. Rather, his eyes shined even more brighter. He was gone the next second.
A loud c***k permeated the corridor. The killer flew backward and broke across a stone pillar, causing the atmosphere to be filled with dust.
He struggled to get on his feet as he coughed out blood. For the first time he seemed terrified.
Kael moved slowing toward him, each step echoing down the ruined hallway.
"I offered you a chance."
The assassin moved backward.
"You don't understand."
"I think I understand enough," Kael said in a calm tone. "You came for what's mine."
The words warmed my cheek, despite the danger.
The assassin chuckled faintly.
"Yours?" He said and his gaze turned toward me. "The girl doesn't even know the truth."
Kael stopped walking and the assassin smiled.
"You haven't told her..." He said and the hallway carried the sound of his laughter. "Once she finds, she will despise you."
I frowned and looked at Kael.
"What is he talking about?"
Kael kept quiet. The hesitation was all the killer needed. He tossed a little black sphere down the floor and smoke exploded around us.
I coughed as I was unable to see also.
"Aria!" I heard Kael yell.
Strong arms wrapped around me just as another explosion rocked the castle. Slowly the smoke cleared and the assassin was gone. Just bloodstains were left from his standing.
"He got away," Kael muttered under his breath.
I raised my gaze toward him.
"What truth was he talking about?"
He did not respond right away. Instead, he peered down the dark hallway where the assassin had vanished. His jaw tightened.
At last he turned around to look at me.
"There are aspects of your past..." He paused for a while. "And things about me..."
My heart started racing.
"I ought to have informed you early."
Before I could react, another guard dashed toward us.
"Your Majesty!" He said as he bowed quickly.
Kael turned to look at him.
"What is it?"
"The prisoners," he said and struggled to catch his breath. "One of them claims he knows who set up the attack."
Kael's brows narrowed.
"Bring him to the throne room."
The guard paused.
"He'll only speak..." He said his eyes turned towards me. "...if Lady Aria is present."
A knot formed in my stomach. Whoever had sent the assassins knew way too much about me. And I sensed the answers I was about to hear would change everything.
- Writer
