book not named yet but soon! chapter two

Chapter two

1 year later

Onyx

I’m in my room, preparing for my next mission. The ruler gave me a picture of the rebel, all I need to do is hunt him down. And then kill him.

Even after a year, it’s still hard to do. I mean, I know the rebels are bad, but still. It’s hard to just kill them without any emotion.

All the other humans working with me seem to be fine, though they’ve probably been doing this for years.

I grab my belt from the bed, fastening it on over my thick pants, made to help protect me from injuries, should my missions go wrong. I strap a dagger to the belt, another safety measure. I hope I won’t have to use it today, as it makes the experience a lot more unpleasant, but on the off-chance that the rebel somehow resists the lethal powder I use to kill them swiftly, or I somehow lose the powder, I have to make sure they don’t escape. I’ll stab them if I have to.

Lastly, I snatch a mask from my dresser. The powder can be deadly for humans too, so I best wear it to make sure nothing can go wrong.

I slip the mask over my nose and mouth, and head out the door.

The harsh cold air nips at my skin as I exit the ruler’s castle. I glance at the rebel’s portrait one more time before shoving it into one of my many pockets. His hair is the colour of a stormy sea, a deep teal. It’s fairly long and sweeps across his forehead in dark waves. His skin is pale, a blue tint to it. He looks slim, fragile, but I know better.

Never underestimate the rebels.

My first few missions I’ve done so, and it ended badly. The rebel got away, and the ruler was not happy. I was punished. Not what you’re thinking, don’t worry. I wasn’t tortured or anything. It’s not like the ruler is evil. I was just lectured, then trained by Cyra for a week, meaning I missed my days off to go back home. My cat Thorne was not happy I’d been gone for so long.

I shake my head, clearing away any unimportant thoughts. All I should be thinking about is my mission.

My plan.

I can’t get distracted.

It happens all the time, my thoughts straying to my old life, my old friends.

I still see them sometimes, in town, at the grocery store.

My life has changed a lot since that day at the coffee shop, my last day as a normal human. If only I’d known. There are so many things I wish I could have done before all this happened. I never really got to say good-bye to my old friends. We just slowly drifted away from each other. Or rather I drifted away from them. It started with declining dinner invites, canceling plans because of missions, forgetting about parties. Eventually they just stopped inviting me. I had to lie about my job, of course.

At least I have Cyra. Despite her kidnapping me, we’ve sort of become friends in the last few months. I was mad at her for a while, but she always made an effort to make me feel less alone.

I shake my head again, this time with more force.

What happened to focusing? To not letting my thoughts stray?

I continue down the wide path with purpose. Because I do have purpose. My job is important. I can’t let the rebels destroy the human world.

Soon I veer off the path, sticking to the shadows. I’m not sure exactly where I’ll find my rebel target, but I was told he would be heading towards the castle. I need to intercept him. He should be around here somewhere.

I scan the soon-to-be crime scene, looking for any movement. When I see none I continue my way down, stopping to check every few moments. When I still don’t see him I begin to worry.

This is strange.

Why haven’t I spotted him yet? I’m getting farther and farther away from the castle, there’s no way he would be this far.

Then I stop, a thought occurring to me.

What if I passed him?

No.

That couldn’t be possible. I’d been checking constantly.

Though, at the start I’d been pretty distracted.

I curse, turning around and starting to run, no longer trying to be hidden.

I race towards the castle, fullspeed. I can’t let him get there before me.

The trees and bushes rush by, a blur as my panic makes me run faster.

And then, a few feet from the castle, I stop, remembering to hide.

Staying in the shadows, I slink closer and closer to the castle.

I don’t see him anywhere.

Could he have already gotten inside?

No.

This is terrible.

I’ve failed my mission.

No, not failed. I’m not done yet. I can still save it. I’ll just have to catch him before the Ruler does.

I hurry inside, still staying hidden, in case the rebel is around here somewhere.

Keeping against the walls, I scour every inch of the room. Still, no sign of him.

Only when I’ve searched almost everywhere and I’m deep in the castle do I see something out of the ordinary.

Or rather, hear.

