FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 47: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

...

"That is your name, isn't it... Echo."

...

"...Echo."

'She' repeated her name in his voice. It was strange and undeniably unsettling; to hear Saber's voice being spoken by her own mouth, but Monica was long past the point of being hung up on such details. There were more important concerns-

-Such as not falling victim to Assassin's knife.

The two, Saber and the Assassin-Monica, stood in standoff, each waiting with bated breath to see what the other would do. Monica, for her part, only watched Assassin's dagger. She had her role to play, but, for the moment, this was Chrysaor's domain; she'd already made the mistake of interfering before.

Finally, Saber broke the silence, "We don't need to fight, Echo. We only want to talk."

The false-Monica's face contorted with distrust and she spoke once again in Chrysaor's voice, "-Want to talk..?"

It was odd. As the final words exited her mouth, they rippled slightly, becoming discordant and notably rising in pitch; denoting a question.

He nodded resolutely, "Yes. You attacked us, remember? We fought in self-defense, but have no ill-will towards you. In fact, we could have something of a proposition for you."

Assassin's form began to become blurred around the edges, the lines and color beginning to shift and fall away. She retained her form for the moment, but her eyes flicked to the true Monica for a moment before returning to Saber, "-Could have- a proposition..?"

He took a deep breath, "We made contact with Caster's faction; they'd like to make use of your... skills."

He moved to continue speaking- but Assassin's face contorted in rage- it was strange to see much hatred on her own face, "-Caster...."

The sound warbled low, slow, and choppy- like a growl. Her ears-Monica's ears- perked at the reaction, but she resisted the urge to speak and interrupt the negotiation. Saber lowered his arms slightly; he'd clearly picked up on the same oddity. As his head turned in confusion, his eyebrows lowered in concern, and gentle words began to touch his lips- but not quick enough.

Assassin broke forward like a wolf, the multi-colored strings that made her illusion becoming unfurled as she ran, and by the time her dagger met Saber's blade, her true form was revealed- complete with her indigo skin and curling white hair. Her rage had subsided, if only slightly, and in its place was a cold determination that belied the fire burning within. Her face, in of itself, appeared gentle, with large round eyes like a sheep and a button nose colored with purple freckles- but that natural innocence only made her murderous intent all the more obvious.

Saber was stronger than her, and easily kept her dagger at bay, "Please, let me speak! Why are you so concerned with killing us!?"

But she said nothing, only meeting his sharp eyes with her own, and, as Chrysaor pressed forward to hold her dagger away, it would cleave through nothing as Assassin- Echo- phased into sound once again; her signature reverb speaking on her behalf.

"Master!"

He didn't need to say anything else- she knew exactly what was happening. She pressed deeper into Saber's shadow, as close to him as she could be, and they turned together to listen and prepare for her next attack.

In their closeness, he whispered in a low voice so only she would hear, "You've prepared what you're going to say, right?"

"Yes, but... are we sure we shouldn't wait first? Maybe we could still reason with her."