1- A new body
"Burn her!"
"No, skin her alive!"
"Cut her into pieces Your Majesties!"
"Rip her lying tongue out!"
These voices, where are they from? Why is it so damn noisy?
I was just...I... Wait, what was I doing? Why can't I remember a thing about the last few minutes after walking into the hotel room where my target was?
Ack! That aside, I need to do something about all these people yelling around me.
I force my gaze open despite the sting of pain from my eyelids. When they part far enough to welcome the blinding light from the large window or whatever it is, I slowly roll to the side of the hard surface I lie on and then push myself into a sitting position.
Suddenly, gasps overtake the previous yelling, irritating me even more.
"Fucking shut up!" I yell as my right hand lifts to scratch my itchy scalp.
Suddenly, I feel a weight around my wrists that drags my hand back down. "Ack! What are thes...huh?!"
My vision has now fully cleared and all I can see are the fat ass shackles around my wrists with a thick metal chain connecting the ones on my wrists to the ones on my ankles.
"Huh??? Did I hit my head too hard?"
I lift the shackles to my eyes for a closer inspection. But before I can study them, something strikes my forehead. The stench that comes from it as it trickles down my face is nauseating. But not like such rotten stenches are new in my line of work.
Finally, I lift my gaze to the source of this attack.
The second our eyes meet, she gasps taking a few steps back, a basket of more eggs in her hand.
"She has looked at me. Oh gawd! I'm going to be cursed for nine lifetimes," the woman cries hysterically and the basket slips from her grip.
Wait a damn second.
Where the fuck is this?
Why are they wearing such outdated clothes, hairstyles, and such a strange accent?
More mumbling and yelling spread in the air while I take in my surroundings.
I seem to be in a hall. A very large one at that. The low windows on the two opposite sides let in a flood of natural light, indicating that it is daytime.
There are no bulbs or LED lights, just tall thick candles positioned at every corner and wall of this hall. Even the huge chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling are full of these white candles.
I close my eyes again, scolding my brain for creating such a stupid illusion.
Was I drugged by the enemy?
Did they know that I was on to them?
When my eyelids move again, I look up where the large window. Between me and that painted window stands what looks like a throne with at least fifteen steps leading to it. On those thrones sit three men.
Although I cannot see their faces due to the blinding light behind them, I can feel their smug gazes running over my head.
Annoyed I snort.
This time, I go against the weight of the chains and shackles until I am on my feet.
There is a ripping pain in my left leg, but I don't pay attention to it right now.
The act of me standing arouses another round of gasps in this strange hall with the well-dressed crowd shoving further away from me like I have some kind of plague.
Other than the timid crowd, there are several men in armor positioned all over the hall, including behind me.
Their swords, though sheathed, look so real.
Ah, I get it now. I was betrayed and thrown here in this place with these actors to make it seem as if I'm in the past. How ridiculous.
This kind of a prank is the worst I've ever heard of.
I sigh lifting my head to the throne.
"Hey, you three! How much did that bastard pay you to act here, huh?"
Shocked gasps come from the crowd, raising my anger levels. I turn to the crowd to my left, a glare fixed on my face.
"Will you all just freaking shut up! This prank is kindergarten level, okay!"
"She's possessed!"
"Your Majesties, what do we do? The witch has been possessed by the devil."
"She speaks for the damned angel."
"Let us kill her so that the wrath of God doesn't burn us-"
"Shut. Up!" I yell angrily, and boom, the chandelier hanging above me snaps loose.
Even though this is a prank, I cannot let them hurt me, which is why my body jumps and rolls away from the danger before it can crush me to death.
A loud explosion comes from the chandelier as it smashes on the floor. It scatters the glass decoration that was attached to it in all directions while the crowd shrinks away from both me and the fallen chandelier.
The rope that was keeping it up there is damaged. I can tell this much for I have used so many blades before; knives, daggers, ninja darts, katanas, axes, long swords...the list goes on.
As an assassin with forty years of experience, there is nothing I haven't seen in the darkness.
No. This is not a prank. This is an illusion.
Even though I have been aging beautifully, the hands that I've just seen are at least thirty years younger than my real age. I should be turning fifty-four this year if all goes well.
I guess I should now retire after this year and leave the work to the younger generation.
But what will I do after I retire? Grow flowers? Raise pets? 'Decide that later when you've managed to get yourself out of this illusion.'
Ah, right.
But, how do I leave this place?
While I ponder, someone starts to clap, silencing the entire hall.
When my eyes trace the source of the claps, they end up on the dais.
One of the three frames is now standing and clapping while gazing down at where I am.
"I am impressed. Is this what sorcery looks like?" he asks, his voice full of ridicule. Nothing about it expresses any positivity.
"Your Majes-"
"Shut up, Stewart!" he snaps glaring to his right where a man who looks like he is half a breath away from dying stands, a cane in his hand. His white hair and numerous wrinkles indicate that he is at least ninety years old. Damn!
"Come on little witch, perform more magic."
"Huh?! Are you crazy or dumb?"
Gasps.
'Jesus! Why is this illusion so damn irritating? I want to cut their tongues out and sew their mouths shut for some peace.'
"Hahaha! You're quite bold, aren't you, Little Witch?"
He slowly descends the steps, chaining my eyes until he comes to stand a mere inch from me.
With the silhouette gone, I can clearly absorb his features; long red hair held up in a ponytail by a black strip, bright green eyes that speak the voice of nature, pink lips proportional to his face, and tall enough to tower over me. Must be at least six feet four and above.
Damn! This illusion is getting hotter.
"You stare at me as if I'm a meal on a plate. Is there something that you-"
I grab him by his coat and pull his face down to mine, earning more gasps.
"Don't call me little. I'm way older than you."
The man huffs looking amused for some reason. "Oh really? But why is that you were born nineteen years ago while I was born eleven years before you? How does that make you older than me?"H Up
