The Assassin and the Knight

by Rick Bonogofsky

  “I can’t…” he breathed. “I don’t feel it in me.”

  “Hold still, Jacob,” Montgomery said, placing one large claw on Jake’s chest. A strange look crossed his face, and he seemed troubled by what he realized. “Well, I see what the problem is.”

  “What is it?” Jake asked.

  “It seems your father has placed a spell on you keeping you from transforming back into your natural form.”

  Jake’s heart fell. “Why?”

  Montgomery shrugged his scaled shoulders. “It is an old spell, one likely cast upon you just after your birth. I imagine your father wanted to keep you hidden from the world until such time that you could join our ranks.”

  “Well… Can you do anything about it?”

  Montgomery nodded. “We dragons are the oldest beings on this planet. We have the most ancient and powerful magics. Where do you think magic came from? We were the first to give it to the humans. This spell is known to me, as is how to remove it. It is rooted deep within your being, so it may take some time to complete. Luckily all I really have to do is lay the groundwork, so to speak. My counter spell will do the rest of the work on its own. Come the morning, you will be free of the spell your father cast.”

  Jake smiled, realizing that for the first time in his life, he belonged somewhere.

  Adrian emerged from his room looking disheveled and exhausted. None of his assassins were present to see his sorry state, for which he was glad. He always prided himself on his ability to be the smiling face in the group. His jokes were meant to hide his pain, and his laughter typically carried a hint of sadness to it. He slumped into a chair by the hearth and prodded at the coals with a poker. The memory of his parents the other day replayed over and over in his mind, and it was all he could do to not break down again. Everything he did in Hell was to ensure the safety of his family and his home. Nothing else mattered to him. Seeing his parents, who were the strongest people he had ever known, in such a weak moment broke Adrian’s heart.

  “I can’t do it,” he whispered to himself for the thousandth time. “I have to bring Vincent back to them, or it won’t be right. But how? I need to get into the vampire stronghold and get him out.” His mind raced through the various possible scenarios to save Vincent, but nothing seemed to pan out once it came to the magical warding spells. Only a vampire could enter, and the bloodsuckers would kill themselves if taken captive. Trying to figure out the solution simply revealed more problems with the plan, so Adrian was at a loss for what to do. Nothing seemed to work out in his mind.

  A soft knock caught his attention, and he turned in his chair to look. Zhun stood in the doorway, a forlorn look on her feline face. Adrian gave her a half-hearted smile and motioned for her to sit in the chair across from him. She accepted the invitation, never taking her eyes off of him, but slid onto the couch next to him. Adrian stared into the fire, knowing Zhun was still looking at him. He could not bring himself to meet her gaze. She placed a slender hand on his in an attempt to comfort him. Finally, he looked at her, his tear-filled eyes meeting hers. The pain she saw there nearly caused her to lose her composure, but she remained strong for him. She was the only one who could see past his usual facade, and was the only one to ever push her way through his emotional walls to get to the man behind them. She grasped his hand and pulled him towards her. He resisted at first, but fell into her strong embrace, letting his emotional barriers melt away. Zhun kissed the top of his head, silently assuring him that everything was going to work out just fine.

  When Adrian finally pulled away, his eyes were clearer, if still just as pained as before. He looked into Zhun’s eyes and smiled, thanking her with more than what words could express for her comfort.

  “Do you have an update on things on Earth?” he asked after several minutes had passed.

  Zhun nodded, smiling softly. “I do. Ariel has joined with Loran and Berron in New York. Vurga and Cheal are scouting the sewers for any underground entry points. Kizrack is with your father serving as an advisor in your stead.”

  “And he knows not to tell my father anything until I do?” Adrian implored.

  Again, Zhun nodded. “We may serve your father and the kingdom, but you are our boss.”

  “Thank you. Any word on what my father is planning? If we can coordinate with him on this, it’ll really help us.”

  “So far, he’s only ordered more troops to guard the caches and those left here are training harder to prepare for the enemy. Everyone has been notified that the vampires have the means to kill us, so the army is improving its tactics and armor.”

  “Good,” Adrian said. “The coordination of this is going to be key to our success in saving my brother.”

  “If only he were here right now,” Zhun sighed. “His tactical brilliance would certainly help.”

  Adrian nodded in agreement. “It’d all be moot if that were the case,” he quipped. “Either way, we need to make sure the coordination on this is flawless. Get word to Kizrack, and have him advise my father into working alongside our team, without alerting him to my being alive.”

  “Yes, boss,” Zhun replied. “And what about Ariel?”

  “Make sure she stays silent about my presence, and make sure she keeps with whatever plan we end up going with.”

  “Sounds good, boss. I’ll spread the word and get back to the team.”

  “Good. And Zhun? Thank you.”

  Zhun smiled and left to do as Adrian asked. She always felt uneasy whenever he would have his moments of sadness, so she was glad to go. Seeing him like that was painful for her, but she made sure he knew he could always trust her. She considered herself to be his best friend, as well as his lover. Nothing mattered more to her than Adrian did, and she would do anything for him. Saving Vincent would undoubtedly make him happy, and he would finally be able to face his parents with his brother at his side.

