This is entirely fiction, please do not try anything you read at home. It was also based of a dream I had a while ago and I knew I must write it. I have been writing this for about 2 years now and I'm only on Chapter 14. The chapters seem really long, but trust me they really aren't. (Handwritten and I took a lot of breaks) Let us begin. Table of Contents: Book 1 Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Book 2 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Pronunciation
Prologue Dear Reader, This is the story of Elashiasdezmualda and her comrades and how they fulfilled the first part of the three-fold-prophecy. I have pulled together all the diaries and reports of my great grandmother Elashiasdezmualda and compiled what I believe to be an accurate retelling of her journey. This I have done so that no immortal or human ever forgets the past. For if we forget the past it shall surely repeat itself. Sincerely, Casi, daughter of Rosa Queen of the Guardians
Book 1 Chapter 1 It was an afternoon like any other, I was in my office when my partner, Brian, came in. Brian is a young werewolf of the height and stature which is common to werewolves, five feet two inches. His hair is a dark brown, a known dominant trait to werewolves among their equally dark eyes. “Hey, Angie, we have orders.” He said flopping down in to one of the chairs opposite me. He puts his feet on my desk and pushes the seat back on its hind legs. “What up with the file Angie?” “Nothing. Get your feet off of my desk before I come across it and remove them from your body. And don’t call me Angie you useless flee ridden mutt.” I snapped shoving the file into a drawer and slamming it shut. “So about those orders.” “Um, all I know is that we are supposed to get on a plane at exactly five A.M. tomorrow. When we get to our destination we will personally receive them.” Brian replied, giving me a dejected look before slinking out of my office. Present Time: Sunday October 28th 3:00 pm. We step off the plane and into the small airport outside of Manhattan, Kansas, United States. I look out past the air field and see a herd of horses running across an open field. The large black one looks oddly familiar, but I can’t place why. In my head I can just hear the sound of a woman crying. Shaking my head I shoulder my duffel bag and lead the way out of the airport and into the parking lot. A little brown haired boy runs by me dragging his twin sister behind him. A girl who could be their older sister is right behind them and just manages to catch them before they run out into the path of an SUV. I feel a stab of empathy as she scolds them for not listening. I know she isn’t really mad just worried sick about the fact that they almost got run over. It is a sickening feeling when your siblings are in harms way. The two young-lings look oddly familiar in the way that they carry them selves. Our contact is waiting next to a black Ford Super Duty splashed with mud. Obviously this guy goes off-roading, you don’t get that much mud on a truck driving on asphalt. He is a well muscled young-ling with pale brown hair and big hazel eyes that reminds me of a dogs, maybe a hair taller than Brian. Brian snarls and crouches alerting me to the fact that our contact is a werewolf. Typical male werewolf, always territorial if a female is involved. I need to remember to kick Brian’s butt later for thinking he can get predatory over me. I am no one’s property. “Hello, I am Phineas Cooper and I will be your contact during your time here.” He says holding out his hand. Okay, I know first impressions can be wrong but this guy is a total hunk. I mean I knew he was probably good looking when I first saw him but now that I am looking at him up close… “I am Angel Smith and this is my partner Brian Mathis.” I reply shaking his hand. “Your resume is quite impressive seeing as you are a rookie. Two medals of valor at your age and rank is unheard of.” I remark. I had considered assigning him to the queen’s guard. I didn’t because he is only a year out of basic. I want to let him get a little bit of experience under his belt. Since then I have taken a special interest in his progress, consequently I have been watching his every move. If he does well as my contact I will make him an offer for a place on the Queen’s Guard. Brian snarled, “Yes, well, now that we are all introduced why don’t we get going? It was a long plane ride and I would like nothing more than to go to the safe house and relax. So, Angel stop drooling over this poor excuse for an assassin and let‘s go.” With a sneer, Brian wraps his arm around my waist possessively. Phineas nods and puts our bags in the back seat. I twist out of Brian’s grasp and hit him upside the head. “Listen and listen good you little twit. I swear by the Creator that if you ever pull a stunt like that when I get done with you, you wont even be able to get a job stapling for one of the assistants.” I rumble, not bothering to lower my voice. I storm to the truck and yank open the door to the back of the cab. “Wow that was harsh but way cool. Thank you.” Phineas says as he helps me into the truck. I smile and shrug as he closes the door. After Brian is in the truck Phineas hands me the case file. I scan through the file until a name jumps out at me; Malachi Ludlum. I have been after him for two decades now. He was an assassin, one of the first six to be exact, the only other two left alive are the vampire king and his little sister. The first time I actually met him was on a mission to Africa and he was my contact. The reason he is no longer an assassin and is no top of my hit list is he kidnapped and sold the shape shifter prince and five princesses to the vampires. Normally I would have dropped the case years ago but Prince Justin was my fiancè. So even though it shouldn’t have the case became personal. “Hey, Idiot.” I say tauntingly to Brian as I lightly smack his cheek. “Yes, my evil daily dose of annoying?” he replies turning so he could see me from the front passenger seat. “Guess why we are here, my daily pain in the butt.” “Hmm, let me think about this one…Oh, I know - our superiors told us to come here.” Phineas smirks at that one so I kick the back of his chair. “One, I am your superior and my only superior is the Queen. Two, I have two words for you, Malachi Ludlum.” Phineas grumbles as Brian’s chin hits the floor, both their faces are death white frightened. I can’t really blame them. When I found out Malachi was on my hit list I was scared too, but if you hunt a guy long enough you eventually stop fearing him. Now, I don’t even flinch at the name. “Uh, we are here.” Phineas whispers pulling up into a drive way. I glance out the window and catch sight of the safe house. It is an old lime stone house with a wrap around porch complete with a porch swing. A faded whitewash fence encloses the property, along one corner a rose bush over runs the picket. Towards the back of the property is an old oak tree with a tire swing hanging from one limb. “Phineas, dude, where is the safe house? Is it behind that run down pile of rubble?” Brian taunts. I scowl at him and reach for my bag. Phineas snarls and slugs him in the arm before exiting the truck. He opens my door and takes my bag before throwing Brian’s bag at Brian. I laugh as the bag knocks the wind out of Brian and follow Phineas inside. Serves him right, maybe next time he wont be such an over bearing jerk. The inside of the house compliments the outside well. All the floor is hard wood, it could use replacing in some areas. A long carpet covers the stairs and the railing is of a simple design. The living and dining area takes up most of the down stairs. The kitchen is small and sits at the back of the house along with a small mud room. A small study sits just off from the living room. In the living room an old tan couch sits across from a brand new flat screen TV. A small shelving unit filled with DVDs sits adjacent the TV. In between the shelving unit and the window is a large book case filled with old dusty looking leather bound books. In the office there is even more shelves of old leather bound books. I might actually enjoy it here. Only one book case hold new books and all of them are books about vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and other such things. The kitchen is painted a pale cream and the appliances are all new and stainless steal. Which looks kind of odd since all of the counters are tile with little floral designs, and the counters them selves are coated with a plastic sheathe, a style that dates back to at least the nineteen thirties. A small window sits just above the sink, a portrait of Phineas and who appears to be his brother sits on the windowsill, along with two little ceramic wolves. This place isn’t to bad…down stairs, time to go see the upstairs. The upstairs isn’t too bad either, a long wide hallway leads to the back of the house. A single room sits at the back of the house, the door to the master bed is on the left, and across from it is the door to the guest bath. A short narrow hallway leads to the two guest rooms at the front of the house. I try to go in to the master bed room but the door is locked and when Brian tries to get in Phineas nearly takes his head off.
