by Nia Arthurs
Now that she will continue on the last leg of our journey, I know it is only a matter of time before Kendall learns everything.
“What are you supposed to get now?” she asks.
I focus on the woman browsing the aisles beside me. “Cinnamon and calendula.”
“What’s calendula?”
“It’s an herb that helps fight infection.”
I only have a faint knowledge of it, though I’d know the flower by sight. It was quite valuable during my travels.
“Oh,” Kendall nods.
I’m glad to see that she’s back to her old self. Things will hit her hard when she retires to bed.
The silence, the space, and the opportunity for quiet thoughts will open the door for darkness.
For now, I hope she savors her freedom.
“I think I see it over there,” I lead her to the correct aisle.
I swipe the small package of cinnamon from the shelf. We continue on and I grab a bottle of pain killers for Kendall and for Maveth, if he awakens.
How strange a life outside of the league has become when I shop for my enemy.
As I lead Kendall toward the cashier, a package of Oreos catches my eye. Kendall has been quite vocal about her love for the cookies.
On a whim, I snatch a package from the shelf and keep it behind my back.
At the last minute, I lift the cookies above my head, making eye contact with the man behind the counter.
The cashier nods in acknowledgement. When Kendall faces me, I quickly tuck the Oreos behind my back.
“You okay?”
“I’m excellent.”
I pay the tab and quietly thank the cashier for his understanding.
“Hey,” Kendall returns to the metal counter.
I quickly straighten my shoulders, trying my best to act natural while the Oreo package scratches against my back.
“Is there something I can help you with?” the elderly man behind the counter adjusts his glasses.
“Do you by chance know where we would find some calendula? We didn’t see any in here.”
“Calendula? You could check the next pharmacy on Mayflower. They might have some dried calendula.”
He taps his chin, “I know there’s a flower shop a few blocks down, but they’re closed for the night. Do you need it now?”
“We’ll make do,” I assure him.
After thanking the clerk for his time, I usher Kendall out of the store.
“What are we going to do now?” Kendall rubs her elbow. “If we don’t get the herbs tonight, Maveth might die.”
The concern in her eyes is mind-blowing.
Kendall has her arm in a sling because of the very man whom she’s trying to save. Her generosity and kindness overwhelm me.
“He said there’s a flower shop a few blocks down?”
“Yeah?” Kendall quirks an eyebrow, “but it’s closed.”
“Hmm,” I stride toward the car.
She follows after me. “‘Hmm?’ What’s going on in that brain of yours, Alistair?”
“Something illegal.”
“Will it save him?”
I dip my head.
“Alright, let’s go.”
We follow the teller’s directions to the establishment down the street.
Floyd’s Flower Shop is emblazoned on a banner strung along a small hut. A large black tarp covers the entire roof of a fenced-in garden.
I park the car a distance away and observe the setup. As far as I can tell, there’s not much in the way of security.
Perhaps the largest threat comes from the CCTV monitors strung up all along the suburban neighborhood.
“A-are you sure this is a good idea?” Kendall asks as I twist around to get my backpack.
“As you pointed out, Maveth could die if we don’t act quickly. We have no time to drive around and around the city to find the other pharmacy.”
“Fine, but I’m coming with you.”
“I thought we made an agreement.”
“I said I would trust you and I do. That has nothing to do with making sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
I grin. “When have I ever done that?”
Kendall mutters something about ‘crazy assassins’ and uses her good hand to open the door. I restrain my laughter and slip out after her.
The neighborhood is dark. There are no lampposts on the street.
A dog barks in the distance. It seems rather still, but I don’t sense anything ominous in the air.
“I need you to stay low. Scream if you even think there’s danger, do you understand me?”
“Yup,” Kendall stares at the large fence surrounding the property.
“How do you plan to get over that thing?”
“Hold this up,” I fold the collar over her cheeks. “And don’t move around too much. I don’t want you to hurt your shoulder even more.”
“Are you gonna jump it?” she inquires, her gaze still focused on the gate.
“Kendall!” I hiss.
“What?”
The innocent look she’s handing me is cute but ineffective.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Maveth’s claims of a mark for my head are false.
Apart from Shadow, no other assassins have pursued us. Despite my suspicions, I can never be too sure.
Danger follows wherever I go. Kendall must be prepared.
“Are you listening?”
“Are you thinking straight? That fence is like fifty feet high. This is a bad idea. I think we should go back to the hotel. Can’t Lelita do her thing without the flower? Alistair, I can’t––”
The rest of her speech is cut off when I grasp both her cheeks in my hands. She immediately quiets down as I invade her personal space.
My lips are only a breath away from hers. The night erupts into a chorus of croaking toads and bawling grasshoppers.
“Stay down and scream if you need me.”
I wait until she nods before grabbing my bag and heading for the front door.
I slip a card from my side and strike it between the lock. It opens with a click.
“I know it’s not jumping a fence, but will this do?”
“You’re such a jerk.”
I smile and follow after her.
