- "Why don't you sing with me, brother?"
- "Cause you're gone."
Year of 3130. November. 1st
They locked me up, again.
The tiny cell stunk to the worst pit of Tartarus and it was too dark. Even if one could see, there was nothing there, but the bars and the never-ending hallway. The wind howled, and the bare trees screeched in response, a twisted symphony of winter and pain to my ears. Across the hallway, drifted the sounds of the other "inmates": the other assassins sent by who-knows-who to suffer for whatever it was they did to the royal family that deemed worth punishment.
The cell was a 2 meters cube, just tall enough to allow me to dangle from my wrists like a piece of meat waiting for them to butcher. It provided enough space for one to be able to deal lashes without a problem and at the same time, make the sufferer feel trapped and suffocated.
I opened my eyes to look down at my feet, chained together at the ankles. I was bare, but for my shorts, which were bloody and ripped. My skin was obtaining a greyish complexion, looking more anaemic than usual, as the lashing winter wind pressed against my throbbing back.
Another wave of agony washed over me, but I didn't scream, didn't moan. I felt it, but it was too much of a routine to register anymore. I just wished it would not get infected. I looked around my cell at the filthy walls, still covered in dried blood and skies know what. I inwardly cringed as several rodents climbed up my chained body, their tiny claws on my naked skin, and bit at my back. I growled deep in my throat and threw them off me, hissing when the burning chains holding me in place gnawed at my exposed flesh and blisters.
Not everyone had burning chains. I supposed I should have felt flattered they had thought me that much of a threat, but I would have thought them the worst sorts of idiots had they not used every means necessary against me.
Selene infiltrated in, flanked by two generals: Artemis and Apollo. She strode towards me with a predator's gait. She was the middle child of Erebus, the supreme ruler of the League. Her long, black hair braided down her back, strands of it escaping into her face as she brushed them away. I supposed she was beautiful, her features soft and delicate, pixie-like, too bad she didn't have the personality to go with it.
"Hello, commander." She said, innocently as if she was singing every letter, sound, with an angel's voice.
"What did we learn today?" She asked, her plump lips curled upwards in a sly invitation.
"You're my eternal pain in the ass?" I probed smiling sarcastically at her. She snorted at my remark.
"I believe you did not learn your lesson. Get me the whip, Apollo."
"Ah." I breathed as if she just caressed me like a lover. "I just look forward to our meetings every time." She came closer and held my chin in her falsely delicate hand.
"You know, it's a crime to ruin a face like yours, but" She let go and my head dropped as she lashed me across the face, the whip slashing: blood pouring as I gritted my teeth, but against common sense I smiled at her, eyes closed as not to expose their defection. Just as she was to strike me again a voice like thunder stopped her.
"Selene..." He sighed as if addressing a child with whom he was impatient. "What did I tell you about lashing my commanders?" She spun to face her father. Erebus seemed to be in the entrance of the cell, hearing rather than seeing it, since I still refused to open my eyes.
"But father...!" She argued, and I knew him enough to imagine the look he must've given her to shut her up.
"Apollo, unchain him, clean him up and bring him to me." Apollo sputtered indignantly, but Erebus ignored him. "Selene..." Selene sighed in disgust.
"I know. Leave him alone and go to your rooms."
Erebus seemed to have left the cell with his daughter by the time Apollo had shoved my gear back in my face. I felt for my shades and put them on again then rose to my feet, shaking slightly, but regained my posture. Two minutes later, bastard Apollo dumped ice-cold water over me and flung my clothes in my face. My back ached, and I had to grit my teeth to keep them from chattering and myself from lunging at him. I didn't bother putting on my turtle neck, instead, I let it fall on the floor and slipped on my coat buttoning it at about my stomach and leaving my neck and upper chest exposed as a slim 'V' shape. It would've been too much of a pain to try and wear the turtle neck, and I didn't think I would've been able to raise my arms that high anyway. I allowed Apollo and Artemis to lead me down the hallway and into the throne room. Not because, I didn't know the way, but because I refused to have anyone at my back. It was too stupid an act, too rash and irresponsible.