It’s quick, so quick I almost miss it, but I hear a sharp intake of breath.

Then there’s silence.

Like they’re holding it.

Trying not to get caught.

And who would be sneaking around, trying not to get caught?

A rebel.

Now, in case you’re wondering, how is he invisible? Well, unfortunately, all the rebels still have their powers.

All the other creatures give theirs to the ruler’s orb, he says it keeps the world alive, but the rebels are, you know, rebels, so they don’t do that.

I reach for the little bag of deadly powder, tied to my belt.

I keep my ears open, listening for any sign he’s getting away.

I hear nothing but my breathing.

I hold my breath.

And then, quick as lightning, I reach my gloved hand into the bag, grabbing a handful of dust, and throw it in front of me.

I wait a moment.

Then, thud.

His body becomes visible as it hits the ground.

He is dead, slowly fading away.

My mission is complete.

I turn back, heading toward the throne room to report to the ruler that my mission is finished.

“Hello, Onyx.” The ruler greets me as I enter.

I never know what to say to this. I mean, I can’t exactly say “hi” to him. He’s nearly as powerful as a king.

“I suppose you completed your mission, like usual?” He asks, a lazy grin on his lips. He treats us less like an employer and more like a friend. It’s nice, but also kind of strange sometimes.

“Yes,” I say awkwardly. I stand there for a while, waiting for him to say something.

“Um, ok,” I say when he doesn’t. “Have a nice day…”

I walk out of the room, regretting my terrible choice of words. Have a nice day? Yeah, just have a great day being a ruler, trying to stop the rebels from destroying the world. Yep. Sounds like fun.

I stop by Cyra’s room before heading to mine to pack. I get a day or two off before my next mission, and I usually go back to the human world.

Cyra is sitting on her bed sketching something when I enter.

“Hey.” I say, sitting down beside her.

“Hey.” She looks up from her paper.

“Watcha drawing?” I glance over and immediately crack up.

Cyra giggles. “What?” She pretends to look offended.

“Is that Quinn?” Cyra nods.

Quinn is this human girl who works for the ruler with us. Cyra’s been crushing on her ever since she arrived here a few months ago, but has been too afraid to talk to her. She is pretty, but Cyra’s art skills are… let’s just say she tried to draw a portrait of the ruler one time and he looked, well… he burned it when he saw it.

This portrait’s not much better, I hope for Cyra’s sake Quinn doesn’t find it. The only way I can tell it’s her is because of her dark hair and midnight. “You should really talk to her.” I tell Cyra.

She sighs.

“She’s only been here for like, six months. I’ll talk to her once she gets more used to things.”

“Right.” I say.

“So,” Cyra changes the subject. “What are you gonna do on your days off?”

“Probably go back home. I have to check on Thorne.”

“Come on, again?” Cyra whines. “How about we explore this world this time? I’ve already done it twice, you never come with me!”

I sigh, considering. I’ve always gone home on my days off. It wouldn’t make sense to stay in the place I work when I’m not working.

Though, I don’t have to stay in this area. This is only a small part of the whole world. Exploring does sound pretty fun.

“But what about Thorne?” I argue. “I have to check on her, she’s all alone.”

“Okay, well how about we go check on her and then go explore.” Cyra suggests.I guess that sounds reasonable.

“Ok, fine,” I agree.

Cyra squeals. “Do you have anything to pack before we go?”

“Yeah, just a few things. I’ll be right back.” I head towards the door.

I don’t have much to pack. Most of my normal clothes are in the human world, only my mission clothes are here. I can’t imagine the weird looks I’d get if I wore them in the human world. The fashion here is very different.

I grab my dagger, just in case, before heading back to Cyra’s room.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

Bringing a dagger to the human world is kind of weird.

But it’s just become a habit.

And don’t worry, it’s not like I’m actually gonna stab someone.

“Ok, I’m ready,” I announce, entering Cyra’s room.

Then I see her face.

“What happened?” I drop my bag, rushing over.

“Aydin.” Cyra says quietly.

A wave of dread washes over me.

“No.” I whisper. “Not another one.”Recently more humans have been dying on their missions

Cyra nods.