In a decrepit manor, at the other end of town.
A dark figure walked slowly across the cold stone floor, the sound of his boots echoing within the large and empty foyer. At the center stood a single table, where a lit candelabra was placed. Taking a left, he opened a door, revealing a drawing room inside. Decorated along the dark burgundy wallpaper were many mounted heads of various taxidermized animals, from bears to large fish, and even some unidentifiable ones. In the corner, lying down on a reclining chair was a young man, whose features were obscured by a thin white mask, depicting the image of a clown. In the center, a large highbacked chair was placed in front of a roaring fireplace, facing away from the entrance of the room. A raspy voice called out from the highbacked chair.
"So, has the deed been done?"
Following the voice, the dark figure immediately stepped into the room, kneeling onto the teak wood floor.
"I am sorry Lord Barbatoss, but I have failed."
As he spoke, the figure fumbled from within his robes to produce a small case, which he opened up, revealing a bloodied dagger. Instantly the pungent smell of blood fills the room. The blood on the dagger seems to have already coagulated, leading one to believe that the nefarious act had been done some time ago. Smelling the irresistible scent of blood, the man in the chair frowned, imploring:
"Hmm..? How could that be? The dagger has been used, and yet the child is not dead? Explain."
"Well... Its like this sir," The kneeling figure explained, scratching his head. "The prostitute we employed to deal the fatal blow indeed succeeded, and the knife was plunged deep into his chest. We even made sure that he was no longer breathing before removing the dagger. Afterwards, I killed the broad to ensure no witnesses. I wanted to dispose of the body in a nearby alley when I was spotted by some guards of the Bevier Estate." Coughing slightly, he continued his report.
"Dropping the body, I hid in the corner and saw the guards picking up his limp corpse and returning to the Bevier Estate. Ten minutes later followed them discreetly and infiltrated the estate to figure out what they would do to the body. However as I entered the garden I overheard some of the servants gossiping about the boy. They said that he somehow survived a fatal stabbing, and was completely uninjured, if a bit pale. When I heard that I was very confused," The man said, frowning.
"I was very sure that the harlot stabbed him right in the heart, and the resulting loss of blood would have killed the man in any case. But not 2 minutes after I heard the shouts of the boy. At this point, one of the servants spotted me and alerted the guards to my presence. I had no choice but to escape the estate with haste, lest I be captured. Thus I decided to come back here and await new instructions." Finishing his report, the kneeling man placed once again held up the small case, with his head faced down.
"Hmm.... Interesting." The raspy voice once again replied. Lord Barbatoss stood up, approaching the kneeling figure.
Lord Barbatoss was a thin man of average build, dressed in traditional noblemen's garb, belying his status. His receeding hairline gave way to a heavily wrinkled face, showing that he was a man in his twilight years. Two thick bushy white eyebrows culminated to a pair of deep-set dark brown eyes, that had its burning gaze onto the kneeling man. A large white mustache accentuated his elderly countenance, and below that a short goatee. He looked like a stereotypical Machiavellian politician, if abit advanced in his years. Lord Barbatoss leaned heavily on his cane as he walked, the sound of his cane tapping onto the wooden floor reverberating throughout the small chamber. As he leaned close, the kneeling man could not help but shiver.
"Well now, Mr Derrick, do you remember what words were spoken when you took up this... job?"
Derrick audibly gulped, but still replied :" Yes sir Lord Barbatoss. You would pay me 50 gold as a deposit and 100 more if the assassination was completed without a.... hitch."
"Mmmhmm...." Lord Barbatoss look away and agreed. "Correct. That were the clauses of our contractual relationship...But," Lord Barbatoss paused, as turned to stare directly at Derrick. "Do you recall what... assurance, you had given me?"
"Oh!...Er-Uh, yes uh, Lord Barbatoss," replied Derrick, scratching his head. "I said that the job would be done beautifully and without complications, sir, uh swear on my life. But Lord-"
"AH... YES... Those were indeed the words you had spoken. Well then, Mr Derrick, isn't it time to make good on your....promises?" As he heard that, Derrick's pupils dilated.
In a feat of superhuman strength, Lord Barbatoss grabbed the knife from the open case and stabbed it forcefully into the defenseless body of Derrick. Despite his skinny frame and advanced age, Lord Barbatoss seemed to have burst forth with boundless ferocity, Ropey muscles tensing and contracting as the dagger pierced through Derrick's heart.
"Keurk.." That was all Derrick could croak before crumpling onto the floor, with his last thoughts on how preposterous a reason for his death. Blood slowly pooled onto the wooden floor, soaking the wood with a faint shade of red.
...
It was at this point the silence was broken by the man sitting on the recliner.
"Father, not that I do not agree with your principles,"
"..."
"But that was the tenth person you have murdered that was on your payroll..."
"..."
"No one wants to take up our missions anymore... On the account that no one has survived whether they complete them or not..."
The young man sulked.
"..."
"..."
"...I'll get a therapist...."