Umbra Pradicatio - 2

What I hate most about Marleybone, is that despite its elegant and sophisticated appearance, mount parking is shit. I’d have taken the World Gate, however the Church doesn’t take very kindly to Necromancers – let alone assassins. I wandered the streets for roughly fifteen minutes before I found an alley to hide Shovel in. He didn’t have a problem with it; plenty of rats to eat. Once that situation was resolved, I was free to begin my search for Variska. I managed to find my way back to Regents Square, where I halted my mission momentarily. I gazed skyward, and admired the beauty of it all. Marleybone truly was one of my favorite worlds. Its eternal night sky, blanketing the landmass in a sea of seductive darkness was certainly the thing I loved most. Plus, if you add in the extravagant and cultured nature of the world, it’s hard not to love it. I redirected my attention to that which was in front of me, which happened to be the Regent Square fountain. Lovely piece of architecture.

Back to the mission. I honestly had no clue where to start looking. How do you find a single person in a whole world, regardless of their diverse appearance? I spotted a pub across the Square, and from where I stood, I could hear the intoxicated hoots and hollers of the men inside. Good a place as any to start. I crossed the Square, and approached the structure. Before I reached for the door, I heard several glasses break, followed by an abrupt “Go fuck yourself!” Drunken bastards.

I grabbed the knob on the door and twisted it until it clicked open. I then pushed the door inward and entered the pub. I ignored the brawl taking place towards the emergency exit in the back of the building, and headed straight for the bar. I took the empty barstool situated directly in front of the bartender, who seemed to not even acknowledge my presence. He was a chubby and stout pug with a white button-up shirt, and an apron hiding his trousers. He placed his palm on the bar near me, and used it to support himself as he leaned against it to watch the fight more comfortably. I didn’t feel like waiting. I cleared my throat, and then began my mission.

“Excuse me, but have you seen a female panther come through here? Goes by the name of Variska?” I inquired. At first I thought he didn’t hear me, but then he let out an annoyed sigh.

“Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t.” I rolled my eyes, and pulled out six silver coins. This seemed to perk his interest, but not enough to act upon, evidently. I took out six more. I had his full attention.

“I saw a cute little panther girl wander in here not ten minutes ago. Ordered a martini, and then went out the back door once she got it.” That was all I needed to hear. I handed him the coins, and proceeded to the back exit. I was nearly there, when a man tapped my shoulder. I turned to see it was a golden retriever dressed in attire one would expect from a nobleman.

“Got somewhere to be?” he asked. He had a glass of beer in his hand, but didn’t appear intoxicated.

“Yes actually. Now if you’ll excuse me-”

“It was rhetorical. Sit down and get a drink,” he ordered. I was losing my patience.

“I don’t think you heard me. I said I’m busy.” He balled his hands into fists and was in the process of raising them, but I clutched his shirt collar in my hand and pulled him to my eye level.

“I’m. Busy,” I whispered coldly. Other bar patrons had turned to face us. I released my grip, and forcefully shoved him away. He didn’t get the hint. And he was clearly irked with my wrinkling his shirt, for as soon as he fixed it, he roared and lunged at me. I sidestepped the attack, and retaliated by wrestling him to the ground and unsheathing my knife from my boot. I held it to his neck. He snarled.

“Let me make this perfectly clear. I am busy. Therefore, I do not want a drink. Got it?” I spat. He grunted in frustration, and relaxed. I returned the knife to its home in my boot, stood up, and exited the building.

I appeared in an alleyway not unlike the one where Shovel is hidden. Then again, alleyways in Marleybone can only be so different. I scanned the dimly lit corridor. The only things I found were trashcans, and a large dumpster. So much for my brilliant idea. I nearly gave up and was turning to walk back inside, until something heavy and forceful landed on me from above, bringing me to the ground. I went down backwards, so my back had nailed the pavement hard when I went down. The thing on top of me was hard to see, due to the fact that no illumination existed in the alley. I tried lifting my arms to resist the attacker, but they pinned them to the pavement with gloved hands. From what I could make out, the person was sitting on my chest, with their legs on either side of my torso.

“Release me!” I cried; sadly (yet somewhat expectedly) to no avail. Whoever was on top of me chuckled.

“Aww, but I went to all that trouble to catch you! Why would I let you go?” the attacker (who is a female, based on her voice) giggled. For such a seemingly dainty creature, she was strong as hell. I twisted around a bit more, trying to loosen her grip, but she ensured I stayed put.

“On orders from the King himself, I command you t-” I started, but was cut off by the girl covering my mouth with her hand, releasing my right hand in the process.

“Shhhhh. You don’t wanna ruin our first date, do you?” she asked innocently.

“Mmmrphh!” I mumbled, barely emitting sound through the cracks between her fingers.

“You’re cute when you struggle.” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t be that way. I thought we were having fun.” She leaned in close to me. I could feel her warm breathing on my face, and could make out the shape of two golden eyes. Too close. I flicked my right hand, and the sword shot out my sleeve, and my hand ran the length of the blade until it reached the hilt. I gripped it tightly, and held my breath; praying that she didn’t hear the sound. She didn’t appear to, as she was still staring at my face. In one swift motion, I swung the sword over and slid it under her neck. She gasped, and took her hand off my mouth.

“Didn’t your mother every teach you not to piss off an assassin?” I bit my tongue the second I revealed my occupation.

“An assassin? Ooh, catch of the day!” she squealed ecstatically. Psychopath.

“I’ll make you a deal. Get off me and leave me alone, and I WON’T gut you like a fish. How’s that sound?” I asked. She pondered this for a moment.

“Mmmmm, no. How about you put your toy away, and we have a little fun…” she whispered seductively as she dragged her index finger across my chest. She released my left hand and removed my fedora, and tossed it away. Shit. That was my favorite hat. I took advantage of my second hand and gripped the end of the sword’s blade, and pressed it closer to the girl’s neck. She giggled.

“You’re funny. I like that,” she hissed. She raised a hand to the sword, and I took that as provocation. I shoved it forward, attempting to end this girl. However, much to my amazement, it wouldn’t budge. Her hand had stopped it entirely. I pressed harder, the blade slicing the skin on my left hand. I could feel the red fluid trickling down my palm and onto my face. The assailant wrapped her fingers around the sword, and crushed the middle of it, snapping it in two. Dear God. I dropped the pieces of the weapon is disbelief, and I heard her giggle, once again.

“Want to go somewhere a little more…cozy?” she asked.

“No.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Unfortunately for you, that question was more of a courtesy. I don’t care what you want,” she spat sinisterly. I can’t stand this girl. She leaned forward, and pressed her lips against mine. She stayed locked in this position, savoring the moment. Her lips tasted slightly sweet, but otherwise flavorless. I was stunned. She tries to kill me, and then makes out with me? What the hell?

I regained composure and shoved her away. She doesn’t resist and backs off, sighing with relief.

“Your lips taste yummy. Like…fruity.” Thank you for that, breakfast. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“Oh, you like my new gloss? It’s chloroform flavored,” she chuckled. Chloroform?! Her lips are laced with chloroform?! And I thought Raltik was insane.

“Y…you…” I choked out. I couldn’t see straight anymore. My vision faded into darkness, and my hearing and mind shortly followed. The last thing I recall is the girl giggling again.