by Emma Couette
As we near my entrance, my hands start to tremble and I clench my fists before Ajax can notice. I have to be confident for him or this will never work. I have to set the example, have to be courageous.
I sigh.
Why do I always get the hard job?
“Are we almost there?” Ajax asks.
“Nearly, but quiet, an actual assassin wouldn’t ask that, they’d know.”
“What does it matter? We’re alone.”
I shoot him a look.
His eyes widen. “You mean...? That’s comforting.” He looks cold and I wish I could put him at ease.
Instead, I cross my arms and say, “You think we’d let just anyone waltz into our part of the city? I told you, our security is way more extensive than yours.”
“I guess,” he says. “So, how much longer?”
I roll my eyes. “What are you, five?”
He stares at me.
“A few more minutes; hold onto your cloak.”
We keep walking.
True to my word, we reach the right street five minutes later.
“Are we...” Ajax starts and I shush him.
I point down the street to a brick bungalow. “That’s our destination there on the corner.”
“The house?”
“Yes,” I reply. “Surprised?”
“A little.”
I pick up the pace. “Come on, I don’t fancy being out in the open much longer.”
He shivers. “Me neither.”
We continue down the street and then up the front walk of the house.
I open the door a crack.
“It’s unlocked?” Ajax asks.
“Yes, now be quiet.” I angle my ear towards the inside of the house and listen: silence. “All clear,” I say, “after you.”
He sighs and enters the house. I follow and shut the door behind us.
It’s still dark inside, seeing as it can’t be later than seven thirty in the morning and the window curtains are all closed.
“What exactly are we doing here?” Ajax asks. “And how extensive can your security be if you leave the door unlocked?”
“The entrance is downstairs and the unlocked doors help the newer assassins identify where the entrance houses are. Besides, keys are easily misplaced.”
“I suppose, and what do you mean by downstairs?”
“Come on,” I sigh, “I’ll show you.”
I take the steps two at a time and head to the back bedroom.
“This place is eerie,” Ajax complains, “like something out of a black and white movie.”
I shrug. “You get used to it.”
I walk over to the closet and open the door, beckoning to him as I step inside.
He looks at me funny. “You know, Silent, if you wanted some alone time with me, you could’ve just asked.”
I can’t see my face, but I know I’m blushing brighter than an apple. “You...” I try. “Idiot,” I mutter. “That’s not what I’m— just get in here.” I am completely flustered.
He grins at me. “Relax; I’m just messing with you.” He steps into the closet beside me and I shut the door. “Now what?” he asks.
“Now, you get over so I can get the door.”
“Door?”
I nudge him aside and kick over the pile of clothes before crouching down to get a good grip on the trap door handle. Then I heave it open. It smacks down in the space Ajax just vacated.
“Whoa,” Ajax breathes, “clever.”
“Well, we try. Care to go first?”
He doesn’t answer and I say, “You know what, I should probably go first actually, wouldn’t want you to trip and fall down a hole. There’s a ladder down the shaft here. As long as you stay close to me in the tunnel, you should be fine. Got it?”
“Crystal clear, captain.”
I smile. “Then let’s do this.”
I drop in the hole and place my feet on the first rung. Then I descend. A few seconds later, I hear the metallic ring as Ajax follows me, his boots landing on the rung above my head.
It takes us a few minutes to climb down and a couple more for our eyes to adjust to the dark tunnel.
“Where are we?” Ajax asks.
“Underground,” I reply, “and no, we’re not there yet.”
“How much further?”
“Not sure, haven’t timed it before. On the bright side, we haven’t encountered anyone yet and the tunnel is still accessible. It’s a good sign.”
“You mean your plan might actually work?”
“Shut up,” I say, punching him in the arm.
“Ow, I was only kidding. I never doubted you.”
“Sure, that’s what you say now.”
“Aren’t we on a schedule?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m going. Watch your step.”
One hundred paces later, as usual, we come to the elevator.
Ajax winces at the sudden light and shields his eyes. “Ah, why didn’t you warn me?”
“Sorry.”
He looks over at the elevator then. “What is that?”
“An elevator,” I reply.
“Great,” he says, hugging his arms to his body.
“What’s wrong with elevators?” I ask.
He looks at his feet. “I’m not too fond of them.”
I raise an eyebrow. “The great Ajax is afraid of an elevator?”
“Don’t laugh; I’m sure even you are afraid of something, something stupid.”
“It’s not stupid,” I relent, “I was afraid of the thing the first time I used it too, but it’s perfectly safe.”
“So you say, but this could be the day the cable finally snaps and we plummet to our deaths.”
“It could be, but you can’t let that possibility ruin your life. Any day could be the day someone robs your house, but you don’t refuse to leave it. Any day you could get food poisoning, but you don’t refuse to eat. I’m telling you, Jax, it’s going to be okay. We won’t die and if we do, we’ll do it together, all right?” I hold out my hand and he hesitates. “You say you trust me, here’s the chance to prove it.”
