The Serpentine's Revenge

Chapter Eight

I heard mumbling. It was a couple voices, one of Arian, and one of what sounded like a middle aged woman. I slowly lifted my eyes. It was mostly dark in the room, just a couple candles flickering. I took a deep breath into my lungs, and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through my throat, burning my nose and sending shocks through the rest of my body. But through the pain, the room smelled like the inn we stayed in a day ago.

“She needs to rest. I’ve done all I can.” said the woman.

“Thank you.” replied Arian. He closed the door of our room. I tried to open my mouth to say something, but nothing but a croak came out.

“Azrellyn! Oh thank the gods. You’re awake.” He placed his hand at the side of my cheek.

“What happened.” I managed to screech out.

“You were poisoned with the Devil’s Kiss. It was suppose to kill you, but clearly that bastard didn’t think that you were so strong to fight the poison.” He reached for my hand. If I had the strength, I would’ve pull away. “I was so worried. You were unconscious for three days.” Three days? It’s been that long? “Get some more rest you’re going to need it.” He didn’t have to tell me twice. I was already drifting away.

I saw nothing. There was just darkness. But then, a light shone through the darkness. It was already very bright, and I squinted to look across the darkness and the light. There was Arian, standing in the middle between the light and the darkness. His features were strained with regret and sadness. He drew back his bow, and released. The arrow spun through the air, and not until it was too late did I realize that the arrow was for me.

I woke up with a gasp. It was dark, but this time no candles flickered. It was just darkness. Am I dead? Maybe Arian lied. I can’t fight the poison. I should be dead. I sat up, my muscles groaning at the movement. A blood-soaked fabric was wrapped tightly around my arm, and it seemed to have bled through. I threw back the covers to find that I was bare from the waist up.

Bandages covered my ribs and stomach. Probably healing my bruised ribs from the tavern. I never really handled that injury. Cold nipped at my torso, I shivered and threw on a random shirt I found on the ground. I grabbed some extra fabric and some rum. I locked myself in the bathroom. Candles lined the floor, illuminating the room.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Darker circles underlined my eyes, and my skinny frame seemed to be even thinner. I was a mess. I unwrapped the blood-soaked fabric to reveal the slice across my arm. I poured the rum on the wound, embracing the stings that followed suit. I quickly tied up the wound so I didn’t have to look at it anymore. I stared at myself in the mirror. How can I, the Assassin of Azuria, be taken down for days by a little slice and poison? I am weak. I walked out of the bathroom, to find Arian pacing anxiously across the room.

“Azrellyn! Don’t do that!”

I gestured to the tiny room behind me. “Don’t go to the bathroom?”

“Don’t leave my sight. I thought you left to—” He stopped. He hesitated. “I thought you were kidnapped.” Kidnapped?

“You said something else before. That you thought I left. Where did you think I’d go to?”

“Please don’t go anywhere.” His cold hands clamped around my shoulders, squeezing tightly.

“You’re not the boss of me. I can handle myself. The poison. It won’t happen again. You are not going to be my babysitter.” He sighed like he was annoyed that I wasn’t sick anymore. I peeled his hands off my shoulders. I turned my back to him, and changed into my regular vest. I looked at my cape, which had now a tear through the beautiful dark fabric.

“I was going to get that fixed.” Arian said.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Thought you should see it first.” I heard the mockery, the sarcasm before. But no one ever talks to me like that. Not even him. “How you almost died from a slice and some poison.” I grabbed his arm, and flipped him onto the floor. The entire building shuddered at the impact. I put my knee on his chest.

“YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT?! I’VE BEEN CALLED WEAK MY ENTIRE LIFE! I DON’T NEED REMINDING.” I lifted my knee from his chest.

“I’m sorry,” He said as he rubbed his back. I turned back to my torn cape, inspecting the tear. I’ll get it fixed later. I’ve wasted three days unconscious, I don’t have time for silly games anymore. I strapped all my weapons back on my body, and threw my cape over my shoulders. I reached for the doorknob, but Arian slammed in front of me.

“You just woke up from a three day coma, and were poisoned with the world’s most deadly poison. You can’t just walk out the door.”

“Why can’t I? Just watch me.”

“It’s pitch black out there, complete nighttime. You are not as invincible as you think. Stay here for tonight.” He paused before saying, “Please.” I considered staying, but I’d rather be kidnapped by a complete stranger and creep, than stay another night with Arian in a small, and crappy inn. I looked down my nose on him, well, as much as I could as he is about a head taller than me.

“No.” I tried to push him out of the way. He didn’t budge.

“I’m not letting you go.”

“Why not?”

“Millard made me promise to keep you safe. And I am on my way to breaking that promise.”

