Beyond the Darkness

Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

               Night had fallen and Amaya knew it was time. She pulled on her cloak and grabbed her weapons. King Roland's guards who had traveled here with her had already grabbed her stuff and departed quietly with May earlier in the evening. They were not told why they were leaving the King's niece unprotected at the castle, but they had not questioned his orders and did it anyways. Everyone else in the castle thought Amaya had gone with them, but in reality she had stayed hidden in an empty palace room the whole day.

As Amaya walked through the quiet dark hallways towards the Prince's chambers, she had to force herself to take every step. Dread filled her entire being. On many occasions she almost turned back. She had come to like the Prince during her stay here. She had spent many hours with him and liked how he made her smile, and made forget her real life for just a bit. He made her feel normal and her whole life that is what she craved. When she was with him she wasn't the notorious assassin, but just a young girl with nothing extraordinary about her. Kidnapping him and turning him over to the King would ruin it. It would also ruin Prince Aiden's life. Who knew what horrors would await him.

As Amaya drew closer and closer to his room she knew with utter certainty that she would destroy his life, and maybe even his kingdom. Once Prince Aiden was gone there would be no strong leader to take over after the King of Caravia, and the country could very well fall into King Roland's greedy hands. He had been lusting after Caravia ever since he took power, and this power vacuum would be perfect for him to move in. There were continuing skirmishes between the two countries and all their citizens were prepared for a full out war. Nobody knew when exactly it would happen, but they knew it would be soon.

Yet, knowing all of this, Amaya kept walking to his chamber, for her brother, for May, for May's five children, and for herself. Amaya felt the familiar icy chill fall over her heart as she prepared herself for what she was about to do. She pulled the black cloth up to cover her face and her hood farther down.

She arrived at Aiden's hallway and peeked around the corner. Two guards stood in front of his door. They wouldn't stand a chance against her.

Amaya began to march down the hallways, her identity covered by the black cloak she wore.

"Who goes there?" one of the guards called. Amaya didn't answer. She continued walking closer as they pulled out their swords.

"Stop and identify yourself," the guard ordered. She saw them exchange wary glances. The only reason they hadn't attacked yet was because she had not yet pulled out a weapon. She didn't need one though to take care of these two men.

One of them charged at her and she quickly sidestepped his attack. She shoved him to the floor and he landed hard on his knees and his hands, his sword clattering to the ground next to him. Amaya picked it up, and using the hilt she hit the man in the head, knocking him out. She tossed the unconscious guard's sword to the ground next to him and turned to take care of the other guard who came running at her.

Amaya kicked out her leg and hit the man's wrist, sending his blade tumbling out of his grasp. She marched forward and grabbed the man by his throat and shoved him against the wall. Her grip on his neck tightened as he struggled to shove her off. She was stronger than him though. She was oblivious to his fists hitting her torso, and his feet kicking her legs. She didn't feel as his nails dug into her hands. In fact, she didn't feel a thing.

Soon the man passed out and she let his body crumple to the floor. Amaya turned towards the door and opened it silently and slid in. She maneuvered her way over to the sleeping Prince. He had not woken up from the commotion. The moonlight from the window offered enough illumination to easily make out his sleeping form.