Chapter Two is up! This is where you get introduced to my OC. Warning, this chapter has a rather violent scene at the beginning.
Disclaimer: You know the drill... I don't own Slayers.
Chapter Two: Enter Thila, Deadly Assassin
The duke had just settled down to sign some royal documents. The window in his study looked out over the sleeping city. It was 10 pm. Unknown to him; his documents would soon be marked with more than just ink.
The assassin phased into a tree outside the duke's window. She watched through sea foam green eyes as he sat down. It always amazes me how little humans value their lives, she thought. Sitting in front of a window is just begging for someone to kill you. This will be pathetically easy. Smiling to herself, she unsheathed her sword, and phased into the room, silent as a shadow. Making no noise, she snuck up behind the duke. Now to have some fun before I kill him. I do love to play with my food! she thought, grinning to herself. "Rough night, Your Majesty?" the assassin said aloud. The duke gasped, and turned around to be confronted by a figure cloaked in black, casually leaning against the window sill.
"What? Who are you? How did you get into my mansion?" the duke said, fear and confusion rising up inside him.
"Well now, that's for me to know and you to find out!" the assassin said cheerfully, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline that always comes before a kill. His glorious emotions washed over her, making her extremely giddy with anticipation. "Though I suggest you find out soon, seeing as you won't live much longer," she said calmly, despite her erratic emotions.
"Has someone threatened my life?" the duke asked warily, for even he could feel the dark aura around this figure, and it scared him.
In response, the figure whipped out its sword and ran the blade through the Duke's heart. Not even having time to scream, he fell down onto the desk. As he lay there dying, he heard a voice say, "Oh, something like that," and the world went black.
The assassin watched with pleasure as the life faded from his eyes, his blood mixing with the spilled ink to create a tainted river of red that ran down his desk. She burned the blood off her sword and, still feeling the pulsing of the adrenaline, phased out of the room, her job done. But not before she stole his wallet. She smiled to herself as she phased to her next kill. She had a very busy night ahead of her.
In the morning
Xellos phased outside of a quiet little cabin. This was not what I was expecting of an assassin, he thought, as he took in his surroundings through squinted eyes. The wooden cabin was hidden deep within the woods, in a small clearing surrounded by dense trees. A wood pile sat beside one wall with a chopping block and ax. He looked around expecting to see a dog or a stable with horses in it. This little cabin in the woods reminded him of a book he had read a long time ago involving a girl and her family. The title escaped his mind at the moment. (Congrats for anyone who can figure it out!) Pushing the thought aside he phased into a sturdy tree and sat down to wait for his former comrade.
Thila phased back into her cabin. Her human fourth demanded rest and she was only feeling partially tired. After a quick shower and light breakfast she took a power nap, and felt much better. Grabbing an apple, she sat down and started cleaning her weapons. She unstrung and oiled her bow string and was sharpening her sword when she heard a knock at the door. That's weird, normally people don't arrive this early to request a job, she thought, slightly confused. She got up and opened the door to find a purple-haired priest grinning back at her. Taken quite by surprise that a priest would stop by she said, "Is there something I can help you with, Father? And if you're trying to convert me to some wacky religion, then you might as well leave now," she added as an afterthought.
"Why, Thila!" the priest said cheerfully. "You honestly don't remember me? I must admit that it hurts when you can't even remember your own comrade!" She was just as he remembered her. Shoulder length, slightly spiky, green hair framed a slightly oval face with serpent-like sea foam green eyes. Fastened around her neck, she wore a cloak, the inside dark gray, the outside black, and a dark blue breastplate. She was wearing a light green, skin-tight tube top with a black stripe down the middle, and pants to match. She wore knee-high brown boots, and brown, hunter-style gloves. Her bare shoulders revealed part of a scar that ran across her body, from her shoulders down to her waist, and a brown belt completed the look.
"Hold on… comrade? I don't remember any comrades. The only time I worked with comrades was when I was still a part of the monster race and-" she stopped, mid-sentence. "Hold on, how do you know my name?" She grabbed the priest by the collar, shoving him against the outside wall and holding him there a few feet off the ground. "Who sent you? What do you want from me? Speak now or I will kill you right here!" she threatened, tightening her grip. Xellos was shocked by this, but it also reminded him of a certain chimera. She felt a slightly familiar aura emanating from him. It took her a while to place it, but she was sure they had met before. Then it hit her, and suddenly memories from the war flooded through her mind. "Xellos?" she said in disbelief.
