The Writings of Assassination: Book One

by Cameron Style

  “Why?”

  “My dear, have they told you nothing?”

  I shake my head. “Not much, no.”

  “Then it is time you know your true purpose. You are the next Lady of the Sanctums, the Knight Divine. We have heard talk recently of blood dragons nearby, and hoped you would come. Many have tried to prevail the tomb, all but you have failed.”

  “So that’s it? That’s the test to whether or not I’m the one?”

  “No, my dear. You have been tested your whole life to prove you are the one. Standing in front of me right now is proof enough. However, there is one final task in which only the true Lady of the Sanctums can accomplish, thus proving your powers and sealing your fate.”

  My powers?

  “Which is?”

  “Taking the sword from the shrine.”

  “Where those things sleep?”

  She nods gravely.

  “It is a task you must endure. The sword wields great power, and it will all be yours. Anyone else who wields the sword will only have it be to the effects of a very rusted sword. Only when it is in your hands shall its true strength be known.”

  “What kind of strength?”

  “It has been different for every Lady of the Sanctums. It is said, however, that the sword can capture the souls of blood dragons. That by wielding it, you can both kill and command them. The true power of the sword will not be known until you wield it.”

  “What must I do?”

  “You will have to return to the chamber you were just in and retrieve it—alone.”

  “Alone? I’m supposed to fight those things?”

  “Should it come to it, yes.”

  “And what of you? You will just stand by and watch?”

  “Only once you’ve successfully retrieved the sword from the shrine may we assist.” She stands walking behind the throne. Procuring a small vial on a string she walks back to me placing the necklace over my head. “What I can give you is this—lightning in a bottle. If the darkened ones attack, pull the cork with the string. The flash will blind all those around you and the strike will kill those closest to you on impact.”

  I look at the small glass vial hanging from my neck. A tiny glowing lightning bolt surges inside, barely wider than my fingernail. Rulsh places both her hands on my shoulders, staring me right in the eyes with her glowing red embers. “Are you ready, child?”

  I swallow and nod. This is it. The final test.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Then let us go.” We walk back through the hall with the torches, every armor-clad body guard in tow. Steps slow and quiet as we turn back down the darkened hallway leading into the chamber. Rulsh holds up her hand halting the guards behind her. Her eyes pierce the darkness.

  “Remember,” she leans in with a sharp whisper, “if they get too close, open the bottle. Once you have the sword, we will assist in any way we can.”

  I nod with a start.“I’m ready.”

  She nods back and with a slight nudge pushes me out the hall.

  I creep forward. The one true perk of wearing leather instead of protective armor is that it is silent. I can hear their breathing again. At least one hundred hang from the ceiling. I walk along the wall to the closest path leading to the shrine in the center of the room. Dim mint green gems light the path. If I am heard, I will be seen. I slowly make my way across the stone path from wall to center. On either side is endless black, leading who knows how far down. Keeping my eyes forward I start to take smaller steps, placing one foot in front of the other. Lifting and landing my feet without a sound.

  So long as I can still hear their breathing I am in no immediate danger. I make it to the center of the shrine. Square on all sides with four pillars, one in each corner, and a huge metal casing of mint gems glowing above the statue. I hadn’t really noticed it earlier. The statue is of a woman, clad in armor holding a sword—the sword—high to the sky. Bones, countless bones, lie crumpled at her feet. I thought no one else had made it this far? It doesn’t matter. Either way, I’m going to have to climb a little ways up the statue to retrieve the sword.

  I study it for a moment carefully planning my next move. The sword is held tight in one hand of the statue, facing up. I’m going to have to pull it upwards…it will most likely make a sound. No time to waste. Placing my left foot over the pile of bones atop the statues foot I grip her other arm and pull myself up. My left foot catches on the edge of the bone pile. I freeze looking down and lift it slow as possible trying not to move the bones as I do. A tiny fragment catches on the toe of my boot. Twisting my heel slowly down the bone falls sooner than I anticipate and crumbles softly into the pile. A small cloud of dust billows from the bones.

