City of Assassins

Bumpty

 

Update coming tonight

 

Chapter 1

My dagger glinted in the moonlight as I crept up behind my target, a bald man with a rather large build and a nobles attire. The night air was cool and the moonlight filtered through the trees in rays, lighting the sewage covered, cobblestone street. The city had been slowly degrading ever since the start of the war. From feces everywhere on the streets, to crumbling run-down buildings. I slowly rose to my full height of six feet and swiftly slit his throat. I caught him as he fell to the ground and lowered him down gently. In his eyes was no fear, only pity. “I knew you were coming,” he croaked.

I allowed my face to show regret and sorrow as I spoke. “May the next life have less suffering in it for you than this one did.” As I said the last word his face became peaceful and his breathing stopped as he took his final breath. I slowly rose to my feet and sheathed my dagger reverently, then turned to walk away.

I caught a flash of silver in the corner of my eye and dove desperately to the right, hearing the knife whiz past my left ear and clang into the metal structure of the building behind me. I scrambled to my feet, covered in who knows what, and looked up at the rooftop from which the knife was thrown. Standing on the shingles at the edge of the roof was a dark figure, another assassin, his blade reflecting the light of the moon, and I was his target.

I watched as he dropped down to the street below, landing gracefully, dropping to one knee to reduce the shock before standing back up. His face was now visible under his dark hood. He was young, no more than twenty. Small strands of brown hair were visible dangling over his face. I slid my two long swords from their sheaths on either hip, the blades making a low hiss as they slid along the leather. I spoke loud enough for him to hear, my breath forming clouds of condensation from the cold. “Your target stands before you but were you prepared for resistance?”

He answered my question by charging at me, swinging his sword in a wide overhead arc above his head, bringing it down as if to cleave me in half. I stepped back, raising both my blades, supporting the top one, with the one below, parrying his blow with a loud clash of steel. Locking our blades over our heads, I reached out with my right foot, kicking him hard in the groin, sending him staggering back, struggling to stay on his feet. I took the opening, covering the distance between us and swinging my swords, cutting his head clean off with a scissor slice.

I wiped the blood from my blades and returned them to their sheaths, walking over to kneel beside my fallen foe. I checked his right arm for his clan insignia, an owl carrying a blade in its talons, the insignia of the Voice. I tore the sewn patch from his sleeve, pocketing the insignia. I rose to my feet and sprinted off down the street, having spent to much time in this area, my boots making no sound as they hit the cobblestone.

I rounded a corner into an alleyway, pulling open the small hatch at the end. I looked around and then jumped in. I replaced the hatch and took the torch from its wall socket, lighting it on the brazier next to it. The light from the fire illuminated a long tunnel in front of me, no more than an arms length wide. Durzo had ordered the creation of this tunnel when he became the leader of our clan. It served as a secret entrance and an easy way to travel without being noticed.

I made my way down the tunnel for what seemed like twenty minutes before coming to a large iron door. I placed the torch in another socket hanging on the wall and knocked hard on the door. A small slit slid open, revealing two eyes scanning me over. I pulled down my hood, revealing my dark brown, medium length hair and blue eyes. The man slid the opening shut and opened the door, having recognized me.

As I entered into the small ante-chamber, fitted with only a chair and table with a candle on it, I nodded to him. “Thank you Marcus.”

The man nodded in return. “Always a pleasure Salrion.” Marcus had been the guard of the tunnel for as long I can remember. We had become friends and he often helped me by lying to Durzo, telling him I had returned at my instructed time.

I proceeded to the wooden door in the back of the room and opened it, stepping into the basement of the main building in our hideout. The main building, or Hub as Durzo called it, was the barracks where all the assassins slept. It was also where the officer's offices were located. The basement housed spare supplies that we had no use for or didn't need.

Crates and boxes were stacked neatly in the center of the room, while weapon racks lined the walls, loaded with bows, swords, and any other type of blade. At the far corner of the room was a stairway that led up to the main floor. I made my way to this stairway now, counting the twenty-three steps up to the top and walking through the doorway.

The first floor opened up, revealing a large double staircase leading up to a balcony that overlooks the whole room. That is where Durzo usually stood, keeping a watchful eye on everything. There were three doors on the balcony. Two on either side leading to the sleeping quarters, and one in the middle leading to Durzo's room. The lower level had wooden desks scattered throughout the lobby. A double door was positioned in the front, opening up to the training yard. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lit up with candles. Portraits of previous leaders lined the walls.

I made my way up the staircase and opened the left door, revealing a hallway filled with doors, leading to the different bedrooms. I made my way past the ninety-nine other doors and opened the last one into my room. The room was barely lit, the only light shining through the window from the moon. A small nightstand sat in the corner beside the bed. A desk was up against the opposite wall, with a chair and candlestick.

I sighed in relief at finally being able to rest and laid my swords on the desk, along with my pouch attached to my belt. I made my way over to the window and gazed out over the training grounds. I looked down at my feet, inspecting my uniform, a black long sleeved overshirt with matching pants and a pair of black leather boots.

I jumped, feeling a pair of arms wrapping around my waist and a whisper in my ear. “A little late to just be getting back isn't it?”

I spun around, staring into a pair of sparkling green eyes in shock, speaking in a hushed tone. “Alida?!? What are you doing here?!” Alida and I had fallen in love about five months ago. She was a member of the Mythic Blades making our love very dangerous. She was my target and instead of killing her I fell in love.

She smirked, stepping back and walking leisurely around the room, her long brown hair shining in the moonlight. She was dressed almost identical to me in a figure hugging uniform, revealing her perfect figure and curves. “I came to see you silly.”

I looked out the window making sure no one was looking in and turned back to face her. “Do you know what would happen if you were caught?! You would be killed!”

She smiled approaching me. “You're worth the risk.”

I sighed giving up, knowing she always got her way one way or another. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. She smelled of her usual vanilla. “Alright but just for an hour.”

She relaxed, snuggling into my chest, resting her head on my shoulder, whispering to me. “I love you...”

I stroked her back lightly, replying softly. “I love you too...You're everything to me...” She looked up into my eyes and I stared back, pressing my lips tenderly to hers. Her lips tasted like sweet strawberries and felt like butterfly wings caressing mine.

I melted into her lips and we kissed for more time than I can remember. I pulled away abruptly, looking at the door handle turning and then watching as the door swung open. I gasped looking in horror, as Durzo stood in the doorway.

 

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Something that sometimes helps me is that when you're describing something is to break it into parts. Like describing a room one section at a time. Writing just comes natural to me so I'm not very good at explaining. The best advice I can offer is write how you like to write. Even if it's not good and others don't like it, what matters is that you do.

 

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Bump. Updates are going to be infrequent but long.