Post by Neo on Jun 14, 2019 3:55:36 GMT -6
Violet's Tale, Chapter 1
The wall of fog gradually swept into the dark city, silent and ominous, stretching and curling around the buildings and alleyways of Glitterhaegan. A deep chill hung in the misty air, and a sliver of white peaked from behind the sheet of grey clouds in the sky. A lone shadow danced across the rooftops, visible only for a few moments at a time, driven by a deep need for vengeance. Just one more... That was all she needed. Just one more sin and it would be done. All she needed now was the last piece of the puzzle, the last confession, and then she could kill him. James Someguy, Imperial Governor of Glitterhaegan, owner of all the casinos and all the gangs. The personification of filth and corruption, who left homeless innocents and widows and despair in his wake. And the man who had ordered the death of the only family she had left in the world. Killing him would be no sin. It would be righteous and beautiful. But before that, she needed to dirty her hands and her soul one more time.
She had convinced herself this was the only way. She had to become a monster to kill a monster. Someguy was untouchable. The Emperor was too busy with the rest of the world, and as long as the Prince of Shadows was content with his cut of Someguy's stolen wealth then he wouldn't intervene. The guards and officers in Glitterhaegan were all corrupt. Letters and pleas for help to Axis were all deftly intercepted by Someguy's personal force of assassins. There was no one else. Just her. She was all this city had.
Violet landed on the edge of the next roof, instantly crouching and finding the most hidden perch to watch the alleys below. A small spot between the house's chimney and the raised ridge of the roof. It would do. The shadows swelled around her, concealing her in darkness, as she silently padded across the brick and stone roof. Safely hidden from view, she knelt, placed one hand on the hilt of her sword, and waited. She would wait as long as necessary for her prey to arrive. This alley was near one of the busiest areas of the district, and she could watch several streets from here. The chance of spotting one of Someguy's goons was highest here. She took a deep breath and stilled her nerves, readying herself for what she was going to do. She was going to interrogate someone. She was going to murder someone. There was no coming back from what she had already done, and what she was about to do. There was no redemption. In some ways, she was as bad as Someguy and she knew it. But she, at least, stained her soul with her own hands. A flash of red from below caught her eye. Her muscles tensed. It was time.
The woman was tall, blond, and muscular. Definitely not the usual unkempt thugs she found. She was beautiful, Violet thought, like some kind of warrior queen from one of her grandfather's old fairy tales. But that wasn't what made her hesitate. The hairs on the back of Violet's neck rose. Her heart began to beat faster. This woman was dangerous. Very dangerous. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to flee. Was this a trap? Who was this woman? Violet grit her teeth and slowly, carefully, unsheathed her sword. It didn't matter. The woman had the right uniform. She was so close. So close to ending it all. She couldn't run away now.
Violet braced herself and leapt from the roof in a single, fluid movement. Her long black hair fanned out behind her, her cloak billowed around her like a shroud of darkness, her blade glinting in the slight moonlight. The blond woman turned and looked up as if she were waiting, expecting her, and smiled.
"Hello. You must be the assassin we've heard so much about. My name is Selene."
The wall of fog gradually swept into the dark city, silent and ominous, stretching and curling around the buildings and alleyways of Glitterhaegan. A deep chill hung in the misty air, and a sliver of white peaked from behind the sheet of grey clouds in the sky. A lone shadow danced across the rooftops, visible only for a few moments at a time, driven by a deep need for vengeance. Just one more... That was all she needed. Just one more sin and it would be done. All she needed now was the last piece of the puzzle, the last confession, and then she could kill him. James Someguy, Imperial Governor of Glitterhaegan, owner of all the casinos and all the gangs. The personification of filth and corruption, who left homeless innocents and widows and despair in his wake. And the man who had ordered the death of the only family she had left in the world. Killing him would be no sin. It would be righteous and beautiful. But before that, she needed to dirty her hands and her soul one more time.
She had convinced herself this was the only way. She had to become a monster to kill a monster. Someguy was untouchable. The Emperor was too busy with the rest of the world, and as long as the Prince of Shadows was content with his cut of Someguy's stolen wealth then he wouldn't intervene. The guards and officers in Glitterhaegan were all corrupt. Letters and pleas for help to Axis were all deftly intercepted by Someguy's personal force of assassins. There was no one else. Just her. She was all this city had.
Violet landed on the edge of the next roof, instantly crouching and finding the most hidden perch to watch the alleys below. A small spot between the house's chimney and the raised ridge of the roof. It would do. The shadows swelled around her, concealing her in darkness, as she silently padded across the brick and stone roof. Safely hidden from view, she knelt, placed one hand on the hilt of her sword, and waited. She would wait as long as necessary for her prey to arrive. This alley was near one of the busiest areas of the district, and she could watch several streets from here. The chance of spotting one of Someguy's goons was highest here. She took a deep breath and stilled her nerves, readying herself for what she was going to do. She was going to interrogate someone. She was going to murder someone. There was no coming back from what she had already done, and what she was about to do. There was no redemption. In some ways, she was as bad as Someguy and she knew it. But she, at least, stained her soul with her own hands. A flash of red from below caught her eye. Her muscles tensed. It was time.
The woman was tall, blond, and muscular. Definitely not the usual unkempt thugs she found. She was beautiful, Violet thought, like some kind of warrior queen from one of her grandfather's old fairy tales. But that wasn't what made her hesitate. The hairs on the back of Violet's neck rose. Her heart began to beat faster. This woman was dangerous. Very dangerous. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to flee. Was this a trap? Who was this woman? Violet grit her teeth and slowly, carefully, unsheathed her sword. It didn't matter. The woman had the right uniform. She was so close. So close to ending it all. She couldn't run away now.
Violet braced herself and leapt from the roof in a single, fluid movement. Her long black hair fanned out behind her, her cloak billowed around her like a shroud of darkness, her blade glinting in the slight moonlight. The blond woman turned and looked up as if she were waiting, expecting her, and smiled.
"Hello. You must be the assassin we've heard so much about. My name is Selene."