Dimitri's Point of View.
If there is anything that I know about this life, it is that respect is earned, honesty is appreciated, loyalty is gained and trust is returned.
The day after Rose Hathaway finally revealed her power was the day that I would have to take her from the castle and let her loose on the town beneath. I wasn't sure if the King was insane for allowing her to prowl the streets at night by herself, she was deadly.
I sensed that the woman could easily kill a man if he even looked at her the wrong way, and yet the leader of our Kingdom wanted to let her loose on his people? Something was not right.
The Assassin and I had agreed that we would work on controlling and developing her powers in the mornings, and focus on her strength, stamina and skill in the afternoons. Today would not be like that though.
I watched for hours as Hathaway sat in the middle of that circle of sand and followed my every instruction; I was surprised at just how blindly she followed my directions.
We had learnt that anger and hatred fuelled her fire more than any other emotion, and although she was good at focussing that anger and channelling it into fire, she was not so skilled at keeping it under control. One minute there would be a small flame in her nimble hands and the next there would be in inferno of flames exploding from her palms. The sleeves of her tunic had long ago turned into ash.
She had very little faith in herself but she followed my instructions exactly to the letter no matter what. She always gave it everything she had.
And even though this was only the second day she had been able to conjure fire, she had thoroughly impressed me.
I would never forget the day that I had first discovered my powers, I was 13.
One of the local boys was picking on my little sister, Viktoria.
I had seen red that day; I had never felt anger like it. It was already raining that day, but once I started to beat the boy the hail started to pour.
The hailstones were so large and heavy that they took down tiles off of rooftops and smashed windows. The boy called me crazy and people were staring and Vika was crying and then the lightning came.
It shot down from the sky all around us. I didn't know what was happening to me, but one minute was all around us and then I was overcome with the urge to hold out my hand. It took a hold of me then. The lightning became me.
And then I touched the boy and he came alight.
I didn't kill him, but I know now that I easily could have done.
I only managed to stop when my Father came and pulled me off him. Vika had run and told him what was happening.
He beat me senseless and left me outside to rot after that.
No one else in the family had a power; no one else had even been known to have one in years.
We were not a rich family but my Father was a proud man, he couldn't have his family disgraced by his only son being abnormal, he would rather have no son at all.
Adrian's Mother, the Queen at the time, had found me then when she was travelling overseas. She saw my potential and brought me to the Castle, where I grew up amongst the workers and guards and horses. I was trained from that day to be the King's head of Guards, it was all I knew.
It took me years to master my power, which is why I found myself worried about the Assassin that sat in front of me.
It would be months, if not years before she could control her flame completely, and yet the King wanted to set her loose on his people later today, it was dangerous.
Thought I was surprised at the rate in which she was improving. She had already merged two fireballs into one, and when I looked back at her a moment ago there was a small flame hovering over each of her fingers. It was a sight that I would never forget. The flames made the brown in her eyes glow golden.
I had hated this strange girl when I first dragged her bag of bones into my home. She was delinquent and reckless and so very bold and angry.
I did not know how or why, but I saw some of myself in her. That rage that she felt towards the world because of what she was forced to become, and the isolation she surely felt.
Though she was different to me, she killed in different ways and she felt no guilt or remorse. I hated that I was softening towards this strange woman who held so much pain in her heart.
She had looked so terrified of herself yesterday when she had lost control of her fire. She had seen an ounce of doubt in my eyes and it had magnified her own doubt. I had wanted to touch her hair since the moment I first saw it, and it was all over her face when I brushed it behind her ear. She had been so very frightened, but her eyes softened in that moment.
She was watching me now, as she often did. She looked at me as if I were an open book that she was leisurely reading. Like every single thought I had ever had was written in bold writing across my face, no matter how ward I worked to appear emotionless.
I finally broke the silence. "We're going into town tonight. The man you need will be by the docks." I didn't need to explain what she needed him for. I described everything about him to her, from the colour of his hair and beard to his height and the way he walked and talked. I had no idea who this man was, but it had been the job of my men to watch him for the past week and follow his every movement.
She listened to my words carefully, I could see the information turning over in her head as she analysed every part and filtered out what she needed and what she didn't.
"You'll need to wear the outfit. You'll be on your own. You can't fail." I wanted more than anything to warn her about the man, I wanted to tell her that he was a brute and a bully. My men had told me all about him, the way he terrorised women and fought men. He always came out on top. As desperately as I wanted to tell her, I was under strict orders, and nothing stayed secret for long in this place. Instead, I held her gaze for a long moment and hoped that my eyes told the story that my mouth could not.
I told her where we would meet and at what time before dismissing her. She wiped the sweat that had formed on her brow and walked away. Even the way she walked was purposeful and thought out. It was like she absorbed the space around her, everything else seemed less adequate when she was around.
I waited for two minutes after she left before making my own way towards the castle. The King had requested my presence.
My hand rested naturally on the hilt of my sword as I walked. I shared respectable nods with the guards and castle staff that I passed on my journey. If it were on my own time, I would greet them all by name, but I had to appear professional.
