The Assassin's Way
part 8 Never Sleep Never Die part 1
"There is one good thing about fighting crazed cultists"
"And that is ?"
"No prisoners"
-Grandma Ruthie & Mark Wolfe
Crescent City California
5 June 2055
Grandma Ruthie's Bed & Breakfast
Mark's bedroom
Dawn
The letter was handed from Dove to Raven. Sazhori stared at the stylised K upon it. "Who gave it to you ?" Aside from the Draconic K upon the plain white envelope, it was simply a plain white envelope of some form
"Its for him, the person never said their name only said it was important, and that he'd understand." Wezaki replied. "I'm not a Messenger Owl, I'm a Dove Healer" She was clearly upset of the whole thing, delivering messages when she was a combat healer
"You have a mission too. Dont forget it" Sazhori said simply
"Just because you get to drive his new toy around with him next to you doesnt mean you're better or higher ranked than I, Bodyguard" Wezaki retorted. Sazhori had no answer for that directly
"A message for Mark... but this is a K... wait... I'll wake him up. you get the breakfast ready" Sazhori said, Wezaki nodded and went downstairs to where Ruth was cooking.
In the bedroom Mark laid staring at the ceiling, next to the bed stood Kalda, the two were deep in conversation about something. Of course it was all mentally done as time had slowed for Mark to a halt "What happened to the Egg ? Her egg ?" Mark asked
"She hid it, She had to she had no choice in the matter, it was either that or let the darkness take it, but the purity of the child within is too strong for the darkness to take hold" Kaldakava replied
"Did you have a name for the child ? In her journal Elsa drew her mother, caring for a winged young girl. Did you and Xeir Zith have a name in mind for her when she was born ?" Mark asked off hand, sometimes these dreams got a little too detailed
"Lizzy, We wanted to name our first child Elizabeth, Lizzy." Came the reply, a reply with the tone behind the voice of a very emensly proud father to be.
Lizzy... "A beautiful name for a beautiful child" Mark mused, Kalda chuckled and time sped back up as Kalda faded from view
There was a knock at the door before it opened, Sazhori, black feathers and all, stepped in, closing the door behind her as the smell of bacon, eggs and something else {more birds and possibly a dragon ?} wafted through the door with her. the woman held something in her hand. She had been thinking on the K... and who could have a name starting with a K... "This is for... you I think ? Your name start with a K by chance ?" She held out the envelope to Mark
Mark looked to Sazhori. "One of my names. Yes." He said, taking the letter. It was eastern in appearance, ornate and well-crafted. Opening it on the short side, he took the letter from it, sitting up to read it better. Upon seeing the Draconian Writing, his eyes turned Silver, and Kalda translated it for him:
The note was written by hand, yet so careful was the handwriting not even Kalda could hope to recognise it at first glance. Yet the name at the end said it all. "Kalda
When you came to the Eyes of Light you caused a bit of a stir, we werent used to others sneaking in through the side walls, had you come through the front door I would not have attacked. I have something for you, and you alone. Come to me at the peir. I will explain everything I can. Bring the woman with Feathers
Hidden Flute"
"She does know I'm not you,...Right?" Mark thought as he read it. He could picture Kalda shrugging. Mark sighed and shrugged, his joints cracking as he stood, back straightening. "Right then. Says we need to go to the pier. The woman who attacked us in the vault has something for us. Me. Whatever." he said. He'd just showered, so with that he grabbed a fresh coat out of the wardrobe, this one more Black with Dark Green Accents and trim than his last one, which had the colors reversed. He turned to Sazhori as he put on the coat and fastened it.
"What do you think? I think you'll like the color no?" he jested with her. "Matches the car at least." he shrugged as he went to the desk, grabbing his DEagle, holstering it, and grabbing two extra magazines of ammo, the things going into their assorted pockets before he flipped up his hood, and grabbed the keys to both his room and the car. "Shall we?" He said, gesturing to the door so that Sazhori would leave. He'd follow, making sure to lock his door so that he'd have no more unepected visitors that he wouldn't know about.
