New Beginnings || New Limits [Prequel]

01| The Start

***

Nyssa and I had just finished our daily training session with one another as we walked down the passage way where all the new recruits were being trained. I couldn't help but feel pity for all these men and woman who believed the joining the League of Assassins would help relieve their suffering.

"Sister, you work yourself to hard. And for what? To please a woman who is hardly ever present?" Nyssa asked me in disbelief as we came to a stop at the end of the hall. She was right it's had been months that since I've seen Paula, yet I never stop working to become better. I was aware of my own foolishness.

"Your right." I admitted. "And I don't plan to do so anymore. Not for her."

"Not for anybody." She added.

"Anyways what else is there for me to improve on?" I questioned no longer wanting to continue on the topic of my mother. "After all I have just won you in battle today."

Nyssa looked at me with a straight face, but I could still see the amusement in her eyes. "I would like to say that we are now evenly matched Artemis."

Down the hall Al Sa-Her walked in our direction followed by other members of the League. Knowing that he most likely was sent here by Ra's we waited for them to reach us.

"Artemis, Ra's request your presence." Al Sa-Her informed me and I simply nodded as I followed him out into the passageway. "It seems that you have another assignment."

"It seems that you still haven't asked father to release from your duties to the League, Malcolm." I replied knowing that for the past couple of days he has attempted to push

"I want to wait a bit longer." He exclaimed as he held his hands behind his back. "I still haven't perfected my plan to cleanse my city of those who are forcing it into ruins."

The hate in his voice forced my to a stop, Malcom had always expressed that he wanted to rid his city of crime, but the way he spoke now made me believe other wise. I still remember when he first arrived at Nanda Parbat, after the murder of his beloved claiming that he wanted to be freed of his pain. "What is it that you are planning?"

"Don't worry Artemis, I plan to make my city as it was before." He assured me as we continued our walk before we reached the main chambers. Two of the guards opened the large doors as Malcolm and I entered the room where Ra's was facing the large shrine in front of him.

The moment that Ra's turned around Malcolm immediately bowed in respect. "You may go now Al Sa-Her." Ra's said although it was clearly an order.

Without another word Malcolm left the room as Ra's walked over to me. "You have improved greatly, Artemis."

"Thank you father." I replied, and although he wasn't my father by blood he was the only man who helped raised me and treated me like a daughter.

"Because of this you are ready to do your first assignment on your own." He told me as he pulled out a scroll handing it to me. "These are the instructions to your assignment. I expect perfection Artemis."

He turned around back towards the shrine, and although I knew that was my signal to leave I hesitated. "Is there something else you wish to ask me my daughter?" Ra's asked as he turned back to face me.

I debated whether or not I should ask, not knowing what his reaction would be, however with was a question that I needed answers to. "I wish to know what has happened to my mother."

"Your mother has committed a high treason and has been released from her duties to the League." Ra's replied bitterly as he took a step forward, this news was new to me and I couldn't possibly imagine what she had done to deserve such a punishment as everyone knew there was a time when Ra's favored my mother. "Is this action not to your liking?"

"No." I replied numbly, a part of me satisfied to hear the news, yet curious of what she could have possibly done to have been released from the League so abruptly. "It's better this way."

***

I walked down the dark streets of Russia in the direction of the Bratva house. We were never told the reasons why the people we targeted had to be eliminated, but what we did know was that it was our duty to cleanse the earth of those that were disrupting the natural order, and that's all we needed to know.

"Can I help you?" The man asked in a thick Russian accent, I pulled on my hood and before the man could react by pulling out any weapon I twisted his arm and stabbed him in the sternum with a blade of my own.

"Of course you can." I muttered as I let the man fall limp on the floor. Reaching into his pock I pulled out a chain of keys as I covered the lower half of my face with my mask. More men came through the gated running in my direction with guns in their hand aimed at me.

I steadied my bow placing three arrows that I released into the chest's of the three men in the front of the mob. As the three of them fell to the floor the rest walked around them as they continued making their way over to me.

Running forward I pulled out two large blades from their holsters as the men began to aimlessly fire their guns. I was able to block most of the bullets with the blades, but the didn't stop one from grazing my armor. Once I was at a close enough range I was able to kill of most of the men with my two swords.

Just as I thought I had got them all, two gunshots were heard that hit the handles of my swords knowing them from my hands. Turning around I grabbed the mans arm twisting the gun from his hand. Ignoring the cries of pain from the man I pulled the walkie talkie from the pocket of his leather jacket, I placed it in one of his hands as I held onto the other.

"Please...do not kill me." The man pleaded. "I have a family."

"Of course not." I told him, not loosening by grip on him. "Just tell your boss that everything is clear. That it's all taken care of."

The man nodded as he held the device up to his mouth and in Russian did exactly as I told him. "You let me go now?" Letting go of him I took a step back, and I saw the relief flood into the man's eyes, but the didn't stop me from breaking that man's neck.

"Sorry, but there mustn't be any witnesses." I looked down at the dead man in front of me for second before I remembered what I was sent here to do.

Walking over the bodies of the men that I had previously shot with arrow I pulled out the keys and opened that gates to the large Brava house.

Using a nearby dumpster I jumped onto the top of the roof that gave me a clear visual of the man that was my target. But as I focused my vision on what was in front of me I realized that completing this assignment would be more difficult than I initially imagined.

***

A/N: Decided to republish because it seems that you all really enjoy the prequel which I am very grateful for. Because I simply do not have time to do it this story will not be edited like I initially intended, meaning you will see my writing improve with every passing chapter. Enjoy!