What goes on, fanfictioneers and fanfictionistas? It's KL21 here with somethin' for you guys to sink your teeth into… not really expecting a ton of hits for this one so I won't be long. But this is a bit different from the other things I've posted. You'll see what I mean when you read it… so I give you; chapter 1 of my newest story: 'Prey'


Prologue: A New Beginning

She had been walking for fifteen minutes to get to the market. She looked up at the sky and emitted a small growl. Her sister noticed the noise and chided her. "Samantha, relax. There's plenty of time. And even if we're a little late, I'm sure mother won't mind."

"I know that Melanie, but I don't even want to be here in the first place." Melanie just chuckles and shakes her head. "Why do we have to live so far away from the place?"

"Well, as I recall, mother says…" her speech is cut off by the sounds of screaming coming from the market.

Sam stretched her neck in a vain attempt to see what the noise was. As they neared the market they heard cries of "The guard! Somebody get the guard!" Sam scoffed at the notion that getting the guard would change anything.

This district was notorious for the most corrupt and lazy peace keepers. It was more likely that the guard had been paid off to be elsewhere. This was often the case, as she had seen personally. A guard would be brought to a scene and then blatantly ignore the illegal activity. She'd even seen the guards harassing and even assaulting street vendors and shop owners. She'd seen public trials influenced more by gold than by the law. The whole system was corrupt as far as she was concerned, and that made it completely useless.

Grabbing the hilt of her dagger she advanced towards the scene. Stopping only when she witnessed the appalling sight of a guard… an actual guard, hired and paid by the government… harassing a kid who couldn't have been older than eight. Her blood boiled and as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. The guards weren't going to turn on one of their own. Not when it was just a kid. She had to do something.

As she moved towards she felt a hand on her arm. "Samantha, what are you doing! That will be a losing battle!"

"I don't care Mel, someone has to do something!"

"Why not let that mysterious hooded buy in the wanted posters do something!"

"Because, Mel, he's a myth! He doesn't exist! No one can live for that long to get that high of a bounty placed on their head! He's too good to be true! We are the people of this district and we shouldn't have to rely on some stranger to fight our battles! Someone has to go help that kid or it'll be too late!"

"But, why you, Samantha! I couldn't take it if something happened to you! You're all mother and I have left!"

Sam seemed to soften up at this. Melanie allowed herself to hope. Once Sam turned around and saw the look in her sister's eyes she realized that her hope was futile.

Melanie watched as Sam undid the holster for her dagger. She then tied it around Melanie's waist. Melanie let the scene play out as she watched in confusion. "Samantha what are yo-"

"Father taught us how to use a dagger. I want you to turn around and go home. Use the dagger to fight off any bandits that may try to rob you." Melanie listened with tears in her eyes as she shook her head refusing to let her sister go. Her protest was cut short, "Melanie, you have to. Listen to me… please… go home and tell mother that I'll return." Sam started to bound off but then turned around and looked at her sister, "I promise. I love you." And with that Melanie felt obligated to oblige her sister in what could very well have been her final wish.

She nodded, a tear or two flowing from her eyes, "I love you too." And with those words she left.

Sam turned around to see how she could approach her situation. She had to get a weapon. There was no time. She ran towards the scene at full speed and tackled the man who was attacking the boy.

The boy looked around in shock until he heard his mysterious rescuer shout, "HURRY UP AND GET OUTTA HERE!" the boy quickly, and happily followed her instruction.

Sam, meanwhile, was happy to see that it wasn't a guard but instead just a local thug. She easily wrestled the man and stunned him enough to steal his dagger and make her escape. She ran and she ran. Cutting into an alley she was unpleasantly surprised when she bumped into the chain mail of one of the local guards.

"Well well well, what do we have here?"

There was just one… certainly she could take one guard.

"It seems we have a stray dog." came the voice of another guard from her left.

This was not as certain but she counted her chances as still favorable.

"And she seems to have her fangs bared." A third guard chortled.

She definitely has to run now. Three was too many. She turned to make her escape but was met with the sight of a slightly bigger guard with a spear.

"Oh she's quite the looker, we have a special place for whores like you."

In a new found fit of anger and desperation she bowled over the guard with the spear and plunged the dagger into the guard's throat. She had no time to contemplate her actions as she now had to run. "Stop right there!" she heard behind her as she made her way down the alley. As she burst out onto the main street she veered to her right and continued running at full speed, fighting every instinct that she had to run towards home. She knew she couldn't head back… not now. She ran into a few people who started to shout curses at her until they were pushed aside by the pursuing guards. She could hear the jingle of the chain mail as she began to tire. She had to turn and fight.

One thing she knew about the guards was that they didn't run with their swords out. Knowing this, she stopped and threw her body backwards towards her purser throwing him off balance. She grabbed him by an arm and took his own dagger and pressed it against the man's throat. When the guards stopped short of her she felt that she had won. Maybe she'd make it out of this alive, after all.