As they came down the stairs the smells of bacon and eggs greeted mark dead in the nose like a fist to the stomach fromk his mother. It was also then his stomach rumbled rather loudly. Sazhori said nothing as Wexzaki obviously heard it and called for them to get to the table before they woke the other guests up
Upon entering the dining room they saw Big Tony, dressed, of all things, in a suit, he looked like godfather int hat get up, Car Key was there as well, dressed in... well, a dress that coulsd make Angelina Jolie jealous. It was then they remembered, that day was the wake, Viv's funeral was the next morning. And apparently it was a state deal as the entire city was in mourning, what was left of America, the flag still around, was at half mast outside.
"Ah good morning!" Ruth said, Another woman was present also cooking, Mark had never seen her before, based on the platinum blonde hair for a brief moment he thought he was looking at Elsa from behind until the woman, dressed in various shades of blue and pink turned to look at him, crystal green eyes unlike any he had ever seen yet Kalda recognised them right off, but didnt react other than a typical raised eyebrow "Just in time for breakfast, sit down, sit down we'll serve" the food smelled amazing, Ruth liked treating people to food and the like, so already there was barely space on the table as a whole
And what she brought to the table in a huge ass frying pan. Posibly industrial in size if Mark kept track of such things, which he didnt so it didnt really matter at that point. the food, well, scrabled eggs and bacon were one thing when made sepreately, but Ruth had chopped up the bacon and scrambled the eggs, then mixed them together in the pot and cooked both at once. And the result was a very heavenly concotion that only could be described as angel food breakfast
Mark's eyes paused as he looked upon the woman with white hair. Kalda knew her as Shade, but with-held that information for the moment, leaving Mark with the feeling he'd met her before. Unable to refuse an order from Ruthie, Mark sat at the table and lowered his hood, stroking his beard gently as he looked over the food Ruthie had cooked up. "You're too kind Grandma Ruthie." He said softly. The old woman smiled and nodded.
"I certainly try to be now and then; try and get a few more good points so they let me in at the pearly gates." She said, nodding as she served everyone a hearty helping of food.
"Momma you know I don't like you talkin' like that." Tony said, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt so he could eat.
"Hush, boy. I ain't kickin' it yet. Not while the Children of this city need someone to call Grandma Ruthie." she said. Mark tilted his head gently. That would imply that she intended to make the name a title, granted to the grand-mentor of the Assassins here... interesting. Or implied that she really wasn't going to die for a while. Either way, it intrigued him, though that could also be his stomach doing the thinking. "Now eat up. Important days ahead of us. Need your strength." Ruthie said, giving herself a hearty portion as well.
Mark was quiet while eating for the most part, letting the eggs melt in his mouth and the bacon fall apart under his teeth as he chewed. This stuff was great; with just enough seasoning to make him want even more; helping himself to a hearty portion for seconds as well. "This is good, Ruthie...You gotta teach me this." he said.
He'd take this back to Arendelle for sure. Surprise Elsa some day. In the meantime, he'd eat.
Car Key snickered at the mention of being taught how to cook. Ruthie gave her a look and she went quiet. Though Viv would indeed want them to be happy when they remembered her the next day. Seconds were passed around. Sazhori, bless her Ruthie thought, went for thirds but she saw that Mark didnt. Soon the others were finished eating and one by one, starting with Car Key, they left. Big Tony going to his mother and giving her a kiss on the cheek before patting her shoulder, Ruthie placed a strong hand on her sons own and nodded to him. Tony and Viv at one point were boyfriend and girlfriend. Until Vivs father moved away and won custody of Viv, forcing her from her home and into the CIA and Brotherhood directly.
Finally it was just Ruthie, Mark and Sazhori as Shade did the dishes. Ruth was thoughtful about something. "I can teach you how to cook it. Its pretty simple. But yesterday... What you saw, Who you saw... How you got... that Relic" Yepo Mark still hat it on his wrist. She leaned back in her seat thoughtfully "As much as I hate doing it it must be done. I gave you the key to get to the Eyes of Light, to meet me there. Instead, you came by way of the many vaults of information... I guess it is only fitting"
"Fitting for what ?" Sazhori asked, completely confused as she sat back in her chair.
