Shadow Assassins (The Second Realm Trilogy)

by Vazquez, Melissa

  It was such a strange place, this Second Realm that Evangeline was lost in. It was not like her own home of cement streets and steel buildings, but one of old order and superstition. That may have been due to the Rule of Absolute Separation, as Dirk mentioned, but it was also something more. This world contained all the old magic and superstition that had left the world she lived in.

  It didn’t take long for them to reach the prince’s hunting cabin. Prince Erik helped Evangeline off of his horse, then led his horse to a small stable on the side of the cabin, where a gray mare was already standing. As he took care of his horse, he told Evangeline to go into the house, as he would be behind her in a minute.

  She left him and headed for the cabin. Inside, the rich warm brown mixed with green banners of the Emeralde Kingdom. There wasn’t much in the cabin, just a bed, a large wooden table with weapons scattered on it. Another table against the far wall held the remains of the prince’s fishing expeditions. The faint scent of fish and blood reached her nose with sickening clarity.

  When the prince joined her in the cabin, she asked him to tell her more about the war and what was happening. She tried to keep her voice merely curious, instead of demanding.

  He eyed her for a moment, then went to the table of weapons. “Father is executing those with magical ability. The subjects in his castle have magical ability, but none are taught how to use it. That’s the only thing that keeps them safe; otherwise I fear he might kill them as well and have an empty kingdom to rule over. Outside the castle walls, however, his knights slaughter and raid. There is a werecat tribe not far from here that has defended their land many times, but another were tribe was not so fortunate. They were wiped out by my father’s knights. A farming village was recently slaughtered as well. I cannot stand all the bloodshed.”

  “Can’t you tell him that?” she asked.

  A wry smile crossed his lips. “I’m afraid Father doesn’t listen to me. Mother has tried reasoning with him several times, but he won’t listen to her, either. Some of the subjects complain and they are imprisoned. I don’t know what’s driving this destructive behavior of his.”

  “Was there something that triggered his behavior?” She couldn’t help pressing him on like this, despite how pained he looked to speak of his father’s madness. This was the job she had been given, and even if she was here with no supplies or ways to contact the others, she would still try to do her job.

  He glanced at her oddly, as if wondering why she was asking so many questions. “I am not sure. It was though he woke up one day and decided to hate everything not human. Or, maybe not so. It has been happening slowly over time. When his father, the previous king, was still alive, the people in our castle learned minor magical skill, mostly for healing. We had a great healer in our castle up until maybe a decade ago, when my father, the current king, thought it would be best if she was exiled from the kingdom. Since then, there have been bizarre changes. Classes teaching magical healing were disbanded. He focused on building a huge army. And now...well, I’ve explained what is happening now. Outside of our kingdom, it is visible everywhere. Death and destruction. People are dying out there and I cannot do anything to stop it.”

  He looked so miserable that Evangeline couldn’t help but place a hand over his in comfort. It was all she could think to do. She was never the hugging type, even among the other Assassins. Marco jokingly called her the ice queen at times for all the warmth she showed her comrades. For this prince, who could do nothing to help the people he would someday rule over, she could spare some kindness.

  He smiled at her. “The fortunate thing is, Father insists I am strong and can fend for myself. He allows me to go on these lone hunting trips, as long as I bring home trophies of many successful hunts. The fishing, he says is for leisure, and cares not for it, but I find it very relaxing, away from all this bloodshed. At least now, the company is much more beautiful than what I am usually allowed to see.”

  He was talking about her, calling her beautiful. Her eyes widened in surprise and he gave a small laugh at her expression.

  Stepping away from her, he said, “Unfortunately, I am not prepared to entertain such lovely company. Forgive me for lack of preparation.”

