The Serpentine's Revenge

Chapter Five

When I was 18, nine days before the 24th Spring Equinox of Crimson’s reign, soldiers found me in my Forest. They took me and led me out of the Forest. The trained soldiers trembled before me, terror lacing their skin. With a soldier’s shaking knife at my throat and shackles around my wrists, I followed reluctantly and resisted the urge to unsheathe my swords. If I did and killed his soldiers, Crimson would hunt me down. I would not be able to avenge my parents’ deaths.

The Palace was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The throne room alone looked like half the size of my old village in Plurium, and it was decorated with stone mosaics and satin curtains. Marble ran across the floor, reflecting my boots as they touched the surface. Towering columns loomed over me, so high it probably reached the heavens. However, what really caught my eye was a man, who stood in the middle of the room. He wore satin and velvet with a silver crown that sat neatly on his auburn head. With him in the centre of the room, everything turned cold and dull. The colour was sapped out of the air. Now terror laced my skin. King Crimson.

The Queen held her head high as she walked up to her husband. The King sat down on his beautifully sculpted throne of metal and looked me in the eye.

“The Assassin. When I heard of you, I pictured you a boy.” Sexist. He looked up and down me. His eyes stopped at my face. “I know you.”

I scoffed. “Do you? I’m sure a king like yourself know a lot of people. Just not the names of the servants that bring you food everyday, the ones that shine your armour, the ones that sharpen your sword. You don’t know me.” Crimson looked at Allura, seeing if she recognized me. “Your Queen wouldn’t know me either.”

“She is Your Queen as well. Do you know that?” I shrugged. I didn’t care about Allura. She could die, and I wouldn’t give a s**t. Allura’s emerald eyes stared down on me. A stark yellow streak slashed across her green pupils making it seem even more snakelike. “But, that is very true. How are you?”

“Better, if your soldiers would let me go,” Crimson raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘excuse me?’. “Your Highness.” I spat out.

“I could throw you into our dungeon right now for murdering my general. Karlen Bellaren didn’t seem to understand the dangers of The Assassin. But I’m feeling merciful.”

‘I murdered him because he worked for you.’ I thought.

“And I need you free more than behind bars. So I will let you go, on one condition,” Allura placed her hand Crimson’s shoulder. “I have heard you are the best swordsman in the land, is it true?”

“I would not be called The Assassin if it weren’t true. So, yes, it is. But it should not concern you. I will not kill for your wicked ways.” I struggled to free myself from the soldiers that held me in place. They pushed my face down, nearly touching the perfect marble.

“Then who do yo kill for?”

I looked back up at him. “Good paying customers.”

“Then, trust me, when I say I am the richest customer you’ll ever work with. I want you to become My Huntress. To protect that land from evildoers, the corrupt and the terrible.”

‘Then I should be protecting Azuria from you.’ I thought.

“If you accept, as a reward, you will receive,” Allura’s grip tightened. “Any amount of money you ask for.”

I stared into those piercing blue eyes. There’s no way he would offer me any amount of money. He offered me a seat in his court as his Ward. It seems like he would be reluctant to give me anything else. Suddenly, those blue eyes, washed into a bright red.

My eyes widened. ‘Holy s**t’ I thought. I steeled my face into scowl, concealing my emotions.

“If I refuse?”

“Then you can spend the rest of your days in my dungeon. Trust me, I have a beautifully cold and dark dungeon all ready and comfortable for you to spend the rest of your miserable days.”

“You’re not going to put in me in a cell.”

“Why is that? No one will be looking for you, you have no family, no friends, and no life. You have also committed unspeakable crimes. Why shouldn’t I send you to live in isolation?”

“Because as much as you hate to admit it, you need me. If you want me to protect this Empire, you will never speak to me like that again.”

“How dare you speak to your King like that!?” He stood up, towering over me like the columns.

“You are not my King. You gave me no advantage to this ‘deal’. You want me to be Your Huntress? Give me something.”

“I did. I gave you a choice. Isn’t that the greatest gift of all?”

“No. What I really want, you cannot give.” I stood up, and shook off the guards that held me in place. I reached up with my bound hands, and slid a pin out of my hair. Jamming the pin into the keyhole of the shackles, I twisted the pin until I heard the tumblers click. I did the same to the other. “You might want to redesign your shackles. It is quite easy to escape.” I said, throwing the shackles to Crimson’s feet. I turned to leave, but more guards blocked my way.

“I don’t want to kill any of you. Please move.” They didn’t budge a single inch.

“You didn’t bow to our King.” said one of the guards. I turned around, and bowed mockingly. My eyes didn’t leave Crimson’s. When I faced the guards again, they had moved to let me pass.

