"This is your first of the main missions. You can't afford to be careless. Especially since rumors have gotten out about the deadly Nightshade" Alistair smirks at me as he finishes double checking my weapons.
"You know I'll be fine. Main mission or not, I was trained to succeed."
"Ah. Just as arrogant as your father."
I feel my whole body tense at his words. That man may have created me, but he is more a sperm donor than a father.
"Don't insult me Alistair."
I give him a glare and watch his face fall. Wondering what bothered him, I feel a swift kick to my ribs. I double over having the breath knocked out of me.
"Do not disrespect me, daughter."
My father, Emilio Giovanni, apparently came into the room at the wrong time. I glare up at him mentally cursing him.
"Watch yourself, Nightshade. Or you'll end up like your mother."
My heart breaks at Emilio's words. It's been twelve years, but the images flashing through my head make it feel like yesterday. I quickly shake them off and stand back in front of Alistair so he can finish preparing me.
Once all of my weapons are strapped on, I hop into the bulletproof black SUV. I sit in the back and allow myself to sink into the leather seats. It's going to be a long ride so I should make myself as comfortable as I can. I can't afford for my muscles to get stiff and store.
After all of my training, it is finally time to start completing the main mission I have been made for, or rather, bred for.
My father and his two men have been kidnapping and raping young women for 200 years in order to make the ultimate Guardian warrior to get his revenge. He has been unsuccessful til now. Til me.
I let my mind drift to the previous missions I have been on. I've been collecting data and tracking down the four main groups that brought my father and his people to their demise for the past two years. I have been all over the world and have killed many people in order to keep my identity and mission a secret. I accidentally almost drove the dwarves to extinction when my last mission went bad. I was sent to the mountain ranges where the dwarves were known to reside to find out where the Faeries live. One thing led to another and I ended up killing the dwarf king and all of the dwarf warriors. Hopefully, the remaining dwarves can build themselves back up and protect themselves from the dangerous beasts of the mountains. I don't like to kill, certainly not innocent people either, but it was what I was raised to do. I tell myself that I keep doing this to protect countless of women from being raped and countless of children from having their innocence ripped away. There is no telling how many women and children came before me, none of them succeeding. When my group came along, that was the end of the forced breeding, because I have made it farther than anyone. I know this surprised my father because out of all his children, I'm his only daughter. Emilio was the Guardian King meaning his bloodline had strong DNA which caused all of his children to be born male. Apparently my mother was from a strong bloodline too which is how I'm here today.
I'm brought back to reality as the car stops. I pull on my cloak and tug my hood on to hide my face. Once I'm sure I'm hidden, I step out of the car and start to make the four mile trek to the Faerie Lakes. I don't bother saying goodbye to Alistair since we have the ability to mindlink.
Guardians have many special abilities which is what allowed them to be rulers of the magical lands. For instance, I'm as strong as a werewolf, as fast as a vampire, as cunning as a witch, and as nimble as a fairy. Well Almost as. I couldn't beat a werewolf in a fight using only strength because they are still a bit stronger and so on. However, using all of my abilities together I can easily take down any warrior and some kings. Plus with my training, there isn't really any creature out there that I think could take me down.
I shake my head getting myself out of my thoughts. I'm starting to think Alistair was right when he called me arrogant. I prefer confident since I have proof to back up my reasoning, but whatever.
I make my way through the thick forest carefully placing my steps so I don't make a sound. I can feel the aura of the Fairies so I know I'm getting close. Unlike mine, they give off a light glow that leaves you feeling giddy unless you're me and have been successfully trained me to block out any auras and emotions. My father and his men might have used unethical means to train me, but it worked. I can flip a switch in my brain and go into an emotionless assassin. It's a coping mechanism so I can separate my work from my conscious. It doesn't help too much after though.
When I get to the edge of the trees, I can make out the bright blue waters of the lakes. I see a few Tinks and Pixies guarding the borders while everyone else is sleeping. The Tinks will be easy to take care of. They are the size of children, but with their graceful moves they can be excellent fighters. Fortunately, I'm better. The Pixies on the other hand will be tricky. They are the size of butterflies and can fly faster than wasps.
Once I'm done watching and noticing their defense mechanisms, I make my way into the clearing using the shadows. Once I'm close enough, I take my two battle-axes off my back and sling them towards two of the Tinks. Before they hit their mark, I quickly snap the neck of the remaining one. I retrieve my axes from the dead bodies and give my attention to the Pixies. There are only two and they have already noticed their dead friends. They swarm to me and I manage to swat one to the ground before stepping on it. The remaining Pixie freezes and I can make out the look of grief on her face seconds before I snatch her out of the air. Now that the patrols are taken care of, I make my way to the Fairy King's castle.
I go around the lakes and through the small village. No one else is around and I shake my head at their poor security. Once I reach the castle door, I bend down to make my way through the door. I may be short, but I'm still much taller than a Tink. Crouching, I use the directions that I memorized to take me to the sleeping chambers. It takes me only a few minutes before I'm slipping in the room and crawling in the shadows. I make my way to the bed and slowly get as tall as I can before slicing his throat with my knife. I hear the screams of all the Fairy people as I crawl out the window and run into the night. Whenever a leader of a species is killed, every one of that kind will feel their bond break with their King or Queen. It will leave them vulnerable and in pain so I don't have to worry too much about making my way back. However, all the beasts within a fifty mile radius will feel it too meaning they will get there as quickly as possible to finish off any remaining fairy. I need to get back to the car as fast as possible so I don't run into any beast.
I dodge tree after tree sprinting as fast as I can. Just one more mile and I'll be at the car. I hear something coming up behind me and I drop and roll at the last minute. I spring too my feet ready for action.
"Well well well. It's a little Guardian. I thought you all were supposed to be dead?"
The manticore in front of me slowly makes its way to me taunting me.
"I'll give you one chance to run." I warn him as I grab my axes. He lunged forward and I hit him upside the head with the flat side of my axe. Cursing myself, I reposition my hold so the next swing will be deadly. I give him too long of a window and he manages to swing his poisonous tail into my side. I don't let him get in another shot as I swing my axe down cutting off his head. I hobble my way back to car feeling the burning fire in my side. Alistair is quick to my rescue bringing me to the car and giving me an antidote. He looks over at my whole driving off.
"Thought you said you had this, Nightshade?"
His words are sharp, but his face is concerned. Out of the three men who 'raised' me, he is the kindest. I wish it was him who was my father.
"The mission was a success. The getaway was the only trouble."
I chuckle at him before closing my eyes. I can feel the medicine working and it's making me drowsy. I allow myself to get some rest because I know that now the mission has started I won't have long to finish it. Plus I'll have to wait a day or two before continuing since I got poisoned and I'm sure my father will want to punish me accordingly for being careless. Sighing to myself, I push back all the faces of the ones I've killed and fall into a deep sleep.