Chapter 2 The back room is painted a pale blue and the ceiling is painted grey. A king size bed sits in the middle of the room and a large dresser sits against the south wall. One window sits on the west wall, the curtains are the pale blue of the wall and delicately sweep the floor. The sound of mocking birds drifts in through the open window. A cardinal alights on the window and sings a short tune before flying off. Hmm… that is either a really good sign or a really bad sign. Cardinals are supposed to bring good luck but any bird that enters a house is supposed to bring bad luck. Not to mention it seemed to look right at me and know me. I have a bad feeling about this. I turn to leave and end up running into Brian. “You can have this room I will have one of the rooms at the front of the house.” I mumble before slipping past him. I head to the front of the house and go into the room on the right. Its small but cozy, the walls are painted tones of brown and the curtains on the window are also different earth tones. The full size bed in the north west corner is dressed in tan bedding. A large oak chest sits at the foot of the bed, the lid is decorated in an ornate carving of a forest scene. “Okay dibs. Phineas can have the other room” I whisper. “Good cause I kind of already clamed it” Phineas replies from the door way. “Oh. Hey, come on in. I’m kind of surprised you aren’t claiming the master bed room.” I mumble flopping down on the bed. Phineas shrugs and sits on the chest. “It was my parents room. My brother and I don’t like to go in there.” Phineas explains as he gazes out the window. “I know how you feel. I lost my parents when I was fifteen. It sucks, trust me but eventually you do have to go on. I don’t think that they want you to turn their room into a shrine. Not that remembering them is a bad thing, but life goes on even after someone you love is dead. Take it from me if you aren’t on the ride called life she will leave you behind.” “I know its just…” “You miss them I get it, and that’s okay. See the thing is when we interact with someone, no matter how fleeting the moment we leave a mark on them. Even if we never see them again the mark remains.” “But why couldn’t things stay the way they were? Why did they change?” “Because there are only to constants in this world; death and change.” “Umm, we don’t die.” “Actually yes we can. Either by choice, disease, or murder.” “Oh.” “To sum it all up. Every thing ends, but with each ending there is a new beginning. Where one thing falls another stands, this is the way of the world.” “Thanks Angel.” “Come on kid, lets go get some food.” I reply before heading out. Phineas smiles and follows me out of the room. We go down stairs and find Brian lounging on the couch, reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula. He glances up as we enter for a split second before going back to his book. I sigh and go into the kitchen to find some thing to eat. The fridge is empty except for two cases of soda. “Boys, what do you want for diner?” I call from the door way. Brian just shrugs and goes back to his book. “Um, how about Pizza Hut?” Phineas suggests as he turns on the TV. I shrug and grab the phone book off the kitchen counter. I order one large pepperoni and an order of cinnamon sticks. As I hang up the phone Phineas comes into the kitchen and leans against the counter next to me. “So one quick question. Why didn’t you choose me for the Queen’s Guard when a position opened up? I was perfectly qualified.” “Two reasons, one you were too green and I wanted some one with more experience and two I thought that I needed you more as an assassin than the queen needed you as a guard. I don’t regret the decision to keep you as an assassin we don’t have many good assassins any more and you are among my finest.” I explain, turning to get a soda out of the fridge. “So, are you like, top dog in the hierarchy of assassins?” “Yes. In reality I only have one superior and that is the queen. Could you go check the perimeter for me?” “Sure” “Oh and take Brian with you” I call after him. Phineas and Brian both groan before snarling at each other. “Go before I kick both your butts” I snap, both of them scramble out of the house. Stupid werewolves. I go into the study to get a book to read. Almost all of the books are about vampires, shape shifters, and werewolves. Which is of no big surprise, there are many immortals that have a collection of books about immortals. I go to the case of newer books for want of a book I haven’t read before. The top shelf of books is filled with a series called Vampire Academy. On the next shelf are two series called Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl. The rest of the books are singles and all revolve around immortals, wizards witches and other such ilk. I grab the first Artemis Fowl book and go back out to the living room. I flop down on the couch and begin reading. Twenty minutes later the door bell rings signaling the arrival of the pizza. I set down my book and answer the door as Brian and Phineas come in through the back door. I take the pizzas to the kitchen while Phineas pays the delivery guy and Brian picks out a movie. Lucky enough for us our mission doesn’t actually start till tomorrow. So tonight is just a relax and get our heads in the game before the real fun begins. “What are we watching with dinner?” I ask, handing Phineas and Brian their pizza. Brian holds up Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Why doesn’t that surprise me, that book and Dracula are his favorite books and movies. “Really Brian. Didn’t you just get done reading the book?” Brian just smirks and puts it in the VCR. Phineas chuckles and sits next to me on the couch, Brian sits on the other side and hits play. “So how many times has he seen the movie?” Phineas asks half way through, Brian has spent the last 62 minutes saying the actors lines before the actors and getting them correct every time. “I lost count last year.” “I’m bored. Want to go spare out back?” I nod and we slip out of the living room and out the back door. He has a small training circle towards the back of the yard. A barrier of evergreen trees and bushes protect it from unwanted eyes. We spare using mixed martial arts techniques first then we use sparing weapons for a few minutes. “You aren’t too bad kid,” I say setting down on the porch steps. Phineas sits down next to me and hands me a water bottle. “Who are you calling a kid, Miss Still-looks-like-a-sixteen-year-old. At least I can get alcohol with out being asked to show ID.” Phineas retorts glancing at the back door as if to make sure Brian wasn’t going to come out. “So why does Brian hate me?” Phineas asks. “F.Y.I. I was born in 67 B.C. thank you, and he doesn’t hate you, he is just weary of strangers. Don’t let him get to you, he might seem cold and hostile, but underneath that cold exterior is a warm loving heart.” “I just don’t see it.” “Few do, just trust me. If you want to get along with him then tomorrow offer to take him off-roading while I am at school. He will be your friend forever if you do that. Trust me its how J.C. won him over” “J.C.?” “Justin Calvin. Prince Justin Calvin of the Forest Covenant. We were engaged.” “Nice, bet his mother just hates that. Its no small secret that she is a witch with a capital “B”. Not that you heard that from me.” “No, never. Well I probably ought to go to bed so I wont be completely off my game. Night” I reply going to the door. “Night” Phineas calls after me as I step inside. I say goodnight to Brian before going upstairs to bed. I slip into a tank and a pair of Victoria’s Secret pajama bottoms. I slip under the covers and listen to the sounds of the bird as I fall asleep.
Chapter 3 I am standing in the shadows of a three room cot, a woman I recognize as my mother sits at the table. Across from her sits a little black haired girl with my ice blue eyes, high cheek bones, proud forehead, dark skin, flattened nose and full lips. Every thing has a sort of unnatural reddish tint, which tells me this is a dream. It looks like the woman is telling the younger me something but I can’t hear anything. A young boy comes in and tugs on my mother’s dress to get her attention. He is my younger brother Marcus, he was always getting into trouble. I chuckle as the young boy tells the younger me to go kiss a slave. The younger me snaps at him to get lost, oh if only I new how that day would end. My little sister crying in my arms as our father tells us that Marcus was killed by my black stallion kicking him in the head. I can still hear my mother’s wails in my head. To this day I wish I had been there to protect him. I wake up to my alarm going off and a dog whimpering outside my door, it is five a.m. and I am officially on the clock. Great! Go High School! Whoopee! I Am So Pumped! Can’t You Tell! I grab a pair of jeans and a t-shirt out of my bag. I pull them on, put a small hand gun in the small of my back and grab my light weight long military style coat off of the dresser. I pull open my door and end up nearly falling over a young Boston Great Dane. “Um, okay. Hey pretty girl you hungry?” I whisper patting her on the head, she stands and follows me down stairs. I go into the kitchen and look around for dog food. Finding none, I turn to go look in the mud-room until, out of the corner of my eye, I see her scratching at a cabinet door. I open it and find a bag of dog food and a food bowl. I smile and pour her a bowl. She barks once and digs in, her tail going a mile a minute. Brian comes into the kitchen as I get done downing a protein shake, I hand him his shake and grab my school bag. I run into Phineas on my way to the door. “Wish me luck”, I mumble sarcastically as he opens the front door for me. “Don’t worry, you will be fine. Trust me. Just keep your head down and try not to make waves.” He replies. I smile and run to the bus waiting at the drive way. Manhattan High School East Campus, Monday October 29, 2:01 P.M. School sucks! It is only seventh hour and I have already gotten lost, fallen on the stairs, and vomited. To top it all off, I have lunch detention tomorrow and the day after. I honestly don’t see why I have to go through this torture. Okay, yes I do. Intel says Malachi works at the school and has a kid. By being a student at this school I can get close to the kid and then close to Malachi. Of course I could get lucky and end up just getting close to Malachi and that would be that. I jog up the stairs to the third floor and head for my next class. A boy runs by me and knocks my books to the floor. His friends snicker and duck into a classroom before I can do anything. I sigh and bend down to pick up my things. Just as I reach for my English book a honey-sweet voice says, “Here let me help.” I look up and find myself staring into a pair of dark hazel eyes. They belong to a young boy with tousled blond hair that fell partly into his face. High cheek bones and hawk-like facial features suggest Romanian decent, but his long, lanky build, reddish under-tones and broad shoulders make me think he might also be of British or Scottish decent. He smiles and gathers the papers that had been tucked into one of my text books, I take them and tuck them back into the book. “I am Justin Goodsword. Sorry about those three. The Johnson trio tends to be a trio of morons with nothing better to do.” He explains with a shrug. “I am Angel Smith. The new girl.” I reply, dodging a group of female younglings that to me look almost exactly alike. They all have long blond hair and dark spray-on-tans that defiantly were not done right. They are all clothed in skinny jeans that are filled with holes and long sleeved shirts with v-necks so low I catch glimpses of their bras. They complete their outfits with black stiletto heals that can not be comfortable. Each of them smile and wave to Justin after shooting me dark looks. “So… Was that an Ouroboros I saw on your forearm?” Justin asks looking down at my left arm. I grin and pull my sleeve down so as not to attract any more attention to my tattoo. “What’s your next class Angel?” “Um… Ms. Baker, English.” “Cool. Same here, I’ll show you to the room and introduce you to Ms Baker. So do you have any other tattoos?” Justin asks as we start to head down the hallway. “Yeah two on each shoulder blade and one where you are never going to see it. Don’t tell anyone please cause contrary to what you might think-” “They’re real. I figured, I used to have a friend who was a tattoo artist. I can tell the difference between a fake and a real tattoo. I think its cool, and don’t worry I wont tell scouts honor. Here we are.” He leads me into a small class room, the desks are arranged in groups, literature text books sit on each of the desks. They are open to Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Justin introduces me to Ms Baker before showing me to a seat at his group. I didn’t know any one at the group so I kept my mouth shut unless they needed help translating old English into new English. William Shakespeare was a personal friend of mine. In fact I never missed an opening show of any of his plays. I personally loved all of them, my all time favorite though is Hamlet. In fact there was a rumor going around the agency that the prince and I were the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet, I refuse to neither confirm nor deny this accusation. Half way through the class Ms Baker assigned us parts in the play, I got stuck with the role of Juliet, and Justin gets the role of Romeo. I impress Ms Baker when I don’t even look at the book when I say my lines. I remember when old English was all any one spoke. I still catch my self using it along with traditional Latin, my first language. “Come on, you really don’t want to get caught alone when the final bell rings. People will try to start something simply to see how far you will let them get.” Justin whispers when we get out in to the hallway. I nod and follow and him down stairs and out to the front steps to wait for our buses. We sit on a low concrete wall and enjoy the warm sun. “Thanks for the help today. Um what lunch do you have?” I ask throwing a glance over my shoulder. I half expect Malachi to come out and see me. “First, you.” “First.” “Cool we can sit together. Here comes my friends now.” Two boys and a young girl come walking up to us. The boys are polar opposites, one is tall with short sandy blond hair and a dark farmers tan. The other is pale with chin length black hair, black nails, and a slight limp. The young girl is fair skinned with wavy black hair and the same delicate features of the pale boy. “Who is this sexy piece of heaven, and why haven’t we been introduced?” the blond boy asks blocking my sun. “This is Angel, you know, new. Angel this is Michael, Jude and Jude’s twin sister Teresa. You know Michael you could at least try not to be a total pig.” Justin snaps, his eyes narrowing in contempt at Michael’s attitude. I role my eyes at how Michael is totally oblivious to Justin’s snide remark. Back when I was growing up what he just said would have lost him his tongue if my father was feeling merciful. “Hey Jude. How’s it feel to have a woman’s name. Its like your parents were psychic, fag.” Michael says tauntingly to Jude. Jude balls up his fist and takes a step towards Michael but I am in between them before anything can happen. “Listen Michael, judging by his sisters name Jude is named after Saint Jude, patron of desperate causes. So shut your stupid white trash mouth before I shut it for you.” I snarl turning to face Michael. He takes a half step back and cowers behind Justin. I don’t think he was expecting that reaction at all. I think he was hoping that I would laugh. Stupid youngling, few shape shifters would allow that behavior. I should rip his head off for the gay comment. Homosexuals are widely excepted by immortals. In fact once upon a time it was frowned upon when you kept it a secret. We think that it is perfectly acceptable and should be welcomed with open arms. “Umm, thanks, Angel. I-I’m not gay by the way, just to make that clear. I do have a girl friend.” Jude says stepping closer to Teresa, who taps me on the arm and uses sign language to ask where I came from. I smile and sign back that I am from Romania. “You know sign language?” Michael gasps looking from me to Teresa. I nod just as my phone starts to ring. “ Hello Phineas, what do you need?” I answer as I motion for the humans to be quiet. “Well I am near the school and I was wondering if you would like me to come and pick you up.” Phineas replies, hmm get a ride or ride the bus, get a ride defiantly. “Sure.” “Okay, I will meet you on the east side.” “See you.” I reply hanging up. “Okay I will see you all later. My ride is here.” I say before heading for the east side. The humans follow me after making sure that they could not see the buses coming. Phineas is across the street leaning against the front quarter panel of my 1969 Ford Mock One Mustang. It is black with red racing strips, tinted bullet proof windows and body armor makes it the perfect car for me. It also has a rocking stereo system. I hear the humans gasp behind me as they catch side of my car. “Do you want to drive or shall I?” Phineas inquires holding out the keys. “I am the only one that drives my car.” I reply taking the keys. I climb into the drivers seat while Phineas goes around to the other side. “Angel is this your car?” Justin asks with an idolizing look on his face. “So…who is the guy?” Michael demands. I give them both a cocky half smile before driving away. “So how did you get it? My car I mean.” I ask as I turn on to Sunset Avenue. “The Queen had it flown in. I just have one question why would the queen give you a car like this? I thought she hated you.” “It may have been her money, but it was J.C.’s signature on the title.” I reply as we go past one of the grade schools. “Oh. That makes a lot more since. So how was school?” “Absolutely horrible, the only part of the day that wasn’t absolute torture was my English class seventh hour.” I whine pulling into the drive way. I grab my bag and go to check the mail, not that I am expecting any thing its just old habit. I flip through the small stack of bills as I jog up the front porch steps. Phineas’s Great Dane is waiting just in side for me. I pat her on the head as I go past, her tail thumps twice against the floor then she gets up to follow. “Hey Angie!” Brian calls from the study. “DON’T CALL ME THAT!” I scream before storming up stairs. “Oh, and another thing, NEXT TIME WE HAVE AN ASSINMENT WHERE ONE OF US HAS TO GO SCHOOL YOU ARE THE SUCKER WHO HAS TO GO!” “WHY?!” “BECAUSE I’M SICK OF YOU GETTING TO LAY AROUND ALL FREAKING DAY WHILE I DO ALL THE FREAKING WORK!” I slam my door shut and flop down on the bed.
