Chapter 1
“Hello?” Leighton asked pressing the blue tooth closer to her ear as she waited for the caller to reply.
“Hello?” She asked again while putting dishes away; Leighton now worked at a nearby restaurant since there is no one to be assassinated.
Yes, she is a former assassin along with some others but they have gone through their separate lives. She doesn’t know what the others are doing or how are they doing.
Still not replying, Leighton decides to end the call but then a male’s voice comes in.
“Don’t hang up Leighton.” The man stated making Leighton stop her work, she was done anyways so returning her apron to her manager, and she headed outside.
"What do you want?” Leighton asked the same time she opened the door, her voice sounded annoyed, very annoyed.
“You and I know exactly what I want. Now, you know who this is and I want you to go to where we’ve first met. I’ll call the others as well you do not need to worry so.” The man explained but before he could let her protest or ask questions he hung up.
Pressing on the blue tooth, Leighton sighed and started walking towards the destination of where he and Leighton first met.
‘Why? Out of all these years did he call me back?’ She thought but continued walking, leaving her car behind.
***
Spinning around in his chair while listening to some music, Uruvion stopped when he hears his phone ring.
“Yes?” He asked after pressing the speaker.
“Uruvion meet me where we have first met. Leighton is on her way.” The same man who spoke to Leighton explains to him without giving him time to say anything.
‘Okay, that was weird but if he says so then I must.’ Uruvion thought hanging up and he gets out of his chair and starts walking out the door and heads to meet with Leighton and hopefully the others as well.
***
Walking together to a coffee shop, Kaito and Hall, they were both stopped dead in their tracks by two very large men.
“Hello.” Kaito started but before he and Hall could do anything, the two men grab Kaito and Hall and lifted them up over their shoulders like a bag of potatoes.
“I feel awkward.” Hall explained as one of the men explains that their boss is waiting for them plus others and they were not to say a word until they all have fully arrived.
Shrugging their shoulders, the two guys resisted and let themselves be carried away to wherever they were going.
***
Leighton arrived an hour earlier and was sipping on some tea in a small café like room. But she wasn’t alone no; Uruvion was their but in a different room.
When Kaito, Hall, and the two men finally arrived at their destination, the two men put them down and guide them inside.
Leighton arrived an hour earlier and was sipping on some tea in a small café like room. But she wasn’t alone no; Uruvion was their but in a different room.
***
“Wait here while we get the others.” One of the two men stated letting Kaito and Hall examine the room they were in.
‘Why are we here? Why are we at this place again?’ Kaito thought looking outside with his legs spread out a bit and his hands behind his back.
Seeing the suspicion on his face, Hall began to think of some answers that might be true, but none of them seem right to him so kept quiet.
***
Meanwhile at the café, one of the men who took Kaito and Hall informed that two others are waiting for her.
“First off, who are you?” Leighton asked standing her guard.
“You know or do you not remember?” He said with a small grin but Leighton looked at him in a confused way.
“I’m Thatcher! You remember now?” Thatcher said, nearly shouting. Looking at him in an odd way, Leighton’s impression then turned into stone.
“Yes, unfortunately I remember. I also remember that you once tried your hardest to kill me and my comrades.” Leighton explained, following Thatcher to the other room where Hall and Kaito are.
***
“My friend will get Uruvion, you don’t need to worry.” Thatcher explained when they got half way to the room.
Leighton at first doubts that but by the tone of his voice, he wasn’t kidding so Leighton had no choice but to believe him.
***
Harailt and Iain both walk into where Uruvion was and stop in their tracks to see a snoring Uruvion.
“He… snores?” Iain asked raising an eyebrow in confusion.
“Apparently yes.” Harailt explained with an annoyed sigh as the two try and wake him up.
“Have you ever considered that he is a dead sleeper?” Iain asked giving up a bit.
Nodding his head, Harailt went to the one person who could wake him, Hall.
Hall and Uruvion are step-brothers and Hall was the only person who could wake Uruvion up when he is dead asleep.
Uruvion could sleep for hours and when he does, he forgets everything; to eat, to wake, heck to do anything.
***
When Harailt arrived where Kaito, Hall, and Leighton are, he noticed that Thatcher was there too, watching over them like a father watching closely at his children while they socialize.
“Hall, we need you. Uruvion won’t awaken.” Harailt explained walking away not bothering to see if Hall would follow.
‘Every time!’ Hall thought, running up to catch up to him. The others stayed, they were not needed.
***
“URUVION THIS IS HALL AND I COMMAND YOU TO WAKE UP NOW!” Hall yelled out making his step-brother jump out of his “bed”.
