The knife, un-guarded and drenched in blood swung with its dripping tip at Aloysia's side, a hair's thickness away from piercing her skin.
There it was. His plead. His final act at freedom before she would steal it away from him...
She had expected it.
Oh how those eyes alighted and dulled the moment she caught his wrist; the fear wrangling into his mind as she twisted it, before the final plead as the knife plunged into his abdomen.
No words were exchanged... none were needed. He would go silently.
Scrunching his face disturbingly at the reaction to the stinging, the man shook. His lips moving without a sound leaving them as he looked upon himself... what had become of himself.
The dagger buried in his front, slowly killing him.
Aloysia helped, guided his body to lay on the floor while it fought, hammering every heartbeat to stay alive; the man latching onto her with his remaining strength.
Not in malice, but in self-preservation.
She allowed it, and sighed heavily as his suffering had ended. Taking his final breath, Aloysia ran two fingers over his pale face, closing those void-less, royal-blue eyes shut for the final time.
As usual, her own ruby eyes alighted at the feeling of death near her, it rolling in its delight.
But this time she didn't feel the same... and couldn't shake off the feeling as to why.
Arising carefully, Aloysia stared at the body, arms limp and swimming in its own pool of blood...
She recovered her daggers, swiping them with her cloak to remove the mass amount of crimson stains... it was never enough. There would always be a mark, whether visible or not.
With leaden steps, Aloysia didn't even hear the thanks from behind her as she walked away; blocking out everything she could, and only one question getting through, one question standing out amongst the rest.
"Why didn't you kill me too?" The man asked cautiously, brushing the muck from his lower lips and shaking his hair out breathlessly. He had watched from the sidelines the entire time, addressing his cuts and bruises but watching how The Shadow worked.
She stood frozen.
"Why should I?" She retorted, angling her head to face him as he stepped back.
Scratching the back of his head, he paused, deep in thought.
"I- I'm not sure, it's just in your nature" the man regretted asking, "don't take this the wrong way but I would've assumed you-"
"-Never assume" she hissed, "-your first mistake" The assassin was pissed enough that she had felt even the slightest guilt for killing a thief. It made her sick to the stomach.
Perhaps she should kill him too.
"If you want to die, keep talking"
That silenced him. Good.
He was growing irritating, a headache emerging around the corner at the shambles that was this night. It reminded her of her reputation. How could she allow them to speak to her the way they did?
Was she not scarier than the thought of death?
Aloysia pondered to herself, pondered over her image in the public's eye.
Liam.
He ruined everything. It was all his fault. Every dam whisper of truth that passed his lips about her should've been crushed.
Gods above have mercy.
Mercy for the prince she was about to visit, the one that a certain assassin held a grudge against.
She had almost forgot- almost forgotten about him mentioning her heroics to others; had almost gotten so lost in his charm that she was blind to it all.
That was about to change.
Tonight.
~
He lost sight of himself, the moment his emotions became enraged from that glimmer of silver shining against his mother's neck.
His blood had sung in death while it pumped nothing but venom around his body.
He thought he could've murdered him. There and then. And he almost did.
If it wasn't for her.
When he felt her presence he froze, the rage, the fury still there but caged. The way she could just snag control of your limbs before you even had a fighting chance took his breath away.
He supposed he should thank her.
Once you pass the mark of taking another's life... there is no turning back.
A sharp inhale through the mouth brought him back to the present. He was limping, wounds only minor but god did it throb when she slammed him to the ground; a bruise surely blooming on his chin.
What would his mother say to that. God- he was beside himself with nerves. Her face had killed him once he took after the thief. A face he dreaded upon return.
He was not a child, he did not wish to get scolded, yet his mother always found something to comment on, labelling it as 'self-improvement'. Although this time... the conversation would look entirely different.
That's why he chased after that thief, because that man in that very second was about to take away all those nagging moments yet to come, all the direct smiles filled with unconditional love a mother could give her child.