Chapter 4 Okay so maybe I over reacted. Its just he knows that I hate that name with a fiery passion. Or at least when any one besides JC calls me it. I miss JC. Even now after two decades I still keep hoping that he will come walking through those doors. I still regret that I wasn’t there to do anything about him being taken. It wasn’t fair after all that the vampires took away from me it still wasn’t enough. They had to steal him too, the only person who could make the darkness inside me seem almost nonexistent. I loved JC, heck I still love him. I get my lap top out of my bag and go to my instant messenger. Hmm Travis is online. What’s he doing up? Its like one in the morning in Moscow, Russia. Hmm one way to find out. - Y R U Up? - Hi 2 U 2 Couldn’t sleep - Y - Not a clue so how was your 1st day on the job? - Horrible I hate it here I want 2G home! And Brian is being a total jerk! Please don’t make me stay here any longer. - You thought about JC again didn’t you? - Yes this mission is going 2 b a long 1 - Sorry. Just remember look on the bright side - What bright side? - U finally got 2 get out of the office. - This is true. So H R things going w/ that Claire chick? - We broke up - That’s 2 bad…okay not really but… - Thanks 4 trying Angel - I miss having U around. - Yeah me 2 - as soon as we are back home at the same time we are have g2g hunting. - It’s a deal. Go get some food. - Go get some sleep. - Night - Night I sigh and check to see if any one else I actually want to talk to is on line. Nope just the Queen and she is the last person I want to talk to right now. I close my lap top and lay down on my side in the fetal position. I need to get my head on strait, this mission is throwing me a curve ball. Going down stairs now will not help the situation at all. Then again going to sleep with out eating wont either. I will go down after Brian has gone to bed and get some food. Safe House Monday October 29th 10:22 p.m. I get up slowly and head out into the hall, I make my way down the hall, making sure not to step on any creaky floor boards. I tiptoe lightly down the stairs wincing as I step on a creaky stair. I freeze and listen for movement before continuing down the stairs. I slip through the living room and into the kitchen with ease. I am just reaching in to the fridge when some one turns on the light. “Hey Angel.” Phineas whispers from behind me. “What are you doing up?” I hiss under my breath. “I could ask you the same question.” “I am getting food and then going to bed” “I am making sure you are okay. You seemed fine one minute and then the next you were madder than a wet hen. What the hell happened?” “Brian was just getting on my nerves, that’s all. I’m fine now, honest.” “All right then. There is a plate of food in the microwave it is some of the left-over’s from last night. Oh and by the way the dogs name is Andromeda” Phineas instructs ducking out of the kitchen with a quick shake of the head. I reach in to the microwave and pull out the plate of food. Speaking of Andromeda where is she? I haven’t seen her since this afternoon, poor girl. I eat my food standing over the kitchen sink and toss my plate in the dish pan. I head up stairs and find Andromeda curled up in front of my bed room door. She sits up when she sees me and wags her tail twice in greeting. She follows me into my room and curls up on my bed. “Well all right then.” I whisper before crawling into the bed next to her. I easily fall asleep to the sounds of the house around me. I am standing in the shadows of a three room cot, a woman I recognize as my mother sits at the table. Across from her sits a little black haired girl with my ice blue eyes, high cheek bones, proud forehead, dark skin, slightly flattened nose and full lips. It looks like the woman is telling the younger me something but I can’t hear anything. A young boy comes in and tugs on my mother’s dress to get her attention. He is my younger brother Marcus, he was always getting into trouble. I chuckle as the young boy tells the younger me to go kiss a slave. The younger me snaps at him to get lost, oh if only I new how that day would end. My little sister crying in my arms as our father tells us that Marcus was killed by my black stallion kicking him in the head. I can still hear my mother’s wails in my head. To this day I wish I had been there to protect him… wait I have had this dream before and right about now is when I woke up. Hmm do I wake up or do I stay asleep… I’m going to go with stay asleep. My little brother sneers at me before running out the front door. “Listen my darling you are far more important than you know. As you already know you are adopted, this we have told you. What you do not know is who your real parents are.” Mother says calmly. “Am I going to meet my real parents?” The younger me asks with huge excited eyes. I still remember how I used to daydream of meeting my real parents. Not that I didn’t love my adopted family or at least my mother and siblings. But there was still something missing from my world. “Soon you shall meet your real father but not yet.” My mother replies. “Why not?” I chuckle at the look on my face. I knew I would never meet my real mother, she had died during child birth. My adopted mother was a dear friend of both of my parents. Andromeda licks my face waking me up, I sit up slowly and wipe Andromeda’s drool off my cheek. I get up and go over to the closet. I pull out a pair of black slacks and a red v-neck blouse. Instead of my gun I grab a long throwing knife and slip it into my black mid-calf leather boots. I unroll my pant legs down over my boots before leaving my room with Andromeda. I grab my school things off the kitchen counter and stuff them into my bag. Phineas tosses me my keys as I pass him on the porch, he and Andromeda escort me to my car and watch me pull out of the drive way. I wave to them before driving away. Its six forty-five so I have a half an hour to get gas, get coffee from star bucks, and get to the school. Piece of cake.
Chapter 5 Manhattan High School 7:15 a.m. Tuesday October 30th “Hey Angel.” Jude calls as he and his sister come racing up the stairs to meet me, Michael and Justin are three steps behind them. We head into the cafeteria and grab one of the booths near the doors that lead out into a courtyard. Two female younglings named Samantha and Clair, Samantha is Mathew’s girlfriend and Clair is Jude’s girlfriend. Hmm Samantha is one of the girls that passed me yesterday when I met Justin. Looks to me like she is only dating Mathew to get close to Justin. The out fit she is wearing is obviously meant to catch some ones eyes. A pink micro mini and a shear baby blue top with a neck low neck line that barely covers her bra and a pair of nine inch heals. Clair on the other hand is wearing a pair of light wash jeans, a v-neck crew and a pair of pink converse low top all stars. I just might end up missing some of the people here, meaning Justin, Jude, Teresa, and maybe Clair. “So…um…Angel I was just wondering…if…you would… possibly… consider… going to the… homecoming dance this Friday with me.” Justin stammers out with effort. Hmm…Brian will have a fit if I go to the dance, but if I say that Malachi’s kid will be there and it will be my chance to get close to him or her… not to mention I do need a night out. Besides who knows maybe Justin is a kid worth getting to know. “Sure I would love to.” I reply causing Samantha to go rigid. A huge grin spreads across Justin’s face. “I’m on the football team so I will meet you at the dance. Okay?” “Well I was going to go to the game anyways so I could always wait for you and we could drive to the dance together.” I suggest shrugging my shoulders. “That would be great. So Jude did we have home work in math?” Justin is a cute kid, I see J.C. a lot of ways in him. They have the same passionate ice blue eyes. Part of me feels bad for moving on, but another part of me knows that its okay. I still wish I hadn’t stormed out of the house that night, my temper had gotten the better of me. I can’t even remember what we fought about, I just know it seems pretty stupid now. Maybe if I had been there he would still be here, but what is done is done. I can’t change the past any more than the next person. As it turns out I have all my classes with Justin which makes every thing way better. We pass notes in all of our classes -except English when he is on the other side of the room- and text each other during lunch, which makes my lunch detention easier. Add on the fact that Jude was in there with me for cutting his fifth hour and you get an all right day. Manhattan High School 2:55 p.m. October 30th “See you tomorrow.” Justin says as he walks me to my car. He opens the door and shuts it behind me. “See you tomorrow.” I reply before pulling out of the parking stall. I head down to the mall and park in the JC Penny’s parking lot. As I shut of the car my phone goes off, Oh Creator! It’s the queen! What does that witch want now? “Hello, Your Highness how has your day been going?” “What has been taking so long?!” she demands in a high pitched screech. “I have yet to find him, cut me some slack most of my targets aren’t ex-assassins, and aren’t one of the original six assassins.” “FIND HIM NOW AND KILL HIM OR YOU CAN KISS YOUR CAR GOODBYE.” “Oh no the horror! I just can’t live with out my car!… Really your highness of all the things to threaten. And remember I want him dead as much as you do.” “Humph how could I forget the fact that you were my son’s sex toy.” “Oh bite me you old bat.” I snap hanging up the phone before she can reply. Stupid little… grrr… I just want to… deep calming breaths Angel. Its just the queen it wouldn’t be worth it to kill her. I need to just walk away and ignore the stupid comments she makes. I get out of the car and head into Dillard’s to get an outfit to wear to the dance and game. Now normally I would call up my coworker Madeline and have her provide my outfit but she is half a continent and an ocean away. Instead I have to break in my new debit card. I skim over the dresses in the juniors’ section until I find a strapless black gown. I grab it and go in to the dressing rooms. I pull it on and look at my self in the mirror, The heart shaped torso is cut to form, the base of which sits on the top of my hip bones. The dress then falls to the bottom of my calf muscles. I twirl around for a couple of seconds before changing back into my cloths. “Hey Angel, is that a dress for home coming?” Clair asks joining me at the customer service counter. “Yeah, do you have a dress?” I reply as I finish paying. Samantha joins us as we turn to leave. “Yes we do. Clair if you don’t mind I would like to get going.” Samantha snaps dragging Clair away by her wrist. What a pair. Hmmm Clair needs to get out from under Samantha. I shake my head and go to Payless for my shoes. I get a pair of black two inch heals that goes well with my new dress. Safe House 4:13 p.m. October 30 Man I am good I have in the last ten minutes been able to sneak my new outfit up to my room, provided a foul proof excuse as to why I am late and gotten all my math work done. I repeat I am good. “So got invited to the home coming game have we?” Phineas chuckles making me jump. “No. Okay yes I have. But I may be able to find Malachi’s kids at the dance or the game.” “Angel, honestly don’t care if Friday night is business or pleasure. Just watch your sixth Okay?” “Always” “Good that’s all I wanted to hear. Now who is he?” “Who is who?” “The boy that’s who?” “Why do you want to know?” “Because I’m nosey and I might know him.” “Oh. His name is Justin Goodsword.” “Oh he is a cool kid, awesome at football, its looking like he might just take the team to state this year. We haven’t been to state in six years. Come on dinner is done.” Phineas leads me out of the room and down stairs. After dinner I watch TV with the boys before heading to bed. I am standing in the shadows of a three room cot, a woman I recognize as my mother sits at the table… you have got to be kidding what is it with the repetitive dreams! Across from her sits a little black haired girl with my ice blue eyes, high cheek bones, proud forehead, dark skin, slightly flattened nose and full lips. It looks like the woman is telling the younger me something but I can’t hear anything. A young boy comes in and tugs on my mother’s dress to get her attention. He is my younger brother Marcus, he was always getting into trouble. I chuckle as the young boy tells the younger me to go kiss a slave. The younger me snaps at him to get lost, oh if only I new how that day would end. My little sister crying in my arms as our father tells us that Marcus was killed by my black stallion kicking him in the head. I can still hear my mother’s wails in my head. To this day I wish I had been there to protect him. My little brother sneers at me before running out the front door. “Listen my darling you are far more important than you know. As you already know you are adopted, this we have told you. What you do not know is who your real parents are.” Mother says calmly. “Am I going to meet my real parents?” The younger me asks with huge excited eyes. I still remember how I used to daydream of meeting my real parents. Not that I didn’t love my adopted family or at least my mother and siblings. But there was still something missing from my world. “Soon you shall meet your real father but not yet.” My mother replies. “Why not?” I chuckle at the look on my face. I knew I would never meet my real mother, she had died during child birth. My adopted mother was a dear friend of both of my parents. “Because my dear there is much for you to learn first. The first thing you must learn is your birth name and blood rights.” “What do you mean birth name and blood rights.” “What I mean is the name you were given at birth was Elashiasdezmualda- I jolt awake, my mental blocks activate causing the dream to cut short. Okay Angie what time is it? About five thirty p.m. Good, next question, what is the date? November second-oh dear lord its Friday! Okay so on that note… might as well get up now and get ready for the dance. So much for a quick nap before the game. I get up off the couch jog up stairs to the bathroom. After a quick shower I do my hair and makeup. Hmm… maybe I should change my hair back to its original color. Brian has been nagging me for ages now. Might as well, he is right about the fact that I look prettier with m natural wavy black hair. I close my eyes and imagine my self with black hair. I open my eyes and smile in success. My hair is once again the color of a raven’s feathers.