Apollo knocked twice on the huge metallic doors made of astounding silver and gold configurations. The sound rang, reverberating in my bones. It echoed a dozen times with chilling, dreadful clarity before a voice had answered: a roaring boom.
"Come in."
I am the predator; not the prey; not the pawn.
There was a hesitation: a slight pause, but ultimately the doors flew open. Apollo and Artemis bowed low before his highness.
Erebus, the supreme ruler of the League sat on his stately throne looking bored, as his whiskered chin rested on the back of his hand.
I stood defiantly, purposefully ignoring the scowls each of the twelve generals gave me. It didn't matter. They were not the threat, and neither were they the objective.
The throne hall was as cold as the person whom it was for: the marble stone of the embowed ceiling danced in the flickering low light while carved embroidery looked down upon us, with antique weaponry. The room resembled something out of the history books: ironic given that we were in the 32nd century. One would think that we would have electronics everywhere, but that was far from the truth. In many districts, they don't even have access to electronic stoves. The only exception to that rule is the third district, but even what they had could never rival the technological beauty of Astrid.
I stared ahead noting if any changes had occurred since the last time Erebus had acquired my presence. Nothing. Nothing at all. It was exactly as I had left it.
A scarlet rug ran down from the throne for a few meters, through the aisle before ending abruptly, while embattled banners with gilded tufts cover parts of the walls and between each, were the carvings of some ancient language, Greek or Latin, I couldn't quite tell. More blue embroidery covered the walls, along with all kinds of weapons and dark silhouettes.
The stately throne sat at the centre of a small platform adjoined by three equally impressive seats for his three beloved children; Nyx, Selene, and Moros. Each covered in textured and layered carvings: fixed on each of the front legs was an abstract star. The bulky pillows were as dark as night, adorned with burnished tassels.
Behind them were the seats of his generals, 12 in total. Each had the symbol of the Greek "divinity" they represented. I overlooked them.
They are no threat. They know better than to challenge me.
Upon the throne sat Erebus himself with all his dark, cold glory. Eyeing me with a menacing, amused glare which I felt rather than saw, because of his shades. His short black hair hung clumsily around his face as if he couldn't care less and he had at least a three days' worth of whiskers dusting his cheeks. A scar stretched from the top of the left cheek, running towards his lips.
I gave a slight curtsy. He arched one fine, dark brow at me as I shrugged with a nonchalance I really didn't feel. The sight of him made me ill. The sight of that room drove home the bitterest truth of all.
I'll never be free, no matter what I do. I am forever a prisoner. Forever his pawn. And I hated him for it.
"Aren't you going to kneel?" He asked more amused than angry. I stepped closer to the throne eyeing him fearlessly, but with respect as I curtsied again. I didn't answer his question. I asked one of my own.
"How may I be of service, your highness?" My cold voice rang out as he arched both brows. I had to stifle the urge to sneer the words in his face. From his reaction, it was obvious I bemused him. He stood up: the dark, navy armour crackling softly. He stalked me with curiosity as if I was a puzzle he couldn't figure out.
"Leave us!" He roared and the generals all scurried away, leaving a vapour trail in their wake. I might have laughed at their exit, had I not understood the source of it.
"Tell me something, commander." It was my turn to arch a brow at him. "Do I even want to know what it was about this time?" I shook my head slightly and shrugged, though the act sent waves of agony washing over me, I ignored it as usual.
"Even I don't know at this point. I assume she just likes to torture me for the hell of it." The silence stretched out between us as I saw a muscle tick in his whiskered jaw.
Had I offended him?
"Selene swears to me that I must keep you in the dungeons until you learn to follow orders. What do you say?" He asked.
I played along, my own curiosity sparking.
"I think it is bullshit, highness. I suppose I really don't care one way or the other though." I answered my voice dead as always, while inside I was getting ready to either bolt or fight my way out if I had to. Not that I could defeat them. Heck, I'd be lucky if I made it to the front gate without losing a limb... or dying. It was something they made sure no one ever forgot.
