I spun on my heels and stared into Agnolo's face. "Why are you in my room?"
"I heard about the incident this afternoon. I wanted to check on my sweet petunia."
"Stop it. I'm not your sweet petunia. I'm your assassin. That's all."
"Oh, little princess, try not to be so bitter. This life isn't so terrible. You will come to love it in due time. Just don't be like your mother and fall in love with the king you're assigned to protect."
"Where are you sending me?" I inquired.
"There's a large empire in the far east. You won't be able to communicate with them, but the emperor needs someone who has no claim to his throne that will protect him with their dying breath."
"What? Nobody is loyal to him in his own country?" I asked smarmily.
"Now, now dew drop, you know that's not how things work around here. When you are ready, you will set sail to the country and do your duty as an assassin. By then you will scarcely remember being a princess. All you will know is how to kill."
I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to yell to the entire castle that I wasn't an assassin, that they were wrong. Instead, I bit my tongue and gritted my teeth. I put my head down and listened to him.
"That is if you want to keep your family and love alive."
I looked up at him quickly and saw him clench his jaw. He was serious.
"Yes, of course."
He moved across the room quickly, grabbing me my chin, turning my head up so I had no choice but to stare into his piercing eyes.
"You understand if you do not follow our rules to the T then your family will die. Starting with your weak and pathetic father. How he managed to stay king for so long puzzles me. Wait, no it doesn't. He has your mother. Then she'll go. Not quick. I'll be sure her death is prolonged and painful. Then on to that prince from Scotland. The savages. I don't understand why your parents would waste such a resource like you on such an insignificant country."
"They're not savages and they're not insignificant." I instantly pressed my lips together and wrenched my face free of his grip.
"Not insignificant? It's a tiny plot of land. Nothing to be eager about. Why would a king and queen of a great nation want to merge with them?" He circled me, almost as though he could sense something was off about everything.
"I don't know. They don't discuss state policies with me. I'm simply a princess they use as a pawn."
"No. You're much more than that. You're as conniving and manipulative as your mother. There's more to you than meets the eye. I will find out why your parents want to marry you off to the Scottish prince."
I shrugged my shoulders and looked away from him. He couldn't find out about Draco.
"I'll find out your little secret, little tart."
He turned on his satin heels and glided out of the room, his shoes tapping on the stone with each delicate step he took.
Late night visits? Is he on to me? Does he know I'm planning an escape for all the girls?
I took a deep breath and searched the sky for Draco. He was nowhere to be found though. No hot breath coming from above and no deep voice coming from the darkness around. I sat down and watched as the moon crossed the expansive sky. I'd heard something from an astrologer when I was a child that the moon moves in a motion around us, controlling the tides as it moved.
"What am I going to do?" I wondered aloud.
Climbing off the windowsill, I headed toward the bookcase. Moving it out of the way, I crept down the narrow and winding staircase. I snuck through and went to Anastasia. Sitting on the edge of her bed, I tapped her leg until she woke.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Agnolo came to my room."
"What? When?" she asked, her eyes growing large as tea saucers.
"A bit ago. He threatened my family."
"Again?"
I nodded. "He's sending me to a country in the east as soon as I finish training."
"He already has your assignment ready for you?"
I nodded. "They don't usually?"
Anastasia shook her head. "Not until the final weeks of training, but you only just started. You're not nearly ready for an assignment."
"What does that mean?" I pondered aloud.
"I have no idea. This has never happened before. You're already changing things around here. I honestly think that they are threatened by you."
"Well they better be ready because I'm not going to the east. I'm not letting another girl go."
"Then we have to move by tomorrow," Anastasia said, her eyes welling with tears.
"Why?"
"My training finishes and I will be sent to my assignment."
"What?"
She nodded her head as tears ran down her cheeks.
"It can't be time. Not yet," I said, grasping her hands.
"It is. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I-I didn't know how to. You have such wonderful, crazy ideas. Freeing all of us here? It seems like a dream."
"It's going to be a reality. Tomorrow. We're doing it tomorrow."
The sun's rays peeked through the window as the moon vanished beyond the horizon.
"Oh no! It's morning. Hurry to your room. The guards will notice if you don't come out!"
I ran toward secret passage and back to my room. I hurried into the assassin garb and exited to the hallway. The other girls were already filing out ahead of me. I snuck into the line, hoping the guard didn't notice. I glanced behind me, but he didn't seem to notice. He didn't seem to be too aware of anything.
"Do you want to get out of here?" I whispered to the girl in front of me.
"What?" she asked, turning her head slightly.
"Do you want to leave? Escape?"
"Don't talk like that. Thoughts like that get people killed."
"I'm being serious. There's an escape plan for tonight."
"Who are you?"
"Princess Evelyn."
"You're the disgraced assassin's daughter?" she whispered back.
"Yes. Now do you want to escape?"
She took a deep breath and nodded her head.
"Good. Meet near the library. Tell everyone you can."
