The Assassin Princess (On Hold)

Chapter 2: Magnus

Finally capturing a moment to spend alone, I was grateful for the solitude.  Don't get me wrong, being a prince with a caring king and overprotective guards was normally great, but sometimes a teenager-prince or not-needs to spend a moment or two alone.

So.  I was definitely surprised and even upset when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me.  Then a figure flashed in front of my face.  Before I could even register what was going on, the silhouette of a person stepped out.  Of a teenage girl.

"Who-Who are you?" I managed in a somewhat regal tone.  She was cloaked in an ashy cloak.  When I saw the slightest gleam of a weapon stained by blood, I instictively took a step back.  Prepared to run.

Then the figure tucked the dagger away. 

She croaked her head, as if pondering something.  "Death," she replied.  Her voice was tender, yet confident.  Quite, yet strong.  Compassionate, yet firm.  Soft, yet it didn't leave room for questioning. "My name is death."

"Death," I repeated, my voice barely a whisper in the breeze.  Maybe it's just my imagination, but I felt the wind pick up and swirl around her.  Suddenly, Death's hood flew off, revealing her face.

Death was a girl with inky black hair that fell over her shoulder like silk.  Death was a girl with midnight blue eyes that gleamed in the moonlight.  Death was a girl with smooth, peach skin.  Death was a girl with a mysterious smile and a mischievous expression.

Death was a girl who was cloaked in shadows.  Death was a girl who had ash streaking along her cheekbone.  Death was a girl who had blood stains in her hair.

Death was a girl who held the universe in her gaze and eternity in her hands.

Death was a girl who captivated my attention.

I know I should be scared-it's not everyday you meet someone who goes around with the name  "Death," but I was intrigued.  Blinking as if in surprise, Death pulled the hood over her head again, allowing shadows to hide her face.  I noticed that her eyes seem to land upon the badge on my shirt, the badge that indicated that I was the prince of Wrewen.

Tenderly, cautiously, I took a step towards her.  For a moment, I expected her to advance.  But she didn't.  Instead, Death backtracked a step before she met my gaze.  

"Prince Magnus, prince  of Wrewen.  Loyal and eldest son to King Drust and Queen Roseate, elder brother of Prince Alais.  Crowned Heir to the Wrewen throne, the most powerful kingdom in the East.  General in the Wrewen army.  Betrothed to the Princess of Alalidus," she nodded at me, each title sounding like an accusation, an insult,  each word drowning in more hate than the last.  As if it pained her just to say them.

Awkwardly, I nodded.  "Yes, that's me."   As confusion swirled through me, I felt as if there was drugs in my veins-though I haven't drank for the past week-, as if there were demons in my soul, as if there was madness in my brain, as if there was a raging storm in my heart.

For all my titles, all my positions-and there were plenty that she didn't mention-, I've never really felt as if I had a place to belong.  As we stood there, I imagined her calculating eyes observing me, committing my every move and look to memory.  And I would've done the same to her, except she was almost completely covered.

A minute passed.

Then five.

Then an eternity.

"I must go," Death finally shrugged, already partly turned around.  "Until we meet again."  I blinked, not sure what to make of that.  Glued to my spot, I watched as Death's graceful figure danced away.  I watched as she faded into the shadows and disappeared from my view.

Maybe it's her choice of words, maybe it's the way she looked at me, maybe it's just my guts, but something told me that I was going to see her again.  And soon.