Chapter 6 See the thing with shape shifters is we can change our hair color and eye color due to the fact that we can turn into any animal we wish. Though our hair color is limited to blonds, browns, some times reds, and in my case black. Black is actually a genetic mutation that I get mostly from my mother’s side. I pull my hair back and put it up in a bun except for a few tendrils that hang down at the sides of my face. I get dressed in a pair of jeans and a white strapless top to go to the game in. I packed my dress for home coming in a bag. Sadly as I was packing it Brian came in to my room. Actually looking back on it the entire conversation was really funny… “Who or what is the new out fit for?” He asked when he saw the dress. “Just a boy that could get me closer to Malachi.” I lied stuffing the dress in a bag. “Liar” “No” “Yes” “No” “Yes” “Y-” “No” “Ha-ha” “Angel” “Oh Please let me have this one night. This will be my first night out since Justin’s disappearance. Pleeeeaaaase.” I begged jutting out my lower lip. Brian simply throws his hands up in surrender before walking out of the room. Football Stadium Friday October 30th 7:00 I jog up the steps of the stadium steps to the top row where Clair, Jude, and Teresa are waiting. Half way up some thing catches my attention out of the corner of my left eye. I stop and turn to see what it is and find my self staring in to the chocolate brown eyes of none other than Malachi Ludlum. We stare at each other before a commotion on the field causes us to break eye contact. I look back and he is gone, I shake my head and join the others. Looks like that Intel was correct, hmm why do I suddenly find my self wondering what Malachi’s familiar was. I think his familiar was a bird of some kind, I will have to ask one of my secretaries to find out. “Are you okay Angie? You seem kind of tense” Jude asks as Justin makes a touch down. “Umm yeah, I’m fine, and please don’t call me Angie. I’ll be right back I need to make a phone call.” I reply as I start down the stairs. Slipping past the teachers and getting on to the field would be the easy part. -I don’t know for sure if Malachi is even down there, but my gut is telling me he is, and over the years I have learned to trust my gut.- The hard part is getting the job done and making a clean get away. I guess could always just eliminate all of the witnesses, but that would be a lot of collateral damage. Not to mention the queen will have my and Brian’s heads. Malachi is standing next to the head coach and both are mostly hidden from the crowd. I slip over to them as the offensive team comes in and the defensive goes out. I stay to the shadows as I get into a position in which I can easily escape the stadium, and still have a clear shot at Malachi. The head coach yells snaps at Justin after Malachi whispers something in his ear. Justin grimaces and jogs over to them, I freeze as he passes with in inches of me, he glances in my direction but doesn’t seem to realize that I am here. “Yeah coach?” Justin asks taking off his helmet. “Where is your head at tonight? You aren’t really playing to night, it seems like you are just going through the motions. Not to mention you nearly cost us that last touchdown because you were staring at the stands.” “Sorry Coach. Its Angel I just can’t seem to get her out of my head no mater how hard I try.” “She’s a looker isn’t she” “I would say more of a loaded pistol” “She is trouble that’s what she is. Stay away from her got it. All she will do is ruin your life.” Oh yeah, like you can talk. How many times did you nearly get us killed in Africa? How many times did I have to save your skin? “Yeah dad whatever.” Justin mumbles walking back over to his teammates. Dad?! I think I might have found away to kill Malachi and get away with no collateral damage. Muhahahahaha revenge is epic. After all like you said Malachi all is fair in our line of work. The only down side is I will have to hurt the kid, I honestly will regret hurting him, but I can’t really avoid it. I go back to the others and finish watching the game. The game ends 21 to 13, Manhattan on top. “See you at the dance Angel.” Jude yells as he and Clair head to his car. I wave and jog over to my car. I get in as Justin comes walking up to the car. Looks like it was a good thing my group were the last ones out of the stadium. It gave Justin enough time to take a shower and get dressed. “Hey Justin” I say as he opens the passenger door. “Hey Angel did you like the game?” He asks hoping in. I pull out of the parking lot and punch the gas as we get on to the road. I really don’t have to worry about police officers, most of them are shape shifters, in this town at least. So they really wouldn’t bother to pull me over, it’s a professional courteously thing. “It was okay I still prefer football to American foot ball.” “So where are you from exactly?” “I am from central Romania, in the Carpathian foothills. When my mom died my brother and I were sent here to live with our uncle, Phineas. We actually had no idea he even existed until the social worker on our case came and told us we were being sent here. Next thing I knew I was going through customs in New York only to then get on another plane to come here.” “Sorry about your mom. I know how you feel, my mom died when I was really little and I got stuck with dad. Step dad actually my mom married him when I was two. I am probably going to be grounded till I die for going to the dance with you. But frankly I honestly could not care less about what dad thinks. So just a real quick question how much older is Brian than you any how?” “He is seventeen, going to be eighteen in a few weeks. I still have no clue why we had to com live with Phineas -not that I don’t adore Phineas and am glad to have met him over the summer. The thing is Brian had already graduated high school and had a job.” Hmm… I like our cover story it is easy to remember and it is simple enough that Brian isn’t able to mess it up -why oh why did I just think that now Brian will screw it up for sure! This mission could not get any better okay so it could , it could be my Justin sitting next to me not his totally awesome dopple ganger. “What are you thinking about?” Justin cuts through my train of thought and draws me back to the present. “Umm… nothing I was just trying to remember if I turned my lap top off when I left the house. Oh well too late now.” I pull in to the school parking lot and head for a spot as far from the school as I can get. “why so far from the school.” “Because if my baby gets so much as a tiny unnoticeable dent in it I will kill some one. And yes I am serious.” “Oh. So before we go in to the dance I have to go talk to my coach so why don’t you go find the others and I will meet you in side.” “okay meet you in side.” Justin heads across the lot to where his coach is waiting while I head inside the school. I head to the bathroom and change in to my dress, Clair and Teresa come in as I finish zipping up the dress. “Hey where’s Samantha?” I ask turning to face them, Clair and Teresa are wearing identical dresses, sky blue floor length single shoulder evening gowns with white ribbons around their waists. “You two look very beautiful.” “Thanks. Sam is currently sucking face with Michael in an effort to make Justin jealous. Which wont work so long as he has you on his arm, you honestly look way hotter than that witch.” Clair sneers throwing a dark look at the door behind her. “Umm.. Aren’t you friends with her?” “Not really, but our parents are friends. Actually that’s the only reason any of us meaning -Jude, Teresa, Justin and I- even hang out with Michael and Sam. Our parents decided that we would hang out when we started grade school. Then Justin moved here in sixth grade and apparently his mom had gone to school with our parents so he got added to our little group. Not that I mind him he’s cool its just Michael and Sam I don’t like.” “Well Clair, did any of you think to tell your parents this?” “Umm… once or twice but we generally got bent over our father’s knees. So we kind of gave up on the whole thing. Speaking of trouble we had better get out there or Sam might just come looking for us.” We head out and meet the others in the south gymnasium. Michael’s jaw hit’s the floor as I take Justin’s out stretched hand. I smirk when I see the totally pissed off look on Samantha’s face. Clair giggles when she sees what I am smirking at and at the fact that Teresa signs ‘better luck next time succubus.’ We head on to the dance floor as they start to play a slow song. “Umm… what was that last thing Teresa signed? I didn’t quite catch it.” Justin asks as we twirl around in a circle. “Better luck next time succubus.” I reply glancing over at Samantha who is still fuming and shooting daggers at me. “Wow she hates me.” “Hmm you an outsider got the star quarter back of the varsity team. Yeah I would have to say she hates you.” “Not my fault. You asked me, I answered yes to be polite… and because I thought you might be a decent date.” “Only decent? Really all I get is decent.” “Okay so as it is looking you may be more than decent.” “Maybe even second date decent.” “Yes maybe even second date decent.” “Sweet”
Chapter 7 Justin’s House October 30th 11:30 pm. “Thanks I had a really good time to night.” Justin whispers as he unlocks his front door. “Yeah me too. So I guess I will see you at school on Monday?” I reply stepping off the front porch. “Umm… look if Michael gives you a hard time call me okay. I will happily beat his face in if he ever messes with you.” “Thanks.” I giggle before ruffling his hair. He cocks his head to the side in question. “Um… Angel… look… there is… something I have… oh crud my dad is up! Please don’t punch me for doing this.” Before I can ask what is going on Justin kisses me, I just stand there stunned as he runs inside. I slowly walk back to my car and drive back to the safe house to stunned to do anything else. Manhattan High school East Campus 7:00 am November 2nd I still can not believe Justin kissed me the other night. And what was it that he wanted to tell me? Why did he seem so nervous? What is going on here? Could Justin be my Justin? No, no way it couldn’t be. Malachi would never ever keep him alive. It would be suicide every true assassin knows that. But the only guy that ever had the balls to kiss me with out my permission was Justin. All the other guys that tried would turn in to chickens the minute that any one of them even tried to. There is no way that is Justin so snap out of it Angie. I have to just be imagining the similarities between them. Shaking my head I get out of my car and head inside the school. Justin is waiting just in side the front doors for me just like always. “Hey Angel. So umm… you aren’t going to kill me for kissing you, are you?” he whispers ducking his head as I approach. Definitely not Justin, he isn’t cocky enough. “No, I actually didn’t mind it. You are one of the few boys that had big enough balls to do some thing like that,” I reply shaking my head. “So if I were to kiss you again you wouldn’t kill me.” “Don’t even think about it.” “Dang it.” “Come on lets go find the others.” “Okay.” Manhattan High School East Campus 2:59 pm November 