"Okay."
"Hey! No talking!"
"Sorry," I mumbled.
I sat beside Anastasia at breakfast. She nudged me and winked.
"I started telling people," she said.
"I did to."
"What time are we meeting at the library?" she questioned.
"Midnight. Everyone should be sleeping by then."
"Perfect. I'm glad that you're here. I don't know what I would have done if I had to go."
"Where do they want you to go?" I asked.
"Germany. The emperor has requested an exotic woman with skin the color of snow and hair the color of the sun to be his assassin."
"You're as exotic as I am." I shook my head.
"He's a grotesque man. I don't want to go."
"I'll bet you don't, and you're not going to. I'll make sure of it."
"I would hug you right now..."
"I know, Anastasia."
As breakfast finished we headed to our first class of the day, spreading word of our break out as we went. Whispers wet up amongst the other girls as the thought of returning to their homes filled their minds. I wondered how we would manage to sneak out so many girls without anyone noticing. The leaders of the Guild seemed to follow me around. Every turn I made someone was standing there. I kept my head down and went from class to class, paying as much attention as I possibly could. The sun sank beyond the mountains, indicating it was time for everyone to go to their rooms. I ripped of the black tunic and trousers, pulling on the dragon armor hiding under the mattress. Pushing open the window, I searched the skies.
"Draco!" I called as loudly as I dare.
No answer.
"Draco!"
"Evelyn."
"Are things prepared for the girls?"
"Aye, pr
incess. I just have to give word and the wagons will be hitched to horses."
"Where will they be taken?"
"Out of Italy. My contacts here will take them as far as Chamonix."
"France?" I asked.
Draco's hot breath blew down from above me. "Yes."
"Good. We have close connections with France. I haven't seen the king and queen in quite some time. I'm sure my god parents would love a visit from their dear god daughter."
"I'll have one of the younger dragons stationed here fly straight away to inform the royals."
"They know about you guys?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Why don't the English?"
He let out a deep chortle. "Relax, Evelyn. They're the only others besides the Scots who know of us. They have magnificent breeding grounds. The king and queen keep them clear of humans so we have other areas for our hatchlings."
"I suppose."
"When are you making your move?"
"Midnight. I'll be at the passage quarter till midnight."
"Okay. I shall see you shortly. Please be careful. You cannot trust anyone here," he said.
"I know."
A gust of wind blew in through the window as Draco left the area. I sat on the bed and waited. It felt like ages as the moon returned for her nightly turn.
Chapter twenty-five
I slowly opened the door, cringing as it creaked with each movement. Poking my head out, I scanned the hallway for any guards. My stomach clenched when I saw nobody standing around.
They would have someone standing guard. They always do.
I chewed my bottom lip as I slipped into hallway. Something wasn't right. Creeping down the stairs, the foyer was deserted. Granted it was the middle of the night but there should have been a guard of some sort. The long hall going toward the library sent shudders of nervousness up and down my spine. Torches lit the way, casting shadows against the stark walls. A flutter of white crossed at the far end. I pressed my back against the cold wood and watched, waiting for something. Anything.
The movement vanished though. I continued along, placing each foot down as softly as I could.
"Evelyn?" a loud whisper came from a small alcove near the library.
"Anastasia?"
"We're all ready."
I peered into the small enclave, there were at least thirty girls stuffed into the small space. More girls were around a corner, huddling together.
The library was empty. The fireplace at the far end seemed to have never been used.
"Where's the passage?" I asked.
"Beyond the wall. There should me a lever within the fireplace," a small voice said from within the group.
I felt along the walls, my fingers dipping into a groove in the stone. I reached in until I felt a small switch. I dug underneath, my fingers sinking in ash and dirt. Lifting up, I jumped back as a whoosh of air rushed out at us. A few of the girls squealed as the scrapping stone moved back.
"Shh," I urged to them all. "Hurry, down the passage! Wagons are waiting."
The smallest girls went first, walking slowly into the darkness.
"We can't see!" the youngest called from the front.
Lighting a torch I handed it off to an older girl, motioning for her to take the lead. She nodded and crept along the draft passage.
"Where do all of you girls think you're going?" Angnolo asked from behind us.
"Hurry! Run!" I yelled to the room full of girls.
They hurried through as I jumped in front of a few of the Guides attempting to grab hold of them.
"Let me go!" a young one with a thick French accent screamed.
I ran to her, grabbing hold of the guides arm. I watched in amazement as my hands glowed a bright red, searing his flesh. He yelled out in agony, releasing his grip on the girl. She scampered past and into the darkness, trying to catch up with the other girls.
"Well, well, aren't you full of surprises, precious petunia. I knew there was something different about you. I never would have imagined you bonded with a dragon."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my heart speeding up.
Agnolo tusked me as he circled round the room.
"You won't catch them," I said.
"I don't care much about those little dew drops. I have the most perfect weapon standing in front of me. They go on. But you. Not you."
