Assassin's Mask

by Everly Frost

  Fallon’s laughter stops as I drop neatly to the ground in front of him. He sneers at me, begins to speak, but I don’t allow him to say a word.

  My fist darts out and wraps around his throat, halting his gloating in its tracks. He is creating this illusion using his assassin’s magic, which is derived from a Valkyrie feather. He never taught us how to create illusions in class. Our training was cut a whole month short. But any skill that Fallon has must be something that I can do.

  I draw on the power deep inside my chest, my killing power, sensing how alike it is to the power that fills every part of the illusion around me, every detail in the trees, the earth, even the cabin. This whole place lives in Slade and my memories.

  I gasp as I recognize the power Fallon is using. I’ve used it too.

  When Slade was knocked unconscious on our first day in the Realm, I used this aspect of my power to draw out his consciousness. I sought out his memories and brought them to the surface. That’s what this is.

  Movement from the side of the clearing draws my attention. In the distance, the clearing morphs into an illusion of Saber Lane. A quick glance shows me that Vlad and Tansy are walking along it, talking to each other. No matter how many steps they take, they don’t move along the street. Their minds are trapped in this illusion.

  I refocus on Fallon as he strikes back, icy flames hitting me square in the stomach, but because my wings are spread, I am at my strongest and the attack rolls off me. Icy light flickers around us as Fallon unleashes everything he’s got, trying to make me let go.

  He roars at me, snarling and striking out, every flash of his power hitting me and dying. He strikes again and again, but it fades into the background as I splay my fingers across his temple and close my eyes, diving deep into his subconscious.

  Loneliness hits me hard. I search for memories of his family and friends. Finding none, I dive further into his past until I finally find… shouting… dirty feet… a burst of pain across his cheek… a lock clicking… a confined space…

  Fallon screams, a fearful shriek, terror passing across his features as I surface to focus on his face.

  I can’t withhold my sympathy when I say, “You have a lot of pain.”

  He gasps for breath. “Get out of my head.”

  My anger returns. “As soon as you get out of Slade’s. And Vlad’s. And Tansy’s.”

  Fallon’s lips twist. “I’m only here to bring you a message.”

  “Then spit it out.”

  “Lady Tirelli wants you to bring her the feather and the verdan. If you bring them personally, she will let your friends live.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. It’s a very specific request. She doesn’t only want the Clave and the verdan, she wants me to take them to her. Vlad was right. She thinks I know what happened to that mystery baby. She wants to question me.

  I scoff, “She has no idea what she’s dealing with if she wants to take me on.”

  “She knows what you are. That’s why she plans to kill your friends if you don’t do what she wants. All of them. One by one. She will tear your life apart. Piece by piece.”

  A shiver runs down my spine. I can’t deny that his threats shake me. I can’t protect everyone all the time. I can’t protect Briar when she’s out and about. Tansy lives right on the corner of Saber Lane, furthest from the bookshop, in the most vulnerable location…

  Fallon oozes menace as he voices my fears, “Lady Tirelli can get to anyone.”

  I draw on his memories again, dragging him back to the darkness of his childhood. “I’m done with your threats. Release my friends or I’ll leave you in your own darkness.”

  He is quick to give in. “No! I delivered the message. I’ll… let them go.”

  The trees immediately peel back around us. The sky and the leaf-covered ground thin and give way to the buildings and shops of Saber Lane. Slade and I are in exactly the same position—my hand on his arm, my wings gone, standing several paces away from Fallon. Vlad is frozen in the middle of the street and Tansy slumps against her front steps.

  The mind trap breaks with a pop.

  Tansy wakes up screaming, her instinctive power igniting around her, burning the air. She jumps to her feet but Vlad leaps in front of her, restraining her as she stretches toward Fallon.

  She screams, “I’ll kill him!”

  “No, Solnyshka.” Vlad steadies her, both hands on her shoulders, demanding her attention. “I will.”

