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Moon
Reaching into his pocket, Charles checked the time on his pocket watch. It was ten past nine, and there was still no sign of Catherine. When breakfast was served that morning, the maid informed him that Catherine had already left for the day. She hadn't left a note or any indication of where she was going
Catherine had just vanished.
The Master Assassin had spoken to her before about disappearing without a word. When he first relocated her to Paris, he was bewildered by how she would slip out into the night without telling anyone.
Paris was three times the size of Boston and much older, with seedier locations. As a 15-year-old at the time, she could have easily gotten into trouble with the underground criminal world. After her overnight adventure, he gave her a stern scolding and insisted that she always leave a note when she went out.
Now that she lived on her own, she still followed that rule in case anyone came looking for her. Even though there was no way to scold or punish her now, since she was practically an adult coming into her own, it didn't stop him from fretting over his young student.
But the worry and stress she caused him were enough to shorten his life. . The care he felt for her was the same as what he felt for Arno.
A lound smack of the front door, shook the entrance way. Snapping his watch closed, Charles marched himself from the Parlor of where he stood waiting, knowing it could only be one pearson.
"Catherine you'd better have a good explanation." He topped seeing the Bewildered Assassin. Her upper layer had driplots of blood, not her own from what he could tell. Though her eyes were besieged with panic and her whole appearance was panic. Though spots of herself was covered with damp spots, she had obviously tried to clean herself.
"Catherine! What happened?" Charles asked, hurrying towards her as she pushed past him.
Catherine looked down at herself and saw that her coat was still damp. She had stopped by a well to wash the blood from her coat but hadn't managed to clean her shirt. She knew she needed to change before slipping into the Palace of Versailles.
"I'll explain later, but I need to get inside the palace now. Genevieve Pronovost has a hit out on her, placed by her husband. Don't worry, the bastard is dead—I made sure of that." Charles followed closely behind her. "I need to get in immediately. A man is waiting to kill her in the gardens."
Catherine's voice was urgent, and Charles quickly understood the gravity of the situation. There was no way for Catherine to enter Versailles without his assistance. The influence that Charles Dorian held within Paris was invaluable for missions, including gaining access to the gilded gates of Versailles.
He rushed to his office and grabbed a piece of paper from his desk, quickly writing a summons of approval and stamping it with an official seal.
"Genevieve should know who you are. I have a warrant that grants you access to the palace. This will get you through the gate, but be quick and cautious. If you pose any threat to the royal family, they will take you down." He handed the sealed paper to Catherine.
His voice carried a note of caution. He realized that this was one of the first serious missions she was undertaking on her own, and he'd have to trust her to see it through.
She took it and stuffed it into her coat pocket, ready to present it at a moment's notice. "I'll try to be mindful," Catherine said. "I was trained for this."
Without wasting any time, Catherine exited the house. Charles, already dressed, joined her. "I'm coming with you. I've got the maids watching Arno. Tell me what happened on the way. We have some time before the hit takes place."
Catherine, feeling flustered, hurried alongside her mentor and explained the situation with Adonis, who had weaseled his way into the Dorian home. She described how she was forced to leave with him under the threat to Arno's life. Charles's anger was palpable as they hurried to a carriage. He maintained his composure as he instructed the driver to head to the palace.
Catherine recounted her entire ordeal, including killing two men and the third escaping to carry out his task.
As they approached the palace, Catherine saw a crowd entering through the gilded gates. She threw open the carriage door and climbed out in a rush. "Please find Genevieve and warn her before it's too late. I'll find Adonis."
Charles grabbed her arm, stopping her from rushing into the situation. "Agreed. Stick to the shadows and don't let him spot you."
"Aye, I'll be careful."
Catherine squeezed through the crowd of finely dressed nobles, she was invisbaile to them. She blended in, pretending that she was ment to be ther. That she had a to the shadows, make no scene. Blend.
The creed instructed this.
Hide in plain sight
. She would have admired the palace's beauty and exquisite art, but today was different. Although it wasn't her first time at Versailles—Charles had brought her here for business with other Assassins—she had little time for sightseeing.
As Catherine walked through the double doors into the open-air garden, she was once again amazed by the view, which seemed like something out of a fairy tale. Despite the grandeur, she knew the vast size of the gardens would make it difficult to find Adonis before he reached Genevieve.
She pushed back her vibrant hair and took a deep breath to calm her racing mind. Hearing a cry from the sky, she saw Orla circling above like a guardian. The bird, much larger than any other she had seen in France, was a striking presence.