  “No, you’re fine. It’s not like you knew I was coming, right?” Evangeline said nervously. It was most unlike her and she wanted to kick herself for the tremors in her voice. The unfamiliar land and the threat of being alone had to be doing it. Back in Moonlight Hills, she would never have wavered so fast. On concrete land, surrounded by her fellow Assassins, she was confident and arrogant. In this strange land, alone? Little more than a lost child.

  She hated that insecurity.

  Prince Erik didn’t seem to notice how awkward she seemed. Instead, he held his hand out to her. “Would you allow me the honor of escorting you to Moonriver Academy?”

  A prince for an escort, and possibly a bodyguard. Kaydee would have swooned for the chance, with all the historical romance nonsense she read frequently. Evangeline only stared and awkwardly smiled.

  “I would like that. Thank you.”

  “It is my pleasure, my lady.”

  She couldn’t help but give a small laugh as he took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. After the kiss was given, he hurried about his cabin, gathering supplies that he threw into a small bag. He explained that while Moonriver Academy was not too far a distance away, they would still have to travel through the werecat hunting grounds and elf territory to cross over to the school.

  “Elf?” she asked, surprised. “What creatures live here?”

  He thought a moment. “There is a werewolf tribe to the west of us, a werecat tribe to the south of us, and the elf colony beside them. In the Second Realm, we are in the continent of Aurialis. There are two main continents and several island chains. Aurialis is where we are, as I said, and there is also the continent to the south of us, the Isle Dark. It is an uncivilized, evil place there. Here though, it’s filled with forests and rivers. The werewolf tribe is called Lunanda, while the werecat tribe is called Kkyathi. The Oraldine elves are almost human, although they insist on not interacting with us. There is also El Flora, home to a vampire colony and the Immortals – that is, humans with extraordinary power. Near El Flora are the Aeriad Mountains, home to dragon riders and their fierce dragons. Then to the east of our kingdom is Moonriver Academy, a giant school for all magical creatures. There is also the Feynid Forest, but I don’t suggest going there at all...and hmm, the Gypsa traders that wander throughout Aurialis.”

  It all sounded so exotic and foreign to Evangeline. This was like a story book come to life, a vibrant land full of creatures of fairy tale. She would have loved to visit each place and understand all of the cultures. Dr. Fyrn definitely would. He would give an arm and a leg to visit this place. She wanted to take notes and remember as much as she could for him.

  “Are you ready?” Prince Erik asked. “I have readied my second horse for you.”

  She nodded and he led her to the stable where the black horse Nightstorm stood near the black-spotted gray mare. The prince approached the mare, which had been prepared for Evangeline. A brilliant red halter was studded with gold. It contrasted with her gray coat. The mare seemed comfortable enough, although edgy when Evangeline approached.

  “This is Silverstorm,” the prince said. “She’s used to having guests ride her, so she’s much friendlier than Nightstorm.”

  Evangeline let Silverstorm sniff her. The mare seemed edgy at having Evangeline so close, but she obediently allowed her to get into the saddle. Prince Erik mounted himself atop Nightstorm and led them to the edge of the property.

  “Can you ride at a faster pace?” he asked her.

  “I can try.”

  “Alright, let’s try it.” He set his stallion off at a fast trot through the forest. Evangeline barely needed to guide her horse. Silverstorm seemed eager to keep up with her human.

  They made fast time getting to the edge of kingdom territory.
The horses altered from a quick trot to a flat out run, depending on what the terrain allowed. The prince showed Evangeline how to control Silverstorm better as they adjusted speeds. They had to have been riding for at least an hour. Evangeline felt the strain of sitting on the horse and felt the horse strain to carry her. Soon, they weren’t in a forest at all, but a flat plain. Prince Erik paused the horses when they reached a vast open field.

  He reached down to stroke the neck of his panting stallion. “We’re at the edge of Kkyathi territory now. It’s huge and there are a lot of streams crossing through. Small ones. The heart of Kkyathi territory has all the big streams and rivers. We’re far from the heart of their territory, but we should still approach with caution.”

