Deck of Assassins NaNo Stories

Brent watched the stage carefully as the crowd around him shifted continuously. He used his illusions to disguise himself, ensure that no one took notice to him as he held the knife at his side. He glanced upwards at the sky, able to catch a glimpse of the dark shape of a hawk high in the sky. He hadn’t seen the sign yet, which meant no trouble at the moment. But that could change at any moment. Thus, time was of the essence.

“I think the stand over there is selling tarts.”

Brent’s eye twitched as the loud voice echoing in his head disrupted his concentration. “I thought I told you to be quiet, Madder,” he mumbled.

“Okay but that was before there were tarts involved,” he retorted.

“Madder, please, give the boy some peace of mind. He did promise to buy you tarts later if you behaved,” a female voice chimed in.

“Mmm but is it worth waiting, Victoria?”

Victoria let out a long sigh before saying, “If Brent dies you won’t get any tarts.”

“So my options are freedom or tarts. Hmmm… are you sure I can’t just get-“

“All please stand in attention for your King and Queen Callis!” a voice called out as the crowd’s shifting ceased. Everyone’s focus trained on the two figures that slowly made their way on stage, escorted by two guards and two large mechanical jaguars. Brent smirked as he watched them cross the stage. Nothing seemed more fitting to the fiery queen of the world’s most technologically advanced country.

As they began to cross the stage, Brent knew that a pair of a crosshairs was trained on Queen Callis’ chest. He wasn’t sure why Ali hated the queen of Avuno so much, especially when the one with royal blood was King Callis, not his wife. But, orders were orders. In order for them to live, the queen had to die. Brent closed his eyes and mentally paid his respects. He had always found the queen quite likable. Perhaps in another time and place, they could have been friends.

Brent opened his eyes again and watched as the King and Queen stopped at the center of the stage, as they did every year at this festival. The guards stepped back in formation, allowing the crowd a full view of the royals. He counted down in his head: three… two… one. A shot rang out across the festival venue, somewhat muffled by the roaring of the crowds. Brent started to turn away, knowing the deed was done when he heard the screams of the crowd. But then a loud roar silenced them all, causing Brent to freeze. He turned back and saw the queen unharmed with the two jaguars surrounding she and the king. They had grown in size, the bullet lodged into the side of one. However, most notable and shocking about them were the flames bursting from the beasts, erupting from their heads, mouths, backs, and legs. As the flames grew larger, the bullet began to melt, dripping on the stage with a loud hiss.

Brent sucked in a quick breath. While he had no doubt Avuno could invent great and vast technologies, inventing these jaguars was no feat of technology alone. Machines had quick reaction times yes, but nothing like this. He took a step back. They were up against something much stronger than Ali had prepared them for.

One of the jaguars turned its head towards Brent and zeroed in on him. Brent didn’t have time to figure out how it could see him with his illusions up, as the jaguar leapt off the stage in pursuit of him. Brent quickly turned and began to dash off, knowing he couldn’t outrun the jaguar. He felt a tugging at his soul as a voice echoed inside his mind.

“Shall we begin a teleportation?” Victoria asked.

“I say we just leave him to get caught,” Madder responded with a cackle, “Let him die so we can be free!”

“No, I’d like a teleportation please,” he answered, “Let me know when you’re in position.”

“Right away, Brent!”

Brent knew, even if he couldn’t see it, that the two demons were going as close as they could to the rendezvous point. He just hoped they moved quick enough, as he could hear the mechanical sounds of the jaguar growing ever closer. It’d take two or three jumps to actually get to the rendezvous, so he could only hope that would be enough to lose this jaguar.

“Ready, Brent!”

“I still say we just leave him to die.”

Brent groaned and rolled his eyes before initiating the jump to the demons a ways up the street. He didn’t miss a beat, continuing in his sprint and gaining a second wind when he heard he loud roar of the jaguar in almost a frustrated sound. “Excuse me! Pardon me! Coming through!” he shouted as he shoved his way through the denser part of the festival. As much as it hindered his mobility, he hoped it would prevent the jaguar from following him as easily as well.

“Ready again!” Victoria chimed in his head.

“One second!” Brent replied as he continued to force himself through the crowd. Shoving his way past a pastry stand, Brent swiped a few tarts on display before making another jump, this time into an alleyway.

“Do I smell tarts?” Madder asked.

“It’s motivation for getting me to the safe house!” Brent answered, doing his best not to crush the tarts in his grip.

“… fine I guess I’ll comply a little longer.”

Brent smirked and rounded a corner only to be confronted by another jaguar. He slid to a stop and began to sprint the other way. “GUYS PROBLEM!”

“Oof! Yeah we noticed! Why are you running the other way?” Victoria asked, the panic obvious in her voice.

“The other jaguar is after me! Do you know if any of the others are nearby that can provide support?” Brent glanced over his shoulder as a loud high pitched whistle echoed behind him. A bright loud began to form in the jaguar’s jaws. Shit, fire ball FIRE BALL! “I NEED TO KNOW NOW!”

“No one of importance really,” Madder scoffed, “just-“

The jaguar fired its blast only to have it parried with another blast of fire. Brent was sent forward by the blast, stumbling and falling. He started to push himself up when a hand extended down to him. He smiled as a naked red head stared down at him.

“Thought you could get rid of us that easily huh?” she teased.

“Look man, I don’t intend to die by a fire breathing jaguar, as badass as that sounds.”

“Are you sure?” Madder chimed in.

“Silence in the peanut gallery,” Brent hissed back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw his other teammate blocking the jaguar’s flames. He was holding his own for now, but Brent could tell he was running out of steam fast, his blonde hair starting to catch on fire from all the sparks flying around. They needed to go.

“You have enough energy to teleport us? Shining Knight is waiting for us at the rendezvous.”

“Yeah, Madder, Vic, are you guys in position?”

“Ready!” Victoria answered.

Brent grabbed his friend’s hand and nodded. “On three, we dive for him. One, two, three!” Brent dove forward and as soon as he felt his hands touch his teammate’s back, he initiated the jump. They landed just short of their designated safe house, but it didn’t matter. It was close enough. Taking off in one final sprint, it wasn’t long before they reached the entrance and slipped inside undetected.

A wave of relief flowed over Brent. Good. They had escaped death by fire breathing jaguar. Now they had to escaped death by an evil psychopathic business woman. Less fun.