He steps forward and puts his hand in mine. I hope he can’t hear how my heart speeds up.
Stop. It’s not about you right now.
“You can do this,” I tell him.
I lead him over to the door and type the code into the panel with my free hand. The doors slide open and he trembles.
I squeeze his hand. “You’ve got this; don’t think about it, just focus on my hand. Okay?”
He nods.
We step into the elevator and the doors shut.
He tenses up, eyes closed.
“No,” I tell him, “that’ll make it worse. Look at me.”
He does as I say and I can see the fear written in his blue eyes, but it dissipates as he focuses on me.
The elevator descends. His fingers crush mine, but I don’t so much as flinch. I can be strong for him. His eyes don’t leave mine for the whole ride and I know it is an experience I will never forget.
The elevator reaches the ground a few minutes later and Ajax rushes out the door as fast as his legs can take him. His hand rips out of mine in his haste. I walk out after him.
Ajax is panting, bent over with his hands on his knees. He looks up after a moment and says, “Thank you. I never thought I could do that.”
I shrug. “What are friends for?”
He smiles and I try to keep from blushing. “Hey,” I say, “if it would make you feel any better, I’ll tell you about my ‘stupid’ fear, but you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“Sure.”
“Do you promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Good,” I reply, “because I will kill you if you let this spill. Now, try not to laugh, but I’m afraid of feathers and pillows.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I tremble as memories, unbidden, flash through my eyes.
No, I tell them. Stop.
&n
bsp; “You’re serious?” I hear Ajax say as if from afar. “The great Silent Night is afraid of feathers and pillows?”
The trembling worsens. The images won’t stop.
“Hey, I’m not laughing. Silent?”
I fall to my knees, holding my head.
“Silent? Are you okay?”
His voice is fading...
“Silent! Look at me!”
I can’t.
His fingers touch my chin then, pulling my head up to face him. His eyes pierce mine and my hands fall to my sides. His gaze shatters the reel of images spinning endlessly in my mind. All I can see now are his eyes. I could kiss him.
What?
Slowly, I come to my feet, not once taking my eyes from his. When the trembling finally stops and I’m breathing normally, Ajax takes me by surprise by pulling me towards him and wrapping his arms around me. I sink into his warm embrace.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” he breathes. His hand is around my head, his other against my back. My arms are around his torso, face buried in his chest. He’s the one shaking now.
“I’m sorry,” I say when I can manage to speak. I can’t believe he’s hugging me. He feels so safe. I could stay like this forever, but he pulls away a minute later.
“Care to tell me what happened there?” he asks. “I felt like I was losing you.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“I... I have panic attacks, or something like them,” I reply. “It’s hard to explain without triggering another one. Um... Okay, so when I mention my fear, it usually brings back things I don’t want to remember... Do we have to talk about it?”
He winces. “No, I can see it pains you. I’m sorry for asking.”
“You deserve to know. It can’t be easy watching me go through it.”
“It’s not,” he assures me.
There’s a silence between us, but it’s not awkward.
“Is that why the pillows we gave you are under your bed?”
“You noticed that?”
“Well, most people keep them on the bed. I figured you had a good reason for it, so I didn’t ask.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. We should keep going, take our minds off of this whole experience here.”
“Good idea,” I say.
He holds out his hand for me to take it. Our touch gives each other strength as we continue.
…
“We have to be careful here,” I tell Ajax. “Keep to my pace. I have to count my steps and I need to be accurate.”
“Why?”
“Do you fancy walking off of a cliff and breaking to pieces on the jagged rocks below it?”
He winces. “No, not now that you mention it.”
“I didn’t think so. Let me do my thing here and we should be fine.”
Twenty paces later, I come to a stop. “Now we head to the left. There’s a ledge that goes around. Fifty paces of that and the tunnel will continue.”
He follows me closely. “Well, Silent, you were definitely right. Your security is insane. How did you even figure out how to navigate this?”
“I took a lantern with me the first time and made sure to take precise measurements.”
“I guess so,” he replies. “Man, even if one of us managed to find the trapdoor in the basement, we’d never get past the elevator or these traps you’ve laid for us.”
“Well, that’s sort of the point.”
“I know, I’m just saying that you’re amazing. This never would’ve happened without you.”
I’m suddenly rather aware of his hand in mine and I’m glad it’s too dark for him to see the heat in my cheeks.
“Thanks,” I reply, “it was nothing.”
“Oh, I’m sure. How much farther?”
“About five minutes and then comes the hard part.”
“Great.”
Finally, we come to the part of the tunnel full of hanging light bulbs and I tell Ajax we’re nearly there.
“But it’s a dead end,” he protests.
I smile. “That’s why we’re going up.”
He follows me to the end of the tunnel and I point to the ladder carved into the wall.
“Clever,” he says. “Ladies first?”
