REVIVAL by Nick Venom (great book club books .TXT) 📕

shook her head. “They’re not.” She grabbed Zaken by his collar, raising him to his feet. “They’re very much alive.” She released him. “Your parents would be ashamed of your current state. You were filled with energy when you first entered the Order, but look at you now. You’re a shadow of your old self.”

Zaken shook his head, looking away from her. “I’m not my old self because I’ve changed. What’s the point of living anymore?” He calmly asked.

Liz shook her head again, turning towards the iron door. She approached it, peeking through the small open window in it. “The point of living is for happiness.”

“Where’s my happiness then?” Zaken interrupted her.

Liz ignored him. “You ask about happiness, but taking any hits concerning corrupted officials or evil-doers is something you’re known for. Some people even began calling you the ‘Assassin of Heaven’. I know you were happy when you learned that the corrupted city lord you killed had freed hundreds of enslaved people. The people that you saved, the children that live better lives, the couples who live their future together - I know you were happy for them all. That’s where your happiness is. Not in death.” Liz remarked, turning around. Zaken bit his lip, facing her.

“Then what? No matter what you tell me, I’m a prisoner. An assassin without an organization.”

“So?” She asked. “There is plenty of assassins that move according to their terms. They live successful lives. They do whatever they want and chase their happiness. Why can’t you?”

Zaken let out a small chuckle. “You’re right, I can chase my happiness, but not in a cell.”

Liz took out a dagger from within her cloak, chucking it at Zaken. It landed at his foot. “If you want to be happy, then I’ll help you out. However, you need to beat me first.”

“Beat you?” Zaken asked. “You’re a rank 1, I’m a rank 3 assassin. The strength gap is as clear as day and night.”

Liz shook her head, brandishing a dagger. “In a small room, close combat is important. You’re better than me in close combat.” 

Zaken smiled, picking the weapon up. “Then I guess we’ll figure out the victor.”

Liz nodded her head. You idiot, I don’t care about who wins. I just want to see the fire under you again. I want to be the match that lights it. I don’t care if I lose or not as long as you resemble the person I used to know. The person with aspirations. The person with goals. The person who loved me. Not as my code name of Star, but as my real name - Elizabeth.

***

“What do you mean you receive a tip about the Order?” Blint asked. “It could be a trap.”

Iron shook his head. “Apparently, the Order is shifting their assassins around. We’ll be able to get the majority at first light. I already informed the king and he has permitted this adventure.”

Blint nodded. “Are your men ready?”

Iron nodded. “The First Infantry Squad is prepared and well-equipped. They’ll move as soon as I give the order.”

Blint nodded. “This tip better not be a trap. We need to eliminate as many of the Order’s assassins as we can before we commit to an all-out war against them.”

“Don’t worry, the tip is reliable, I’m sure of it. I’ll get my men, you get the other assassins.” Iron told him, one of his hands resting on the sheathe holding his sword.

Blint nodded. “Mind is on a mission, but I’ll get Iz. We’ll be ready to move in ten minutes, so have your men double-time it to the location. Let’s set an ambush.”

Iron glanced to his side through the iron fence that distanced the Castle from the rest of the capital. He nodded his head, half-paying attention to Blint’s words. “We’ll do that, strike them before they could attack.”

“Good, I’ll get Iz and meet you at the location. I pray everything turns out right.”

Iron turned his head to look at Blint. “It will.”

 

TBC…

Chapter Thirty Two "The Assassin & Royal S1 E8 - Ghosts & Future"

Iron led the First Infantry Squad to the location the tip informed him of. The tip became reliable as there was a large clump of Order Assassins convening through alleyways of abandoned neighborhoods. They spread themselves thin, but a large clump remained in the middle, mostly being the leaders of the assassins. 

“The Heads have directed several squads of us here. Why?” An assassin dressed in a black cloak wearing a tiger mask asked.

“Don’t be surprised, you do realize that the Crown has their sights on us ever since that stupid assassin got captured. What a wreck!” An assassin wearing a brown bear mask exclaimed. “I wouldn’t count it out that we’ve been set up by the Heads.”

Tiger Mask grabbed Bear Mask’s collar, pushing him against a wall of a garage. “Don’t you dare jinx us!”

Bear Mask raised his hands in a surrendering pose. “I don't intend on jinxing us. I’m simply telling the truth. As rank 5’s, 4’s, and 3’s, we’re nothing but disposable tools. Don’t like it? Well, I could care less.”

Tiger Mask was seething with anger but had enough inside him to release Bear Mask and take a few steps back. “The organization would never betray us. We’re its assassins after all.”

Bear Mask let out a laugh that took nearby assassins by surprise. “Hits never take an army to complete. If anything, a hit on an official would take only the both of us to do. So why did they call for this many people at once if it wasn’t a trap? A sacrifice to appease the Crown?”

