Redemption

Chapter 4

Doubling down, Azalea clutched her stomach as she hurled, feeling queasy.

"Do all assassins have such weak stomachs, or is it only you?" Acrux said, his dark brows raised.

Azalea glared as her annoyance flared the longer she stared at him. She shifted, getting used to the feeling of her body once more, and raised a hand,

"We need some ground rules. One, keep to yourself unless in a life or death situation. Two...., she trailed off as she noticed her surroundings.

"That arse," she swore, recalling her executioner..

Storming ahead, her hands drifting to her knives, drawing her twin swords, the metal glinting beneath the moonlight. She reached the house closest to her, staring at the balcony; she moved back and leapt, quickly lifting herself up the rails and landing on the platform. She turned, colliding into a muscled leather-covered chest. Angling her sword, she pressed the sword, looking up she found Acrux staring at her. His eyes narrowed at her.

Stepping back, she said, "How I couldn't sense you, "

"I won't allow a mortal to hear my footsteps, ever," Acrux said.

Pivoting, Azalea peered into the window, the thought of being powerless to him unnerving her. A man lay in his bed, peacefully asleep.

"Not anymore," she thought.

"Why are we here?" Acrux asked.

"Personal business, wait outside," she said curtly.

Ramming the hilt of her sword into the window, glass flew, turning her head to avoid the glass. Azalea slid through. As the man leapt from his bed, shock radiated on his face. Grabbing a knife he held it in front of him.

"You, I killed you, how -?"

"Me, how am I alive, long story," Azalea moved closer, her steps quiet as she prowled. She stopped as she was only a hair away from the top of the knife.

"I don't think so," she said, slapping the knife away.

Her hands found his throat as she squeezed, his throat pulsing, his face red. Coughing, he tried to make out words; Azalea stared at him, annoyed she flung him across the room, the force of her throw slamming him into the wall. He slid down, clutching his throat as he choked out choppy breaths. Azalea stalked towards him, her swords extended. She angled the blade's tip under his jaw, pressing as she watched a line of blood well and trickle down.

"Did you really think I would let you go? After all, I have a reputation to maintain. "she said, crouching to meet his eyes, her blade steady.

"Tell me, who hired you?"

"No one," he coughed out.

"You wouldn't have the gall to do it yourself; whoever did must have paid you a hefty sum; who," she asked again. Lowering the blade to the man's throat.

His adam's apple bobbed as he looked around, frantic.

"No one can help you, so don't bother; I am going to ask one more time, Who. Hired. You." putting pressure on the blade, blood bubbled from the shallow cut she made.

"Creed." he gasped out.

Azalea drew back abruptly as shock ran through her bones.

"Lie, who was it?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes in disbelief..

"Creed, I swear it was; I still have his favour coin. It's in the nightstand, I swear; I was going to cash it in a couple days." he rambled, his eyes darting between Azalea's face and the knife.

Her body tightened with anger; she pranced and slashed her throat. The man thudded to the ground, gurgling blood as he tried to drag himself. He stopped moving soon after that, his eyes turning glassy. Azalea glanced at her blade; her blood-spattered face and stared back. Wiping her blade clean on his trousers, sheathing her swords, she made her way to the nightstand. Rummaging through it, she found what she wanted. Holding up the gold coin stamped with a giant embedded C, it glinted beneath the moonlight. Pocketing it, she turned, heading outside, when a deep voice came from the corner.

"You weren't sent here to kill whoever, whenever, no distractions or did you already forget," Acrux stated.

"My task is to kill the resurrector; I never said I won't," she replied smoothly, annoyed that she didn't detect him.

Leaping down from the balcony, she landed lightly, her feet not making a sound. Acrux appearing next to her asked,

"Do you always kill everyone who has wronged you?"

"You don't?" she asked, walking down the street. The dark road was lit by streetlight, magically timed to light when the sunset. Following the path that she has taken for years,

"You reek of desperation; desperate people are unbalanced and prone to mistakes. I trust no one, least those driven by desperation." Acrux stated.

Azalea ignored him, rolling her eyes as she walked down the street, her hood casting a shadow under the light.

"Know that if I suspect anything, I will personally send you back to Gehenna."

"Always the loyal dog," Azalea muttered.

"I serve my king; my loyalty and eternal life go to him, and anything that threatens that I will take out. Personally." He said curtly.

Stopping, she looked up. A tall, isolated building towered over her. Entering, Azalea climbed the never ending staircase, finally reaching the top floor. Opening the door, she paused, disabling the ward, entering, a wave of familiarity waved over her. She sighed, content; she loved that house. It was secluded and quiet, just like the way she liked it. Her home was just as she left it that morning before it all went to hell.

"Tomorrow, we'll start; the couch and floor are free." She tossed over her shoulder and walking to her bedroom.

"Did you misunderstand your orders? Time is of the essence; we can't afford to

lounge around and twiddle our thumbs," Acrux said.

Eye twitching, Azalea spoke, still facing her bedroom door,

"Dying and coming back to life does a number on your body. So I will sleep. Feel free to go look for the resurrector on your own. It will certainly make my life easier."