- You will not remember. - He chuckled, letting go of her wrist.
- Yes, I will! - His green eyes twinkled.- I will remember, it's important to me!-
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- I thought it was going to snow. - Sophie spoke as she walked with her hands in her pockets.
Von was walking beside her. They were both heading towards the famous Kiel 01, a bar of the Cerminian elite. This was the long overdue appointment. Sophie thought it unnecessary to meet in a bar, but she was still walking across town in winter. And if there was one thing Von admitted and admired in Sophie, it was that willingness to walk the streets. It was like a fascination. She walked by day, by night, in snow, in rain, in sun. She despised horses and even the new means of transportation, but she still kept that weak expression of indifference, and he knew that was a mask. She liked it. He could kick the reason in his head, but Sophie would never admit it. And that made her so graceful.
But again that word popped into his head. He hadn't even uttered it in his thoughts, but there it was, hiding like someone who wanted nothing. As he walked side by side with Sophie, he watched that word in a strange way, as if it filled his chest. He could stew very well. Von could act very well, lie very well, hide very well. But at that moment, if Sophie would only dare to look at him, she would see something unexpected. A trace of doubt shone through his brown pupils. No. He no longer had the freedom of his actions, but he could have the freedom of his... desires? Even feelings?
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-Von. - He heard his name called from behind the door. There was no knocking, just a soft pronouncement. He knew that voice
- General. - He answered, stretched out on the bed, looking up at the chandelier on the ceiling.
- I know it. - Those two words made his heart fail, made him no longer feel the bed beneath him.
His pupils contracted, his heart raced. If there was nothing to hide, this feeling wouldn't take over. He knew he had made a mistake.
- You know what, general? - He took a chance. It couldn't be. Norgard Chasseur could not know.
- About you and Sophie. - Von heard a muffled laugh. - Don't play the fool, Von. -
His breathing became hurried, he clutched the bed sheet for comfort. But what Norgard heard was only his laugh.
- I thought you were more noble than that. - Von's smile had hung in the air.
Motionless, almost broken, he didn't know what to do. What to say, how to act. He was really being a fool. But what if this was a test? What if Norgard was proving and teasing him? He had failed. He was not worthy. Not worthy of everything Norgard had done to him. Sleeping with Sophie was almost like stabbing in the back the one who had given him everything. He felt like a thief. He laughed at the thought. He had never seen anything unusual in his morals, the morals of a murderer. But to feel like a thief for stealing a heart, a daughter. No. That was wrong. Sophie was only in love, it would be over as quickly as it had begun. There was no reason to worry about her mistake.
- Forgive me.- was the only thing he could answer, feeling neither guilty nor innocent.
Von did not once see Norgard's pupils show emotion. But behind that door, it wasn't spite, it wasn't victory, it was just plain weird.
An envelope was thrown under the door. Von quickly noticed and got up to take the envelope. On the envelope was written, " Memorize and burn." . Inside the envelope was a map of Verulian, five symbols with no apparent meaning and 5 different coordinates for each symbol.
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That afternoon had been a good one for clearing up some things that were beginning to trouble his mind. Von could not afford to fall into the temptation of going crazy. No one had lived to see that side of him. Murderer or not, he would be ruthless when he went mad. He had looked at himself in the mirror, faced parts of his being that he tried to ignore.
He could. Yes, he could fall in love with Sophie. He could sleep with her as much as he wanted, he could steal her from her father, make her his and no one else's. When he saw her with that man from the bar, he knew he could. But he didn't want to. He didn't want to fall in love, his heart was fine. It wasn't fair to fall in love, not with himself, not with Norgard. He felt as if he owed it to him. But he also couldn't fool himself into thinking that he would keep his cool with Sophie. She didn't think so, but those words hit him.
When they arrived at the bar, Von was not impressed by what he saw. He wasn't surprised by anything, since his realism managed to make him prepared. But the place was very nice, it didn't look like Cermina. He had never entered a place like that, but he knew that there were humans with the same thirsts as him there.
As he looked at Sophie, he saw how bored she seemed to be. They hadn't exchanged a word along the way except for the one she had said, trying to make conversation. And he just ignored her, as if he wanted to be alone in his thoughts. And he knew that she also wanted to be absorbed, but her pride had been broken by the need to at least talk to him. He didn't like that.