"Thi- can-t br-ea-" Xellos choked out. She quickly let him go, and stepped back, letting him crumple to the floor, gasping for air. Leaning heavily on his staff, he stood up. "Well, I see you haven't changed a bit, Thila!" he replied, a little out of breath. "Now, if you are quite done threatening me, I have urgent news for you." He opened his eyes, going from happy to serious in an instant.
"What sort of news?" Thila asked, aware of how his demeanor had changed.
"The bad kind of news, and I'm afraid I don't have much time to explain the situation to you."
After Thila made a pot of tea, Xellos sat down and explained the situation to her. "…so that's why the monster race is asking for your help, Thila. You are the only one who can defeat Gaav permanently," he finished.
Thila was silent for a moment, thinking about all that Xellos had said. Then she spoke. "So, let me get this straight. The monster race wants me to use my strongest, most devastating and dangerous light spell against Gaav, who Goldie (AKA the Lord of Nightmares) could probably defeat with the snap of her fingers but she's too lazy?" she said calmly. Then, "ARE YOU INSANE! WHY IN THE NINE HELLS WOULD I RISK MY LIFE LIKE THAT!" she yelled. Xellos cowered under the table until her rage subsided.
"But why won't you help, Thila?" Xellos whined as he cautiously raised himself up from under the table and sat down.
"Well, let's see…" Thila said, pretending she was thinking about her answer. "Maybe because the monster race kicked me out a couple hundred years ago since I disobeyed a direct order from my master!" she said with venom. "So what, you expect me to say, 'Alright, let's go,' and help out a race that gave me this?" She pulled off her breastplate, exposing the scar poking out of the tube top she wore underneath.
I'm married, don't look, I'm married, don't look, I'm married, don't look, Xellos thought as Thila revealed her scar, and some cleavage. The monster inside of him (Tee hee XD) decided to sneak a peek, and promptly got slapped.
Xellos blinked a couple of times, but continued on as if nothing had happened, answering her question. "Well, no. But your old master was hoping that if I spoke to you then maybe you'd join up with us again!" he said with his signature smile.
"Oh yes, her. Who was it again, Deep Sea Dolphin?" she said, rolling her eyes, and putting her breastplate back on. "Her palace always smelled of fish and seaweed. I don't miss it."
"Well, would it help that Lord Beastmaster and Lord Dynast back up the request?"
"NO! That's even worse!" she screamed.
"Well then, what would it take for you to accept the monster race's proposal?" Xellos questioned, a bit annoyed.
She thought about this, and an idea came to her. Grinning her famous cat-like grin she said, "How about this?", crossing her arms and leaning back into her chair. "You go and tell Zelas and Dolphin that they will have to come and beg on their hands and knees to me, and maybe I'll consider their request!" she stated triumphantly.
Xellos opened both his eyes in unmasked shock. "What? That- that's insane, why would they do that?" he said, slowly regaining his composure.
"They'll have to if they want my help!" she said with an evil grin.
"Okay, how about this?" Xellos said, trying to find a possible way to compromise. "You go to them, and they apologize to you. That way, you get the satisfaction of an apology, and the monster race gets a valuable ally."
"No. However, I'll go under one condition," she said.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Xellos inquired.
"The condition is: I'll only help the monster race this one time. After that, no guarantees, clear?"
"Crystal," Xellos said with a sigh. Regaining his cheerful composure, he asked, "So, when do you want to leave?"
"How about first thing tomorrow!" she said happily. "Any idea how long we'll be gone, Xellos?" she asked.
"No clue. I guess however long it takes to find Gaav," the monster said.
"Well then, I guess I'll just have to collect my payment today, and take a short 'vacation' from the assassin business as well," she said.
"It's just like old times, isn't it?" Xellos said happily.
"Yep, just like old times!" she agreed.
Please review! If not, watch out for windows...
Xellos: *phases in* How come?
Me: That's a secret!
Thila: *phases in* Because I will shoot you with an arrow, Xellos. That's why!
Xellos: O.o' I'm going to leave now... *phases out*
Me: Thanks, Thila.
Thila: Not a problem! See ya! *phases out*