  Looking around the room I see no red eyes peering at me. I can still hear the breathing.

  Good.

  Reaching my left arm out across the statue I grab her shoulder and hoist myself across. Now the sword is within my grasp. I look up at it, it’s much longer than it looked from the ground. The blade is deep black, thinner in the middle than the edges. Black metal, it’s the rarest in all the Seven Sanctums and by far the strongest. I reach up grasping the top part of the hilt and ready myself to pry upwards. Looking back to the hall I can still see Rulsh’s eyes glowing back out at me.

  It’s comforting to know I’m not alone with these things. Her eyes urge me back to the sword. I place a strong grip on the curling golden edges at the top and give it a strong twist. With a screech the hilt twists looser.

  I pause.

  Trying to keep as quiet as possible I twist again the other direction loosening it more. I can still breathing, but the rhythm is changing. One more twist and it should be free. Twisting back towards myself and upwards the sword breaks free of the statue’s grip and all but falls from my hands with its overbearing weight. I can hear a faint gasp from Rulsh as I catch it, barely a second before hitting the ground. They’re still asleep. Holding the sword with one hand I take a moment to relish in my victory and admire its beauty. The hilt is solid gold, elegant leaf patterns curl in every direction with a braid in the middle. The blade looks like black silk, shining under the gems.

  It’s too heavy. I need both hands to hold it and I still need to climb down the statue without disturbing the bones. My hand begins to sweat and shake at the grip of the sword. I eye my footing extending my right leg behind me to a bare spot among the bones. The weight of the sword tilts and I lose my grip on the statue. Falling backwards my foot slips in the bones, crushing them to dust as my head smacks stone. The sword falls loose of my grip clanking loud beside me, rocking back and forth echoing throughout the chamber. Breathing above me quickens, then stops. Paralyzed by the fall I look up to see one, two, twenty, seventy, a hundred pairs of red eyes open and pierce down at me.

  This is it.

  I beckon my body to rise and grasp the sword but I can’t move. The pain of the fall rips through my back and I scream as I try with everything I have to stand.

  “Rulsh!” I yell across the chamber.

  It’s over now. They’ve seen me, I might as well call for help before I die here.

  My left hand shakes as I reach for the hilt of the sword. Screeches begin to fill the chamber as the Vampiric Elves descend from the ceiling, landing in every direction. For the moment I’m protected by the pillars and light above me. My shaking fingers grip the gold hilt, pulling the sword closer to me. Battle cries cut through the air behind me. I peek up to see Rulsh and the guards bursting from the blackness, distracting a great deal of the darkened ones. Pulling the sword close I manage to sit up. They’re running across the walkways towards me. I reach for the bottom of the shrine and pull myself to my feet.

  I’m surrounded.

  Dark gray figures with eyes red as fire run at me, fangs open. I shut my eyes and pull the string from the bottle. A blinding flash strikes the room. I place both hands on the sword and pull a swing out front of me cutting directly through the lightning bolt as it electrifies both my sword
and the ground surrounding me. The sword strikes three darkened ones, sending illuminating lightning through their veins. The bolt disappears and my eyes take a moment to re-adjust. The remaining darkened ones around me either fell to their deaths or were electrocuted.

  Rulsh and the guards still fight in the corner of the tomb. Now that I have a clear path I bolt across the walkway running up on the darkened ones from the opposing side. Coming up to their backs I swing my sword with all my strength. Lightning slices from the blade cutting through them. It must still be electrified from the bolt. I swing again, harder. Several fall into the blackness while others shield their eyes, flying back up to the ceiling. After a moment hoards come barreling down from the ceiling and up from the black below.

  “Run!” Rulsh shoves me to the guards who surround me like a barricade, running back into the passageway hidden in the wall.

  “Go!” I hear Dameon yell after Rulsh. She hesitates, preparing to fight. “Go!” Dameon shoves her toward the passage once more, “before they see!”