They entered the place, the ambient lighting was not dark like he was used to in bars. In fact, it seemed to be more like a restaurant. One was very beautiful. Von remembered the whore from the last brothel he had been to, the black locks so that Sophie would not be remembered. Really, hair of other colors would make a difference when choosing a woman after Sophie . After Sophie?
- Good evening, sir and miss. Do you have a reservation? - The woman spoke with a gentle smile on her face.
- Chasseur. - Sophie had just said quietly. The woman looked surprised.
- Come with me. - She again tried to be nice, but Sophie's head hurt. She had no patience for any human being who smiled in front of her.
They followed the two waitresses, and in a few seconds they were in a remote place, with people sitting at a large round table. Von knew only Liz and Tyr there, not to mention that damned man who had made him spend money just to know the origin of his name.
- Tyr? - Sophie raised an eyebrow. - What are you doing here?-
- Just checking. - The deep-voiced man spoke quietly. His glass of whisky seemed more interesting.
Sophie and Von just sat down next to each other. They were not late, but they were the only ones left before the meeting started. There were: Lizandra, Tyr, Klen, Magnun, Gior, Tilian, Marlena and Niero. Each one in his own corner. Each one trying to hide the personality that Von was trying to decipher with his eyes alone.
For more than an hour, drinks and snacks were served. Sophie drank some wine, and Von kept watching her. Just as she was watching him with that well known subtle distance. Their bodies were side by side. Their arms touched, and despite the clothes, Sophie felt the warmth going from him. He was so close and so far away. The killers were talking, talking about their deeds, about their butchery, exuding the sadism that each one possessed. Killing there was not about taking someone's life. Killing was a prize. A joke. And Von felt no shame.
They both remained quiet, Sophie seemed in a bad mood, no one would dare speak to her except Liz. She could put up with this acquaintance who could be considered a friend. Maybe the only one of Sophie's.
- Right! Now let's start arguing, shall we? Otherwise we'll be here all night drinking and not discussing anything! And I bet Krauser would cut our heads off. - Liz said amused, a little excited by the effect of the alcohol.
- I'm glad you know. - Tyr answered her dryly.
- How do we get to Gran Tlaboc? - Magnun asked. - Horses are off the list. We need to use the new means. -
- Motorcycles and cars? - Marlena answered him doubtfully. That was still new.
- That's a good idea. - Liz smiled. -Does everyone here know how to drive a motorcycle and a car? - Sophie looked at Von, waiting for him to speak. He just raised both eyebrows, looking disdainfully at her. She held up her nose. "I'm challenging you, you idiot." Was her thought. - Um, then it's decided! - She looked around. - Hey, wait. Niero, do you know?-
-We won't have bikes for everyone, will we? - He grinned. The only one who wasn't drinking anything. -Some car will have room for me. -
- So as not to arouse suspicion on the road, we'll use three motorcycles and three cars. - Von said with his usual aggressiveness. - Now, you can decide who will stay in the car and who will drive. Making it clear that I will use a motorcycle. -
- I'll go too. - Sophie said quickly.
- I'll go in a car. - Liz said. - No wind. - She smiled.
- Writing it down. - Tyr took a blank piece of paper and began to write it down.
- Heh, you think I won't remember, Tyr? - Lizandra closed her face, feigning anger.
- That you won't, of course. I'm just writing it down so there won't be any confusion.-Tyr retorted.
- That sounds like you don't trust me, Master. -
-Liz.- Tyr scolded her and Von smiled inwardly with memories.
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The white doors of the mansion were opened. Sophie entered first with quick, aggressive steps, as the marble floor echoed the sound of her heels. Her red hair covered her expression, and she was a little indescribable. Von followed her nonchalantly, ignoring the imitation of the woman in front of him. They walked up the stairs in the usual silence that had been their walk. They reached the main hallway, and Sophie walked more hurriedly to her room. But when she saw the door and touched the knob, she turned to Von entering her room.
-Hey!- She called out. She walked over to him, who was closing the door. She put her foot in the doorway and stared at him in surprise at her own act.
- Just say what you want. - Von looked away, making fun of her.
- Will you look at me? - Her voice came out more excited than she would have liked. Von raised an eyebrow.