Catherine recalled what the old man had said about her abilities and her connection with winged animals. The idea of having some strange magical abilities or witchcraft seemed impossible, yet the way he spoke made it feel real.
With no other alternative, Catherine decided to try connecting with Orla. She closed her eyes and focused intensely on the bird. Suddenly, her perspective shifted in a way she had never experienced before—her vision soared into the sky, giving her a true bird's-eye view. It was as if she and Orla had become one, a truly astonishing sensation.
From her vantage point, she spotted a figure standing apart at the far end of the main pathway of the garden, near the Grand Canal. Adonis was hiding under the shrubbery. While she couldn't tell if he was armed, she saw a small crowd of women nearby, including Genevieve and possibly Marie Antoinette.
The out-of-body experience ended abruptly when someone bumped into her. Catherine took a moment to catch her breath and reconnect with her surroundings. There was no time to dawdle.
Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent.
Catherine needed to protect those who were affected by the plot of the death of Geneiveie.
She bolted from her spot, receiving curses and shouts from those she jostled. Her speed unmatch, weaving in and out of the bushes and grounds of the gardens of the steps.
Though within her speed, she was notice.
Shouting in French, Guards ordered her to stop, but she ignored their commands. She was faster than the guards chasing her.
Stopping would jeopardize Genevieve's life, and even if she tried to explain, they would arrest her for disorderly conduct. Catherine pushed her pace, her stamina had grown since the time of her training. She forced her way through a small group of people, causing the guards to stumble. She left them behind as she continued toward the canal and the path leading to the Grand Trianon, a secondary residence of the royal family with more private gardens.
Catherine pulled up her hood and slipped quietly through the trees and shrubbery. The tall trees provided some cover. It also offered opportunities for assassination.
She moved silently through the trees, unleashing her hidden blade. There stood Adonis, disguised as a palace guard with a musket strapped to his back. He was waiting for his target to come into view, his guard uniform concealing his murderous intent.
Catherine tracked him in silence, much like a vixen fox stalking her prey. Her footsteps were silent as she approached him from behind. Adonis was unaware of the ghost-like presence of the assassin. Her skills had truly grown over the last four years.
Catherine was ready to pounce on her target when she heard the giggles and laughter of women. Beyond the tree, a group of finely dressed women, along with their servants, were walking along. Leading the group was a woman dressed in a blush rose gown, with a servant beside her holding up a matching parasol to keep the sun out. Her blonde hair was tied back into a high roll with curls. Catherine could only guess that the woman standing yards away from her was Marie Antoinette, the future Queen of France.
A woman dressed in a light green gown walked beside her, making light conversation. Her black hair was tied back similarly to the Dauphine's. She called her by her first name, Genevieve.
Catherine glanced toward Adonis, who held up his weapon, ready to fire, his finger fidgeting with the trigger. The sound of a gunshot rang out, but with the force of Catherine's tackle, the musket ball embedded itself in the ground.
The women in the group screamed and took cover.
"Run!" she shouted. The women did not hesitate twice before following the orders of the other women.
Adonis rolled on the ground with her, trying to reach for his secondary weapon, but she delivered punches to his face to subdue him. Catherine grabbed his collar and delivered a final punch to his face. "Enough! Your masters are dead. You're about to join them." She shoved her hidden blade his gut with a twist.
The Greek man moaned in pain. "You think you've won, girl? There are more of us." He gurgled blood from the edges of his mouth. The man lay dying in her arms. "Tha afxitheí, ópos sas péftoun."
Catherine couldn't translate his words fast enough. Greek was something she didn't understand. After a few fleeting moments, he exhaled his last breath. Catherine stared into the lifeless eyes of Adonis. In an act of kindness, she reached forward to shut his eyes before standing up.
Charles was the first to appear, with guards trailing behind him. Another man stood beside him, dressed in a guard's uniform, but more decorative, indicating he was an official.
"I killed him. He won't be able to hurt anyone here now."
Charles walked forward and touched her shoulder. "Are you alright?" He looked exasperated with concern and checked her over for any signs of injury, but she brushed him away.
"Aye, I am."
The man who arrived on the scene looked furious. He turned to Charles and spoke in French. Catherine followed the conversation, listening in. The man demanded to know why he hadn't been informed sooner about the assassination attempt and how Catherine had made him look like a fool.
Catherine sat at the oak desk of the Captain of the Royal Guard, her fingers tapping on the desk in nervousness. She had told the entire story about the assassination plot, but no one had given any reaction. She had murdered someone in cold blood in front of witnesses. If this didn't go well, her head would end up in a basket.