Glaring at his brother ice cold, Uruvion started yelling back causing a small riot.
Harailt had to call out to Iain for reinforcements.
Harailt took Hall while Iain took Uruvion and they drag the two to the other room despite all the struggles by them.
***
When they finally arrived, the two have calmed down and when Uruvion saw Leighton and Kaito, his jaws dropped as far as he could.
“Hi Uruvion, did he call or drag you here?” Leighton asked jokily making Uruvion stammer an answer that anyone could hardly understood.
“So what are we doing here anyways?” Kaito asked.
Harailt, Iain, and Thatcher said nothing to explain why they were here but simply left to the door behind them, leaving the four alone but together for the first time in a long time.
***
When Harailt, Iain, and Thatcher finally arrive, the four notices that there’s an addition. This man wore a black trench coat, sunglasses, black gloves, and a white collared shirt which is tucked inside his dark jeans which looked worn out.
When Kaito noticed the additional, he started glaring and demanded what he wanted but the man didn’t reply.
“What do you want Xander?” Kaito asked again nearly yelling.
Taking his glasses off, Xander, as he’s called looks at each of the four and smiles that didn’t reach his eyes and never will.
“Your question will be answered later.” Xander explained but Kaito demanded to know the answer now.
Sighing, Xander turned his back on him and said, “More of your question will be answered but this is all I could say my boy.”
“Quit saying that.” Kaito stated getting even more irritated.
Not turning around, Xander smiles again and continued to what he was saying, before he was interupted.
“All that I could say is, Kaito, Leighton, Uruvion, and Hall is that… I’m calling all assassins once more.” Xander explained, then he and his three henchmen walked away leaving the four with all sorts of questions in their minds.
Chapter 2
‘This must the place. Why in the world would this old man send me this letter and not tell me I have to be in a team?!’ Demetrius thought glaring at the letter.
Putting it in his pocket he then put both his hands in those pockets and walked up to the main entrance of the Assassin headquarters.
The Assassin Circle, that’s what his invitation said when he received it from Xander but he didn’t know yet. Nor did he care all he cared about is that the other assassins better not get in his way.
Taking his left hand out, he got ready to open the door but it already opened for him.
The doors opened to only those who are assassins, no matter what kind. It knows whether you are an assassin or not.
***
Walking in, he noticed that he is not alone, there is another.
Demetrius thought he was alone, he was wrong. Sticking his hand back into his pocket, he can see that this man had his eyes closed but he wasn’t fully asleep.
‘Who the freaking’ heck!?’ Demetrius thought as he looks around for a seat that is not too close and not too far from that guy.
Glaring at the sleeping guy, Demetrius began thinking of “things” that might be true.
After twenty minutes, he heard someone yelling, that made both he and the guy jump out of their seats. Demetrius then turned his gaze to the older man and started glaring at him.
***
“Iain! Where the devil are you at!?” The man yells out while looking for him. ‘So his name’s Iain.’ Demetrius thought as he straightens his clothes glaring at them both still.
“There you are, were you slacking off?” The man asked clearly mad. Iain nodded his head as the guy smacked it.
“You boy, why I…” The man started but he stopped when he saw Demetrius who was growling a little in frustration. He didn’t have time to listen or witness a family feud, no!
“Forgive me and my son. I’m Harailt and that is my son, Iain. He is usually mature but I guess this is one of those days.” Harailt explained as the three men shook hands and Demetrius introduced himself as well.
***
Following Harailt and Iain, he was lead to the room where all assassins will gather. “In here is where we assassins gather until further notice. Won’t you go in?” Harailt asked gesturing inside.
While Demetrius was busy looking around, Harailt whispered a scold to his son. “Okay, okay I got it.” Iain said putting his hands up in defense.
“Who’s he?” Kaito stopped punching the air to look at Demetrius who was looking at Thatcher as if he had a long history with him and didn’t like him at all.
“Who are you?” Kaito asked back crossing his arms against his chest.
“You didn’t answer my question. Now who is he?!” Demetrius asked, the same question, nearly shouting this time.
“That’s Thatcher, one of our boss’s henchmen. We only know a little about him.” Uruvion explained as Demetrius shook his head in disapproval as he went to get himself a cup of coffee.
‘This is going to be a long day.’ Demetrius thought watching everyone like a hawk and drinking at the same time.
***
Not looking behind him, Xander knew who was going to enter his room.
“Are the others coming?” Xander asked while Harailt closed the door behind him without saying a word while he did.
“Well sir from what I heard, another is on his way.” Harailt explained placing his hands behind his back and waited to see if Xander would reply.
