Prologue
The thief remained very still in a squatted position, knowing that if he moved he would be killed. He saw a younger man run down the alley, stopping in front of the thief. The thief's heart pounded louder and louder in his chest as an older man walked calmly after the younger man. The thief grimaced with pain but knew that if he moved to sit or stand he would be killed. The older man, who seemed to be from a richer family, drew a gruesome looking knife. Its double-sided edge was curved and the tip was barbed. The younger man appeared frightened and slowly backed away.
"You've eluded me for far too long, K'ra," rasped the older man.
"Why do you pursue me so?" pleaded the youner man, K'ra.
"You know full well my motivation for your death."
"My father, the king, will pay you more than whatever your current employer-"
"No! You will not dissuade me from my moment of glory." cried the elder man. He charged at K'ra with something that looked like a primal fury. K'ra dropped to a defensive posture then sprang up. While in the air he did a front flip over the older man's head. K'ra landed lightly on his feet and in one swift motion turned and plunged his hand wrist deep in the man's back. The hitman cried out in agony, his face contorted in pain and fear. The young prince's muscles suddenly tensed and with a slight twist of his wrist he had the hitman's heart in his hand and with the old man's last dying breathe he cursed his carelessness then he saw his heart give out one final pump and died.
The prince turned and stared right at the thief who thought himself cleverly concealed. The prince's eyes were of the deepest violet. He stalked off further down the alley to where it turned to the left. The thief took a moment to catch his breath then looked out of the doorway that had concealed him from all but the prince. He looked around expecting to see a figure fly over him and impale his hand into his back as K'ra had done to the poor old man. Seeing nothing of the sort the thief continued on down the alley intrigued by this new threat and potential ally to his work. As the thief turned a corner he came face to face with the prince.
"Is there a reason you follow me so?" questioned the prince.
"I-I w-was ju-just pass-sing through." Stuttered the flustered and slightly frightened thief.
"You lie."
"No, good sir," claimed the thief growing more confident with his lie slowly forming in his mind.
"Why must people force me to punish them for either lying to me or for merely upsetting me." With that the prince grabbed the thief by the front of the thief's shabby tunic and hefted him easily off the ground and against a wall. K'ra smiled morbidly at the thief's fear stricken face as he drew him closer. The prince then slammed the thief against the wall hard enough to kill. The thief felt ribs crack and felt himself slip into unconsciousness. The prince let go of the body and looked down at the man in pity. Why had the human race sunk so low from the pristine race that rivaled the powers of gods?