Page 6 of Decoy

I turned in time to catch my younger sister, Laila, as she flung herself at me with her usual joyous exuberance. Her bright smile alone was enough to chase away the lingering shadows haunting my thoughts and the bloodstained memories from the night.

Her arms came up around my neck for an affectionate squeeze and I held her close. Her warmth fit so comfortably in my arms, offering the only light in the endless night that consumed my life.

She allowed my show of affection, but not for long. “Not so tight.” She wriggled about in an effort to break free, and I reluctantly released her.

I gently set her down. “I’m just happy to see you. You know I love you, don’t you?” I reminded her constantly so that she’d always remember in the moments of doubt I knew would inevitably come once I could no longer escape my dreaded future.

She nodded. “I love you too. I missed you.”

I crouched in front of her so we were eye level. “I’ve missed you too. Have you been well while I’ve been away?”

She nodded eagerly. “I’ve done lots of fun things, but I wish I could have done them with you. What were you doing?”

Aiding in a murder. But I could never confess the words. My greatest fear wasn’t blood but that my dear sister would hate me once she learned the truth about who I was. I’d only delayed the inevitable this long because Malik had been making the kills meant to be mine, but I was rapidly running out of dawns I could return from a mission and still face my sister. The moment I sold my soul, I’d be forced to part from her so that I would never stain her innocent world.

I’d give anything not to cast her bright world in shadow, but the curse required the allegiance of one member of our family every generation. If I didn’t sacrifice myself, then dear Laila would be the one forced to succumb to its sinister whims.

How ironic that something as pure as love would be what ultimately forced me down the curse’s path of darkness. Since I couldn’t escape this fate, my only purpose was to keep it from her; it’d destroy her to be thrust into this cursed and bloody world…which meant I had to be the one to give up my soul so she could remain forever free.

Even without having forged a contract with her, the shadows lurked far too close, as if waiting for the first opportunity to rob her of her light. Oblivious to their presence, only sunshine filled Laila’s gaze as it eagerly met mine.

“I promised my dolls a tea party. Will you play with me?”

I stroked her head. “Of course. I’ll give you all the time I have before my next mission.”

She pouted. “Are you leaving on another one already?”

“I expect Father will have another one for me shortly. I’m going to see him now.” Dread knotted my stomach, but I forced a smile so she wouldn’t sense my unease.

“I wish I could go so I could spend more time with you.” In her innocence she believed I was her heroic brother who frequently went on grand adventures…a lie I encouraged through the made-up stories I told her every time I returned home.

Horror cinched my stomach at the thought of her accompanying me. I’d rather die than allow that.

Seeing my distress, she immediately set out doing what she did best: cheering me up. “Your hug almost crushed the flowers I picked for you to welcome you home…and to remember me when you go away again.” Joyous anticipation brightened her dimpled smile as she extended a handful of daisies she’d picked from our vast gardens, already starting to wilt. The petals seemed so dainty and breakable…just like her.

It was our usual ritual for her to give me the flowers she’d picked so that I would think of her. Though nothing would ever compel me to forget her, I kept each of these as well as the notes she had the habit of writing me. They were my greatest treasures.

I reached for the flowers, but before I could accept them my imagination distorted them so that their pure petals suddenly dripped with crimson, as if my tainted touch alone had been enough to stain its dainty white with blood. Instinctively I yanked my hand away.

“Don’t you want them?” Her wide, glassy eyes seeped into my heart.

I shook my head to push away the uncomfortable feeling and forced a soft smile. “Of course I do. Thank you for picking them for me.” I accepted her gift along with the bright smile that accompanied it and pressed a soft kiss to her brow. “Now run along. I’ll come play with you as soon as I finish business with Father.”

“I’ll be waiting!” With an eager wave she turned and skipped down the hallway with a melodic hum. I wasn’t the only one watching her as she disappeared—I sensed the curse’s lurking presence, its temptation to reach out and claim the only light left within these tainted walls.

Don’t you dare touch her. It was the usual warning I gave the shadows skirting nearby, staring after my sister with their sinister hunger. Although for the time being they obeyed, unless I devoted myself to them they’d have no reason to heed my desperate orders forever.

It was nearly impossible to resume my trek to Father’s study after basking in my darling sister’s usual sunshine. Upon arriving, I hesitated outside before mustering enough courage to shakily knock on the door. My heart pounded wildly as I waited, as if bracing myself to face an armed enemy rather than my own father…though in truth the two weren’t much different.

His cold voice beckoned me forward. “Enter.”

With a wavering breath I obeyed and entered to give my dreaded report that, like all the others before it, was nothing more than a lie. As usual, I did my best to hide my true feelings from the master of discovery himself, the most skilled inheritor to the Shadow name in generations—an assassin who’d become hardened against all emotion and obsessed with duty ever since Mother had left us, the cost of our curse and all the darkness that accompanied it.

Wordlessly, I handed him the item from our dead target like a cat might present a mouse to his master. Father lazily unrolled it to peruse its contents and I waited with bated breath, trying not to fidget. After some time he nodded and lowered the parchment. “Exactly what we needed. Excellent work, Luke.”

I slowly released a quiet breath, subtle enough that it didn’t alter the assassin persona I’d spent years mastering. I bowed. “I’m glad you’re pleased, Father.”

“As I always am when you impeccably fulfill your duties as ordered. Did he give you any trouble?”

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