Almost everyone who really knew Xander knew that he doesn’t always reply to everything. Once in a while he did.
"Another? Who?" Xander asked but Harailt shook his head for he did not know.
“I’ll be waiting anxiously for his arrival. Now, I wish to be alone now, I have business to take care of.” Xander explained.
Harailt excused himself out of his boss’s office without a word.
***
Everyone thought Demetrius was cocky, and he had shown that he did’t like working with other people every well at all.
For when the other assassins arrived, their boss told them they must work as a team when the other arrived. Are there any others who are like Demetrius? “A Lone Wolf” and ‘Cocky’?
After finishing his coffee, Demetrius started looking to where he could place it and Hall pointed to where he could set it.
Growling, he placed the cup down, Demetrius then looks up to see Leighton getting up and taking out two knives.
‘What the heck is she doing?’ He thought, seeing Kaito walk with her, Braze Knuckles at the ready.
That’s when he knew, they are going to fight, train, without their guns.
‘This should be interesting.’ Demetrius thought crossing his arms, waiting to see the show.
***
The two began fighting; Demetrius realized they take their fighting seriously, like him. He also noticed that Kaito used martial arts movement more than the female assassin.
‘Hm must be like a ninja assassin… lame.’ Demetrius thought secretly glaring as the two stop for a break.
“Hey where are you going?” Uruvion asked after Leighton placed her knives back and walked towards Xander’s office.
“We’re not allowed to go in there.” Hall explained but Leighton paid no attention to them.
“What the heck is she doing?” Demetrius asked not moving from his spot and not relaxing his glare.
Hall shook his head not knowing as Hall glances at Demetrius before he could catch him watching.
***
“Leighton, what are you doing here?” Xander asked, watching Leighton close the door behind her. Not saying a word she went to embrace him and he embraced back.
Xander asked again what she was doing in there so she told him.
Smiling slightly, Leighton excused herself back to her fellow assassins. When she came back, they said nothing to each other but continued on to whatever it is they’re doing.
Chapter 3
Hardly anyone slept that night, in fact they were all busy, busy working, training, and thinking why the hell they were all summoned here.
‘This is bull!’ Demetrius thought but unfortunately, he said it out loud.
All eyes turned to Demetrius who gave them a cold glare.
“When are the others coming? “ Uruvion asked.
“Who bloody hell knows when they’re coming.” Leighton snapped, sipping some coffee and ignoring Uruvion’s irritated huff.
No one spoke to each other afterwards; the only sounds were the firing of guns, the clicking of blades, the “thwump” of an arrow, and the occasional grunt of an assassin.
“Well I’m going. I’m bored waiting for them, I want to find something to do!” Demetrius muttered as he headed for the door, only to be stopped by Kaito.
“Your not going anywhere, let alone any of us.”
Demetrius growled at him “I said I’m leaving.”
“Over my dead body.” Kaito growled back, not moving a muscle.
Smiling, Demetrius punched Kaito in the stomach, causing spit to come out of Kaito’s mouth. Kaito quickly regained himself and punched Demetrius in the mouth, blood dripped down from Demetrius’ nose.
Now seething with rage, both Demetrius and Kaito started tussling with one another. No one stopped them at first; they didn’t care actually.
“You two are acting like children.” Harailt said in a bore-some tone.
The others nodded their heads in agreement but didn’t stop the two from fighting.
Oh for the love of...hell’s bells, Hall thought as he tried to break up the two, preventing them from “killing” each other.
Hall tried to put himself between the two, only to be hit in the jaw by Demetrius and in the throat by Kaito.
“That’s it, I don't give a stinking crap, it’s war!” Hall shouted but before he could land one on Demetrius, they were all grazed by a bullet on each of their shoulders by Leighton.
“Stop this now or I WILL kill you all with no mercy whatsoever.” Leighton yelled, glaring at them, gun still in her hand as Hall, Demetrius, and Kaito covered their wounded arms
“Trick!! Are you crazy?!” Demetrius screamed as he held his grazed shoulder.
Leighton’s eyes widened for a brief moment, before she could say another word the door opened..
“What the blazes is going on?” Xander demanded, looking around as everyone froze.
“Sorry sir, it was all my fault. Demetrius wanted to leave but I wouldn’t let him.” Kaito explained, raising his hands up in a surrender position. .
Demetrius continued to glare at Leighton.
“Is that true?” Xander asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I wanted to leave .” Demetrius admitted but didn’t turn around to face Xander, who gazed at him thoughtfully; like a father does to a son caught red-handed.
