Heroes of Darkness

XXII

ELIZABETH

She awoke to the rattling of keys at her door. With a squeaking of hinges, her captor entered.

"Is today the day?" she asked them, without an ounce of nervousness in her voice. She had long past given up hope, or any reason to be nervous. Elli just wanted it all to be over. This life of hers had turned into a nightmare, and she just wanted to wake up.

The Draconid didn't answer her. He pointed out of the door. "The leaders want to see you."

Elli had counted the days since they had brought her here. The first four had been spent moving from place to place in the northeastern jungle of Hoenn, and Elli had lost all track of direction and movement. Always moving by night, they slept a few hours during the day before packing up camp and moving somewhere else. The last two days, she had spent inside some tunnels underneath some old abandoned building.

Her prison was not poor and earthy like the place where she witnessed Alex's beating. The walls and ceilings were made of wood, and the Draconids had even provided her with a makeshift pile of cushions to sleep on.

Elli, as if in a trance, stepped onto the floor and obediently followed the jailor out of her chamber door. The tunnels underneath the building were torch lit, but still she found the footing difficult. Up they went, then down, sometimes rounding corners and even at one moment spiraling around in a circle it seemed.

The seventh day, she knew. The day it was all going to be over for her. The day she could rest in peace, and be with her friend Jessi. Finally, the jailor stopped at a ladder at the end of a tunnel. He nodded to her and she got the message. Still in her once-beautiful dress she had worn to the masquerade, she climbed.

Elli found herself inside of a room in the building with light streaming in. It was dark when they arrived three days ago, but now when the young lady's eyes adjusted to the brightness she saw forest giving way to the desert on the horizon.

She was startled by the clang of a trapdoor being shut. When she turned around, her nerves returned. The tall, tanned, and tattooed face of Burningtree welcomed her, and he wasn't alone.

Beside him, was a middle-aged man, battle scarred and bald, with an eye patch over his left eye, who sat on a chair stroking a ferocious looking Tropius. In the corner of the room was an old, wizened man, almost weathered away by age. A Claydol hovered by his side. Finally, a skinny young woman not ten years older than herself stood by the door accompanied by a Doduo.

The leaders, the jailor had called them. When she looked Burningtree in the eye, her nerves returned, and she couldn't find the words to speak.

The assassin spoke for her. "Today's the day, girl." His voice was deep and his eyes pierced through her like a needle through delicate fabric. "Today your fate will be decided."

Elli looked around the room at the four people that circled her. My fate hasn't been decided already? It's been a week. Surely Alex hadn't killed his own father?

Burningtree spoke again. "It seems that there are those in the Draconids that have different designs on you than initially planned. If it were up to me, I'd keep my word and you wouldn't have woken up this morning. It's important to me that those in the Empress's circle know that I am a man of honor." He spoke as if her life was nothing more than that of a single autumn leaf.

"Honor? For the Gods' sake, Assassin," growled the man with an eyepatch. Then again, Elli couldn't tell if he was growling or the Tropius. "The deal you made with Lady Forrest is over. Your client will not be bringing any more payment without her head. It's time we made the most of our asset. Her life still holds value, and a value far greater than your pride."