The morning sun was blinding, the heat monstrously beating down. What didn't help was that today was the day they would travel to the castle, but her only issue that caused paranoia to flutter... was that Aloysia hadn't been told anything.
She yawned sheepishly, stretching her back that punished her for sleeping awkwardly. Nerves were tickling her, a constant annoyance; one that she wished would leave her wretched existence.
She hated the silence, eyeing Belinda with an air of caution. "Viper, I don't trust you, so tell me what in the name of Caswor is going to happen? You haven't given me anything!" she huffed, pulling her shoulders back and feeling the foreign material over her body.
Viper glazed back and laughed, eyes squinting from the light while her arms hung over the balcony close to the top floor. She smiled innocently while admiring the view, "I do not expect you to trust me. In fact..." she propelled herself from leaning casually, one hand resting on the banister, "if you did, you'd be a bigger fool than I thought"
"Charming" She drawled, raising a cocky eyebrow. The clothing the assassin wore was different... it was that of a guard... Viper's guards. However, Aloyisa had refused to lay her scars on her shoulders, being adamant that the stark, dark scar on her chest was covered.
So as her hands trickled down the wide necklace creating the shape of a crescent, she took a sigh of comfort.
Feeling less exposed, her skin sizzled at the warmth; she had noticed she was less lethargic and wasn't as clammy thanks to the less layers. Some benefits perhaps?
It held no hood however, so her eyes were as bright as the early morning sun; wide awake and for all to see. She pushed with a grunt, still fiddling with her clothing, "I do not understand how you can orchestrate a plan without telling the individuals involved?"
Viper huffed, "Says you, you practically do that all the time!"
"Touché. But not the point"
"Oh?" Belinda proclaimed, tilting her head, "What is your point then?"
Aloysia sashayed closer, gaining a feel for the loose material; her blades attached to her hips, her voice turned serious, "My point Viper- is that when someone's life besides mine is on the line, I care to know the details"
Belinda grinned, her golden eyes flaring with a cheeky expression. "So... in other words, you care for the Prince?"
"Don't get cocky with me" she flashed, "I care for this world that I just so happen to live in, and if it wants to be taken over by a madman while I hold the key in the form of a boy, then yes, I do care"
Belinda smiled, "Touché"
Lifting her nose at the assassin, Aloysia asked slightly quieter, "And how will you deal with hiding my eyes, this outfit doesn't exactly win the best award for concealment you know"
"Calm down Shadow, I'm aware"
The sound of the morning marketeers setting up shop was refreshing, flying with the wind that swept through her darkened hair.
Yes, her hair with the help of an un-relenting assassin was coloured a dark shade of brown, on the verge of black. It felt odd, but suited her nevertheless.
"I'll deal with it the same way we dealt with your hair"
Aloysia visibly shivered, retracting with a scowl on her lips, "You are not suggesting to 'dye' my eyes? That would make me blind!"
Belinda shrugged, clicking her tongue, "If it comes down to it..."
Aloysia stepped back, her face in utter disgust; Viper watched satisfied, grinning to herself, "I'm joking Shadow, I'm not an imbecile, I have something just for that" she turned, "Without, making you blind"
She did not trust the assassin as she sauntered off inside, leaving Aloysia alone with nothing but her thoughts. Everything was risky, so dam risky it threw her off.
Usually, and as she had explained to Viper... if it was just her life on the line, just her life hanging over the danger zone... she wouldn't hesitate, because truthfully... she didn't care what happened to her, but its consequences... that she kept in mind. It was why she decided to stay alive, to find a way to fix the world. In a sense, she thought herself as childish, and the sweet relief of death un-deserving.
In a heartbeat, she would be the deciding factor, the sacrifice if it meant others could survive, because genuinely, she meant nothing to this twisted world. She would leave it behind if it asked her... without a doubt; believing that people who had lived a certain life and left a trail of blood as they walked, did not deserve redemption; did not deserve to smile, not when the things they had done tormented others; for the better, or for the worse.
Her outlook on life was grim, which is why when it was Liam's soul hanging in the balance, she would do everything in her power to insure his safety. But not only that; his happiness also.
She sighed heavily, wondering where the assassin could have gone off too when a certain noise caught her attention; the patter of footsteps made gingerly by a prince she knew. Peering up, she folded her arms, waiting patiently for his foot to hit the last stair, but when it did, she froze.
