The Assassin and the Knight

by Rick Bonogofsky

  “You were expecting Zhun?” Adrian smirked.

  “Not really,” Vurga grunted. “Zhun told us you were back. We just didn’t expect you back so soon with Vincent in danger on Earth.”

  The lack of reaction deflated Adrian’s bravado, but he shrugged it off. “She told me about what my father’s doing. I came back to talk to him about that.”

  Berron nodded, understanding that the new war was unwise. “Well, boss, from what we could gather from Kizrack, your father has been meeting with Amun-Ra about fighting the vampires.”

  “I’m well aware of that,” Adrian commented. “What I’m worried about is the lack of stability in the kingdom right now.”

  Berron and Vurga looked at each other, exchanging nervous glances.

  “There’s been no instability, boss,” Vurga replied. “Things have actually been fairly calm in the kingdom. Your death and your brother’s banishment has been a relatively quiet ordeal.”

  Adrian’s look of confusion caused the other two demons to glance at each other again.

  “What about possible rebellion while my father is distracted by waging a war?” Adrian asked.

  “None of our contacts have heard anything about anyone plotting against the throne,” Berron answered. “The peace you helped secure is still strong.”

  Adrian’s shoulders slumped. “Huh… Maybe I was a little overzealous in my paranoia. Well, you’re all clearly doing your jobs very well. Um… I suppose I’ll go and see my father, then.” Adrian left, feeling more than a little sheepish for his rash assumptions. He also felt a swelling of pride knowing his team was taking care of Hell while he was away. For a group of assassins, Adrian’s team was certainly worthy of respect.

  Embarrassed, but proud of his team, Adrian made his way through the hidden back passages through the tower. Along the way, he realized his entire argument against his father going to war was nearly invalid. By waging a war against the fangs, Hell would stand to lose a powerful enemy, and the vampires would be too distracted to mount a proper defense against Adrian and his team rescuing Vincent. It seemed no downside existed. He still did not see the point of relinquishing the angel weapons, but with them back in Heaven’s hands, there was, in fact, nothing to worry about. If Heaven wanted to come to Hell to kill demons, it was not as if the angels needed those weapons to do so. Nothing about it seemed quite right to Adrian, but he could find no real fault with the idea. The potential for things to become even better was too great to ignore. Still, he needed to find out his father’s reasoning for going to war and sending Hell’s soldiers to the battlefield.

  The assassin wound his way through the labyrinthine tunnels and passageways until he came to the secret door leading into the throne room. He peaked through the spy holes in the wall to see what was going on. Dante sat on the throne, Staci in her throne next to him. They were presiding over a trial, it seemed. Some lower demon had apparently killed another demon and was being sentenced to execution. It was far too busy for Adrian to step out and announce his return. He wanted it to be a private affair, just him and his parents. He would leave the public announcement for another day, just in case any dissenters were plotting in secret. Being believed to be dead was a great advantage for an assassin, after all. Adrian decided to wait out the trial, hoping it would not take very long. His hopes came true, as the trial was a very simple case of the lower demon being very obviously guilty of the crime. His sentence was to be carried out after the king and queen left the room, which was almost immediately after the verdict was given. Dante and Staci went out through the back door to the throne room together. Adrian watched them and gauged their destination based on which way they turned down the hall before the door blocked them from his view. He took the appropriate halls to head them off, and waited at the secret door, once again looking through the spy-holes. Within moments of Adrian reaching the door, Dante and Staci entered the royal sitting room. Staci sat in one of the plush chairs in the middle of the room and sighed heavily.

  “This is getting old,” she breathed, reaching down to remove her uncomfortable shoes. Her once alabaster skin was beginning to look less vibrant, and her usually glowing demeanor was worryingly dim. “Why do we need to be present for these trials, dear? Wouldn’t it be enough to have the judge do her job and render the verdict without our input?”

