Beginning of the End

[AmberEyedWolf]

Even though the day was warm, he was clothed in his typical dark tunic and pants, covered by his black hooded cloak. He slipped through the streets of Kiyer, his hood drawn low over his face. He had heard of an underground knife shop that had, amazingly, stayed out of the clutches of the Grellon. It was his current destination.

Kazimir saw the small shack, and swiftly made his way toward it. A scrawny man stood just outside the door. Kazimir caught his eye, and the man made a slight motion with his hand before ducking into the house. The assassin followed, looking around cautiously before entering.

The man led him through a room filled with children, all looking hungry and skinny. Kazimir glanced at the children, who looked up at him with sad eyes. He followed the man into the kitchen, where he displayed a wide variety of daggers. Deep red eyes scanned over the merchandise, inspecting each one. Reaching over, he picked up a rather deadly-looking one, with a curved, serrated blade and a handle wrapped in black leather.

For a moment, he considered adding it to his arsenal, but decided against it. He was not here for his own personal shopping, but for his mission. He placed the dagger back on the table and picked up another. This one was of simple design, a double-edged steel blade and simple handle. Noticing a slab of meat on another counter, he took the blade and slipped it into the meat. Satisfied with the results, he turned to the merchant.

He heard the man murmur something about "thirty gold". Kazimir tossed the money onto the table before swiftly moving to pin the man against the wall, the dagger pressed to his throat. "Listen closely. This dagger was bought by Black Star, leader of the Grellon. She paid extra for it, saying something about business needing to be done. If you say anything to anyone about me being here, then you'll regret it. All those children? They'll be dead. And then so shall you. And you get to watch each slow, painful ending. Got it?"

The man nodded frantically, terrified. Kazimir slipped the dagger into his belt and left the small house. He moved to the stables to pick up his treasured horse. The black stallion was excited to see his master again. Kazimir pressed his forehead against the horse's muzzle and smiled. "I missed you, too, my Daemon Inferni."

The assassin mounted his horse and the pair rode off to the castle. When he reached the doors, he dismounted, handing the reins to a servant. Walking through the doors, he smiled slightly. This was going to be all too easy. A guard stopped him not far from the doors, asking his business at the castle.

"I wish for an audience with the king." The guard asked no further questions, leading him through the castle to the throne room. Kazimir entered the room, seeing the king sitting upon his throne. Bowing, Kazimir spoke, his voice smooth, calm, and dangerously intriguing. "Hello, your Majesty. I am here to request a private audience with you, regarding one of your daughters. Would this be possible?"

[Jotari]

King Crevan looked up with a tired smile and waved Kazimir forward, “Of course.” He took of his glasses and rubbed his sore eyes. Standing from his throne, he placed the documents that were in his weathered hands on the nearby table. Motioning again, he left to stand on the balcony outside. Glass crunched under his foot, making him jump slightly left. Sighing yet again he leaned against the stone rail and waited to hear what this man had to say. Running a hand through graying hair, the glass crunch had made his mind fade back to recent events. The hurricane had indeed caused great damage; it might be years before Ellsinora regained her full splendor. But the events surrounding the great storm made him nervous.

The King knew that it was because a magical imbalance. Black Star was one subject that he was learning not to anger. Her last few appearances had been startling. First, in her loosened fury, she had shown her true form. That outlaw creature was really the proud and powerful Guardian. Soon after this destructive storm had blown itself across the lands of Ellsinora and Murate both, but that was not all. Black Star, or maybe Jahanarwa? Anyway, that creature had been in the castle during the hurricane. Supposedly she had wanted to speak with him. But, the Queen had gotten to the outlaw first and they had gotten into a spat. More like a brawl really. But in the end, his words had sent her over the edge. He had blamed her for the storm, and she had turned into something that even the shadows would fear. Black Star had said things that he could not forget. The first, that there was two sides to this magical imbalance. Magrej was using his own magic then. But also that horrible prophecy- Ellsinora would fall before the first snow.

[AmberEyedWolf]

WARNING: The events portrayed in this film are extremely dangerous. Do not attempt any of what you are about to see at home. Someone will die. (A slow, painful, and bloody death.)

Kazimir followed the king out onto the balcony. Glass crunched beneath his leather boots, damage from the storm that had ripped through the country. Casually, he leaned against the railing, looking down on the courtyard below. He recognized a few of the guards, soldiers that had been planted within the castle. He made eye contact with one, who nodded slightly in return. He fingered the knife at his belt, eager for the kill.

He turned around and leaned his back against the railing, facing the throne room. "Your daughter, Abigail. She's a very pretty girl." Kazimir moved forward, motioning for the king to follow him back inside. Once both were inside, the assassin turned around, his hood still covering his face. "Crevan. For years, Ellsinora has prospered, even with Murate's dark shadow looming ever closer. You were warned. Your family was warned. And yet, you all refused to listen. Did you honestly think you could survive ignoring Magrej growing stronger by the day?"

'Kill him. Kill him, spill his blood, throw it on the walls. Let us feast tonight!' The hissing voice filled Kazimir's mind, fueled his thirst. The assassin looked up at Crevan, his hood slipping. His deep red eyes shone with a wicked hunger. His lips pulled back into a demonic smile, half grin, half snarl. "Kill him!' The dagger slipped from it's place at his belt, into the assassin's hand. With a feral growl, Kazimir lunged at the king, forcing him against the nearest wall.

