True Villain (The Life Beyond: Book One)

one

The forest was eerily quiet as she swung down from her perched spot. Did he get lost? Trying to be as quiet as possible she weaved through the trees, her eyes scanned the greenery looking for movement. Sighing she leaned against a tree, closing her eyes in order to focus on listening.

Rose's mind wandered during this time, she enjoyed her freedom from the Agency and the reunion she had with her family. Her and Dmitri had moved to a remote area of Oregon to live within her village and for the first time in a long time Rose felt complete peace. Though she was still uncomfortable with her royal duties, she loved her people and cherished them greatly, right now they should be preparing for an annual fall festival. Ever since she has come back into the elven community, her village has grown substantially, elves from all over the world moving to the safe haven she created. Every human fall her village had a large festival to commemorate years of peace and safety, though it was currently spring time in the village it was still called the Fall Festival due to the falling of petals from the cherry blossoms in the village. Really Rose didn't care who named the festivals, she was mostly focused on the security and safety of her community. 

She started making a mental list of things she had to do upon return, her mind wandering to all the creatures she had to check up on, when a voice cut across her thoughts. 

"Gave up already?" Dmitri jumped out of a tree smirking. He was wearing a black fitted t-shirt and simple jeans, he looked casual an unsuspecting. Dmitri glanced over Rose's outfit, his eyes narrowing slightly "I know the festival is today but I didn't expect you to be wearing a dress all day. It's not particularly practical" he gestured towards her outfit, she was currently wearing a pastel blue dress and white sneakers. Rose chose to ignore his comment on her outfit, choosing not to revisit how her seamstress insisted on her staying in festive spirit all day. 

"No, I got distracted. You know we have a lot to do at the village today." Rose stated crossing her arms. Dmitri shrugged putting his hands in his pockets and smiling.

"You've gotten rusty if you let me sneak up on you." Rose shrugged at Dmitri's words. 

"I haven't tried training, I am never going back to that kind of life. We left the Agency behind for a reason." 

Dmitri didn't respond his eyes looking past her and scanning the forest quickly. 

"So what did you need to meet in the forest for Dmitri? You know we have class together tomorrow." Rose pointed out referring to their enrollment in a human community college. The two looked around the age of 20 now and were attempting to blend into the human society. Rose was studying biology and Dmitri was pursuing sports medicine. The two took Chemistry together early morning, mostly because Dmitri couldn't understand the class alone. 

"It's been over five years since we left the Agency, don't you find it weird that nobody has been sent after us?" 

Rose sighed leaning against the tree trunk. "We served there well and have been laying low, they wouldn't try to come after us. We are keeping up our end of the contract."

"You know the Agency doesn't work like that."

"Well then why did you leave?" Rose raised her eyebrow. Dmitri's eyes narrowed.

"You know I can't control myself without your help, they'd put me down like a dog without you."

Rose didn't speak. She had been selfish when choosing to retire from the Agency, but the life in covert activities sickened her. There was only so much she could handle before it got to her. She knew Dmitri needed her, so she offered to let him come with her, despite knowing he wanted to stay with the Agency and Jason. Rose separated Dmitri from someone he loved, and now they may never know if Jason would have ever reciprocated. Jason, like Alexis, was extremely invested in cases, and Dmitri loved that about him, it was why Dmitri worked so hard within the Agency. Despite his best efforts though Dmitri was a beast, a beast who's past reincarnation hadn't completely left his body causing him to change into his past self, a much crueler and monstrous self. Alexis didn't understand why Dmitri left with Rose, but Rose kept various secrets from Alexis including the love Dmitri had for Jason, and the true cause behind Dmitri's random 'night attacks'. Alexis unlike Rose was too dedicated to the Agency believing anything that got in the way of the mission, and any weakness that brought down the team, should be eliminated. It was why everybody feared Alexis. 

"We have already had this discussion Dmitri, what is it that has caught your interest?" Rose asked trying to force indifference in her voice. She wouldn't let him know how guilty she felt because ultimately she knew she wouldn't change her mind if given a chance to redo it. 

"I caught the scent of a black dog." 

Rose's blood chilled. Her mind flashed through distant memories of her village, the attack, the blood, and the fire. It was black dogs that killed her parents and sister, that slaughtered her people in their village during their summer solstice festival. Black dogs are what forced her to join the Agency in an attempt to protect her kind. She wanted to apprehend them and save all others from what she suffered. "They are supposed to be extinct..." Her voice came out as a whisper. 

"Would you really be surprised if that was another Agency lie?"

"Is it only one?"

"I think so, but I wanted to tell you so that you can decide what we are going to do next. We shouldn't scare the villagers."

"He's here to finish what he started...we have to warn my village and prepare for a hunt." Before the last part could leave her lips Rose rushed through the forest heading straight for the place she had called home and the only family she had left.