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Prologue
“Ok thats it.” I growl, slamming the door closed and hastily locking it. I try to keep calm as I turn to face him. The king. He is a mere child. I, am Pao, official assassin of the Oval Realm. This king cannot lead us. He must die so the next predecessor, Prince Caden, can rule. The king shrivels into the corner, wallowing in fear. It sickens me, really. Kings are supposed to be courageous- even at the age of young.
“W-what do you want?” He sniffs, wiping his eyes. “You're scaring me!” The sentence gives me power over him, and I step closer, slowly. Suspense is the best torture. The room is dark, and his figure sinks deeper into it, lovely. He is Disappearing, losing his rational essence. In the oval realm, the best way to kill someone is to scare them to such a extreme point- they dissolve. By the time I have reached him, he is gone...
THE OVAL REALM
Assasinate
BOOK ONE
“Paooooooooo.” I hear Tewy calling me from outside my door in her usual annoying sing-song voice. “Come out, come out, wherever you dwell!” Sighing, I shove the memories of the past king, Jackel, and clip on some earings. Today is Prince Caden’s coronation. He will be king, it is what Ive been waiting for. Prince Caden would return the Oval Realm back from its current tangled politics, and economically depressed state. The oval Realm used to be considered the best of the four realms. A paradise. A haven. A mirage. Not anymore, and I was sick of it. Sick enough to kill Jackel. To Dissolve him. Prince Caden would be our savior. As Tewy resorts to knocking loudly, I slip on my other shoe and fling the door open. She stumbles backwards and rubs her nose. “Ow, you hit me!” She whines. Its probably not worth it to start a argument, so I just apologize. “Yes, I did. Get over it.” As the royal assassin, I advise her with my eyes not to annoy me. Tewy lowers her head, “Ok, come on.” Shes wearing the traditional Dark purple coronation dress. The only difference is our shoes. Mine are Diamonded, hers are Emeralds. A pretty bright emerald has been cut into the shape of a oval, and it sticks to her forehead. “Are we required to wear our birthstone?” I ask, horrified- for mine was ugly, and I despised it. She pushes me towards the stairs, “No, its fine. I just like wearing mine. The oval realm has barely any culture, and this is the best Ive got.” She shrugs, as we start down another level. Since we are roommates, we live on the upper floors of the Shining castle. It is made of the original kings favorite gem, Rubys. Hense the name of our home.Ruby City. “Who needs culture? As long as were top realm.” I say, my matter -of- fact voice masking my excitement. Tewy looks at me like Im a idiot and scowls. “Culture defines us as a people, as Ovalans. Also, lets face it- We’ll never be top realm again. Were practically below the Recta Realm.” The truth of her words feel like a slap. I want to be proud of my country. Tewy makes it so hard.
Luckily my shame is interrupted by a familiar voice, we’ve made it to the Throning level. Guardians line the walls, armed with swords and daggers. Off to the corner, looking especially peculiar, is Gofer. He is lead trainer, and my friend. He calls out to me, and I hurry to his side. Eager to get away from Tewy. He must of seen my look of utter disgust, for he asks; “Tewy again?” I nod, “Lectured me about the importance of culture.” Gofer flashes his white smile, and scratches his Rusty brown hair, “Sounds fun.” All I can do is nod. For awhile, we sit in comfortable silence. That is what I like most about him. Im not a naturally loud person, and I favor quiet anyday. We watch people enter the Coronation/Throning room, most people are dressed in their best. The men, wearing suits embedded with oval gems, and the women, wearing silky dresses that scrape the floor. I look down at my outfit, Im wearing nice shoes- of course - and earings. Otherwise then that, I look casual. My weapon belt showing from under my red t-shirt that reads, “Ruby City, blinding you since 3256.” I am suddenly aware of Grofer looking me up in down, probably laughing at me. “They’ll never let you in like that.” He states, and I can tell he’s straining not to smirk, “Even if you did Kill King Jackel.” My hands fall to my hips in frustration, “He dissolved before I could kill him!” My excuse is lame, I was the one who caused such distress for the young king, and I felt oddly guilty. I dont know why though, Id assassinated plenty before.
Before he can respond, a Ovalian Guardian taps his shoulder, signaling him to enter the throning room. I try a lame attempt at following him. The guardian stops me, of course, and Grofer turns around and gives me a I-Knew-they-wouldnt-let-you-in-dont-worry-Ill-record-it-or-at-least-give-you-all-the-details-later look. “Bye Pao.” He says, and I see his limpy walk turn into a saunter. Faker, I think, as he enters. I audibly groan, and a Ovalian motions me over with a flick of his hand. I dont recognize him. Maybe he’s a new recruit. It doesn’t matter, as the Main-assassin, I must follow any Guardians order. I do their dirty work. I stroll across the white marble floor, and gracefully stop beside him. He must speak first.