  At the same time, Fallon strikes out at Slade, taking advantage of the time it takes us to orientate ourselves. Fallon delivered his message to me. He made it clear how vulnerable my friends are. Now he will try to escape.

  Fallon throws two daggers at us as he attempts to dart away.

  I grit my teeth, dodge the weapons, run at him, and knock him down. We crash against the pavement, grazing our elbows and knees. I jump back to my feet, ready to use my fists, but Fallon is suddenly wrenched backward.

  Vlad’s thick arm snaps around Fallon’s throat at lightning speed, lifting the smaller man right off his feet. For such a big guy, Vlad’s movements are rapid and brutal. Fallon barely has time to draw breath before Vlad lands a quick fist to Fallon’s lower back.

  Fallon’s eyes widen with pain as Vlad forces him to his knees, a boot to the back of his calf, wrenching his head back at the same time. Vlad doesn’t carry any weapons. Only a fist like an iron clamp around Fallon’s slender jaw.

  Vlad told me he preferred to kill with his hands, but the first rule of the Assassin’s Code will prevent any bloodshed today.

  He growls into Fallon’s ear, “You have trespassed onto the Glass Arrow’s territory. I may not be allowed to kill you, but I can make your life painful.”

  Maintaining his hold on Fallon’s jaw with one hand, he pulls his arm back at an angle it doesn’t want to go. Fallon screams but I step forward.

  “Vlad.” I place a warning into my voice. “We need to let him go. But not before we give him a message to take back to his Lady.”

  Vlad lowers his voice to a dangerous whisper to Fallon. “It’s only because I’m in another Master’s territory that I have to honor her wishes. Otherwise, I would break both your legs and watch you drag yourself out of here using your hands.”

  It isn’t an idle threat. Violence is second nature to Vlad. Just like rage is second nature to Slade. Oddly enough, I’ve never seen Cain exhibit either of those traits. I should probably be wary of the characteristic that caused Cain to be picked as the next Master of the Horde. Possibly, it’s his effortless ability to inspire loyalty.

  I force Fallon to meet my eyes, aware that Slade stands clear behind me. He was prepared to fight Fallon as soon as the mind trap broke, but now he is respecting Vlad’s right to fight back against the trap he was placed in.

  I say, “Tell Lady Tirelli that I won’t do a damn thing she wants. If she harms my friends, I will hunt her down and end her. She knows I can.”

  I give Vlad a nod. He hefts Fallon upward and throws him across the pavement. “Don’t come back.”

  I wish I could believe he won’t.

  After Fallon disappears into the night, and only after waiting another few moments to make sure he’s gone, I turn to face the silence behind me. Slade is already edging toward the pavement outside the street. Every step tells me he plans to leave now.

  I’m not ready for him to go. I want to talk to him about what happened in the illusion.

  Before he can say ‘goodbye,’ Tansy runs to us, her face ashen in the dim light. Her power has dimmed but her features are pulled taught with anger. “How long was that monster watching us?”

  “Not long,” I assure her. “He must have arrived just as we came out of the Diner.”

  Tansy shudders. “We were walking along the street. I thought it was real…”

  Vlad says, “It’s okay now. You’re safe. I’ll sense him the moment he tries to come near us again.” His lip curls. “I know what he smells like now.”

  “I hate assas
sins.” Tansy stops, realizing what she said.

  Vlad doesn’t flinch. I admire his ability to take the same bluntness he dishes out.

  She chews her lip, saying to Vlad, “Other than you.”

  I notice that she doesn’t make an exception for me, but I shrug it off. It’s baby steps with Tansy. The trauma she suffered as a child will remain with her for life.

  William and Dean hurry toward us from the distance. For some reason, Dean slows and stops further away. He looks as pale as Tansy and I’m not sure why. I don’t think he’s hurt…

  William demands my attention. “Are you okay?”

  I’m glad to see that he includes Slade in his quick visual assessment.

  I say, “We are. But only because of Slade.”

  Slade was inching further away but stops, pinned in my sights.

  I ask, “How did you know Fallon was here?”