"You are both Assassins, Not yet Masters, but I'd say Assassini three or four ?" Ruthie said. She was right on the money for Mark, Assassin rank four, whereas Sazhori wasnt even an Assassin to begin with, but rather then reveal such info as Wezaki went out of the room with Shade to get to work Ruth formally made Sazhori a rank 2 Assassin. Not yet a Master for either one, but then Sazhori was a bodyguard
But there was the nagging feeling that something was off about what Ruth was getting at, she was unhappy that they had come by means of one of the many side exits into the Eyes of Light rather than the front door. She sighed. She looked to Mark, taking in the boy carefully Ruth said "You saw the Eyes of Light, shelves of information stretching into the darkness for hundreds of meters... Do you wonder what it was ?"
"Thought it was just another Vault, to be honest." Mark Responded. "But now that I know what they are, it only makes sense that you'd keep a running record of everything that goes on here... I should set something similar up in Arendelle..." He said calmly. Surely there was enough room in one of the Wolfe Vaults. Or hell, even an entire Vault dedicated to that very task already.
Mark paused for a moment, his fingers tapping on the arm-rest of his chair. The sound of the water running in the sink jogged his memory. The Pier. "Your friend sent me a letter. Wants to meet at the pier. I'll let you know how it goes." Mark said, smiling as he stood and started to leave. He was stopped however by Ruthie clearing her throat. Right. She was out here, he has to properly say goodbye. He walked over to her after pushing his chair in and gave her a hug, kissing her cheek and patting her shoulder. "I'll see you later, Grandma Ruthie." He said with a smile, nodding to Sazhori and taking a side-long glance to Shade at the sink before walking towards the garage where his Dodge Challenger awaited. Opening the door, he sunk into the seat and waited for Sazhori as the garage door opened slowly before him and he turned the ignition, the engine purring to life like a content kitten.
As the two left and the car rumbled to life, Shade stepped up to Ruthie as the older room stood from the table. "Do you think he knows ?"
"No." Ruth said in reply. "that boy has so much going on in his head and heart, for him to truly fathom the truth of the Eyes of Light will take some time. You have the house. I have a wake to attend"
"Right then; to the Pier." he said, shifting the car into Drive once Sazhori was in. The drive there was quiet enough; just the two of them listening to the engine purr as Mark kept a steady forty miles an hour down the streets, taking turns with ease and missing any obstacle by a mile as if he'd done it a million times. As they came to the pier, Mark slowed down and found a spot to park, the engine cutting out as he turned the key and smiled, patting the steering-wheel. He liked this car. He liked it a lot.
Raising his hood, he exited the car and started towards the pier itself, hands in his pockets in the cool, misty morning air. His boots made little noise even on the pavement or the creaking wood of the pier, though on the wood the inevitable ithump, thump, thump/i of his heels hitting the ground as he walked couldn't be avoided as he walked. Then again, he wasn't trying to hide.
It seemed they were a bit early. So, finding a bench, Mark removed his hands from his pockets and sat down, crossing one leg over the other at the ankle, and leaning back into the bench with one arm laid across the back-rest of it. "Nice morning...don't you think?" he asked Sazhori, looking to the Raven.
The drive was smooth, smoother than most, unhibited by shadows of the massive airships floating above the city to the south or over the sea as they got out. Nieither of them making a noise as they walked to the peir, ending at a bench and waiting as Mark sat down. Sazhori sat next to him. "It is..." She said in regards to his question. What Ruth spoke of, the Eyes of Light, there was only one such vault, and she was its keeper, a vast spy network. "Are they always like this ? The day of a person being buried, being so beautiful ?"
The dawn was bright and clear. over the sea they could see faint outlines in the sunlight of airships over the water, and further to the south they could see vast towers stretching out into the water fading on the horizon. Today was the wake, tomorrow the funeral. Wonderful.
"I see you made it" Said a voice out on nowhere whtsoever as Hidden Flute somehow without a sound or even breath of wind stepped next to Mark... "You are not Him, You... who are you ? He should be here I have something for him and him alone..." Seeing it was Mark and not Kalda made things slightly problematic, Jarius had tried to explain that Kalda had been reborn after a million years, but Hidden Flute didnt believe him as she saw him the day before, the silver eyes were his, she'd know them anywhere
"Usually. We humans try to bury our dead on nice days. Good omens and all that..." he said in response to her question. Before he could speak again, Hidden Flute's voice stopped him. He turned his head towards her, tilting his head.
