꧁༒☬ENORI☬༒꧂

A loud, genuine laugh echoed through the small room. Enori would've wiped the tears from her eyes if the chains weren't holding her back. "I'm sorry," The fae said breathlessly, taking in large gulps of air in between chuckles, "You want me to what?"

Neither of her captors seemed amused.  Katrina stood tall as she spoke, looking nothing like the frail, disheveled image of her that Enori had been given when first briefed. “You heard me clearly.” The woman spoke, voice sharp. “You will take me and my companion to your fortress, and allow us to speak with your commander, Hunter Ozari.”

Enori was still baffled at how Katrina knew the name of her commander. Yes, the commander names were no secret—the names were meant to be associated with fear and death—however, outside of the appointed fortresses and the king himself, no one knew which assassins worked under which commanders. There was nothing on Enori’s uniform that could have possibly given away who she worked for or was affiliated with.

Enori’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. “You have me mistaken for another assassin. I have no affiliation with Commander Ozari.” 

Katrina looked to her dark haired companion, who Enori had eventually leared was Alaire. Enori had deemed Alaire to be a Spirit, it being the only explanation for why the warrior had bled silver instead of red, and why Enori had seen no wound on the woman’s shoulder, despite her throwing a blade in it mere hours ago. 

She had never seen a Spirit in person, though she had always wanted to. And although Alaire certainly looked regal and angelic with her blemishless brown skin, vibrant amber eyes, and flowy coils, Enori was deterred by her lethal attitude.

Enori admired the Spirit’s strength, of course, but there was something dark and secretive about her. “For such a skilled assassin, you make a horrible liar.” The Spirit replied.

“We know who you work for, we know who you are.” Katrina spoke, “How many other fortresses have Fae?"

Enori let out a small scoff as she reached up, ignoring the burn of iron against skin, and picked at a tear in her uniform sleeve. “That’s a prejudiced generalization, don’t you think? Sinistria is filled with Fae, I could be from anywhere.”

Alaire looked like she was ready to beat the truth out of the Dark Fae,  but Enori knew she was obviously of some value. She’d continue to push the boundaries as much as she could until she was able to free herself and spray both of her captors’ blood all over the redwood floors. 

“You will either take us there willingly, or we will turn you into the Mezdian soldiers, where you will either be hanged for the use of magic or sold off in the black market.” A devious glint shown in the Spirit’s bright eyes. “I’m sure you can figure out which is the worse fate.”

Enori tried not to think about a scenario in which she was sold off, used, abused, and then killed before her wings and horns would be auctioned off to some rich diplomat who would hang them on his wall and boast about how he encountered a dangerous Dark Fae. Her throat went dry as she looked back up. “I’ve already told you, I have no affiliation with Commander Ozari, and, even if I did, why in the hell would I ever bring two targets to my own fortress?” 

Enori watched as a dark haze clouded Katrina’s eyes, the woman taking in a breath. “Because your commander and I want the same things: revenge and revival. I need his skill, power, and assassins, and he’ll need my knowledge if he ever wants to get justice for his family.”

Enori tensed, now wishing she had a blade in her hand to throw. It was not well known that Hunter Ozari once had a family. A wife. A daughter. Even fewer knew about their horrid fate, and the commander’s spiral into darkness to find a way to bring them back. The Dark FAe kept her face blank, however, leaning back against the bed.

Katrina shrugged. “Do you truly think that your commander would be pleased to know that you gave up what could very well be his only opportunity for happiness? All I am asking is for you to take us to him. If he chooses to kill us, then that will be our fate.”

Enori suddenly got a wonderful image of the two captors being skinned alive, their guts torn open and spilling onto the ground; them drowning in their own pool of crimson red. Oh, how she’d love to watch Hunter tear them apart. “Perhaps my answer would be inclined to change if I didn’t feel like my wrists were about to burn off.” Enori scowled as she lifted a chained hand, the skin around her wrist now bruised and reddened.

Alaire scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “As if we’re dumb enough to unchain a trained killer. Are you accepting our offer or not?”

The Dark Fae paused, a part of her surprised and disgusted that she was even contemplating the matter. But…she knew very little about her captors, meaning they could very well be telling the truth. After all, Hunter wouldn’t disclose why exactly the king wanted Katrina dead. Perhaps it was because she held power and knowledge that Hunter could use. 

If they had wanted her dead, they would have killed her already, and if they wanted information they would have attempted to torture it out of her. Why would they risk being slaughtered by a hoard of trained killers, even if their plan was to ambush the near impenetrable fortress?

Then again, it was more likely that the two women were complete liars. Spies for another kingdom, probably. It would explain how they knew about Hunter, and how they knew who she was.

Enori eyes the two women carefully, glazing back at the door. All she needed was one unchained wrist, and they’d both be dead. But the only way she was going to get free is if she played their game, earned their trust. Perhaps she’d even wait long enough for Hunter to kill them himself. Or, she could lead them to Shadowcrest, one of the other five fortresses. She was sure the commander there would deal with them all the same.

“Fine.” She muttered. “I’ll take you to him, but I suggest that you both visit the nearest parish and pray to your gods, because if I don’t kill you, Commander Ozari will, and he won’t be nearly as merciful as I.” 

Alaire gave a wicked smile as she crossed her arms. “I believe we’ll take our chances. Anything else?” 

Enori gave a nasty smile to match the Spirit’s as she spoke, “I could really use a goddamn whiskey.” 

⧪⤝⬧⌥⬧⤞⧪

Silence echoed through the fortress corridors, the atmosphere so calm, one would never expect for the building to be inhabited by death and secrecy. Night had crept in, and, other than the occasional servant headed to bed, or a dedicated assassin heading for the training bay, the halls were empty.

But the residents there knew. The walls were drenched with phantom blood, the air reeking with death that only those who lived there could smell. 

One assassin walked briskly down the quiet corridor, wings colored with soft hues of gold, brown and black. The candles on the walls casted dark shadows across his burnt umber skin, hair in dark coils. On his waist rested a belt with rows of knives in their respective sheaths, some hidden in his clothes and boots. 

The Forest Fae didn’t stop walking till he met a set of golden double doors at the end of the hall, knocking twice. A young servant appeared, her dark beady eyes shaded with surprise. “Lieutenant, what’s your business at this hour?”

“I need to speak with-” Before he could finish his sentence, the door opened further and the servant woman moved aside, being replaced by the tall daunting figure. The Lieutenant swallowed, silent until he realized that his superior wasn’t going to let him in. “Has she returned?”

He didn’t have to wait for the Commander to shake his head to know the answer. The fortress would have been notified of her return. 

“Should we send a search party?” The Lieutenant asked quietly.

The Commander shook his head, voice calm and cool. “No. No need in wasting resources. She’s plenty capable of coming back in one piece.”

The Lieutenant dared to break the silence that followed. “And if she doesn’t?” He watched as the Commander’s eyes darkened before moving to shut the door.

“Goodnight, Lieutenant Eagan.”

With that, the assassin was once again left in the eerie darkness of the corridors.