Hours were flying by as Felice and Xizreth roamed the campus talking and occasionally laughing together. They had managed to cover half of the campus together by the time the sun began to set and decided it was time to head home.
"If this map is right we should be able to save time by taking this alleyway and cutting right through to the campus dorms," said Felice while studying the map.
Xizreth peaked over her should to confirm her findings and smiled.
"I believe you are right," he said with a smile. We should hurry before it gets dark though. Cities are cities after all.
The two of them had just slipped into the alleyway when a loud crash came from behind them, causing Felice to look back. A white cat the size of a pre-meteor fox ran out of a trashcan and into the city streets.
"It's okay Xizreth," it was a just a cat. But Xizreth hadn't responded, his eyes steadily on the direction they were originally walking in.
Felice turned her attention to where his eyes lay and she paled, clutching Xizreth's hand in hers. Assassins? Here? But how? Her mind raced.
"Calm your breathing Felice," he whispered in hurried tones. "Do you know how to use your Angelborn abilities?"
"Not really, no," she replied quietly.
"There are three of them, two in front and one above. If you follow my lead we may get out of this alive."
His aura suddenly felt very different to her. Where once it seemed so casual and relaxed, it had.now transformed into something more cunning and calculating. Just who was this Xizreth Digas, she wondered.
"Hello boys, have you come to play?" Asked Xizreth in a cold and mocking tone. "It isn't commendable to attack a lady and her escort unprovoked. I suggest you leave before things get bad for you. And three against two says a lot about how much faith you have in your abilities."
The tallest man laughed and slowly made his way down the alleyway with the other man tailing close behind. The third man on the rooftop, being revealed, dropped down behind the Xizreth and Felice, block the only exit. They were closed in.
"You speak boldly for a dead man," said the tall Assassin. "Look around you kid, there is no way out. Just give up nice and easy like and we don't actually have to kill. The orders were dead or alive, and that choice is yours. If I were you, Xizreth Digas, to protect the girl, I'd just give up now."
Truth be told, they would kill these two regardless of cooperation, it was just too risky bringing them in alive. He just needed the right opportunity.
"Ya know Mr. Assassin, have you ever wondered why we were given the name Demonborn?" An eerie looked passed over Xizreth's face as he asked the question.
" You don't realize the position you're in do ya kid?" The man said calmly, still slowly approaching Xizreth's position.
"Oh, I am well aware of my position, but are you?" Xizreth a step forward and vanished from sight, only to appear a second later behind the man approaching them from the back. His black tribal tattoos pulsed with crimson light as he wrapped his arms around the man's neck, snapping it firmly before dropping him. He lifted his gaze from the dead man only to find the other two were missing and rushed to Felice's side.
"Felice are you okay?"
"Y...yeah...I'm fine." She replied. Just a little shaken. Thank you for saving me though.
"We aren't out of the woods yet. Did you see where they went?"
"No...I watched you kill the guy behind us and when I looked back they were gone."
"We need to move and fast. Let's take the long way back, it'll be safer."
Felice nodded her agreement and shivered. This was the first time in her life she had felt so helpless, and this guy who hardly knew her saved her life. How was she supposed to thank him for this?
Seeing her shiver, Xizreth took her hands and gave them a firm but comforting squeeze.
"You are safe with me Felice. I won't let anyone hurt you so long as I am around. You're a light in my darkness."