“You what!?” I continued to attempt and fail as moving him out of the door. “How could you promise him that? I will destroy both of you if you are the reasons why I can’t make a living. I am wasting precious time for you, Arian. Do you know how many assassinations I could complete? I’d have enough money for a good life.”

“I’m not letting you get hurt.”

“You don’t get to decide that. You can’t choose who hurts you. You can choose who you hurt. I don’t want to hurt you, but if I must,” I pulled out dagger, and scraped it against his rough face. “Let me go.”

“No.” This was going no where. He could block the door all night, and I was not waiting for it.

“Fine.” I took the dagger away from his face, and walked over to the window. It was about a ten feet drop. I’ll live.

“You’ll stay until you’re better?” I collected all of my belongings and grabbed Arian’s bag. I dug out his rope and slung it over my shoulder. I tied my dagger at the end of it. I opened the window, and stuck my dagger deep into the wood of the inn. Arian left the door, and slammed the window close.

“It’s cold outside. Leave the windows closed.” We both took a breath. “Are you staying until you are better?” He asked again.

“I never said that.” I ran, and crashed through the window, the glass shattering into a million pieces. With the dagger in the soft wood, and I let the rope cushion my fall, and once my feet hit the ground, I took off.

“AZRELLYN!” I heard Arian yell as I ran into the thick brush of the Forest. My arms pumped, and my lungs burned. Running wasn’t a good thing, especially after having the Devil’s Kiss in my system.

“Azrellyn! Wait!” I kept running, until I came to a small stream. I had an idea.

I stopped. I turned. And I watched. He came out of the Forest, and looked so relieved.

“Don’t do that!” I shrugged. I grabbed his hand, and led him to the riverbed. I leaned in to peck him on the cheek, or so he thought. I shoved him into the stream, soaking him in cold river water. He whined and pouted. I laughed.

“Arian. I do what I want, when I want. I wanted to leave you in that filthy inn.”

“You could’ve told me that.”

“And what would you do? Chain me to the bed frame?”

“Fair enough.” I held out a hand and he took it. I pulled him out of the stream and plopped onto the grass next to him. I handed him an extra shawl I had in my satchel. He held the fabric in his hands, but didn’t put it on. The whorls of dark colours blended together, the greens, the blues. All into a beautiful piece of art.

“I can’t wear this.”

“Why not? Too girly for you?” I laughed.

“No. I’d ruin it. It looks very expensive.”

“Well, Arian. I am not a person who likes to live in a tent all my life. A little luxury is my taste. Just use the damn shawl. I don’t have anything else.” He sighed, and tossed the shawl over his shirt, dripping wet from the river. He rolled up his sleeves, and the water ran down his forearms in streams. It accentuated the fullness of his muscles. I blushed at where my thoughts have taken me.

I looked away. We sat there for a while, just thinking.

“I think I was selfish, before.” I didn’t see, but I felt Arian raise his eyebrows in confusion. “When I didn’t want to go find the Girl. Maybe I was just scared. Now, I’m not. So I am going to find that Girl if I die doing it. I can’t let these innocents just die. She will save them.” I stood up, and hopped across the stream.

I heard him chuckle, before running up to walk by my side. “Hopeful, are we?” I laughed. “You are so pretty when you laugh.” He mumbled to himself.

My smile disappeared. “What?”

Realizing what he said, he blushed a rosy colour and quickly said, “Nothing.”

“When you say nothing, there is obviously something going on.” But he stayed silent until we were deep inside the brush of the thick forest where the trees loomed over us. The shadows shone down in shafts of darkness. I saw him open and close his mouth a couple times, debating what to say, and how to say it.

Finally, with enough courage he said, “Hey.”

“What?” I turned to face him. It took him that long to say one word. I hope it wasn’t going to be a waste of my time.

“Can I tell you something?” His eyes shined with hope. His irises glittered int the moonlight. I shook my head as if to bring my thoughts back to sanity.

“Make it quick.” I turned to face him.

“I’ve known you since I was five. You protected me, from terrible people. Thank you.” I narrowed my eyes. Arian didn’t strike me as the grateful type, but I didn’t fight wherever he was trying to go with this conversation.

“You’re welcome.” I turned to keep going, but he grabbed my hand.

“I’m not done.” I looked at him with annoyance, but he didn’t seem to care. “You were there for me every single day. And it may seem like a surprise, but I love—”

“Shut it.” I interrupted. I placed my hand on the ground. The vibrations were steady, but quick. “Someone’s coming.” Within seconds, my two long daggers, were in my hands. Arian’s bow was drawn back, our backs to each other’s. I threw on my hood. It shadowed over my face. In the moonlight, no one can see my face. Footsteps became louder and louder. When finally a man stumbled out of the shadows of the forest. His back slouched, hair blonde with streaks of white, and fear in his eyes.

