Assassins

"Speak, Zant." Xodus said calmly, as he walked back towards the beautifully carved table.

"Allyna has brought me this note. She says that it was given to her by a dark figure, an assassin by her reckoning. She was told to give it to you." Zant bowed low as he finished his statement, and held out a piece of parchment to Xodus. Xodus looked at a golden goblet on the table, then looked to a beautiful elven woman who was shining Xodus' scimitar in the corner of the room.

"Get me more blood." he said, as he turned around to meet Zant's stare. The elven woman quickly got to her feet, bowed low and rushed out with the goblet. Xodus took the parchment from Zant's hand, as Zant straightened his posture from the long bow. A cool mist began to form within the room as Xodus began to read the note. A few moments later, when Xodus finished, he looked back at Zant.

"They want to meet with me. I shall go soon, the night's grasp upon the realm is still strong." Xodus said, calmly.

"Right then. I shall go get my armor ready. Where shall we meet them anyways?" Zant said, as the young elven woman scurried back into the room, falling to her knees and holding the goblet filled with blood before Xodus. Xodus quickly snatched the goblet from the woman's grasp, and dismissed her. She got back to her feet and bowed to her lord before leaving.

Xodus turned back to Zant, "I will be going on my own. They might attack if they see two vampires, and I would hate to kill every single one of them." Zant was slightly unnerved by this, yet nodded and accepted.

"Now leave. I shall be prepared in a moment. Tell any of the other members that I will be gone for most of the night." Xodus said, turning to the neatly arranged stack of armor in the corner of the room, next to his coffin. Zant stalked out and closed the chamber door as Xodus took a drink from his goblet.

The door swung open and Xodus walked out, Whisper sheathed on his back, Aethentus at his waist, and his cloak covering his armor. Xodus reached the exit to his clan hall, and quickly merged into the shadows.

His journey was swift and easy, as he sliced through the darkness of the realms without the slightest hint of disruption. He occasionally passed someone on his way, yet they never noticed. He eventually reached the Pardor Mountains, and slowed his pace there. He slowly stalked the many boulders and rocks of the area, until he stopped on one rock in particular. He lifted the rock, and a clicking noise began to fill the air. At further inspection of it, a string was tied to a metal hoop on the back of it. Xodus quickly cut the string, making it nearly unnoticeable, and began to speak.

"Put down your weapons, or I will kill you." Xodus said calmly, his words piercing the peaceful silence. A dark figure walked out from the shadows surrounding a boulder, and dropped a small crossbow to the ground. The assassin then nodded, looking at Xodus.

"All four of you." Xodus said flatly. Then, three more assassins made their way from the shadows, all dropping their crossbows.

"Take me in, I have plans with your leader." Xodus said, getting a nod from each of the assassins. One of the assassins walked up to a near boulder, and rhythmically tapped on its surface. A moment later, the boulder rolled to the side, seeming to have been done by some odd enchantment. A wide red carpeted staircase led down into the ground. The assassins lead Xodus down the staircase, and the boulder above them slowly took its position once again. A beautifully decorated hallway stretched down, leading into other halls, and ultimately reaching the leader's chamber. Paintings of all sorts hung next to sconces, which held exquisite burning candles. The hall continued until it reached a door with glimmering sapphires bolted into it, making intricate patterns.

The door swung open, as a servant rushed back to his master's side. A large cushioned chair sat at the end of a long table, which held many pieces of parchment and quills. The four assassins led Xodus to the opposite side of the table, and bowed before their leader.

"Leave me with the vampire, and return to your posts." said the assassin leader. The assassins bowed again, leaving the leaders to speak. The servant left with them.

"Why have you called me here, assassin?" asked Xodus. The assassin smirked, and began.

"I wish to make an alliance with the Vampires. Exchange our knowledge, powers, and become stronger." the assassin said slyly. A moment of silence compelled him to continue. "Of course there will be battling, our enemies become yours, and yours ours. Yet, there's also that little thing called wealth, which we have plenty of, enough to share." Xodus kept his stare locked on the assassin, yet the assassin was becoming more nervous with every passing second, because no one knows where Xodus is looking, counting on how his eyes are entirely silver.

"I'm going to pass." Xodus said in a final-like tone. The assassin's smug posture turned into one of curiosity and nervousness.

"What a shame, vampire. I so hoped that this alliance would of worked out. Now I must kill you to keep it a secret." The assassin smiled mockingly, allowing his confidence to get to Xodus. Xodus didn't flinch. A whisper was heard, and an assassin jumped from the shadows of the office. Xodus knew he was their the entire time, along with the other five hiding assassins. Xodus merely shifted his head toward the oncoming assassin. He gave him a glare so cold, that it stopped the assassin in his tracks. The assassin didn't know for sure what Xodus was looking at, but it sent a chill up his spine nonetheless. Five other assassins slowly crept out from the shadows, surrounding Xodus. Xodus looked back to the assassin leader, and noted the leaders smile.

A few silent moments passed, which seemed like quite a long time for the assassins and their leader. Then, Xodus exploded into motion. A blur flashed before the nearest assassin, and the floor rose up to catch him. Warm liquid flowed freely from his shattered nose. Xodus anticipated the next assassin coming, and already had his foot in the air, to catch the assassin right in the neck. With a swift spin, Xodus wielded Whisper and slashed the behind assassin in the stomach. The assassin quickly forgot about Xodus, and shifted his concentration on keeping his internal organs from falling out. By then, the remaining two assassins had their daggers out, charging at Xodus. Xodus lifted his free hand and intercepted the first assassin's dagger thrust, making three jerking movements, and snapping the assassin's arm in three places. The second assassin was close to Xodus, yet was distracted as Xodus quickly turned and allowed the assassin's momentum to thrust his scimitar into assassin's chest. Xodus turned back to the screaming assassin who was intertwined with his arm. Xodus smashed him hard in the temple with the hilt of his scimitar, knocking the assassin unconscious. The assassin's limp body fell to the ground with a thump.

Xodus quickly sheathed his scimitar and looked back to the stunned leader. Xodus calmly walked around the table, and towards the leader. The leader's mouth was still open, completely stunned at what had happened before him. Xodus hoped that he hadn't awaken any other members of the assassin organization from their dreams of dastardly deeds. Swirling mists quickly solidified into Xodus' hand, forming Aethentus. Xodus wrapped his arm around the assassin leader's neck, and creased it with Aethentus' fine edge.

"Get me out of here, and I might let you live." Xodus said calmly. Immediately, the assassin began to slowly shuffle foreword.

The assassin leader and Xodus reached the boulder which blocked the entrance. With the same rhythmic tapping, the boulder moved aside. Xodus took the leader up with him. After a few steps out of the stairwell, the assassin leader began to yell. "Pull the stO-*gurgle*" Xodus quickly sliced the assassin's throat, letting his limp body fall to the floor. An assassin within the shadows quickly pulled on a rock which was supposed to set off a trap door, yet the string was cut. And, by the time the assassin looked back up, Xodus was gone.

Xodus strolled within the shadows, back to his home, appreciating the fun night which the assassins have given him.

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