The Slave

Edward quickly changes into his formal clothes. Wearing a distinguishing large and round hat his face is covered by a mask. Aaron tells him to return to the ball, which he does.

Aaron asks Stiletto the question about the bodies. Her telling him to leave them there... Nothing new to find someone's corpse in your room. Stiletto remarks that many nobles are disappointed that a corpse is not found in their room. "Having a crime scene makes them feel important."

Aaron rolls his eyes as he hides behind the main door. Looking through the keyhole, the guards have already been killed by the soldiers. Aaron opens the door, the hallway is quiet and dimly lit. Aaron can hear people chatter from the ballroom. The party is going swell he hoped.

"Did you get what you needed?" Aaron whispers.

She nods yes. Aaron decides to leave her plans alone. The last thing he wanted was for them to divide against each other. Stiletto is on his side as far as he knew. The Queen has to survive tonight and live for the up-and-coming battle for Iolene's home.

Following Stiletto he sees the sun has just set. The purple hue now turns into the black of night. The stars beginning to shine brightly in the sky. Walking close behind her they sneak through the never-ending hallways. When she signals Aaron to stop. Two guards standing in front of another door.

Stiletto grabs her blow gun aims and shoots at the guards. The innocent men collapse to the floor. Aaron rushed to check the men's pulses in their necks, but nothing. Aaron was annoyed as they were doing their job... Only pawns in this large game do these people like to play.

Stiletto did not even flinch at taking the men's lives. Lock picking the door and successfully opening it. The room is neat and tidy. It was quiet only background noises of the party can be heard.

Aaron and Stiletto unsheathe their weapons. As the arm hairs on Aaron pricked up. Shifting glances around the room, he felt a large feeling of dread.

"You?" The sleek armoured soldier asked. "You survived the fall." Tilting his head as he gets a good detailed look at Aaron.

Aaron freezes a moment that he recognises him. LAN-SE! Aaron remembers falling to his possible death, only Beau saving him a metre from the ground. Unsheathing his sword Aaron prepares to battle him. Recounting how he lost against him last time.

"You know each other?" Stiletto asks Aaron.

"Not really acquainted, we met once..." Aaron said it so bitterly his blood boiled. Many people died and a civil war began.

"That person my dear is nicknamed the Shadow Booster. He is one of Armageddon's personal lackeys. His real name is Nocturne Sombra, the only child of Odessa Sombra wardens of the West of the Black Empire. We cannot kill him, far too important. I'd rather not face the wrath of his family."

Aaron recalled his memory of Odessa. She seemed nicer than other Inclementian nobles. Even though he didn't really know her. Odessa's demeanour was kinder than most others Aaron met. Aaron once saved her dragon Farlig from quicksand. As a reward, he got to sleep on the floor in her magnificent carriage. Much appreciated since they were travelling through a desert.

The Shadow Booster begins the fight by using a mag push. Stiletto dodges and Aaron uses his new sword to try and deflect. To his surprise it does! The reflected bolt hits a nearby wall, making a black burned mark. He smiles happily as many swords just snap at the magic pressure.

Aaron charges at the shadow booster while stiletto tackles him down. However, she is very light as the Shadow Booster easily throws her off.

Aaron punches Shadow Boosters' face as it causes Aaron to grunt loudly. For the armour is harder than solid steel. Aaron looks at his hand as it is bright red. Agonising as it started to bleed, hoping that his hand isn't broken.

Shadow Booster laughs as he uses his mag powers to push Aaron through a wall. However, unlike Lan-Se where the walls are made of wood, the palace is made from limestone, brick and marble. Aaron slams into the wall while being pinned by the enemy's mag ability. Aaron feels his chest being crushed by the pressure. Aaron tried his hardest to refrain from screaming.

Stiletto grabs the Shadow Booster from behind and starts wrestling with him. But strength is a weakness as she is easily pushed over. Nocturne using his super strength slams her into a vanity set. Glass and wood splinters pierce her body. She grunts in frustration, as she reveals her black draconium dagger.

The Shadow booster laughs as Stiletto uses her dagger to slice his left leg. He shouts as the mag beam fades, dropping Aaron onto the floor. Aaron breathes hard as the pressure is released, he can finally breathe again.

Incapacitated the Shadow Booster turns and begins to attack Stiletto. She dodges his attacks with ease as she looks like a dancer.

Aaron swoop-kicks Shadow Boosters' right leg. Making him trip over and stumble. His left leg is hurting badly. Surprised that her dagger sliced through his draconium armour with ease. However, Nocturne tries his hardest to pretend his injuries are not present. Using his mag abilities again he kneels and begins to absorb energy, his body glowing full of black draconium. Aaron in an attempt tries to push him over to disturb the energy build-up. Failing as the gathering energy flings Aaron across the room, slamming his back on the wall again. Stiletto helps him up, "WE NEED TO RUN!"