“Ah, Pao... whats your last name again?” He asks. This was not the question I anticipated, and I considered lying. But I said nothing.
“Pao. I’m awaiting a answer.”
The answer is nothing. I have no last name. Assassins don’t marry. Too complicated.
“I have none. I am a Assassin. Pawn of the King.” The fact is simple, and I have repeated it enough to not care that I was just a tool.
The man chuckles, and it sends shivers down my back.
“Do you know what my name is?” He asks. I don’t bother to be polite enough to say Ive even seen him before.
“No.”
“My name is Vesper. Vespe-”
I choke on his name, “Vesper GallowLee. Your..Jackels uncle.” Vesper coughs, “Was, you mean. Was his uncle. He’s dead now.” I gulp down the guilt and stare him straight in the eye as he slaps me. No one does anything, it is aggravating, but Its not against the law. Vespers hand smacks my temple, and I sprawl back onto the floor. Wincing, I struggle not to groan. No signs of weakness, Mom had said.
“I’m going to make you suffer as bad as he did!” Vesper shrieks a almost un-human sound, and He touches his dagger. Some of the Guardians shuffle their feet, a signal of concern- while others watch amused. The slaps stop, and he pulls it out. The dagger looks new and sharp, and ready to kill.
I want to scoot away, but I cannot move until he has dismissed me. In a frantic move of desperation, I inhale a sharp breath and roll into a defensive position. Grofer calls it the “Armadillo.” A extinct animal that used to roll into a ball to protect its organs. They must of not done a great job, I think. For they are all dead. As I will soon be.
He throws the knife down, and I feel a sudden searing pain in my thigh.
Now the guardians are acting, pulling vesper from me, forgetting the knife lodged deep in my thigh. I hear some people asking if vespers ok, and I realize how utterly alone I am. No one cares how the assassin feels, shes only bleeding. Only dying. The world fades to black, and Ive fainted.
When I wake up, Im still on the floor. No surprise, the coronation isn’t over quick- and Ive probably only been out for ten minutes.
I look down at my thigh, I cant feel anything but a sting- and realize the daggers still there. I will have to pull it out. Despite being a assassin, I cannot stand the look and smell of blood. Sticky and metallic, and now I am covered in my own. Luckily, Im close to the wall- and I find myself using my elbows to push myself closer, then use them to edge my back against the wall. The upright position makes me feel dizzy, and I try terribly hard not to faint. Using my inner will, I place my hand over the weapon and yank up. I can’t help it, I scream. Loudly. Im very close to the coronation room, and I desperately pray I didn’t interrupt the service. A couple Guardians spill back into the hallway, faces looking excited. They want action. Instead, they see me, the girl who could kill them all in a minute with one sword- on the ground, helpless. I am armed though, I have a dagger. I raise it to show them, its stained with dry blood- but they get the gist, and leave the hallway. Groaning, I drop the dagger to the floor and let it clatter. Who cares if they come back back and kill me. I don’t even deserve to live. I killed the young. No one will ever treat or respect me the same, but I do have some rights. Including the right to tv. “I NEED A GUARDIAN!” I yell, “HURRY!” It takes a couple minutes, but a guardian finally shows up, thankfully not vesper. I raise my hand in surrender, and point to the dagger, “I won’t hurt you.” He motions me to fling the dagger, and I throw it to the other wall. He approaches.
“What do you want, assassin?” His voice sounds young, like a teenager. He also sounds frightened.
“I won’t hurt you. Call me Pao. I just need a tv to watch the coronation.”
“You killed jackel?” He says, like a statement.
“Yes, for Prince Caden. I would like to see a tv now.”
“Your bleeding.” The mysterious teen mutters.
“Wonderful observation skills there, now get me a tv.”
“You need to see a nurs-” I interrupt him in a raging voice, “GET ME A TV OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL KILL YOU!” He jumps, and Scurries off to go find a Porta-box. Porta-boxes are like mini televisions that fit in your lap, their small, but have great volume and graphics. Plus there portable. After a boring wait of at least a few minutes, Hes back. Calmer.
“Here you go.” He hands me the porta-box and backs up. “Sorry you couldn’t go to the ceremony.” His sounds sympathetic, and I grin.
“Doesn’t look like you could go either.” I peer closer at his red and gold uniform, His tag says “Fron.” Fron shrugs a little, “I’m guarding.” I laugh, loud and full of resentment, surprising myself.
“What are you guarding the Prince from? Everyone is in his coronation room. You should be there.”
“Your not in there.” Fron states, annoyed.
“So your guarding me?” I ask, “That seems a little un-intellectual. I happen to of just been stabbed. I can’t do anything. Can I?” Fron ignores me and walks out of the hallway. Alone again. I bite my lip and turn the Porta-box on. Its already on the Coronation channel, so I try and get comfy. Well as comfy as a person who just got beat up can, so not very much.
