Chapter Sixteen

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I awoke early the next morning. Leo was still asleep next to me, the blankets tangled around his legs. His mouth was wide open and he was snoring, very loudly. His arms were stretched above his head. I got a good look of his armpits, which I really did not want to see. I carefully got out of the bed as to not wake Leo.

Once I was out of bed, I quickly got dressed and grabbed my stuff. I shoved the black box Sutcliffe had given me into my pocket along with the photo I was going to ask him about. Then I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down a quick note giving an excuse as to why I was gone so early. It was my normal lie: going out to scout the MRC.

Once I had everything I needed taken care of, I slipped out of the room. No one else was awake, thankfully, so I didn't have to answer any questions. I grabbed a quick breakfast, patted Skipper on the head as I walked by, and headed out the door.

I made my way carefully through the woods. I had to take a different path every time to the palace so people didn't get suspicious. Leo was observant, as were everyone else. They weren't dumb and they would be able to tell where I was going if they looked at the path I took.

I walked slowly so I didn't trip on anything, and so I didn't reach the palace too fast. I was dreading what my next assignment would be. Who would I have to kill next? What poor person, corrupt or not, would be my next victim?

I didn't want to know. I didn't want to find out and then get my tools ready so I would be able to assassinate them without anyone knowing. I cursed myself for allowing this to happen. For not being able to save Jake.

Eventually though, the palace came into view. It was just as impending and dangerous as ever. I sighed before I forged ahead. Just like every other time, I couldn't turn back. I had come too far already.

Usually, Sutcliffe would be waiting for me by the palace gates. He would greet me like he always did, apologize for the king being away on political business, then give me my assignment. Then I would get my stuff from where I kept it hidden by the trees and be on my way. After all that, I would go back to that mansion where the memories always seemed to catch me, and pretend everything was okay. Normal day for me, no matter how much I hated it.

Today was new. Sutcliffe wasn't there. Instead, it was Ella. She glared at me as I got closer. Ella hated me, I hated her. She made it clear that she hated that I got to be the assassin and she didn't. I didn't know why she wanted to be one. I hated the job. It made me hate myself and everything I had ever done.

"Where's Sutcliffe?" I asked coldly. I wasn't going to give her a proper greeting.

"Inside the palace." Ella pushed herself off the gate where she was leaning. "He sent me to grab you today."

"Why? Don't you hate me?"

Ella's expression darkened. "Of course I do. But Sutcliffe has something to take care of. He'll meet you inside."

That surprised me. Normally I wasn't allowed inside the palace. I hadn't been inside since I was taken prisoner. What could stop Sutcliffe from coming out to greet me? Maybe I had special orders today. That didn't make my mood any better.

"And you're here to escort me and to make sure I don't kill anyone," I guessed.

She smiled bitterly. "Bingo."

I sighed. Could this day get any worse? I didn't want to see Ella, not after she killed Maria. Maybe I could stab her when her back was turned, and run into the palace. No one would know. Sutcliffe probably would, but would he care? He didn't like Ella anymore than I did. He made that very clear.

Ella opened the gates then and led me through. She grabbed my arm like I would run away. Then she very roughly pulled me into the palace.

"I know the games you like to play," she said suddenly. I just raised an eyebrow at her.

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