  Dante slumped in the chair across from her. Adrian was surprised to see that he looked much older than before. His face held lines the younger demon had never seen before, and his eyes had dark circles under them. “I know how you feel, honey,” Dante replied quietly. “But, it is my responsibility as king to rule and look after my people.”

  Staci reached for Dante’s hand and gripped it tight. “You need to rest, love,” she said worriedly. “Just because you’re king does not mean you have to be everywhere and do everything. Your people need you to be healthy. I can go in your place whenever you need me to.”

  Dante smiled at her, but the weariness never left his visage. “You are too good to me, Staci. And you worry too much. I’m fine. All I need is a good night’s sleep.”

  “Which you haven’t had in weeks,” Staci countered. “I know you’ve been wandering the halls at night. I don’t sleep so well without you next to me.”

  Dante squeezed her hand in his, but his grip was weaker than normal. “I don’t mean to worry you. I promise.”

  “You miss them,” Staci said suddenly.

  Dante’s eyes fell and he stared at the floor. Adrian thought he saw a tear slip down his father’s face. A pang of guilt and heartache gripped his chest.

  “I miss my boys,” Dante choked. His free hand came up to cover his eyes, but Staci slipped out of her chair to kneel in front of him, tears in her eyes. She took his other hand in hers and held it against her chest.

  “I know, my love,” she whispered. “I miss them too. I want them back so badly it hurts!”

  Adrian slumped against the wall in the secret tunnel, tears in his eyes. “I can’t do it,” he whispered to himself. “I can’t do it, not by myself.” He left his parents to their privacy and made his way back through the passageways to his headquarters.

  Berron and Vurga looked up briefly as he entered, but quickly averted their eyes when they noticed Adrian’s tear-streaked face. They stayed motionless until he went into his room and shut the door, after which they looked at each other, worried for their boss.

  “What happened?” Vurga mouthed.

  Berron shrugged, at as much of a loss as his associate. “He needs to be alone,” he silently replied. “Let’s leave.”

  Jake signed the paperwork in front of him, and smiled at the young woman behind the reception desk. “All done,” he said cheerfully, handing over the clipboard. “Have yourself a nice day.”

  The receptionist grinned at him and bid him good day as he turned to leave. He walked out the doors with his head held high, feeling better than he had in decades. Perhaps this time the therapy finally worked, and he was cured of the thoughts that plagued him for so long. And if he was not cured, he at least went away with a new understanding of his own feelings. He was surprised that the doctor cleared him, however. Usually, when a doctor heard about Jake’s condition, he would hold the man for much longer, trying to analyze his thoughts. That had not happened this time, though, leaving Jake surprised, but otherwise glad of the short treatment. It had been many decades since he was at peace with himself. Of course, he would continue to anonymously donate money to the facility in case he ever felt the need to return. With the vast fortune left to him by his father, coupled with the brilliant investment strategies outlined by his broker, Jake knew he would be able to fund the facility on his own indefinitely.

  Jake walked down the street for a while, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. He was in New Rome, freshly rebuilt after the war. Construction had finished three years past, bringing forth new architectural designs inspired by the ancient ruins of the old Roman Empire. The city may have been new, but Jake knew it w
as just the same as it had always been. The people were friendly enough, even if they did not truly care, and the local authority was outwardly fair and compassionate until no one was watching them. Nothing had really changed in the last two hundred years. Jake mused to himself about how there was a very brief alteration to regular life when the humans realized their myths were real, but that only lasted until that generation died out, leaving the mythical creatures to fall back into forgotten obscurity. Some still believed, but they were ostracized and cast out of society, while the vampires, werewolves, and all others that could pass as human went back to their old lives, hidden in plain sight among the humans.