Tiger Mask shook his head, turning away from him. He directed his attention to an assassin behind him. “Spread everybody thinner. Hide in boxes or trash cans for all I care - as long as they’re out of sight. If this is… If we’ve been lured to a trap, I want to know about it.”

“Ha! A rank 2 wants to know when he’s been bamboozled. What a joke!” Bear Mask turned away from Tiger Mask, still laughing. “Since you want to know when the trap has been sprung, then it is now.” Bear Mask took off running, leaving Tiger Mask and the other assassins in shock.

“The trap’s been sprung?” Tiger Mask repeated, tilting his head. “What does-” He heard the sweet sound of combat enter his ears. Screams and cries followed suit like a nasty parasite. 

An assassin appeared at his side. “The Crown’s First Infantry Squad has appeared. They came here deliberately. It wasn’t a coincidence that they appeared around the same time as us. The Heads have betrayed us.”

Tiger Mask bit his lip, but his action wasn’t shown through the mask. “Fine… order everybody to fight. If we run, the FIS will chase us. If we outrun them, the Heads will get ranks 1 and ranks 2 to kill us, so we’re dead no matter what.” He smiled, but his smile didn’t escape the mask. “Let’s take as many as we can. We fight for our future, make sure they know that.”

“Yes sir.” The assassin said, sprinting off to inform the other assassins, leaving Tiger Mask behind. 

We’re doing this to feed our families… Why did they betray us while knowing this? I guess it doesn’t matter anymore, we’re the same as that dumb assassin. We’re now ghosts, people without identity or purpose. I actually like that name.

***

“Him as your personal assassin?” King Jorge questioned. “I’ve been lenient on him, but I cannot allow it!” He exclaimed, rising from his throne. 

Mike Mansion, the police chief of Veruce, kneeled in front of the king. “Your majesty, if I can speak.”

King Jorge glared at Mike but pulled his expression back inside him. “Fine, what do you have to say?”

Mike Mansion had his head lowered, staring at the ground. “I don’t completely understand her proposition, but it makes the most sense.”

“Why?” He questioned.

“Zaken is an assassin and his profession isn’t the cleanest one, that’s something we can’t argue against, but he has done good deeds.”

“A few good deeds don’t revert a rotten fruit to its ripe state.” 

Mike nodded. “Yes, your majesty, it doesn’t. However, Zaken has only done good. All of his targets had been corrupted officials my men had their sights on. His most recent case was Newton’s corrupted mayor Richard Earl. My men were about to attack when Zaken solved the entire problem. His actions were crude and disgraceful, but he saved many of my men who would’ve died against the gang members Earl was communicating with. Thanks to Zaken, we figured out some information about the Black Wraith, the largest gang in the Newtons. We’re already nipping at their heels, so I expect their fall to be soon.”

Mike raised his head. “Even so, I understand that he’s an assassin who should pay for taking lives, but he’s… not all bad. An honorable assassin of sorts.

King Jorge nodded, sitting down. “I see… an honorable assassin was it?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

King Jorge broke a smile before he rubbed his forehead. He turned his attention to Mary Jane, who had been waiting patiently at Mike’s side. “Fine, we’ll have him as our new Royal Assassin and your personal attendant. However,” His voice became serious, almost having a deadly aura to it. “He must be enslaved with the Slave Collar. He’s still an assassin after all.”

Mary Jane hesitated for a few moments before nodding her head. “That’s okay.”

“Good, you may go and inform Zaken.” He said, watching as his daughter thanked him before heading to the cell block. Once she was out of earshot, he turned to Mike. “Thank you for your work, Mike.”

“It is an honor to be of use to you, your majesty,” Mike said.

“I see.” He stood up from his throne. “You are free to leave, but not without a reward. You’ve done a great service for me, so you will be rewarded handsomely.”

“I don’t deserve such kind words, your majesty. It was under my district that the second princess fell out of a building.” Mike said.

“Hmm,” King Jorge stroked his chin. “That is true. Can I ask why she fell?”

“We have the servant who was with her, but we’re not sure if she pushed the second princess or if she fell on her own.”

“Strange… You can leave Mike, your reward will be waiting for you.”

“Thank you, your majesty,” Mike said before standing up and leaving the throne room. King Jorge stayed behind, absorbed in his thoughts. 

How strange that she fell out of the window so close to an important meeting. It appears I have to investigate that affair deeper… and that assassin. He saved her, but why? He didn’t hold her hostage or try to ransom money out, so why? Why are these questions belittling me?. He stared through an open window at the full moon angled at him. A night of decisions and choices that will change the future of the kingdom. And I’m the one making them.

***

“Sir, the Order Assassins have begun fighting us!” James reported, standing by Iron’s side as they watched the fighting between the FIS and the Order Assassins.

“I’m surprised that they didn’t try to escape. They’re almost working together as a team.” Iron remarked. He watched as the FIS worked alongside the Royal Assassins against the Order Assassins.

“It