The Assassin Prince

Chapter 2

Raven shuffled awkwardly as she sat apart from the rest of her team. She had been taken off the mission for her cowardice and everyone was giving her dirty looks. They couldn't trust her now that she had jeopardized the mission.

It wasn't as if this was anything new. She had been shunned throughout her entire childhood because of who her parents were.

It wasn't as if it bothered her. Raven preferred solitude. Still, it was a bit uncomfortable to be met with hostility on a mission. Still, she'd be fine.

Azar suddenly hopped down from the tree she was scouting in and approached her. "Come with me," she spat at her. Raven nodded silently and followed after her.

This should be fun.

OoOoOo

Damian leaned against the door that connected his room to his sister's. "Celeste, I'm sorry," he apologized for the millionth time. Really, it was hard for him to apologize once. Didn't she know how special she was to him. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm sure everything will be fine."

Silence. That wasn't like her. Celeste wasn't a bitter person and usually didn't stay mad at him for long. He must have really hurt her feelings this time.

He sighed. "Alright, I'll go pack some books for our trip," he told her. "We don't have much time, so I'll be back to help you pack soon." He grabbed his bag before walking off.

OoOoOo

Raven stayed a few paces behind Azar, honestly afraid of getting too close. The woman was angry, sure, but she was more disappointed and that was honestly worse. Azar had been the only person she could call a mother growing up. She didn't want to let her down.

Azar finally spoke, "I had faith in you, Raven." She inhaled deeply. "I suppose I was wrong."

"You aren't wrong," said Raven quickly. "I can do this, Azar."

"You've never been on a mission before," Azar reminded her. "You're inexperienced. I brought you because you're magic is the strongest of all of us. You have a great gift, but it takes more than that.

"There's an instinct among our people. A moment of truth, some may call it. And in that moment, you hesitated."

Raven clenched her jaw firmly. "I won't hesitate again," she insisted.

"You will," her leader insisted firmly. "I see now that you're still just a child. You are riddled by emotion, your heart isn't hardened enough for this. You don't have what it takes."

She sighed. "I messed up," she admitted. "I see that, Azar. Because I let that human go, we're all in danger. But since it was my wrongdoing, shouldn't I make it right? Shouldn't I be the one to correct my own mistake?"

Azar shook her head. "I'm afraid it's much too late for that."

Raven gestured to her wrists. "I bound myself," she reminded her. "My heart for Aza-"

The older woman grabbed her arms firmly, stopping her. "You shall be unbound when the mission is complete," she snapped. "The best way to assist in this mission is to stay out of the way." She pointed to a nearby rock. "You will wait here quietly until the task is done."

Raven's eyes were narrowed, but she reluctantly sat herself onto the rock. She knew that once the woman made up her mind, there was no changing it.

"If we aren't back by sunrise, go home," instructed Azar before stalking away.

Raven lowered her head. She mad messed up more than she had thought. Now she had no honor, unable to serve her people. And what was an Azarathian without honor? She looked up at the palace, her targets just a few hundred feet away. This was her mistake. It only seemed right that she was the one to correct it. She knew what she had to do.