"Celaena Sardothien," Maeve, the head of the FBI says, as she threw the file on the table. Rowan almost laughed at the thinness of it but bit down on his tongue and opened it instead. He read it over and laughed aloud this time,
"What is this bullshit?" he showed it to Maeve, she waved it away. "This is all you have on the most notorious assassin around?"
"I put my trust, as your employer, that you will find her. Rowan, I know you're new around here but if you track down Celaena Sardothien your spot here will be permanent. Fame and glory awaits. All you need to do is capture one woman."
"One very dangerous woman who is a trained killer" Rowan corrected her, running a hand through his hair. Maeve looked at him expectantly. "I am very sorry Ma'am but you need to give this case to someone else." her smile turned into a straight line.
"Very well," she smoothed out her silk aqua button up shirt and turned on her heel, opening the door she said, "think it over tonight." without looking over her shoulder. Rowan Whitethorn braced his hands on the table in front of him before violently pushing the file to the floor and leaving the room.
Aelin Ashryver Galathynius wiped her twin blades on Arobynn Hamel's expensive clothes. For once she didn't think he would care. His blood pooled around Aelin's designer shoes but she barely noticed as she heaved a sigh. It was finally over. He was finally dead. She felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders as she stared at her dead master's cold face.
And muttered "Good riddance" before strutting out the door. The sun hit her face like a slap, she quickly put a pair of sunglasses on and peered at the pedestrians on the street. They acted like nothing changed, like only her world had just flipped.
The luxurious apartment Aelin bought before everything happened seemed so naive. She didn't know how a building could feel that way but it did. The furniture so hopeful, the closet still full of his neatly folded clothes, as if Sam would come back. Before she realized it a tear rolled down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away when the doorbell rang. She composed herself and moved to the door,
"Lysandra" she said as pleasantly as possible, blocking the entrance.
"What ruffled you?" Lysandra asked, one hand on her hip the other holding her purse.
"Nothing. I'm fine" she said, touching her mascara to make sure it didn't roll down her face along with her tears.
"You were thinking about Sam again" the woman stated as she pushed past Aelin into the apartment. She didn't answer as Lysandra called from the kitchen, "Is Arobynn dead yet?" Aelin bristled at her loud voice.
"Yes, but perhaps his trainees didn't hear you yet, you should scream it from the rooftops just in case they couldn't quite catch what you said" Aelin muttered before locking the door twice and following the young assassin to her kitchen. She found Lysandra rummaging through her wine cabinet, the women grabbed a bottle,
"Ahah!" she put it on the table and started her search for wine glasses, Aelin read the card on the top as she plopped into a chair, To my protegee, may I always have you. We can do everything, you and, together - Love, Arobynn Hamel Aelin's eyes widened a bit, she refused to let the words seep in. Lysandra set two glasses on the table and unscrewed the bottle, she barely glanced at the note before throwing it into the trash,
Aelin quickly got up, "Wait. I have to do something" she grabbed the note from Lysandra and walked the fireplace, she threw the card into the fire and watched it burn until nothing was left. She returned to the kitchen, avoiding Lysandra's understanding eyes, and grabbed her full glass,
"When's the jail break?" Lysandra asked, her dark red fingernails wrapping the clear glass,
"Soon. I have sources that tell me a prison is about to be moved to death row, thousands of people - including mine - will be standing outside to object, a perfect place. The security will be looking for people in the crowd or will be moving him. Either one is perfect." Aelin grinned, it had been planned to perfection, not one piece missing.
"Nice. Hey, I know this is random, but do you want to go clubbing tonight?" Lysandra asked, the assassin looked at her,
"Sure, why not" and with that they went to get ready.
After an hour Aelin dawned a short black sparkly dress that barely covered her thighs, a dipping back that revealed her tattoos and toned muscles. Blood red stripper heels matched her satin lipstick and smokey eyeshadow brought out her turquoise and gold eyes. Long silky blonde hair had been curled perfectly a lay loosely on her shoulders. Lysandra's outfit had been similar; a white dress that was seemingly held up by magic a another pair of stripper heels in black. While aelin had black eyeshadow lysandra's eyelids were coated in dark purples. Her lips a deep purple that could be mistaken for pink or brown dependent on the lighting. And her sleek straight dark hair was in a half-up.