- Aren't you the one who told me not to look into your eyes? - he said, smiling.
- I never said that! -
- Not with those words. - He kicked his foot hard and tried to slam the door, but something fluffy prevented him from closing it completely. He heard a curse and then saw three fingers being pressed together. Before opening the door, he laughed out loud at this gesture. Had she become a masochist by any chance?
- Are you crazy!? Why did you hurt me!? - She said, almost screaming, while her wide eyes stared at his white hand.
- You didn't even feel it. - He tried to ease his guilt by remembering the effect of the alcohol. - And if you weren't so stubborn...-
- You like to hurt me, don't you? - Sophie interrupted him, looking into his brown pupils and raising her voice more.
- Keep your voice down. -
-Stop running away! -
-Stop yelling. -
-I'm not yelling! -
- You sound like a child throwing a tantrum. -
-You bastard!- The green pupils showed something beyond physical pain. - I'm just hurt! You hurt me! -
- No drama, Sophie. -
- It hurts... -
-Put some ointment on it. -
- My heart hurts. - She spoke softly. Her brown eyes narrowed and Von
Shut up at that little phrase. -You hurt me!- With the same hand she reached into the room and punched Von hard in the chest. - it just hurts, hurts, hurts! - Von swallowed dryly before answering.
- You should know not to get involved with me. -
-But how could you not involve me? - She lowered her head, letting her red hair fall into her eyes. Her punches decreased in frequency and strength. - Ever since that file with your picture on it, ever since that day I dropped your damn cigarette, I've been involved! Since that day it was you! -
She continued punching him, her frequencies matching the beats of his barely accelerating heart. Von held her wrist and pressed her against the wall, trying to calm her down.
- Why do you act like this if you don't want to be close? His voice was painful. - Why do you only want to stay away? -
He touched his nose to hers, rubbing it gently as he looked at the beautiful water-green pupils.
- Why?- she whispered. Von pulled away, dodging that momentary desire.
- Why didn't you kiss me? - She shook her head. - No! Why did you almost kiss me? -
- You will not remember - He chuckled, letting go of her wrist.
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Sophie looked at Von. He seemed distant. A smile was forming on his lips, and the pain in his head seemed to be relieved when he drank that wine. She wouldn't get drunk twice in one day. She wouldn't allow herself that. But she wanted to. She wanted to get drunk and when they got home, she would throw herself into Von's arms. At home... She laughed wryly.
There were three people left for motorcycles, they would be: Sophie, Von and Gior. That is, the captains of the three teams Krauser would ask them to do. In the cars, Liz would go with Klen, Niero with Magnun, and Marlena with Tilian. The hours passed and trivial matters were left aside, the assassins focused only on that work that had been done.
They decided to name their teams, the defense teams "Haust", being Sophie, Niero and Magnun. "Vor", being Gior, Tilian and Marlena. And the main attacking one, would be called "Sumar". Niero suggested the names that would represent the seasons: autumn, spring and summer. Recognizing that at the end of these seasons, only winter would be left, and with the end of winter would come war.
The plan was for each of them to go in their own vehicle, with a reasonable distance between them of five kilometers. Marlena and Tilian would go first, since when they arrived at the port, they would quickly find the ship, climb onto it, and take ropes with them, making the other assassins enter through these ropes distributed along the ship. The moment the three teams were on board, "Haust" and "Vor" would go their separate ways, with "Haust" protecting "Sumar's" back, and "Vor" watching over them. "Haust" and "Sumar" would go to the lower floor, where the contents would be. The leaders of "Haust" and "Sumar" would quickly confirm if the contents were according to plan. If not, they would use explosives to sink the ship. If everything was correct, "Haust" and "Sumar" would separate, and "Vor" would protect "Sumar". They would go to the admiral's cabin, where they would kill him and Gior would take control of the ship.
Tyr would write everything down, and said that a copy of his notes would appear at each person's home the next morning. After a long time, those nine people and one companion came to an agreement that together they would do their best to conquer that ship.
Von was satisfied with this mission, which did not involve only him and Sophie. Now he had a team, and knew he would have to trust them with his life. He, who did not trust people, now had to make an effort. But he would be relieved to see the sea, from Gran Tlaboc to Innsmouth.