Preface
He's seen death before; he hid the cupboard and watched as his parents were ruthlessly slaughtered. 'It's just a job.' the man said. 'Just doing as I have to. Father demands blood. So he asks, so he recieves.' He smiled wickedly at the boy's mother. 'I get a lot of money for this job: 500 gold. Whoever prayed to Mother must really want you dead.' The boy tried to leave his hiding place and sneak up on the man, but his mother shot him a glance that clearly read 'Stay put.'
The man plunged his Elven dagger deep into the father's midsection. He staggered against the wall and dropped to the ground, coughing up blood. He knelt there a moment holding his stomache before finally telling his wife that he loved her and giving his soon one last, fleeting look. The assassin pulled his hood back slightly, revealing his face. The boy's mother cringed back against the wall, crying, as he stepped towards her. 'Please don't hurt me. Please! I beg you, please spare me.'
'Sorry, love. Can't be helped. Sithis demands blood. He must recieve.' The boy's mother stopped crying and just looked at the man in black cloak. He stepped toward her once more.
'May I atleast know the name of my husband and my killer?' He laughed at her request.
'Not that it will matter too much, but my name is Alexander.'
'If I understand,' she began, 'most of your contracts include a bonus along with your pay of gold, correct? What, may I ask, must you do to get your bonus, Mr. Alexander?'
'No need for formality, Marina. Not now, atleast. You are quite correct, recieve my bonus, I must leave your son alive. Yes, I do know he is here, and yes I do know where he is hiding. Your husband should have just said his goodbye right to him, instead of just with a simple glance.' Marina looked from Alexander, to her son, and back to Alexander before speaking again.
'May I atleast say farewell?'
'You die reguardless,' Alexander said with a smile. He walked to the cupboard and pulled the little boy out. Marina started to cry again as she watched her son being dragged across the room. 'Well, say goodbye to your mother, boy. You wont be seeing her again until you, too, join Sithis is the Void.'
'No! Lysander, run! You ca-' she broke off as Alexander slit her throat and threw Lysander to the floor. He stood over him a moment before finally kneeling down next to him.
'Sithis will have you in due time, young Lysander. Thirteen years and no parents. It's a shame. Oh well. Have fun.' he winked and smiled at Lysnader, then walked to the window. 'Oh, by the way. Take this. Learn to use it. Honor it. It's worth more than you know. It has a very... interesting story behind it. If you value your life at all, you'll be ready for battle when I return.' He slid the dagger across the floor to Lysander, turned around, and swiftly lept from the window. Lysander stared after him a moment, then slowly reached for the dagger. He lifted it carefully and watched as the blood of his parents dripped from the end.
Lysander returned from his flashback and stared fate square in the eyes. He was prepared.