"Why not?" I stared at him as he towered over my lean form of 6 foot 4. I shrugged, and a corner of his thin lips curled.
"Why not?" He asked anew.
I didn't respond, and he stared at me then frowned, disappointed by my answer, or lack thereof.
"Say, I sided with my daughter. What are you going to do about it? Just surrender?" That question caught me off guard. Why would Erebus care how I felt about anything? But then perhaps he didn't, he could've been trying to get a notion about me, so he could read me, control me better, predict my next move. I smiled sadistically mirroring his own posture back at him as I saw right through his façade.
"One never tells the enemy his plan, unless one is an idiot. I am not, highness. Do you play chess?" He didn't expect that. He smiled at me which frankly made him look even more dangerous and threatening than when he frowned. The act didn't suit his features as they had to rearrange themselves into a new position. Instead of answering me, he spun on his heels and called Apollo.
Apollo opened the door and bowed low.
"Get a chess board." Apollo appeared stunned but knew better than to question Erebus. Erebus then led me onto one of the chairs of his generals and ordered me to sit. I did. He studied me a moment with an inquisitiveness a scientist would envy.
"Though you were an idiot enough to lip off to Selene, my beloved daughter." A statement. Not a question. He and I both knew that was idiocy on my part, but was I going to admit it? Hell, no! I settled on a half-truth.
"I couldn't resist." He arched a brow at that and I took it to mean that he wanted to know why. "The way she spoke to me, one would think I was her personal lap-dog. Sit, Black. Fetch, Black. Get me my coat, Black. I don't ride the short bus, highness. Had I found any of the above necessary, I would've done them long before she had told me." I explained. He appeared unsatisfied by the answer because he continued to press the issue further.
"And you're not her personal lap-dog?" I hesitated a moment but answered anyway as self-preservation kicked in.
"I serve you highness as a commander of the diamond rank. I kill people. I murder. I destroy. I am not her personal lap dog." Apollo returned with the electronic chess board as Erebus pressed the start button and the pieces appeared in front of us, the entire table illuminated by the faint blue light which caused his features to appear even more disturbing as I averted my gaze and studied the pieces.
I locked gazes with Apollo, giving him what can only be described as a crap-eating grin and added: "She has other people for that job.
"Move." He ordered. I predicted that which made my earlier assumption ring true. He was trying to read me. Unfortunately for him, I was not an open book. I did as he told me. I moved the queen's pawn to d4. He moved his king's pawn to e6.
"And if my daughter would like to use you as her personal lap-dog?" I moved my knight to f3 and stared up at him as he caught my gaze. The generals returned to retrieve something, though why they all had to enter was beyond me. They stopped on their way out to stare at the two of us.
What does he expect me to say?
"Then I guess we don't need them," I responded nodding towards the generals; he shook his head in approval: as if proud of my answer as he chuckled. I waved sarcastically at the generals, who were already scurrying away again.
Pawn to f5.
He looked at me with a smile, his chin resting on the back of his hands. I looked him in the eye and moved my piece with my voice.
"Left Knight to c3" His tight-lipped smile chilled me to the bones. I broke eye contact and focused instead on the chess game in front of me. He mirrored my move, urging his knight to f6.
"We don't need them." He echoed. "Smart brat. You just saved your life. As for Selene..." He broke off. "She ordered to have them hand you the first greenie that comes through the door and have an initiation, not two weeks after." He put his hand up. "Don't ask me why. I don't know, though I think you're right and she is only doing it to piss you off."
"C1 to g5" I hissed at my bishop before I returned my attention to Erebus. I opened my mouth to respond, but he raised his hand in a silencing gesture and I clamped it down.
"Hold your tail, pussy cat. She also told me that she signed an order that if your newbie was to die, so would you and the rest of your crew. I am willing to pull you off the hook," He looked up at me. "But only because you're one of my better soldiers and my best commander. It would pain me to lose such a good assassin. Where ever will I found someone as capable as you?!"
I muttered a lousy "Thank you, Highness." But Erebus didn't seem to have heard.