  He shrugs, a deliberate movement, as if he’s trying to ease out the tension in his shoulders. Moments ago, inside the illusion, he held me in his arms and begged me to be okay. But now… I guess we’re back in the real world.

  He says, “I was following him. I thought he might lead me to Lady Tirelli, but he came here instead.”

  “You saved Tansy’s life. Thank you.”

  Tansy startles. She was inside the illusion the whole time and doesn’t know what really happened around her.

  She seeks Vlad’s confirmation. “What did Slade do?”

  He shakes his head. “I was under the whole time.”

  I decide to be as blunt as Vlad. “Slade stopped Fallon from slitting your throat.”

  Tansy’s hand flies to her neck, finding blood there.

  Her comment about hating assassins must have hit me harder than I thought because I have to hold my tongue before I remind her that she chose not to save Slade’s life once. I sigh inwardly, letting go of my momentary anger, exhaling it. My relationship with Tansy is perpetually fraught. It won’t get better overnight.

  She scrubs at her neck, wiping away the blood. I already ascertained that the cut was superficial, which is why I’m not rushing her to a hospital right now. But the way she’s rubbing at her neck… it’s like it doesn’t hurt at all.

  I peer closer, frowning. “The cut is gone.”

  She stares at the blood on her fingertips. “I’ve healed already. I don’t know how… I can’t heal myself without a spell…”

  I frown. The flash of power she gave off when she woke up was intense. She seems more frightened by the fact that she healed herself, than the fact that she almost died. A faint gleam enters her eyes, a glimmer of power and for a second, I do a double-take. Her aura brightens and a force glows behind her eyes, but it’s tightly controlled and deeply hidden.

  My eyes widen as I realize that Tansy wears her own mask; one so permanently fixed that maybe she doesn’t know about it.

  She takes a deep breath and says, “I need to go home.”

  She pauses mid-turn, giving Slade her full attention. “Thank you, Slade. You did more for me than I did for you. I’m humbled by your actions.”

  He gives her a respectful nod.

  Vlad glances between us. He doesn’t know the history and I can’t tell him because that would require revealing my true nature—as well as Slade’s non-human attributes.

  Vlad says, “I’ll see you in the morning, Hunter.”

  “Please watch over Tansy.”

  He hesitates as if he’s about to say something else. Then he gives me a nod and follows Tansy quietly to her front door and inside.

  I turn to Dean. He hasn’t moved any closer to us.

  I say to him, “Make sure you lock all your doors and windows. Blurring makes Fallon invisible, but it doesn’t give him the ability to move through solid objects. Keep everything locked and you’ll be safe.”

  He backs away with faltering steps. Fallon didn’t hurt Dean—he was in the Diner the whole time—but he looks ill.

  “Dean, are you okay?”

  He nods rapidly, continuing to shuffle backward. “I will be. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Hunter.”

  I want to go after him because despite what he said, he doesn’t look okay, but Slade is also making moves to leave. He bows to me, eyes down the same way I bowed to him earlier.

  It’s a small peace offering that I wasn’t expecting.

  He says, “I should go.”

  “No.” My response is so sharp that I have to inhale a calming breath. “I need you to stay. Will you please… stay?”

  What are you doing, Hunter? I’m about to take a massive risk, but my instincts scream at me that it’s a risk I need to take.

  I need him to stay for what I’m about to do next.

  Chapter Twelve

  Slade glances at the open street beyond the Lane and then to me and William.

  Only now, I have the chance to assess Slade’s appearance. He is wearing full protective gear, which means he would have blurred the whole way here. Assassins only wear protective gear when they’re going into battle and can be assured they won’t be seen. He looks like he wants to blur and leave. Right now.

  He clears his throat, obviously working hard to keep his tone even. “Why, Hunter?”

  It doesn’t hurt me to tell him the truth. “Because I need to show you something. You and William both. Back at the shop. Will you please come with me?”

