The Assassin and the Murderer

Chapter 8

"Boys." The man said. He gave a small smile that Sam and Denzel did not return. "I arrived just when the girl took a dive from the top floor. She's one of the bad guys, right?"

"Yeah." Laurel said. "Who're you?"

"I'm their father, who are you?"

"Way to state the obvious, dipshit." Laurel snarled. She hadn't gotten over what Denzel had told her about their father. "I'm Laurel, this is Oletha and Gabriel."

"Listen, I think I've found out where Merek is. We have to go quickly, though."

"Alright. Then let's go."

~

Spencer woke that morning to find Linden still asleep, snuggled up to his chest. He then noticed Madam Maven sitting patiently in a chair across the room. Instantly, Spencer made to get up and fight, but Maven held up a hand.

"Don't bother, Spencer. I'm not going to call for Althalos." Maven said, waving her hand.

"I don't care if you do. I was going to him anyway. If he wants me dead, I won't make him toil over it." Spencer said.

"You don't want to die, Spencer. And he doesn't want you dead either." Maven said.

Spencer raised his eyebrows skeptically.

"You're one of his best assassins. The only reason he wants you dead is so he can punish Laurel. Of course, he thinks the only way to do that is to kill you, but he doesn't realize that there are other ways to hurt a person." Maven said.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What I'm saying is that he realizes that losing you will be Laurel's downfall, but he doesn't realize that you don't have to be dead to be lost to her. Actually, you're already on the right track. This is a huge act of betrayal, Spencer."

"What are you getting at?" Spencer asked suspiciously.

"My offer to you is that in return for your life, you stay here as a courtesan." Maven said.

Spencer snorted.

"No deal." He said.

"What's wrong with the deal? You live, Althalos gets what he wants, and you have a chance of seeing Laurel again." Maven said coldly. "Why don't you get it? This is the best offer you're ever going to get."

"Why do you even want to help me anyway?"

"You're worth more alive than dead." Was all Maven said.

"Fine. I agree."

~

The group followed Sam and Denzel's father through the woods, and Laurel and Oletha somehow wound up walking side by side.

Neither of them said anything for a moment, but then at the same time they said, "I'm sorry."

"Don't say that, Oletha." Laurel said, shaking her head. "This whole thing is my fault.

"Spencer shouldn't have left. He's being an idiot." Oletha said.

"He could be dead by now." Laurel said quietly.

"I know. But we have to believe that he is okay." Oletha said.

Laurel nodded, but didn't say anything for a while.

"How long has it been since you last saw your mother and sister, Oletha?" Laurel asked quietly.

"A while." Oletha said.

"Do you ever feel... Do you ever feel like if you had just made one different choice, your life would have been so much better?" Laurel asked.

Oletha sighed.

"Of course I do. But then I always have to think that if I did make a different choice, I never would have met Gabe, and we wouldn't have the baby." She said, smiling down at her stomach.

"I really am sorry, Letha. I really stepped out of line before. Just because I'm afraid of having children, doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy your own little bit of happiness."

"You'll find happiness, too, Laurel. I'll make sure of it." Oletha said.

Laurel didn't know what to say to this, but it didn't matter, because their conversation was interrupted by Sam and Denzel's father.

"We're here."