“Who are you?” I yelled out to him.

“Miss!” He ran and dropped to his knees before me. “Please help me! They are trying to kill me!”

“Who are you?” I asked again. This time, my voice rattled though the trees.

“My name is Zadken, I am a lowly Third. Please help me.”

“Who is trying to kill you?”

“S-Soldiers.” He stuttered. I circled him, looking down at him. A red flashed out of the satchel that hung at his side. I sheathed my long daggers, reached for it and pulled it out.

I gasped sarcastically. “What’s this?” In my hand, the handle of his dagger felt perfectly in balance. The ruby from the pommel continued to shine through as I said, “A dagger like this one, this must of cost a fortune.” I paused before saying, “You couldn’t have bought this if you were a Third or a Second. You are not a minority,”

“You are smart.” He straighten his back, his eyes now gleaming with anticipation. More men stepped out of the woods, and their weapons sharp, clean, and beautiful. “This is a stick up.”

“Give up your money, and your weapons.” One man said.

“No.” I said.

“Just because you say that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to do it.” A man reached out and caressed my cheek. I swatted him away.

“She seems like a pretty girl. A very beautiful girl.” Another said.

“How about you come with us, and we won’t hurt him. I’m sure you will be throughly enjoying your stay with us.” He looked as me seductively. Arian began shaking uncontrollably. I grabbed his hand as if to say ‘Stop it, you wimp.’

“Perhaps you don’t know who your robbing. That could be an issue.” I said.

“We don’t care, girl. Give us your money and your weapons, now. Or come with us. Your choice.”

“Actually, it should matter who you rob. Because you could be robbing someone dangerous.”

“Like you?” I threw off my hood.

“Someone exactly like me.” It took a second or two for them to realize who I was. When I stepped into the moonbeam, they all took a step back. Everyone took in a deep breath. “Aah, so you recognize me. From the Wanted Posters, or are you just assuming who I am?” I continued to play with Zadken’s dagger, letting it fall through one finger to another.

“Y-You’re The Assassin.”

“That I am.” I smiled elusively as I fixed my hair.

“W-We don’t want any t-trouble,” said Zadken.

“I’m sure that’s not true, if you originally wanted to rob me.” I stepped closer to Zadken’s face. His dagger pointed at his chin. “Now get out of my face, or you won’t have one anymore. Wouldn’t it be unfortunate to be killed by your own blade?” I brought his dagger away from his face so quickly, it sliced open his skin, letting blood drip down his chin.

“What about him?” They pointed to Arian.

“He’s with me. You touch one of us again, and I won’t just make you regret it.” I walked along the perimeter of the men surrounding us.

“I’ll make you beg, for your worthless life, on your brittle knees until they break.” I grabbed a man’s shoulders and pulled him closer to me. “Until they crack.” I whispered loud enough so the others can hear. I picked up a twig, letting it play around in my hand. “Until they and you…” I broke the twig in two. The crack echoed through the silence of the crowd. “Snap. Like twigs.”

I smiled.

They stumbled out of our way, running off into the shadows once again, tripping over their own feet. I turned to Arian. He collapsed to the ground. I crossed my arms.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You were shaking so hard.” He looked up. His face was a pale, greenish colour.

“I was just…”

“Scared. Of course you were. But of what?”

“I was afraid they were going to hurt you,”

“I don’t get hurt. I hurt others.” He was still shaking really badly. I sighed. I uncrossed my arms, and held out a hand to him. “Come on, we’ll find somewhere to rest for the night. I can’t have you dying in the middle of our trip.” I hoisted him up, and supported him by his waist. I led him to a tree, and looked up.

“Well, it isn’t much, but it’ll do.” I looked over at him. The colour to his skin began to return, slowly. “You are going to have to climb yourself.”

“I can do it.” He grabbed a branch and pulled himself up. I followed right behind him. When we neared the top, I sat on a branch next to him, looking up at the red sky. Stars sparkled bright white, standing out of the red that stained the skies.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you suddenly shut down back there?”

“I was just scared.”

“That I was going to die?” He nodded. I scoffed.

“I didn’t get a chance to finish what I wanted to say earlier. I really do l—”

“I know what you are going to say, but don’t. I’m not a person to be loved. And to love back. You deserve someone better, someone who can actually make you happy.” I turned my back to him. “And that person is not me.” He is so incompetent. Falling in love with me? What an i***t. Just like Millard. That was my last thought before I drifted into sleep.