2nd “Hey Angel, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out at my place. We could study for a few hours and then we could have dinner and watch a movie.” Justin inquires as he walks me to my car. “Yeah that would be great. Hop in.” I reply digging my keys out of my purse. “Can I drive?” “No!” “Please please pleeeeaaaaaaasssssssssse could I drive your totally awesome wonderful mustang.” “If anything happens to my car I will kill you.” “Awesome!” Justin does a fist pump before sliding across my hood, and hoping in to the drivers seat. I get in and hand him the keys, don’t get too cocky kid this car can and will kick your butt. Please, please, please let him be able drive a stick shift. “So how fast can this thing go.” “How fast can you drive on a high way in Europe.” “Wow” “Just drive already.” Justin’s House November 2nd 3:15 pm “Come on in. Dad wont be home till after nine o’clock.” Justin explains as he opens his front door. I shoulder my book bag before following Justin inside and and down to the basement aka his room. I set my book bag next to his on the bed and glance out the window, hmm Malachi what is keeping you from your nest and youngling so late. It is out of character for you my old friend, you have always been very protective of your younglings. “So why does your father hate me again.” I ask turning to face Justin. “Some thing about death, betrayal, some prophecy mumbo jumbo, I really wasn’t paying any attention at all. I honestly could not care what he thinks, I like you and my mother would like you if she were still here.” “I might like you. Possibly.” “There is a guy back in Romania isn’t there.” “No, not any more.” I walk over to the bay window and sit on the bench, Justin joins me in silence. “Why?” I ask turning to face him. “Because when you look at me some times it seems like you are seeing some one else.” “Hmm…” “What?” “I thought we came here to study.” “Yeah what first?” “World history.” “You would.” “Yep.” Justin hates world history… so did JC but when you live the history having a human teach you it is kind of annoying at times. Not to mention the constant accusations that you are always cheating on the tests because you never get any thing wrong. “So what are we having for dinner?” I ask following Justin upstairs to the kitchen we pass through the living room slash dining room which are filled with the typical paintings and carvings of wild life such as bald eagles and wolves that decorate a shifter’s homes. Hmm… just couldn’t let your heritage go could you Malachi? How long have you been hiding here? And no one has noticed. Right under the queen’s nose and my own and we never took any notice till now. The kitchen is decorated with ornately decorated golden plates all of which have his clan seal on it. Wow way to scream I’m a shifter of the Forest Covenant. My phone vibrates in my pocket making me come unglued. I pull it out to find four text messages from the queen. Oh what does that winch want now? Wht is tking so lng? Y r u still thr Hrry up Angl Kill him alrdy I roll my eyes and glance at Justin who is now lounging in one of the chairs in the kitchen. “Sorry it is my cousin Adriana. She hasn’t heard from us in a while so she is freaking out.” I lie. Ok ur majesty im wrking on it I hve fnd a way 2 gt the jb dne w/ out any witnsses trust me. Im gting close 2 his kid it will just tke some time I flip the phone closed and sigh as I flop down in to the chair across Justin. “Some times I really want to kill her.” “Total worry wort.” “I know she means well but still no need to send me twenty texts in ten minutes.” *chuckle* “I know what you mean my dad is just like that. So about dinner how about a bowl of beefy Mac.” “Sounds good to me.” *Sigh* “Angel?” “Yeah Justin?” “Nothing. Dad will be home soon you had better get going.” “Oh okay. See you tomorrow at school.” I reply rolling on to my side. Justin and I are curled up to gather on his bed and were watching a foot ball game. I sit up and grab my book bag off the desk before heading up stairs. Justin follows me with out a word. What is going on? He is hiding some thing, it is written all over his face, hmm… wonder if he knows that his face easily shows his every emotion. JC’s used to be like that but over time he learned to control his expressions. The thought has crossed my mind a million times that Justin might be JC. The thing is I know that he cant be because he has had a million chances to tell me but he hasn’t taken any of them. It doesn’t follow enough of the patterns for an assassin. Especially for one as skilled as JC. I turn around at the front door and kiss Justin on the cheek. “I know better than to pry but if you have a secret and your gut is telling you to tell some one you need to listen to your gut. Trust me I would know.” He just smirks and shakes his head. I roll my eyes and leave. Boys I will never understand them at all.
Chapter 8 Safe house 4:00 pm December 12th I set the brush down next to the can of wood stain and answer the phone. “Que pasa?” “No mucho. Y tu?” “No mucho.” “Angel. Estas arrastrando a cabo esta tarea?” “No I am not dragging out this assignment!” “ Liar.” “I- okay so maybe I am but so long as I get the job done. Hold on. A robin just flew in to my house and alighted on the stair next to me. Umm… I’ll call you back.” “Ang-” I hang up the phone before he can finish his sentence. I can’t help but wonder why a bird would fly in to a house it goes against their nature. I glance from the robin to the open window, when did that window get opened? I’ve been the only one who has been home the entire day. I turn back to where the bird had been to see Malachi seated across from me. “Malachi” I hiss baring my teeth at him. “Hear me out before you reach for your gun please.” “You have five minutes.” I instruct pulling out my gun. “Then I pull the trigger.” “Princessa I know you don’t relish the thought of killing me any more than you do your father. That’s why you never pulled the trigger, no mater how many times you had a clear shot at me you never took it. Now why do you think that is?” “Because… I don’t know… I just couldn’t…” “Because some thing didn’t seem right. It all seemed a little to rehearsed. You never could take a life unless you knew what you were doing was truly what was right. No matter who the target, you couldn’t do it. That’s why you never were able to kill Lucidia. To you taking her life just didn’t add up.” “So what?” “So maybe you should start looking in to why not every thing adds up, about this mission, and the war. You might just find out a little more than what you suspect to find. Now I do believe that my time is up. So you can either shoot me and live with the nagging doubt about your orders or you can let me walk out of here.” “Shola. Go before I change my mind.” I close my eyes and lean back against the stair well. Why did I let him get away that was so stupid so completely stupid. Oh yeah because I doubted my orders for just a split second, just long enough to convince me not to take the shot. Why did I let him get to me like that. Any other assassin would have taken the shot. I stand and shut the window before I continue to stain the new stair well. Manhattan High School December 13th 11:35 am “So Angel I was wondering how about this Friday you, me, and Teresa go to the movies and then have a sleep over at my place?” Clair asks as we make our way down to the cafeteria. I nod as Jude comes running towards us. “What’s a matter Jude?” “Angel come quick, Samantha pushed Teresa down the stairs.” Jude exclaims between breaths. I follow him down to the landing between second floor and first floor where we find Justin helping Teresa into a sitting position. “Where is Samantha?” “No idea she took off.” Justin replies examining the gash on Teresa’s forehead. That’s when it hits me, the smell of blood. The familiar longing in my stomach, the heightening of my senses. For one split second I don’t see Teresa and Justin, instead before me stands my next meal. I shake it off and back away slowly before jogging back up the stairs to the third floor girls bathroom. I lock my self in the stall furthest from the door sit on the floor. My breaths come out shaky and uneven as my heart races with adrenalin. Where haven’t reacted to blood like that since I was a small child. I need to go home now but how am I going to get out of here? No doubt the others are looking for me. If they see me I am so screwed but if I stay here I am screwed. I don’t think I will be able to control my self around twenty humans after what just happened. did that come from? I guess I am just going to have to chance it. I stand and head out of the bathroom, after peaking around the corner I make a beeline for the stairs. I race down them and slip out the side doors and run to my car in the parking lot across the street. I get in and lock the door before getting out my phone and dialing Phineas’s number. “Hey Angel. What’s up?” “Nothing, I need you to let Brian know that I wont be getting home until late tonight okay?” “Yeah sure.” “Bye Phineas.” I hang up before he can reply and pull out of the parking lot. I drive out to a prairie research station sponsored by the local university. I get out of the car and start down the trail till I am out of sight of the parking lot. I look around and make sure that no humans are with in eye sight. Looks safe. I close my eyes and shift in to a mountain lion. I race away from the trail and the station. On this land I don’t hunt, the animals have a sanctuary and I just can’t justify disrupting that peace. Once out side of the protected lands I begin to hunt. Hmm… ah… the perfect white tailed deer… a buck, five pointer… delicious. I slink forward careful not to make a sound. At the last possible moment I lung forward, the buck has no time to react as I latch on to its neck and bite down closing the wind pipe. The creature struggles for a few moments then it goes limp, after making sure it is truly dead I release it. I devour it in under an hour leaving barely enough meat on the bones to fill a raven. I trot slowly back, both my hunger and my thirst quelled. Woops! Humans! I freeze when I see two researchers standing near a small creek. They smile when they see me and scribble some thing on their clipboard. One grabs out a camera and snaps a picture of me before I can make a break for the wood line. The other points to some thing behind me, I flick my ears back to listen behind me before slowly turning my head. Behind me is a large young male mountain lion, I crouch down and pin my ears back only to see the male **** its head to the side and sit down. Travis! I straighten and walk past him, as I pass I flick him on the shoulder to signal that he should follow me. We leave the humans behind and race each other to where the trail first crosses a stream. As soon as I phase back into my human form I slug him in the shoulder. “Hola. So when where you planning to tell me you were in Manhattan?” “I wasn’t. I am just passing through, tracking a rouge werewolf. Normally the werewolves would handle it but sadly they cant so they asked for help.” “Yeah we may answer to the same queen but we do tend to take care of our own. How long are you staying here?” “I am heading home tomorrow, I just got done handing the trail over to a were wolf who will follow it till we catch the rouge.” “Want to go to get a drink?” “Sure.” Bobbie T’s (Local Bar) 9:00 pm “Hey aren’t you supposed to be only sixteen?” Travis remarks as we sit down at the bar. “One I’m off duty, two I have an ID and alias that says I am 22. So there.” I reply under my breath. “Two grass hoppers please.” I tell the bar tender. “So got a whiff of human blood?” Travis remarks just loud enough for me to hear. “Yeah bailed out after nearly blowing every thing. I mean the center of Malachi’s cover story sitting right in front of me. This kid named Justin Goodsword… no don’t even start up that hypothesis, already went there already disproved it. Justin is not JC.” “Are you absolutely sure?” “Yes…well…no but there is more evidence against it than there is with it, so unless proved other wise Justin is not JC.” I snap taking a sip of my drink. Travis rolls his eyes and ruffles my hair. “Have you ever wondered if we are on the right side?” “Of the war?” “Yeah. I mean when you really get down to it are we fighting for the right team?” “That depends Angel.” “On what?” “Every one wonders about that some times. The difference between them and you is if you doubt for even one second your orders you wont go through with the orders, every one else would.” “Oh… I still don’t know if I am on the right team though.” “Sorry sweetie but I honestly don’t have the answer to that question.” “I know.” We finish our drinks and head out side to the parking lot around midnight. With a quick hug we part ways, me heading back to my assignment and him home to eastern Switzerland near the Italian border.
