Assassin in Pantala (Completed)

Chapter 27

"Are you joining the LeafWing army?" Sundew asked.

"No. This is too unexpected. You should have told me first," Jasmin shook her head. "We should go by the plan."

"And what is the plan, exactly?" Sundew retorted, her voice rising. 

"Find out how Queen Wasp is controlling the HiveWings," Cricket said confidently. "And see how many HiveWings will be on our side."

"And kill Wasp," Swordtail interrupted. "And kill every other HiveWing."

Cricket flinched. 

"Except you," He added quickly. "You can't be controlled."

"Leave the HiveWings alone!" Cricket cried. "Many of us hate Wasp. You can do whatever you want to her, but leave the others alone."

"Cut off the dragon's head, and the body stops attacking you." Jasmin agreed. "You should torture Queen Wasp. Ooh, can I stab her in the back and rip out her teeth? And stuff a Dragonbite Viper down her throat?"

"What's a Dragonbite Viper?" Sundew asked, interested.

"The only snake in Pyrrhia that's able to kill a dragon with one bite," Jasmin explained. "Their fangs have a deadly poison that slowly stops your heart, and when it passes through your blood, it's extremely painful. I know from experience that almost no one survives."

"I like those vipers," The LeafWing examined the hybrid closely. "Have you ever been bitten before?"

"No," Jasmin said. "But I like to use them sometimes to silence my victims when I really hate them."

"You don't mean dragons, right?" Tau asked cautiously.

"Exactly what I mean," Jasmin grinned. "I can still hear their screams in my head whenever I have a particularly bad day with little payment. It cheers me up."

Cinnabar went pale, and everyone edged away from the Pyrrhian dragon. 

"Wait," Blue unfurled his antennae. "Do you hear footsteps?"

Jasmin stood silently, listening intently with her sharp ears. "I hear voices. I see HiveWing soldiers!" She announced in a whisper. "Everyone, hide!"

Cricket led everyone to the book drops where dragons returned their books. Cinnabar and Tau leapt inside one of them, shutting the door behind them. Sundew shoved Morpho inside another one, then pushed Swordtail through the door and shut it tight. 

"Jasmin," Sundew whispered when Cricket and Blue had squeezed inside another book drop. "I know you can camouflage, but those soldiers might hear or feel you. I think you should go inside a book drop."

"I won't do that!" Jasmin hissed. "Those things are tiny! How am I supposed to survive? I'd rather face dumb Wasp!"

"Just go in," Sundew snapped, her eyes wide with alarm when she heard a loud click, followed by footsteps. "Before I push you in."

"Fine!" Jasmin snarled. She slipped easily into the book drop where Cricket and Blue hid. They jumped with surprise, and she flinched when Sundew dropped in after her, closing the door as she fell. 

"Search the library," An unfamiliar voice that rang through the large halls made Jasmin stiffen against Sundew's leaf-like wings. "Don't stop until you find them."