Chapter 9
Kendall
The calendula theft is pretty anti-climactic. I’m a straight-shooter. I don’t deviate from the moral path outlined and accepted by society.
So tonight, I’d thought I’d live on the edge a little. I have nothing to lose.
If Maveth dies, I’ll hold that for the rest of my life. A little breaking and entering pales in comparison to murder.
Unfortunately, Alistair strode into the shop as if he owned the place. I didn’t get to see him roll on the floor or rappel off the roof or anything!
He walked to the back, scanned the flower pots till he found the one he needed and then … he took it.
That was it. There were no alarm bells. No laser booby traps that could singe us if we stepped on a beam. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
On our way out, Alistair grabbed a napkin, a pen, and a piece of paper. He used the napkin to disguise his fingerprints and wrote a note to the owner.
The assassin also left some cash on the counter to cover the missing blooms.
We strode out of the shop with absolutely no exciting life experiences.
I mean, a girl only has so many opportunities to bend the rules! Who knew it would be so dull?
The minute we return to the hotel, Alistair and I rush into the lobby.
The elevator opens on our first try and we shoot inside, waiting impatiently for the closet to rise.
Well, I’m the only one waiting impatiently.
Alistair seems rather cool and collected. I can only imagine how he feels.
Alistair and Maveth are enemies. My desire to save the assassin is probably going against every instinct in Alistair’s body.
I’m grateful that he’s being so considerate.
<
br /> “Hey,” I draw close to him as we near our floor.
He glances down. His thick brown hair is fully dry. I reach out and grasp his hand.
“Thank you for helping him.”
“I’m not doing it for him.”
The answer is not the one I am hoping to hear, but I know it’s the truth.
The doors open with a ‘ding’. We rush down the corridor to my side of the hotel suite.
When I step into the suite, I expect to see the bloody mess covering most of the tiled floor.
I’m surprised to find the ground completely clean and Maveth on my bed. Lelita is bending over him, checking his pulse with her fingers.
“We’re back,” Alistair announces, closing the door behind him.
“How’s the patient?”
“He’s got a fever. I’ve been trying to lower it with cold water. Did you get the calendula?” Lelita’s sharp eyes move back and forth between Alistair and me.
“Yes,” Alistair hands her his backpack.
Damien appears from the connected suite. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” I smile up at Alistair. “He took good care of me.”
A strange expression crosses Damien’s face, but it’s gone so quickly that I’m convinced my own exhaustion caused me to see things.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I notice a bunch of wadded towels in Damien’s hand. He quickly stuffs the towels behind his back.
“Lelita’s been working hard,” the tall assassin inches away to the bathroom. “You should have seen how difficult it was to lift Maveth. The guy’s an ox.”
“I’m just glad he’s still alive.”
“He won’t be for long if we don’t get this fever down,” Lelita strides confidently to the coffee mug on the dresser. “I need some hot water.”
“I’ll get that going,” Alistair offers.
“Girl,” Lelita’s voice is full of authority, but I know she can’t be talking to me.
“Excuse me?”
“Keep wringing out that cloth and setting it on his forehead,” she says.
I debate ignoring her command. Her tone is disrespectful and I have half-a-mind to put her in her place. Whether she’s saving Maveth or not.
Alistair eyes me and then at the busy woman working on the blooms that we stole, I mean, purchased.
His gaze communicates that he’ll step in if I need him to.
I shake my head as my initial flash of pride fades away. I’m a big girl and the main priority right now is Maveth.
“Sure,” I toss at Lelita’s back. I grab the cloth and move toward the bed.
Lelita and Damien have stripped Maveth to the waist. Without the robes and the hood, he looks like a regular middle-aged man.
I’ve never been able to see his features without the heavy cloak of night or the veil of fear. Tonight, the assassin is completely vulnerable.
He has flesh, sinews, and bones. He’s just a man in a bed, fighting for his life.
I close my eyes, recalling the look of pure evil he’d flashed when he rushed to stab me with a knife.
This man is dangerous. The shiver in my soul when I gaze at him is evidence enough.
But I can’t help but feel sorry that he’s here because of me. Couldn’t there have been a less-violent way to solve our differences?
I wring the cloth in the small bowl and set it on Maveth’s head. He flinches and turns his head.
“Mimiwmi,” he mumbles.
I lean closer to catch it. What is he saying?
“Mimiwim.”
Curious, I lean closer, situating my head right over his lips to hear his words.
“Miriam.”
Miriam? Who’s Miriam?
I’m about to move away when a large, naked arm bands around my neck. I start choking.
Immediately my fingers pry at Maveth’s huge paws. He’s still unconscious but his grip is as strong as it was earlier tonight.
“Kendall!” Damien yells.
The sound of footsteps dashing against tiles echoes through the suite. Lelita and Alistair appear in the doorway.
Damien manages to separate me from Maveth’s arms by clawing his fingers off.
“Why did you go near him?” Damien thunders. “He’s been acting up all night.”
My heart is banging against my ribs. I could have died. Again!
