The Queen of Hell

Chapter 1

*

I walked through the silent halls of the guild. I knew the halls so well, as I walked I could remember things from my childhood. Beating someone for the first time in that hall, being punished for stepping out of line against that wall. Ok, so not all good memories. But memories all the same.

On my way to the guild training room, right before I was about to enter I felt eyes on my back right before I heard someone following me. I readjusted my duffle bag making sure it was protecting as much of my back as possible.

A hand reached out and grabbed my shoulder but I wrenched it off and flipped them over my shoulder. My bag went flying across the hall but it was the furthest thing from my mind.

Rule 3; Don't die. That means protecting yourself and making no mistakes.

Turns out I really didn't need any protection because when I looked to see who was sprawled on the floor I laughed. But it wasn't humorous.

On the floor before me lay Ashton who started picking himself up like nothing happened.

Ashton was probably the most annoying assassin in the entire guild. And there were heaps of annoying ones considering everyone was male. Actually, in my entire 21 years of life I don't think I'd met anyone quite as annoying, anywhere.

Ashton and I grew up together, constantly arguing and fighting. And still even at the age of 21 we were both still as petty and annoying as we were at 9.

I laughed at him and his sneer told me how much it irritated him. "That was sad"

He rolled his eyes "Judge me when your perfect, otherwise shut up and go find some community home to help"

Comments like those always stung a little, no matter how many times they got thrown at me. I had to learn to ignore it, shut it out and use it as fuel. Being the only female assassin, I had to have tough skin.

I rolled my eyes and flipped him off as I grabbed my bag before going the rest of the way to the training room.

As soon as I walked in a few other assassins eyed me. I always tried to surround myself with a facade of confidence but with the eyes burning into me it was hard to keep it from faltering.

I walked over to a bench on the side of the room and grabbed my water bottle and hair tie out of my bag before dropping them on the bench. I tied my armpit length black hair with it, glad that I got it cut from waist length. Then I went across to the punching bag and did a few drills to warm up.

Once I finished my drills and was sufficiently warm I wandered to the centre of the room, towards the sparring circle.

I pushed my way through the circle of assassins and right as I got to the front one of the two fighting got distracted and the other pinned him. I smirked, stepping up for the next fight.

Everyone backed off except one person; Ashton. I hadn't noticed him walk in but sure enough here he was volunteering to fight me after I just mopped the floor with his ass. Literally.

I smirked at him. "Are you sure you're ready to lose? Again?" I taunted "As if" Was all he said in reply.

"Rules" Someone yelled. I turned to him, gesturing for him to make them. "One dagger, that's it" He said, starting to unsheath the rest from his suit. I walked over to the table and took off my other weapons. I took the daggers off my waist, wrists, biceps, hips, calves and thighs, taking my twin swords off my back last. The only ones I left on were the ones in the breastplate of my suit. They were hidden so well because of the way the handle was made; it looked like - and acted as - armour over my heart. Only someone with a highly skilled eye could see them. And luckily, Ashton was not one of the people who could.