The Gilded Hour

Diamonds and Daggers

Thunder roars, the room shakes with its sudden cries.

A man walks into the room, a door slamming behind him. The laughter dies down, I watch him closely. A man from behind the bar speaks first, a daring young man he would be remembered as in the coming war. "Can I help you sir?" He speaks firmly. Eyes lay upon him, full of question and fear. To their surprise the man smiles, revealing teeth as white as the moon.

"Just the usual Ralfy." He turns his gaze upon me, a chill rolls down my spine.

He walks towards me, taking a seat across from the round table where I'm seated.

His eyes, the palest blue I had ever seen, with a hint of gray. Blue eyes were rare in the city, a sign that you were a traveler, an easy pawn. This man however, would be no pawn, in fact as I would realize in later years, the world itself was the pawn in his games, and his games alone.

His name was Boris Zaystev.

Or in other words, the bachelor who won the world, the man who outwitted the government themselves, the man who beat the games.

"I believe we must have a word."

A gunshot rallies and people scream.

They say diamonds are a girls best friend, but for Merline? it was definitely a dagger.

A silver dagger lay sparkling against a wooden countertop, its hilt a fine leather stolen nearly a year ago from the wealthy, it was clear by her polished shine that she was deeply favored, and has done someone's bidding multiple times. her blade was sharp easily tearing through flesh.

From across the room a groan could be heard, a copper skinned girl with ivory black hair and sea green eyes turns to see a boy sprawled on a sofa, mouth hanging open. she smirks. Juno, the fool must of wandered into a casino that previous night which he was heavenly forbidden from, liquor bottles lay beneath him all drained empty. The girl, Merline lacked worry though, She knew he had help as another, red headed boy walked in the room occasionally tripping over his own feet. "What have we been telling you two about the barrel? one drink and you cant get enough!" a small sound could be heard from Juno, his snow colored hair covering majority of his face, the tips were a faded out purple, quit the style, Merline thought.

"The Elite know how to party," The red headed boy, known as Jax most commonly states. He was nearly identical to his twin sister Jill, both slim with auburn colored hair, named after the poem 'Jack and Jill' which was written around 1765. Jack, when finding out from their mother, had decided to be called 'Jax' Instead of 'Jack' not wanted to match with his sister, he claims. But personally, Merline found Jack better.

"Do they now?" She says raising a brow. "Oh don't be jealous Merline, your quite fun when you aren't so bossy!" Juno says with a lopsided grin, sitting up onto his elbows. "Well, maybe I wouldn't be so 'Bossy' if you childish fools got up once in a while and made yourself useful."

Jax fake fell dramatically, "I'm gonna perish beneath this old ceiling which now looking at it seems to be caving in! I'm just a messenger, running around the whole city every day eavesdropping and delivering foolish letters for lady Merline and the big boss Boris, I do nothing! Avenge me great Juno!" They all fell to the floor with laughter. 

Just then the door slammed open, causing old pots to rattle in their places. They all stopped, looking at the doorway, a tall figure stood, glaring daggers at them. "What did you call me, Jax?" He smiles, a dangerous one as cruel as a sharks, his eyes wild like the great seas. Jax started to say something, the man, Boris cut him off with a raised hand. "Not now, we have work to do, trouble at West Tower."

Sorry for the short chapter! The next will be longer.