I walk into the library. In a quiet house this room is the most silent. It helps that it is known that this is my favorite room in the house. I sit down and start to scheme. This is the boring part, the planning and scheming. The adrenaline rush is when I see the fear in their eyes, when they open their mouth to scream, or to beg for mercy.
“You really should cross your legs at your knees instead of your ankles. And straighten your back”at the sound of Visha’s, Garrex sister, voice my back does straighten. I blankly stare at her. She just shrugs at the look while most people would’ve ran away. I try not to be bothered about it. “Garrex filled me in about your job when he got back and that is not how a lady sits” she informs me. I sneer a little. I can’t tell if she is being condescending or just trying to help. Visha is one of those people who can politely tell you to go sacrifice yourself to Kaziman and you will say thank you. But she is right. I do need to brush up my manners. After spending five years purposely breaking every court habit I had to blend in better I’m out of touch.
“I know how to sit Visha, but thank you dearly for that valuable information. It is comforting to know that you know how to cross your legs like a lady if that skill is ever needed” I drawl sweetly. I see a look of confusion flash over her face that gives me a small amount of glee. A taste of one’s own medicine never hurts. She locks her hands and pushes her shoulders back. I marvel at how tiny the girl is compared to how large her brother is. I would question if they were truly siblings if I didn’t see all the mannerisms they share. Garrex always does the same thing Visha did whenever I get on his nerves, which is often.
“Ezrix wants to see, he sent me to find you” she says with a bite. I tilt my head quite entertained by the girl’s irritation. I debate pushing her farther just to see how much she could take before snapping. It is unspoken that Visha and I don’t like each other. She doesn’t like me because I’ve never given her a reason to and I don’t plan on starting now. I don’t like her because I think it is her fault that she and Garrex were kicked out of their home and pushed into this life. I’ve never gotten the full story but the gist I did get was that she did something that made their parents livid and they said that she had to leave, Garrex stepped in and went with her.
“Great pardon me” I say as I brush past her. I walk to Ezrix’s office and let myself in. He smirks at me when I enter. I sit down and cross my legs. At the knees, with my back straight. His smirk grows.
“How nice to be in your mere presence My Lady” he jokes. I find myself suppressing the urge to snap his neck. A feeling I seem to get a lot in his presence.
“What do you want?” I ask, my voice stays even and low. I’ve learned that my voice can be as much of a weapon as a dagger if I wield it correctly.
“I want the plan. How are you going to go about this?” he asks. I rub my temples with a headache already blooming.
“I want this to be over as soon as I can. My plan is to go to the ball, make the polite conversation I need to, find the target, distract him by any means I must, and poison his wine. The younger prince wants a poisoning anyway” I list off the steps and tick them off one by one on my fingers. Of course I know all of the flaws in every part of what I said, I had spent a better part of my morning trying to figure out what to do to prevent any of them from derailing my little scheme. But there isn’t and judging from the look now being thrown my way from Ezrix he knows it.
“There are too many risks. You poison the wine, you get spotted, somebody else drinks it, and then what? You killed an innocent bystander or even worse you get caught. Then you’re captured, tortured, and the worst of it is that they will kill you. So put the personal aspect of this job away; this is too big and risky for your emotions to get involved. Now give me the real plan” the tone of Ezrix’s voice stills me. Ezrix doesn’t get angry or stern. He states the facts, gives a shitty pep talk, and cracks a joke. But the depth of his voice would make anyone feel like a scolded child.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“I don’t have a plan” I admit. Ezrix exhales sharply. I didn’t have a plan because this isn’t something planned for. Too many moving pieces, too many unknown variables. The entire thing had me wanting to punch something. “This isn’t something you can plan for, you as the King of Cheaters should know that. There’s too many twists or turn, too many moving factors. I have one card and that is to find a weakness in his armor” I speak quickly. I detach from the situation and analyze it. I stand up quickly and push my chair back.
“I see something occurred to you dear so I’ll let you go. You may not be able to plan but you can certainly scheme. You only have today and tomorrow morning. Make it count Assassin of Light” he speaks softly but not weakly. I exhale sharply through my nose.
“Such a stupid tacky name” I mutter before walking out his chuckle following me. I take the long way to my room, watching the ground under my feet. My feet hardly make a noise on the shiny hardwood floors, one of the first things I did when I moved in was figure out which floorboard or stair creaked.
When I get there I pace. I take off my shoes and I walk.
Back and forth.
Back.
And.
Forth.
- - - - - - - -
Dardellin, Kingdom of Vicris
My steps are flawless, they fly perfectly in sync with the notes flowing through the room. I barely acknowledge the girl in my hands as I swing her around the room. The flowing silk of her dress dancing around us. She is a good partner but she is hesitant as if afraid to let herself go.
The music stops and so do we. My breathing is heavy and my white button-up shirt is sticking to my lower back and arms. I discarded my jacket long ago when we stopped the slow dances and started the more flourishing ones. I’m not sure why my mother still insists on these lessons but I do not complain. It is one of the few reprieves I am gifted.
“Maybe if you fought as good as you danced we wouldn’t be dealing with rebels and be at war with the Kingdom of Cardonix” my chest tightens a bit and I turn around. I brush back the hair slicked to my face. I look at my brother, we look almost the exact same except while I have Mother’s raven black hair and Father’s electric blue eyes. Harlow has Father’s sandy blonde hair and Mother’s rich brown eyes.
“Maybe if you bothered to work on your footwork you could actually beat me in a match” I retort quickly, heading over to a table that has water and my jacket by it. I grab a crystal bottle and take a drink. Such obscene things my family has ust to exploit our wealth, marble floors, crystal bottles, decorations inlaid with jewels, all while my people are starving and fighting to survive. All while my army is sacrificing their lives with minimal supplies.
And are you much better dear child? The voice of my god pulls me from my thoughts of disdain. I don’t let the question sink too far into my brain. I am doing what I have to do and spreading the lies to cover it up.
Harlow scoffs and shakes his head though I can read in his eyes that I hit my mark. “You have a meeting with Father and the King of Ficheria” he snaps and walks away. I wince already knowing the meeting will be brutal, and my father will be even more so after it. I nod to my dance partner and walk out the room.
I brace myself for a battle of words, I wish it was a war of swords instead. Many believe that it is more deadly but saying the wrong thing can be just as lethal as a deep wound. At least in physical battle you know what to do, you can practice, there is one clear goal.
I cannot imagine any good scenario that is going to come out talking about why one of Ficheria’s lords was killed by the person I am supposed to be hunting down. I throw my jacket over my shoulder and walz into the library, a picture of cool confidence.
They both look at me and I throw them a wink. “You guys wouldn’t start this little date without me would you?”. The look Father gives me is murderous and I give him a saccharine smile. His eyes darken and I know I just sealed my fate for later.
“Sit Kanik. Stop your little games, we have a lot to talk about” his voice makes me want to smash something over his head but somehow I refrain. I sit in a large chair casually, leaning on the arm rest and crossing my legs. I keep my mask up even as my heart drops into the talons of the Down Below.