An Assassins Crown

Chapter 8- Verian

For hours we trade kisses in my bedroom. Her hair becomes tousled as we lay on the bed together, our limbs intertwined. The sun starts to set, sending the room into an ethereal golden light. Her skin looks beautiful, dirt still splotches it in certain places but her beauty is effortless.

I've blown on countless dandelions for this, wishing that a girl like this would be mine. Her smile, laugh, imperfections are all perfect to me.

Katara Loro you are perfection, if not to anyone else then to me.

Her lips are pink and full as we share more soft kisses.

Suddenly there are three booming knocks on the door, a low growl comes from my throat and Kat's gaze goes from me to the door. I sit up holding her hand tightly as she begins to tremble slightly. She knows what this is for. They're going to take her back to her cell. I wish I could save her and stop this from happening- she could sleep in a bed, I would help her brush her hair and wipe away the dirt that covers her.

Three more knocks echo through the room. I press a kiss to the top of her head before I stand up and walk over to the door. I look behind me to her before I open it to give her a comforting look. I look back at the door and open it. I make sure to keep my expression cool and dark. Dark enough to make the soldiers standing before me shriek.

"Yes?" My voice is authoritative as I look them up and down.

"Were here for the girl" the oldest one says and the other 2 nod in agreement.

I raise my head "It's not dark yet".

The youngest looking one says "By the time we get to the dungeon it will be '' his arrogance provokes a low snarl from my throat that makes him shriek. He must be new because everyone knows not to speak to me like that. Sure sometimes I can be nice and friendly but 99% of the time I act as their ruler. There better- which I am.

"If this is how it is then I want her brought to my study at the crack of dawn" I shoot a sidelong glance to the youngest soldier "not when the sun has fully risen."

"Of course your highness" I step to the side and allow them in.

I'm sorry Katara, I can't save you this time.

By the time they get there she's already standing with her hands behind her back like she's done it a hundred times before. As she walks past me she gives me a hateful look that I can tell is fake. It's only because the guards are here, she has to play the part of angry prisoner.

I watch as she is walked down the hallway and out of my sight. I turn back to my room and walk to the centre of the rug. I kick it up with my feet and lean down not even trying to hide my smirk as I lift up the piece of wood revealing a secret compartment.

I stifle through a small stack of papers before I find the one I'm looking for. Fathers schedule- If I'm going to get Katara out of here I'm going to have to unlock her chains. Luckily for me father is extremely busy trying to organise the summer solstice festival which also happens to be my birthday. My 19th birthday to be specific.

I slip the papers back in the compartment and close it up. I stride out of my room with unbridled confidence. Head high, back straight, shoulders back.

I walk to my fathers room with confidence. No one questions me as I enter it, closing the door behind me. My gaze slides around the room, from the towering bookshelves on the side walls to the floor to ceiling windows behind his desk. I step forward dodging the couches and coffee table as I walk to the desk.

I run my finger over the hard wood as I walk around it. I sit in my fathers chair, my gaze sliding over his meticulously organised desk. I have never seen his desk unorganised in my life but to be fair I'm rarely in his office.

My hand slides under the top of the desk as I feel around for something. A dent or lever, something that could indicate a secret compartment in this thick desk. I knock my knuckles in a few places to see if it's hollow.

There it is.

I crack it open and catch the- paper. No, this can't be right. The keys where supposed to fall out. But there not there, there somewhere else.

I look down at the paper the rests crumpled up in my hand. I look at it smoothing out the scrunches as much as I can- Its blank. There is nothing on this piece of paper.

I put it back in its spot and walk back out of the room my fists clenched tightly in frustration.

My feet are silent as I walk down the fire lit hallways, my gaze cold and unfeeling as I was raised to be. I must be the killer I was raised to be, the ruler, the murder- for one day I will take over the the Silver Throne as it is mine. But then I'll give a crown to Katara. To sit on a throne even larger than mine.

A clap on the back pulled me out of my thoughts. Looking at me with his usual smile was Milo, my best (and only) friend.

"Hey man" his smile was as giddy and goofy as ever. For such a skilled soldier he certainly had a- lively attitude.

"Hello Milo."

"Oh cmon, what's with the frown?" I shoot him a sidelong glare. "Alright, alright. You don't have to be so grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy" I say though my voice gives the opposite impression.

"Fine. How about brooding" he then started to list so many synonyms of grumpy I was afraid my ears would fall off.

As I finally reached my bedroom I said "you know the only reason I tolerate you is-" he finished my sentence.

"Is because I'm your best friend and no one else will tolerate your stinky attitude"

"That is certainly not what I was going to say." I walk into my room, closing the door behind me.

"See you tomorrow for training" he called out before leaving. Right, I had training tomorrow. What a joy.