ONE

I check my cherry red lipstick before climbing off my motorcycle and heading towards the entrance doors of the castle.

It is dead silent, and only the sound of my boots making contact with the hard marble floors is heard.

There are guards stationed at every corner, dressed completely in white and armed with their big guns. Their faces are not to be seen, so they are covered by white masks that reveal nothing but the small outlines of their faces. Their stance is cold and practiced. One can only imagine the years of training they must have been through.

One of them is standing just by the main doors, and he holds a small device over wrist to check my identity. I am sure he will find nothing, but that is what makes him say, “Follow me.”

I walk through the halls, looking around and seeing just how huge this building is. And sudden feeling of coldness and anticipation surges through me.

We reach another pair of doors to what I soon discover is a kind of meeting room and the guard pushes the doors open for me. I walk in, ignoring their robotic manner and hear them shut the doors behind me.

As expected, I see King Zephyr sitting behind a huge glass table, looking purposefully at me. I take a deep breath.

“You kept me waiting,” he says dryly.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. It won’t happen again,” I say in an equally dry tone.

“Why don’t you sit down,” he says. I approach him slowly.

“Why don’t you tell me why I’m here?”

He gives me a small smile. “Straight to business then.”

I stare stiffly at him as he continues.

“We have a little problem. I am hoping that you can sort this out quickly. If not, the entire nation will crumble in less than a week,” he explains. “Sounds like a big problem."

“Nothing you can’t handle I’m sure,” he replies.

After a moment of silence, he gets up and walks around the table to get closer to me.

“How did you find me? I should be in prison now that you are aware of what I do."

“I have a job for you,” he replies, before taking a deep breath.

“Something was stolen from me. An heirloom. I need you to retrieve it.”

“An heirloom?” I ask quirking an eyebrow at him. Disrespectful? yes. But he can't be serious. This does not sound like the kind of job for someone like me.

“Not just any. Like I said, the fate of my entire nation will be determined by how quickly you can retrieve it for me. You will fly to Ilta tomorrow and begin this mission.”

“Ilta? Is this a joke? They’ll have my head as soon as they see a Asenian in their parts,” I state.

“I know this may come off as a request, but I need you to understand how important this is,” he says, allowing me to sense a hint of desperation in his voice.

“You are not an Asenian. You do not have an identity. And that is exactly why I need you,” he adds.

He’s right. I'm not.

"But you should know that this is an order."

“Show me,” I say finally.

He smiles. Pulling out a small remote from his pocket, he lights up the large screen on the wall, revealing a picture of a silver bracelet.

“What is so special about this?” I ask with a frown.

“You are not to question me. Some information is beyond mere subjects. I will tell you only what you need to know and you will-”

“And if I don’t?” I cut him off.

He looks away briefly, carefully constructing his threat.

“You were in the hospital two weeks ago," he begins.

"All you know is that they took care of your head injury. One that you sustained while assassinating a man named Sydney Jenkins. In case you didn’t know this, I have had eyes on you for a very long time. Long enough to gain control over you.”

I scoff, shaking my head at the thought. He pulls out a small device from his pocket and it already seems to me like some sort of detonator.

"It's amazing what my team has been working on for the past few years. Some nations don't need this amount of advanced technology because they already have the power to manipulate the world," he says with a small smile.

"What on earth does that even mean?"

"It means that I don't need dark forces, all I need is this button. Guess what happens when I push."

Oh.

I roll my eyes. “My head explodes."

“That way, your life is in my hands. And if you try to disobey me or betray me, well, I don't think I have to elaborate any further.”

“Very impressive, Your Majesty. But if I was afraid of death, you’d never have hired me,” I add.

When he doesn't respond, I walk over to the screen, taking a closer look at the object. He watches me silently.

“This is ridiculous,” I mumble to myself.

It’s nothing but a plain object. I can’t understand why I must do this.

“What’s in it for me?” I say turning to face him.

“Your life,” he replies.

“Oh, how gracious of you,” I reply sarcastically.

I look directly into his cold green eyes, trying to measure the severity of his threat.

“And that of your sister.”

My heart skips, but I manage to give no reaction. “Leave her out of this,” I say sternly.

“She’s just another one of my subjects. Do this and I can give you and her a better life. The best things Asena has to offer. For your services.”

Is that supposed to be a reward?

It becomes clear to me what he wants me to do. “This is not the kind of mission I can prepare for overnight. Give me some time.”

“I thought you’d say that. You will need a new identity and a strategy. It has all been worked out for you already.”

He reaches below the desk, pulling out a white folder and holding it out for me. I walk over and take it hesitantly.

“And as for your weapons, you will be adequately kitted when you land in Ilta. Any questions?”

“May I leave now?” is all I say. He smiles once more.

“Three knocks on the door and you will be escorted out of the castle.”

I turn around without another word and make my way towards the door. My hand stops mid-air when he speaks up again.

“One more thing. I trust that you will keep this meeting confidential, as well as the mission. What your loved ones don't know won't kill them."

I have half a mind to turn around and tell him to go to hell. But when the king is desperate, just give him what he wants. I grip the folder tightly before giving him a curt nod and leaving three hard knocks on the door. It opens immediately, and I am escorted outside the castle.

…

“April, I’m going to be away for a while.”

She looks up from the bowl in her hand and stares at me.

“Okay,” she replies with a shrug and glues her eyes back on the screen.

“Listen, I don’t know how long this will take but I hope you can take care of yourself until I get back,” I add.

“Why won’t you let me watch TV in peace?” she whines. I roll my eyes.

“I’m trying to have a moment with you, you know. You ruin everything,” I reply before leaning back in my chair.

“Last time I checked; I was the older one. I practically raised you, okay. You don’t have to worry about me. Go do your scary job and I’ll be here minding my business as usual.”

She pops another piece of popcorn in her mouth and turns back to the screen while I just smile at her. I should probably get ready.

I get up and head upstairs. “Goodnight Cupcake!” she shouts.

I roll my eyes. “Stop calling me that!” I shout back.

I head into the bathroom and stare at the mirror. A pair of pale blue eyes stare back at me. I heave a sigh before opening the cabinet under me and digging out a small bottle.

“New identity, this should be fun,” I mutter sarcastically to myself before beginning the transformation.