Chapter 1
The Calm Before the Storm
The night was as dark as if someone had painted the sky with black paint, and the otherwise noisy city was silent. The windows glowed soothingly like small glowing squares against the pitch-black darkness, and the treacherous silence spread out like ripples on water after a stone had been dropped. What no one knew was that this stone was as false as the imaginary calm the city was engulfed in.
Just as quiet and invisible as the wind's whispering breaths, a shadow stalked around. The shadow easily dodged the posted guards who were scattered among the city's many streets and narrow alleys. The shadow's mission was simple, but never would the shadow do something like it again.
The shadow stepped into the light of a burning fire, though no longer with any of the mystery and deadly calm that previously surrounded it. A lady in a beautifully embroidered dress appeared, wrapped in a cloak and with a pleasant smile on her full and rosy lips. The woman's confidence should have made some questions arise, especially because she was alone in the night's darkest hour. But for the moment the guard - who was the woman's goal – sensed nothing. It was easy for her to get rid of him.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" her employer had asked her hoarsely.
"Do not insult me. I have performed far more difficult assignments when I was half of your age," had her sharp response been. Yes, she had been offended, but quickly pleased again when the sum he offered was more than enough for her to be able to go away for a while and live well. But to get the money, she had to perform the deed.
Time slowed down as she approached the great oak door. Outside there were two guards with spears raised to ward off intruders. During the few minutes it took for her to reach the great door she watched how one guard tensed when she approached, while the other retreated a couple of steps and raised his spear.
"Halt!" cried the first sentinel. The woman halted and raised an elegant eyebrow. "State your case!" he shouted. It was barely audible, but the woman detected a slight tremor in his voice. She allowed herself a quick smile that held no humor before she resumed her mask of icy calm.
The second guard raised his spear even more, and the woman watched him with grim delight as he turned to his companion and slammed the butt of the spear in his head. With a surprised grunt the guard fell down and his spear rattled loudly against the hard cobblestones.
"He's still alive," the woman noted while she observed her companion pull off his helmet and look at her seriously. "Should I be surprised?"
The man scratched his head. "You know our mission Annabeth, it says nothing about the guards." He hesitated, but then added, "He has a family too."
The woman - Annabeth - rolled her eyes but did not question her companion's decision. Instead, she swept past him and pushed the gate open. A voice stopped her. "Are you sure you can handle this?" This time Annabeth didn't give a sharp answer, she only turned around briefly and said: "Are you?"
Before the man could answer, she smoothly slipped through the door and slammed it shut with a final bang.