I knocked on the door of the throne room and waited to be called in before entering.
I bowed before the King when I reached the throne.
The throne room had always made me feel uneasy. A layer of ice constantly coated the throne, as well as the floor and walls around it. Part of me knew that the King did it to intimidate his enemies, but I also knew that part of it was a simple lack of control over his abilities. He was a reckless and hot headed leader. I hated to think that the smallest sleight of hand could result in a blade of ice through my heart all because my ruler had a lack of control.
The winds always picked up outside when the door closed behind me.
"Rise, Dimitri." I was in King Nathan Ivashkov's good books, and I intended to stay there.
Adrian stood to his Father's side, as he often did. He looked bored and careless and completely cocky and entitled.
Adrian and I had once been friends. We were a similar age when I first came here and Daniella, Adrian's Mother, had encouraged us to spend time together. We had trained together and were tutored together for a short while. The kind woman thought we could both use a friend.
She was an incredibly gentle woman and a loving Queen. A stain was spilt upon this Castle when she died, a stain that could not be removed no matter what. The King became corrupt and hateful when his wife was killed, and it soon transferred onto his son. Adrian gave off an image of carelessness but inside he was broken and cold. It made him unstable.
"How is the training of the Assassin coming along?" The King asked as I rose into a standing position. I linked my hands behind my back and stood naturally with my chin up and shoulder squared.
I noticed Adrian's relaxed demeanour became a little more alert at the mention of Rose's status and I found that his interest in her bothered me. He was a distraction that she did not need.
"It's going well. She is gaining strength and I'm honing her skills. She will complete the task tonight with ease." I assured him. Adrian smiled after I spoke, and it took me a moment to remember that they were engaged.
I had seen the look of pure terror on Rose's face when the King had made the announcement, and I couldn't bring myself to congratulate her as everyone else did.
"Good. I need you to keep your eyes on her at all times tonight. She must not know you are following her and you must not interfere. Even if something goes wrong, even if it looks like the man might kill her. If he does, it means she is not good enough and I don't want her. But if she succeeds and she tries to run, you must stop her. Do you understand me, Belikov?" He asked. My heart was thundering in my chest at the implications of his words.
I was a man of honesty, loyalty and truth, and agreeing to his terms meant that if she was in grave danger, I could not help her. I would have to stand and watch as she was killed or beaten or worse.
But I had come to know the mysterious Assassin, I knew how she thought and I knew how she fought. She would not be taken down easily.
I nodded my head. "I understand, Your Majesty." I said, without a word of a lie.
I hated that I would have to watch Rose and I couldn't do anything even if she was in danger. But I knew that she could handle herself, and a part of me was relieved that I could keep an eye on her. I hated to admit it but I had been worried before that she might take this opportunity to run. I wouldn't blame her if she had tried, but I knew I couldn't let her go.
"Good. You may leave." The King said as way of dismissal. I bowed my head slightly and turned and walked away. My mind was racing though every single possible way that this could go wrong.
-xXx-
We would be travelling in a carriage tonight, pulled by two of our strongest horses.
Though it was a fine carriage, it was not one of the most expensive and finely built in the collection. We had to blend in tonight, no one could know that we were from the castle or we would draw too much attention.
I was waiting by the carriage, outside the main entrance to the castle.
The Assassin was right on time. My fist clenched where it rested on top of my sword, and it took everything in me not to say the word wow out loud.
She was indescribable.
She was a whirlwind of black. Every inch of her skin was covered in black clothing and leather, and the cape I had gifted her with flowed behind her in a dangerous tangle of shadows. She blended in with the night like she was darkness herself.
The only part of her that was visible was her eyes, and the gold around her pupils seemed to glow.
Strapped to her back were two swords, and I knew that they weren't the only weapons she had on her. Thought I couldn't see them, I knew they were there.
The Guards watched her as she descended the steps with awe on their faces and I wanted to slap that silly look off them.
But then I supposed I was just as bad, I couldn't take my eyes off her either.
She was not the kind of beautiful that men usually found themselves drawn to. They liked blondes with big baby blue eyes and plump limps that were for anything but talking. They wanted women who were seen and not heard with their ribs being crushed by corsets and their faces drowning on cosmetics.
That was never something I had found myself attracted to. Rose was a unique kind of beautiful, and it had taken me a while to notice it. She was lost in filth and dirt covered clothes when I had first encountered her bold spirit. But a meal and a clean bed had done her wonders. It wasn't just that, it was the way she would suppress a smile because she didn't want you to see it. It was the way she held herself and the way that everything she did was strong and purposeful. She was broken and I found myself wanting to help her heal.
We climbed into the carriage and sat in tense silence throughout the journey. She looked out of the window eagerly as we left the castle and travelled through the town. Few people were around at this time of night, and if they were they were only up to no good, like we were.
I watched her as she looked out of the window, her eyes followed every movement out there, I saw her taking everything in, like a sponge soaking up every new piece of information.