"We are here." He said, his hand moving to tap his chest. He meant himself and Kalda, of course. Kalda was reborn, but was still a seperate entity from Mark. "I am who you met in the Vaults." he added.
"No" Hidden Flute said, crossing her arms, "He was who I met in the Eyes of Light" She said simply, Sazhori stood as Hidden Flute turned from Mark. "You are not him... her I recognise" She gave a sidelong glance towards Sazhori
Mark rolled his eyes. "Kalda and I are one in the sa-" within a flash he was on his back staring up at the pit-fighter with an annoyed look on his face.
Oh course he tried to touch her at the time, Her foot on his chest, his left arm in hers. She was fast, faster than most of any he'd fought against. "Dont make me break this, If you are him, he will know what I mean." She held the right arm of Mark, just so If he tried to move...
Mark let out a sigh, his eyes swirling with Silver as the memory passed through his mind. "That's annoying..." he growled as he felt his arm tweak a bit. Fortunately, he was fast too, a resounding Click reaching the woman's ear as he released the safety of his DEagle at her foot that wasn't on his chest. "I could always shoot you. And with these bullets it'll hurt. I'm Kalda, and Kalda is me." he said. She didn't move. He rolled his eyes.
"You're looking for my eyes, right? Well guess what, They change color depending on the kind of magic I'm using. If it's mine, they're bronze..." he proceeded to show her. "If the magic is Kalda's, they're his eyes" again they shifted, iris's turning silver and pupils dilating into slits. "See? Magic!" he said, his level of sarcasm only growing the more pain and annoyance he was in.
His finger moved to the trigger, and his hand tilted; the bullet would go right through her foot, leaving nothing left. Mythic Human or not. "Now release me, please. If you want to talk to Kalda, you can talk to me." he said, both Bronze and Silver swirling in his eyes as he stared at Hidden Flute with an annoyed look on his face. He'd just gotten this coat clean, and here she was getting it dirty. Blasted woman...
For a long moment she stared at him, She was very close to simply twitching and breaking his arm right then. She had done it before. Many times. For a long moment her foot never moved from his chest. "Fine. If you are him, and he is you. Who then am I holding on the ground ? Is it Kalda... or the one known as Mark Wolfe, of Cairo once engaged to a Templar ?"
How did she know that ?
"Answer me this, and I will let you up unharmed. Agreed ?"
"At this very moment, you speak to Mark Wolfe, Adopted Son of House Elisar, reincarnation of Kaldakava, Third Son and Champion of Light." he answered, his composure changing to a more serious one now that they were on equal understanding. He loses an arm, she loses most of her lower leg. "However, Kaldakava is listening."
A heartbeat passed, and Hidden Flute smiled, letting up the pressure on his arm she offered her other hand to him to pull him up as she stepped off him. Her feet were bare, and try as he might he couldnt find any dirt from her skin upon his chest when he looked later. "You speak truth. Though I... refused to belive him. Kalda once used his gravity skill against me in the Pit... It was the only fight I lost. But I never forgot our first. When I broke his arm... and his armor"
Wait, she broke Duradaeden ?
Her hand went to her belt about her waist, removing from it a silver glove. "When we fought that first time, it was his right arm I had broken, along with the armor upon it. I was told to take this, I would know to whom it belonged... to Kalda..." Mark then saw the scar on her hand, her right hand had what looked like burn marks from the palm of her hand up to her elbow, similar to Elsas own horsebite scar only in this case it wasnt from a horse, but from ice cold ancient duradaeden armor. That was the only scar she had from the first fight, the scar on her hip and leg from the embedding of the shards of glass had all healed over a thousand year period.
She held the glove to him. Sazhori saw it contained nothing but silver cloth. "this is what I have for you... for him. Through him I earned a better life in the pits. I still fought dfaily, but I was treated better, cleaner... won my owner more money. It was all because of him." Hidden Flute sighed, "For what it is worth... I'm sorry." Sorry for what ? Oh right, breaking his arm in their first fight.
Mark took the glove, examining it. "Right... the old hand-me-down armor he wore in your first fight... He forgives you for that. Says it taught him a lesson." he said, taking it in carefully. It was a right-glove; but it was only that. He'd have to find a way to impliment it to his own normal armor.