"What?" I asked.
"Your mother was the only assassin to ever break from us. Now you, well you lost us all of our assassins in training. It's okay though. We have a dragon rider now."
"Dragons' don't exist. Don't be ridiculous."
"Now, now, sweet princess, you can't lie about something like that. You have the dragon fire. I'm assuming it's a new power. You haven't tested it much have you?"
"No. No you haven't, or you would have used it by now."
My throat went dry as my heart slammed against my chest. "How?"
"You don't live to be as old as us without learning a few things. Back when I was a mortal, which I also know you are not, I could never have imagined the power that existed in this world. But as you've found out there are amazing abilities out there. There are people who can give unending life. Dragons who bond with us in such amazing ways that a normal person could never fathom what they could do."
I stood there, my legs shaking, as he revealed what he knew.
"There's something I am curious about, Agnolo," I said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"How did you know?"
"Dear one, you honestly thought I wouldn't know something as big as an escape plan? There were some assassins' who remained loyal to us."
Anastasia stepped back through the passage.
"I could never betray my father."
"Your what?" I screeched. "You said you were a duchess from Russia!"
"Yes, well, I lied." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled at Agnolo.
"Your daughter?" I spun on my heels to stare at him.
"She is. She is quite the wonderful little assassin."
"Who are you?" I asked her.
"Githa."
"Githa?" I furrowed my brows thinking. I'd heard a name such as that once before. "War? Your name means war?"
She nodded her head, a sly smile spreading across her lips as she moved forward.
"Githa, no."
"But father..."
"No. You are not to harm her."
"I don't understand why!" she whined.
"She is much to valuable to us. I want her alive."
So many emotions coursed through my body. I was terrified, angry, and confused. The one person I thought I could trust turned out to be my downfall. The confusing mass of energy that ran through me seemed to warm my insides. I could feel a burning building in my very core. It rose to my shoulders, traveled down my arms, and erupted into flames in my hands. I stared wide eyed at the fire. It didn't hurt. I seemed to be one with the power. Looking in confusion and wonderment, I felt as though I had to do something. I had to test it.
I turned on Anast...no, Githa. I stared at her with such anger and hatred. She risked the lives of all the other girls. I didn't even know if they made it to the other end of the passage. Holding my hands up, I aimed my anger and power at her. Flames erupted into a massive fire ball, hurling across the room. I gasped as her entire body was engulfed. She let out a gut wrenching scream as her gown caught ablaze. She sank to her knees, holding out her arms for help. I didn't budge. I pursed my lips and turned toward the others.
"You've relized your power. It seems your emotions are tied to it. Not surprising. Shall we test you some more?"
"Are you even upset that your daughter is dead?" I questioned.
"She was disposable. I have more." He shook his head and stared at the charred remains on the floor. "She lived in a world all her own. It would be absolutely silly to assume she were the only one."
"You truly are a m
onster," I mumbled.
"There is also something you didn't think about."
A groaning from behind had me glance back. The charred remains were moving! Th-they were standing up! I couldn't believe what was happening.
"H-how?" I queried, watching as the dead girl shook the ash and char off, revealing a flawless face.
"You didn't think I'd let my favorite daughter remain mortal do you?"
"She burned," I whispered more to myself than anything. "I watched her!"
"It takes more than a bit of dragon fire to kill us. Don't be so simplistic, sweet one. Now if you'll stop, I can tell you what we are going to do."
"No. No!" I shouted, letting another fire ball erupt from my fingertips.
The Watchers' burst into flames, dropping to their knees as their flesh sizzled and turned as black as a roasted pigs.
"Now they are not immortal. It will take some time to find replacements for my Watchers"."
"Enough of this!" Berard shouted.
I'd forgotten he showed up. He stood silently at the back of the room for so long, anyone would have missed him.
"Calm, brother."
"I cannot remain calm. Her mother murders our brother, she nearly kills your daughter, and now she slaughters our watchers'. How can you stand by while her lineage destroys us? All our assassins are gone."
"We can easily find the wee lasses. Their punishment shall be severe. But isn't she simply amazing!" he sung to me, clapping his hands together, biting down on his knuckle. "Oh, I haven't seen such ferocity since your mother!"
I let out a growl that startled even me. The flames that encased my hands crept up my arms, I wanted to kill them. All of them. I'd never experienced such pure hatred before, it scared me. I lifted my arms in the air, allowing a billowy plume of fire encircle my entire body. As the heat intensified I let my arms drop out to the sides. The fire plume exploded in the room, scorching all the furnishings and throwing everyone back. Githa slammed into a wall, slumping to the floor after. Agnolo flew through the for, splintering the ancient wood. While Berard soared through a window, landing with a crunchy thud outside. As the flames dissipated I seized the opportunity to escape. I such through the fireplace, activating the door to shut once I was through. At the end of the tunnel Draco say waiting.
"What happened?" he asked.
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 15