The pastor is chanting words under his breath, welcoming Prince Caden to the Kingdom. Asking the souls if they approve. The prince is wearing a t-shirt. Just like mine, exactly like mine. “Thats a little casual for a king.” I mock, anger filling my voice. Hes not taking this seriously. When the pastor finishes, he announces that the souls find him worthy. They never find anyone unworthy, so Its not a big deal. Next is prince cadens speech, I am ecstatic.
“People of The Oval Realm, I gladly accept this honor. I will lead you well, and you will not be disappointed. Probably. Now, lets eat!”
I feel like the breath has just been knocked out of me, king Jackel gave a two hour speech. King Caden just gave a two sentence speech! I am most definitely disappointed. No one else seems to care though, and too my astonishment- King Caden jumps right off his throne and grabs a bagel. He even chews it with his mouth open. Guardians fill the hallways, shouting with glee, “LONG LIVE KING CADEN!” “HY-YA!” They respond, welcoming him. I cover my ears and scream. Then I pass out.
When I wake up, Im back in my room. It was just a dream, I sigh wistfully, and Try to sit up. Its no use though, I can’t feel my leg. “Help!” I screech, and Grofer is beside me in a instant.
“We found you in the hall, you’d been trampled. Tewy says your paralyzed.”
It wasn’t a dream. Now my pulse is beating out of control, I cant be paralyzed, I dont remeber being trampled.. But as I look down at my shirt I know its true. Its ripped to shreds, covered with mud from Guardian boots.
I am suddenly very very aware of Grofer, standing over me, poking my knee.
“Grofer stop!” I shout, and He jumps back.
“Oh sorry, can you feel it?” Hope rises in his voice- but I shake my head, and the light in his eyes diminishes.
“You’ll be fine Pao. Just you see.” Tewy interrupts, daintily skipping in, “Its only temporary, I’m sure.”
I roll my eyes at her scrubs, “When did you become so knowledgable in the art of healing?” Tewy laughs at me, probably because she knows I can’t do anything, and I give her a death-stare.
“If you would ever listen to me, which you don’t, you would know Im studying to be a nurse.” Oh, I had heard her speak of medicine before- but I was never sure she was serious about it..
“Cool.” I mumble, and Grofer sits on the edge of my bed. “Pao, you don’t look good.”
I pick up a pillow and throw it at him, “Shut up, If I had known you were coming over I totally wouldn’t of got stabbed and trampled.” I stick out my tongue and resist the urge to scream. “Also, I wouldn’t of killed jackel! King Caden is horrid!”
Tewy looks surprised, “What do you mean? King Cadens amazing. Hes going to fix The Oval Realm up up up.” I raise a eyebrow,”Are you mocking me?” Tewy loves it when what I want goes south. But this time she shakes her head, Brown curls flying, “No, no. King Caden really is amazing, and cute. Hes smart too. Did you hear his speech? It was wondrous.”
“Barely.” I mutter, taking back the pillow I threw at Grofer, and cuddling with it. Grofer looks at me, then at Tewy, “He’s ok.” She laughs again, “See Pao? Grofer even thinks he’s great.”
“Don’t be so sure yet.” I say, “Somethings wrong with him.” I fall asleep.
When I wake up, Grofers still sitting at the edge of my bed, and Tewy is gone.
“Wheres Tewy?” I ask, groggily.
“She went to the party.” He says.
“Why didn’t you go?” I ask, annoyed he is here instead of having fun. No one needs to take care of me, even if I am paralyzed.
“I like hanging out with you.” Grofer sighs, turning to look at me.
“Even when I’m asleep?” I ask, and we both laugh. Theres no sunlight pouring through the windows, and I gasp.
“How long was I out?”
Grofer stares at me with his electric green eyes, then opens his mouth- pausing. “I think five hours. Did you know you snore?” I give him a teasing shove with my hand into his neck, making him fall over.
“Haha, very funny.” I say, and he pretends to be in agony.
“Oh, oh! The mighty assassin of the Oval Realm has drained me! Oh! I am dying! Help me, lord! Help me!” I burst out laughing and He jumps back up, “But, I have been given strength! I will kill her!” He pushes me back, and pretends to be a vampire- baring his small harmless canines. Without my legs I am powerless, and my laughing keeps me from punching him.
Grofer tickles me, then comes down to bite my neck.
“No! No! I laugh, “Stop it you, you you... Owch! You actually bit me!” Grofer laughs, and pulls back. “Sorry Pao, I get a little too into acting.”
I smack his arm, “You think?” My voice is menacing, but under it is laughter.