  I hold my breath as he hesitates. His eyes drill into mine. The tension between us intensifies for a long moment, filling with a thousand stolen breaths and a hundred nights sleeping back to back, never touching each other.

  The friction eases as he exhales. “Yes.”

  “Thank you.”

  I meet William’s questioning gaze as I turn toward the shop. He casts a quick glance at Slade before following me without asking what’s going on.

  Slade quickly draws level with me, remaining at the edge of my sight, keeping his distance. By the time we reach the bookshop stairs, I’m questioning myself. My instincts tell me I need Slade here, but my heart tells me I can’t take any more punishment. I have no idea how Slade will react to the revelations I’m about to give him.

  William unlocks the door and we pass through the downstairs area but Slade stops at the bottom of the internal stairs.

  This place has as many memories for him as it does for me. It doesn’t help that I’m scantily clad in a shirt that doesn’t reach past my upper thighs.

  I try to remain unemotional, to put on my own mask, as I stop halfway up the stairs and say, “Please come upstairs. It’s important.”

  He pulls away from me and for a moment, I think he’s going to walk right out of here. I’m too far up the staircase to stop him and I won’t make him stay if he doesn’t want to.

  I say, “You need to know why I came to the Legion. You need to know why Gareth wants me dead, and why Fallon came here tonight. There are some things I don’t know yet, but I need you to be here when I find the answers.”

  William has also paused further up the stairs. He catches on fast. “You have the Clave and the verdan.”

  When I left the shop the last time, I had neither of those things. I had only just found out that the verdan would reveal the weapon that the feather was hiding.

  I say, “I do.”

  “Then… you’re ready to reveal it.”

  “I am.”

  William runs his hand across his forehead and eyes, clearly coming to grips with this new information.

  Below me on the stairs, Slade folds his arms. He still hasn’t budged. “What is a Clave?”

  “It’s a very small, fragile feather that changed the course of my life. Please. I will tell you everything upstairs.”

  He glances at the door. Now I know how William felt that day when he had so much to tell me about my childhood and I nearly bolted instead of listening to him.

  Slade says, “I can’t stay away from the Realm for long.”

  “I understand.”

  He remains stiff and guarded as
he inclines his head toward the upstairs. “Okay.”

  When we reach the kitchen, I don’t take a seat, knowing that Slade will want to stand, and I want him to be as comfortable as possible. He’s come this far but I can’t assume he won’t leave at the first opportunity. He takes up position as close to the top of the stairs as possible. I hate that he feels like he needs a quick exit from this situation.

  I get right to the point. “Twenty years ago, my mother came into possession of a very dangerous object. It was a feather that belonged to the last Keres.”

  Slade frowns. “Your mortal enemy.”

  “That’s right. We… that is William and I… don’t know where she got it. She came home with it one day when I was still a baby. It was while she and I were living here.”

  William gives me a confirmatory nod. He already told me everything he knows: that Mom went out on a mission and didn’t come back for days. When she returned, she had the feather. After that she was relentless in her protection of Patrick Ryan, the underground king.

  I continue, “She told me that the feather was the key to locating a very dangerous weapon but she wouldn’t tell me what the weapon is. This feather was so important that…”

  My voice catches. I swallow hard. “Protecting the feather was so important that my mother gave her life’s blood to coat the feather so the weapon could never be revealed. It’s why she chose to die.”

  Slade’s gaze deepens, but I hurry on. “I believe that Lady Tirelli asked Gareth to keep the feather safe in the Realm until they could figure out how to get the resin off. I don’t think they realized how important the feather was until recently. A week ago, William discovered that the resin could be removed with the sap from the verdan plant. Unfortunately, Gareth found out, too. He sent us to destroy the Furies for him. He planned to steal the verdan and take both the plant and the feather to Lady Tirelli.”

  Slade asks, “Is that why you wanted to destroy the plant?”

  “Yes.” I lift my shoulders in a slow shrug. “But everything changed after that night. And now… I have both the feather and the verdan. I need to find the weapon so I can destroy it once and for all.”