  As content as Jake was with his newfound inner peace, he felt it was time for a change. He spent the better part of a week setting up his accounts to automatically deposit money into the facility he had just left, while also making preparations to travel. He had no living family that he knew of, so no one would miss him, and the few friends he kept were all too busy with their own lives to care if he left. So, Jake went to the airport and left on the next flight out. After several stops, he finally landed at an airstrip outside of the underwater city of Miami. He had a home there, mostly untouched by the war, aside from now being under the ocean. When it became apparent that the ice caps were going to be completely melted by the nuclear bombs and the resulting fallout, a group of wealthy benefactors, Jake’s family included, built a glass dome over the city of Miami. Only select humans were allowed to remain in the city, and even some vampires and werewolves - members of high society - were invited to stay, but the number of people was far too small to fill the city. All Jake knew or cared about was that his own family was among those who were invited in. He never questioned it as a boy, and certainly gave it no further thought after the war ended. It was truly the safest haven in the world now. It was no longer subject to tropical storms, and none of the humans who were not a part of the original invitation knew of its existence. In fact, none of the original humans - or their families - were left alive anymore. Once they died out, the city was left to the vampires and the original, mysterious benefactors.

  Once in Miami, Jake immediately went to his old family home and started unpacking. He greeted the skeleton crew of paid servants warmly, and listened to the updates about the city. Nothing had really changed. When every citizen could live for hundreds of years, not much needed to change. Even the servants, mostly vampires, had not changed at all since Jake was last in the city. The ruling council modified a few of the laws to encompass the lack of humans, some of the buildings were getting remodels, but nothing of any real interest to Jake. He did not care as long as he was still able to come and go as he pleased. As part of his return to Miami, Jake wanted to meet with an old friend of the family from before the war. He had one of his servants bring a car around to drive him to another part of the city, and left.

  After nearly an hour of driving, Jake arrived at his destination, a large mansion built on over eighty acres of land covered in lush tropical plants. Before the war, this place was a combination of museum, laboratory, learning center and conservation research facility. At least, that was what the humans of the public saw it as. Jake only knew there was much more going on than was widely known, though he never knew what exactly it was. His father was the one with that knowledge, not him. But while Jake’s father was busy meeting with his associates, Jake would often be left to play with the other children whose parents also met in secret. He quickly made fast friends with some of the other children and he kept in touch with them as he grew older. Some of them were lost in the war, either killed in battle or part of the unlucky masses in the cities targeted by the bombs that fell in the beginning. Others simply vanished altogether.

  Jake approached the door and rang the bell. He only waited a moment before the door opened, revealing a short bald vampire dressed in a simple suit.

  “Ah, Mr. Hearst,” the vampire butler greeted warmly. “It’s been a long time. Please, come in.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Jacob Hearst,” the well-dressed man said as he handed Jake a glass of wine. He took a seat across from the younger man in front of the fireplace. The warm orange glow was a welcome reprieve from the pale blue light that filtered in through the ocean above. “I haven’t seen you since you were just a child.”

  Jake graciously accepted the wine and sipped it, looking around the room. Tall bookshelves lined three of the walls, and an ancient Cristofori piano sat in one corner “It certainly has been a long time, Mr. Montgomery.”

  “Please, just Robert. It’s what your father called me, and he and I were friends, as you and I should be.”

  “Okay. Robert. I’ve really missed coming here since I was a child. I have such fond memories of the place. I see it survived the war rather well.”

  Robert Montgomery nodded his head and smiled. “Yes, well it was all thanks to the combined efforts of the many benefactors of the Firstborn.”

  Jake looked up from his drink. “The Firstborn?”

  “Your father was part of an ancient organization - a secret society, if you will - that has helped to shape this world into a better version of itself. Of course, we were unable to do much about the war that broke out that destroyed this planet, but we did what we could.” Montgomery said the last part while gesturing upward with his hand. “Our group has been around longer than any other people of this world. Longer than the vampires, werewolves, or even the humans. I believe it was the Sumerians who first named us as a group. They called us dumu-sag, which I’m told translates to first child. I don’t remember. It has been so long. Anyway, you, young Jacob Hearst, are the son of one of our greatest members, and are therefore a legacy. By virtue of birth, you are automatically considered a full-fledged member of the Firstborn.”