Chapter 9 Safe House December 24th 9:00 am “Wow Angel the place looks great.” Phineas says as he examines the renovations I did on the house. “Oh and by the way you had way to much free time.” “Shut up and open your Christmas present already.” I retort after sticking out my tongue at him. He just rolls his eyes and starts to take the wrapping paper off the small box. “Car keys, really, that’s all I get is a set of car keys?” “Go out side stupid.” “Why?” “Because she got you a brand new Chevy Camaro stupid.” Brian snaps opening the curtains so that Phineas could see the shiny black Camaro parked in the drive way. “No Way! When? How?” “Last night After you went to bed you like it?” I reply as Phineas continues to stare at the Camaro. “You are welcome.” “Th-th-thanks so much this is the coolest thing ever. Open yours Angel, its from both of us.” I grab my present and rip off the wrapping paper to find a first edition Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. How did they get their hands on this! Not to mention this is in pristine condition! “What? How? When?” I gasp holding the book in my lap unable to take my eyes off of it. “Well I have a friend that specializes in restoring old books and Brian said you had a bunch of old books that needed some serious TLC. So I convinced my friend to restore them for you. The rest should come tomorrow.” Phineas explains. “So wait this is my original copy the one JC gave me?” “Yep!” they reply simultaneously. I smile and hug them both. Normally I don’t get close to contacts but since we got here the three of us have become really good friends. A rare commodity in our line of work. “You two are the best.” “We know. Looks like every one has opened their presents. So lets go eat breakfast. I for one am starved.” Brian says leaping to his feet. Brian got a new lap top for Christmas. Phineas leaps to his feet and races after him leaving me to clean up the wrapping paper. Go figure I always end up cleaning after those two. I look out the window to see a large golden eagle perched on the window sill, a small envelope in its beak. I walk over to it and take the envelope from it. The bird hops to my shoulder and rubs its head against my cheek before flying out the window. Hmm… could it be… yep it is… Malachi. I sigh and open the envelope a small lace chocker rolls out in to my hand. I examine the pendent that dangles from the lace by a string of three black pearls. On the pendent is a rearing horse crossed by a sword. I slip it in to my jacket pocket before going in to the kitchen. Manhattan high school January 31st 2:59 pm. “Oh my god! What is he doing here?” I whine as Brian comes in to view. He is leaning against my car. “Hey Brian what are you doing here?” I ask glancing at Justin. Will he come to the same suspicion that every one else did? That I did even? “I just wanted to come see my darling little sister and her new boy friend whom I have yet to meet.” Brian replies shooting dark looks at Justin. Oh for the creators sake Brian stop being so over protective. I mean really there is no need. “Justin this is my brother Brian, Brian this is Justin.” “It is nice to finally meet you Brian. Angel has told me a lot of things about you.” Justin says as he shakes Brian’s hand. “Good things I hope.” Brian replies, his voice a little too happy. “So I here you are a football player.” “Yep I helped take the team to state this year.” “I hear your father, Malachi Ludlum is also the assistant coach.” “Yeah and to top it off he is also my math teacher.” “Well Angel we had probably get going. Phineas and I were hoping we could all have dinner together for once. It was nice to meet you Justin.” “Nice to meet you too. So I will see you tomorrow at eight.” “Yep.” I reply getting in to the car. I wait to pull out of the parking lot till I see Justin get on the bus. Safe House January 31st 3:15 pm. “What the heck was that?!” I shout when I walk in to the living room. Brian who beat me home is sitting on the couch watching TV. “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YOU DUMB LITTLE -” “Easy Angel what happened?” Phineas asks as he comes down the stairs. “THIS LITTLE MORON NEARLY BLEW OUR WHOLE OPERATION! DID IT EVER CROSS YOUR ITTY BITTY IDIOT MIND THAT MALACHI COULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING AT ALL!” I scream throwing my bag to the ground. “Angel did it ever cross your mind that this kid could be in on the whole thing and is just waiting for his chance to strike?” “That is no excuse to blow an operation! And yes that did cross my mind. You are damn lucky I don’t make you turn in your badge right now.” I storm up stairs before he can reply. Stupid moron. Safe House February 1st 8:00 pm. “Angel I don’t think you should do this. You are walking right in to the belly of the beast.” Brian snarls as I brush past him. “Brian you lost your say in these matters after your little stunt yesterday.” I reply coldly. “Angel this is not safe and it breaks all of the rules of being an assassin.” “Brian in case you didn’t notice I am not one for following the rules.” Brian and I both jump out of our skins when the door bell rings. “Do not blow this.” I hiss before opening the door. “Hey Justin” “Hey Angel, Brian.” Justin replies stepping inside. “Angel you ready to go?” “Yep lets go” I say taking his hand. He leads me out side to a Dodge Truck four door. Brian close on our heels. Why would he come out side? It is a full moon that doesn’t make any sense unless… crap! I whip around to face Brian just in time to see him shift in to a large chocolate brown wolf. Damn you Brian! Justin turns around at the sound of Brian’s first howl. I glance at Justin to gage his reaction to find his eyes turning slowly yellow then a large wolf takes his place. Brian was right. Or was my initial instinct right? No time for that now I need to stop this before it gets to out of hand. I lung forward phasing into a pit-bull just before slamming into Justin’s side. Then a large puma shoves me off of him, I scramble to my feet and turn to face my opponent. Malachi! I bare my teeth and rush him, Malachi side steps causing me to stumble and loose my balance. Turning I get ready to attack again but a yelp from Brian takes my attention away from Malachi. In that split second he tackles me to the ground knocking the wind out of me. He bites the back part of my neck at its base managing to nick a pressure point. My vision blurs and the world goes black as I slip into unconsciousness.
Chapter 10 Safe House February 5th 5:00 am “Angel come on let me in” Phineas calls from the other side of my bed room door. I have been hiding in here for the last four days, I don’t really want to face the rest of the world right now. Yet there is a little voice in the back of my mind that is saying that hiding here is the action of a desperate coward. And then there are the boys who wont just let me lie here alone. “Come in” I mumble rolling on to my back. “Look you cant hide in here forever you know.” Phineas says sitting on the end of my bed. “What is going on in your head?” “For the first time in several centuries I don’t know what my next move should be. Do I take out both Malachi and Justin or do I only take out Malachi. If I take out Justin and find out he is the prince I will have killed my mate but if I don’t and find out he is just one heck of an actor then I would have opened the door for a vampire victory. I just don’t know what to do.” I groan covering my face with my arms. “Hmm… is it your mind that doesn’t know what to do or your gut?” “Are you quoting me?” “Yep you asked my big brother that all those years back when he did his first op under your supervision. According to you even when your mind doesn’t know what to do, even when it couldn’t tell right from wrong your gut did. That your instincts don’t play tricks on you yet your mind will. So I ask again is it your mind that doesn’t know what to do or your gut?” “My mind.” “So what does your gut say?” “Separate Justin from Malachi, and handle them both separately.” “So what are you waiting for?” Phineas gives me a crooked smile and leaves. I stand and go to the east window. Looking out the window I find a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground. Light from the moon causes the unmarked snow to glitter like a thousand little diamonds. This is what the world around me looked like on the night I met JC for the first time. Maybe this is a good omen maybe not only way to find out is to make my move and hope for the best. I get dressed in a pair of black flare leg jeans and a blood red top with a pair of black military boots. I grab my black leather jacket off the handle of my door as I walk out of the room. As I am coming down the stairs I hear a werewolf howl in pain. I sprint out side and find my self staring at an assassins worse night mare, an operation fallen to pieces. Phineas lays not far from me blood pouring from a wound in his stomach while Brian faces off with Malachi. I race over to Phineas and attempt to stop the bleeding, “Its going to be okay” I lie meeting Phineas’s gaze. “Angel… it wasn’t Malachi… I was attacked… by… F- “Stop Phineas you need to conserve energy.” “Angel… you and I… both know… better… listen… watch out… the queen… she is… filled with… deceit. I am… glad… to have… served… with… you… my… empress.” “Shut up Phineas you are not going to die. Not now. You will be fine.” I lie, more to my self than him. “The agency needs assassins like you. You can’t die now. I need assassins like you.” I whisper trying to stay calm. “Please Angel… don’t… kill… Malachi… you know… in your heart… he did… nothing… you know… the truth…” Phineas voice faint each word more of a struggle than the last. His eyes glaze over as death takes him. I can hear Andromeda howl from the backyard. I stand and turn to stop Brian from attacking Malachi only to find the hilt of a throwing knife sticking out of his chest. I watch as Malachi falls to the ground dead before turning to find his killer. “Hey Angel its me JC sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Justin says standing at the edge of the drive way his other throwing knife still in his hand. I don’t make a move as he drops the knife and walks towards me. “Prove it.” Brian snarls putting him self between me and Justin. “Brian you and I have been best friend since you became Angels partner when you got over your infatuation with her. You and I grew up together and we were always rivals. Your birth name is Nicolai. Heard enough Angel?” “No, what did we fight about that night?” “You keeping secrets. Now are you satisfied I just saved your lives and this is how you thank me? By playing twenty questions? Really Angel? Did you even once consider the possibility that I was right in front of you? Or do you not remember me?” “Justin believe me it crossed my mind a thousand times. Now can we settle this later, I sorry sweetie but we need to get an extraction team here asap or things will get a whole heck of a lot worse.” “They are already on their way here Angel. They should be here soon.” “Thank you.” I whisper stepping in to his arms. Tomorrow I will deal with his deceit but today all I want is to be near him.
