Everglow

Chapter 2

"If I do this for you Xand, you stop calling me Flynnie and you promise me that you won't abandon me," I hissed sharply as I pulled the glistening sword from the back of my rust bucket with a sigh, looking up at the high tower where all of the great Magi would be seated. My watch buzzed again, signalling that I was wanted with the high council anyway. I bit my lip as I looked over to Xand with restless eyes. His skin was almost blemish-free, the only sign he wasn't a full vampire coming from the brightness the rich golden beige skin he had and the scar on his left cheek that I had given him. He had been my very first mission and my only failure. 

"Oh c'mon, you love being called Flynnie" He poked gently as we both climbed out of the car. I grabbed my sack, fastening it tightly to my back as I glared up to him, hands feeling the cold familiar metal of my sword as we walked toward the compound. He had never taken me seriously and had only ever viewed me as a friend, even as I had held a sword to his neck and threatened his life. 

"I'd love being called Flynnie if I were a perky 16-year-old human wimp and we were in a relationship, but newsflash Xand, we aren't," I growled gently as we passed swiftly through the force fields that knew both of our presences well. It was not unusual for an assassin to be wielding her sword so openly, so as I entered the compound, I gained no glances of confusion, only looks of recognition from those around me. I was the best there was, emotionless, alone in this world and without anything to hold me down. I had to be the best, it was all that I could be if I wished to live. 

Xand only laughed at me as we walked up the stairs toward the offices we were so familiar with, and in which we had spent most of our time and childhood together. I didn't feel nervousness, nor a sense of sadness as I thought about who I would kill. My kill would be justified in some ways. I had promised my life to Justice and thus would only kill for that.

"Who're you going to spike? Katrina?" Xandro questioned as I moved the blade in my palm, feeling the weight that was so familiar to me already. It was a beautiful blade that connected with my Magi powers of flame and glowed in the dim light of the winding castle steps. 

"No, that Bitch deserves a long, hard death. It will be Morin. She's been killing Magi who have done nothing wrong for far too long," I sighed softly, creeping up the stairs though I knew that I didn't need to. With a final huff from climbing the stairs, I swung the heavy doors to the parlour open with a smirk, looking to the 12 High Magi who crowded around a table filled with war plans. They had long since conquered most of the countries, and though the humans had no idea of the fights between all Supernatural beings, our promise had always been to protect that innocence. 

Without hesitation, I marched straight up to the startled woman, not a smile in sight as I ripped the blade through the air, running my tongue over my teeth as I felt the blade tear through her throat with a gargled scream. Everybody watched me in silence as I turned to stare at my aunt, who had a face lightened with pure delight. She stood softly, the billowing amber robes she wore following behind as I rested on one knee, Xandro coming to do the same besides me as I glared up at the conniving Bitch. The rest of the council sat in stunned silence as Katrina took one look at my glistening blade, snapping the metal into two rugged halves. I felt the pain within my soul as she did that, yet I did not wince, only smirking to her royal jackassness. 

"How do you want me?" I questioned the old mage with a dutiful smirk, running my fingers through messy black hair. My aunt was beautiful, though her age was becoming present in the smooth lines of her tawny skin, highlighted with pink undertones that made the skin blush and shimmer. She had always had a serene beauty that told nobody of the darkness of her soul. 

"Dead and six feet under, but seeing as that isn't a logical compromise for your actions, we shall be sending you to Astaria, we have had information regarding an uprising," my elder laughed, watching me closely as my smile faltered to an angered pout at her tone of voice. I had half expected my aunt to simply laugh the scenario off, saying she understood the duty, but no, she had wanted to be rid of me long ago, it should not have been a surprise that she would send me to the only place that caused me constant physical pain.

"Don't be sad, you've brought this on yourself. Your banishment from the lands of the Magi is in immediate effect." Katrina laughed happily, flicking the glossy white hair from her shoulder as she looked to me, her niece, with a sadistic grin tapping pink painted nails on the portal stone around her neck that opened into glittering onyx black. She was a sickening mix of ravishing beauty, total loyalty to the Magi and a pure black soul. 

"God you're a Bitch Katrina, I'll bring you down if it's the last thing I do," I growled, nails growing long and sharp as I grabbed the shattered shards of my favourite sword to my left and Xand's large hand, trying to fight dismally against the pull of the portal. They had always sickened me, especially when I was to be called to Astaria, a place where Magi were not to step foot into due to the tensions between the Nations. 

"Say hello to your Aunt Sara if you can find her, I'm sure she'll love to know of her favourite niece's banishment too." She cackled with delight as  I felt the pulling weight of the blackness that dragged us down into Astaria,  holding more tightly to Xandro than I thought I had ever held anything. We clattered to the ground with a large crash, my blade snapping more as it hit the harsh rocks of a cliff, the shards tumbling down into a raging ocean.I let out a scream of rage as I looked to where my favourite sword had collapsed into the waves below. Pain, like a burning fire, seared through my bones and flesh making me itch as Xandro helped me stand. I hoped it would soon subside, but with every step I took the pain only grew stronger. 

"Thanks, Flynnie. I mean it. We will work this out together," he whispered softly, pulling me up closer to his body in an attempt to support my small frame. I glared at him in agony, fixing the tarp sack on my back.

"Don't think for one second that I'm doing this just for you. You know what the fuck I want Xand, and I won't stop until I get it," I huffed angrily at him, the vodka shots not kicking in despite the fact I needed them more than ever. He looked at me and laughed, he had always found my anger amusing, and I had always found that incredibly irritating. He was the only person that I truly didn't scare.

"Oh c'mon Flynnie, cheer up, there's plenty of things you can kill here. Besides, I figured it was time you met my mother, my best friend of 23 years has to meet her at some point," he laughed softly, that stupid smile I loved on his face as he grabbed my arm, leading me over the rocky terrain to see a city built into the harsh stones a distance away. When I had agreed to this, I hadn't agreed to walk it too, especially not as my body became enraptured with another wave of pain. 

"I'm sure she is going to be just thrilled to find her son interacting with a poor, weremagi assassin." I huffed madly as I stomped across the ground, the new brown boots I was wearing digging into my heels, leaving blistered skin and more anger welling in my stomach. He smirked down at me, wrapping an arm around me as I shoved the snapped blade handle into the holster around my hips with a bitter roll of my eyes.

"Welcome to Astaria Flynn. I think you're going to be happily surprised."