Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Lucius tracked through the streets of Stark Academy with Desmond hot on his trail. Despite the differences in speed and stamina, he was surprised that the human was able to keep up so well with him.

The scent of the elf known as Silis was still strong and easy to follow, yet there was a second, slightly familiar scent on the wind as well. Whoever it was that Silis was working with was somewhere within the academy, though Lucius was struggling to pinpoint where they might be at the moment. Since the other individual was a lost cause, he redoubled his efforts to follow the elf traitor.

Silis was none the wiser about their presence as he twisted and turned through different alleyways to try and hide his route. His movements were that of an amateur, making it easy to guess which of the inns he was looking for. Desmond nodded at Lucius when he also predicted where the elf was going and went ahead to scout the area out.

Though he was certain the co-conspirator would not make themselves known out in public, there was still a chance, so Lucius did not want to lose physical eyes on Silis.

After a few more minutes, Silis entered a smaller inn without incident. Desmond was waiting around the side for Lucius to approach. When he reached his friend, they headed inside together and found a rather normal-looking business.

The bar was filled with a few students who were drinking away the stress of classes and complaining about different lectures. The few tables on the ground floor were filled with a handful of students nibbling on the small meals that they could afford on their limited budgets.

There were three employees handling everyone in the front, and Lucius could hear at least two more in the back manning the kitchen. Of the three in the front, the bartender appeared to be in charge of the place. She was stocky for an elf but still decently attractive, and she had an expression that begged for someone to cause trouble.

"A shifty and scared-looking elf just came in here. I imagine he has a room here or was allowed into the room someone else purchased. This is for you to close shop and look the other way." Desmond said with a carefree smile while placing a sack of coins on the bar.

The woman looked up at him and raised an eyebrow without saying anything before politely pushing the back into his hands.

Desmond refused to take it and explained, "My friend here is… on his best behavior at the moment. However we are on a task at the behest of Headmaster Orllan as well as Lady Tenia din Aedrider. Perhaps it would be best to accept the offer, miss."

Desmond's charming smile was so bright that a few of the female, and even some male, students in the building began to blush. The bartender on the other hand, was starting to tremble a little when he mentioned Lady Tenia's name. Most outside of the palace would not even mention the lady's name, preferring to refer to her as the Lady of the Mountain.

The fact that Desmond had no such fear of her name nor of reprisal for claiming to work on her behalf convinced the bartender that he was speaking truthfully.

This time, she grabbed the sack of gold and instructed her employees to shutter the building and push all the customers outside for their own safety. While they did that, Lucius went up the stairs to the second level, where the rooms were, and he could hear Silis speaking to someone.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As Lucius approached the door, he heard Silis panicking and talking rapidly. If he had not heard the heartbeat of a second person on the other side of the door, he would have assumed that Silis was talking to himself.

The familiar scent was stronger now as well, indicating that the person Lucius somehow knew was in there with him. It took a few moments to remember because the scent had changed so much as if it was being masked somehow, but he finally managed to place it. Rage welled up inside Lucius as he burst into the room.

*****

Silis made sure to take several alternative routes throughout the academy on his way to the meeting spot. His contact had told him to randomize his turns whenever running away from a pursuer so he could throw them off the trail. He did as he was told and took nearly a dozen unnecessary turns before finally arriving at the usual place.

Without even a simple nod at the proprietress of the inn, he rushed up the stairs to the furthest room on the left. Waiting for him inside was the contact, who was dressed in black from head to toe and wore a black veil over her face. The only thing that indicated the person was a woman was a slight protrusion from the chest, but otherwise, none of her other features were visible.

None except for the metal prosthetic that hummed with mana due to the crystals embedded around the joints of the artificial limb. In her hand was a simple letter, and she silently tossed it at him for him to read. Silis had no idea how she was able to remain so quiet all the time, nor did he understand why the letter made no sound as he tore it open.

On the outside of the letter was the usual symbol, a shattered globe. He quickly read the letter, the contents of which made the blood drain from his face.

"No… no, no, no, no!" He shouted, "You can't do this to me! Just cutting me off… I gave you everything you asked for!"

The woman in black stood in silence as he berated her and screamed. Soon his anger turned into fear. Silis resorted to begging her on his hands and knees to change her mind. The letter informed him that the people his contact worked for no longer needed him and that they were terminating their contract.

"I even sabotaged the research data! I did everything you asked! Thanks to me, Aedrider will never discover the truth behind Orichalcum I…"

Silis suddenly found himself unable to speak. The woman gently touched his shoulder and at the same moment, all attempts at making sound failed. He could not even hear his own heartbeat and started to worry that he was already dead.

A loud bang came from his right side, and the human from earlier with the beast-like eyes burst through the door. His face was contorted in anger, and his eyes were locked completely on the woman.

The woman slowly removed the veil covering her face, exposing a horrifying mask of scarred flesh that had once been her face. She quickly removed a dagger from her cloak and slammed it up to the hilt into Silis's neck.

Due to whatever magic was at work, his gurgling was silent, reaching no one at all. As the world began to darken around him, he heard a handful of words from the woman.

"It's been a long time, Lucius… Have you missed me?"

Her voice was hoarse as if the mere act of talking brought her pain.

"Mia…" the human known as Lucius growled. That was the last thing Silis heard before darkness consumed him.