"Sunset is going to be soon," Jason murmured, looking at the horizon, "we need to find a place to sleep for the night."

"Up there," Kelsie said, shading her eyes as she looked at a cave entrance halfway up the mountain. "It's not far from the top, which we can climb tomorrow morning and go over the top, plus it's inside a mountain which will make whatever tracker I have inside me harder to ... well ... track."

"Fair enough," Jason said, "Zander, you ready to climb?"

"That spot is good, but what about finding a cave somewhere at ground level," Zander said, looking around, "I'm sure if we can find it, we'll be safe enough."

"Too tired to climb?" Kelsie asked.

"No," Zander sighed, "how will we get firewood?"

"Collect it now before the sun sets and tie it to our backpacks," Kelsie supplied, "why are you against this?"

"I'm thinking of more than a night in a cave," Zander said, "where do we ... go ... when we need to go? Get more firewood? Washing dishes and eating utensils? Are you going to climb down or up every time you need to be somewhere else or find natural supplies?"

"He has a point there," Jason said with twinkling eyes as he watched the two exchange words, "besides, you two may not be too tired to climb, but I am."

"Fine," Kelsie huffed, "let's find a place that my tracker won't give us away."

Looking around the area, they found a few suggestions until Jason moved aside a shrub to find an entrance to what could be a cave.

"Zander," Jason called, "can you stealthy find out what is in that cave."

"Sure," Zander said, dropping his backpack and crawling into the entrance.

"Why couldn't I go?" Kelsie asked.

"Would you be able to control your reaction if you found a bear or skunk or perhaps a snake nest?" Jason asked.

Kelsie shuddered, "Probably not."

"Exactly," Jason smiled, "Zander's training makes him the perfect scout."

Kelsie sighed, "You have a point."

"You'll get to Jezebel's House," Jason said, "We still have time."

"Perhaps," Kelsie said, looking around the clearing, "it's beautiful here. Reminds me of a campsite Mom and Dad took me when I was younger."

"You remember that campsite?" Jason frowned.

"Yeah, it's one of the few memories I have of them," Kelsie smiled sadly, "I don't remember many good ones, but that week of camping was something I'll never forget."

"Amazing what our minds will and will not remember," Jason said, stepping away as Zander came out, "well?"

"It's clear," Zander said, "it's a nice size cave, and we will be able to make a fire for warmth and cooking."

"Great," Jason said, "let's go."

He followed Zander into the cave leaving Kelsie staring at the open space of the clearing. It was high enough that anyone in the area would think it was only a ledge. Sadness suddenly welled at the memories of her mother speaking to her about family, friends, and the future filled her mind.

"Kelsie, are you coming?" Zander called from the entrance.

Swallowing her emotions and blinking away the tears, Kelsie nodded, bending and moving past Zander into the cave. The floor was sandy with a few rocks that could be used as chairs, the rugged stone walls making them feel isolated and safe. Standing, Kelsie moved around the area. It was big enough to house the three of them for the night. Jason was already building a fire.

"Where did you get the kindling?" Kelsie asked, looking around.

"Found it over there," Jason said, pointing to the far wall, "get the cans from my backpack, would you, Kelsie."

Kelsie dropped her backpack before moving to Jason's, finding the cans of food.

"Where did this come from?" Kelsie asked, pulling out a bag of dried meat.

"I think it's beef," Jason smiled, "or do you want the store's name and brand."

Shaking her head, Kelsie collected the items moving to the fireside. Zander produced cooking utensils and emptied the cans into the pans to go over the fire when ready.

"Could you bring some water, please?" he asked Kelsie.

Kelsie nodded; it suddenly made sense why she had so much water in her backpack. The three of them carried the makings of a comfortable journey between them. Passing out the water, they settled in for the night. Looking around, Kelsie felt like she had done this before, yet everything felt surreal.

"Everything okay, Kelsie?" Jason asked.

"Yes, why wouldn't it be?"

"You seem to be reflective tonight," Jason said, "anything you want to talk about?"

