2. Uninvited Guests

"Elena."

I didn't give Henry a glance and continued walking. He stalked me and called my name again. Because of irritation, I threw a dagger at my back without looking.

"Shit! I almost got hit! What was that for?"

I knew he was good enough to dodge that simple attack. He was not Mistress Hera's right hand for nothing. He was also partly my mentor when I was still training way back four years ago.

"That was for messing my mission, you moron."

"Messing your mission? You completed it successfully, so what is the problem?"

This time, I stopped and turned to face him. He stood still a foot away, towering over me.

"You know I like working alone, do you not? I do not need your help. It is my mission, you should have stayed out of the way. If you were bored, you should have searched for someone else you could kill."

"I did not mean to provoke you, all right. I was just supposed to watch, but your prey saw me and attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself. I was not planning to kill him—"

"But you did, regardless. Now, will you stop following me? It pisses me off." I glared at him once more before I went back on my track.

He did not stalk me anymore but he spoke. "Be sure to be at the house before night! The Mistress has something to discuss with you!"

I didn't gave him any response. I mounted my horse and left without a word.

This was how my life has been going on for the past four years. I accepted Miss Hera's offer to be one of them. And even I didn't fully understand what was the meaning of being an assassin before, my decision was final because right that moment, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be a strong and fierce woman. A fighter who can defend herself, not a weak and useless girl that I was in the past. 

Where would being weak bring me anyway? I would only look pathetic and worthless like how I looked like in the eyes of my own parents years ago. I have not seen them again since that night. I do not know if they had tried to find me, but I doubt that they did. They truly hated me. They loathed me. They wished that I was never been their daughter. I was a big trash in their life, something they did not need.

"Good evening, Mistress," I greeted once I was inside Mistress Hera's chamber.

Sitting on her chair, she looked at me, eyes empty and cold as it was before. Only that, those didn't intimidate me now. I was not frightened anymore. The only thing I feel every time I look at her was respect and nothing more.

"Sit," she demanded.

I went to the chair in front of her table as calm as she was.

"I have a new mission for you. A big one."

"Who?"

I was not blind of what we were doing. We were assassins, people pay us to kill anyone they wanted. And hearing it from the Mistress herself that this was a "big" mission, means it was not something a newly trained assassin could do. The one who was needed to be killed must be a wealthy person or who has the ability to protect himself.

"An alpha of a pack."

Now this is interesting. An alpha, huh?

It was centuries ago when it was discovered and accepted that there was actually another kind of humans who were living with normal humans. They are called wolf shifters, they are basically humans who can transform into wolves and are stronger than the average man. They age with the same pace as us. They also consume the same food. However, even though civilized, they have a different set of beliefs and practices.

There are also other humans who are capable of doing beyond ordinary. One reason is that they practice sorcery. Some though has innate special gifts such as clairvoyance, sharp senses, and other supernatural abilities one may have.

"Alpha of what pack?" I asked Mistress Hera with the same stoic expression.

"Raven pack from the west."

I nodded. I could not ask as to why he is needed to be killed. That information is confidential and not to be disclosed even to the assassin who will do the mission. Only the Mistress knows all the reasons behind every mission and who our patrons are. Besides, I do not think it is necessary for me to know those informations. My job is to execute the plan and nothing more.

"Do you accept it?"

"I do," I answered without hesitation.

"All right. Plan the mission as soon as possible. It has to be done this month."

"Noted, Mistress."

"Good," she simply said and dismissed me.

I never had problems with my missions ever since so I am confident that I can complete this one too like what I have done in my past missions. This surely would not be light but I would definitely do something about that.

So the following day, I gathered informations about Raven Pack and their Alpha. Based on my sources, their Alpha is a man named Rage. And this month's new moon, they will be conducting a yearly celebration, and that is I think the best time to kill the Alpha. At a time of celebration, he would likely not expect someone to attack him. Everyone would be distracted, and when the Alpha is already alone in his chamber, that is when I will kill him.

"You sure you can do it alone?" Henry asked while I was preparing some things for my mission.