“Alright, then what happened?” Xander asked.
“You can pretty much guess,” Iain said and Xander nodded his head in agreement.
***
“You’re going to Earth,” he said, his back to the assassin.
“Why, in the name of Sayon, am I going?”
“Business, Cassian. Strictly business, understood.” it seemed more like a statement then a question.
The assassin sighed and leaned back in his leather chair, slipping his gun out of the leather holster.
“Who’s it this time?” his voice was cold and calm, yet had a dangerous edge to it.
“Zane a criminal mastermind, internationally wanted throughout Earth. A high price has been put on his head by the American government. But you’ll need to be careful. He’s as ruthless as they come.”
“Of course,” the cold voice responded. The man stood up, his fair hair catching the light, causing a halo appear for a moment. “Shouldn’t be a sweat.”
He paused, the light gleaming in his icy blue eyes.
“So when am I leaving?”
“Tonight.”
***
“Who or what do we have to wait for?! Let’s go already!” Uruvion growled, slamming his hands in frustration.
“We can’t and I don’t know who or...what’s coming. Just sit back on your ass or I’ll kill you.” Hall ordered as Uruvion exhaled irritatedly and went back to ‘sleep’.
“Oh for the love of,” Hall mumbled to himself as he followed Uruvion to make sure that he wouldn’t go into trouble; not like as if he goes looking for trouble, trouble seems to follow him.
“I’ll be on my way then Harailt. Iain, Thatcher, come.” Xander commanded as the four move from their spots and follow him to his office.
“Do you think they’ll show up Leighton?” Kaito asked as Leighton stood up and glanced at him, her face cold as stone.
“I’m sure they’ll come. Even if they didn’t want to, what choice do they have?” Leighton asked, shrugging her shoulders as she headed towards a different room.
Where does she go? Kaito wondered as he started his martial arts. He swung around on the ball of his foot, snapping the board of wood in half with a satisfying crunch.
***
“But they...” Iain started but was stopped by his father, who placed a hand on his shoulder.
Before Xander could go on, the phone rang. Their leader leaned forward and pressed the speaker button.
“Yes?” he asked, leaning back into his chair.
“What’s taking you so long? I’m getting impatient.” a male said, his voice sounding frustrated.
“We’re waiting for more if they show up.” Thatcher replied, not moving from his spot.
The man paused, the sudden tension beginning to escalate. Finally, after what it seemed like forever, the man finally spoke.
“Alright but remember, if this doesn’t work out as planned, you’re all dead,” the man hissed, his voice cold and stinging like a biting blizzard wind.
Before anyone could say anything further, he hung up.
Everyone looked at each other in silence but then nodded their heads, understanding.
***
Getting out from her seat, Leighton turned toward the window; it was still raining outside but the rain had lightened into a soft pit pat, the rain drumming gently against the glass .
Sighing, Leighton took one more look of the city outside before turning around to leave.
She walked into the well lit room, half-smiling at her comrades.
Just as she sat down, Xander strode into the room, the atmosphere of the room suddenly taking a turn for the worst.
“Gentlemen.”
He eyed Leighton before proceeding. “I’ve received a call from an old friend of mine. He wants us to assassinate a local drug dealer who goes by the name, Thane. Unfortunately, this Thane has given information to the CIA and now they’re hunting for my friend.”
“So....” Demetrius interrupted, his eyes on the gun he was cleaning.
Xander’s face twitched slightly, his lips almost seeming to curve into a snarl. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving behind the usual calm demeanor of their leader.
“Demetrius, just shut up!” Kaito snapped, his eyes flashing.
Xander raised his hand, the calm once again settling into the room.
“Make me.” Demetrius growled and started to stand up.
“You’re part of the assassination, Demetrius,” Xander said sharply, stopping the man in his tracks.
Demetrius looked at him slowly, his eyes meeting with Xander’s grey eyes, who was looking at him sternly.
“Come again?” Demetrius asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You're part of the assassination.” Xander repeated.
“You, Leighton, and Kaito are to terminate Thane, understood?” he asked but his tone left no room for argument.
The three assigned for the assassination stood slowly, sizing each other up, determining each other’s worth.
“Thane is going to board a yacht at midnight in the Inner Harbor of New York. You three are to assassinate him quickly and quietly,” Xander continued as he turned.
“And you all will be leaving in approximately three minutes.” Xander said, turning his back to the assassins as he entered his office.
The silence was stifling, a suffocating fog. The three didn’t look at each other as they turned to get their weapons loaded and ready.
The three headed outside to Leighton’s car, which was parked outside.