Catherine side-eyed Charles, who looked calm as he sat in his chair. "How can you be so calm at a moment like this? If this goes sideways, I could lose my head. I'd honestly prefer hanging, but do the French even hang?"
"As I last checked, Catherine, yes, the French still hang." Dorian scratched his nose with a cracked smile. "So don't lose your head over this."
Catherine slapped him on the arm. "Arse, you find this funny?"
"I do, Catherine. Relax, the Captain is a known asset to the Brotherhood. Everyone knows that you saved Madem Pronovost and the Dauphine of France."
The assassin knew it was crazy. She could be put on trial for being caught killing a man among the palace guards. "She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." Catherine slowly brushed her hair back. "I can imagine the Captain wasn't too happy about me upstaging his job."
"Especially since it's his job to ensure the royal family is protected." Charles reached over to pat her arm. "He's investigating the claims and having the Pronovosts' private home looked into."
Footsteps echoed through the halls. Catherine sat up straight as the Captain waltzed into his office, shutting the door behind him. "Well, Mademoiselle Cormac, it seems your story checks out. We found a single body along with evidence of what you spoke about." He spoke coolly, the frustration leaving his voice.
Catherine raised an eyebrow. "A single? There should be two."
The Captain looked irritated. "I know, but it seems Marco is gone."
Catherine gritted her teeth. The blows she had landed on Marco weren't fatal. "He can't be alive unless his men got him to a safer area."
"That's the working theory," the Captain said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "He wouldn't be in any shape to fight again, especially with the amount of blood he lost. A warrant has been placed for his arrest."
Dorian stood up slowly from his chair. "It's safe to say he won't be targeting anyone for a while."
The Captain, clearly exhausted from the conversation and the politics surrounding an attempted assassination on the royal family, waved a dismissive hand, quill in hand. He seemed accustomed to dealing with the Assassins, barely acknowledging the open conversation between the two in front of him.
"You're lucky we were able to cover this up, girl," Dorian explained. "News like this could spread internationally."
Catherine gave a short nod. "Aye, I'm supposed to be dead according to certain people, so I thank you."
The Captain waved his hand again, signaling it was nothing. Charles placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding the young assassin out of the room.
"Already taken care of," Dorain stated. There was no explanation needed cause of any news of her involvement would be covered up. "You're lucky, Catherine," he said as they exited.
"I know, but we stopped those bastards," Catherine replied, stretching her arms with a tired yawn. Her body felt heavy of exhaustion like she was going to trip over her own feet."Oh, sweet mother of Joseph, I am exhausted."
"How much sleep did you get last night?" Dorian asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Two hours, I think." Catherine followed him outside the building. Taking slow steps down the stairs Taking slow steps down the stairs though on the street was a coach, with a woman waiting by the window. Catherine's had to blink to realize Genevieve Pronovost was awaiting for them.
"I wanted to come see you in person." She gave a small smile of appreciation as the younger woman approached her. "Sophie was correct to send you. I want to say my thanks to you," her voice thick with a French accent.
"You're quite welcome." Catherine smiled at the brunette woman standing before her.
Genevieve flashed a smile that showed her teeth. Catherine had to admit the woman before her was extremely beautiful, with her dark hair pulled back in elegant curls. Her face was colored with light makeup that showcased her natural beauty. The mint green gown she was wearing complemented her outward appericne.
Catherine found this woman highly attractive. Her cheeks flushed slightly at how she smiled toward the redhead.
"As a token of my thanks, I want to help you with your problem in the British Colonies, but first, I want to give you this." The noblewoman reached into her coat pocket to produce a letter. "This is for you—a formal invitation back to the palace."
Catherine took the invitation from her. "For what?"
"A small gathering that is being arranged in your honor for saving my life as well as Marie Antoinette's life."
Catherine swallowed a hard lump. She couldn't imagine herself accepting such an event. Five years ago, she was a teenager running a tavern with her mother; now, she was being invited to parties with royalty. It's funny how dramatically life could change in the blink of an eye.
Though, this was not her first time attending such a important party. She had attended gatherings with Charles in the past. Leaving her to have the expansion on how to attend such an event.
Charles reached over to pluke the invasion, "She would be honored to attend." Not giving Catherine a chance to declined.
"I will see you then, I will have my carriage pick you up tomorrow evening." The noble woman gave one last smile, before ordering her driver to go on.
Catherine watched the woman take her leave from the two assassins. She knew it was time to breathe for a change—more than just getting drunk with novice assassins.