"I told you, did I not? I can do my job alone. Don't you dare mess my mission again, Henry or else..." I glared at him.

"Or else what?" He smirked and his voice went a little softer. "You would kill me?"

"Do you think I am being funny here? Yes, Henry. I would kill you if you do." Sure I could kill him. But only if he would not fight back. I am completely aware of my own capabilities, but that does not mean I would not try to strike an assault if he provokes me beyond tolerance.

He groaned. "You are honestly absurd, Elena. Do you even have a heart?"

I ignored him and continued cleaning my sword.

"But seriously, I heard some things about Raven Pack's Alpha. Do not underestimate him, Elena. Based on what I have heard, he is a very skilled fighter."

"Indeed. The patron would not offer that amount of money just for his head if he is an ordinary man."

"You could be defeated," he said matter-of-factly.

"If that happens and I would be killed, continue the job for me then," I said in a monotone as if I was not talking about my own death.

"Are you serious, Elena?" He looked at me with disbelief.

"I always am. Why? You love messing with my missions. If I die, then you can continue my—"

"Elena," he cut me, his look was now lethal.

"What? I am just being realistic."

"Come back here alive."

I looked at him blankly. "No need to tell me."

"You should—"

"We have guests," Gideon appeared from the shadows all of a sudden, playing with his dagger. 

"Guests?" Henry raised a brow. 

"Yes, a bunch of uninvited guest." The way how Gideon's lips curved evilly gave me an idea what kind of "guests" he was referring to.

"Heads?" I asked.

"More or less twenty-five. Anyway, I just came here in case you want to join the party. I will go ahead. I would not dare miss this." Then Gideon disappeared from the shadows like a ghost.

"Now this is interesting." Henry leaned at the wall near where I was. "Maybe those fools are thinking that without the Mistress and ten of our members, we would be weak enough."

Mistress Hera had to live for two days for some important matters, while ten of our members were out of the town for a group mission.

I traced the sharp edge of my sword with my index finger. "I think I should grab this opportunity to practice."

"Yeah. You are the fearless Elena. I know you would join the bloody party."

The corner of my lips raised a bit. I then held my sword tight. "I am leaving. How about you? You should have fun tonight so you would not think of messing my mission tomorrow."

He laughed. "I will not mess your mission, all right. I am afraid you would kill me this time."

"I will surely do," I muttered before I leaped out of the window down to the other side of this huge manor. 

One swift move and I was already at the hallway of the west wing. The whole hallway was silent, but right that moment, I knew someone was watching me.

"What's with the hiding thing?" I asked, my voice was enough to make an ice out of a boiling water. "I am not fond of hide and seek, so better show yourself now."

I heard a chuckle. The next moment, a man showed from the dark corner behind the big statues a few yards away.

"The only female first class assassin in the House of Spades. Such an honor to meet you," he said playfully. My eyes drifted to his sword at once, searching for any ensign of his group. But I did not find any. They must have planned to not expose what group they belong. Wise.

"I was told that you are a skilled fighter, but I did not know you are such a beauty. Now I am thinking twice of hurting that beautiful face of yours."

Talkative.

"Are you here to praise me or to kill me?"

He laughed that made me want to wince. The sound of his laugh was not so pleasant in my ears.

"You know what? I am willing to give you a chance. If you only accept my proposal to be my wife, then I will gladly spare you—fuck!"

One dagger was enough for his sword to fell off the floor. Blood drippped down his hand.

"You!" he shouted angrily and picked his sword with his other hand. 

I anticipated an attack from him. I held my sword tight, eyes were alert, and standing still and calm.

When I knew the proximity was enough and the timing was right, I leaped and stepped one foot to the wall and welcomed his attack with mine. The sound of sharp metals against each other echoed in the whole hallway.

"Note that I gave you a chance, lady. But you chose the hard way. I will give you the death you deserve—"

One swift move and his lifeless body fell on the floor together with his sword. I was supposed to make this fight last for a bit but I just could not take his filthy mouth any longer.

"Give me the death I deserve?" I smiled evilly at my lifeless victim. "I am the death myself."