Leighton drove them towards Inner Harbor, the silence and the apprehension of the mission clouding the Mustang. Her blue tooth rang, breaking the still silence, and she pressed it against her ear so she could answer.
Kaito and Demetrius wondered who Leighton was talking too but before they could ask, Leighton hung up without saying anything further to whoever it was.
***
Outside in the cold rain, the three assassins waited by the Inner Harbor, crouching in the shadows; listening to the small sounds of the night. They could hear the lapping of the waves against the docks, the yacht, Silver Moon, bobbing gently. They were hiding behind a low brick building, a few meters away from where the yacht was moored. It was nearly midnight and they had seen no signs of Thane.
Suddenly, there was a movement to their right, a flickering of a shadow. Slowly, a figure emerged, the moonlight sparkling on his bald head.
The man eyed his surroundings, his hands clutching a leather briefcase. He was wearing a black trench coat and a hat, his face half hidden in the shadow it cast.
Let’s go!” Demetrius whispered, the edge of impatience in his voice. As he rose, Kaito quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.
“You moron. You run into action now and you’ll blow this whole mission,” Kaito hissed, ignoring Demetrius’s cold glare.
Demetrius grumbled but he stayed where he was, his eyes on Thane, who was walking briskly to the Silver Moon.
The door of the cabin on the yacht suddenly opened, revealing a short, chubby man with black, messy hair. He was wearing a silver suit and had rings adorning his fingers. He greeted Thane with a grin, revealing yellow teeth.
The man groomed his goatee, and eyed the briefcase in Thane’s hands.
“Is that it?” he asked, rubbing his hands greedily and licking his lips.
Thane nodded silently.
“Yes, everything you ordered. But,” he held up his finger, stopping the man in his tracks. “You have to pay me first.”
The man’s muggy eyes clouded but he smiled all the same.
“Of course. The money’s in the yacht. Let’s go in,” he said and lead the way, Thane following closely behind.
The three waited in silence before springing into action. Swiftly, they approached the yacht, which was making it’s way out of the harbor. Leighton motioned for the two and they crouched, waiting for the Silver Moon, to pass by. As it turned and faced the sea, they jumped aboard, landing softly.
Leighton held her hand, and the other two stopped, listening. There was no sound to indicate that the enemy knew of their arrival.
They slowly approached the cabin, crouching against the smooth wall. Taking a gizmo out of her backpack, Leighton pressed it against the wall while attaching the other end to her ear. She turned the dial, the different frequencies ringing in her ears before stabilizing.
“What do you mean you don’t have enough?!” The voice was Thane’s and it sounded angry.
“I’m sorry, I thought it was $25,000 but I never knew it was $30,000,” it was the other man, his voice coming out as a whine.
“This shit is hard to get, you filthy bastard,” Thane yelled.
There was the sound of rustling and then the unmistakable bang! of a gun.
“Shit, now can I go?” Demetrius asked, feeling fed-up.
“Be my guest,” Kaito said as Demetrius triggered his gun, smiling at the same time.
Springing out of the hiding place, Demetrius plunged into the room, knocking the door down while pulling the trigger. The bullet made impact with Thane’s shoulder and Demetrius could see the satisfying trickle of blood.
But Thane remained standing, smiling at the three assassins.
“How gauche,” he smirked, pulling out his gun.
Demetrius, who was smiling with great pleasure, frowned slightly before firing again.
Thane dived to the right, shooting in the process. The bullet broke through the wood, leaving a hole in the wall.
Instantly, Kaito and Leighton sprung out of the shadows, firing.
Thane easily dodged the bullets, laughing. He rolled to the side, throwing three daggers. The moonlight from the window glinted on the silver blades of the daggers as they shot through the air, each one expertly aimed at the assassins’ throats.
Kaito back-flipped as Leighton dove to the side, catching the dagger in her hand. Demetrius let out a shout before lunging backward, the dagger narrowly missing his head.
“I thought you could have done better than that,” Thane’s voice was dangerously close to Demetrius’s ear.
His eyes widened as pain shot through him, the hilt of Thane’s dagger in his gut.
“That’s what you get for going too fast,” Thane laughed, a sadistic look in his eye.
“He’s getting away!”
But it was already too late. The sound of water splashing echoed through the night as the assassin’s scrambled to the edge.
Demetrius clutched his stomach, groaning but still standing.
“We have to go after him,” he said through clenched teeth.
“You can’t fight like this!” Leighton grabbed his hand, stopping him from him from jumping.
“Let go!” he growled and pushed past her, leaping off of the Silver Moon.
Leighton shook her head.