'Kill him. Spill his blood. Feed the hunger, quench the thirst.' Kazimir tilted his head slightly to the side, bringing the dagger up to Crevan's face. Slowly, he traced the point down his face, down his throat, leaving a small trickle of blood. "Crevan, Crevan. Did you really think you could win this? You see, I am Kazimir, an assassin, one of Magrej's best. No one will ever suspect me of this. No, I will be the innocent man who finds the body. All the evidence will point to Black Star being the killer."

Kazimir's eyes filled with a dark insanity as the dagger slipped lower, dragging across the king's chest. He pressed the point against the man's chest, just over his heart. A wicked grin spread across his face. "I have been waiting for this moment for so long." A dark laugh echoed slightly in the chamber as Kazimir pressed the dagger into Crevan's heart. Slowly, very slowly, blade pierced flesh, sinking into the beating heart, spilling that precious life-giving fluid.

Kazimir's smile grew as he watched the life leaving Crevan's eyes. He stepped back, allowing the king to fall to the floor, dead. Looking down, Kazimir grinned at his work. "Long live the king." Kazimir walked away, out to the balcony again. He made eye contact with one of the planted guards again, nodding once. The soldier returned the nod, and Kazimir turned, once again entering the throne room. He exited through a side door, before making his way down the hall to the throne room's main entrance.

The planted guard met him at the doors, and together they entered the room. Upon seeing the king on the floor, Kazimir raced over, shouting at the guard to get help. He looked to the balcony, 'seeing' Black Star's escape. When more guards entered, He pointed out the window. "It was Black Star! I saw her escape! Go after her!" Kazimir rose as more people entered the room. Seeing Abigail, Kazimir walked over to her, pulling her into a hug.

Leaning his head down, he whispered softly into her ear. "I am so sorry. If I had been here sooner, Black Star would not have been able to do this, and she most definitely would not have gotten away. I am so sorry, my dear Abigail." His red eyes burned into hers, silently asking her forgiveness.

'Fantastic work. We shall win this fight. We shall win.'

[Desperanza]

Abigail’s movements were rushed. Her head turned to the screams and sharp calls along the hall. Something had happened within the walls of the castle. She stood from the mirror, her body turned towards the door as she furrowed her brow with a frown. She gathered the skirts of her gold and ivory dress between her fingers before she darted to the door, pushing it open wide as she darted out into the hall. Maids were scurrying about with pale faces and as a maid passed her, Abigail’s hand whipped out and clamped to the woman’s arm, demanding what had happened but the maid only sent a trembling finger in the direction of the commotion. Sighing impatiently, the Princess turned from the woman and darted along the halls, stumbling upon the scene of her father and the wild mass of people that crowded around the scene, “Out of my way, get out of my way!” she demanded as she pushed past the throng of people that stared towards the bloody body of the King. Abigail’s eyes became wide and she gasped, soon after wrapped into a swift hug at Kazimir’s chest. She was stiff for a few moments, her eyes averted to the body of the King. It was hard to imagine him like this with blood oozing out onto his silks and a glassy expression. He and Alexa had been the source of light within the castle, the source of happiness. They had brought the cheer when she and the Queen had brought a dreadfully stiffened atmosphere. She may not have been close to the King but it was still a shock, he was still her father. She stared at the body before finally turning her head into Kazimir’s chest with a sigh, allowing her hands to rest against him as she leaned against him a bit and nodded vaguely to his words.

She still didn’t want to admit any level of feelings for him but she had to admit that by this point she was not outwardly fighting him as she had in the beginning. Her fingers clenched to the cloth of his clothes as she clenched herself against him for a moment, seeming to tuck herself away from the world of commotion where people murmured and pointed and word began to spread of the death of the King and yet here she stood within the arms of the killer himself and yet she didn’t know. Sighing, her head inclined slightly to glance up at him briefly, her mind working in circles at the moment as she gazed up at him thoughtfully. She had no words however. She had nothing to say about this. She simply heard the softer tone of the assassin and she listened before tucking her head against him once more. It was not often that she came to anyone for comfort and she certainly didn’t need any now. She felt a roil of anger rise within herself and her eyes narrowed before she closed them. Alexa was one step closer to taking the throne and she felt like screaming. It would surely be the day when she had to answer to her sister as Queen, as if. Her fingers clenched sharply, her nails biting into the cloth as she grit her teeth and her eyes flashed open once again. Her lavender pupils were now sharp with a glint of rage as she cast a glance towards the body before glancing to the open balcony glass doors. That witch, that stupid outlaw. She would die no doubt. She straightened suddenly, her head lifting to glance up at the assassin once again as she came to stare into the features of the man in silence for a moment before her hands finally lifted to cup his jaw between her hands. Her touch was not inviting but solid, her blood was boiling with anger but she did not touch him roughly, she simply slid her hands and lifted onto her toes to press her lips to his in a kiss that lasted a few moments before her hands lowered and she pulled back from him with a vague smile, “Thank you darling but I’ll be all right.” She muttered quietly to him with a flicker of thanks in her sharp eyes before she turned on her heel, a truly piercing look of rage facing the maids and people of the castle now that glanced at her with wary looks, “Get your asses moving! Get this cleaned up immediately any and all guests about the castle are to be cleared out! Get the poor man bound and taken below for his burial ceremony and don’t stand around like a bunch of gawking cows!” she hissed with a roll of her eyes and this time, the crowd parted to allow the Princess to pass without trouble. She stomped her way from the room with a hissing sigh of frustration as she descended the steps rather swiftly and made her way from sight within moments down the spiraling staircase.

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