  He dismounted his horse and helped her down, explaining that with all the streams, it would be better leading the horses around the water, rather than expecting them to run through it. With a small, teasing smile, he brushed Silverstorm’s muzzle and explained that she was rather scared of water of any depth and was difficult to work with when trying to lead through even a puddle.

  Evangeline admired how he treated his horses, as if they were more than just beasts, but children to be cared for. She had never felt that kind of relationship with anything, unless her care for her knives counted. The comparison didn’t feel right; the cold, specially designed silver-plated steel wasn’t exactly thriving in the same way that a horse was.

  Before either of them could lead the horses into Kkyathi territory, there was a shout from behind them. A shout to halt, followed by the neigh of multiple horses. A chaotic rhythm of horse hooves followed, with the clanking of metal armor.

  Prince Erik muttered an exotic-sounding curse and glanced at Evangeline. “Father’s knights. Guess they spotted us.”

  “Your highness, halt!” the man in the lead of the others shouted. “Your hunting grounds do not expand this far out. Why are you heading out past Emeralde territory?”

  “Rynda, a pleasure to see you, as always,” Prince Erik called out. He met the knight on horseback halfway through the distance between them.

  “You will need to come back into our territory, your highness,” the knight, Rynda, said curtly. “I’m afraid werecat territory is not a safe one to cross over into without guard.”

  “I am escorting this lady to Moonriver Academy,” the prince explained calmly. “It is not a job that requires fighting or death; just one that’s leading a lost lady back to where she needs to go.”

  Rynda took one look at Evangeline and wrinkled his nose in disgust. “That is no lady there, your highness.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Evangeline glared at the knight and her hand twitched towards her pocket, where her trusty switch blade lay closed. Not that a switch blade would do much damage to a man wearing metal armor, but the angry impulse moved her.

  “See how she glares at me! I think she may be a demon!”

  At this, she flinched. If they were indeed working for a corrupt king, the knights would kill her if they found out about her true nature.

  “A demon!” the prince exclaimed. “I think that armor is overheating your brain, dear Rynda. I have been in her presence long enough to determine that she is of no demonic influence. She is from the First Realm and merely curious about this world.”

  “She may as well be a demon if she is from the First Realm,” the knight grumbled. “You have no obligation to help her, your highness. Come back into the kingdom, where it is safe.”

  “I’m sorry, my dear friend, but I promised this lady that I would take her to Moonriver. Whether you decide to follow me or not is your choice.” with that, the prince headed back to his black stallion, not looking at all concerned about the trouble that was brewing.

  “I will not follow you across savage werecat territory! But I will not permit you to leave, either, your highness.”

  At this, Prince Erik’s emerald eyes blazed with anger. “You dare try to stop me?”

  “Under your father’s orders to keep you safe!”

  At this, Evangeline stepped up to the two men. “If it’s too much trouble, I’ll find my own way, Prince Erik. You don’t need to trouble yourself with–”

  “How dare you address his royal highness with such familiarity!” the knight Rynda interrupted, drawing his sword. “Child of the First Realm, return from whence you came. Such a disrespectful person does not belong among the Emeralde Kingdom.”

  She may not have belonged in this kingdom, but people did not address her like that wherever she was. Evangeline fixed the knight with a glare and with blatant rudeness, she said, “I believe I was addressing the prince, not you. Your disrespect doesn’t belong among the kingdom, or at least not in front of the prince.”

  The knight was apparently not used to being addressed with such defiance, especially not by a woman. “Wench! I can have you hanged for the way you speak to me!”

  His words lit a fire in her belly. She could feel that bad side of her itching to be set free. Her demonic half longed for a fight and the ill-tempered knight was egging her on. If the other Shadow Assassins had been around, they could have curbed her anger. Marco would have tried to crack a joke to break the tension and Kaydee would have pulled her back and tried to get her to calm down. Alone and left to fend for herself, she struggled inwardly with holding her inner demon back as it clawed at her belly, itching to be set free.