“Bastard,” she muttered as she slung off her backpack, preparing for the dive.
And then the yacht exploded.
The two assassins were hurled into the air, pivoting forward, hot air racing behind them, propelling them into the water.
The water was spine-tingling cold and Leighton found herself momentarily dazed. She swam upwards, breaking the surface of the water, and breathing deeply. She could see Kaito’s head bobbing next to her and Demetrius a few yards to her left.
Pieces of the Silver Moon plopped all around her, some pieces still alight. The flames licked greedily at the wood, the crackling an oppressive roar. There was also the sound of hissing as the water cooled the fire into steam, a steady column of smoke coming from behind them.
She ducked just in time, a large of piece of what was the door, catapulting into the water, grazing her slightly and causing her to bleed. She swam back to the surface, getting a bearing of their surroundings.
The lights of the harbor twinkled to her left, a dark expanse of the ocean to her right, with lit pieces of the yacht flickering around her.
“You guys okay?” she asked, her voice echoing in the night.
In the distance, she could hear the sirens of the police but they were still far away.
“Yeah,” came Kaito’s voice but Demetrius stayed silent.
“Demetrius,” she called out, swimming towards where she last saw him.
He was nowhere to be seen.
“Where the hell is he?!” Leighton cried, her voice slightly panicked.
Suddenly there was the sound of trashing to her right. She could make out Demetrius’s gun before she heard the shot, her friend’s body going limp.
“Demetrius!”
Her scream rang out in the night and she dove towards him, grabbing his collar as she saw a flash of Thane’s bald head.
Kaito dove toward the drug dealer but Thane was already gone, flashing him a grin.
Thane reappeared behind Leighton, the cold metal of a gun against his head as he held a dagger to her throat.
“Surrender,” she hissed, her voice cold and stinging.
Thane chuckled softly, his lips grazing her skin as he whispered into her ear.
“I would say the same.”
She felt something heavy dragging her down and realized they were her combat, army boots, stuck in the rope of what used to be the yacht’s mast. She wanted to cry out but then she was dragged under, water choking her lungs. Demetrius’s body floated away from her, slowly drifting downwards.
She squirmed desperately, trying to unlatch the ropes but with no avail. It was felt as if her lungs were going to collapse, screaming for the much needed oxygen. Black circles danced in front of her eyes as precious bubbles of air escaped from her lips.
We failed, we’re dead.
She closed her eyes as the final bubbles of air escaped from her lips, her eyes catching a glimpse of hand reaching out for her.
You.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist, her body pressed against her rescuer. She could feel his muscles effortlessly glide as he pulled them both to the surface. Their faces broke through the surface of the water, his fair hair glistening in the moonlight. Her eyes widened as he turned to face her, the moonlight playing with his features.
“Who are you?” her voice was weak and strained as the darkness slowly claimed her.
The last thing she saw was a gun, dangerously close to her head, and a bullet barreling towards her head.
She woke up coughing, water splashing on the wood of the deck beneath her.
“Look, she’s awake,” Kaito’s familiar voice rang in her head as the dizziness subsided.
Leighton could make out Kaito and Demetrius in the dark as she slowly stood up, clutching the post next to her.
“Where’s Thane?” she asked, stepping towards them.
Demetrius smiled and pointed to a road ahead of them.
“He ran that way, wanna go?”
They were already racing, their legs thundering softly down the street as they trailed the drug dealer, one thought set in their minds.
Kill, kill, kill.
They swerved around the corner, leaping over the stone wall, their guns drawn.
That was when they met a hail of bullets.
Kaito gave out a cry as he went down, blood pooling out his leg.
Demetrius plunged forward, firing at a figure at the end of the alley. Leighton rolled to the left, crouching behind a dumpster as shrapnel pelted down upon them.
“Where the hell is this coming from?!” Demetrius yelled, firing at Thane.
She ducked just in time to miss a bullet, which pinged against the trash can.
“It’s good to see you again sweetheart,” the familiar voice made her stop cold, her fingers loosely around the trigger of her gun.
“Thane,” she didn’t need to turn around but the dealer laughed, his breath tingling her neck.
“I wouldn’t shoot if I were you,” Thane warned, eyeing Demetrius, who had his gun cocked towards Thane.
Thane’s arm was around Leighton’s neck, her face slowly turning blue.
“Or else she’ll die.”
“I think that’s clear enough, jackass.”
The voice came out of nowhere and everywhere, resonating and vibrating throughout the alley.
“Who the hell are you?!” Thane shouted, his eyes shifting everywhere.
A sudden gale of wind whipped around them, buffeting them backwards.
