The Devil's Hunt

Note, this is not the first story in this series. This is the second/third story. The first story is on Pursuedbybunny's account. It is titled The Devil's Game. I recommend reading that story first before reading this one. However, this story can be read as a stand alone! Thank you.

I raised my bow. The meat of the buck would feed me for the rest of the month and the antlers would probably sell for a good fortune.
I took aim and just before I could shoot a twig snapped. The buck looked up, saw me and dashed away. "CRAP" I yelled. I looked around I didn't break the twig and the buck wouldn't have run off if he did it. So what did? I looked around to see if I could find were the buck had run off to, but the buck was no where to be seen. So I decided it was finally time to call it a day and go home.

Although the hunt was unsuccessful I was just glad I could finally go home and rest. As I approached my house I saw that the front door was ajar. I opened the door the rest of the way, as I stepped through the threshold I knew something was amiss. I looked around my cozy little house. Everything seemed fine, but as I entered my bedroom I saw it. My room was just big enough to fit a twin size bed, a dresser to hold my things, with a little extra room for moving around. There was a man, lying on my little bed. As I got closer I noticed something red on the sheets surrounding him and a knife on the floor. But it wasn't until I was right beside the bed did I realize two things. One that the red substance was blood and two that the man was dead.

I screamed, but as I did so a knife whizzed by my head. "That was a warning shot" growled a voice from behind me. I froze. "The next won't miss". I couldn't seem to make myself move. The voice was female, that much I knew. "Are you Amber Hamilton?" Said the voice. "Yes" I squeaked. "Good" said the voice "I'll give you a choice. You can either come with me willingly or I can kill you."

A million questions were soaring through my head. Who was this person? What did she want with me? Did she kill that man? Though I was sure I knew the answer to that last question, I decided to ask. "Did you kill him?" I said gesturing to the dead man lying on my bed. "Yes" she purred. "And if you don't want to end up like him I suggest you come with me".

"Who are you?" I asked my voice shaky. "Thats none of your concern" she snapped. "I have a job for you". At that I turned around. I was correct, the person behind me was a girl. But what I was surprised to see was that this girl was around my age, eighteen, and had long gold hair that was braided over her shoulder. She was surprisingly beautiful with bright blue eyes and she was at least half a head taller than me.

"Whats the job?" I asked.
"You are to come with me back to the Crystal Kingdom, where you will kill a man for me." She told me.
"What man"
"Mattis Sanders"
Mattis Sanders. I'd heard that name before. Mr. Sanders was a corrupt, spoiled man that hated everyone and everything that got in his way and was most certainly better off dead.
"What about the man you killed. The one that is now currently lying, dead, on my bed? Who was he?"
"I don't know" was all she said.

"Ok I'll do your job. But only if you tell me your name." She sighed. "Fine I'll tell you my name, but you have to swear to do this job and never tell anyone my real name."
"I swear"
"Ok fine, my name is Adeline Havilyard"
The name hit me like a brick wall to the face. Adeline Havilyard, the lost princess of the Crystal Kingdom. The last living heir to the throne after her parents were killed in the uprising. And Mattis Sanders was the head of the uprising. No wonder she wanted him dead. "Come on" she snapped at me. "We only have so much time" I quickly packed up my things and we were on the road in less than twenty minutes.

Two days later we were at the outskirts of the Crystal Kingdom. On the journey here all we talked about was when, where, and how I was to kill Mr. Sanders. I was to kill him at the Crystal Ball in four days time. Adeline gave me an invitation and told me where I could get an outfit. "Wait aren't you coming with me?" I asked. "No, I can't enter the city he'll be waiting for me"
"Who'll be waiting for you?"
"An assassin named Lucifer."

With that she turned and left. Three days later I was ready.

On the forth day as I strutted into the ball room I took in the place. It was packed with people in all sorts of ball gowns and suits. From snowy white to night black. I looked around, there was a man sitting on a raised platform that was obviously Mattis Sanders. Perfect, I had a clear shot. I moved to my vantage point on the indoor balcony. From here I could shoot Mattis, then escape through the doors behind me. My only problem was the guard stationed outside the door. I could handle that, all I needed to do was get out before he noticed the commotion.

I raised my bow. Took aim. And fired. That was all it took, three steps, and Mattis Sanders, the most powerful man in the Crystal Kingdom, was dead.
Someone screamed, then more people joined in. With that I turned and ran like hell. I bolted through the door, but before I could get far someone grabbed my arm. I turned my head. The guard that was stationed by the door, had grabbed me. I tried to pull my arm out of his grip but he wouldn't budge.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" He asked.
"Let go of me!" I yelled.
"Not until you tell me why you are in such a hurry."
I sighed "Fine, I killed Mattis Sanders."
He looked flabbergasted. "You... You killed him?"
"Yes" I said warily.
He ran his free hand through his short, black hair. "They'll want you dead" he said. "Now do you see why I need to go!" I shouted in his face. I yanked my arm from his grasp and took off down the steps. "You'll never make it that way" he called after me. "If you want to escape then I suggest you come with me". I turned and looked at him. This man that I just met was willing to help me? Not likely. "How do I know that your not just tricking me?"

"You don't. But I'm not." I decided to take a risk and trust him. "Fine, lead the way." I snapped at him. He walked past me and I followed him as he headed for the stables. When we got there he gave me a boost so I could get over the wall. But just before I jumped I asked "What's your name?"
"Rafe. What's yours?"
"Amber"
"Well farewell Amber"
"Wait. One more question."
"Which is?"
"Why do this? Why help me? Why not just tern me in?"
"That's three." He said grinning from ear to ear. "And, honestly, I don't know"
"Well, thank you and farewell Rafe."
With that I jumped and took off running toward my house were Adeline was awaiting my safe return.

The End... For Now