The Deceiver

The colours had bled out of the sky by the time she reached the mansion.

Darkness obscured her from sight, footfalls muffled by soft leather as she approached the unguarded wall.

She ran her fingertips along the cobblestone. 'Blood money', she thought, tracing the silver inlaid in the stone.

Without hesitation, she jammed her dagger into the cracks and reached out with her free hand, searching for any holds the wall had to offer.

Despite the chill in the air, a bead of sweat trickled down her neck by the time she scaled to the second floor.

Her muscles tensed as she pulled the blade out for the last time and slipped it between the shutters of a window, flicking the latch open with practised ease.

Hoisting herself onto the ledge, she scanned the dark hallway before her.

'Empty', she thought. 'As it should be.'

She dropped lightly onto the floor, her dark grey clothing melting into the shadows.

She took a step forward and gagged. The hem of her cloak was snagged on the window hook. Swearing lightly, she unhitched the cloak, the smooth fabric now ripped.

Nice one, Alexis.

Crouching, she padded to the end of the hallway, checking the contraption on her wrist.

Loaded.

Taking a deep breath, she ran a list of everything that could go wrong in the next few moments.

Tucking her cloak into her waistband, she reached for the doorknob, wincing as it made a low groaning noise.

According to plan, her target lay on the king-sized bed, snoring beneath fur covers.

'How many animals had to die to cover your fat a-'

She blinked. Getting distracted would jeopardize the mission. Again.

Walking around the bed, she inspected the man's face, plush from years of easy living.

Her fists clenched.

'Men like you are the reason the poor die on the streets.'

She spared a glance towards the nightstand. An empty goblet lay on its side, its contents already working its magic on the target. Alexis couldn't resist a small smile. The servant had done her part.

She walked to the window, which was bolted from the inside and unlatched it slowly, deliberately.

The man on the bed snored louder as Alexis turned to complete the last stage.

Gritting her teeth, she raised her right arm, the one with the gauntlet strapped to it. With her left, she braced herself against the window. She took aim.

'For your crimes against the vulnerable, I brand you-'

She triggered the release, throwing the window open at the same time.

'-Deceiver.'

The man screamed as a projectile burned into the skin on his face, forever marking him. Through watering eyes, he looked towards the window but saw only the open shutters.