Even when she was held at deaths door and had the option of revenge, to hurt the man back... she didn't once allow herself to stoop to that level; preferring to stay calm and see the good in the culprit. Which is the reason for her expression as she watched him rush after the thief, a grim lining to her thin lips, face pale yet hopeful for her son to not take a step down that path.
After what he pulled, he hoped she could still see the good in him.
She was a treasure. So the short-staggered walk was prolonged, secretly not wanting to return and face her, but choosing not too. He just couldn't.
He would help his mother rebuild the shop, help his sister on arrival tomorrow and forget the events of tonight.
That was why, even with his bleeding chin, he smiled.
~
Liam couldn't sleep that night, in fact, he found himself rarely sleeping anymore; his mind constantly wondering to the image of Elianna walking with his mother so elegantly. She appeared so comfortable with her it made his chest swell at the thought.
Sighing with an air of sleepiness, he followed the marble walls sluggishly to his chamber from the library, eyes wondering through the empty passageways; guards were no where to be seen.
He halted, thinking it was the late night aroma that caused his eyes to see things, or to miss them; mind strongly rallying toward paranoia.
Even still, Liam's pace grew cautious, his head turning before his body did to stare down another empty corridor...
He swallowed at this realisation, he didn't want to panic.
Another corner came, no guards.
This didn't look good.
So his pace began to steadily increase as his stupid paranoia crept in.
It took a good few minutes to reach his doo, yanking at the handle that -again- had no guards stationed outside it, and screeched the door open.
He pulled himself inside harshly, to then slam it shut.
Where. Are. The. Guards.
He was vulnerable, especially without his protection nearby. He always had his protection...
Panting at his fear of being left alone, something incredibly scarce, he pressed his body against the door, as if to stop anyone from the outside to gain entry.
Something was out there -the reason for his guards disappearance..
Liam shut his eyes and breathed slowly. There was no need to get worked up. Fear would only breed more fear and with his fighting ability, that would only hinder it terribly.
He sighed, raising his head and opening his eyes to be frozen for words.
The world suffocated his windpipe at the sight Liam's mind was receding back.
The Shadow was leaning against the bed post, submerged in darkness by her hood, and sharpening her stained blade with ease. The assassin looked up.
He was sweating, the water shining off his sun-kissed skin from the window behind her, moon in view.
She stood straight, sheathing one of her twin blades. Aloysia was a lot cleaner now since the last time from the tavern, but marks of filth and blood still trimmed the edges of her cloak, her blade... and surprisingly... her fingertips.
Although dry, he still cringed.
The velvet-thick cloak wrapped around her while her lips spoke volumes of intimidation.
"What- what do- yo- you want?" His words were stuttered as he lost control of his limbs to his fight or flight response. To which, before he could take another throat wrenching breath, he spun his body and lunged for the handle. But she was quicker, seizing his wrist and throwing it monstrously into the wall.
She then pushed her body against his silk shirt while her cloak wrapped around him, pinning him in place against the door. He was trapped.
With both arms gripped against the hard oak, he felt faint. "Why did you tell people about our meeting, Princeling?" She was angry, a hiss to sound off her words.
Never before had he heard a voice so vicious it could devour his body, it screaming at him to yield to her unnerving power of manipulation.
"What???" He sounded desperate, "Your angry at that??" He was heavily breathing, yet her breathing was perfectly calm, almost untraceable, like a true assassin.
However, with her body tightly pressed against his, he could feel her chest rise and fall ever so gently, which made his head go nuts.
"You didn't have to tell anyone of our meeting little Princeling"
Her breath lingered on him, "You could have kept your big mouth shut!"
Heat was rising at her proximity to him.
"First, can you release me please"
She tilted her head, an eyebrow raising in suspicion.
"I won't run away."
Aloysia retracted, pulling away her body as he took in a much-needed breath.
"Second, how is me telling people you did something good, bad?"
She crossed her arms and huffed, "I would expect someone of your stature to understand the need to uphold reputation". She spoke with such bitterness, it was alarming.