A phone rang as they exited the apartment. Lysandra opened her black clutch,
"Hey" she said, a muffled response Aelin couldn't hear and then a shriek from Lysandra. She closed the phone and looked at Aelin, Wesley is going to be released from prison tomorrow," Aelin grinned for her friend.
Wesley and Lysandra had been dating since forever. Aelin had set them up when when she met the stripper about 4 years ago.
Arobynn had found out and had planted a armed robbery that lead to Wesley being sentenced to two years behind bars, the same day he was taken to prison Lysandra had burst into the assassin's bedroom at the guild and cried for hours, they had been friends since then. Aelin didn't remember the number of times she had offered to jailbreak Wesley like she was planning to with Aedion but Lysandra had refused, either because she was afraid of Arobynn or because Wesley asked her not to get in trouble.
They had become even closer friends after the death of Sam Cortland, Aelin's boyfriend at the hands of the unknown.
"That's amazing Lys, I'm so happy for you." and she was, but her heart was still shattered by Sam's death and she didn't really want a reminder.
"Thanks. Now, no sad thoughts, my last night of freedom before I become a tied down woman"
"Do you have a reservation sir?"
"Yes, under Rowan Whitethorn." the registry checked her book and smiled at him,
"Follow me" she led him through the crowded restaurant. "Is this table acceptable?" Rowan nodded and she placed two menus on the table before disappearing.
"Hey honey, sorry I'm late" she said, she said planting a kiss on Rowan's lips before sitting across from him
"It's fine. How are you? How was work?" Lyria grinned at him, her hazel eyes bright with life
"It was well, very interesting. How was your first day?"
"The head of the FBI, Maeve, wanted me to hunt down someone by the name of Celaena Sardothien, a trained assassin,"
"Did you take it?"
"No, I need to spend more time with you and our unborn child." Rowan said, Lyria rubbed her large belly,
"Tomorrow we find out the gender, I'm so excited" Lyria said, squeezing Rowan's hand across the table "You are coming with me, right?"
"Of course, that is why I didn't take the case"
"Or maybe you didn't take the case because you're scared" she said, sticking out her tongue. He shot her a glare before a waitress walked up to them,
"Hi, I'm Delara and I'll be your waitress this evening. How can I get you started?" the young woman smiled at the both of them as they ordered.
The food arrived quick and was divine. The meal ended after two hours and they headed out.
"I'm thinking of sewing all baby's clothes. I feel like it would just be a good idea for him or her to have handmaid clothes." Rowan gave her a disbelieving look, "I read it in a parenting book somewhere, don't give me that look" she shoved Rowan playfully and he grinned,
"I love you" he said, she grinned,
"I love you too" Lyria grinned. They walked on one of the inner streets in the city, lights from houses and the passing cars illuminated their path. A black car stopped next to them and rolled down the drivers window,
"Hey, are you Rowan Whitethorn?" a woman asked from the shotgun seat, her accent slightly western. The driver looked over at them and grinned,
"Yes" Rowan answered, they looked him. Then, faster than he could follow the man put a gun to Lyria's head, and said,
"This is a message then, from us." then he pulled the trigger and sped off. Lyria collapsed to the floor and with her Rowan did as well.
"Lyr? It's going to be ok, do you hear me Lyria? It's going to be fine. You're going to live an- and tomorrow, right tomorrow we are going to figure out the gender of our child" Rowan didn't notice as tears slid down his cheek. He cradled Lyria in his arms and tried to stop the blood that gushed from her wound "and in ten years we'll have a child in school, and we - we'll grow old together. And our children will get married and we'll sit there at their weddings and we'll smile. Do you hear me Lyria? We'll sit there and smile because we are alive and happy. Because we are alive, alive and well." Rowan started sobbing, then he let out a heart shattering scream when he realized her eyes had already closed.