An ear-splitting wail, the sound of metal and steel grating against one another, a sound that caused a person’s teeth on edge, shrieked throughout the night.
“What the hel-,” Thane didn’t get to finish, his throat slitted open, his eyes widened, and mouth hanging open in ‘O’.
Leighton collapsed, gasping for air, her sides shuddering as blood of the dealer whipped in the wind, spiraling and disappearing as quickly it arrived. Shadows danced and pressed around her and slowly, a body appeared, the wind whipping around the man, whipping his hair, the shadows swaying to his beckoning.
His tall, muscular body was outlined in the pale moonlight, dancing as he stepped forward. Even in the dark, she could see those impenetrable, icy blue eyes boring into her own. His fair hair was washed in the moonlight, his face partly cast in shadows. She could make out the chiseled lips, parts and bits of his emotionless face, a shiver running down her spine.
Blood dripped from the hand he offered to her.
Hesitantly, Leighton accepted it and could feel the strong muscles pull her up, the dizziness slowly disappearing.
His chiseled lips curved upwards in a half-smile, the strange sensation of fear traveling up her body, leaving her rooted in her spot.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice sounding small and timid.
The shadows danced around him, dark and oppressive, dangerous yet elegant. A strange atmosphere seemed to surround him, one that even the darkness could not match.
He eyed her before responding, his voice cool and cold like ice itself.
“Yassen Knight."
***
Back at HQ, Kaito asked Thatcher to summon Xander, but there was no need for Xander was coming towards them.
Xander noticed Yassen from behind the others and looked at him suspiciously.
“Who are you, where did you come from, and why are you here?” Xander asked, frowning.
Yassen raised his eyebrow but gazed evenly at Xander.
“Your new assassin, sir,” he said coolly, his face still emotionless.
“His new assassin?” Uruvion asked joining in the small group.
Yassen eyed him, a look of amusement flickering on his face.
“Let me rephrase that; the new assassin for this group.”
“Who called you for you to come here?” Leighton asked.
“That’s classified,” Yassen replied, his icy gaze shifting from Uruvion to her.
Leighton eyed Yassen for a while longer then turned her gaze to Xander.
“Xander, a word if you please,” Leighton said gesturing to his office.
Without a word, Xander excused himself from the group and followed her into his office.
***
“How many more?” Leighton asked as Xander sighed and sits himself down.
Xander gestured a seat to Leighton, but she refused the offering.
“A couple I believe.” Xander said as he watches Leighton turn around and leave the office
***
The waiting room was quiet, for once. All the assassins, except Yassen who had excused himself to his room, were sitting in their chairs, fiddling with various weapons and electrical hardware.
"What are we doing?" Uruvion asked getting tired as Hall glared at him hard.
"You know what we are doing,” Hall said, going back to polishing his gun.
“Who else is coming?” Demetrius asked getting impatient.
Kaito shook his head. Then there was a creak overhead, like someone standing on the ceiling. The assassins jumped to their feet, drawing their weapons and pointing them upwards.
“Whatever it is, make it disappear,” Xander said grimly, “And if it escapes, we’re all dead.”
A louder creak, this time across the room. The guns followed the sound, cocking in unison.
Waiting, the assassins shift their eyes, guessing where this “thing” was.
Thump.
“And why are we not shooting?” asked Demetrius, finger tightening on the trigger.
Just as the words left his lips, the ceiling caved in, a cloud of plaster and a loudly cursing human form fell to the floor.
The hail of gunfire followed the man, bullets spraying all across the room in a deadly rain. They didn’t stop until every magazine clicked empty. Xander walked forward, reloading and keeping the gun trained on the pile of dust.
“Did we get him?” asked Leighton, also reloading.
Xander shook his head as he moved some of the plaster with his foot . “We just wasted a bunch of ammo on shooting the wall.”
“You’re damn right,” a voice said behind them.
The assassins whipped around in unison, spraying lead in the opposite direction. They could vaguely glimpse a grey blur weaving in and out of the path of the bullets, almost lazily dodging the high-powered slugs.
And when the second round of magazines ran empty, the blur slowed and halted, resolving into a human form.
Dante Soldari stood there, leaning against the wall and cleaning his nails. His trademark smirk decorated his handsome face, his dark hair a curtain of obsidian around his head.
“Dante, you son of a-” started Demetrius, but quieted as Dante gave him a look that could cut steel.
“Be careful who you talk about, Demetrius,” he said evenly, moving towards the line of killers. Then his face broke into a grin, and he jumped lightly over his fellow’s heads.
“Who else is coming?” he asked brightly, sitting down in a fine leather chair.