"This...this is what's left of my last set of armor." Kalda said. "Move over, I need your body for a second" Suddenly Mark coughed a few times, his eyes flashing silver as Kalda took over, his voice now coming from Mark's throat. "How did the All-Mother save this? I shot it at... her." he asked sternly, not daring speak Kethend's name in the Mortal Realm lest she be nearby.
Hearing Kadlas voice coming from Mark made Hidden Flute do something she hadnt done before the Dragon in a million years, She dropped to her knees on the peir, and bowed her head. "I do not know" She said in Draconic which Sazhori easily understood. as she kept watch. Of course Kaldas first reaction was to have Hidden Flute stand up ajnd puleld her to her feet. She looked at him directly, silver eyes, his silver eyes, made her own brown eyes shine with inner light, like they had when they first fought. "I... I was given this glove... By a man in bright armor... long silver hair. brass colored eyes" That only meant Jarius
"The landscape painter ?" Sazhori asked, she knew of him, she remembered him. her sisters had to pose with the rest of their massive family for a painting at their fathers request. Of course Jarius made two versions. One with and one without Sazhori in it
"Mm" Hidden Flute said. "He said to give it to someone important. that I would know who... you... Kalda... my benefactor"
Kalda was quickly catch Hidden Flute by the arm, stopping her from dropping to her knees. "You know I don't like that." he scolded briefly. At the description of the man who gave her the glove, he nodded. "Jarius... Yes he would be the one that'd get this done... " he said. He returned his eyes to the glove and put it on his hand, the glove more of a chain-mail covering with a single plate at the back of the hand. Not good for much of anything anymore. But good for a keep-sake, or in a pinch if one needed armor but couldn't summon it. Kalda would blink however as the gauntlet began to grow, the bright Silver spreading up his arm to the shoulder, similar to Mark's original Left-handed Gauntlet, the only difference being the color: Bright Silver.
Mark's voice broke through. "Well...can't say I like the color...but it's in good shape..." he said calmly, the gauntlet promptly shrinking down to its original size, Mark stowing it in an inside pocket of his coat. "Thank you." he said to HIdden Flute, his eyes still blazing Silver. His voice was layered as he said it, both his and Kalda's voice at the same time saying the words to the woman.
"Anything else for us?" he asked, figuring he'd ask.
Sazhori simply stared, the fuck ? Written all over her face, Revelation of the Painter being the one giving the woman, so heavily tattooed the silver glove made things confusing. Possibly too confusing.
But that didnt matter, as out of the blue completely, Hidden Flute did something that not even Kalda could have anticipated. Without thinking it, Hidden Flute hugged Mark. The sheer thought of seeing her benefactor again after a million years... hearing his voice, feeling his touch. "Thank you" She said again, meaning their first fight, even though she had won, her life had been better. Sure she was still a pitfighter owned by a merchant, but after the fight she got cleaned up, prettier daily, and was even well fed and dressed
Hidden Flute let Mark go as she felt eyes on her, turning towards the raven she held out something. It was a letter. "You both saw the Eyes of Light, the spy network within this world... It is only fitting you become part of it." Her bright bown eyers turned towards Mark, and Kalda then remembered the brief instant the two locked hands and stared at each others eyes for a good minute, spelling his doom in their first fight. Sazhori iopened the asian style envelope and read the letter, it stated she and Mark were now part of the massive spy network until released by Ruth
Sazhori then saw their first mission and bit her lip as she smirked Looking to Mark she said "You're not gonna like this"
Mark and Kalda both were startled, but returned the hug nontheless, patting the girl's back. "You're welcome." they said together. He didn't let go until she did, not knowing how badly she needed that hug. Part of him needed a hug just as badly, so he'd take what he could get. After they parted, Mark turned to Sazhori as she spoke, his eyebrows furrowing under the shadow of his hood as the sun rose steadilly.
"Try me." he said. Not much could be worse than breaking up with your old girlfriend and killing her parents. Or pretending you were dead to your more recent girlfriend who happens to be the queen of a country. Why Mark's mind was there he didn't know; but then again, today was full of surprises yet.