  Jake set his drink down on the small table beside his chair. “Forgive my ignorance, Robert, but what exactly does this group… do?”

  “Why, whatever we please, dear boy. Within reason, of course. We can’t just fly about all willy-nilly, now can we?”

  “Fly?” Jake asked.

  Montgomery gave Jake a curious look, trying to ascertain the younger man’s meaning. “Yes, fly. As in spread our wings and soar among the clouds.” He paused as a sudden realization struck him. “Oh… Has your father not told you of your heritage? My dear boy, you should know about what and who you are!”

  “Well, I know who I am. I know all about my father’s deeds and how he made his fortune in the early nineteen hundreds.”

  Montgomery chuckled, looking ashamedly into his glass. He swirled the liquid around, trying to come up with a proper explanation. “Jacob, your father amassed more fortunes from more endeavors than just the old newspaper industry. He was far too old to be limited to such a life. In fact, he went by many more names than just ‘William.’ He never told you what you are?”

  Jake shook his head, unsure and a little uneasy about the potential implications.

  Montgomery let out a long sigh. “Jacob, you are so much more than just a human. Your mother was human, that is true, but by now I’m certain you know you are different. You live longer than any human, you don’t ever age, unless you deem it necessary, and you never even get sick. Has that not struck you as odd?”

  “I knew I wasn’t entirely human. I mean, my father did make that much clear to me as a child. But he never told me exactly what made me different.” Jake’s hands began to shake as a subtle fear arose in his mind. “I’m not a demon, am I?”

  Montgomery let out a hearty laugh. “No, no, my dear boy. You aren’t such a base creature. Nor are you an angel. There are beings far more powerful and much more ancient than those others. Jacob, you are a dragon. How you don’t know that is beyond me. Have you never transformed?”

  Confused and in awe, Jake could only shake his head in silence.

  Montgomery’s face split into a wry grin. “Come, Let us head to the gardens. The entire grounds are warded against unwanted onlookers.” He stood, motioning for
Jake to follow his lead, and the two walked through the mansion to the rear doors leading to the gardens. Once in the widest open area, Montgomery stopped and turned to face Jake.

  “Now, the first step in transforming back into your natural form is to concentrate. Look deep within yourself and feel your inner fire. Let it warm you. Let it wash over you, and let it consume you. Let your soul be free of this mortal body, and assume your rightful form.” Montgomery stepped back and closed his eyes. Jake stared in disbelief as the older man’s skin began to change color. Where there was once a light tan, red showed through. Slowly at first, then gaining speed, crimson scales covered his body and his form twisted and reformed. His entire body elongated, and his face slid outward into a long snout. Long horns curved out from the top of his head and his back heaved and bulged. Wings and a barbed tail burst forth from his spine and stretched to the sky. Within moments, a resplendent red dragon stood among the plants in the garden, stretching over eighty feet from his nose to his tail. Montgomery stretched his wings, spanning almost 90 feet.

  “It feels great to be in my natural form once again,” he boomed. The deep, gravelly voice vibrated through Jake’s head, and he fell to his knees in awe of the majestic creature in front of him.

  “Now, Jacob, focus on your inner fire and begin your transformation.”

  Jake was completely at a loss for words, his mouth hanging agape. He shook his head, having no idea how to even go about following Montgomery’s instructions.

  “I… I don’t know if I can…” he stammered.

  Montgomery lowered his head to look Jake in the eye, his draconic orbs blazing with a powerful inner light. He gazed into Jake’s dull brown eyes and whispered, “Believe in yourself, young one. You’ve been trapped in this form for far too long. Your father was wrong to hide your heritage from you. Embrace it! Free yourself.”

  Jake stood, his resolve returning, and nodded to Montgomery. “I’ll try,” he said, his voice weak and trembling. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind, seeking his inner fire as the older dragon had said. He concentrated on enacting the change within himself, imagining his form shifting as Montgomery’s had. After what seemed like hours, Jake opened his eyes and looked up at the red dragon.