Suddenly he hugs me, a big warm welcoming embrace. “Im so sorry you got hurt, I shouldn’t of left you out there with the Ovalian Guards. I knew Vesper was out to get you.” He looks like he’s tearing up, and I tear away from the hug. “Its ok, I like being stabbed.” I wipe his tears and we hug. For awhile we just sit like that. Its sort of nice. Not as nice as punching people, but a ok nice.
“So..” I say, still wrapped in his arms.
“Want to go to the party?” He snuggles his head into my arm, “No.”
“Want to play a game?” Grofer sighs and snuggles harder, “No.”
Out of ideas, I throw my head up to the sky, “So were just going to hug each other all night?” He picks his head up, “Yes.”
I moan, “No were not, get away please.” Grofer makes a sound like a crying puppy, and Scoots away from me.
“Dont look at me like that grofer.” I say, anger in my tone.
“Like what?” He asks.
“Like.. like you love me!” Grofer flinches and scoots back more.
“I don’t love you.” He says, a little too mechanically.
“Good. “
Grofer leaves, and I thank god. I just want to sleep.
Grofer leaves, and I thank god. I just want to sleep.
As I drift away, I realize some things. One, Tewy never goes to partys. Secondly, Grofers eyes are not green.
Chapter two
When I wake up I am frantic. That was not grofer. Grofers eyes are blue. Dark blue, like the ocean. I am certain. I want to get up, to move my leg. Its not working though, and I don't want to mess it up even more. But tewy... oh tewy... I may not be her friend, or even really like her- but she is not a bad person. It may be my duty to kill people, but I kill to protect. My strongest instinct is to protect. So that is what I will do.
I rub my hands together and brace for the pain I am about to feel. With a swift movement, I swing my leg off the bed- and It smacks into the now blood stained floor. Struggling to stay upright will be the hardest part, if not for the pain in my thigh. "Pain strengthens you." I automatically recite. My mom taught me that when we lived in the Triangle Realm. I hated that place, hated it more then I hated my mother. When I was little all she did was teach me to fight, to kill. I may have turned out a decent person if not for her. I don't know much of my father, but if he was cruel enough to leave me with my mother- then I don't think I'd like to. My thigh is burning now, and I figure if I want to find tewy, I better find my way to the medical ward. I limp over to my closet, its small. I don't own anything but a couple shirts and my weapons. I clumsily throw on my green tee that says "I'm going to kill you now", and try to remember the way to the ward. We live on the top sector of the castle- reserved for the un-married, and or abandoned children of Ruby City. The medics should be in the middle floor of the castle, so the top dwellers, and bottom dwellers, can reach it in equal time. That must be why the sickly sleep on middle levels. Lets see, there are 120 levels of the Oval castle. We dwell on level 109. If the medical institute is located primarily in the middle, they must be on level 60. I shake my fist and slap my forehead, Its too far for me too walk. Or, limp to be more precise. We have elevators, only for the Upper people though- like King Caden. I scour the room for something I can lean on, like a substitute crutch. Tewy keeps our room relatively clean though, and the only thing on the floor is my red ripped up tee. Anger floods through me, and I clench my fists. I'll have to call the medics.
Usually that wouldn't be such a big deal, but I am Pao. Assassin. Not a lot of people like me, in fact the guardians felt fine while Vesper stabbed me. I'm doing this for Grofer and tewy though, so it's not like a have a real choice.
I limp across the room and pick up the cheap plastic lump that is our phone. With a heavy sigh, I dial the number for level 60. It rings twice, and then is picked up.
"Hello! Ruby City medical ward here, how may I help you?"
I study my fingers, and grasp all the courage I can.
"Its Pao. Assassin of the Oval Realm. I need medical assistance. Ive been stabbed, and I think my leg is paralyzed."
No response, dead silence.
I twirl my hand around the thick cord and wait.
"Oh, um. Well, you see... were sort of, full? Oh, and uh, You sound fine. Just lay down or something."Groaning, I grip the phone tighter.
"Look here, you better get me down there in 10 minutes or I swear I will kill you."
Maybe not the best way to get medical transportation.
It gets her attention though, and I hear her inhale a quick gasp of air.
"Yes ma'm. Be there soon."
'Be there soon' Medical code for, "Be there in a hour."
"I'm not joking. Be here in 10 minutes or less. Or else."
I apologize if I'm being bothersome, but as I skimmed through the text, I couldn't help but notice some easily mistaken but conspicuous typos. For example, in the prologue: "...a meer child." *mere and "Your scaring me!" *You're.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry if you take this as offense. I personally don't take criticism very well, even it the means are constructive. Again, you have potential and your capabilities may be endless, but typos just so happen to take away from the "magic" of the story.
(: Maverick
thanks SO much! When i wrote this it underlined 'meer' in red, and I was like- "What? o,o" I was too lazy to look it up, so thanks! :P :D<3
DeleteI will fix that immediately!