Hidden Flute smirked, it wasnt her that assigned the mission, but Ruth. Sazhori spoke up. "Our first mission it seems... is to attend a Masked Ball, hosted by one... Talak Horde." Well, he said to try him.
When Mark looked at her Hidden Flute shrugged "I'm not the one that assigns missions, just give the agents the tasks to do when I am assigned them."
"But why not you ?" Sazhori asked
"You think a woman tattooed like me can get into a mask ball and survive ?" Hidden Flute asked. That made sense
Mark paused, shrugging and nodding. "Yeah... Don't really like it..." he said. He shrugged and let out a breath. Pausing for another second he looked at the bench and then nodded. He reached out and gave Hidden Flute another hug, patting her shoulder, his fingertips trailing down her arm to her hand, where a sudden tingling sensation would spread out. Mark's eyes flashed silver and he winked before smiling. "Well, thanks for not breaking my arm... again... I'll see you later." Mark said.
With that, Mark turned; leaving Hidden Flute to find that the scars made from the Duradaeden shards were healed, gone, thanks to Kalda's Magic. As Mark walked back to his car, Sazhori in tow, he was eerily quiet as he thought over the mission description. He didn't speak again until they were in the car.
"Does it say anything else? Just attend the ball? Anything in particular they want us to find out?" he asked Sazhori as he lowered his hood, looking himself over in the mirror, a pout spreading his lips downwards at what he saw. "Either way... I will need a haircut and a shave... and a Tux." he said." A mask wouldn't be a problem. As an Assassin Mark had more than a few masks. "When's this thing supposed to go down, too? Kind of important."
As they left Hidden Flute felt the tingling in her right hand, looking down she saw before her eyes, the scars from the ice cold that burnt her skin and left muscle and at the time, bone visible slowly fade away until smooth tattooed skin was left unharmed. She looked up as mark left. As the two got into the car Hidden Flute turned towards the sea. A tear trailing down her face. She needed that hug, "Thank you... Kalda... for everything." She murred softly
Once in the car Sazhori smirked "Doorman Zhao Yu wil meet us with further instructions" She said "only thing it says in here is to expect no weapons to be permitted... knowing me that's not really possible. At least I dont set off metal detectors with my featherdaggers" Sazhori mused as Mark started the car and shifted into reverse. "In two days"
As the car left the peir parking lot Hidden Flute spoke up "They have left, you can come out now... Vulture"
From under the peir a slender lightly tanned skinned hand gripped the edge, and a drenched woman climbed onto it as Mark turned the car into drive and drove off. "So he is the guy you faced huh ? Doesnt look like much" Vulture had a drowned cat look to her, with the pale green hair plastered to her body and her dress and tanktop soaked that fit the bill
"Yes, that was him." Hidden Flute said. She pulled a item from within her top and handed it to the soaked woman "This is all Grandmother could get on him, what little there is"
"He dont look Egyptian" Vulture mumbled. "Adoptive of Elisar, Assassin Den Master of Cairo, CIA operative callsign The Scorpion... Ah parrotshit."
"What is it ?"
"He's Arendelleian"
"... Parrotshit indeed"
Trinidad California
Thirty minutes later
Talak Horde's private sanctuary
The phone rang twice, Someone picked it up. "Ruth... Hey... I heard about what happened to Vivan... I'm sorry I cant come to the funeral. Stuff hashappened you know ?... hey look, dont worry about a thing Alright ? I got this here... everything is peaceful... Dont worry, I'll punish as needed those that attacked the people staying at your place... My regards to the kids..." Talak hung up. This was going to suck
There was a drunken purring as a white cat laid strung out on all sorts of drugs against a rack. "Did she say anything ?" a man asked
"Plenty"
"Oh dear"
"How many men do you have ?"
"How many do we need ?"
"As many as you can spare" That meant twelve men, "Send them to the funeral home as employees, and when only Ruth is there... add her to the list of cemetary residents"
"Yes ma'am"
Talak turned back to her drunken pet. Miao was fun at times, trailing a finger along the jawline of the powerful strung out cat. The drunken purring soon turned to shrieking as the mental attack began, the torture relentless as Talak tore into the cats drunken stupor and dreams turning them into the most horrifying nightmares one could dream up.
