Page 34 of An Assassin's Death
The outrage flyingthrough the room is apparent as I find my strength and make it to my feet as quickly as I can. I know this crowd won’t hold back from me for long. I just injured their fearless leader. They don’t care about the fact that he was ready to kill me moments before I was able to reverse his power, bringing it into my own body instead.
That power pulses through my veins even now, and I grit my teeth as I hold it inside, trying to control the surplus that I’m not used to carrying. The demanding tingle of it crawls down my arms. Instead of feeling stronger like the way I did when I had Jameson’s power inside of me, I feel tainted. Realization dawns on me then as the disgusting feel of his power makes itself at home within me. I don’t want anything to do with Armond anymore. Am I becoming more like him than I realize? Is this what I’ll become? What is happening in my life? I’m starting to question the validity of all the marks he’s sent me since we first met five years ago. He always told me that our marks were chosen based on the terrible deeds they’d done. I stopped asking for the proof of their sins years ago. I trusted him. I was an idiot to trust him. My stomach sinks; whether from the power swirling inside or my sudden burst of conscious, I’m not sure.
“What the hell did you do to him?” The accusatory question is hurtled in my direction from a hulking figure who pushes his way through the crowd and stomps up the steps to the platform of the stage.
I don’t hold back as I throw my retort in his direction. “The same thing he was doing to me.” I want to growl to make them see what I now see, but I realize my predicament and hold back. A room full of deadly assassins stare me down, anger and retribution clear on their faces. Armond’s accusations are enough to turn the room against me, and I glance around quickly, looking for my exit strategy.
“You fucking traitor!” A bitch in black elbows her way through the gathered assassins while the massive guy on the stage stoops to check Armond’s vitals.
I hold my breath, waiting for confirmation of his life or death. I’m not sure which I want. I either want him dead so that I’m free of him and the Lifeless League, or I want him alive so that I can get the answers I seek. I hate all the not knowing. I hate that I can’t trust the organization that made me.
I hate that I’ve been made in the first place. What would my life have been like if Armond hadn’t dragged me off of the street and put my fighting skills to good use? What would I be now? Would I even be alive?
This is not the time for deep reflection, Lex.I scold myself sarcastically. I don’t contemplate why I use one of Jameson’s nicknames for me. I can almost hear his annoying voice in my head coaching me through this while throwing more random useless phrases at me like he had this morning: “Wake the fuck up, Al, and get out of there. Live long and prosper” and shit like that. I shake my head at myself as I count my exit points.
Five large windows are off to my right. Negative. I’d have to claw my way out of assassins who would kill me long before I could reach the glass panes that lead to freedom.
Main entrance door. Same problem.
Back exit on one side of the stage. Possible solution.
I feel the drag of power in the room before I see the fireball that’s aimed at my head. Ducking in the nick of time, I dodge the assault.
“Seriously? Fucking fire? What? You want to burn the whole place down?” I narrow my eyes on the bitch in the center of the gathering, an unattractive sneer marring her pretty features. Before the fireball makes contact with the wall behind me, effectively catching the house on fire, she reigns in her power and the blast dissipates into a fume of white smoke. I take a step backward, getting closer to the exit, but trying to cover my movement with an arched eyebrow and snarky remark. “Cool trick.”
“You’re not walking out of here alive.” She gives me a feral grin.
I give her one back as I see her hands glowing bright orange, another blast of fire forming.
“What’s that saying?” I ask her, tapping a finger on my chin as I pretend to be thinking over my own question. The ranks are closing in as other assassins start moving to surround me. “Fight fire with fire?” I’m sure the gleam that flashes through my eyes makes me look insane. Good. Let them think I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe I have, with the stunt I’m about to try and pull.
She releases another ball of fire and it soars toward me. There’s no time to debate my decision. I’m either going to die or this is going to work the way I hope it does. When it’s close enough I reach out, I feel the tendrils of power behind the fire she created. When Armond tried to harm me, I was able to use his power against him. I’m hoping that same theory applies now. Self-preservation.
I grab ahold of the tendrils of power and pull, making room for it inside of my body. I feel the heat of the flames licking against my fingertips as it makes contact, and I bite my tongue, drawing blood as I try not to cry out. To show weakness in this group of assassins means death. As suddenly as the pain starts, it stops, and I glance down in time to see my hands start to glow orange. Grinning, I ignore the blisters that sting my fingertips and push the girl’s power into my hands, working to form my own ball of flame. I’m amazed that my skin isn’t singeing. Other than the damage that’s already been done, I feel no pain as I toss the burning ball straight into the air, catching it again a moment later.
Her eyes widen as she realizes that I’ve siphoned the power from her blast.
It dawns across the room just how much power I hold. Hell, it’s dawning onmejust how powerful I’m becoming. The first time it happened was an accident and now I’m stealing small amounts off of every person I touch. It’s not even a conscious thing any more.
My insides ache from the near-death experience, and I know I need to get out of here before the power I’ve consumed goes to my head. The surplus is giving me a natural high and I wonder if this is how Armond feels every time he drains the life from someone. That fucking bastard.
I take another step backward trying to use the fire as a shield to keep the assassins at bay. Suddenly I wish I had Mouse’s stealth, or Tylin’s authority, or Jameson’s ability to talk himself out of any situation, or even the badass way that Rory instills fear in people. Instead, all I have is my uncanny sense of sarcasm and a wit that won’t get me too far given the situation.
One liners and the ability to laugh at my own jokes doesn’t seem to aid me nearly as much as it should in life.
“Give Armond his power back.” The roar of the man on stage reverberates through my body and I scoff, holding back a sarcastic laugh. Like I’d give the man who just tried to kill me his power back. I took ten years at most. He’s fine. Let’s not start planning his belated funeral just yet.
The giant’s eyes are like lasers, burning into me from where he stands. I feel the heat before I smell the burning fabric of my shirt. Two perfect holes are forming where he glares at me. “Really? You really have laser vision? Could you have a more cliché power?” I want to laugh and I jump out his way before he starts branding my skin. “All that muscle… wasted.” I shake my head and focus on keeping the fire in my hands contained. I’m using it to shield myself, and without it, I’m screwed.
His roar pierces the air and is joined by cries of outrage and insults from the crowd. Words like “slut” and “bitch” are thrown around like candy at a parade.Stupid, Lex. Don’t poke the proverbial beast, you idiot.
The odds are obviously not in my favor today. Still, I can’t bring myself to fully regret staying in Jameson’s bed or our truce from the night before. I wouldn’t say this was worth it but it was… nice.
I feel the power pull around the room like a vortex. The tidal wave of it grows, threatening to crash over me as the magical assassins call on their powers, preparing to attack. I’m surprised they’re willing to show their wild card to each other and reveal their powers in their haste to take me out, but I guess my death is more important to them at the moment.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
Survival, it’s the only thing on my mind. Instinctively, I know that it’s way too much energy to draw into myself. This power is still new to me. I’m not even sure how I’m able to absorb others powers and I’m unsure of how much I can hold—and what happens if I take in too much? I do know I’m not willing to test it.