  She stares at the hundreds crawling up from the black. Right before the guards take me to the hall, I see Dameon pull Rulsh as they run after us. It’s so dark I cannot tell where the walls end and begin. The guards run with me into the room with torches. Remaining banded around me they stand at attention and say nothing. Rulsh and Dameon enter. Sounds of screeches and flying echo deep from the halls.

  “They will not breach the barrier, but they saw us come this way.” Dameon says.

  “What do we do?” I ask, lowering the sword. A quick glow races through the blade and a tiny shock electrifies the hilt causing me to drop it. The guards widen their circle around me. Rulsh parts them and looks at the sword.

  “Lightning.” Her red eyes gleam up at me.

  “When I opened the vial I swung just as the bolt hit the ground. The sword cut through it, electrifying some of the Vampiric Elves. It happened again along the wall.” I shrug looking down at the silky black blade.

  “Then it has captured the lightning bolt.”

  Another quick, white surge runs along the edges of the blade. Her fangs smile up at me.

  “You are truly the one. I have never heard of the sword having the power of lightning. This is an excellent gift.”

  “Do you think it still has the power to control the blood dragons, as you said?”

  She shrugs looking at the sword. Her face warrants an expression of envy. “Only one way to find out,” her red eyes flicker back to me.

  Blood dragons. I’ve been so focused on just getting to the fort, getting through the tomb, getting the sword and finding out if I’m even the one…that I’ve entirely forgotten what follows if I am. What will follow? Fighting dragons? A war? Ruling the Seven Sanctums? I can’t process any of that now. I need to focus on getting out of here.

  “My lady,” Rulsh bows an arm over her bare stomach and bends to one knee. The guards and Dameon follow. Is this something I’m to get used to?

  “We are truly honored to be in the presence of the seventh Lady of the Sanctums. Knight Divine.” She rises back to her feet. ¶

  Knight Divine? I like the sound of that. ¶

  “Each Lady of the Sanctums has had a different path. Each with the sword wielding a different power. Each enduring a different battle. Each, with her own title. The seventh is to be the most powerful the Seven Sanctums has ever seen. She is told to possess a power so fierce and not yet heard of. She is told to be a wielder of the swords, a true knight. The first female knight in all the land.”

  “I thought you said each Lady had the sword?”

  “Yes, but not each could fully wield it or its power. Most kept it as an heirloom or cautionary protection. Most did not need it. That’s how Connar knew it was you. The sword.” She points to the much smaller sword at my hip. “You have a natural gift with it.”

  I look down to the sword on the floor and pick it up, studying its intricate beauty. “The Knight Divine…” I whisper to myself looking at the sword. “Well, I’m going to need some armor to go along with this.”

  Rulsh takes a step toward me, lowering the sword from my vision. “My Lady, before we can get you out of here there is one last step.” She eyes me cautiously.

  “Yes?”

  “We must brand you with VII for the Seven Sanctums. It is tradition for each Lady to wear this mark.”

  I search her face. A branding?

  “This really must be done?”

  Rulsh nods shaking her pale green hair.

  “Where?”

  She takes a sharp clawed hand to my right wrist turning it over, pulling my glove off.

  “My wrist? Isn’t that skin a little thin for a brand?”

  “Not the wrist,” she pushes up my sleeve and points a dark nail to the middle of my arm in between my wrist and elbow, “here.”

  Before I can say anything, she grips my arm with both hands as Dameon walks from the throne room with a cool iron. He holds it over the flame of a torch until it’s the color of fire. My throat thickens and I struggle to pull my arm from her grip.

  “This isn’t necessary, I have the sword.”

  She tightens her grip digging her sharpened nails into my skin. Dameon stands beside me and, without warning, sinks the iron into the middle of my arm. A scream escapes my lungs as I drop the sword, struggling to stand. The iron, still scorching into my arm, sends shooting pain throughout my body. Dameon holds the iron tight for what seems like a lifetime. My vision fades. Screams echo in the chamber. Dameon finally removes the iron from my skin. Rulsh releases my arm and I fall to the ground.