Kelsie shot a look at Zander, "No, nothing."

Moving to where she left her backpack, she opened it looking through the supplies and clothes she had to wear; her knuckles hit something hard at the bottom of her pack. Moving the clothing aside, she carefully pulled out a small wooden box.

"What is this?" Kelsie asked, turning to Jason.

"It was your mothers," he said, "your parents put it together for you, but Connie decided against taking it; she left it behind."

"Why did you put it in my bag?" Kelsie frowned, "why now?"

"Well, Connie can no longer dictate what will happen in your life," Jason said, "and your parents always wanted you to have it."

"What is inside?" Kelsie asked.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"I never looked nor did I ask," Jason said, "only your parents know."

Nodding, Kelsie sank to the sandy floor of the cave. Sitting cross-legged, she carefully opened the box looking at the various items left to her by her parents. Tears welled as she picked up keepsakes, photos, and pieces of homemade jewellery. Memories began flooding her mind as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"They didn't abandon me," she whispered, "they never would have. Not with what is in this box."

"Of course, they didn't abandon you," Jason murmured, "your parents love you. They did what was best for you at a challenging time, but you have to make decisions for yourself now."

"How? Aunt Connie always dictated every aspect of my life," Kelsie swiped at the tears on her cheeks, "even the job and position I held."

Jason cleared his throat, "Yes, Connie was never one for letting anyone do something for themselves, but she is no longer. You must think for yourself, allow yourself to feel what is right and wrong, and follow your instinct."

Kelsie shook her head, "That's the second time you've said Aunt Connie can no longer make decisions for me. Why?"

Jason sighed, looking at Kelsie, "I learnt earlier Connie was murdered."

Kelsie gasped, her hand covering her mouth, "How?"

"Shot while running in the park," Jason said quietly, "I'm sorry, Kelsie."

Zander shook his head, "A cowardly way of taking out another Assassin," he shifted, settling in the sand next to the fire, "there is no honour in that act."

"Honour," Kelsie murmured, "what do you know of honour? Come to think of it, what makes you think Aunt Connie was an Assassin? How do you know her?"

"I've known Connie my entire life," Zander said, "she dictated the direction of my schooling and training. Do you think your parents would be happy to let you out of their sight without knowing what was happening to you?"

"Aunt Connie ..." Kelsie said

"She is ... was not your Aunt," Zander interrupted, "she was your Grandmother."

"Zander," Jason said, warning in the one word, "don't."

"What?" Zander said, "keep the truth from her ...even now?"

"A promise was made," Jason said, "one that cannot be broken."

"I didn't make that promise," Zander said, "she has a lot to process in a short time. What she is going up against is even more daunting. Keeping her in the dark is no longer a protection. It will get her killed."

Kelsie watched the two men face-off, Zander's words sinking in. Kept in the dark? About what? Her mind was muddled, struggled to make sense of what was being said.

"My Grandmother?" she whispered.

More of her childhood made sense; more of what she was exposed to making sense. Connie had told her of Jezebel's House, had she told her the location without her knowing it.

"An Assassin," she whispered.

The route of her education made sense with that piece of knowledge. She sighed as fragments of the strange puzzle her life had been started falling into place. Looking at the box in her lap, she saw a piece of paper under some trinkets.

"Here," Jason handed her plate of food, "eat. We're going to need an early start."

Glancing at the paper again, Kelsie closed the box and took the plate of food, thanking both men. They ate in silence for some time before curiosity got the better of Kelsie.

"How come you two know so much?" she asked.

"My heritage, past and the circumstances of how I got to where I was in life were drummed into me," Zander said. "The lessons I took at school led to knowing how to overcome the coup, why it had happened and who was behind it."

"Did you know who I was when you were assigned to shoot me?" Kelsie whispered.

"No," Zander said. "But even as I was lining up the shot, something about your expression, alertness and the fact that you saw me made me question my directive."

"Why?" Kelsie asked.

"I've never been spotted before," Zander said, "plus, if you were not who you are, you would have blindly driven into that town and died."

