Oliver

“Do not fail me.”

His bright green eyes bore into mine. His face down-turned. Failure is never an option with him. The last time I failed him I earned a pretty nasty scar. I dont exact plan to fail ever again but I can not even recall a moment when the King was pleased with what I have done.

“Yes, Father." My words come out sounding more confident and emotionless than I actually feel. Not that he can see my face because of the fox mask I am forced to wear when outside my tower.

“Good.” He nods and waves his hand at me. I am glad I can leave his court. The same people who believe that his youngest Prince is ill and bedridden. I have never been invited to the court as anything other than the assassin persona i am expected to maintain. Even in the middle of this summer heat I am expected to be covered head to toe in black, hooded and my face covered in a face mask which is in the design of a red fox.

An irony truly because if half the room became aware of the fact i was a vesper then i would be placed in on of the many work houses for tossed in prison for acting above my station.

I bend to one knee and now my head as low as I can as a sign of respect. I wait patiently for my father to give me permission to rise. Time ticks by probably about three minutes.

“Rise.” He finally says but in a tone that might as well mean ‘Good boy.’ Like I am his personal lap dog instead of a person. Which I have to say is complete accurate.

I rise and turn swiftly, black cloak whipping behind me as I speed walk out of the court chamber not eager to be there a second longer. After all, the slip of paper the guards handed me has the details of my next job. I see my personal servant leaning on a wall. He’s blonde with short hair, beads are twisted into different areas in his hair. His pale gray eyes meet mine as he I crossed his arms.

“Finally.” He sighs waiting for me to reach him and then joining me as I walk past. I don't really say anything to him. A long time ago I learned not to speak where others can hear me. Say the wrong thing or even appear to act as if I belong in this castle and punishments will strike me.

The only safe place for me is my tower. I can remove this mask and be a person for a little while. Faye glances around as we walk ensuring I wont be snuck up on. Plenty of times enemies have attempted to strike me down on the way back to my well guarded tower.

So far the ten minute walk back to my tower has been uneventful, thankfully. A part of me would hate to wash blood off my hands this early in the day. As I turn toward the intersection of the hall toward my tower, a scent catches in the air. A familiar one.

“He’s been here again.” I say quietly to Faye who turns to me raising an eyebrow.

“Silva?” Faye frowns as he stops walking. “This is the third time this week, you aren’t even in the tower. What could he possibly gain by showing up here.” He crosses his arms.

“Yeah... He’s being creepy. Maybe I should mention it to-” I start to say but the moment that I turn to Faye, an unfamiliar scent wafts toward me and a hand is at my throat as a figure previously unseen pins me to a wall. I know almost immediately that they are a magic user.

“Hello little blade.” His husky voice, the way his eyes narrow on mine. His scent washes over me. It’s so invasive that I can’t even think straight. “Ready to meet your maker?” Those purple eyes of pure hatred which should cause me to show some kind of fear, I just feel relief. Finally someone here to take me out. A hope beyond all hope that he’ll make it quick and I can finally be done.

Instead of feeling the sharp end of a knife. Air swooshes around us. Faye is charging at his back with a blade but the intruder is so fast. Lifting me by my throat. Huge dragon wings stick out of his back and then, we are air born. The entire time, he has me held by my throat as he crashes through a window.

I let out a whimper of pain as glass stabs into my back. He doesn’t even look at me, he looks through me. Most assassination attempts would lead me to believe that he should have killed me by now. I have never considered that I’d be dragged elsewhere to be tortured, so this is a first.