Crescent City
Vale Funeral Home
Ten minutes later
As Mark pulled into the parking lot Sazhori stared "We're not heading back to the house ?" Mark parked the car and they got out. then she remebmered, that day was the wake in only five more hours at four PM. their time with Hidden Flute, on the road, with Ruth that morning, It took until about eleven am when they arrived at the funeral home for Vivs wake.
"No. We're paying our respects. In case you've forgotten, somone died..." Mark's tone was gentle yet solemn. He wouldn't be dissuaded from this. Parking the car and shutting off the engine, he got out and headed into the Funeral Home, lowering his hood as he entered. It wouldn't take long before he found Ruthie and everyone else getting ready for Viv's funeral. Mark let out a long breath, his face relaxing as they approached the crowd of people. It was a simple ceremony.
People said their good-byes, laid flowers on Viv's body, the priest gave a sermon, and everyone was quiet. No body really gave a speech; no one wanted to. Mark didn't know her well enough to be emotionally touched by her passing, but the fact that she died protecting him did strike a chord within him, and as such he was more solemn than he thought he would be. When it was his turn to place a rose in her coffin, he broke the stem, tucking it behind her ear gently. His fingers tapped the coffin gently, he nodded and he turned, returning to the crowd.
He stood next to Big Tony, leaning over a bit to whisper his condolences, the big man quietly shedding tears. Mark patted his shoulder and rubbed his back a bit, nodding once more before heading towards the back of the crowd, scanning the perimeter and horizon out of pure habit before returning himself to the moment. The world was quiet; and his coat was heavy. But that was fine, this was a solemn day, but a nice one. A good day to bury a friend, if one could call it that. Mark figured there was never a good day to bury a friend or loved one, but he'd do it on a day like this; with clear skies and chirping birds, a gentle breeze and no Templars to bother them.
It was a nice day. But it was not a good one.
Sazhori didnt know Viv well enough to exactly attend the funeral, but she stayed close enough to be just barely noticable, or completely ignored. The only person that really knew her was Ruth, and Mark. So she stuck close to both when she could and ended up wandering the cemetery grounds itself and soon joined Mark as the procession bearing Vivs coffin began its trek from the funeral home to the cemetery for the final goodbye.
Big Tony stepped up next to Mark, the giant of a man had cried his eyes out the night before and during the funeral itself. But now he stood, eyes bloodshot, next to Mark. "For as long as I knew her we always joked on how we'd die. Vivian always said that if she was to get killed against someone, her gun would fire before her last breath and kill her killer. Me, I wanted to simply not wake up. But now..."
Sazhori saw the movement first as a woman dressed in black stepped from a equally black hovervan, to which the Raven simply looked in the direction of the car's arrival. The woman was alone, and had gotten out of the driverseat of the car. Making a direct line for Mark she had something that glittered in her hands.
Big Tony didnt notice however. His voice slightly gaining an edge yet still somewhat happy "Viv always wanted us to look on the bright side of what she did, as a CIA agent, helping those who couldnt be helped. She saved your life at the cost of her own... Vivan always said that there's no greater love then that" He was right
The black dressed woman stepped into view of Mark, who saw her clearly as one of the Assasins... one of Georginas assassins at that. The young woman's long black hair was partly braded, her brown eyes had a glazed look to them as she stepped up to Mark. "Master" She said simply lifting her hands in salute, her right hand covered by her left as she bowed to Mark in typical Chinese fashion before presenting the item she had stolen.
Mark turned to look at the Recruit, his face still solemn before seeing what she had in her hands his face turned grim, and there was a palpable shift in the mood in the air around him. He grabbed the Recruit by the arm and moved away from the Funeral as to not disturb the sanctity of the event. He took the item from her hand, the permafrost was still there. This was Elsa's half of the Necklace he made for her.
"And just what the fuck is this supposed to mean?" Mark's voice was barely an audible growl, and despite the intimdation factor of the large man growling at her, the recruit was calm. Almost as if she was told this would happen.
"How do you mean, Sir?" she asked calmly.
"I mean exactly what I said. This is her half of the necklace. What's it mean? Did she move on? Did she lose it? Did an act of God take it from her? What?!" he growled, his voice raising only on the last word.