Book 2 Chapter 1 “Phineas was a credit to this agency and his people. It saddens me to say…” I block out the rest of the Queen’s speech. She doesn’t really care about him, this is just a publicity ploy. Her speech is rehearsed to perfection and is the same at every funeral except for the names. I roll my eyes and glance over at Phineas’s brother Argus, he winces when he meets my gaze. Brian who is seated next to me lays his hand over mine. I smile at him as the Queen finishes her speech and hands Argus a folded imperial flag. Slowly they lower the casket in to the ground and bury it. Slowly the congregation drifts away from the burial plot and to their cars. I collect the queen and escort her over to the waiting limo. The guard takes over security detail as my phone begins to ring. “Agent Angel Smith.” I answer stepping under a tree as it begins to rain. “Hello Angel.” replies the deep gravely voice of my mentor Falcon Jonson. “Oh! Hey Falcon. Why are you calling my personal phone?” “I couldn’t get you on your work phone. I have a new assignment for you and where is your work phone and pager I have been trying to reach you for the last hour. ” “Brian broke my pager last night and I left my work phone in the car.” “Don’t do that!” “Hey you should count yourself lucky I had my personal cell phone on me. Phineas deserved to have my full attention I wasn’t going to be receiving any calls during his funeral.” “Oh get over it angel he was just another academy grunt. There will be plenty of others.” “Falcon say that again I dare you.” I threaten as Brian and Justin approach, Brian leans against the tree trunk and looks up at the sky. “Angel just get over it the rest of the assassins are completely replicable.” “Oh so the prince is completely replicable?” “Not what I meant Angel and you know it.” “Hurry up Falcon, I have things to do.” “You have to go under cover at the school again. At the west campus this time you should find Sapphire there. An informant gave us Intel that Sapphire has been hiding there for the last three months. We think that the vampires are close to finding her so we want you to get in contact with her and extract her tactfully. This is a very delicate situation, don’t scare her, if she bolts we could lose her for a long time.” “Understood, Oh and Falcon, Phineas was as good if not better than you so go burn in hell.” I hang up before he can reply, I step in to the rain and let the pouring rain soak my hair and cloths. I can feel the boys watching me and wait for one of them to approach. Phineas was a good assassin so were his brothers, now Argus is alone. “He knew what he got himself into Angel. The first thing Miko tells recruits is that assassins have a life expectancy of zero. We all know that and we accept it every time we pick up our gun.” Brian says opening an umbrella over me. “She knows that, she’s just acting to get sympathy” Justin sneers. “YOU KNOW WHAT JUSTIN.” “What Angel?” “YOU ARE SUCH A SNOT-NOSED, SPOILED-ROTTEN, RICH, PALACE BRAT!” “Yeah and you’re a poor, murderous orphan with no future and a past you can’t even remember.” Brian catches me as I lung at Justin who takes a half step back laughing. “You don’t change do you Angel, still just as easy to manipulate. You really should learn to control that temper.” “Why in the hell I ever got engaged to you is completely beyond me.” I shrug off Brian and go to his truck. “You know Justin you really don’t deserve her. You would not believe how many all-nighters she pulled trying to find you.” I hear Brian say behind me. “Well obviously she didn’t try hard enough.” I wince and almost turn around but movement next to me causes me to jump. “Oh, hey Argus,” I take my hand off my side arm and relax. “You startled me” “Sorry, you aren’t someone who is easily startled, what’s going on?” “Nothing, so are you my contact?” “Yeah, so do you want go round up those two and I’ll meet you at the safe house?” “Umm… actually I think I’ll ride with you and have Brian and Moron meet us at the safe house. Hey Brian meet me at the safe house.” I follow Argus to his truck after Brian nods in response. Most assassins have an off-road vehicle of some sort, people would not believe how many times off-roading has saved my life. “So Argus I am sorry about your brother. He was an excellent assassin.” “Thanks. He really looked up to you. He would go on triads about your accomplishments and how you were the best of the best. At times it got to be a little intimidating, but I think he identified with you somehow.” “He did a good job following in my footsteps I’ll give him that. Although there is something about his death that confuses me.” “What do you mean?” “Malachi wasn’t that messy. No offence, but your brother’s death was a total mess. Your brother was good but not good enough to beat Malachi; only five people in the world would have been able to fight him off like that. And I’m the only one on this side of the line.” “So you don’t think Malachi killed my brother.” “Defiantly not. But it was an assassin that much I do know.” “Could it have been Lucidia?” “No. Two reasons; reason one, she is one of those five I told you about; reason two, no calling card. She always leaves a lily, just like I always leave a feather. I don’t think it was a vampire personally.” “You don’t?” “No, Phineas knew his attacker. He tried to tell me who it was, but I stopped him. I hate to admit it but I think there is a traitor in our department.” “Any idea who?” “Yeah, but you won’t like it.” “Who?” “Falcon” “Wait, what?!” “How many other assassins do you know of that can get by me undetected? That’s his talent. No other assassins good enough to kill Phineas have that talent. He is good enough to get past me but falcon would have had trouble killing your brother.” “If you accuse him of that and turn out to be wrong you will be marked a traitor.” “That is why until we find more proof; we keep our mouths shut and fly under the radar. I am only telling you this, because I need help to find that proof. You grew up here you know this town like the back of your hand, and I know that includes the immortal underbelly.” “Ma’am I would never associate with- “Argus you and I both know that is a flat out lie, I was a teen once too. Now those old connections are going to be put to use. Well actually first I need to know if there was an investigation into Phineas’ death.” “At first there was then someone higher up closed it.” Great!!!! “Who was the lead investigator?” “Ummm… Her name was Ana- “Anastasia Dogwood?” “Yeah how did you know?” “First she is elite, second she is a first class member.” “How many first class members are still active?” “The better question is how many are still living. There are six still alive of the original twelve, all active. Gwen heads up the medic division; Anastasia heads up clean up division; Travis is Intel; Madeline is training; sapphire was head of weapons research and development.” “Do any of them still take assignments?” “High priority targets mostly. The assignments no other assassins could handle.” “Who oversees WRD?” “Now, I do, Sapphire and I oversaw it together. She is the one who discovered what monks wood does to werewolves. She was a good friend of mine; most people don’t realize that we are actually cousins.” “You miss her don’t you?” “Yes. Now tomorrow I need you to take a message to Anastasia, I need to have a meeting with her.” I grab a note card out of the glove box and scribble my message on to it: Hello sister dearest it is me your dear Bidadari. I simply must see you and catch up on your life. Do send a reply with my errand boy here. With love Bidadari. “Do not read this. Only give it to Anastasia, do not leave her office until she sends you away.” “Understood, Angel I can guarantee that this will stay between us.” “Good”
Chapter 2 Safe House Sunday march 28th 8:00 a.m. “BRIAN GET OVER HERE NOW AND GET THIS SCRAWNY IDIOTIC RICH PALACE BRAT OUT OF MY ROOM BEFORE I MURDER HIM! NOW,” I yell throwing open my bedroom door, it slams against the wall with enough force to put the handle through the wall. I’ll fix it later. “Awww… is Angie angry at me?” Justin sneers laying across my bed. I growl and throw a pillow at him. “Oh yeah that hurt” “Next time it will be a book. BRIAN NOW! I AM SO NOT JOKING ABOUT THE MURDER PART! I WILL ACTUALLY KILL HIM IF YOU DO NOT EXTRACT HIM FROM MY ROOM!” I stamp my foot and stride across my room to the dresser and check my phone. “Wow Angel you sure know how to throw a fit, don’t you now. I really don’t think this is how the Head of the Assassins Corp is supposed to behave. Show some respect for your position” “Oh like you have any room to talk Justin. It’s not like you have any respect for the fact that you are heir to the empire.” “What the hell do you mean by that?” “You know exactly what I mean.” “Okay you know what angel,” Justin jumps of the bed and closes the space between us in a few long strides. “You are a stone cold, cruel, vile, heartless old wench” “Is that so? Well you know what you are a good for nothing, selfish, egotistical, cruel boy with absolutely no respect for anyone or anything” “Oh that’s rich coming out of you. God Angel you are such a hypo-" “That’s enough you two.” Brian commands pushing us apart, “Now Justin get the hell out of Angel’s room and go down stairs. NOW JUSTIN!” Begrudgingly Justin slinks from the room. “Angel you need to calm down, really he’s just trying to get a reaction out of you.” “YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT! HONESTLY BRIAN, DO I LOOK STUPID TO YOU REALLY!” I shout causing him to step back slowly and hold his arms up. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before opening them again. “Sorry for snapping at you Brian, I know you are just trying to keep the breath. I forgot how much of a pain in my neck that stupid twit can be.” “Angel don’t take this the wrong way but why in the hell are you still with him?” “Because no matter how angry he makes me I still can forget the good times we have. And besides I can’t put all the fights on him I am just as much at fault as he. Our relationship makes no sense but it works, and it’s ours.” “Angel stop me if I ever start to fall in love please. It sounds like hell.” “Brian it is hell but it can also be heaven. The thing is it is never easy it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.” “If you say so Angel,” Brian turns and heads to the door as Argus comes in. “Hey Argus wanna help me kick Justin’s rear end later.” “Gladly, so angel about that errand you had me run.” Brian looks from me to Argus before shrugging and leaving. “She gave me this note. No I didn’t look at it, I am not suicidal. I also brought home donuts they are in the dining room.” He bows his head and leaves, as he disappears from sight I sigh and unfold Anastasia’s letter. Dearest Sister, I have missed you these past years, too long has it been since the last I saw you. I would love to meet in person. Do you remember how we used to go hiking back home in Romania up in the mountains? I know of a wonderful place for us to hike not far from town The Kanza reserve. Meet me there this afternoon. “Argus you had better clear your afternoon I need a driver!” I call grabbing a lighter from my coat pocket. I burn the note and wash the ashes down the drain. I hope she will help me. I am pretty sure she will but if I am wrong and Falcon finds out what I suspect him of it could ruin me.