Her happiness was short lived, as she saw a third guard join the two that were standing in front of her. They drew their swords and slowly advanced.

"Stay back or I'll spill his blood."

To her dismay and disbelief, the guards just laughed at her threat. Even more surprising was that it was the guard she held hostage who spoke through strangled laughter, "You think that'll stop them… that it will stop any of us? All of us… any of us could be just as easily replaced." After hearing this, she heard one of the guards sheath his sword and pull out a rifle.

This was it. She was going to break her promise to her sister and mother. She was going to die here… today… on the streets… like a dog… she wouldn't get a proper burial. She'd likely just be dragged out to the sea and dumped into the ocean. And for what? What had it all been for? For some kid she didn't know, and had never seen before? No. It was bigger than that. She didn't do it just for the kid. She was taking a stand when no one else would. She was standing for the oppressed people of the district. Sure she would be nameless, but maybe her sacrifice would inspire someone to do something.

"Any last words, whore?"

She couldn't find it in her to retort. She shut her eyes tight, and said to herself, "Sorry mother, sorry Melanie."

She felt the tense up right before she heard the crack of a gunshot. All was silent. She didn't feel anything. She didn't know anyone who had ever been shot, and she certainly hasn't ever been shot, herself. She'd always supposed that it would hurt, maybe she was wrong. She cracked her eyes open to see exactly what was going on.

Her eyes widened as she watched the rifleman fall to his knees.

She heard the frightened man she held hostage, "What sorcery is this? What have you done, witch?"

Before she could respond, she the whizzing of the arrows as the fell upon the two remaining guards. She heard the soft padded thuds that the arrows made as they connected with the guards. She watched as the silently fell to the ground motionless… lifeless.

Fear swelled up inside of her. Then she looked to the ground and saw a shadow, like that of an eagle. However, as she looked up she saw, instead of a majestic bird of prey, a man. He landed on the ground next to them and she took in what she could. He had white pants, a white tunic, and a white hood. She also noticed his cape. He was definitely one of those who were well off. What caught her eye, however, was the fact that in the sunlight he seemed to be shining.

Just as she was about to ask who the man was she heard the fearful stammering of the guard that she had hostage. "Its… its… its him… The… the Demon of Venecia… Il… Il Assassino!" The man, his fear of the dagger to his throat replaced with the fear of the man in front of him, wrenched himself free of the girls grip. "Get away from me! Please! Leave me alone!"

The man's frightened babbling finally registered. This was the hooded man in the wanted posters. This was the man of whom every guard in Italy was afraid. The man who apparently had no name. This was 'The Demon of Venecia' that their father used to tell them stories about. This was the "Il Assassino" that the bards would sing about. He was real… and he saved her.

She looked up at him as he advanced on her. As he got closer she could out some of the features of his face. Most noticeable was the fact that he didn't seem to have any facial hair. He looked to be about her age maybe even a year or two older. She noticed that he had a strong jaw. She watched as he clinched it over and over again. He seemed to be appraising her… studying her… evaluating her.

He extended his hand. "Join me."

His voice had a, certain, calmness to his voice that seemed to contradict everything that she had been told that he'd been through. Losing his family, the killing, all of the killing liberating city after city. And yet, he spoke as if he was perfectly fine… as if everything he did had a reason and a purpose… as if he had the full belief that everything he'd done had been for the greater good. He spoke as if he believed in his purpose and he was asking her to join him. This had to mean that he believed in her. Very few had thought her more than a common street urchin, or a penniless whore. But this man who had never met her, believed in her without hesitation.

So, she followed him without hesitation.

They heard the sound of more guards approaching. She looked up at him not knowing what to do.

"We have to run."

And run they did. They turned a corner and Sam heard the man yell, "There's a hay stack up ahead… jump into it and stay very still. I'll return for you."

"Wait! What's your name!"

"You didn't hear?" he asked, cockily, "I'm Il Assassino, The Demon of Venecia."

"That's what they call you… But… what is your name?" he watched as he turned to look at the street. He could see the guards in the distance. He moved to push her into the hay stack. She held onto his arm, "My name is Samantha."

"Federico." And with that he pushed her into the hay stack and continued running.

As she laid in the hay cart, fighting against every instinct she had that told her to get up and see what was going on, she couldn't stop the pounding in her chest. Earlier, the pounding had been fear. Not knowing if she was going to see her family again; not knowing if anything she'd done would end up well for anyone; Not knowing whether she'd live or die. Now the pounding in her heart was from something else.

Not fear, not anxiety, it was something entirely different.

It was excitement. Excitement for a new path, a new life, a new beginning.


Okey doke… not much to say here so let me know what you think.

Even if you don't decide to review, thank you for taking your time to read my story…

Remember to be on the lookout for a cadre of other awesome stories by these fine individuals.

~The CABAL~

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Deuces
KL21