Ronald Marshall

I walked down the country road towards the lake. So many memories flooded in my mind. I still remember the day I ran through this road to escape from the people of Riverlook. Reasel town is way better than Riverlook. I have friends there.

Thomas is my best friend, disregarding our age difference. He knows everything about me, except about the contract and the 'Ace' thing. He knows about Riverlook, the curse, my parents and most importantly, Emma. He was there for me when I struggled to get her out of my head.

Emma was hard to forget. But I eventually did. She was just a phase. As Theo says, she is just a way for me to get to Reasel town, to get me out of my mansion. Mabel is trying her best to find me someone. But I don't want to be with anyone. I am so done with love, girls and heart breaks. I can already guess how that will end. And I don't want to get attached to anyone anymore.

Thomas was born in Riverlook too. He was banished from Riverlook for using dark magic. But Thomas had no idea that what he did was dark. He accidently controlled his teacher's mind and made her leave him out of punishment. The teacher realised it so much later that she has been controlled. But for Thomas, he was just wishing, and all his wishes came true each and every time. He had dark magic in his blood. His grandmother is from Reasel town. The one and only Mabel Martin. She can read minds and he can control minds. They will make the best team. She got him a job here. They both are not on good terms. But he is grateful to her for saving him when he had no one. Like I am for Theo.

Riverlook is famous everywhere because of the beauty, culture and the people. The people here are stupid and cruel. They are controlled by the ministry. No one can get them out of their spell. The Ministry has drawn them out a map with directions saying how their life should go. And they don't think twice. They have been doing this for decades and don't know how to live outside of the rules. What will happen if they move away from here? Who wants to? People here are brainwashed.

As Riverlook is coordinated by the ministry, the Ministry of Riverlook is the most powerful one in the world. And Riverlook is the best city as their style of living is considered ideal. Funny, isn't it? Outsiders think so. Riverlook's place is among the clouds. Just visit here once and its place will be among the dirt.

I stopped by the lake and watched the sun rise. The sky is brightening, something that you can't see in Reasel town. It is always dark. I sighed as I sat down to watch the sun rise. Riverlook is beautiful. Even though it has all the worst types of people, it has always been beautiful. I miss watching the sunrise and sunset. I miss this bright sky. I miss this pure atmosphere. I miss my carefree life. I never had any duties nor anything to prove. Now I have responsibilities, life threatening ones. The city is waking up. I should get to work before they all wake up. I took out the note that Theo gave me. Ronald Marshall, 65 years old, Marshall Mansion, near the lake. What did you do, Mr. Marshall, to get this fate?

The house should be somewhere near here.

I wonder why these old people ran into something so messed up. I don't remember the number of old people I have killed. Old people are always greedy. Why can't they sit back and enjoy the remaining time of their life without jumping into trouble? Do they really have to mess with the wrong sort of people?

And who is cruel enough to think of killing an old man? They may be dead in less than a year. And what is the reason for asking for the beast? Hades can easily kill with the killing spell. He is also among the best of the assassins. That will be more preferable for old people. They are already dying. Then why the beast?

Woah Marshall, what did you do?

I saw the mansion near me. It is more like mine. No security guards and enchantments?! That's so careless. You have a death wish, don't you? Let me do that for you.

I entered the mansion. It made me remember my old mansion. I miss the luxury I had. I turned the door knob, which was to my surprise not locked. Seriously, Marshall?! I walked around looking for the study room. He must be there considering his age. I opened the door and peeked inside. Not this one. Let's check other doors too. I can steal something which can be worth a lot of money. It is hard for me to live under my salary alone.

I opened another door. I froze at the sight. It is a bedroom and it has my mom's picture all around?! Who is so obsessed with my mom? There is no one worse than my mom. Who wants to have a picture of her around them? Is this that old Marshall's room or most probably…

I stepped further into the room and looked around. It is definitely my mom's room. It has to be. The organisation and neatness gave away. It has to be hers. She is so filled with herself. No one else will dare to get so many pictures of her. Is she here? I should leave if she is. Don't want to run into someone familiar, do we? I have got a mission to complete before it. Where is that old man?

"I knew she would get me a killer." I gasped at the sudden voice and turned around to see my prey behind me. "Never thought she would send her own son!"

"What_?"

"It is a pleasure meeting you Austin." He said as he stood there with a smile. Why is he smiling? Has he planned out to save himself and attack me at the same time? How else would someone smile like that when there is an assassin before you?

"You are my grandfather?" Suddenly it striked me. If this is my mom's room. This got to be her home and this man her father.

"Yes, indeed."

"Um…" I don't know what to say. He was standing there with a cane to support him and a smile on his face. So unfortunate that the first time I met my grandfather was to kill him. "I am here to kill you." I said and looked up to him to see his reaction.

"You better. Otherwise she will kill me herself. I don't want her to get blood on her hands." He said. What a caring father!

"My mom didn't send me here." I said with a sigh.

"No one else would want me dead."

"But I was… wait, why does she want you dead?"

He scoffed. Why should I trust this man? I was easy to fool before, not anymore. I can't trust my prey. They will do anything to escape from my grasp.

"I want you to kill me too. But before that, you should hear me out. I have been keeping this to myself all these years. I have to let it out before I die" He paused and looked at me with a very sympathetic smile. "You are not the curse, it's your mother, Rowena Tyler."

"Have you gone insane, old man?" I scoffed. He is trying to distract me from my mission. It's his life he got to protect. He would play any mind games to protect him. But you can't stop me.

"I don't expect you to trust. The prophecy was made and it clearly says the mother of the child who was born without magical abilities will bring the doom on Riverlook. She altered it for her own convenience."

"How do you know?"

"It was me who made the prophecy."