An Assassin's Heart

Chapter • 9

"What do you mean by monsters?" Leo muttered as Alice shifted in his arms, turning to face the other two. He still held her, and she leaned her back against his chest.

"Supernatural creatures. Monsters. Scary things that shouldn't exist." Doll deadpanned with a heavy, tired sigh.

"As I was looking for information for Miss Alice, I came across the true nature of the experiments, and discovered what it was that we were actually injected with." Psy yawned, stretching his long arms above his head.

"So, does that mean you know what... Monsters... Were used?" Alice squeaked, shaking against Leo.

"Mine was a hell hound." Doll shrugged, looking at her hands. "And, another thing, before he continues." She paused. "If we allow the other parts of us to take over, the parts that aren't human, we will... We'll..."

"We will turn into wild beasts." Psy finished for her, smiling sadly. "My true nature is that of a cetan. It's a hawk spirit."

"We found out that Gen's is a bear demon called Halko." Doll looked at him blankly, blinking slowly. "Please, keep your emotions under control."

"Yeah, I'm... I'm really sorry about that you guys..."

"At least you didn't melt someone's hands off before accidentally skinning them alive. You could've made a way worse incident than you did." Alice scoffed, looking up at him with a small smile.

"Oh, yeah. Miss Alice." Psy began, getting her attention. "We were only able to find one of your two non-human parts. It is an old dragon called a lindworm."

"Only one? A lindworm?" She whispered under her breath, crinkling her nose and furrowing her brow. "Why only one?"

"We suspect that it's a very high level secret. And, considering that they kill the creatures before they are capable of using them for the experiments, I am quite concerned, in complete honesty." Psy muttered, slouching his shoulders.

"Means whatever else is inside of you is a big deal." Doll frowned, crossing her arms and watching Alice with calculating eyes.

"How big of a deal does it have to be for them to keep it under such security?" Leo thought aloud, resting his forehead on the back of Alice's head, closing his eyes.

"It's something we'll continue to look into, but, until then, there's one more important thing we need to say about the whole turning into monsters thing." Doll sighed, cracking her neck.

"As long as we stay in touch with our human parts, we will remain how we are currently. Mere chimeras. But, once we lose sight of our mortal side, we will succumb to our feral, immortal self, we will lose everything." Psy further explained. "So, just be human."

"This... This is a lot to take in, huh?" Leo chucked, looking at Psy and Doll exasperatedly. "Thank you for telling us."

"Whatever. Can we get shit faced now? I brought alcohol for a reason." Doll whined, looking at Alice with puppy eyes and a pursed lip, begging silently.

"Knock yourself out." Alice laughed, shaking her head slightly.

"Uh... I... I'm underage." Leo muttered, looking off to the side.

"You're a fucking assassin, but drinking alcohol is out of the question? Fuck that." Doll scoffed, standing slowly and shakily.

"She has a point, Gen." Psy sighed, also standing.

"Oh, you guys can call me Leo, by the way."

"Isn't your name Leon?" Doll blinked down at him, a look of mild confusion spread across her face.

"Yeah, but I prefer to go by Leo. Ya know?" He sighed with laughter, and Alice felt it reverberate through her, as well. She truly loved the sound of his laughter, she discovered, getting lost in thought.

"Um? Alice?" Leo muttered as the other two stumbled into the living room, lowering his head so that his mouth was closer to her ear. "Are you alright? You've bee really still and quiet."

"Um, uh, yeah. Just a lot to take in." She mumbled, leaning closer into his warmth with a shiver. The nights were getting colder and colder, and Alice was having a hard time adjusting.

"Are you sure?" He whispered, gripping her tighter. He was wracked with worry as he felt her melting into him, her body emitting a cold, dry aura. "Are you scared?"

"Honestly, a little. I don't know what I am, or what will happen from here..." She turned around in his arms once more, facing him again, before snaking her thin, frail, arms around his waist, hugging him closer. She rested her forehead on his chest with a shaky sigh, gripping him tightly. She felt the warmth coming from him, and she loved it. He was so warm and kind, and she was harsh and cold. It was such a nice, pleasant thing to just simply be near him, his presence made her feel comfortable and content.

"Well, no matter what, I'm here." He smiled down at the small girl, completely understanding her. Her cool skin brushed against his, and he shivered. "Lets go into the living room with them and get you a blanket, you're freezing."

---

Alice sat next to Leo, curled up against his side under a large, thick comforter. Her head was rested on his chest while she slept lightly, chest rising and falling slowly as she dreamed and rested. Leo sat there, trying not to move, while he watched Psy and Doll, a mildly entertained smile playing on his lips.

Psy and Doll had decided to make a bet. Whoever could drink the most while still remaining able to fight half way decently won twenty bucks.

And so far, Doll was winning. By a long shot.

She was completely wasted, having drank twice as much as Psy, yet, every minute or so, the man was thrown to the floor by the small, hammered girl. It was a miracle the sparing hadn't woken Alice up yet. It was nearly midnight, and Leo was beginning to feel sleepy himself. He had a long day ahead of him, and he knew he should probably get some rest, but he wanted to wait until Devil's Night was over, just in case.

Alice had been so freaked out earlier, it did unsettle him to a certain degree. He now assumed it was partly due to the fact that Devil's Night had a double meaning for the petite assassin.

"Hey, Leon, wh-uh-why do you pl-uh-ay nice guy?" Doll hiccuped, pinning Psy to the floor with a flourish. "You're so... You act so...."

"Weak." Psy finished with a wince, trying to wriggle free of the blonde's iron grip.

"I act weak?" Leo muttered, looking down at the girl cocooned against him. "I didn't think I acted... Weak..."

"You could, like, totally be a badass if you wanted. Especially now!" Doll giggled, twisting Psy's arm and pressing it against his back harshly. He cried out, kicking his legs and writhing about.

"Hide!" Alice screamed, sitting bolt upright before jumping to her feet and pulling a knife out from under the coffee table. "The Doctor, he's coming! Go to my room, lock the door, and pretend to be passed out drunk, all of you!"

"Alice? How do you know he's coming? Who even is 'The Doctor'?" Leo hissed, standing up as well.

"Come on, pretty boy, listen to her." Doll slurred quietly, shakily grabbing Leo's wrist and pulling him after her. Psy followed suit, and all three of them walked into her room, locking the door, before laying about. Mere seconds afterwards, the front door opened.

"Ah, my Mad Hatter! How have you been? Well, I assume."