Apprentice of Darkness

2. Dark Gift

I entered the training room, images of my next contract running through my mind. How I would kill them... oh, so many possibilities! I grinned as I realized I was alone in the large space, aside from the archery targets and practice dummies.

There were several torches along the wall, and I lit a few of them now, just enough to illuminate one corner of the room. In it's space was a single dummy, and an archery target just at the edge of the light.

I stood between the two wooden structures, eyes closed and focusing on my power. I had blades, of course, any assassin did. I carried duel swords at my back, several throwing knives in a pouch on my belt, and another hidden blade attached to my wrist. But their power was not what I was focusing on.

My right hand was suddenly alight with a purple-black flame, and I struck out at my target with a powerful punch. It was one of my weaker attacks, but would still stun a full grown man for a good few seconds. The target, as well as everything else in the training area, was protected with a powerful enchantment that allowed it to regenerate itself when broken.

The dummy shattered into broken pieces of wood and splinters, but in the next instant it was whole again. I followed up with a roundhouse kick, my boot alight with the same purple-black flame, leaving a wavy streak in it's wake as it flew through the air to connect with my target. This attack, when met with any creature, would instantly disintegrate them to ash. Though if the creature has some sort of magical protection - a barrier spell, or a shield enchantment for example - it simply sends them flying back with a force.

Dark Gift. That's what we call the purple-black flame that enhanced our attacks. Family members with this power are said to have been graced by the Night Mother herself... the Night Mother is the goddess of the dark, the night, the moon and stars, as well as assassins and thieves. She is also said the be the cause of the vampiric curse, though I personally believe vampires are nothing but a myth.

I continued in my training, drawing one of the swords on my back as the dummy shattered into the wall, then reformed itself back on it's perch. The Dark Gift blazed around my blade as I did several swift slashes into thin air before spinning around, slicing the practice dummy in two. Both pieces of wood had severe scorch marks but they disappeared as the enchantment worked it's magic.

I turned instantly, firing a concentrated ball of that signature purple-black flame at the archery target behind me, hitting it dead center and turning it to ash. But of course, in the next moment, the target was whole and standing upright once more, looking as if it had never been touched.

Let me pause here and tell you a bit more about our family... No one uses their real name, as you may have guessed. We most commonly use last names, like Nix does, or our initials... like mine, CD. Other times, though, when a family member has a life outside of the Sanctuary, we use code names. This is mostly uncommon, but not unaccepted. All code names have some significance with how that person works, their movements, their style. One of my coded family members was just about to enter the room.

I heard one of the large wooden doors open, though the sound was nearly undetectable compared to normal hearing. All Dark Assassin have super-sensitive hearing... as well as speed beyond imagine, and a superhuman ability to see in pitch darkness when we need to.

"Fallen." I greeted, turning to see the novice step into the torch light. I sheathed my sword as he nodded in respect, and I returned the gesture.

Fallen joined the family last year. Though he was about my age, he was of lower status than myself, and was still deemed a novice. If I remembered correctly, though, he would be promoted to Apprentice soon.

I had known him since he joined, as I had accompanied him on his first contract in order to gauge his skill level. His real name was Will, I believe, though that meant little inside the Sanctuary walls. He was called Fallen because as his Mentor, Hunter, would describe, he "moves with the swiftness of a fallen angel... an angel of the Night Mother, of course."

All Dark Assassins were given a cowl upon passing their joining, a hood to hide their face during contracts. While I wore mine all the time, as well as a dark tunic and many medieval-style belts and straps, Fallen wore more of a modern type of armor. He had a black hoodie, cowl down to show his face, and dark, comfortable-looking jeans. All this was fortified by magic, so his normal clothing protected him as well as any armor.

"Good to see you are well, CD." He replied, handing me a scroll. "Your next contract." I unrolled the parchment to see a depiction of a woman, probably in her mid-20s, with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes. As I studied the image, Fallen described my mission, "Morina Faleen, age 27. She lives on the west side of Skarad, and works at the Lonely Star Inn as a barmaid from hours three to eleven. Whoever ordered her assassinated wanted her to suffer, so your bonus is to take your time in slaying her, but do not get spotted by the guards."

"Good to know. Thank you, Fallen." I spoke absently, already planning my route to the town of Skarad. I would walk, I decided, and be able to get to the inn at around ten. That should give me enough time to watch Morina for a while, then tail her home until I get a chance to end her.

"Good luck, not that you'll need it." He nodded once more before all trace of formality was gone. I had received my information, and now we were free to converse as equals. "So when are you going to let Hunter and Nix partner us up? They've been wanting to see how we work as a team for some time."

"Two people with the Dark Gift should not be on the same mission. At least... not until you've had more training in the arts, as I'm sure Hunter has told you countless times." I replied, tucking the scroll away.

 "True, he has." Fallen sighed, nodding slightly before looking at me with a smirk. "But I was hoping you could train me."

I shook my head, patting his shoulder as I walked past him towards the doors. Pausing before exiting, I glanced back at him and called jokingly, "Why don't you stick to one Mentor, half-life." I'm sure it goes without saying, but just to be clear, "half-life" is a term for family members with one foot in the Sanctuary, and one foot in their own life in the rest of the world... you know, half and half.

I smirked, on my way out of the Sanctuary. Now then... how would I make this Morina Faleen woman suffer?

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Note: Sorry for lack of updates, but I can't wait to post the next chapter for this one. This was mostly an introduction to the life of CD and the Dark Assassins, so the story will be picking up soon, I promise. The picture to the side is Fallen (aka Will). Comments are welcome!