The frozen heart

Chapter 18 : A Choice Made

Chapter 18 : A Choice Made

The night air was thick with anticipation as Anne and Kaiden slipped quietly through the castle's gates, the looming walls behind them barely visible in the dim light of the moon. Everything had been prepared: a few belongings hastily packed, their plan for escape quick and silent. Anne's heart raced, but it was more from the excitement of finally leaving this place than from fear. With Kaiden by her side, she felt like she could finally breathe again, finally move on from the past that had held them both captive.

But as soon as they stepped into the courtyard, a figure moved in the shadows ahead. Then another. And another. Hooded figures, cloaked in long, dark coats, emerged from every corner, surrounding them in an instant. They were silent, their movements unnervingly coordinated, like wolves closing in on prey.

Anne's breath caught in her throat, and Kaiden's grip on her hand tightened as he instinctively pulled her closer to him, shielding her from the approaching danger. His body tensed, his eyes darting from one figure to the next. There was no mistaking it—they were ambushed.

"Kaiden..." Anne whispered, her voice trembling with the sudden surge of fear.

"I'm here," he said quietly, his tone hardening with resolve. His eyes, cold and focused, flickered briefly toward hers before settling on the cloaked figures closing in. He didn't let go of her hand.

One of the figures stepped forward, the hood of his long coat casting his face in deep shadow. He moved with the kind of eerie calm that sent a shiver down Anne's spine. With a slow, deliberate motion, he lifted his hood, revealing a pale, scarred face. His lips curled into a twisted smile.

"A bird was singing a rather interesting song tonight," the man said, his voice a smooth purr laced with mockery. His dark eyes gleamed as he looked straight at Kaiden. "A song about a cursed boy who finally returned home after all these years."

Kaiden's expression darkened, but he didn't respond. His grip on Anne's hand remained firm, his body braced as if preparing for a fight.

Anne felt the tension radiating from him, saw the fury in his clenched jaw. The man before them was enjoying every second of this—the cat-and-mouse game he was playing. His smile grew wider as he took a step closer, eyeing Kaiden with something akin to amusement.

"We've been waiting for this moment," the man continued, his voice cold and condescending. "You've been quite the elusive one. But we're glad you survived... it makes you all the more valuable to us now."

Kaiden took a small step forward, putting himself more squarely between Anne and the stranger. "Who are you?" he growled, his voice a dangerous edge of anger barely kept in check.

The man chuckled darkly, his scarred face twisting into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We are the Nightshade... an order of assassins. And you, my boy, are exactly what we need."

Nightshade. The word sent a chill through Anne's spine, her heart hammering in her chest. She had heard whispers of them before, a notorious group known for their ruthlessness and their ability to disappear into the shadows. But why were they here now? Why Kaiden?

The assassin took another step closer, his gaze flicking over to Anne. "Though I must say... it's amusing to see how protective you are of this girl. Has she become that important to you?"

Kaiden's hand tightened around Anne's, his knuckles turning white. His eyes flickered with a dangerous fire as he looked at the assassin. "She has nothing to do with this," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

"Oh, but she does," the assassin purred, clearly enjoying himself. "You see, you've become quite valuable to us. And we know that you'll do anything to protect her."