Author's note: This is the third part of the trilogy. The first part I cannot place on the site because of the content involving the age of the character. The first part can be found on my personal site however. Also reading this trilogy will spoil the character a little if you have not read at least the first three CATU novels.
Makings of an Assassin: Orders & Servitude: The Price of Revenge
I
have spent the last ten years playing the role of servant for Talilith. I have had many opportunities to perform my own tasks, gaining much of a reputation and money along the way. But no matter the time of day or what part of the world I am in, when she calls I must go running.
The last few months have gotten hectic with the demons and
Winter
. I try to avoid demon politics, especially when they are constantly at each other's throats vying for power or in the current case—the one that looks best in the eyes of the
Demon Lord
Avyanna.
So now I'm headed to Russia, Moscow in fact. My newest mission was to eliminate Talilith's biggest competition, Maltaus. Every demon was supposed to put aside their ambitions for servitude to Avyanna.
Of course every demon was out for their self and Avyanna would quickly find herself dead or back in the hole she was going to be crawling out of. Maltaus being the eldest member of the council would be the one closest to her and have the best opportunity of bringing his goals to fruition.
Talilith of course wanted that opportunity for herself. Hence my needing to perform this mission.
I fly into the country practically undetected using a Falx
Stalker
. It is a small one person hybrid tilt-rotor vehicle. It's unarmed but very versatile with a hybrid electric motor with solar energy augmenting. With a hundred horses under the hood it only burns ten liters of fuel and hour.
It would get me in and out undetected, which was all I really needed.
I landed in a small field just outside of Moscow. Quickly, I jumped from the cockpit with a small shoulder bag. I pulled out blanket of camonetting acquired by my contacts in
Section 8
. A remarkable piece of equipment that could disguise whatever was put beneath it as part of the landscape around it, effectively making it invisible.
I pulled out a pair of sunglasses and began my walk toward Moscow.
——
I
walked through the streets of Moscow unhindered, mostly because of the Russian officer's uniform I was wearing. I was prepared to be stopped and questioned. I had papers and any documentation I needed to convince anyone that I was an officer in the Russian army. I brushed up on my language skills before arriving.
My first and only stop was Prime Minister Chernoff's office. My credentials insured I could get into the building, it was just a matter of getting in to see Chernoff.
As I walked through the streets toward my destination I took every precaution to ensure I wasn't being followed. I circled the building a couple of times and when I was certain no one was following me I headed in.
The building had a large, open foyer. People milled about mostly of those that worked in the building. I took note of where soldiers were placed before walking up to the single desk sitting in the middle of the foyer.
A single guard sat behind it. I looked at him then past to a set of elevators and back to him. On the second glance did he notice my movement toward him. He looked up with acknowledgement.
"May I help you? He asked in a thick, heavy accent.
Without skipping a beat I replied back in Russian. "I'm here to speak with Prime Minister Chernoff."
"The Prime Minister is a very busy man. Do you have an appointment?"
Of course I didn't have one. "I do not need one."
"Then I am sorry but as I said before, the Prime Minister is a very busy man."
"That is fine," I said sounding like it didn't bother me any. "What is your name so that you can hold you responsible when the Prime Minister has been assassinated?"
The man held a combination of disbelief and uncertainty on his face. He didn't want to believe me but at the same time he was afraid I was right.
"Please wait," he said with a shaky voice. "I will have someone escort you up."
"Don't bother, I know where I need to go," I said and I began to walk around the desk toward the elevators.
The soldier was up on his feet faster than I would have expected and moving to cut me off. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a few of the soldiers standing guard against the wall began to move.
I stopped. The last thing I needed was some kind of scene that would blow my cover or make it harder to accomplish my mission.
"Halt!" he nearly shouted. "You need to have an escort. May I see your papers?"
The guards were closer now still on guard. I reached into my jacket and they instantly tensed. I almost laughed but held it back. When I pulled out my hand with a group of papers I saw them physically relax.
The soldiers at the desk examined the papers then nodded and handed them back to me. He gave the guards a curt nod, turning them back to their posts then he picked up the phone at the desk.
After a very brief conversation he put the phone back on its ringer. "You may sit over there," he said pointing to two lone chairs near the elevators.
I walked over and sat, crossing my legs. I looked around the foyer taking in all the detail I could while hiding my eyes behind the sunglasses. My wait didn't take long. The bell of one of the elevators rang and the doors parted revealing a tall, broad shouldered man in what looked like his mid-forties. He wore a close cropped beard and a crisp uniform.
