Little Phoenix
III

My feet hit the ground and I landed on a mountain a few kilometres away from my destination, the sun setting in the distance. Blue fades into purple and purple fades into dark pink. Dark pink fades into orange and the colour of the sky reflects over the land. Stars in the sky and the moon is looking over the castle from its spot in the sky. Sphinxes fly through the air, Alis’ following. But despite all the life, it was quiet.

Peaceful, and serene.

Colourful mountains in the distance, memories plaguing minds as dreams slowly come true. The lake is filled with magic, just like everything else in Vita. Magic is in everything, even if it’s in some sort of inconspicuous way. It’s in the air, the ground, the water sources, the people...everything.

Maewyn growled at the sight of the Sphinxes flying in the sky. I pet Maewyn before jumping in the air once again. I flapped my wings immediately, forcing myself further into the air before diving downwards. I outstretched my wings when I’m a few feet from the ground, forcing myself to come to a stop.

My feet lightly hit the ground as I landed in front of the assassin praetorium. Caedes Praetorium. I entered the assassination organisation building that I belonged to, and almost immediately, I heard the receptionist lady—Demeter—announce, “Libitina, your target information is on your desk and your employer is in your office!” I replied, “Thank yeh, Demeter!”

Demeter didn’t reply as I strode through the halls, making my way to my office. Reaching my office door, I grab my door handle and twist it open. I pushed my office door open to reveal a man with gold coloured hair and sharply pointed ears sitting in one of my seats. I entered my office and closed the door behind me.

I walked over to my desk, sitting down in my seat. Maewyn hopped off my shoulder, jumping into her bed and curling up into a ball. I assumed, “Royce Collens?” seeing a black briefcase on the ground next to his feet. He nodded in confirmation, “Pleasure to meet you, Libitina,” his golden eyes staring at me.

I noticed the gold tint to his skin instead of the black one I have. So he must be a Prosopoeia. He’s a long way from Deus, just to get an assassin. I picked up the manila folder left on my desk and opened it, reading its contents. I asked, “Why do yeh want this man dead?” as I continued to read. Royce replied, “I replace that that’s hardly any of your business.”

I look up from the folder, my cognac eyes staring right into his golden ones. I told him, “Find a different assassin then. My policy is right on the website used to hire me. Yeh don’t tell me why yeh want someone killed, I don’t kill them. Simple.” Royce tsked before looking out my window, “His business is more successful than mine and my family will disown me if I’m not at the top.” That seems like a stupid reason.

I nodded in acknowledgement, but that also means I’ll have to kill him. That’s Boss’s policy. If you’re hired by someone who gives you a stupid reason for hiring them, you kill them instead of your target. I asked, “And did yeh get a permit for hiring an assassin?” Royce dug his hand into his jacket before pulling a piece of paper out and handing it to me.

I read the paper quickly, identifying it to be an assassin permit. I handed the permit back to him and asked, “Do yeh happen to know what species he belongs to?” Royce answered, “He’s a human or a Veneficis.” I’ll have to ask Demeter for that information later if it’s not in his file. I nodded and told him, “Now the payment.”

Royce nodded and leaned forward, grabbing the briefcase. He lifted it up and set it on my desk, asking, “Is that all?” I replied, “Almost.” I opened the briefcase and asked, “How many are in a single stack?” Royce defended, “It’s all there.” I looked at Royce, my cognac eyes glaring into Royce’s golden ones.

I shrugged as I coyly replied, “Maybe. But why would yeh be gettin’ defensive if it was?” Royce doesn’t say anything and I don’t give him the chance either. I added, “I just want all my money. And it’s procedure, y’know?” Royce scoffed and rolled his eyes, not going to say anything in response.

I began counting the money, counting each and every one. Each and every stack varied between centums, libellam dedissets, trigintas, vigintis, and quinquagintas. But in the end, the total amount of money there was 25 libellam dedisset. I closed the briefcase and locked it. I looked at Royce and gave him a fake smile.

I told him, “That’ll be all. Pleasure doin’ business with yeh,” holding my hand out for a handshake. Royce scoffed once again before he stood up. He took my hand and we firmly shook hands before I went to pull my hand away from his.

Royce pulled me forward, his lips inches from my ear. I heard Maewyn growl and hiss at Royce. With my right hand, I shook it, signalling to her not to do anything. Royce whispered in my ear, “Get the job done or else I’ll hire another assassin to kill you.” Royce leaned back as I pulled my hand out of his.

I smirked devilishly, “Yeh make the assumption that they could kill me, Royce. And that’s your first mistake.” Royce rolled his eyes before exiting my office, closing my office door behind him. I sighed, “Asshat,” sitting back down in my seat. I opened my computer and began even more research on my target, Vesper Wyndelle.

I was in my backyard, training as Maewyn flew around the yard. My body was burning with pain and small wheezes leave my parted lips as I try to regulate my erratic breathing. Sweat was sliding down the side of my head, my nose, the back of my neck, and behind my ears—pissing me off—but I didn’t even attempt to wipe the sweat away.

I whisper to myself, “One more…” forcing my arms to push me up. My arms shook as I did so, locking my elbows before I lowered myself again, my nose barely touching the ground. I force my arms to push me back up, my arms shaking.

My elbows lock as I gasp in relief before I let myself drop to the ground—tired from the training I had been putting myself through since early this morning. I force myself to get off the ground and I sit on my flattened heels. I wiped away the sweat that had been gathering on my head. I shift around, getting off my heels before I force myself to stand up.

My arms were shaking from the intense training I had put them through. I stretch my arms before moving onto legs. I picked up one of the dummy’s and set it in the middle of the backyard. I get set before beginning my punches and kicks. Right leg, left leg, roundhouse kick, kick to the gut, right uppercut, left uppercut, right throat jab, right tornado kick, and left tornado kick.

