17 Chapter 17 (2/2)

”Go change your clothes and be back here in ten minutes. I will entertain Prince Azeel until then.” I nod and run off, thankfully Garret doesn't follow. When I get to his room, I wash myself off, dry off, and change. Then I run back. When I stop, Azeel and Xalem seem to be enjoying each other's company. ”I am back Sir.” She nods at me. ”Go get an orange and bring her back to clean up this mess.” I nod and hurry off. When I find one, I explain the situation briefly, she grabs her cleaning supplies and follows. When we get back to Xalem, he just stares at me.

The orange quickly finishes her work and leaves. That is when Xalem speaks. ”Do you remember what I said would happen if you ran into me again?” ”Yes sir.” I answer. ”Then why did you run into me? He asked. I stumbled for an answer. I could feel tears building up behind my eyes to almost painful levels. Then I give the crappiest answer ever. ”I don't know?” He raised an eyebrow. ”You don't know?” ”No sir.” He stares at me for a moment longer.

”Well, since I have heard nothing but the best from Azeel, I will give you a pass this time. Now, you have the rest of the day to do whatever. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.” I nod and walk off with Azeel. Once we turn down the next hall, he lets his arm wrap around me, resting his cold hand on my waist. I nearly jump from shock. ”Today is going to be a long, long day.” I think.

Later that Night

I am sitting on a cot in the pinks room. All the girls have dropped there Princes off, and we were just talking. I am sitting with Lilith and Janel. ”So, are you having fun being the guide to the crown prince?” Janel asks. My tone come put bitter. ”No. The heathen is a jerk who needs to learn not every woman loves him.” Janel's eyes go wide but Lilith just stares at me for a moment. Janel is the one who speaks. ”How could you say such a horrible thing. You have just insulted the crown prince.”

I instantly realize my mistake. ”No I didn't. You asked about my guard.” Janel's eyes come back to normal size. ”No. I asked about the prince. I have never been happier for a miss communication in my life.” I can see Lilith isn't falling for it. She knows I was not talking about my guard.

I hear a commotion outside the door. Then I hear two blades colidding. I jump up and yell to all the girls. ”Everyone to the back corner of the room. Now. Hurry.” They all stare at me for a second, not moving, then the door flies open. I just barley have time to grab Lilith out of the way and push her to the far side of the room, and I take a dagger slice to the arm for it. I hiss out, but push the attacker back towards the door and position myself in between the scared, screaming girl and the four attackers who are coming in, each with two daggers in their hands.

”What are you doing here?” I ask. The tallest one smirks at me. ”Looks like we have a feisty one.” I growl and he zips forward, only not fast enough. I grab the arm going for my hair, twist it, and use my shoulder to spin him around. I throw him into a wall. He collides with it, and I hear two more falls behind me. Two guards are lying dead in the door way. One of the other guards has a dagger ready to slice my neck open, but I dodge it, and knee him in his babymaker. He cries out and tumbles backwards. The third and fourth one both rush forward and one catches my arm. I feel a dagger skim my side and immediately turn that way to fight.

This was what they were hoping for, and I feel a dagger at my neck. My back is pulled against the attackers back and feel an arm around my waist to keep me from doing a dozen counter moves I could have done. He doesn't let the dagger fall loose for even a second. ”Now, who is the most important one in here?” He asks. I laugh and say, ”You are holding her.” He looks down at me. ”Liar.” I feel a hot sting on my cheek and see the attacker I kicked standing up, his hand ready to slap me again.

Lilith steps forward and my breath catches. She is definitely try the most important one down here, and they will probaly kill her. ”Let our boss go.” I almost sigh in relife. The man holding me laughs. ”So this really is the most important one down here. Perfect. If any of you other girls follow, she does first.” They all nod and I am yanked out of the room. Down the hall, I see a brown haired man lying on the floor, about Garret's hight. My breath almost catches but I force it to stay calm.

The one that was thrown into the wall yanked the door shut, leaving one of the guys in there. Then he stares at me, ”You are going to help us escape. We are trading you for freedom.” I sigh. ”The stupid ones always say there plans out loud.” The knife at my neck falls slightly out of shock, and I grab it. Then I sink it into the belly of the one holding me. I lunge for the one I kicked before he can react and get his straight through the heart. Then I turn to the third one.

He is staring at me. ”You aaern't servant. You are a trained fighter.” He says. I smile widly. ”Try the only female assassin.” He pales and I stab him through the heart as well. It takes all my self restraint to go in after the girls and not the Garret look alike. When the door flies open, I see the one in here trying to kiss Lilith. I grab him by the hair and yank him back to where he is facing me. ”You want to kiss something? Kiss this.” Then I shove the dagger through his lips and down his throat until it pokes out the other side.

I let him drop. All the girls are staring at me, and I hear two more guard run into the room. I make myself start shaking and put a terrified look on my face before turning. ”I...I...I just ki...ki...killed four people.” I said stuttering for affect. The guard inches slowly forward, the other following close behind. ”Let me have the dagger. Okay?” I look at it and pretax to be noticing for the first time and I throw it down clumpsily. I jump back and all the girls are surrounding me, hugging me and thanking me. Lilith is the only one staring at me wierdly.

Then I hear a voice that makes my relax. It is Garret's. ”What is going on back here?” he looks around and his eye meet mne, but before he can do some ginger to blow the cover I made I say, ”See, is a heathen jerk. He can obviously see I am shaken from having to fight off four men and he still yell.” I see the slightest gint of humor in his eyes. ”I my be a heathen, but at least I don't kick people when I sleep.”

My jaw drops. He made that up and he knows it, but I guess one lie gets another. I turn my back to I'm and the girls go back to talking with me. While everything is cleaned up, I am eventually diced from the group by Lilith. She pulls me to he fr corner and says, ”The queen of He has rejoined us I see.” I freeze. ”How did you know?” she smiles. ”You were kidnapped, forced to serve Xalem, escaped and less than three days later, a new girl with the same scares and same toned down atiuide come to join us during our busiest time. Don't you think hat is a little strange.” I nod. ”Please don't rat me out. I will literally be killed.” She smiles.

”Don't worry. I understand. Your secret is safe with me. I said I wasn't going to sneak away, I never said I was staging for him. I am glad he will be dying. I stay because I owe this place, my home, not him.” I smile at her. ”I like this side of you.” She just walks off grining. I mentally check another day off the week. We all head to our own room, but as I am headed towards Garret's someone pulls me back and i'm leaning against a wall when I stop. When I see the face of the person, my face goes completely pale.