Chapter 3 Kanza Prairie Research station March 28th 1:00 pm “Argus be back here in two hours if I am not waiting for you wait and keep the engine running hot.” I instruct and I exit his truck. I put on my fedora and wave good bye. I walk slowly towards the hiking trail looking for Anastasia. “Hey comrade, nice job getting the prince back. Bet that got you a shiny new vehicle from the queen.” Anastasia waves from a little way down the trail. I smile and brace myself as she rushes forward to give me a hug. “I missed you Anastasia. Have you heard from Gwen recently?” “Come now Angel, I know you didn’t call me out here to make small talk. Best get to the point of all of this if you want me to even consider helping you.” “I guess you are right. Don’t freak out, I think falcon killed Phineas.” “I was afraid you were going to say that.” “Huh?” “Listen angel when I got to the scene to investigate I knew Malachi couldn’t have done it. Phineas’ death was way too messy. Malachi would never have made those mistakes. Falcon on the other hand makes them all the time. It’s like he never went through the training.” “Yeah sometimes I find it hard to believe that he was one of the original six.” “Sadly though he was, at least we had Audrey to offset him. What do you need me to do?” “I need you to get me everything on the case please. And I do mean everything to include the evidence; I don’t care what you have to do to get it just get it.” “Umm the evidence might be a little difficult but I should be able to get it.” “And why would it be difficult for an elite to access things such as evidence from the case she was lead in?” “Because someone who out ranks even us has classified the case." “CLASSIFIED, WHAT DO YOU MEAN CLASSIFIED? Classified has no meaning for us. We are the command, we are the top of the food chain, only one person out ranks us, the queen.” “And Falcon, so do I have to tell you who classified it or can you guess it right” “Falcon” “Yep” “Utacamza… that complicate things a bit. If you can’t find a way around it then let me know.” “What will you do " no wait let me guess, you are going to break in to the evidence lock up aren’t you.” “Would I do that?” “Yes! Don’t pull that innocence act on me, I know you better than that.” *ha ha* “I know." “So tell me how is little Marila?” “She is good happy to have Justin back. She tried to talk me into bringing her on this mission.” “Uh, no, not with what you are doing on the side. That would be a horrible idea, especially since everyone knows that she is important to you.” “That’s what I said.” “How is the prince?” “Don’t even go there." “Oh creator you to haven’t already started fighting have you” “What do you think?” “I am sure someone has already said this but, please try not to kill him.” “I will.”
Chapter 4 Safe House February 12th 11:00 pm or thereabouts I slowly open my eyes to find myself in watching my mother cook- well utacamza I’m dreaming! Oh well might as well see where this goes. A movement to my right catches her attention. A young Helena comes stumbling out of our old room, in her left hand she clutches the small doll I made for her fourth birthday. She rubs her eyes and turns to look at the door. ‘Mother where is Shias?’ ‘Right here youngling’ a sixteen year old me drops from the eves and lands behind Helena who lets out a screech and runs for our mother. The other me laughs and ruffles Helena’s hair. ‘Don’t worry dear I won’t hurt you.’ ‘How do you do that?’ ‘Do what Helena?’ ‘Sneak up on people like that. It’s as if you are a ghost, or a shadow.’ Mother flinches and starts to usher Helena towards the front door. ‘Stealth is simply Shias’ gift. Now go find Marcus he should be somewhere out in the horse field. Shias do not go, I would like a word with you.” “Angel, wake up.” Justin’s voice penetrates my mind and draws me out of the dream. “Angel seriously, wake up.” “Damn it Justin! That was a good dream, why did you wake me? What time is it?” I snap siting up; he is seated on the edge of the bed, watching me with those intense icy blue eyes. He furrows his brow a little as if he doesn’t quite comprehend what I said. “Justin what time is it?” “Oh, uhm, it is eleven-fifteen.” “Justin what’s up why did you wake me?” “I- well- it’s just- utacamza.” He looks at his hands and gives a half-hearted laugh before standing and going to the window. I flip off the covers and pull my knees up to my chest and watch him. We sit in silence for a few moments, I stand and walk over to him and run my hands up his back and drape my arms over his shoulders. “Angel I’m scared I keep looking over my shoulder expecting to see Malachi. I feel like every shadow conceals a vampire. I’m an elite assassin I shouldn’t fear anything, everything should fear me.” “Justin everyone has their monsters, even I fear something.” “Not that anyone knows what that something is, seeing as you won’t tell anyone.” “Not the point, Justin what I am trying to get across is you can decide to let that fear control you or you can control it. Paranoia is a good thing to a certain point but after that it inhibits your ability to think with clarity.” “When did this become a lecture?” “When you triggered the instructor instinct." “Yeah well I didn’t exactly come in here looking for a lecture.” “Then what did you come in here looking for?” “I honestly don’t know, maybe I just wanted the woman I fell in love with, you know my fiancé of thirty years, my lover of fifty years.” “She has always been here Justin you need only ask.” “I know I just forget that some times. Tell me what were you dreaming about?” “I was dreaming about my mother, and siblings.” “You still miss them don’t you?” “Yes I do.” “Why don’t you just let them go already? They have been dead for roughly two thousand and forty four years. I only know that because you used to keep track of how many years it had been.” “Moving on does not mean forgetting Justin, it means living your life and not getting stuck in the past. You can’t just forget someone you loved, do you know how many people told me to forget about you? I never listened to any of them because I loved you.” “I never asked you to.” “you didn’t need to.” “I didn’t think you would to be honest. You were so cold those last few weeks. I figured I no longer had your love.” “No matter how cold and distant I was you still had my love. I am sorry if I ever led you to believe otherwise, I never meant to hurt you. I am sorry I took me so long to find you.” “You tried that is all I could ask. I’m sorry I was so cruel to you afterward. I know you tried with all your heart. Know there is only one question left unanswered." “And what is that?” “Do you still love me? Tell me angel honestly do I still have your love or have you had a change of heart.” “Justin- I- to be honest my prince I do not know. After twenty years of holding on to that love I do not know if I held on to something that lives or has died.” “I love you angel and for that reason I must let you go. The doubt in your heart means something Angel." “I understand Justin. My, you have grown over these past two decades.” He turns and looks into my eyes with longing. I sigh and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his fore head. “Do not cry puppet perhaps one day you and I will once again be one, if destiny will have that, and if not then I assure you there is someone out there who will love you more than I" “Perhaps all we do know is it will be according to the creators design. Sleep well tonight my assassin.” “Sleep well my prince.”
Chapter 5 Monday February 13th 7:00 am School bus-stop near safe house “Hey Brian, hey Angel, who the hell are you?” Justin growls to the human currently flirting with me and failing to an extreme. “Name’s Danni, who are you?” he answers stepping closer to me. “How about you sweet thing, got a name or should I just call you Angel?” “Seriously is that the best you’ve got?” I sneer turning to Brian. “Serieus als hij niet weggaat zal ik hem doden.” Seriously if he doesn’t go away I am going to kill him, it is Dutch. “Oh come on babe why so cold. You should give me a shot I am the captain of the JV football team.” “And tell me why would I do that? My last boyfriend was Justin Goodsword, taking a JV player would be a down step.” Okay so I am so not really that much of a snob but I refuse to date this idiot. Justin kick his rear end please, I am begging you, do me this one kindness. “Finally here comes the bus. JC do me a favor if the idiot continues to pester me please dispose of him.” “Of course Angel I would love to.” As soon as the doors open I float on to the bus causing even the bus driver to stop and watch me. Immortals have a knack for an unearthly grace; we actually have to think about every step when we walk like humans. I get a kick out of watching a human adolescent’s face as when I don’t hide the grace. Some humans, a very small proportion, are born with that grace, for the rest they must work at it for years and they still won’t fully master it. Justin stifles his chuckle and follows me to the back of the bus with Brian. “Smooth entrance Angel now how are we going to deal with the humans I was friends with?” He asks as we slide in to the benches over the rear wheels. “Nope, I am so in improvising mode right now.” “So SNAFU basically?” “Yep situation normal all freaked up. But look at the bright side at least we are no longer at FUBAR.” “Good point, first we deal with the loose ends and then we will get in to the school data base and see if we can pinpoint the alias my sister is using.” “Sounds good to me, did you grab the lap top and the scrambler? Monday February 13th 10:30 am Manhattan High East Campus “Angel, are you sure we should be doing this in broad daylight?” Brian whispers as I slowly open the Principal’s office door. “Yes now will you shut up? Justin’s diversion should keep the staff busy for a while.” I go the computer as Brian shuts the blinds and door. “Brian hand me the laptop and accessories. Thanks now go stand watch.” I hook up the laptop to the re-router and then into the computer, go freaking figure everything is password encoded. It’s time for the scrambler. I pull out a flash drive and plug it in to the desk top. Okay scrambler time to make momma proud. Within moments the program hacks the firewalls. Good girl, now to find Sapphire, way easier said than done since we have no idea which alias she activated. The sad part is there are over fifty un-activated aliases at her disposal. Okay so knowing Sapphire she would use one that would make finding her easy for me but not for others. Hmmm I wonder… nope not that one. “Umm Angel you may want to hurry it up.” “I am working on it.” Maybe she recycled an old alias… let’s try Isadora Carver. Yes! “Okay lets blow this popsicle stand.” I disassemble everything and slip out with Brian as the Principle walks up to the secretary’s desk with Justin and five other boys in tow. Two of which are Jude and Michael, go figure Justin would enlist them in his scheme. Way to take one for the team kid, he will be lucky if he isn’t expelled judging by the damage done to the other boys. Although it appears as if Michael and Jude where on Justin’s team. Monday February 13th 3:36 pm Safe house “So how did it go with the Principal?” I ask as Justin drops his bag on the kitchen table. “I have OSS for the next three weeks. Did you find out anything?” “Actually I did Sapphire is using the alias from our missions in 1921, Isadora Carver. Only this one is a red head, red as in crimson red. My guess is she is using a wig and contacts because she has green eyes.”