“We don’t know. Two more I believe,” Xander said, turning around to leave.
***
Great. More men, Leighton thought, looking at each of the assassins before leaving, not telling them where she is heading off too.
When she got outside of HQ, her cellphone rang.
“What?” Leighton growled.
“Is everyone there?” The voice asked as Leighton told him that they were waiting for two more.
The person on the other side hung up right after she said it.
Closing her phone, she shifts her eyes to the left and thought she saw something or someone so she went to check it out.
***
“Zane, what news has she sent us?” A man asked bowing to him.
Not looking at the man, Zane told him that they wait for two more then that’s it.
Zane dismissed the man after telling him the message.
Getting out of his chair, he walked towards the only window in the room, crossed his arms against his chest and looked out towards the horizon.
You better not fail me, remember what your promise is and what I can do.” Zane thought, turning around to continue out the door.
***
Walking up to where she thought she saw the silhouette, Leighton turned herself and continued to walk up an alley. Coming towards her was a figure in a long black hooded coat, covering their frame completely. The hood was too deep for her to see a face.
“What are you?” Leighton asked lowering her tone of voice.
Her voice carried to the figure who looked directly at her. Stopping before her a few feet away. Leighton could feel the penetrating gaze of the person trained on her
“Look I do not have time for games. Now tell me who or what you are?” Leighton demanded with a low growl.
A hand slowly rose to push back the hood just far enough to reveal a face. A pair of bright azure eyes studied her.
Staring into the bright azure eyes, Leighton still couldn’t figure out who or what he was.
The man stepped forward slowly.
“I was called here,” he said, his voice deep and low.
“Who called you?” Leighton stopped and turned to face him.
He spared her a glance as he passed by and continued on his way, completely dismissing her from his attention ,not bothering to answer her question.
Glaring at the street below her feet for a bit, she then started to followed him, thinking that he might be heading towards HQ.
He kept walking, ignoring the fact that she was following behind him.
Leighton began to walk faster, getting in front of him and stopped when she arrived at the entrance way.
Once he reached the entrance he walked around her and continued on his way.
Sighing, Leighton heads inside to join the others who were waiting.
“Where have you been?” Hall asked in a bored tone.
Not answering his question, Leighton starts heading towards the training area to shoot some practice targets.
The words scrolled by on the hologram but Yassen’s eyes were on the new comer, who was taking a seat in a fine leather chair in the meeting room.
The others were aware of the new arrival, their nerves and senses on high alert.
Xander soundlessly appeared, gazing around the room calmly. His eyes rested on the new comer but his face did not move a muscle. “Its good to see you finally arrived, Hail.”
Hail made no response and settled himself into his seat, waiting.
Leighton came back after shooting thirteen targets and had a satisfied look on her face; in fact it looked like she nearly smiled.
“So your name’s Hail?” Leighton asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
He looked at her for a brief moment before ignoring her once again.
Yassen stood up and in one fluid motion, grabbed his leather jacket and holstered his gun, Dawn.
“I’m going out for a jog,” he said to no one in particular. Before anyone could blink, he was gone.
“And I’m going...” Leighton said heading towards the other direction.
***
Boom! Boom!
The men surrounding the mysterious hooded figure fell to the ground, their lifeless bodies covered in crimson blood. The hooded figure took one more glance at the bodies, smiling a bit.
“I find it a pity that these men had to experience hell so quickly. But then again, that’s what they deserved,” his voice was calm yet dangerous, like a beast waiting for its chance to pounce.
The hooded figure ran faster than the speed of light, leaving behind a trail of dust and blood.
***
Everyone is nearly here. I won’t break my promise to you, Leighton thought as she joined the rest.
“Well here it is, HQ.” said the figure, his dark hood masking his features.
“It’s about time you arrived....Kross,” Xander said, his back to the hooded figure.
“Hey, I had to take a little stop. All I did was show some men hell,” said Kross nonchalantly, taking off his hood.
“Your still as arrogant as ever, Kross,” Xander said, shaking his head.
“Heh, what can I say? I'm an assassin, but sometimes I do things my way,” replied Kross, polishing his AK-74u.
“Well since everyone went out you can go out as well, Kross,” Xander said, his voice flat.
Kross turned around and as swift as the wind, he was gone.
***
“Harailt, Iain, Thatcher,” Xander said as the three assassins assembled.
“Yes sir?” Thatcher asked, his hands behind his back.
“Summon everyone back. It’s nearly time,” Xander commanded as the three bowed, heading off to gather the members of the Assassin Circle.
Impressum
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 05.06.2012
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