"'Will you stop?'
'Why? Just cause some little kid gets a little pissy? Really?' cold laughter echoed through the room.
'I'll kill you.' The girl's voice was completely flat. It held little to no emotion at all.
'Don't make me laugh,' the laughter of the man grew louder, rising from deep within his chest. Suddenly his laughter was cut off. It ended in a choked gurgle. He collapsed to the ground. His eyes glazed over with the blank look of death.
'I told you I would.' the girl said. Her voice didn't change at all. The man's blood pooled at her feet and soaked into the rich carpet."
"Who was this girl?"
"The only name she's known by is Crimson Phoenix."
"Really, Jarvis? That's a dumb story."
"Oh c'mon Ral. It's a great story," Jarvis insisted. He smirked, "It actually happened too."
"No it didn't," Ral shook his head.
"How do you know?" Jarvis leaned forward, closer to the smaller boy, "The only thing Crimson Phoenix leaves behind is a bright orange flower petal. The only thing that announces her arrival is a phoenix flying across the sky. Whoever her target is will see that phoenix."
"That's dumb! If she really did exist why would she announce her arrival like that?!" Ral insisted.
"I think it's cool," the smaller girl next to him whined.
"Sure, Ella," Ral sighed. He glared at Jarvis, "Why would she announce her arrival like that?"
"Haven't you heard of assassins leaving hints for their target to make them afraid? What is someone like when they're afriad?" Jarvis asked, "Are they thinking logically or are they making rash decisions in the moment?"
"They're more likely to act out of the ordinary," Ral mumbled.
"Exactly. They would easily be able to be led directly into a trap if they are afraid," Jarvis nodded, "That's why she would announce her arrival. And why she would leave a small something behind as a warning to anyone else."
"That's scary," Ella whimpered.
"Oh, it's alright Ella. She doesn't target kids. She may be ruthless but you have nothing to worry about," Jarvis patted the kid on the top of the head reassuringly.
"Phoenix, killing them wasn't in the job description," Wyvern insisted.
"So? Job description or not they got what they deserved," Phoenix shrugged. She turned away from them, "I'll be going out again tonight." Four days and she had taken out seven locations with Elspeth's help. She was increasingly surprised at how much better she was getting at sneaking and lying. She had nearly been caught twice but had managed to weasel her way out of it with little effort. Phoenix walked out the door and climbed onto a nearby roof. She pulled a cloak out from under a tile in the ceiling and pulled it over her shoulders. She lifted the hood over her head and darted along the roof to the next location. She summoned a phoenix and had it fly over the building she was targeting.
"Will you stop? Do you know that what you are doing is wrong?"
"Why should I stop? The cat business keeps my pockets full. That's all I need."
Phoenix's eyes narrowed, "Very well. If that is the ending you choose." She leaped forward and knocked him into the large overstuffed chair that he was standing in front of. She dug a thin blade deep into his chest. She dropped a bright orange flower petal from her left hand. She pulled the blade out of his body and turned away. She hurried out of the building. Elspeth should've gotten any cats in here out so onto the next site it is. She took down three sites that night before returning to the mansion they were staying at.
"Crystal."
"Peyton?" Phoenix turned to him in surprise.
"What are you doing out at night?" he asked.
"Just walking," she shrugged.
He shook his head, "That's not what I meant."
"Oh. It wasn't?" Phoenix swallowed nervously.
"Are you...taking on the companies?" he asked hesitantly.
"How'd you guess?" Phoenix sighed. Might as well cut the act. "Was it because you've been following me the past two nights?"
"You knew about that?!" Peyton squeaked.
Phoenix nodded, "Yeah."
"Well I-I just wanted to know what you were doing because you seemed...odd when we first met so I was curious and..." he shrugged and studied the ground.
"C'mon," Phoenix grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.
"You've got quite the reputation building," Echo snapped the moment she walked in.
"What?" Phoenix asked.
Echo sighed. She turned a computer monitor around to face Phoenix, "This is the story that's been going around. The multiverse."
Phoenix read through it and burst out laughing, "You're serious?"
"You're a cold killer Phoenix. Congratulations."
"Cold killer?" Peyton repeated nervously.
"No," Phoenix shook her head, "Those are just the rumors that are spreading around about me."
"Who's this?" Wyverna sked curiously.
"Butterfly?" Phoenix looked from Wyvern to Peyton and back again.
"Huh?" Peyton stared at her in confusion, "But-"
"Eclipse will have to okay it," Wyvern shrugged, "but I don't see why not."
"Wait. What're you talking about?" Peyton asked.
"Well if you want to do something like what I'm doing yourself then I can help you out with that," Phoenix shrugged.
"Re-really?" Peyton stuttered.
Phoenix nodded, "By the way my name's Phoenix not Crystal."
"So you did lie," Peyton glared at her, "I knew you did."
"Sorry," Phoenix shrugged.
"Did you lie to Elspeth too?"
"No," Phoenix shook her head, "Phoenix is something of a code name. The name I gave to Elspeth is my 'real' name."
"Oh," Peyton said.
"Just like how Peyton will be your name but your name can also be Butterfly."
"Why Butterfly?"
"Because you like them don't you?" Phoenix asked.
"Huh?" Peyton stared at her. His cheeks started to turn red in embarrassment, "Well...no not really."
Phoenix raised an eyebrow, "Okay. Whatever you say."
"Well I do like butterflies but-how did you know that?" Peyton mumbled.
"I say you watching one the other day," Phoenix shrugged.
"You-"
Phoenix nodded, "Yep. I do keep an eye on the friends I make you know."
"I'm your...friend?"
"Well yeah," Phoenix rolled her eyes. She yawned and stretched, "Well anyway. I'm off to sleep now. See ya guys. Look after him for me will you?"
"Sure," Echo muttered dryly.
Phoenix flopped onto the couch and closed her eyes.
"I don't know why you insist on spending time on the couch when you have your own room," Wyvern muttered.
"Because I don't like my room. I've slept on a rooftop before. It's not the worst thing that's ever happened," Phoenix shrugged.