Elodie's POV
Arya and Luke got to us a lot faster than I'd hoped they would. I was trying to drag out the inevitable for as long as I could but I suppose there was no denying the consequence of our actions.
I watched sadly as the two jogged round the corner, Arya meeting my eye and taking a step in the other direction as if she was about to run. Her mouth dropping open and eyes widening in fear.
"Arya, it's good to see you. Grab them please."
She wasn't exactly given that chance, somebody in a pale white mask appearing out of nowhere, restraining her and pushing her firmly against the wall. A strand of the mysterious figure's blond hair falling out of the band and clearly catching Arya's eye.
It was a real girl. A real girl that felt okay with what she was about to do. I think Arya noticed that too.
Luke narrowed his eyes as he too were pressed against the wall.
Neither of them mentioned that they'd been tricked. It was almost as if they trusted me enough to not doubt that I had no other option.
The man yawned, turning his back to us and speaking to the man holding Kieran in his desperate position.
"I see what they meant about these ones, I'm glad we brought backup. And we're sure we got them all?"
"Pretty sure." The voice said, tightening the hand around Kieran's shoulders as he made an attempt to remove himself from their grasp.
Suddenly a silence filled the grounds, the first of the white masks whispering "what was that bang?"
Nobody said a word, until out of nowhere, a colossal smoke exploded around us and we were embedded into blindness.
We took that as our opportunity.
Quickly, I brought an arm out of my attacker's confused grasp and sent my elbow flying backwards to make contact with his face. He lurched back in pain and I again made the decision to send a kick straight to his femur, rendering him useless.
When the smoke finally cleared, I noticed my friends had done almost the same thing. Standing proud over the unconscious bodies of their assailants.
And amidst the remainder of the smoke, Cara Annabelle Grahams stood proud with a single knife pressed against the throat of man who'd tormented us.
Not a word was spoken, until suddenly Kieran stood up and sped towards her. Pulling her into a tight hug.
"You're okay." Luke whispered.
She nodded. "There were seven of them climbing up to my hotel room back at the meeting point. I dropped my things and ran, found cover. A shop over there-" She pointed to our right. "Was selling prank smoke bombs. I heard your voices along with others I didn't recognise, and it worked like a charm."
***
Kieran's POV
I ran my hands over my face and sighed in annoyance.
"Nobody knows where you are. If you tell us how somebody knew about Cara's location, you can leave for all we care."
The man laughed. "Do what you like, I'm not saying a word."
It was at that point that Cara waltzed in, holding in front of her what looked like a butcher's knife.
The Cara that was my best friend wasn't going to do anything with it, but our hostage didn't know that.
He winced a little at the sight of it, expecting no violence I suppose, struggling every so slightly against the restraints holding him to the chair until he finally lashed out with one foot.
"Wait, no, back up. I'll tell you."
Cara smiled and took a step backwards.
"There's someone in the kingdom, someone high up, they've been following and monitoring everything you all do. I don't know whether it's targeted, but I presume so with Elodie's reputation."
"Do you know who?"
He shook his head. "I'm only a mercenary. There's a rumor that they're a retired assassin but you can't really be too sure."
I watched as Cara dropped her head, concealing a very obvious smile.
"You know what that means, right?" She grinned.
"We might not have a traitor." I finished for her.
"We have to tell the others-"
"No," I interrupted. "We can't be completely sure just yet, let's keep this between us."
She took a moment before nodded, attempting again to brush off the smile that'd crept onto her lips.
Suddenly the man coughed.
"There is one thing." He started. "This assassin, or whatever they are, they're good. They could blend in to just about anywhere with absolutely no difficulty. I've never seen anyone like it. And they're determined. Whether it's money or some kind of fucked up vengeance, they have not stopped no matter what has happened with the seven of you."
"So they're psychotic?"
He nodded. "And obsessed,."
"Why are you telling us this?"
He laughed softly to himself and wiggled in the ropes. "Because I'm tied up, and the minute I step foot in the kingdom I'll be shot for failing at my assignment. I'd rather help assist you bring the system down before it engulfs me too." He turned to look at me. "Quite honestly, I think half the kingdom admires Elodie rather than detesting her for attempting to eliminate prejudice that shouldn't have been there in the first place."
I nodded at him slightly.
"And for the record, the system is awful. Humans are forced to follow through with laws nobody ever agreed to. If you're born into a wealthy family then you'll survive, but otherwise you're thrown into poverty and injustice with no chance to complain."
"That's why we're doing this." I mentioned. "Every single one of us was thrown into that. I think the world should've taken notice from every story, but especially when their own princess fled and joined our movement.
He took a deep breath in.
"I knew Arya. Quite well."
"How well?" Cara enquired, taking a step closer.
"Well," He spluttered. "I was in love with her. But one day things changed."
I pulled out a stool and leaned back, listening intently.
"I did a really stupid thing."
"To put it as bluntly as I have to, they told me to kill her."