“I-I don’t know. Lelita said to apply cloths…”
Alistair turns to Lelita. “You knew he was violent. You put her in danger!”
Before I can blink, he has his dagger un-sheathed and aimed at Lelita.
Lelita withdraws a knife from somewhere on her person. She moves so quickly I don’t even know where it comes from.
Damien steps in front of me, his hands going for his own weapon.
“Set the dagger away, Alistair,” Lelita commands, her voice unyielding.
I’m ready to pee my pants, but she seems extra-confident. I really wish I had some of that self-confidence right now.
How did a simple disagreement escalate so fast?
Alistair looks like he’s about to burst a vein. If things don’t calm down right now, Maveth won’t be the only assassin fighting for his life.
Chapter 10
Alistair
I made a grave mistake when I left Kendall here alone and tied to a chair. I, and I alone, bear that responsibility.
It was the wrong call and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to Kendall, even if it means staying away from her.
Though I’ve proven that such a task is harder to achieve than I’d assumed.
I made a promise to keep her safe and I meant it. So, walking upon the sight of Maveth with his hands around her neck was not only frightening, but infuriating.
The man is unconscious and knows not what he does.
Lelita is fully awake. She orchestrated that scene on purpose.
The realization casts doubt on her character. All assassins, whether male or female, are to leave the innocent out of our missions.
Because we take life, we appreciate the value of it. Women, children and the elderly are not to be harmed.
Lelita has broken this code. I don’t care what her personal vendetta is. I’ll be damned if I stand by and allow anyone to hurt Kendall again.
The hilt is comfortable in my palm as I hold it out toward her, ready to sail at a moment’s notice.
“Why did you come with us?” my stance does not waver, even as Lelita strengthens the grip on her own dagger.
“I told you,” she stares me down. “I want to help.”
I wish I could believe her.
“You intentionally put Kendall in harm’s way.”
“It was a simple miscalculation. There’s no harm done. I assure you, if Maveth were fully cognizant, she would not be alive.”
I press forward. Lelita’s smug expression slips a bit. Her explanation does not appease me and the chief’s daughter knows it.
“Hasn’t she been through enough tonight?” I yell, feeling the rush of emotions that swept me when I found Kendall lying in blood. “Take heed, Lelita, you are walking a fine line.”
Kendall whimpers. The sound yanks me back a bit. She’s never seen this side of me before.
I sense the tension in the room is about to explode. Lelita is prepared to fight if it comes to that, though it is a battle we all know she will lose.
Silence steals into the room as we eye each other warily.
“Miriam!” Maveth begins to toss and turn in the bed, breaking the quiet.
Sweat is forming on his forehead. His face is red and flushed as he calls the name of the mysterious woman.
Kendall moves a step closer to the injured mercenary, Damien urges her back.
“No,” I hear him whisper. “It’s not safe.”
Kendall shoves his arm away and starts running. Instead of heading for the bed, however, she comes to stand between Lelita and me.
“Stop!” her dark hair flails behind
her. “This is not the fight we should be focusing on! Please! Lelita is Maveth’s only hope.”
“Yes,” Lelita arches an eyebrow. “I’m his only hope.”
I silently groan. Lelita and Kendall have me backed into a corner. Does Maveth have any idea he’s causing such a stir.
“Alistair,” Kendall’s face fills my vision. She walks forward bravely and lowers the knife until it rests by my side, “we need her.”
“Fine,” I darken my gaze, “but no more miscalculations.”
Lelita lifts her chin and nods. I step back so that she can pass.
The healer returns her dagger to her side and sprints toward the bed. With one hand she holds Maveth down, while prying his eyes open with the other.
“Damien,” Lelita calls. “Pass me the tea I brewed.”
He does, grabbing the cup from the dresser. I stand to the side and watch, keeping an eye on both Lelita and Kendall as they flit about the room.
While Damien holds the assassin down, the women force feed him the broth until he calms. When the deed is done, Lelita wilts against the bed posts.
“Nice work,” she praises Kendall.
The Belizean beauty waves the compliment away. “You were the one who did everything.”
The women share smiles.
Perhaps I was too quick to judge Lelita. Her stance is open and her eyes are warmer than they were before Maveth’s crisis.
I still don’t buy her excuse. Lelita is too smart to ‘miscalculate’, but I’m willing to let it go for now.
“How did you know to do that?” Kendall asks as Maveth falls into a deep sleep.
“I trained since my teenage years,” Lelita says. “You should wash your hands.”
Kendall turns on her heels and heads for the bathroom. Damien and I follow them, but the women stop us at the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“We want to wash our hands too,” Damien says.
“Not gonna happen,” Lelita yanks the doorknob away from our grasp.
“Hey!”
Kendall puts a hand out to stop me. “I’ll be fine.”
She looks so strong with her chin in the air and a sharp confidence in her eyes.
If it comes down to a fight, Kendall won’t be able to defend herself. Even without a defunct shoulder, she wouldn’t even see an assault coming.