"Weselton, Sir... someone stole it from her in the night." she answered.
Mark's hand closed around the thing into a tight fist; it was Duradaeden so he wasn't concerned with its safety. He took in a deep breath and lifted his hood. He'd need to think on this.
"When you catch the guy that had this... what are you going to do ?" The woman Recruit asked, her voice hesitant for once. It seemed now her own curiosity took over; this wasn't what she was told to say to him.
For a stifling, almost unending moment Mark was silent... "Words aint even been invented yet"
Three hours later.
Ruthie's House, Mark's Room.
Mark slammed the suitcase onto his bed, most of it was still packed. He folded up the Assassin Coats he wasn't using; his Jade one, his Forest and Black one, and even a simple White one he wore as a boy, and stuffed them into the suitcase. He was muttering to himself, the necklace that once belonged to Elsa dangling from his neck, and his own half tucked under his shirt.
The door opened behind him. Wezaki heard it all, watched it all. She knew little of Viv, aside from being the only nurse sent around the Mortal Realm she knew just enough that Viv was a healthy strong young girl the two times she had seen her acting as a medical doctor in the mortal realm was fun... to a point She preferred combat work
Stepping into the room without Sazhori present made things easier for the Dove. "What is this ? Packing already ? You're barey here a week and you want to leave ?" She saw the necklace and put two and two together and somehow ended up with 69. "Ok soo... Get your girls necklace, and then packup to go home... Now why am I going to say no ?"
Mark turned, looking at the Dove with a glare. "That's the plan, yes. Take the car, head through the super-highways until I hit Europe, then go through until I hit Arendelle. Then find the Shmuck who stole this, and present his eyes to his boss, then present his boss's head to Elsa." he answered. "Why are you going to say no? Probably because it seems to be your job." he pointed at her, arm not fully extended.
Even when enraged Mark was keenly observant, though truth be told he'd noticed this based on the limited interactions he'd seen her and Sazhori have during the short time he'd been here in California.
"True on two counts there, but wrong on the rest" Wezaki leaned against the door, for a Dove she was a medic, and most times it was her own commanders giving HER a lecter on how to work and what to do under stress without going berzerk at the loss of something. Wezaki corssed her arms over her chest, the whilte and silver of her robes shimmered slightly as she tilted her head at him, light tan, bright hazel eyes. Yeah, she was a medic, and she meant business. "Yes it is my job. Yes, we are to stay here. You leave, and it only causes problems!"
"You leave here, and things get worse. I'm not taking your place at the ball, do I look like you ?!" Ok that made a bit of sense... maybe "Nor am I letting you leave. You leave here, this country, this... remenat state... Vivians death... Are you that out of your mind that you will leave the place she called home to the darkness ?" Wezaki's voice was slowly rising as she spoke, The door nob rattled but she smacked against the door, outside was a sudden "OW" as Sazhori's hand was cut by a white dovefeather Wexzaki'd heal it later.
"You leave here and her death will be in vain, this place will fall, and you'll be doomed!" A few feathers floated, even though Wezaki had black hair as a human, she was a solid white dove as a bird. and white feathers started to molt off her dress and dance in the room on a unseen wind..
Mark's own body flared up in response to Wezaki's raising voice, his magic flaring up around his body, in a sort of flame-like manifestation, a mixture of Silver and Bronze flames covering his body akin to a Phoenix Cloak, only no damage was done to the area around him. At the Dove's last words Mark let out a single, wrathful shout akin to a battlecry or simple scream, though with his voice it rumbled the windows and doors.
"FINE!" He shouted, his armor manifesting on his body before he hit the wardrobe, not hard enough to break it, but hard enough to move it to the right a good few feet. His armor vanished and he turned. "Fine... I'll stay... Now get out of my room." He hrowled, shoving his suitcase off his bed to where it was before in the corner of his room. He took a step and vanished through a Transport Array.
He wasn't far, however, in fact he was still itechnically/i within ear-shot. Shot being the key word. He was in the woods behind Ruthie's house, using the trees as target practice to let out his frustration After firing two full magazines of his DEagle's ammo he stopped, shaking his head and holstering the gun, sighing. Once he calmed down, he returned to the house, and started to fully prepare for the ball.