We were both silent until we finally pulled up to a stop. I could smell the typical odour of salt and decaying fish that always came with being around the docks. The docks were where the workers loaded up their boats before setting sail for weeks on end into the treacherous waters. A row of taverns lined the street facing the murky waters, which was where the majority of the sailors spent their evenings.
"Ok, so you know what you're doing?" I asked as Rose pulled the hood of her cape up, effectively hiding the majority of her face from me again.
I wasn't sure what made me ask the question, I knew she knew what she was doing; we had been over it time and time again. This was her job, this was easy for her. But for some reason, I found myself reluctant to let her go.
I saw just enough of her face to see her roll her eyes. "Yes. I'll be back soon." She said before hopping out of the carriage and disappearing into the shadows.
I waited 10 seconds before I climbed out of the carriage and followed her. I stuck to the shadows and willed my feet to fall softly on the ground.
I had always been stealthy, I had been trained to hunt since I was young, but Rose was different, she was a predator herself, following her was completely different to following a normal person. She was dangerous.
She was complete darkness, I barely saw her as she crept along the street, and she was simply a blur of black.
She spotted the man at the same moment I did.
Her demeanour changed as she approached him.
He was still working by the docks; I could hear the wooden planks creaking beneath his feet even from here.
A flash of silver shone form his belt in the moonlight and alarm bells started ringing in my head, he was armed.
But then I glanced at Rose, she had at least two swords on her and my panic subsided ever so slightly. She was armed too.
Though she wasn't drawing her weapons.
The man was working at the very end of the wooden walkway, and Rose didn't hide her footsteps as she approached. She wasn't using the element of surprise this time; she wanted him to hear her coming.
He turned around as she approached him and did a double take. I suppose he wasn't expecting to see darkness herself approaching him.
He straightened up and his hand instinctively went to the sword at his side. "What the fuck do you want?" He yelled as she neared him.
His sword was drawn now and he was holding it out in front of him. "Stay back you piece of filth." He growled.
Draw your sword, Rose, draw your sword.
I was chanting in my head from where I watched them brawl.
She didn't stop, she didn't draw her sword, and she just kept walking.
He swung at her sloppily and I could see it took her no effort to duck beneath the blow.
They were talking as they danced, but her voice was lowered so I had no idea what they were saying.
She was teasing the poor man. She dodged every single one of his attacks and she hadn't even taken her weapon out yet. The man was puffing like a fish out of water.
She moved around him like she was dancing the most elegant dance, it was like she was made out of shadows and I was completely entranced by her.
I felt the mood change instantly, I didn't know what caused the change but I felt her bold power turn into anger and her sword was in her hand now.
I could feel the heat radiating off her from here.
She had seemed almost awkward with a sword when I had first fought her with one, but it seemed like part of her now.
A swipe of her arm and the man's own weapon was flying through the air and into the water surrounding them.
He was begging her for his life now. She held this man's life in her hands.
But she had orders, we all had orders.
She thrust her sword through the man's chest and we both watched as the life drained from his eyes.
She had no trouble with the movement, and it looked just as easy as she pulled the blade out of his chest.
She sheathed the weapon where it belonged on her back before she simply pushed the man off the docks and into the water with a splash.
I followed her back until we came to a crossroads in the path.
My heart dropped as she hesitated.
Turning right would take her straight to where the carriage was hidden, where she thought I was waiting for her. Turning left would eventually lead her out of the town and into her own freedom.
She just stood there for a moment; I could practically see the battle she was having with herself.
Part of me was begging her to go right, where she would stay with me and I wouldn't have to watch her leave. But the other part of me was willing her to take a chance and turn left. She deserved so much more than being a killer for someone else. She was so much more than that and she didn't even know it.
I decided in that moment that I wouldn't stop her if she tried to run now. I had made a promise to the King that I wouldn't let her go. I had always wondered if there would ever be anything that would make me question my loyalty to my King. It would seem I had just found it.
I almost yelled at the poor woman when she turned right and determinedly headed towards the carriage.
I ran the last distance between where I was hiding and the carriage so that I was sitting and waiting when she climbed in.
Seeing her sit down opposite me and pull her hood off her face took my breath away.
Her hair was a dishevelled mess of brown locks and her eyes were alive with adrenaline. She was covered in blood.
Her knee was bouncing up and down as she wiped her bloodied hands on her legs. It did nothing to help.
She looked at me once we started moving, like she wanted me to shout at her or question her actions.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice came out softer than I had expected it to.
Her face softened at my words and I knew I had said the right thing. She didn't say anything, she just nodded and I watched her as her eyes gradually closed and she dozed off as the last of the adrenaline left her system and the blood dried on her hands.
There we have Chapter 9! Things will be moving a bit quicker now that chapter is out of the way and I feel like the story is well underway now so the real story line can start taking place! I really hope you liked Dimitri's point of view. Please let me know what you think of the chapter. Thank you so so much to everyone who was read, favourited, followed and reviewed this story, the support you guys give me literally blows me away and makes it all worth it. I like to think that I've found something I'm actually good at here, as I've never really found that thing before, so all of your support really does mean the world to me. Thank you so much for reading, please let me know what you think!