Breaking open the locked balcony doors Aaron and Stiletto race out. Shadow Booster releases a small mag explosion destroying the king's room. Black draconium energy bolts spurt everywhere creating holes in the walls and roof. Aaron in instinct grabs Stiletto in protection his back facing the explosion as glass, wood and stone hit him. Aaron shouted in pain as his back started to bleed.

"Holy shit..." Stiletto says exhausted as a tired Aaron rests on top of her. Aaron grunts as he tries to move, his muscles aching. Standing up pieces of building fall of him. Stiletto walks into the room and sees Shadow Booster standing there. His yellow eyes stared right into Stiletto's soul she couldn't help but feel fear.

The Shadow Booster is weakened as he races towards Stiletto taking out her daggers. "I really do not want to kill you, boy!" She says angrily. The two fight hand-to-hand combat. Stiletto being quick managed to strike his head a few times, with pain to her hands and feet. Punching, Draconium armour is like punching solid metal. With a massive two feet kick she gives enough of a push to shove him onto the balcony. The Shadow Boosters' leg bleeding red, grunts with exhaustion and frustration. Raising his fists to Stiletto and Aaron who has regained his energy.

Aaron with a final shove hits the Shadow Booster, causing him to fall from the balcony, falling six floors onto the ground. Stiletto looked down to check on him. Praying that he is not dead as she doesn't want the Sombra family to be pushed. For he is their only direct heir. He moves his arm as he struggles to move. He is clearly alive as she sighs with relief. His magical armour braced his fall...

Stiletto in quick motions rips glass shards and splinters from Aaron's back. Aaron cringes with pain as his whole body stung. Covered with his own blood as he can feel it drip down to his legs.

The king's room is completely destroyed. Aaron limps and grunts as he sighs with relief. He begins to search the ruins starting with the bookcase. Much of the material was destroyed by the draconium blast as papers spread all over the floor. The king must be hiding something if he had such a soldier to guard his room.

Aaron picking up papers he comes across small paintings and sketches of a naked woman. Aaron tilts his head as the illustrations are intricately detailed. Looking behind the pictures he sees in beautiful writing "my greatest love". All the pictures said the same until it said the name. Delilah. Aaron has a name... But immense guilt wrapped his mind. He cannot mention this poor woman's name... She will die.

Why do these people have to use gossip as a way to fight? Ruin his reputation, in the eyes of his citizens. I will need to find a way to spread this information without the poor girl being found out. But there must be something else... A black draconium soldier will not just protect a man's lover's secret.

Aaron looks at the ruined massive bed. Feathers are spread everywhere and their bed covers are burned. But the frames look almost intact... Didn't even budge in the explosion. Aaron using his strength tries to lift the bed. Metal sounds clank as they break from the pressure. Aaron's aching hand struggled with such pressure. He had no idea how a bed could be so heavy. Aaron has lifted dragons above his head, with much effort of course. But this bed is ridiculous Aaron breathes low and hard as the metal bars snap.

Underneath the bed lies a hole with stairs... Like the Queen's room, he has a secret chamber.

"Well, this room isn't like the Queen's." Aaron jokes. The room is plain as tables and chairs are the only items inside. Aaron looks at the table as paperwork lies on top. Stiletto picks up a stack of papers.

Aaron felt glee as he read the papers. Feeling proud of himself. He couldn't have done it without Iolene teaching him. He is not strong with reading numbers as there is endless lines of digits on the paper. It is headache-inducing as Aaron struggled to read it.

"Financial matters of the kingdom." Stiletto shows him. "They are very deep in debt, no shocker there... To have such a lifestyle, does require much money and trade. Gauthier's business is failing, his fabric trades had a massive downturn at the start of Red and Green's war and his Turquoise Draconium mines are documented to be running dry. Thirteen out of his fifteen mines are closed." She sees another tome and opens it.

"Look!" Aaron places a paper in front of Stiletto. She grabs the paper from his hand.

"The King is borrowing money from the Shadow Emperor!" Aaron explains. "He has shares in the Black Draconium mines! The Black Empire owns him!" Aaron points to the sheet of paper. The Black Draconium mines are booming as weapon production is in full swing.

Stiletto opens a scroll and sees new factory plans. "Him falling in love with a slave is the least of Gauthier's problems... Looks like they are planning for war." She picks up a manifest that lists all gear makers.

"It gets worse..." Stiletto says nonchalantly placing a scroll down, Aaron picking it up to read. A large list of names... But no ordinary names. Many are the nobles who are present in the ballroom at this very moment.

"It's an assassination list, the longest I have ever seen... The majority of people in that ballroom are going to die tonight." Stiletto remaining ever calm, tonight has been far too easy. In her mind there is dread. She has her answer... The Mordecai are not present, because they know not to be.

Aaron in his mind and his heart begins to panic. He needs to warn everyone now!