Chapter One: Out of the Frying Pan...
"Evix Featherstrum?" The voice came through the wooden door of the prison cell where the Kaldorei reclined on an uncomfortable cot, staring at the ceiling. She idly brushed her fingernails on her leather tunic in the candlelight, not making any move to answer. She'd been locked in the Stormwind stockade for two weeks now, and really didn't see any reason to start accomidating the suddenly talkative guards. "You've a visitor..."
"Joy... if it's one of those cursed priests trying to save my soul again, forget it... my soul hasn't done anything for me in a long time..." Evix gathered herself up on her bed, pressing flat against the wall, ready to strike at whoever came into the room. Not so much in hopes to escape, but more for her own entertainment. It'd been nearly a week since she'd been allowed to see any of the other prisoners, since the last piece of Defias scum who had decided to try anything with her had ended up with a number of the prison's dinner forks shoved into his abdomen. She could certainly use a good scrap.
"I assure you, I'm not a priest, by any means," another male voice, deeper than the first, replied, "and I don't come to save your soul... but your neck." The door cracked open and a tall shadow appeared on the floor.
"I don't need any saving," Evix whispered from the shadows, lunging out to swing on the man before her, only to find her arm suddenly twisted in a remarkably uncomfortable position behind her back, her head shoved down towards her chest so that she couldn't move it.
"Really? I'd beg to differ, my night elf friend... guard, leave us..." the door shut quickly and the lock could be heard sliding into place, "you've got the death of at least four people on your head, girl... I don't think you're in a place to be saying who needs saving."
"They were scum that society needed to be rid of..." she growled, struggling fruitlessly with her arms before swinging her leg up in a kick, catching her captor by surprise as her foot connected with his face, causing him to loosen his grip, giving her enough room to slide from his grasp. "Much as I suspect you to be..."
The man let out a sharp, loud laugh, "Very impressive... I'd wondered how you'd managed to kill Geltan, but now that I see you in action, it's not hard to see... you are very talented."
"You don't have to tell me that," she grinned, puffing her chest up proudly, "not to mention that I could have killed Geltan with a broken arm... oh... wait... I did. So, how did you know him... you Defias scum, too? Deep-seated in the government, waiting for the right moment to strike? I should crush your windpipe right now..."
"You seem to be quite righteous, Evix... seem to feel the need to do justice."
It was the elf's turn to laugh, her white eyes glowing in the candlelight, "Justice? Hardly... I just know that things wouldn't be too good for people like me if the government were overthrown."
"I would think that an assassin would find a lack of government control a benefit..." The man retorted, a fascinated look crossing his features as he stroked at his well-trimmed beard. Evix could now see his dark features in the light, he was a small man, fairly well-groomed, in fact, she wouldn't have given him two glances passing him on the street.
"Not at all... there'd be far too much competition, after all, if there's no guards to try to get around... no city patrols... anyone would be able to sneak into someone's house and kill 'em. My work takes skill," she smiled sinisterly.
"You make a valid point... but how would you feel about getting out of here and still being permitted to continue doing your work, for higher pay, and with a purpose," the man's tone turned serious now.
"More pay sounds good. Purpose... well... as of right now, that's killing people that other people want dead... and I find it unlikely you're going to offer me anything more than that."
"Make no mistake, Evix.. I could just as easily go down the hall and grab some random Defias renegade and give him this offer, but you've shown a remarkable amount of skill, even down to killing one of my agents... I am Matthias Shaw, leader of the SI:7 agency. I'm offering you a chance to actually make a real difference in the world with your targets," he opened his hands, emphasizing the influence she could have.
"You had me at more pay and a chance to see the moonlight again, Shaw... now just get me out of here, give me some weapons, and someone to scrap with and I'll be happy," Evix laughed softly.
"I have a very specific purpose in mind for you, Evix... and it will become evident in time. I advise you not to get too cocky... you have skill, but absolutely no discipline. I'm taking it on my self to turn you into a silent, smooth-running killing machine, who doesn't brag about it the next day in the tavern... think you can do that?" Shaw scowled at the grin Evix still had on her lips.
"Talking in a tavern landed me in here to begin with... so I suppose I can keep it shut," the grin faded from her lips. Shaw extended his hand, which Evix reluctantly grabbed and shook firmly.
"This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship, I think," Shaw said, smiling once again, with a look that made Evix shiver to the bone.