  X: The Return

  I awaken to whispers and blackness. Why can’t I see? An instant throbbing sears up my right arm. What have they done to me? ¶

  “I think she’s awake,” someone says in the distance. “Jaria, can you hear me?” I move my lips but no sound escapes them. ¶

  “She’s still in a lot of pain.” Another voice says.

  Rulsh. She should know, she did this to me.

  I move once more with a moan.

  “Take that thing off her face.”

  Dameon.

  I recognize that deep growl of a voice. I must still be in the tomb. Sharp nails gently touch my temples as a cloth is removed from my eyes. Blinking I look up as my eyes attempt to bring them into focus. “Why was I blind folded?” I mumble.

  “Jaria, how are you feeling?” Rulsh leans down, hair falling over her shoulder like a waterfall.

  “Like I got branded.” I look to my arm and make out a large white bandage.

  “It is part of the ritual.” She leans back.

  “It’s an outdated one, then.” I sit up still trying to bring my sight together. “Why can’t I see straight?” I pick a spot across the room and try to focus on it.

  “How does your head feel?” Dameon leans into my line of sight still clad in armor save his face. His face. I try to make it out. Past some dark gray skin, jet black hair and red eyes it’s a blur.

  “My head feels like I got struck by lightning.” I squeeze my eyes shut.

  “That is what we assumed.” Dameon says.

  “What, that I got hit by lightning? I opened the bottle, but I was not struck. The sword was, when I swung it through the bolt.”

  Dameon scans my face. “Yes, you were struck. You were directly in the middle of the bolt when it hit. But you, like the sword, somehow absorbed it.”

  Pain thumps inside my skull. “What are you talking about? How could I absorb a lightning bolt?”

  Rulsh leans in with a small, dirtied silver plate. I take it, studying myself. My eyes…from what I can make of them, have a faint, glowing trace of silver-white shooting around the edges of my pupils. It has the same appearance as the edge of the sword. The rest of my hazel color remains strong, dominant. The silver-white flash around the edges comes and goes so quick you almost miss it. Just like lightning. “It started shortly after you passed out. You were screaming and clawing at your eyes, so we put a bind aro
und them until you awoke just now.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Not long at all.”

  “Is this why I can’t focus?” I hand the plate back to Rulsh.

  “We are unsure of the effects as we have never seen this before. If you can still see, your vision should return to full clarity with time.”

  “Well, how do I get out of here? I need to get back to the fort.”

  “We do not know what kind of affect this may have on you. You need to rest before you can leave.”

  “I’m fine.” I back my palms into the wall behind me for leverage and push myself up to a standing position. “Where’s my sword?”

  Rulsh gives a head gesture to Dameon who walks into the next room. “I am not sure you are entirely able to make it back on your own just yet.” Dameon returns with the sword, holding it lying down across his hands in ceremonial fashion.

  “I am as ready as I will ever be. I can see. My focus is coming back, albeit slowly.” I take the sword from Dameon. The weight is incredible. I’m going to need a sheath for this as well as the muscles to properly wield it in my defense.

  “Very well. The main passageway is still blocked. It is far too dangerous to leave through there. There is another path behind the throne room that navigates to the front of the tomb through hidden passages. Dameon will take you.”

  “Is that how you found me earlier?” I look to Dameon who now has his helmet back on.

  “Yes. It is how we navigate the tombs. However the passageway only leads to the room where I first found you. You will have to make it from there on your own.”

  I nod squeezing my eyes shut once more. When I open them, the vision is slightly improved but still vastly blurry.

  “Are you sure you’re up to this? We can wait.” Rulsh tilts her glowing red eyes at me.

  “I’m sure.” I reach for the knapsack I came in with, pull out the vial of night vision and down it.