The atmosphere in the assassin’s guild reminded me a bit of a fraternity as I watched the few people in the main hall and their interactions. Well, it was a fraternity with a sinister ‘you’ll die, and no one will even know where the body went’ problem. I guess secrecy is one thing they won’t let up on within this guild. The thought certainly didn’t calm my fears.

During our brief journey to this place, my mind kept wondering if we made the right decision. Killing people for money went against much of my beliefs. Yes, I killed Gilbert, who deserved even worse than death. Still, I considered myself a decent person. Aside from any beliefs in karma or a spiritual afterlife, I never thought of myself as a psychopath. After all, I care about people. I don’t want to see innocent people harmed.

But I also noticed my hypocrisy. I just proved I had no problems with removing a life who I felt deserved such punishment. Plus, I felt bad since I gave Ruby no opportunity to remove herself from this decision.

We waited to meet with the guild master who would put us through our paces from what Gretel told us. As I quietly spoke with Ruby, we came to the same conclusion. We needed strength and protection while getting stronger. She made it clear others would no longer use her. Gretel listened in on the conversation and promised to teach Ruby how to become a fierce assassin who could put the fear in nobles. I knew there was a backstory around the passion that Gretel brought to her conviction, but I left it alone. There were enough things on my plate.

“If these are our new recruits, I’m not impressed,” a female voice coldly stated behind us.

We turned to see a tall, lean woman stepping close with Hansel in tow. At first glance, I thought she was a banshee with her ghostly white skin, tight black dress, black hair, black lips, and almost raven black eyes. When I got a better view, I decided she truly looked like Morticia Addams from the 60s television show. What a perfect guild master to a bunch of assassins, I thought as I joined Ruby after we got to our feet.

“Eva Sauvet is the name!” she said, while resting her fists on her hips.

“Your face is a mess. I hear you know something about poison, and you’ve killed before,” the woman directed her attention to me. “A misplaced noble won’t last long here if you can’t take orders. Let’s see if you have the strength to learn.”

“You’ve escaped a debt contract, Blanchette,” she turned her notice to Ruby, who gasped aloud.

How in the hell did she know about that?

As if answering my thought, Eva continued.

“Yes, we keep up on events with other guilds. However, keep in mind, we’ll never interfere with a guild should they discover you and take you back to your whore life. I think you’re too soft to be here, so prove me wrong.”

While I contemplated the full extent of Eva’s knowledge concerning Ruby’s past, I noticed a grin come to the guild master’s black covered lips.

“Now, only a few can pass my test. If you have reservations, it’s already too late. You’ve given your soul to me by coming to my place. Should you survive, we have ways to keep identities secret along with giving you a new background. And, as a guild member, you’ll always have our protection. Let’s go!”

Ruby and I followed her. Hansel and Gretel stayed behind while two people dressed in all black followed us. One definitely had a female form since her breasts caught my attention. The other person was taller, but thin. They wore short black robes, tied off at the waist with a black belt which held up their black leather long pants. Each had a bandoleer over their shoulder and running down their chest to the belt around their waist. Black masks covered their hair and face except for the eyes. My first instinct was to believe they were strange cousins to ninjas by their looks. They looked unarmed, but I wasn’t betting my life on it.

I sighed, realizing there was no way out of this one. We needed to make it through whatever the hell was waiting for us. I whispered to Ruby to remain strong and never hesitate to fight. The determined look on her face came with a nod, made me feel slightly better.

At the end of a hallway, we turned into an area I thought might be a dungeon. With straw covering the ground and embedded chains hooked to manacles embedded into the wall, the place looked creepy enough. Along the other wall were a series of targets, including standing dummies. The end of the room had a curtain covering the wall, which is the place where Eva led us. When she reached the curtain, she nodded to one of the black covered assistants. The assistant came before us and brought out two daggers with their long, narrow blades covered by a leather sheath.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Take them,” the guild master ordered.

After we got our weapons, Eva pulled back the curtain. I gulped at what we saw. Immediately, I looked over at the assassin leader, who had a bemused grin on her face.

“That’s right,” she saw my expression. “You will kill two of them. Take your pick.”

Nausea filled the back of my throat. I decided I was now in hell. Morality meant nothing to me after seeing what stood in front of us. With the manacles clamped around their ankles and wrists, four people stared at us with gags stuffed in their mouths. However, my eyes couldn’t get past the first one I noticed. A sickly pale-faced girl, maybe ten years old, with fear in her eyes and dressed in rags. Next to her was a robust looking male about my age with long dark hair and scarring on his chest. His expression appeared defiant. The woman next to him was slightly overweight, with fair hair and pretty, teary eyes. Her torn clothing appeared of noble quality. The last person in the line was an old man in a black robe. A toothless resigned grimace came to his lips when he looked at me.

