Bound To Kill

II pt 2: Bound To Pretend

Evangeline

The castle windows have now reduced light. Everyone is beginning to drift into their routine sleep. I can't help but to review my planned entrance again. For the hundredth time, my adrenaline rushes, it does every time I expect fun and not danger.

Though I always expect fun in missions.

The carriage had already left, and I'm left with nothing. I'm already wearing my handmaiden outfit, but I'm afraid to take off my hood. I'm just not fond of lying and pretending while exposed in plain sight. I fear I'll ruin this mission, and I'm afraid of failing this and I'll be removed from the Order.

"No, you can do this Evie, you can do this." I've been repeating these words as the road of pebbles decreases and the castle grows as I come nearer to its gates.

Two armored guards were standing outside the gate, standing still like statues until I begin to limp and fall in front of them.

"Please, please help me!" I sobbed through the fakest tears I have ever cried out that my eyes needed to squint harder.

"What happened to you?" The first guard with a brawny structure is the first one to come near me, helping me back to my feet.

"I-I'm dying of... Starvation." I emphasized to make it more dramatic.

"Where did you come from?" the other guard asks of suspicion.

"From a nearby town, outside the forest. My family was attacked by Englishmen and I am now the only one of what's left of them!"

"The English? What're they doing raiding on nearby towns?" The brawny guard asks his fellow guard.

"A message of starting war, perhaps. Let's bring this girl inside and let the Majesties know."

They supported me to walk as we ascended inside. An evil smile creeps through my hood, down to my face.

The two guards told me to wait in the lobby while they notify the King about my arrival. The lobby was also guarded, guards in every wall and corner. A group of servants were having a laughing conversation on the far end of the hall. One of them glances at me and begins to draw their topic on a newer one.

Using my eavesdropping skill, I listen careful to what they were gossiping about.

"Who's she?"

"She's lost perhaps. If I were her, I'd head to the woods rather than here."

"Why is she wearing a hood?"

"Hmm, strange."

A little while later and the guards came back with three other men. I take off my hood to avoid suspicion, and bowed directly to the person in front of the group. He seemed to be the Casanova King the coachmen had mentioned.

I must say, he is a Casanova. An evidence is how he's looking at me right now.

"What is your name, girl?" The bald King asks, eyes narrowed in interest and a smug smile is snaking around his lips.

I glance behind him to the two men standing as magnificent as ever. One is a blonde and one is gifted with a pair of husky blue eyes.

My body tensed when he glances back at me. I return focus to the king. "My name is Evangeline. My village, just outside the woods was compromised by the English yesterday and I seek of shelter here, in exchange of working for you, Your Royal Highnesses."

"The English are attacking?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Obviously a lie.

"Why have I not received any news from my men then if the English is attacking?"

I was quiet, and it was about to grow until an idea escapes my mind. "Because they are using Assassins."

The crowd gasps.

"Assassins?" The King asks, still smiling pathetically as though what I was telling him was a complete joke.

"The ones who hide in the shadows and kill enemies within plain sight, my King." I state without taking my pitiful eyes off his crazy ones. "They are as stealthy as ninjas as well."

"I've heard of them before, Father." The man with blonde curls who I assumed is Prince Francis, steps in. "The Assassins are a group of skilled peasants trained by men coming from Asia."

Peasants. How cruel. If only I wasn't trained to be wise, I'd stick my hidden blade on his throat right this second. But I'll spare him for he is gorgeous.

The King pinches his jaw while pondering. "Do you know your way back to your village, Angeline?"

"It is Evangeline, Your Highness. But no, I have roamed France astray and have forgotten due to starvation-" I cut my own words when I forced my knees to land hard on the hard concrete floor. My mouth opens dryly and my eyes becoming wary.

Say, I'm becoming a good actress. If Alexander was here right now, he'd be cackling.

"Bring this girl to Nostradamus." I hear the King orders. The guards from earlier kindly helped me back to my feet. "Francis, Bash, with me."

We diverged into different routes. The group of Royals climbed to the second floor while I was led to a hall becoming smaller as we walk deeper towards the end.

Nostradamus turns out to be a tall man with a rugged demeanor. His quarters is smells and is full of all sorts of herbs stored in translucent jars. The guard who was nice enough to support me all the way places me on a single-person bed.

"Who's this?" Nostradamus asks. He must be the doctor around here.

"She's from a town outside the woods. She says the English attacked it so she ran away and fled here." The brawny guard answers. "Nostradamus, she's starving. The King wants you to take care of her for she's gonna get an interview tomorrow."

Nostradamus looks at me with worry, and I look away as though I don't want his pity. I really don't, but I gotta act like I do.

"She doesn't looked like she ran away." He says raspily.

"How can you tell?" Both the guards question in unison.

"Her hair would have been a lot more frizzy and her clothes are as clean as though they were new."

"I-I was helped by a group of people from the woods." I say right away.

Their expressions become light like I have just suck all their souls from their mouth and eyes.

"You mean the Pagans?" Asks Nostradamus.

"Why in the heck would the Pagans help an outsider?" The brawny guard looks away in disapproval.

"What is your name, child?"

"Evangeline, but call me Evie." I answer Nostradamus.

"If you don't mind me asking, do you still have your virtue?"

"My virtue? Well, of course, I do still have it."

"Did the Pagans ever do something to you, Evie?"

"No." It's dry and throbbing when I say it because certainly it's a lie. I never encountered a group of people in the woods because the carriage stayed put on the road. I have to lie anyway. "What are Pagans?"

Pagans. I heard of them before. They do rituals, and most they do are the brutal ones. Mentor used to tell me stories about them. About how they hang people feet first and head last. Though I never seen one, I already know they look like the Devil's spawns dressed in human form.

"They believe in Paganism, another religion infamous for rituals. It is forbidden to go in their territories- like the woods- alone or not. They sacrifice those who enter to their territories, some hanged and throats are slitted. The women of purity are given to the God they believe in, The Darkness."

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