Cross Manor was a large estate. What was once a woodland sanctuary for a plethora of animals had been replaced by large contractors and government officials as a home for Lord Garmond. The estate overlooked a soft river and what was remaining of the woodlands. Covered in ivy and surrounded by prickly rose bushes, Cross Manor, in all of its drab, gray glory, was a favorite amongst the plain, simple townsfolk of Bishops. Night after night, the manor burst alive with bright flashy lights and shouts of amusement. Glamorous, rich folk in their expensive clothes hung onto the bellboys in drunken glee, hobbling like fools with their ridiculous glasses of chardonnay.

On a night like any other, a woman sat hidden in the rose bushes inside a dark car. Dressed in her best clothes, she stared emotionlessly at the party, stalking the guests with her passive gaze. Her mind took pictures of them, searching their inner database for their names, social positions, and crimes. On her lap sat a purse filled with bullets and a small handgun.

Beside her at the wheel was a man around her age, but older and taller and much more handsome than she was. His nearly white hair contrasted her dark, short locks and his skin was just as pale, looking like paper next to her brown texture. He reclined lazily on the seat, spitting pomegranate seeds into the air and catching them with his tongue. Like a cat, he observed his partner scour the area with her eyes, having said nothing for the last twenty minutes.

"The more we sit here, the later it's going to get," he said at last, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "Let's get going."

"You look like you have blood on you," the woman responded. She turned, meeting his icy stare with a cool, collected expression. Her anxiety was masked perfectly and the makeup that she wore highlighted her round features. Brown eyes studied the man before she broke into a smirk. "If you want to get out alive, you can't rush this."

"I want to get this mission over with," the man groaned. "I hate wearing suits too. Why couldn't I have worn my regular clothes?"

"The ones covered in blood? Or the ones that make you look homeless?" The girl joked. Her partner scowled and she laughed. "Oh, quit glaring at me, Sterling, and keep your business in your pants. If we play our cards right, we'll be done before midnight."

The man, Sterling, rolled his eyes. "If I kept it in my pants, we wouldn't have completed half of our jobs, would we?"

"I dunno," the girl replied, resuming gathering her information. "I haven't thought about it."

"What? Death?"

"Yes." She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. "Come on. We can go now."

"Oh, so we can only go when it's convenient for you?"

"Well, I am the boss."

"Informally." Sterling hopped out of the car and pulled up his pants. He circled around and stood in front of his friend. "Can you fix my tie? I think I made it too tight."

"Again?" She sighed. "Why can't you learn these things? These are basic life skills, Sterling."

"I doubt I'm going to need to know how to tie a tie on my own, Aria," Sterling chuckled. "Besides, you'll always be around. It's easier to let you do it."

"Lazy-ass," Aria muttered while wrapping the silk around his neck. For a moment, she was tempted to play a joke on Sterling and pretend that she was going to choke him, but that would cause further delays in their mission and she knew that Madame wouldn't be happy if they took too long. Their reputation and pay were at stake.

Once they checked themselves again and made sure that they were presentable, Aria tucked her hand into Sterling's elbow and they crossed the grass onto the concrete. The night was breezy and considerably warm, which caused a glow to fasten over the manor. Upon arriving at the front steps, Sterling lifted Aria into his arms, carrying her bridal style up the thin steps and setting her down in front of the door.

"Do you have to make such a big show?" Aria hissed as he lowered her.

Sterling stared impassively at her. "Do you want to take an eternity to climb the stairs? I don't think so. And anyway," he winked at her. "We're a married couple, aren't we? Madly in love, but the husband is hiding a secret?"

Aria's cheeks reddened. "It was Madame's idea, not mine," she grumbled. "She always gives us a couple roles."

"Because we can act them perfectly." Sterling grinned. Taking her hand before she could quip back, he led her toward the two burly guards that stood by the door.

"Name," one of them demanded.

"Lord and Lady Sundance, sir," Aria responded robotically. "Our invite." She handed the man a forged invitation that Sterling had designed earlier in the day. "Lady Garmond is expecting us."

The guard took the invite and handed it to his friend. While the other man checked its authenticity, the guard came over and waved a metal detector over both Aria and Sterling. Upon drifting behind Aria's back, the machine began to beep.

"What do you have on you?" The guard demanded. His beady eyes darted toward her purse. "What's in there?"

"Medicine," Aria responded. "I need to take certain pills every night. Your machine beeped because I have metal in my back due to previous surgery." She tilted her head and smiled sweetly. "Do you really think that I can harm anyone here?"

The guard hesitated. He looked her up and down with a frown, as though he were trying to comprehend how a short, seemingly weak woman like herself could pose any potential threats. After a moment, he backed away.

"They're clean," he told his friend. The other burly man nodded and handed Sterling the invite. He stepped aside and opened the door.

"That's it?" Aria hissed. "They just let me go like that?" She scoffed. "Security is horrible here."

"You'd think such a rich man would have better security," Sterling added, his gaze sweeping the room. "Then again, I can see at least three cops trying to hide in the crowd. I also saw some snipers above. It'll be difficult to take this place down." He pulled a lighter from his pocket, grinning. "But not impossible."

Aria pursed her lips, still holding his arm. "We have to be quick," she repeated. "I have a party to get to after this."

"Aren't we already at a party?" Sterling joked. "Where else do you have to go?"

"My cousin is turning sixteen," Aria groaned. "He wants me to be there, and I couldn't say no." She rolled her shoulders and neck. "God, this dress is so damn heavy."

"You didn't tell me you had a birthday to get to," Sterling grinned. "Had I known, I would have made more jokes. Did you get a birthday gift for him?"

"I'll tell you once this is over," Aria said. She shuffled and tightened the clutch on her bag. "Do you see the Garmonds?"

"Depends." Sterling faced the crowd while carefully weaving between groups of foolish wealthy folk. He made it to the buffet and put his back on the wall. "How many blondes do you see here?"

"Too many," Aria sighed. "The problem with these people is that they're so...ordinary. There's nothing unique about any of them."

"Lord Garmond..." Sterling spoke to himself. "Blonde, somewhat handsome but socially inept, huh? If I were a social recluse, where would I hide?"

"Pfft," Aria snorted. "That's easy. He'd hide somewhere unnoticeable. Maybe in a shady spot." She pretended to chew on an hour d'oeuvre. "Lady Garmond is the complete opposite of him, though. She's flashy, flirtatious, and blends in completely with this lot."

"The file said they were both spotless," Sterling added. "Physically, at least. On the outside, they show a happy couple - the Secretary of the Treasury and his beautiful wife. On the inside, he's an imprudent gambler who would give anything for money and she's a conceited witch. Money is the only thing that keeps them together, it seems."

Aria smirked. "So, you have been listening to me talk."

Sterling flushed. "I had nothing better to do," he weakly defended himself.

"Sure, you didn't." Aria continued to search around the room. She whisked her gaze over the flood of people and glitter until it stopped at the podium. There, in the middle of a group of adoring men, was none other than Lady Garmond. The Garmond crest was embedded on her gown in a pattern of silver and she laughed flightily at the men as they all tried to win her favor. Behind her, Lord Garmond stood quietly. The bigger, balding man was sweating bullets and constantly fingered his collar.

"Found them." She looked at Sterling. "I'll take Lord, you take Lady?"

Sterling finished his wine and carelessly put the glass on the table. "Sure," he said and wiped his mouth. "Let's go murder some traitorous idiots."

---------------------

un-edited

Chapter 1.1 of Bound by Deception is up now! What did you think of this chapter? We met Aria and Sterling, our two protagonists. What will happen between these two at the ball? 

VOTE/COMMENT/ENJOY :D