  Rynda turned to the prince now as she fought an inner battle. “See how she glares at me still, your highness! Such company to travel in would surely prove fatal for the crown. I could never allow you to travel with someone so dangerous–”

  “Shut the hell up,” Evangeline growled, her voice distorted from the effort it took to hold back her transformation.

  “Demon! She is a demon!”

  To hell with holding her demonic side back. Fed up with the knight with the big mouth, Evangeline let her anger take hold of her, warping her into something less than human. The cluster of knights nearby cried out in their fear and Prince Erik jumped back out of surprise. Out of her back rippled two wings, one black feathery wing from her angelic heritage and one leathery, bat-like wing from her demonic heritage. She felt her hands curling into claws and she fixed a deadly glare at the annoying knight with red-tinged eyes.

  The knight charged at her from his brilliant white war horse, sword out and shining in the afternoon sun. She waited, then lashed out at him. Her mismatched wings helped her become airborne, even if it was only for a second. It was long enough for her clawed hand to catch him right across the metal helmet he wore. There was a horrible wrenching of claws tearing through metal and she ripped through the helmet effortlessly. The blow knocked the knight called Rynda right off of his horse and to the ground.

  “Get out of here before I do some real damage,” she growled in that same distorted voice.

  “Prince Emeralde, hurry back to the kingdom!” Rynda cried.

  The prince regarded Evangeline with wide eyes, but he didn’t move. “I will be fine, my friend. You take your men back to where you are safe.”

  “I will do no such thing!”

  “As your prince, I will have no arguing! Go now, dear Rynda, and stay safe.”

  The knight was going to argue anyway but Evangeline let out an unholy roar. His men fled in sheer terror. His horse had already bolted far from here. Pride damaged, the knight had no choice but to retreat.

  Once the armored men were out of range, Evangeline felt her demonic side curling back into her, satiated for the moment but not near satisfied. That didn’t even count as a fight, but her demonic side saw no threat in the prince and would not attack him.

  The prince watched as Evangeline’s features transformed from her strange half-transformation back to her normal self. Unbalanced, she fell onto the flat ground, her bottom catching most of the impact.

  “It is impossible,” he mused. “I have only heard of one other like you. How is it that there are two?”

  “Two?” she gaspe
d, unable to breathe properly.

  Apparently not frightened by the show she had just put on, the prince knelt next to her. “My dear Lady Evangeline, I believe there are some things you forgot to tell me. Yes?”

  Chapter Seven

  The draught of sleep that Kaydee had been forced to drink worked its magic on her for some time, until she realized that she was no longer on flat ground, but traveling along bumpy road. Her eyes snapped open and she realized that she was in a large wooden carriage crammed with other people. The people were dirty and looked scared. Their wrists were shackled all in a row. When she looked down, she realized her wrists were also shackled with heavy iron, the dirty, rusted chain links keeping her tied to the person beside her.

  What was this horrid place? This was not the strange band of nomads that she had been with. She searched her memory for anything that could have helped. The last thing that happened was her panicking over their threat of selling her. After that? The fight, being forced into sleep...and then what? What had happened between that point and this point?

  She glanced around again, at her dirty companions. Some of them were asleep still, and she was willing to bet they had been drugged like she had. There were ten people in this wooden carriage in all, in two rows of five. They were all sitting on crudely carved wooden benches. Her ankles were chained as well as her wrists, in the same kind of row of shackles. Above their heads, there was a crude window with rusted iron bars between them. Daylight streamed in through the hole, along with the scent of salt water. Were they near an ocean? She couldn’t see out the makeshift window, but she had a feeling that they were indeed near an ocean. The carriage was quiet, except for someone on the opposite side of her crying, as quietly as possible. The soft, rhythmic sound of horse hooves came from the front of the carriage. Someone was driving this crudely carved and stuffed box.