"Word to the wise avoid lipping off to Selene and Moros. They don't appreciate it." He moved his bishop to e7.
I observed him, studying his features, he didn't seem upset about it, but I never showed my true emotions either. For all I knew, he was playing me just like his pieces, just like his pawn. The thought of that sickened me. I am no one's pawn.
"I know." I sighed avoiding his gaze as I moved my bishop to kill his knight. He killed my bishop with his own. I tried another approach as I moved my king's pawn to e4, he killed that as well. I strategized carefully; he leaned closer doing the same. For a moment, there was silence, until he spoke again.
"How many do you have in your crew anyway?" I moved my knight to kill his pawn as I straightened.
"Six including me." He moved his pawn to b6. He thought about that again for a moment before he spoke.
"And your little baby? And you find that number satisfactory for the assignments?" I shrugged moving my knight to e5. Anew, I told him a half-truth, since he would've picked up the lie and killed me for it on the spot.
"I believe in quality over quantity, highness. Matter of fact, most days we take two assignments at the same time, just so I could keep them on their toes." Neither of us spoke instead we focused on the game in front of us. The war of minds we were engaged in.
O-O, bishop to d3, his to b7; my queen to h5, his to e7. I killed one of his pawns, he killed my queen.
"Anyway, enough small talk. That was not why I sent for you anyway." I killed the bishop and looked at him attentively. "I sent for you because I want you and your crew for a special mission for me." I didn't answer, curious as to what that may be.
Checkmate.
He moved his king to h6.
"There had been a hacker messing around with the system, have you heard of it?" He inquired.
"Of course, I and two of my crewmates had been trying to re-hack it for weeks now," I admitted. He looked at me expectantly urging me to continue. "We've been successful in retrieving some of the data, but most have been rather stubborn. We are working on it though." I moved my knight to g4 another checkmate. He moved his king to g5.
"It is of a great nuisance, don't you think?" I moved my pawn to h4.
Checkmate.
"Perhaps so." He looked at me then, as I felt his scorching gaze searching me, trying to breach my façade. It was as if he had me under a microscope: as if I had been a book he was trying to open and read. A puzzle to solve, a pawn to order.
"I take it you would like me and my crew to track the hacker down for you and kill whoever it is responsible." A statement of fact. I knew that was why he wanted me here. It was the most reasonable answer to his problem; to send his best assassins' team to "terminate" whoever it was. He moved his king to f4.
"Correct." I knew it. He was trying to read me, but at the same time, he was exposing himself: not a bright thing to do. My pawn to g3, checkmate. "I will have Artemis and Apollo give you her information thus far." His king to f3.
He was dead just a couple of more moves and I would have him...
"Her?" He nodded. My bishop to e2. His king to g2. My castle to h2.
"Apparently she is a teenager from the third district. We weren't able to gather anything more than the high school she attends." He sounded disgusted, but who would blame him. An entire organisation, centuries of years old, couldn't stop one teenage girl from hacking their system? Quite shameful indeed. "I trust you will not fail me at this commander?" I moved my final piece, my king to d2 and my masterpiece was complete. I tsked at him.
"You know better. When have I ever failed?" It was a statement of fact. I wasn't necessarily feeling arrogant, simply stating that I was the best option indeed. "But why send me? Why not one of your generals?"
"I was hoping you could get to her high school as students since you're about the same age." Sensible enough. He stared at the chessboard shocked amusement edged on his features as he realised that I won. He gazed at me again then back at the board as he turned it off. "I have never been beaten at chess before..." He said sounding wistful as he brushed the board aside and clammed his hands together.
"Neither have I," I answered simply, and the meeting ended. It went better than I would've hoped, but I was stuck with an almost impossible mission to accomplish in less than two months and a newbie to train at the same time. Erebus stood up and I followed his example, though my back barked in protest. One would think I would learn from the excruciating pain, but no, I still lip off to Selene and Moros at every turn.
"You are dismissed, commander." I saluted Erebus and turned to leave. "Commander," I spun about. "Be careful." The killing calm took me under, a festering disease. That was a threat.