I looked back at the King and Queen. Allura was saying something to Crimson. Her mouth moved as she formed the words I could not hear. But I knew that she was not talking in Common Tongue. Why was she not? It was a offence to do so. I quickly brushed the thought away and left the coldness of the Palace and back to the warmth of my Forest. His eyes, they turned red. The Story was coming true.

I decided to sleep outside that night, but I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to see the night sky in a dark red. And my wishes came true. Just like the Story, once the sun had left the sky, a wash of red consumed the sky. The sky was red. Second of the four signs. My spine ached from sleeping on the hard ground. My neck cramped up. I propped myself up at leaned against a tree. He said that he would put me in a prison. He didn’t have to.

My life is already my prison.

“Hello, Assassin. How are we doing this fine evening?” He said mockingly. Arian stepped into my view, His blue eyes shimmered underneath the moonlight.

I smiled. “Exceptionally well. You?”

Walking closer to me, he chuckled. “Well, found another girl in the tavern.

“Did you have a good time with her?”

“Very good time.” He smiled seductively. I just smiled back.

“Usually that would make you laugh. What’s wrong?”

I shrugged. “His eyes are red, Arian.”

“ It’s coming true?” I shrugged. “The girl must be among us. We need to find her.” His blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Unlike me, Arian came from a normal family, with no breaking of the inter-class marriage law. His messy blonde hair fell in his eyes.

“You are way too enthusiastic.”

“But we need go to Violantia. The Girl could be an inexperienced fighter. Someone terrified to fight the king. We need to train her.”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“She is the symbol of Hope. She must be prepared.”

I scoffed. “No one can give me hope, Arian. I lost a long time ago.”

“What? Are you really that selfish? Just because you lost hope, doesn’t mean you should take it away from others. Why are you such a stubborn ass?”

I c****d an eyebrow. He returned my glare. “Fine. We leave at sunrise.” Arian didn’t argue. I laid back down, as Arian joined me. He lied down beside me, and looked up at the stars through the thick brush of the trees.

“The red in the sky is beautiful.” He said.

“You don’t find it scary?”

“Why should I be scared?”

“Hundreds of thousands lived in fear of this day, because they think they will die.”

“I don’t need fear. I know that the Forces that control our fate, will always be there, looking out for each and every one of us.” He seemed to read my puzzled look. “Don’t you believe in the Forces?”

“What Forces?”

“Like Love, Peace, Joy, Justice…” I shifted uncomfortably.

“I don’t even know what any of those are anymore.” The rest of the night was silent. Until a rustle of leaves cracked around me. I shot up from the ground, legs already underneath me, ready to pounce. When figure stepped out, I launched myself at it. I grabbed his shoulders, throwing him down, and brought my elbow down onto him. When he cried out in pain, I stopped.

“Millard. Are you serious?” I got off him, Millard clutching his stomach.

“Stop doing that!” He whined.

“It’s not my fault you always creep up behind me in suspicious ways.”

“I’m sorry. I heard you were dragged to the Palace. The kitchen was full of gossip. What happened?” His muddy brown eyes shined in the moonlight. I could still hear Arian’s breathing from behind me. Clearly Millard’s cry of pain didn’t rouse him.

“Nothing really. His awful Majesty just offered me to be his Assassin. In place of my freedom because I committed countless of unspeakable crimes.” I said, imitating Crimson’s deep voice. He breathed out a laugh.

“So what else? That’s it?”

“Well… Not the full story.” Millard’s hands circled around the other, begging me to continue. “Crimson’s eyes turned red.” His eyes were almost ready to pop out of his head. His mouth dropped open.

“What?” I repeated what I had said, but slower, pulling out the syllables. “The Story?” I nodded.

“I’m—” My sentence was lost in my mouth. Arian stepped behind me, and placed a gentle hand over my lips.

“Darling. We have a big journey tomorrow. Get some sleep.” I shook his hand off my mouth. Arian turned to face Millard. “Frayard.”

“Casakiar.” Millard nodded his head to acknowledge Arian.

“We are going to find the Girl.” Pride found its way into Arian voice.

“Well, if Arian’s going, then I’m coming with you.” Poison laced his words. Of course he wanted to come. Arian was always there to make Millard furious and extremely jealous.

