Dark-Hair, Sea Eyes

1

Order's crimson lips curved into a smile as the man entered her throne room. The man walked with the finesse of a killer, his eyes fixed on her, or maybe just behind her, but there was always a glimpse of glare behind those eyes. Intricate scars were engraved in his arms, and there was dried blood on his hands.

"I suspect you have what I asked for?" Order said her voice in a honeyed tone. If he wasn't looking at Order before, he was definitely looking at her now. His eyes seemed to be trying to glare their way into her soul, but if so, they'd come up empty.

"Yes, yes. Yvette?" The child handmaid muttered a 'yes ma'am' and came back with a cloth bag. The beast inside of it lashed around frantically. "That one's especially rare." Order pointed out. The maid placed the bag down gently before scurrying off to do her duties.

The creature escaped from the bag, its wide yellow eyes and slitted pupils darted back and forth as it desperately tried to fly away. The wing had been torn during its capture, but even grounded its battle form was a force to be reckoned with.

He locked eyes with the beast, and Order was impressed that the poor creature had not turned to stone. He was assessing it, really calculating its worth. He seemed satisfied because he looked up from the trembling creature and said, "I don't have what you want."

Order's smile dropped. She scowled. "And where is it then?" The man bowed his head in apology. "I am truly sorry that I have failed, Milady. As for where it is, I have not the slightest idea." The most skillful assassin couldn't bring her the head of a mere king? Wasn't that an assassin's job?

Order scoffed. Of course, this would've happened. He was a well-known assassin. He obviously wasn't good at his job if everyone knew who he was. "You've failed!" Order snapped. "Milady, this is my first-time failin--" they were both interrupted as the throne room doors swung open, and a serpent slithered in. Its body was wrapped around something, but it kept moving as if on a mission. The snake made it to the steps to Order's throne and unraveled itself.

There, on the floor of Order's throne room, was a scroll. "Yvette," Order barked. "Read it aloud." The young servant girl scurried to the letter and picked it up.

The snake laid there unmoving. Order noticed it had been defanged, and its mouth was split in the corners.

" To my dearest sister,

I wish to inform you that your attempt on my life is a petty way to settle an argument. One accidental murder on my part can easily be compensated by the vast many treasures I have at my disposal, that I offered and you have since refused. I've sent your assassin back alive, and he did a job for me instead of killing me. He was paid the same reward you had planned for him.

Better luck next time,
Chaos."

Order sat there as a thick silence filled her throne room. A deep frown fixed itself on her face as she waved her servant Yvette away. The young girl scurried from view.

"Storm, you've killed your hundreds and have gathered great fame and fortune over it. You are among the most feared men in the galaxy." Order said, her composure returning as she regarded the assassin.

"Yes, I am confident in my ability, but the target you gave me was above my pay grade. I apologize, but he gave a reasonable target with the desired compensation." Storm said.

Order gave a cold smile before she gave the command. "Kill him." Those two words set off spears from all corners of the room. They flew past Order, some just barely missing her, but there wasn't one who didn't meet their target.