Secrets of the Crown Assassins

25

INDIGO

I hugged my jacket closer to myself as a cold morning breeze swept through the city. Numerous papers and confetti from the parade following the Blood Battles yesterday littered the streets and flew up with the wind. The city of Orleans itself was less occupied than your typical Saturday morning. Perhaps everyone was resting from the celebrations, which meant most of the city would be extra crowded at noontime.

I looked at the city rising around me. Unlike Los Demonios and Chicago, Orleans was built after the reign of the Crown Assassins began since the original city, New Orleans, sunk under the risen tides. You could still see the tops of skyscrapers rising above the harbor, though they were to be avoided at all costs in case of collapse.

Los Demonios always had an older look with its architecture from the Old Days and the ruins existing alongside the new building. But, Orleans looked shiny and new despite being nearly one hundred years old. The buildings were similar to the ones in Cressida, with their rising spires and geometrically cut glass. Most buildings had blue and gold flags with each class's symbol shining bright. There was always a combined symbol of the Assassins on a white flag above the doorways as if to say the residents were surrendering to the control of the Assassins.

My head spun as I looked at all of the flags swaying, memories of the cavern threatening to resurface. I tucked my head down, willing myself to focus.

At noon, the Ravens would be smuggling my mom through the city before taking her to wherever they want. We stayed up late last night, using the plans Trysha gave us to hatch our own. It was almost time to get into our positions and Wolf sent me off to find Nydia.

When I realized she wasn't in her room or anywhere around the base, he gave me directions to the local church. I was a bit surprised when he suggested she would be here. Assassins aren't religious. We were taught to put faith in our skills and the rule of the Crowns. Religion was always something for the Streeters to concern themselves with, not us. But then again, Nydia was never a normal assassin.

I stopped in front of a massive building with tall, slanted roofs, mosaic windows, and a cross on its gates. It was the only building without a single assassin symbol visible. I pushed through the gate and walked across the desolate courtyard before climbing the steps and entering the church.

On the far wall hung a large wooden cross behind an altar with numerous unlit candles. Long wooden benches were placed throughout the room. Tinted light streamed through the mosaic glass, covering the church inside in different hues. There was no one besides Nydia who was sitting in one of the long benches, her head bent over.

I walked up to the third row and slid in next to Nydia to find her, much to my surprise, sharpening her arrows.

"Hi, Indigo!" Nydia greeted as she waved an arrow precariously close to my eye.

"Hi," I said. "Why are you sharpening arrows in a church?"

"It's for good luck!"

"Right," I said slowly as she turned back to her arrows. "You're religious?"

Nydia shrugged. "Kind of. My mom was born a Streeter, so she was pretty religious. I don't always go to church though. Only on occasion."

"Wait. Your mom was a Streeter? That makes you a first-gen assassin."

Nydia nodded.

"So that's why the Streeters like you so much," I realized. "You're closer to Streeters by blood than I am."

"Sort of. I don't think they liked me at first."

"How long did it take you to gain their trust."