My spine tingled at his presence and I knew right away he was a demon. Of course it would make sense for Maltaus to have servants.
"Captain Anca Viorel?" he asked stepping out of the elevator.
"Yes," I said standing up. "And you are?"
"Major Petr Kanosnov," he replied crisply. "And you have some information?"
"For the Prime Minister and him alone."
"You can pass it on to me and I in turn will give it to him," he said glaring down at me.
"I am supp—"
"I will take it," he said more forcibly abruptly cutting me off. "It is yet to be determined if you are even a real officer and not some imposter attempting to assassinate the Prime Minister."
It was a test and one I was not going to play.
"Then I guess I need to find another way to warm the Prime Minister. My duty and orders are to relay the information to him only since the assassin may be one very close to him."
His reaction didn't change and it wouldn't. Instead he continued to glare down at me for a few seconds later before finally waving me in.
The elevator ride was taken in silence. The doors opened to a long empty hall with a set of doors at the end. Without saying a word to me he stepped out and headed toward the doors at the end. I stepped out following him.
When we reached the end of the hallway he gave the doors a small knock and then pushed through them. The doors parted and the bright light of the sun cascaded out bathing the hall in light. Bookshelves lined the walls filled with books, dominating the room. At the back of the office sat a desk and the lone figure of Maltaus in his human form, Prime Minister Chernoff.
Behind him was a large window standing from the floor up to the ceiling, dwarfing the figure sitting at the desk.
"That is all, Major," he said with a calming voice. "If I need you I will call."
"Yes sir," Kanosnov said with a bow. He turned and walked briskly out stopping when he reached me. He leaned in close enough that I could smell his hot breath. "We are verifying you are who you say you are. I suggest if you are not then you don't try anything foolish."
Before I had a chance to say anything in reply he was already out the doors with them closing behind him.
I remained standing until Maltaus waved me forward. My spine tingled more than it did when Major Kanosnov appeared. I wasn't worried about them detecting my
Second Sense
because of my specially made suit.
As I strode up to the desk I held a façade of confidence betraying any sign of what I was really there for. When I reached the desk I saluted him like I would if I were a real officer in the Russian army.
"I hear you have information of someone planning to assassinate me," he said with a deep resonating voice.
"That's correct," I answered calmly. I didn't attack as soon as the door closed because I wanted to wait for the perfect time. Maltaus wasn't a weak demon that could be dispatched quickly or without much effort. Any mistake on my part would only lead to my death.
But he sprung surprise on me instead.
"Then you should know that your attempt here today is futile," he said with a smile.
Normal people would be too shocked to respond but I have learned to be prepared for anything.
"Why invite me up here instead of having me killed?" I asked though I already suspected I knew the answer.
"I rather have the pleasure of killing you myself."
"Then I guess you can try!" I yelled as I came down onto his desk with my sword. I cut the desk cleanly into two pieces.
Maltaus was already out of his seat by the time my blade connected with the desk and for a brief second I saw just a hint of fear in his eyes. I knew it was not because I was here to kill him, he already expected that much. What gave him the fear was my sword
Muramasa
, a specially made demon slayer sword. Every demon knew of the legendary swords, which is why they tried to keep track of them or try to keep them hidden.
I threw myself through the two pieces of desk straight at him. Maltaus was fast and sidestepped me, striking the side of my blade with his bare hand. His other hand struck the side of my head in the form of a fist. Stars flared up before my eyes and for a moment darkness took over followed by the room spinning.
I tumbled to the floor and rolled away overcoming the blow. I rolled to my feet and shook my head, clearing it. I didn't need sight but I did a clear head and at the moment it was ringing.
Suddenly the door flew open adding to the noise and commotion. Soldiers poured in armed to the teeth with Major Kanosnov leading the group. Rifles opened up at me.
I didn't have time to think and trying to only made the ringing stronger. So I ran to the large window. Bullets ripped into the floor and wall in places that I was just at and followed me all the way to the window. I whipped
Muramasa
around and crashed through the window.
The glass shattered all around me and I found myself falling. The wind whipped past me and I was glad winter wasn't here in Russia yet. The good thing was my head was becoming clearer.
The streets below was coming closer fast and I only had moments before I became scrambled on the ground below. I twisted body so that I was no longer heading down head first.
No sooner did I finish I hit the ground feet first. The ground buckled slightly under my feet and sent cracks spreading out in all direction. Thanks to my
Second Sight