When I glanced over at Ruby, my stomach turned to knots when I saw her ghastly expression. I believed I understood Ruby’s kind character. It’s one thing to survive in a brothel. It’s another to just kill a defenseless person who can’t even strike back. She seemed overwhelmed by what the devil in the black dress required of us. In hindsight, we should have hesitated, asked more questions before just following them into this place.

Nobody will discover your bodies!

“Ruby, let me make me pick them. It’ll be easier for you,” I whispered.

The guild master cackled when she overheard my statement.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she announced coldly. “I order Blanchette to kill the noblewoman and the old man. A hero like you gets the young ones.”

In growing anger at the heartless order, I pulled the dagger from the sheath while I gazed at Eva.

“That’s exactly my plan,” I growled.

For a moment, I considered the suicidal idea of going after Eva. Two of her assistants in the room meant I probably wouldn’t even get to the guild master. Steeling myself with the knowledge I had no choice, I stepped over to the little girl, who started sobbing. My hands shivered as my mind kept going back to the grandchild I remember.

No choice! Fucking no choice! Damn me to hell!

The words kept going through my head, and I brought my hand over the child’s eyes. Then, I hesitated before taking a deep breath and begged forgiveness from whatever gods put me in this place. I shoved the blade just under the girl’s rib cage. She let out a long, gurgling breath.

After that, I remember very little. I felt someone nudge me over until I stood in front of the man, who suddenly laughed in my face. Tears were falling down my cheeks as I grinned at him for making me angry.

“Thanks,” I said as I plunged the dagger into his neck.

While backing away, I paid no attention to the lack of blood I half-expected to be covering me. Eva closed the curtain part way. Still staring at the closed curtain in front of me, I heard the guild master order Ruby to kill. As I glanced over, I found myself startled at her stony expression. Part of me wanted to reach over and tell her no, but I realized it was a foolish, useless gesture.

My friend went to the old man first, and I heard her murmur something as she leaned close. She killed him the same way that I took care of the child. When she got to the noblewoman, Ruby hesitated as the woman suddenly reacted like a crazy person. Screaming and spitting, the victim threatened Ruby with a curse, promising she’d come back to haunt her forever. To my surprise, the threat actually caused Ruby to chuckle.

“Life already cursed me,” Ruby replied before pushing the blade into the woman.

The kill wasn’t clean, so Ruby had to stab her victim another time before silence fell across the room.

A slow clap came from behind us, and we turned to see Eva standing there with a smug expression.

“What other crap have you got for us now?” I muttered.

The smile faltered and her gaze turned to ice. However, I was already past caring about her feelings.

“You hold that venomous tongue, or I’ll cut it out,” she snapped. “It was a test. I can’t rely on your assurance, only to have you hesitate when you need to kill. People die harshly every night in some back alley or on a road somewhere. You’re no longer a protected noble.”

Even if she was correct, I wasn’t willing to concede the point. Fortunately for my health, Ruby interrupted.

“What more do we have to do?” she asked.

Eva looked at her.

“Much, I’m afraid. Neither of you is capable of anything more than the easiest mission. For now, you’ve joined us, and the guild will train you. Go to the registration desk.”

She turned and walked away, with one of her silent assistants following.

“You should look back at your victims now!” The cheerful smirk in the guild master’s tone made me sick to my stomach.

Ruby and I heard the curtains pull back, and the assistant called out to us. I glanced at Ruby, and she nodded. We turned back as the other assistant in black came to us. We looked past to see the empty manacles hanging along the wall.

“Wha—where are they?” Ruby’s voice went up a notch.

“Illusion?” I asked. I tried to make sense of the mounds of sand and clothing where the bodies once stood.

“The guild master creates the most realistic golems,” the male voice chuckled as he stood next to us.

“That’s why I didn’t see much blood,” the words came out automatically as I recalled each horrifying event. “It was a trick!”

“Magic in the right hands can create the illusions of paradise or the underworld. We all went through this test. Only an insane person could kill a prisoner without showing emotion.”

The stranger stood close to Ruby, making her uncomfortable.

“Just like our little noble boy here, I cried like a baby. But I’m strong now. If you ask nicely, I’ll help you pretty lady.”

He walked away. My numbed mind didn’t pay any attention to his flirtation with Ruby.

“Still, be proud!” his voice came back to me. “You get to keep your daggers since you got past the first test. You’re now part of the Six Servants.”