Fairy Tale Assassin — Chapter 11

Going Through Hell

The atmosphere in the assassin’s guild reminded me a bit of a fraternity as I watched the few people in the main hall and their interactions. Well, a fraternity that harbored a sinister ‘you’ll die, and no one will even know where the body went’ problem. I guess secrecy is one thing they won’t let up on within this guild. The thought didn’t quell my fears.

During our brief journey to this place, my mind kept wondering if we had made the right decision. Killing people for money went against many of my beliefs. Yes, I killed Gilbert, who deserved even worse than death. Still, I considered myself a decent person. Aside from any belief in karma or a spiritual afterlife, I never thought of myself as a psychopath. After all, I care about people. I don’t want to see innocent people harmed.

But I also noticed my hypocrisy. I just proved I had no problems with removing a life who I felt deserved such punishment. Plus, I felt bad since I gave Ruby no opportunity to remove herself from this decision to a batch of assassins.

We waited to meet with the guild master, who would put us through our paces, from what Gretel told us. As I quietly spoke with Ruby, we came to the same conclusion. We needed strength and protection while getting stronger. She made it clear others would no longer use her. Gretel listened in on the conversation and promised to teach Ruby how to become a fierce assassin who could put the fear in nobles. I suspected a backstory fueled Gretel’s conviction, but I ignored it. There were enough things on my plate.

“If these are our new recruits, I’m not impressed,” a female voice coldly stated behind us.

We turned to see a tall, lean woman stepping close with Hansel in tow. At first glance, I thought she was a banshee with her ghostly white skin, tight black dress, black hair, black lips, and almost raven black eyes. When I got a better view, I decided she looked like Morticia Addams from the 60s television show. What a perfect guild master to a bunch of assassins, I thought as I joined Ruby after we got to our feet.

“Eva Sauvet is the name!” She said while resting her fists on her hips.

“Your face is a mess. I hear you know something about poison, and you’ve killed before,” the woman directed her attention to me. “A misplaced noble won’t last long here if you can’t take orders. Let’s see if you have the strength to learn.”

“You’ve escaped a debt contract, Blanchette,” she turned her notice to Ruby, who gasped aloud.

How the hell did she know about that?

As if answering my thought, Eva continued.

“Yes, we keep up on events with other guilds. However, keep in mind, we’ll never interfere with a guild should they discover you and take you back to your whore life. I think you’re too soft to be here, so prove me wrong.”

While I contemplated the full extent of Eva’s knowledge concerning Ruby’s past, I noticed a grin come to the guild master’s black-covered lips.

“Now, only a few can pass my test. If you had reservations, it’s already too late. You’ve given your soul to me by coming to my place. Should you survive, we have ways of keeping identities secret along with giving you a new background. And as a guild member, you’ll always have our protection. Let’s go!”

Ruby and I followed her. Hansel and Gretel stayed behind while two people dressed in all black followed us. One definitely had a female form since her breasts caught my attention. The other person was taller, but thin. They wore short black robes, tied off at the waist with a black belt, which held up their black leather long pants. Each had a bandoleer over their shoulder and running down their chest to the belt around their waist. Black masks covered their hair and face except for the eyes. My first instinct was to believe they were strange cousins to ninjas by their looks. They looked unarmed, but I wasn’t betting my life on it.

I sighed, realizing there was no way out of this one. We needed to make it through whatever the hell was waiting for us. I whispered to Ruby to remain strong and never hesitate to fight. The determined look on her face came with a nod, made me feel slightly better.

At the end of a hallway, we turned into an area I thought might be a dungeon. With straw covering the ground and embedded chains hooked to manacles embedded into the wall, the place looked creepy enough. Along the other wall were a series of targets, including standing dummies. A curtain covered the wall at the end of the room. Eva led us a few feet from the curtain, then nodded to one of the black-covered assistants. The assistant came before us and brought out two daggers with their long, narrow blades covered by a leather sheath.

“Take them,” the guild master ordered.

After we got our weapons, Eva pulled back the curtain. I gasped at what we saw. Immediately, I looked over at the assassin leader, who had a bemused grin on her face.

“That’s right,” she said, seeing my expression. “You will kill two of them. Take your pick.”