  She walked into the teleportation room in the headquarters and walked through the open portal to Earth. Once there, she pressed the button on her headset, calling Berron.

  “What’s the word?” came Berron’s voice.

  “Stick to the plan,” Zhun replied. “And make sure Ariel says nothing of Adrian’s existence. He wishes to remain apparently dead until we get Vincent back. Once the angel is back in our ranks, we can bring him home and reunite the royal family.”

  There was a long silence, then Berron asked, “How is he?”

  Zhun sighed. “How would you feel if your family was torn apart?”

  “Honestly, I’m just surprised he’s up and about,” came Berron’s response. “But he’s our boss and our friend. We’re getting his brother back, whether we sneak in or bring the place down brick by brick.”

  “That’s exactly right,” Zhun stated. “We are to assist the main force from Hell once it arrives. After the angels arrive to help, we’re to let them take on the bulk of the fighting. With the vampires distracted, we will make a surgical strike into the building. Once inside, we need to get Vincent and get out as quickly as possible.”

  “Got it,” Berron grunted. “Gotta be honest, it feels weird doing a rescue mission. Feels kinda good seeing as it’s Vincent and all, but still…”

  “I know the feeling,” Zhun agreed. “Until the angels get here and the king makes his move, our job is to do whatever we can to find a way in, and to report on the activities of Ibsen, the vampire leader. We need to be absolutely certain he is here when the attack happens. Kizrack is advising the king, and will await our word that Ibsen is in the building.”

  “Then we’re infiltrating the building and its staff?” Berron asked.

  “Yes. We’ll sneak in and replace some of the staff, disguising ourselves and keeping a mental link with them so we can properly answer any personal questions that may come up.”

  There was a long silence, then Berron muttered, “Just like the mission in Under-London a few years ago. Psionics make me itch.”

  “I know you don’t like it, Berron, but it is necessary. W
e learned our lesson from last time, didn’t we?”

  “I didn’t know my guy had three children and an ex-wife.”

  Zhun chuckled at that and said, “That is exactly why we do this properly now. No mistakes. Or, at least, as few as possible.”

  Berron grunted his agreement and let the line go dead. Zhun’s instructions were clear.

  Dante sat at the large table in the war room in his tower. His generals were gathered, discussing the coming battles and various strategies to use against the vampires. Kizrack stood to the right of the king and listened, occasionally lending a piece of advice pertaining to the situation. It was his suggestion that brought the generals to this meeting. He was the one responsible for the current plans being discussed. King Dante, too tired and ill to make any real contributions, sat in his chair. Every once in a while, he would doze off, leaving the generals and his two new advisors to discuss the battle plans. It all seemed to be going well. Amun-Ra lent some knowledge of the vampires to aid in the planning, mostly in the way of troop movements and general plans concerning Globe Tech. There was word from the angels stating something was in the works at the various research centers around the world, but no specifics were readily available. Dante knew that he had Adrian’s old team on Earth looking into the main Globe Tech headquarters, so he felt secure in knowing that particular situation was well under control. From what Kizrack told him, Zhun was heading up the operation with an angel. It was odd to him that Amun-Ra had said nothing of this angel on Earth, but Dante figured it was simply due to it being a single, low-ranking angel.

  “My lord?” one of the generals asked. Dante quickly realized this general had repeated the question a few times.

  “I’m sorry,” Dante mumbled. He pulled himself to his feet, groaning quietly. “What is it?”

  The generals shared an uneasy glance, but showed no other reaction to their king’s apparent weakness. “We were asking if you were planning to lead the charge yourself, my lord,” the first general replied.

  “Ah,” Dante breathed. “I do plan on leading one of the attacks myself. I will coordinate with our team of assassins on Earth, and lead the attack on the Globe Tech headquarters. Ibsen is the leader of the vampires. Once we take him out, we can then focus on removing the other leaders who support him, and gain peace with their replacements. If no peace can be gained, we can at least form some sort of treaty with them.”

  The generals nodded their accord, glad to see some life returning to their king. Ever since Adrian was killed and Vincent banished, the king’s health had taken a sharp decline. Every one of the demons and devils who saw him worried for his health. It was clear that he was withering away in front of them.

  “Is there anything else?” Dante asked, feeling weaker and weaker with each passing moment. He put up a facade for the generals, fearing a potential coup. He knew his health was deteriorating, and he knew he was weaker than before. The potential for another civil war was all too real to him, and he wanted to make sure that would never happen again.

  The generals shook their heads, and Dante took his leave. Kizrack and Doran following at his heels. The two advisors glanced at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking. How could the king lead a charge while his health was so bad? The vampires were known to have weapons that could kill demons, so going to Earth while not at full power was a foolish thing for Dante to do. But, while the king still breathed, it was his choice to do as he pleased. Kizrack, knowing about Adrian’s return, was even more uneasy about the whole thing. If Dante found out about Adrian, the whole plan would be in severe jeopardy. It hinged on Dante not knowing about his son’s survival.

  “My king,” Kizrack began quietly. “Is it really necessary that you go into battle? Let your troops go in and take care of the vampires themselves.”