Controlling his heart from pounding out of his chest, he replied, "I don't understand, surely this would improve your reputation? I didn't think you'd care-"
"No, you didn't THINK did you!" Her hands were flailing as she stormed to the centre table and pulled a chair. He widened his eyes as his arm reached out to signal for her to stop, but then she halted, dropping dead silent and still like a stone.
"You are the second person to assume, to believe they know what's best!"
His stomach roiled with nausea.
He didn't reply, the silence deafening. The Shadow... she was standing in his room... his castle... the opportunity arising... he couldn't pass it.
Liam needed time, had to somehow drag this out in time for the changing of the guard, one shift to another.
"How did you even get in here? And where are my guards?" He asked quietly.
She frowned, but he couldn't see it.
"Did you have something to do with their disappearing?"
Alyosia scowled, "You're not very smart, are you?".
Hurt by that comment he stepped forward, "And what does that mean exactly?"
She turned around, gaining her posture and stance, forcing him to retract some of his arrogance, "Im an assassin you idiot, slipping into and out of places secretly is my job. One that I happen to be the best at."
He rolled his eyes at her bragging. "So you went to all that effort for me?? I'm touched", he said sarcastically while imitating a child. He didn't know where this confidence was coming from, but he didn't dispute it one bit.
She growled at him, "Don't test your luck with me Princeling, you know nothing of the real world, being protected away like a little helpless boy that you are"
She spat at his feet. She had riled him up, and she knew it.
Aloysia grinned her broadest grin while folding her arms and leaning back in satisfaction. The Prince was fuming, he had never been treated with such disrespect, so much so as to be spat at. Anger flared through him as his mind had no time to respond to his actions. His arms swung for her, but she caught it, twisting his arm on reflex and sending a surge of agonising pain down to his shoulder, crawling to his neck.
His pupils had constricted as his emotions froze cold when he looked at her.
Aloysia gulped... that stare... it felt foreign to her, a painful gaze to look at.
Completely different to how he would look at her as Elianna... a warm gaze replaced bitterly.
Realising what she was doing and who she was doing it too, she released, as his arm hung loosely, swooped by his other arm, pulling it closer to his chest.
"Monster!" He said it with such disgust, the deep flame began to flicker.
Anger flourished her blood as it ran boiling through her panicked body. Almost instantly she yelled, "I am no monster!"
Silence.
The room, toxic by the silence, drowned out the wind from the open window, as they both stood. Simmering.
"Say that one more time!" She screamed at him, echoing off the four stone walls, as it rung in his ear drums.
"Monster!"
She swore. Holding back the urge to grab him by his neck and sever it.
Monster... he actually said it.
"I hate you" she spat, teeth baring down in anger.
He seemed taken aback, the words sounded personal... but why?
Aloysia panicked, she didn't mean- gods no- she was giving herself away- in this state- if he knew- if he sought the truth... panic strung from her as she covered her head, praying for whatever was happening to stop.
"I- I hate you..." her voice had melted, no longer anger and fury residing of it, but pain.
She didn't mean it. Didn't mean what she said but couldn't stop the words rolling off her tongue.
She took a deep breath, looking away from him and avoiding his charming gaze. The deep stir was triggering, the flames before was only a 'taster' of what was to come?
Was she truly dying? Was this punishment from within?
She almost broke again, but her self-control only grew with each outburst. She knew the day would be near, the day where there would be no secrets, everyone would find out who she was and what she was. It was calling her, dragging at her to be awoken from its dormant slumber.
She pressed her eyelids shut, so hard it hurt. She was being drowned by dread as it consumed her. "I'm sorry," he said gently, all anger relinquished.
"I didn't mean it like that-", but before he could finish, she brushed past him and grabbed the door, groaning with her strength to open it, "You've done enough damage"
He sighed, his arm still twitching as his face revealed guilt and concern.
"You will understand in due time, that will answer and explain, for all of my actions".
What did that mean? What was she implying? But before he could ask, she was gone, leaving the door ajar, as she had done at the tavern, many weeks ago.