To Die Another Day

Chapter 14: Killer Killer

Damon

I stood in front of a desk. Ava was shackled in a chair, glaring daggers at me.

At least she's not throwing daggers at me.

Given Lady Marzanna's stature, the desk came up to my chest. She sat behind it and glanced between Ava and me.

"You may be seated." She gestured to the chair in front of me.

"I'd prefer to stand." I balled my fists up.

The stab wound in my leg said otherwise.

"If you insist," she said. "Moving onto other issues. You are being assigned your first target."

I furrowed my brow. The reality is everyone apart from Eris has killed people for no apparent reason other than "Lady Marzanna ordered it", absolving them of any supposed responsibility. In the time that I spent there, no one seemed to show the slightest bit of remorse for any of the people they've killed.

"It's only been a week since you brought me here. Isn't this a little sudden?" I tried to dissuade her.

"Yes," she answered, though she didn't show any sign of faltering. "It would be sudden if you were completely inexperienced in creeping around at night and subduing people. Fortunately, that isn't the case with you, is it?"

She was quick to answer that.

Almost like she'd known I'd ask.

"Naturally as it's your first excursion, you will be accompanied by someone with more experience." Lady Marzanna gestured to Ava, who was still bound, before speaking to her. "Ava, you will be accompanying him."

Ava and I looked at each other.

"I hope you didn't forget that she attacked me this morning." I steeled my gaze, turning back to Lady Marzanna.

"I didn't." Lady Marzanna focused her stare onto Ava. "You will be there to ensure his target is eliminated. If not by his hand, then by yours. I don't have time to waste on your disobedience."

If she's taking me somewhere for this "target", then I'm no longer in the forest. There isn't a guarantee I'll be close to home, but I'm sure I can—

"You won't be escaping a second time." Lady Marzanna interrupted my thoughts.

I looked over at Ava, who wore a smirk on her face.

How did she...

"You've made yourself clear," I said, masking my confusion.

"You will depart tonight. Be prepared, for I will collect you two when the time arrives."

"Do you expect me to find a weapon on site and risk alerting them? Or am I supposed to use my bare hands?" I asked, continuing to poke holes in her plan.

A portal opened up beside her, just large enough for her to reach inside and pull out a knife. Its black surface was polished to a finish, reflecting the candlelight off its curves and ridges. The sheen was almost glass-like. Obsidian maybe.

"Adequate?" She handed the dagger to me.

I took it in both hands. A large red gemstone was lodged in the pommel though it didn't seem to throw off the balance of the blade. It felt too ornate to use.

"Is this even meant for practical use?" I flipped it around in my hands. "It looks purely ceremonial."

She scoffed. "It's taken more lives than every resident here combined."