Prologue

A lone assassin stands by the shore, silhouetted by the setting sun.

On this day, this celebration of love, I stand alone.

The scarlet sun stains the seas crimson.

As I gaze across the sea, the tide carries with it memories.

The bloody seaBloody memories.

My Bloody Valentine

Sounds of war echo around me. The Emperium… so close… Screams rent the air. Our guild is fighting a losing battle.. An anguished yell echoes in the castle. I turn.

Time stops.

A red haired hunter falls, dagger wedged in his chest.

No!

A scream fills the room. My scream.

Blood flows freely from his wound.

Blood flows freely from my heart.

For a second… our eyes meet. I choke at what I see.

"Death" His eyes say clearly.

In that moment, my heart freezes.

No.

Red washes my vision. I scream and attack ruthlessly.

Eyes a burning ice, the assassin dances a dance of death. A blood bath drenches the golden Emperium room.

Silence.

Calmly, I survey the room.

Bodies strewn across the floor, eyes glazed with death.

I laugh.

Chilling laughter echoes. Eyes glinting, the assassin walks slowly to the Emperium. Guild members' eyes follow her movements dumbly.

Soundlessly, I move toward the shining jewel. Standing before it, I draw my katars with a soft rasp.

The blood stained katar glints golden in the light of the Emperium.

I turn slowly, smiling at my guildmember's faces. A cold smile. A smile of death.

Without warning, she spins around, stabbing the katar into the Emperium.

-Crack-

I smile as the blood from my katar seeps through the cracks of the Emperium.

Bloody Emperium. Fitting.

After all, today is the day of love. Valentine's Day. They say red is the colour of love. True. But red is also the colour of blood.

My Bloody Valentine

The tide recedes. Carrying with it my blood. My memories.

It is Valentine's Day again. It has been a year since that day.

I finger my katar. This bloody katar that has been with me so long. It was it, that ended the life of my beloved as he lay dying. It was it, that killed my enemies and allies alike.

It was it, that stabbed through the heart of an assassin cross that Valentine's Day.

With my last, I traced a bloody heart on the sand with my blood.

Red is the colour of Love it is true. But Red is also the colour of Blood