Laying awake under my covers I wait in a single warm spot I had made during the night. Finally, an echo of an ear-piercing screech erupts from the tiny vocal cords of a small black bird, a modified alarm clock without a snooze button if you will.

I rise from the heated pillow, my hand shooting up to my long messy morning hair and flipping it back. I lean on the heels of my hands behind me on the stiff bed below. I turn to the sun peeking through the tall, eccentric buildings, the orange light reflecting off the dust and bugs in the air which float peacefully. A painful memory scorches the back of my mind, reminding me of the lightning bugs where I would meet Luke during the night.

I sit up and slip out of the room where everyone remains asleep as I change into a black tank top and slip on my worn runners. I flip on a fresh army green jacket which Alaric gave to me as I strap my bow and quiver to my back before tying my dark caramel hair into a braid.

I sigh and roll my shoulders before brushing off my tights. Why do I care what I look like? It's not like I'm actually going to see Luke today, or maybe ever. Swinging open the door I walk down the path of stones wedged between the long grass which tickles my calves.

"Morning buttercup," Alaric's voice is sweet and wistful as he looks me up and down smirking, "trying to impress me are you?"

"You wish," I growl and push past him.

"Did you say your goodbyes?" Alaric tosses me a loaf of bread and apple leading us towards our horses who look more prepared for the assassination mission than I am.

"I don't have anyone to say goodbye to," I stuff the bread in my mouth and swing my leg over the horse's back.

"Your sister? Or your friends maybe?" Alaric hops on the back of his horse and walks to my side, "someone?"

"I lost that someone a while ago," I shake my head wishing Roxy was here. She would tease me about how she'd hope I'd die on my mission so she wouldn't have to see my horrid face ever again. And while doing this she'd fix my hair and make sure I've eaten breakfast.

"Me too," Alaric whispers and stares at me delicately before walking ahead of me, "try to keep up sweetheart, it will be a long and riveting ride."

I roll my eyes, "I'm sure it will be."

—

I stare at Alaric's face as he keeps walking, my eyes straining to see past his flesh and into his mind. What is it that he wants from me? Why did he choose someone like me, someone he doesn't know?

"If you stare any longer you're going to convince me that I have succeeded in getting you to fall in love with me." Alaric smiles and pivots his head to look at me, "what's on your mind buttercup?"

"Why?" I snap my head back to the trail before giving him a untrusting glare. "Why would you choose me? A girl you don't know, who you can't trust and isn't loyal to you. I'm no better then the boy you should've taken."

"You are better then him, you know you need to improve so you work hard and become better. You are stronger and faster then I give you credit for... and in all honesty you know the layout of the Bellator Clan's land. I knew it would be helpful for this mission and would speed up the mission. With you I don't have to risk a scouts life and our chance at this assassination."

I nod my head, it makes sense why he chose me, but how would he know I would be familiar with the land of the Bellator? I squint at him and quicken my walk so that I am by his side, "and how would you know I am familiar with the Bellator Clan's land?"

"You were running from the Bellator territory the night you killed my scout," Alaric stares at me, "only guilty or wanted people run."

My stomach flips and I try to hide my gulp, "What if I am simply guilty for caring about someone I shouldn't have?"

"I'd say that it's worth it," Alaric answers without hesitation. "I don't know what happened there, but I will help you if you ever need a favour from me."

I let my shoulders relax and my breath return to its calm state, "thank you."

We walk for a couple more hours in silence as our horses carry us above hills, through trees and rivers before we finally come in view a familiar green city.

"What's the plan?" I ask shifting in my saddle uncomfortably.

"Well by the looks of you we should rest." Alaric smiles before lifting his hand up stopping me form protesting, "I need it too."

Reluctantly I hop off. I don't know how he knew I needed a break, but I quietly thank him for noticing I wasn't ready to go in today.
The sun begins to set and we hide our horses behind a couple bushes as we roll out our sleeping gear.

"It's going to be a cold night," Alaric slides his bag closer to mine, "if we light a fire we'll be caught within the hour... we need to stay close, just this once."

"What if I'm uncomfortable with that?" I ask feeling multiple emotions rise from the acid of my stomach.

"I'll give you my sleeping gear to use so you can stay warm."

"What about you?" I ask scoffing.

"I'll freeze, but I'll live," Alaric shrugs his shoulders and passes me his sleeping bag. "I'll put on some extra clothing too."

I feel the pressure to be kind as he has been to me. Sighing I push his gear back towards him, "take your sleeping bag. I don't need it."

Alaric's pale icy eyes warm up as he smiles, "thank you. So, you do care?"

I shrug before slipping into my bag and shake my head, "I don't care about anyone."

"What about the time I threatened to take your sister? You cared then," Alaric protests.

"So?"

"She is someone."

Tired of arguing I roll over in my bag and tug the warm fabric up to my ears as I close my eyes.

"I'm sorry for who you lost, I would know what it's like." Alaric whispers and lays beside me at a comfortable distance.

Who did he lose? It's not like I care, but I am curious... how did he let himself be happy again?

—

The sun's light is no match for Alaric's morning smile. I squint my eyes as they rest on his chipper figure as he mixes breakfast for us to eat.

"Why are you so happy?" I growl underneath my breath.

"How could I not?" Alaric counters with his tormentingly cheery smile, "especially when I wake up next to a beautiful woman."

