Secrets of the Crown Assassins

31

PHOENIX

"What the hell are you doing here?" I repeated as soon as Xavier and Damien slipped away.

"Looking for you," Tressa snapped. "You couldn't even message me?"

"I was a bit busy."

"I thought you died in the Chicago massacre! I had to break into neighboring residences and look at the camera footage to make sure that you were still alive, only to realize you left with the Crown Heir. I spent all of last night following rumors to figure out where the Assassins would hit next, so I could confront them about you. And here you are, fighting right alongside them."

So she tracked down the Heirs to find me. She was either a genius or a fool.

"Who are you? What do the Heirs want? Or are you not allowed to say?"

"They might be control freaks, but they can't control what I say," I hissed.

"Really?" she asked. "Because I'm pretty sure the Unassailable Heir is hovering over your shoulder."

I looked back to where Arielle was leaning against a wall. She wasn't in earshot, but she was watching closely. She still held her blood-covered blades. I clenched my fists. Does she really think she can control me?

Like hell she can.

"I'm the real Unassailable Heir," I told Tressa without hesitation.

Tressa stilled. "What?"

"I ran away when I was younger. The Crowns faked the death of my younger sister and made her pretend to be me."

Tressa stayed silent for a long time, her eyes wide and shifting between Arielle and me.

"Wait, so she's not the real Unassailable Heir."

"No."

"And you're a Crown Heir."

I nodded.

Tessa paused for a moment, before shaking her head and stepping back. "This is crazy. I need a drink."

She turned on her heel and stalked down the alley. I was about to follow, calling her name when there was a hand on my arm. I looked back to find Arielle.

"Where are you going?" Arielle asked.

"To ride a fucking pony."

"We need to get back to Cressida before the Ravens regroup."

"I," I pushed her hand off my arm, "don't have to do anything. The funeral's over. Our deal's done. I'm not going back to Cressida."

"You didn't visit mother in the infirmary yet."

"I'll visit when it's time for her funeral," I hissed. "Now, unless you want to cause a scene, I suggest you back the hell up."

Arielle stared me in the eye. "You told her didn't you."

"If you even try touching her, the whole nation will know who you are."

"Then we go to hell and the Ravens win. You want that?"

"Why do I care?" I said and started walking away. Tressa was already gone.

"You came here to fight Ravens because you care," she said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Because I care about the thrill," I called back. "Nothing more."

"The thrill of power," Arielle argued. I didn't answer as I rounded the corner and set off to find Tressa.

♕ ♕ ♕

Nearly an hour later, I was standing in front of Tressa's favorite Indianapolis bar.

It took far too long to navigate the Assassin police who were just starting to arrive on the scene of the fight and wash the blood out of my clothes and hair at a safehouse. But, at last, I arrived. Hopefully, Tressa was still there.

I pushed through the door, a little bell announcing my arrival. It was nearly empty, as many city residents were most likely staying inside after the bombing only a week ago. It appeared the Governors did a thorough job in making the Streeters believe they were targets of the Ravens as well. They even managed to keep the alcoholics inside.

I found Tressa sitting in the opposite corner, looking down at her drink.

"Vodka," I ordered. Thanks to the bar's high quality, they had a TV mounted on one wall blaring the news.

"More and more Ravens are being found in Chicago as Assassins upgrade their security. Unfortunately, many Ravens violently defended themselves in the numerous raids, resulting in multiple innocent civilian casualties."

This wasn't surprising. The only reason no one found the Ravens in Chicago was that no one was trying to look for them and the locals kept their mouth shut. The Ravens held such great popularity in Chicago, you could walk to the grocery store two blocks down and find their symbol spraypainted at least three times on the way.

The news continued.

"However, the families of these victims reported finding large amounts of money at their doorsteps with no note. They believe it's from the rumored benefactor of Chicago, the same mysterious figure who is said to have fixed the Willis Tower and prevented it from falling. There is still no proof of such an entity, although Chicago residents are certain of his existence..."

I stopped listening as I slid into the chair across from Tressa. She still didn't look up as she ran a finger along the rim of her glass. It was empty.

I cleared my throat and began quietly. "I would like to apologize."

Tressa raised an eyebrow.

"For not telling you anything before," I added.

"I understand why you did it," she replied. "You can't just tell your secrets to random people. I was just thrown off. I killed Lucas only a week ago for being a Raven, and now you're an Assassin."

"I'm not an Assassin anymore. I left that behind."

"You went back."

"Only for the Kingston Queen's funeral," I said. "She was like a mother to me."

"You went back because they're your family. You still care about them." She leaned. "That's why you'll go back again."

I wanted to argue, but I couldn't.

She shook her head. "I'm not happy with this. Any of it. But if I had a chance to be with my family, the people who were also killed by the Ravens, I would."

"You're also my family," I blurted before I could stop myself.

Tressa gave a weak smile. "And I'll be okay. Go back to your real family."

I hesitated before standing.

"And Phoenix?" she said. I paused. "You're going against the Ravens, aren't you?"

I nodded.

"Give them hell."

My lips curled into a grin. "You don't need to tell me twice."

I left the bar and walked down the street, on my way back to Cressida.