“It would probably be best,” I agree.
“Lead on then.”
The hardest thing about the whole endeavour is letting go of his hand. Then I climb up the ladder and push up the floor tile above.
I peer out into the hall. No one is coming. I listen closely, but hear nothing. I lower the tile and look down at Ajax. “The coast is clear but it won’t be for long. You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
I push the tile up all of the way and slide it carefully out of place without making a sound. Then I pull myself out of the hole and onto the floor above.
Ajax follows my lead and is soon standing beside me. I crouch down and slide the tile back in place. It disappears into the flooring.
“Whoa,” Ajax breathes, “now that is genius.”
“It is pretty cool,” I agree, “but now is not the time to appreciate it; we’ve got things to do.”
“Right,” he says. “You going to give me the whole tour?”
“We’ll see.”
We head down the hall. Ajax fingers his gun and twitches at small noises.
“Act casual,” I hiss at him under my breath. “You look exactly like what a suspicious person would look like.”
“Sorry,” he says and I watch him as he relaxes.
“That’s it.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’ll visit the Grand Cavern first and then my old room.”
“Sounds good.”
We continue in silence and listen as the Guild noises grow louder.
“I hear sparring,” Ajax says.
“Thanks, tips,” I reply. “There are countless training rooms and armouries on this floor.”
“Oh.”
We pass by a couple in a few minutes and no one so much as glances at us. This might actually work.
“Almost there,” I whisper.
“I think I can hear it,” he says.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Is it always that loud?”
“Without exception, but I don’t mind it.”
“Really?” he says, crossing his arms. “You seemed to think our cafeteria was pretty loud.”
“I told you, the two are not the same. There’s a difference between background noise that is so loud you can’t think and background noise that becomes a mild buzzing sound in your ears. Yours would be the former.”
“Whatever.”
“Quiet now, the doors are just around this corner. Remember, do what I do. Try to look intimidating without looking like you’re trying to. Act like everyone is beneath your notice and feel free to finger a knife or two. Your height should be enough to intimidate a lot of them, but anything more can’t hurt.”
“My height?”
I look up at him. “Don’t give me that, you’re like a tree.”
He frowns. “I’m only 6 foot 4.”
I roll my eyes. Only.
“Avery’s like 6 foot 5,” he points out.
“So is the Charger, but my point is that a lot of people are shorter than you, so use that to your advantage.”
“How tall are you?”
“5 foot 6 maybe? Look, it doesn’t matter, just do what I said and you should be fine.”
“All right, captain.”
“Shut up,” I say, smiling. Then I school my features into the guise of a cold-hearted killer and lead Ajax into the Grand Cavern.
The Cavern is exactly how I remember it: people everywhere, doing everything. Black market deals are being struck. Some guy is trying to sell a dead assassin’s weapons. Food is being eaten, and thrown. Swords are being drawn. Fist fights are taking place in dark corners. Shots are fired. Insults, cursing, belching, and... Did that guy just get knifed?
�
�Assassin’s below,” I mutter.
It’s eight o’clock in the morning and already this place has gone to hell. It likely never left it last night. Guild, this is something I do not miss.
“Stay close,” I whisper under my breath, hoping Ajax hears me. Then I bundle my resolve and, with one hand on my best throwing knife, step into the crowd.
I head over to my spot in the far corner under the mezzanine. I duck knives, dodge brawls, and kick a few shins accidentally and purposely on my way.
We’re almost there when I pass a table and trip over someone’s outstretched foot. I hit the ground hard and swear loudly. I go to push myself to my feet, until I feel the cold press of metal against my neck.
Bastard.
He has no idea who he’s dealing with. I’ll skin him alive, but I can let him live out his fantasy for a second or two.
“What do you think you are doing?” I ask, my gaze on the floor in front of me.
“Securing myself an interesting afternoon,” an older male voice replies. “You see, little lady, you’re pretty and young and old Bruno here would like to have some fun. You catch my drift?”
“Oh, I catch it, but it’s not happening. You can go to hell.”
I slide to the left and kick at his leg with mine at the same time. It catches him off guard, but I still feel the sting as his knife grazes my skin. I roll over and draw my own knife.
We look at each other. He’s an ugly little man, probably in his late forties.
Isn’t that a little old for an assassin?
“So you want to do it the hard way?” he asks. “That’s fine. Old Bruno likes a challenge.”
Ugh, I’m going to be sick.
He lunges for me with his knife. I jump to my feet and then duck. His knife soars through empty air and he’s knocked off balance. I aim my knife at his exposed back but...
Someone beats me to it.
A sword buries itself in his flesh up to the hilt and Old Bruno crashes to the ground, drowning in his own blood.
My saviour grabs me by the hair and pulls me to him. “Thanks, Bruno, old man,” he says. “I haven’t had such a fine catch in years.”
Instinct has me driving my heel into his foot and he lets go, swearing.