"Congrats! Another successful performance!" Luke hugged me at the same time, while Rita was still in tears by our side.
"You're really good, Miss Elena!”
Many more greetings happened backstage. Rose and Brenda, who had a banner before, didn't give up. It wasn't the first concert I had, but it felt like the happiest. Not because there were more spectators, but because they were waiting for me below the stage.
When I entered the dressing room, I did not hesitate to find him. He was leaning on the small table, staring at the gifts I received from the fans.
I slowed down and stared at him intently. He's now staring darkly at the boxes of chocolates. His brows furrowed, seemed so annoyed at the innocent chocolates.
"You like
Rage's POV"Oh, Elena is here." Jonas pointed to the girl wearing a pale pink dress. She was staring at the piano with her curious innocent eyes.His candle-like fingers traced the space in front of the piano. The amazement was etched on her pale face. Looking down, his long lashes were sharpened. Those have little curls at the end, making her eyes look so soft.Her hair is longer compared to previous visits. Although I heard she's only nine, the way she looks and moves told me she's older than that. Her demeanor was refined even as a child. And she has that paper white skin that I always notice every time it turns to pinkish white, when it's sunny or when from tiredness every time she helps her Mama."She's so pretty, isn't she? I'll make her my girlfriend once she's thirteen or fourteen," Carson said to me immediately."Why don't you prioritize your project? You're not here to fancy a little girl, Carson.""Ow. You sound like you're too ol
"Starting this day, you are no longer part of this family!"I trembled in fear as I watched the burning wrath in my father's eyes. My mother was beside him, eyes filled with the same rage, while carrying their little adopted son in her arms.All my life I did all my best to please them. I did all I could to meet their expectations. I studied very hard at nights just to ace my classes. I did the chores all by myself without a single complaint. I swallowed all the hurtful words they had given me without a word. I accepted all of that for one single reason: because they are my family and I loved them."F-Father, please...""Get out of my house now, you useless thing!"From the very beginning, I knew I dissapointed my parents the moment I was born. They were expecting a son who will continue the family's legacy rather than a daughter who was for them—a child that was up for no good. As I grew up, I noticed how different they treated me. Reg
"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 c
"Did you know what guild they are from?" Gideon asked after the invited guests were completely washed out."No traces in their swords and daggers, nor in their bodies. And no one dared to speak.""What guild must be behind of this?" it was from Henry.There many assassin guilds but the biggest and most prominent is ours, the reason why we have a lot of enemies. This did not happen only once that was why we were not surprised of the attack."That is hard to know since we have a lot of enemies," I said before walking out from the group."Where are you going, Elena? We are still in a meeting." Henry is such a nuisance. He really gets into my nerves most of the time."I need to prepare for my mission tomorrow."Before he could talk more, I was already out of the room.The following night, I left the manor before sunset as what I have planned. It was already dark when I arrived at the Dark Valley where the base of Raven pack was sit
I was too dumbfounded to speak.He was the patron? Did he mean he asked for his own death? Worst, he even paid for it!"Are you making a fool out of me?" I asked with my coldest voice. I was very mad already but I could still not free myself from his grip. I was dying to punch him straight to his face."Who is making a fool out of you?"I gritted my teeth. His eyes went down to my lips when he heard the grinding sound. He then smirked and moved his face closer."A little impatient, are we?""I don't know what game you are playing, but if you want a fight, then let's do that! Stop pinning me on this damn bed!""Why would I? I like it this way. The only first class female assassin in House of Spades, under me... on my bed... in my room.""You are really testing my patience, aren't you?""Hmm...""If it's true you are the patron for this mission, then that means you want to die. Why don't you let me do my job?
The sound of urgent footsteps caught my attention. Rage also heard it and looked at the door."A kid's footsteps," I said matter-of-factly. It is easy to identify a kid's footsteps from adult's. "Who is that? Your child?"Rage's eyes drifted back to me. "Do I look like a married man?""Why, are married men are only the ones capable of reproduction?"He grimaced. "Sorry to disappoint you, but your assumption is wrong, woman. I prefer to marry first."I didn't say anything. Why are we suddenly on that topic, anyway? It's not something relevant."Uncle? Are you there?" It was a cute boyish voice.Uncle. So it's his nephew. Rage looked like he was thinking what to do with me.I raised a brow at him. "What are you waiting for? Go to the kid. Don't worry, I won't show myself to him. I don't kill children.""Do you think I don't have any idea what you are thinking? You would escape once I get my eyes off
"What the heck is this thing?!" I stood and tried to push him to prove a point but it was like pushing a huge granite."A werewolf's band. That is the proof that you are under a contract with me.""You told me nothing about this!" I fired, very ready to attack him."I didn't tell you because I was under the assumption that you already knew since I thought you probably gathered some informations about me and my kind before you went through this mission. Why, did you not?"Yes, I gathered informations about him but I didn't go in details. I never had any idea about this stupid contract thing. I thought our deal is just purely verbal!"Explain to me how this thing works, you mongrel," I said sharply. I was close to reaching for his neck and twisting it. Or maybe I could just make his eyes pop out since I don't have the strength to twist his neck."As what I've said, it is the proof that we both agreed to in a deal, like a contract. However, you
"Thought you changed your mind," Rage said playfully when I arrived at our meeting place on the day of our departure."If only I had thought of another way to kill you, I could have changed my mind."He hissed but still smiling. "Honest as always.""I don't lie to make anyone feel better.""Yeah. Sounds like very you.""Now are we not going yet? I don't like chatting with you for long."He shook his head with a ghost of smile on his lips and mounted his horse. "You really don't care if you hurt someone else's feelings with your words, do you?""Do I have to care?"His lips parted in disbelief. I then reigned my horse towards the right way. Rage followed at once and coped up with my pace."You are so heartless.""I don't need to be kind to live." In fact, my principle is the other way around. To kill is to live. That is the only thing I need to do. Why should feel those unnecessary sentiments when all o