His attire caught her off guard, her blessed sight detailing that of a traditional man in the west, his groomed hair fluttering at a longer length... It suited him so well and brought out components un-beknowing to her that she forced her eyes to peel away, coughing lightly.
She had never seen him without a shirt on.
Liam on the other hand held the same reaction, but to her. He almost didn't recognise her as he took that last step; the vibrant eyes that stared in awe being the only familiar aspect. Her scars still littered her body but they somehow complimented her attire with an edge of roughness that demanded respect... and her hair...
His lips turned smug as he admired her darkened hair cascade to her shoulders. In the natural light she was highlighted perfectly.
There was only one way to describe her. Breath-taking.
She coughed, snapping out of his attention, but when she swivelled on her heels to face him, he held back breath.
Even when draped with a light fabric, her toned stomach and waist was on full display; her arms matching in definition. It was normal for an assassin as masterful as her to look the way she did, but but by the assessment of her body structure, she was much stronger than he realised, almost scared for being crushed under her strength.
Her clavicle shone prominently, her lips a tight seal as she coughed for a final time, noticing the staring and growing hot and bothered.
"Liam" she called, bringing his eyes back to hers. Her smile turned cheeky as she sniggered, "Looks good on you, you should not wear a shirt more often"
Its true, even without high definition his chest remained something to gaze at; he had maintained his fitness over the last few weeks travelling, albeit not as well as her.
He laughed, "Thanks, the clothing suits you too"
She rolled her eyes, "Of course it does, I look good in anything"
She was dam right. He was awe struck.
Fumbling for words, he was saved perfectly by a lonesome Viper trotting in behind him as if she committed a murder and happily pinned it on another. Viper actually however, returned from a tiny incursion with a hand sized box in her fingertips.
Following it with his eyes out of curiosity once she brushed past him, Viper smiled, handing the box to a befuddled Aloysia.
"This is for you, treat it with care because it costs more than you're worth"
Aloysia chuckled, taking the box from her with caution, "Not much then"
"Don't act coy, it is for your eyes dumbass" she clicked.
Aloysia carefully opened the box, head dipping to peer into its depth expecting to find something miraculous. Instead, a vial half the size of her finger greeted her with a label in Relis.
She gave a worrying glance to the assassin, "And what do I do with this?" she asked.
Belinda had a hand placed to her hip, taking the vial from the cushioned box. She held it in-between two fingertips, holding it up against the sun, "Inside there is an experimental liquid, when a drop is placed in the eye, the pigments react to form a different colour"
Hearing all this, Liam wondered closer, amazed at the technology of the west, far advanced than the rest. Belinda glanced over her shoulder, her piercing reflecting the sun as she whispered, "This is not the only revelation we have made in the past years, no kingdom knows about it"
This gravely worried Liam's mind, his eyebrows needlessly furrowing, "I thought the contract signed between all kingdoms stated any discoveries had to be shared, or was that a bunch of lies?"
Belinda went wide-eyed, blinking slowly. "I didn't know you were that knowledgeable Your Highness, but do not fret, for this is still in an experimental stage"
"Experimental?!" Aloysia hissed, causing the assassin to withdraw from blades distance.
Viper shrugged. "Its safe, even if it is experimental"
She wanted to swear, swiping the vial and growling lowly as she steadied herself. Both Liam and Belinda waited patiently, watching her with intent as the assassin writhed in the attention.
Swallowing all fear, she threw caution to the wind and administered the drops into each eye. The liquid was a pale blue, slowly burning its way into her iris as she held her head to the sun.
Blinking furiously, she shook her head and squinted.
Liam held a hand to his mouth as he stepped forward and examined her, but what he saw altered his perspective forever; a smug expression plastered on Viper behind him having seen it many times before. It never failed to impress.
The image of a crimson red swirling around a pale blue colour was astounding; the colour bleeding into the other as her eye changed from the familiar orbs of pain to a canvased sky.
Belinda waited in the hazy silence, tapping her foot as she gazed over the balconies edge. Deciding she was far more important than some colour change, she called from behind, "It wears of after 6 hours, so keep it with you"
Ignored.
Laughing at her third wheel situation, she couldn't help but smirk, "If you're done gazing into each others eyes, our transport is here. I'll explain what is going to happen on the way"