True Name

Introduction

" Spies? What do you mean spies? ", I asked on the edge of bursting into flames. " I thought I made myself clear when I said I don't want any strangers in the castle, especially now with the royal family visiting! How did you miss them?! " I stared right down into Decimus's eyes. As he opened his mouth to answer me, I already continued with my monologue: " You know what? Doesn't even matter. Just get rid of them. Throw them to lions or something, whatever it is that we do with the spies and other unwanted visitors. " Heavily I throw myself onto the sofa bright red sofa with golden frame, rubbing my eyes while trying to clean my mind. This is seventh time we had surprise visitors in the palace in less than a month. Something must be going on in the city, but I don't really care, it's non of my business. My business is keeping King, Queen and Princes safe, protect them with my own life, and, to be honest, I wouldn't think twice before doing so. After years and years of working for them, my body has been full with thousands and thousands of scars that have been covered by even more tattoos of random things without any meanings as a bad attempt to hide them. Well, only one of them has a meaning – the little dots that are stretching all the way from the back of my neck, over the shoulder, down the arm, to the fingertips. I could feel the soft, light red fabric of the personal security uniform sliding over my thigh reviling it. To be honest, I've always loved these uniforms. Rose coloured silk framing my shoulders, golden tight armour expanding to my hips, bloody silk continuing it's journey between my bare legs and feet down to the floor. It made me feel powerful and it was showing all the drawings on my skin very well. Lost in my own thoughts, I haven't even noticed that Decimus was still in the specious room with me. I look at him through my fingers.

" You are still here. " I bluntly say. He should be dealing with the spies, not looking at me trying to relax. It's not like he has anything else or better to do than to serve me like he always has been doing.

" Ye- yes. " Decimus stuttered. I raise my eyebrow giving him a sign to get to the point before I feed him to the lions too. If you think I wouldn't do it because we've been friends since we were five, you are deadly wrong. In this job it's needed to point emotions on a side and do what's necessary to protect the chevaliers, the members of royal family. No one knows their names except from me. Well, not really, I only know the Princess' name, but that's understandable. Afterall, I am her main guard.

" They want to see you ", he continued.

" Good, I don't want to see them. " Why would I fulfil a wish of a peasant, servant or a spy?

" They say it's very important. " I didn't move an inch from the comfortable sofa that I've been resting on. " You aren't doing anything. You might as well go question them. " Like I cared about questioning spies, they won't tell me anything anyways, I'm just going to waste my weapons, time and energy on torturing them only so they would die in the end and leave me empty handed. " It might help with protecting Princess, Myla " He quickly added. My weak spot. I rub my eyes one more time and get up from the sofa, fixing my clothes, trying to make them look decent. Cold wooden flooring under my feet has awakened me momentarily. Decimus charmingly smiled at me as I rolled my eyes, passing by him and through the enormous golden door, finding myself in the hall made of gold with the ceiling that was touching the blue sky that was visible through the windows that were reaching from the floor to the top. My bare feet didn't make one single sound as I was gliding through the sparking hall that was still leaving me speechless as the first time that I saw it. After a few minutes of walking, Decimus and I reach the huge, dark oak, two winged, heavy door and I push them, finding myself in equally impressive room with three seats for royal family members and few meters away kneeling spies with regular guards standing next to them. Confidently and fearlessly I walk up to them, my dark hair bouncing around my shoulders and swinging in front of my chest as I take gracious steps. There was 4 of them. All kneeling, non looking at me, without a word. I quickly examine them. All of them were bloody, ripped white shirts and black pants to their knees; hands dirty from the soil, all with the black hair. I lower myself in front of one of them, take his chin with thin fingers and check his face – boring. I click with my tongue and raise myself back up.

" Heard you wanted to see me " , I say crossing arms over chest. Neither of them bothered to provide any answer to my sentence. " Well, are you going to talk or I came here for nothing? " Still no answer. Came here for nothing I guess. I can see Decimus being nervous from the corner of eye. Bet he didn't expect them to keep quiet but I did, which is why I knew it was pointless right away. Seeing they won't talk, I swing my arm towards the guard to take them away.

" No!! Wait!! " , one of them screams as two guards start to drag him away by his arms. I nod my head to guards and they stop. " They've been lying to you!! Everything's a lie!! You've been killing innocent people, children! CHILDREN!!" , his green eyes were piercing me through the heart. He must be drunk. " Please... Please! Listen to me! This world isn't what you think it is!! "

" Yeah, right ", I whisper to myself. Why am I even standing here listening to this? And with this thought I turn around to walk to the exit of the room.

" WAIT!! I know you name!! " I stop. Impossible. No one knows my name. I can feel adrenalin rush through my body. I feel... fear... scared... He's telling the truth. No. He can't be. Something's off. How would he know my name? I need to stop thinking about this, I've been sick recently and that's why my powers are off and telling me he's telling the truth. I shake my head, wave to the guards and keep walking to the door, as I hear the one scream:

" Alethea !!! "

I stop.

He knows my name.