An Assassin's Heart

Chapter • 13

Alice smiled at Elle, skin crawling. She knew what Elle had done. She knew now. She had to play nice for now, but, she would no longer be arrogant and used.

"Everything alright?" Elle asked lightly, heading towards the elevator.

"Yeah, just tired." Alice muttered, eyes glued to her sister. She felt the anger boiling her blood, gritting her teeth.

"Exhaustion doesn't make people blush, Maddy." Elle laughed, pressing the down button. The doors slid open, and the two girls walked in, heading to the first floor.

---

Fifteen minutes later, the mess hall was completely decked out. There were black and orange streamers swirling all across the ceiling, and the tables had white, blood stained table cloths spread over them. There was a single banner hung over the refreshments table, which was over flowing with Halloween themed sweets and drinks. Next to that table was the bar, a man dressed as a skeleton working as the bartender.

There was another five minutes until the party started, when Leo wandered in, slightly dazed. Doll and Psy followed behind him, giggling amongst themselves. Leo stumbled, now leaning against the wall, looking around with wide eyes and confusion. Doll and Psy glanced at him as they walked past, smiles sketched into their suspicious faces.

"What's up with lover boy?" Elle whispered, leaning over Alice as she plugged a laptop into a series of speakers and lights. Alice watched him struggle to keep his eyes on one thing, as if he were seeing things that aren't there, or like he couldn't focus. His eyes eventually landed on Alice, and he squinted at her.

"I think Doll and Psy did something to him... You got this?" Elle nodded, and Alice walked towards her dazed partner with long, fast strides.

"You looked like an angel for a second there." Leo laughed breathlessly, looking down at her with a lopsided grin. His eyes were glazed over and unfocused, and she could hear Doll and Psy laughing from across the room.

"What did they do to you?" Alice asked calmly, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips slowly.

"They had me drink this clear liquid stuff. It tasted really sweet so I drank the whole bottle, and at first that freaked them out, but then they began laughing." He chuckled, kneeling down so that he was eye to eye with her. "They said it was a celebratory drink?"

"Oh god they drugged you." She hissed, grabbing his large warm hands in her small cold ones. "With Nectar, nonetheless." She referred to the odd drug that floated around the agency. It was exclusive to the agents, and it was known for the calming high. The effects lasted about an hour, and eating tended to shorten them. Make them less... Potent.

"Nectar?" He hummed as Alice pulled him towards the closest table, sitting him down in one of its chairs. He blinked slowly at her, a small scowl of confusion in place.

"I'm gonna get you some food and something to drink. Don't move, okay?" Alice cooed, walking backwards quickly. She grabbed pretzels, popcorn, and two bottles of water before delivering the items to her ill partner. She sat down in the chair next to him, and he began eating slowly and carefully, watching Alice from the corner of his eye.

"So," he began through a mouthful of food. "What happened earlier? You left earlier...than me."

"I had to help decorate and such. I had completely forgotten, too." Alice muttered, resting her chin on the palm of her hand, watching him through her veil.

"Alice, I brought you a little something." Elle said with a wink, placing a tall, slender glass of spiked coffee in front of her, winking. "Enjoy!"