“Over my dead body.” I replied. I could feel Arian’s hand slide across to grip my waist. Millard’s eyes dropped down. I pulled Arian’s grip off me. Millard opened his mouth to protest. “I don’t give a damn about whatever excuses you have to tell me. I am not listening to them. I will not hurt you because you are in my way. If you were anyone else, you would be dragging your sorry ass home. Understand?” He didn’t budge. I sighed loudly out my mouth, grabbed Millard’s wrist and pulled him into the shadows. “Look, I don’t usually admit this, but I care about you. You are like my brother. I don’t know what I would do if I were to lose you too. Stay, please?” Millard nodded sadly, but in understanding. He melted back into the darkness.

I turned to Arian. “Was that really necessary?”

“I just wanted to tell him that we are going on a journey.”

“That doesn’t mean you rub it in his face. Millard is already upset that I haven’t reciprocated his feelings. Don’t make it worse.” I laid back down next to Arian, and closed my eyes. When I finally fell asleep, the stars were already leaving the sky.

~

When I woke up, Arian was already awake. He pulled me up, and picked out some leaves in my hair. I swatted his hands away, staring him down with a glare. He merely shrugged it off, and laughed. Arian was holding a piece of bread, and offered it to me. I quickly took it from his hands and took a bite out of it. I barely ever eat, because I don’t have anything to eat. That’s part of being an Outcast, never enough of anything.

“That’s really ladylike.” He said as I ate. I shot him a glare.

He c****d his head to the side. “Stop glaring at me.”

With full seriousness, I said, “Sorry. I was hoping you would spontaneously explode. Besides,” I stuffed the rest of the dry bread into my mouth. “I’m more suited to go to a fancy dinner party with the king than you.”

“Really? You wouldn’t even make it past the guards at the front.”

“Yes I would,” I contradicted. “I would just kill them.” He breathed out a small laugh. I was trying to swallow down the dry piece of bread when he stopped walking. I turned around to see why he did.

Arian was holding my necklace of rings. I lunged to grab it. I missed.

“Give it back.” I sounded like a child wanting for their toy. But this was important.

Inspecting the chain, he asked, “What are these?”

“Rings. Are you really that blind?”

“What are they for?” I lunged for them again, and this time I caught them.

“Memorials.” He c****d his head to the side, confused. “For those who I’ve killed. For those families that lost a loved one because of me. This necklace, this chain, is my way to remember the dead.”

“You honour the dead, even when they committed crimes that you had to kill?” I nodded. I shoved the necklace back into satchel and pushed past Arian.

“You will never touch that necklace ever again. Understand?”

“Yes, madame.” He replied sarcastically.

“Good, cadet.” I replied. He chuckled.

We continued on our way. We walked and walked, the world moving with us. Every step was agony. Not the pain in my feet, and not the tiredness that overtook me, but the sight of Azuria. The roads were littered with bodies. Citizens, who once had a peaceful life, were now dead. Blood stained the roads and the fields. The ground seemed to like it, as it absorbed the blood like water. The land had turned red. Anger coursed through me. How could Crimson do this? Was he that desperate to make Azuria strong? But you can’t make a country strong without a country. I was so lost in my thoughts, I jumped when Arian’s voice broke into my thoughts.

“You love them, don’t you?” asked Arian.

“Love what?” I tried to steel my voice, but for once, I couldn’t.

“You love Azuria, and you love the people. No matter how much you hate Crimson.”

“It’s not love I feel for the people. It’s pity. These people,” I stopped walking, gesturing to the corpses around us. “Were parents, sisters, brothers, spouses, and children to another. I know the feeling of losing someone you love. I pity those who have to grow up without them.”

“I’m sorry that—” He began.

“Don’t be. I was told my father was a coward, who left me. My mother didn’t even fight for her life. I was probably better off without them,” He murmured something inaudible, but I didn’t want to know what he said. Silence was brought with the last remark. I could feel Arian’s pitiful eyes staring down at me, but I don’t need pity. I don’t need anyone’s charity. Arian tried to strike up more conversations, but after my last retort, he gave up.

That night, we found shelter in a small cramped inn. Once we walked in, everyone went silent. I scanned the room. Men sat on stools, drinking stale ale, Women in tight corsets and big goofy dresses served them food and wine. Finally, two in the back, eating each others’ faces. No one of any danger.

“Room for two, please.” I said, breaking the silence. Everyone shifted a little. An old man, stood behind the bar, wiping dirty glasses with an already dirty cloth. He nodded his head to a young girl, holding towels. “Room for two.” I said again, louder this time. She gingerly took steps toward us, and handed me a key.

“U-Upstairs, on your r-right.” She said. Her voice was brittle, and soft.

“Thank you.”