  Dante waved a shaking hand at the imp. “It is my duty as king to fight alongside my men. Plus, with the power I control as king of Hell, I can ensure our victory.”

  Kizrack looked to Doran for help. Seeing a defeated look in the knight’s eyes, the imp knew he had to improvise. “But, my king,” he said, “There are too many variables to consider to ensure your safety.”

  “My safety is not my concern,” Dante countered.

  “It might not be yours, but it is our concern,” Doran replied. “My lord, we are here to keep you safe. If you insist on going into battle, while it is certainly noble, we must then put more focus on keeping you from coming to harm. With that added strain, our efforts to win the battle will be that much more difficult.”

  Dante stopped and turned toward Doran. “I am king,” he hissed. “And my life is mine to do with as I please. If I am to be a good leader and a good king, it is my job to go out and lead my men into battle. Do I make myself clear?”

  Doran nodded sheepishly. “Yes, my king.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Dante slumped in his chair in his private quarters. Staci looked up from her book and smiled at him. She tried hard to hide the worry in her eyes, but Dante noticed anyway.

  “How did it go?” she asked sweetly.

  Dante shrugged. “The planning is going pretty well, but I’m getting anxious about the whole thing. I don’t like sending soldiers out to die. I’d rather just go out there, level the vampire’s building as a warning and be done with it.”

  Staci put her book down and leaned forward, resting her hand on Dante’s forearm. “You’re a king now, dear. You can’t just go gallivanting off to fight these battles anymore. Your people need you here, safe, far from the dangers of war. You belong here with me.”

  The king rested his other hand in Staci’s and he sighed. “I know. But I don’t feel right letting them go without me. It was hard enough sending our boys out to fight the vampires without me…”

  “Look at me,” Staci said, using her free hand to lift Dante’s chin so his eyes could meet hers. “You send those soldiers out to do their job. You stay here, by my side, and be my husband and their king. If anything, they’ll come back victorious, and the whole kingdom will chant your name in the streets. And even if they lose, those vampires will be blamed, not you. But if you go out there and die, you’re leaving them and me all alone to deal with the enemies of our home. Then where will we be? I can’t lose you, my love. Not after everything we’ve already lost.”

  Seeing the tears welling up in his wife’s eyes stopped any rebuttal coming from Dante. In that moment, all he wanted to do was stay by her side and never leave. “You’re right, love,” he whispered. He pulled her close and held her tight. “Nothing will take me away from you.”

  “I know. You’re stuck with me,” Staci giggled through her tears.

  Adrian paced in his room at the assassin headquarters, his nervous energy taking over his depression. His fists clenched and unclenched, and he could not keep still. Time was moving too slowly for him. He wanted to be out with his team finding a way to save his brother, but his need for secrecy kept him locked away. The regular updates from his team were the only connection he had to the outside world. It was driving him crazy. He had to get out and do something. Then, a thought occurred him. He had not gone to the training hall since he came back. His magic was no longer as responsive as it should have been, and the last time he held his sword was when Vincent had killed him. Adrian made up his mind and decided to go to the training hall to work off his nervous energy.

  The assassins’ training hall was under the headquarters and was built specifically for Adrian and his team’s personal use. It was fitted with old technology from Earth before the war that would simulate anything needed by the user. Most of the systems were too badly damaged by the war, but strong magic was used to get it running again, creating a working fusion of demon magic and human technology. The projectors could instantly create the desired terrain, enemies, and weather conditions as the situation needed. Adrian and his team would often come down to the training hall to unwind after a particularly difficult mission. They would usually recreate the mission
parameters in order to more efficiently figure out what they did rather well, or to see what exactly went wrong. The simulated enemies were run by the central computer, and given a semblance of life by the magically run projectors. They were intuitive and resourceful, providing excellent training for the team. If the team seemed to be doing too well, the simulation would automatically increase the effectiveness of the enemies, or, if needed, the severity of the weather.

  Adrian walked through the doors and the magical light that illuminated the hall instantly came to life. A disembodied voice greeted him from the computer.

  “Hello, Adrian,” it said in a friendly, gender-neutral voice.

  “Hello, computer,” Adrian greeted. “Can you run a simple training exercise for me? I’ve been out of it for a while and need something easy to test some things out.”

  “One moment please.” Within seconds, the projectors came to life with a hum and the large room was lit with a brighter light. Several training dummies appeared in the room, all at different distances from Adrian. The assassin stretched a bit before the simulated targets finished setting up. He held out his right hand and concentrated, summoning his sword from the pocket dimension where he kept it. The weapon did not appear. Confused and bordering on annoyed, Adrian concentrated harder. The weapon was made from his own blood and magically tied to him. For it to not appear would mean that the connection was lost, and for a demon, that was akin to losing an arm or a leg. It took several minutes, but he finally felt that connection resurface, thus bringing the sword back into existence. The familiar feel of the leather-wrapped hilt felt comfortable and reassuring in Adrian’s hand. The weight of it eased his anxiety, and looking upon the blade brought peace to his mind. The nagging feeling of his sword not coming back to him left his mind.