"God," I sit up and slap my hand to my forehead, "take me out of misery already."

"Not before you take a bite out of my gourmet meal," Alaric passes me a cup filled with a pile of a hauntingly mushy, pale beige substance.

"Appetizing," I chuckle while raising a spoon full of Alaric's masterpiece, "I think it moved."

"I think mine did too," Alaric takes a big bite out of his food and swallows. "I can feel it's heartbeat."

This time I smile and give a laugh before doing the same. "At least yours didn't try to climb out of your mouth." 

Alaric chuckles, poking at his food, "I think you should smile more often."

Taken by surprise I regurgitate some of my food, "I think you should shut up."

"It's a beautiful smile, as rare as a Corpse Flower, but as beautiful and poisonous as an Oleander."

"What are those?" I quiz munching on my pile of mush.

"Their flowers, and quite suiting for your smile," Alaric breaks eye contact and my heart jumps as a timid smile tugs at his lips.

"You must have girls fawning over you wherever you go," I comment not used to his silence.

"Not just girls," Alaric retort reverting back to his confident, sured-self, "guys seem to fancy me too."

"Fancy you?" I ask choking on my laughter, "where are we, in the 19th century?"

"I can take you wherever century you desire. I've been told I'm great with role play," Alaric smirks and I throw a shoe a him.

"No thanks, I'll pass."

"Suit yourself," Alaric shrugs and smiles, "we should get going though. We want to beat the rush."

"The rush?" I ask as I move my tired legs underneath my slouched body while throwing the cup into my backpack, "aren't we avoiding everyone?"

"We'll look less suspicious if we join the crowd instead of avoiding it. Plus, I orchonstrated this plan so we'd enter the city on a rainy day."

"How do you know it's going to rain?"

"I have my ways."

Both of us finish packing our bags and continue to walk on foot into the city in order  to draw less attention of ourselves.

Memories start to flash as the night we left this city begins to consume me.  My step falters and my heart pauses between each aching beat. The rain begins to tap on my hood and I pull it over my face, ashamed of my decisions made in this city.

"Jean?" Alaric rests his hands on my shoulder before tilting my head up, "are you okay?"

I look around to see no one is around yet, "yeah, I'm fine."

Alaric's soft gaze doesn't change and instead of distancing himself from me he links his strong arm with mine. "I'll guide you, you don't have to look up if you don't want to."

I nod my head grateful he understands without an explanation. I stare at the bright, soft grass for some time, my arm still linked with Alaric's.

"If we must," Alaric pauses which causes me to stare into his gentle eyes, "we will play as a couple. Something about intimacy repels suspicious people."

I nod and tighten my arm around Alaric's while he pulls me closer to him. Turning around a corner I begin to hear voices and I stop briefly. My mind begins to go blank and my heart grows heavier, threatening to fall out of its place.

"It's okay," Alaric manages to pull me closer, "I know it may not be much but I won't let anything happen to you. You're safe when you're with me."

I finally muster the strength to slam my fear down, and there on the floor, along with my stomach it stayed. My hand moves down Alaric's arm where his fingers meet mine. Our steps confident and the people around us didn't pay any attention as we flowed between the cloaked bodies. The rain drops fall harder, the puddles of water shooting up from the pellets of rain.

Alaric leads us under a ledge as the rain becomes bullets which slices through the air and cuts anything in its way. Once the rain has slowed down we jog over to another building where we enter and climb up two sets of stairs before standing in a hallway.

I release Alaric's arm while he slides his hood off, "we should be okay here."

"You didn't need me to get to this building at all," I squint trying to analyze this intentions.

"I didn't need your guidance into the city, I need it out. After the assassination there will be an increase in guards. You escaped the Bellator Clan before, I believe you can get out of here again."

I sigh and shake my head, "how are we going to kill this man?"

"Well," Alaric walks into a room as I follow, "you shoot from here."

We are only climbed two floors up, but its still a long shot to where he is giving his speech in front of a new development.

"What is the new development theyv'e created?" I ask moving away from the window hoping no one will see us.

"It's a training camp, for their new recruited sioldiers."

"Bad news for you?" I ask watching the confusion on his face grow.

"Yeah..." Alaric pauses, "I just don't get it, why would Luke do this after our agreement."

Luke's name pierces my heart and I swallow the ache that comes along with it, "were you two friends?"

"Something like that, we've know each other since childhood. Best friends when we were kids, enemies when we were teens, and alliances now. We agreed to become united allied clans once we both took over the throne, an alliance which would prohibit planning attacks against each other— but a couple weeks ago Luke broke our agreement, so I am not going to keep mine."

I nod my head and hold back the urge to tell him that Luke is fighting for the throne, that it can't be him doing this.

I slip my bow out from underneath my cloak, the quiver still attached to my hip. My bow sits beneath the window, but when I turn around a man with a sword stands behind the unaware Alaric, stealthily he creeps towards us, hate stirring in his eyes.

Quickly, I draw my bow out and load an arrow which is aimed at Alaric's chest, "it's over Alaric. You aren't taking advantage of me anymore, you put your trust in the wrong person. Say goodbye."

"Jean, you don't have to do this. I can help you, just clam down," Alaric holds his hands up instead of reaching for his sword. He still trusts me to do the right thing, he still has faith is a slimy girl like me.

Wrong choice.

Naturally I let my fingers slid off of the string and watch the arrow fly off the shelf towards my target.