The room smelled of tobacco, the stench burning my nostrils. Empty bottles of whiskey and wine were knocked over on the table that stood in the corner. Arian, bothered by the stench, threw open a window, cold air rushing in to kiss my arms. I threw off my hood, exposing my outfit underneath. I unstrapped all the weapons from my body, and daggers, knives of different lengths, and my sword clattered to the wooden ground. Arian nonchalantly tossed his quiver to the floor. Arian just stood there and watched me as I took apart my braid.

Finding that he stared for an amount of time that began to send warnings through my mind, I said, “Do you mind?”

He snapped out of his trance. “What?”

I clapped my hands once in front of his face. “Arian. Stop staring.”

“Sorry.” I rolled my eyes, and flopped onto the bed.

I don't remember falling asleep.

But when I woke up, Arian’s arm was tossed across my torso.

We didn’t sleep in the same bed. With annoyance, I slipped out of his grip and to get ready. I closed the bathroom door behind me, and looked into the mirror. I was wearing my regular outfit, a tight black vest hugged my skinny torso with a big belt tying it to me, and black tights ran down my legs. Rings decorated my fingers, and bracelets circled my wrists. I unbuckled the belt, and stripped off my vest.

I looked into the mirror. A scarred girl stared back at me. My arms littered with scars from knives, swords, arrows, and spears. My eyes had dark circles under them, making my brown eyes seem even darker. I opened the tap, only for muddy brownish water to come sputtering out. I turned it off, refusing to rinse myself in such dirty water. I quickly braided my hair, and put my vest back on.

When I walked out of the bathroom, Arian’s back was to me. His muscular, nicely sculpted back. Less scars marked him than me. I rolled my eyes. I threw him a shirt.

“Stop ogling at yourself, and put on a shirt. We have places to go, things to do. I don’t have time for your fashion show.” He scowled at me. I returned his look. I pulled my hood over my face, and left the room. As I walked downstairs, the noise immediately lowered.

The laughter died. I sat at the bar, in front of the old man.

“What can I get you, miss?”

“Rum,”

“Alcohol in the morning is not good for you,”

“Sorry, I’m only used to drinking alcohol.”

He paused. “I need your name and your age. For records for the king.”

I nodded. “My name is Dawn Emerly. I’m twenty-six.” He didn’t seem convinced. But because he couldn’t see my face clearly, he placed a bottle of rum and a glass in front of me. The bracelets at my wrists jangled together as I played with the cup in front of me. I smacked some coins down on the counter before leaving. I was just about to push open the door, when someone grabbed my hand. I was swung into a booth, with a man slightly older than me, maybe around his early twenties.

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? Because you are an angel.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He decided to go with that? At least be more creative.

“No, it hurt more when I crawled out of Hell.” I chuckled. It’s not wrong.

“Sassy. Where you going, darling?” His face was just inches away from mine.

I took a glance at the door. “I was going out the door.”

“Why don’t you stay for a while,”

I shook my head. “No thanks.”

“That wasn’t a question.” He wrapped his hands around my waist, and pulled me closer.

I faked a giggle. “I really shouldn’t.”

“Why not?” His hand moved to my thigh.

I put my hand on his chest.

His hands went from tight and sure, to shaky and weak.

“Well,” I removed my hand from his chest. “I have places to go, and I’m sure so do you. Like a healer.” I opened my hand, to reveal the poisoned needle protruding from one of my rings. “Be careful who you find. It could be someone dangerous.”

He went limp.

“Don’t worry, it’s not serious. Just something for you, a little bit of Summer’s Mist. A poison to put you through a daze. Nothing much.” I stood up, and turned my back to him. I walked a couple steps before unsheathing and throwing my dagger towards him. It landed not five centimetres away from his face.

“Every being in here will know to never touch me again. If anyone does, I will kill you.” The tavern was still with fear, I swung open the door, and left. I was leaning against the wall, tucking the needle of poison back into the groove in the ring. Arian joined me outside the inn a few minutes later.

He handed my dagger back to me. “They were terrified of you.” The metal sang as I sheathed it.

“Why wouldn’t they be? I’m The Assassin. You think that my reputation is so I can be able to pick flowers, and dream about rainbows?”

Confusion laced his words. “No…?”

“Arian, let me tell you something. The one thing that tells me to keep fighting. The Worlds won’t be destroyed by those who do evil. But by those who sit back, watch and do nothing. I will never do nothing if there is anything I can do.”

“But they’re afraid of you.”

“Fear is a very powerful thing. Able to destroy minds. But some use fear to push them forward.”

“Do you use fear like that?”

“No. I have enough motivation to do what I have to do.” I started to walk away from the inn, when an arrow embedded itself into the wall of the inn, not an inch away from my face.