My left foot came in contact with the dummy’s side and the dummy was sent flying off to the side. I gasp for breath, small wheezes leave my parted lips as I try to regulate my erratic breathing again. Sweat was sliding down the side of my head again and I forced myself to wipe the sweat away. and forth.

I’m hunched over with my hands pressed against my thighs, trying to stay standing with my trembling legs. I’m unable to regulate my breathing as pain shoots through my ribs. Now, a mile sprint to finish this final set. I force myself to stand up straight and walk outside my fence, Maewyn following me—walking by my feet.

I smiled at Maewyn, nodding to her. She trilled in response and the two of us took off. I forced myself to sprint as fast as I could with my extreme exhaustion as Maewyn flew after me, easily keeping up with me for once.

I can’t let myself bury another loved one ever again.

I set my clean clothes on my bathroom counter, making sure to keep them folded. I glanced at myself in the mirror and stopped to look at myself. My face shines with sweat and my hair is in a messy bun, shining with grease as some strands stick to my head. I sighed and removed my hair from its messy bun. My butt-length hair falls down, covering my back.

I looked away from the mirror, forcing myself to walk over to my bathtub and turn on the water. I took a step away from the bathtub before lifting my arms up to take off my shirt. I took off my shirt and dropped it onto the floor. I take off my jeans, as well as my socks. I took off my undergarments and I set my dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper.

I made sure my towel was on my towel hanger before I got in my bathtub. I sat in the warm water for a few seconds, not doing anything. I close my eyes tightly and dunk my head under the water, getting my hair soaping wet. I lift my head out of the water and flick the water off my fingers. I wipe the water off my eyelids and grab my bottle of shampoo.

I open the bottle of shampoo and get some shampoo in my hand. I rub my hands together to get the shampoo on both of my hands before I lather it into my hair. I washed the shampoo off my hands and began quietly singing my lullaby—Good God—the one that my mom would always sing to me whenever I couldn’t sleep or whenever I was crying.

“Ai will fovem illi insomnia ves haev,

putantes ves are ruennin’ fer illi fontes of insomnia.

Ves revelare illi insomnia ves haev,

sharin’ them per illi vita.

Boneem deus, cara bina.

Little una, illi stellae are on incaendo and illi desiderium praeuro en vester lumen.

Illi desiderium tu cursus through palu of lutum,

illi desiderium tu spira down clivos of soft terra,

and saltari around en illi pourin’ pluvia.

Ves custodia fulmen per lumen ful of amor,

instead of metus.

Boneem deus, cara bina…

illi umbra es tenabrus and illi vita es saevis.

Ai would emori fer ves,

So that novellis risus of vester stays on vester vultis.

Mi cuore pumps cruer through mi venai, like it does vester,

fer mi tu serva ves laetis.

Ai haev nullus other persona.

Boneem deus, cara bina,

vester fortuna es up tu ves.

Haev illi Daiemonium entered vester animanuum?

Haev they vastus vester decaria?

Cara bina, ves were like an agnae en illi arvem…

Boneem deus, auxi mi cara bina,

fer juvenca es modo una of illi legiones

ves sent fer illi Daiemonium.

Boneem deus, cara bina…

Ai doleo.”

I finished singing before closing my eyes. I dunk my head under the water again, running my hands through my hair and getting the shampoo out of my hair. I lift my head out of the water, all the shampoo out of my hair. I flick the water off my fingers. I wipe the water off my eyelids and grab my bottle of conditioner.

I open the bottle of conditioner and get some shampoo in my hand. I rub my hands together to get the conditioner on both of my hands before I lather it into my hair. I wash the conditioner off my hands before dunking my head under the water. I run my hands through my hair, washing the conditioner out of my hair.

I lift my head out of the water, all the conditioner out of my hair. I flick the water off my fingers and wipe the water off my eyelids. I lay my head on the back of my bathtub, closing my eyes and letting myself relax. Zephyrine came into my mind and I opened my eyes. I whisper-sing, “And now yeh’re gone.”

I sat up and lifted myself up, standing up. I get out of my bathtub, grabbing my towel. I wrap my towel around me and dry off my body. I grabbed my clothes off the counter and began getting dressed. I put on my athletic fit, navy blue, sleeveless turtleneck, carefully weaving my wings through the tight shirt, and a pair of black, tight, skinny jeans.

I neatly tucked my turtleneck into my jeans and I put my hair in my towel, leaving it there as I continued to get ready. I quickly did my makeup before I grabbed my pair of socks and quickly put them on. I grabbed my black, wrist length, leather fingerless gloves and put them on. I began braiding my hair, beginning to work on my badass Viking braids I always style my hair with.

After about 30 minutes, I finished braiding my hair and tied it up. I unlocked the bathroom door and opened it, exiting my bathroom. I walked over to my nightstand and finished getting ready for the day. I picked up my dagger holster and put it on my left thigh. I grabbed my gold dagger sheath with my dagger in it and put it in my holster.

I stand up and grab my katana holster from off the floor. I put the holster around my waist and put my sheathed katana in it. I grabbed my pair of black combat boots and put them on, quickly lacing up the laces and buckling the buckles. I grabbed my leather jacket and put it on, carefully weaving my wings through the holes cut into it.

I exit my room through my balcony. I outstretched my wings to make sure I had enough room before bringing my wings back to my sides like I would if I was diving. I took a few steps back before running forward and front-flipping off the balcony. I outstretched my wings and the wind caught me, allowing me to glide for a few feet.

I flapped my wings a few times, bringing me higher in the air before I just glided through the nearly empty air, making my way towards the city of Aurum—the prominent golden city of the unholy Carkish.