"Oh," Kelsie nodded, "and you, Jason?"

"Remember I told you of the three families making up the Royal Family?" he stared into the fire.

"Yes," Kelsie nodded, "still trying to wrap my head around that one."

"I'm part of the third family," Jason said, "if we die ... the elders in the Royal Families, my ... nephew ... has more power to continue on his evil path."

"Your nephew?" Kelsie frowned, "did a white turn black?"

"No," Jason shook his head, "his father, my brother chose the black faction and my sister Jackie and I chose the white faction. We followed Jezebel into this line of work."

"The divided family," Kelsie whispered, "your brother and his wife died, and you took in your nephew."

"Correct, not Jackie and I but our side of the family," Jason nodded, "what we didn't know was that his heart was black even at that young age. We discovered too late he had murdered his own parents. We hoped we would be an example for him, and he would live our way," Jason swallowed hard, "but he didn't. My elder sister and her husband brought him up ..." Jason sighed heavily, "he murdered them, capturing their part of the emblem. That was the night Kelsie was sent to live with Connie, and Zander was hidden in plain sight."

"Jason, I'm so sorry," Zander gently gripped the older man's shoulder. "Jackie and yourself are the only two holding the white faction together with the knowledge of the elders still being alive."

Jason nodded, "It been tough at times, but easy was not something we choose when walking these paths. We didn't sign up for what my nephew is planning either."

"The information I have would end all of this," Kelsie nodded, "Jezebel's House. Where exactly is the house?"

Jason pulled two pieces of paper from his backpack handing one to each, "The map coordinates."

"Thanks," Kelsie whispered, taking the pieces of paper, "it doesn't seem to be far from here."

"No, if we can go undetected for forty-eight hours, we'll make it," Jason said, "you both will get the ending you've wanted."

"What do you mean by that?" Kelsie frowned.

Zander shifted uncomfortably, glancing from Kelsie to Jason to the fire and staying there.

"Jason?" Kelsie persisted.

"A story for another time," Jason said, clearing his throat and gathering the plates moving off to clean them.

"What did he mean by that?" Kelsie turned to Zander.

"No idea," Zander hedged, poking at the fire.

"You do know," Kelsie said, staring at Zander, "you've always known. You've known from the moment you read my file and learnt who I really am."

"Don't think you're right," Zander said, repacking his backpack.

Kelsie watched him silently, all her training kicking into gear and feeding her information about the men about her and the situation she was currently in.

"Which family do you belong to?" Kelsie asked.

Zander froze mid-movement, "The second family."

"Your father is the man in that photo with me and my parents," Kelsie nodded, "that was a family photo of sorts."

Zander nodded, "We didn't know each other much when we were younger. When you trained with your parents, you were quick at grasping knowledge. Your retention level ... man ... I envied how you only saw or heard something once, and it was locked away in your memory for all time."

"Why don't I remember?" Kelsie whispered, tears filling her eyes as the quick tide of emotion rose. "Why can I not remember my parents' names, where I am originally from, or what you just told me?"

Zander met her gaze, raw emotion in his eyes, "I never knew what they did to you," he whispered. "It was years later that I learnt that Connie fed you a specific mix of herbs that ... locked away your memories."

Kelsie gasped, swiping at fresh tears streaming down her cheeks, "Why would she do that?"

"She insisted it was to keep you safe," Jason said, entering the cave and packing the cooking items in Zander's backpack. "We never knew until it was too late."

"So she wiped my memory of my family, who I was, everything my parents told me, taught me," Keslie sobbed, "she took everything from me."

"We thought so as well," Jason said, "until you told me of the camping trip."

"What of it?" Kelsie asked.

"If you remember that," Jason sat next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders, "it means you may be recovering."

"You just need time," Zander said.

"Time is something we don't have," Kelsie said, "but it gives hope. Perhaps I'll remember everything ... someday. "

"It's been a rough day," Jason whispered, "why don't we all get some sleep. We need to be moving by sunrise."