CHAPTER SIX
“You know what, old friend, what happens in Summer, stays in Summer.” Asher laughed. An attempt to wash the old memory away and replace it with the image of the extremely handsome Darius DeVere.
Eli’s smile widened slightly, “Did you get what you were sent to retrieve, or were you too distracted?”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you were just wanting the dirty details, Eli,” Asher playfully nudged his friend with his shoulder. He felt such a kindred spirit with the male by his side. Not that he knew much about him, not really, only the small snippets that Eli would occasionally share with him. Rare glimpses into the male he was when he wasn’t the Guild”s top assassin. But Eli had taken Asher into his care, and he would be eternally thankful for that.
“Oh! Speaking of dirty details,” Asher grinned as he pulled his satchel off his shoulder. He reached out and grasped hold of Eli’s arm, bidding him to stop. “While I was there, I found these.” He pulled the wagers belonging to Nico Cadman out and offered them to Eli. “I thought I recognized the name. Isn’t he a friend of yours? You introduced us that first time in Summer all those years ago?”
Taking the wagers from Asher”s grasp, Eli looked over them, his jaw clenched. His usual cool demeanor was replaced with tension, “Yes, a friend.” Stuffing them into his pocket, he glanced at Asher, “I need a favor; it seems there’s a trip I need to take. I’ll be away from the Guild for a few days.” He glanced from the wagers, now hidden, to Asher and then back before continuing, “I need you to not tell the Guild about these wagers or about Nico. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ll repay the debt.”
With hands raised, palms facing his friend, Asher tilted his head as he processed Eli’s sudden change in mood, “Of course! What wagers, I don’t know anyone by that name.” He didn’t like seeing Eli like this, so Asher did what he did best in these situations, he cracked jokes and attempted to lighten the atmosphere. “Seriously though, whatever you want me to do is fine, and you don’t need to repay me for anything. I am just happy to help you help your friend. I did help? Right? I didn’t mess up, did I?” Asher’s tone dropped to that of a fretful child. Worried he had fucked up while trying to do right by his friend.
Eli, seeing Asher’s panic, gave him a small smirk and punched him lightly in the shoulder, “Relax, kid, I just have some things that need to be sorted. You did well. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you for getting these to me, I am gonna need to take these to Nico, but I’ll be back before you know it. Don’t worry about missing training. I’ll make sure your next training session is a tad harder. I know how lazy you get when I’m gone.”
Asher was buckling his satchel, but hearing Eli’s words, his head whipped up, “What? Seriously? I don’t get lazy, I just recognize you are getting older, and I take it easy on you in case you break a hip or something. Can’t have the Guild throwing you into the scrap heap.”
He couldn’t say he loved Eli like a father, he had no idea what that sort of relationship would be like, but he had admired the male who stood beside him. If a father guided his child, supported them when they needed it, and chastised them when they faltered, then Eli was as close to a father figure as Asher would ever get.
“If you”re asking for me to make your life hell, you are doing a good job at it,” a small laugh escaped Eli, “Don’t cause too much trouble either. A bored Asher is dangerous.” He smiled, just a brief pull on his lips before once more turning to walk back in the direction they had come from.
“You are leaving right now?” Asher called after him, the disappointment evident in his voice. “Don’t you need to pack a few things? I mean, if you waited an hour, I could leave this stuff off with the Accountant and go with you?” He could maybe be quicker, but that would depend on who was on duty.
The Accountant was instructed to take whatever they had been sent to retrieve and co-sign the assignment sheet to provide proof of completion. If he was lucky, Maythos would be on today, and he could be in and out in five minutes.
Eli turned his body to face Asher. Walking backward, he shook his head. He wouldn’t stop walking, “I have supplies stashed nearby. Go inside and rest. You were gone quite some time. I’ll be back before you know it, Asher. Can’t have you bored on such a mundane trip as I’m about to take, when you could be training. I promise you won’t even realize I’m gone.”
Shrugging off the feeling of rejection, Asher forced a smile and did his best to make it convincing, “Yeah, I guess...I am tired. Just come back in one piece, okay?”
Eli continued to walk backward, making his way closer to the forest that would eventually swallow him up, away from Asher and the Guild, “You really think anyone could take me down? I think I taught you better than that.” His eyebrows rose, and he tilted his head as if asking Asher to challenge him. Eli didn”t let Asher answer him as he turned and disappeared into the dark woods ahead.
Asher stood watching his friend until he was out of sight. He had a bad feeling but couldn’t pin it down. Reaching out with his ability, Asher tried to probe and see what Eli was feeling, but he was blocking him, shutting him out.
Lost in his thoughts for a few moments, Asher replayed his friends’ reaction over in his head, from the moment he saw Asher approach up until his last parting words. Eli was always an enigma, but there was something going on, and he wished more than anything in this world his friend would trust him enough to share whatever was worrying him.
With a heavy sigh, Asher turned and made his way through the trees to the open clearing in the middle of the island. Situated just off the rim of the forest was a ruined church and, to its side, an old graveyard. It was believed the church had been a functional one at some stage in its long history, given that there were bodies entombed in the grounds surrounding it. At a time when No Man’s Land hadn’t existed, a time that most believed to be a myth. Asher didn’t know whether he believed it or not. Some of the graves were as little as a year old.
All was not as it appeared to be.
Should someone actually make it from No Man’s Land onto the inner island by some sheer dumb luck, all they would see were the ruins. But Guild members saw so much more.
Hidden in plain sight was a doorway to the underground tunnels. Only one way in and one way out, or so Asher and the others had believed while in training. It wasn’t until they received their bonding marks, magical marks placed on the skin that the students got right before graduating to be let go on their first assignment, that some of the secrets of the Guild were revealed.
Asher made his way through the broken and crumbling tombstones, very few still standing erect and proud. Wooden religious effigies lay scattered, warped, and withered with age at the base of where they once stood rooted. It was easy to overlook the entrance. Only the initiated into the Guild would ever have the knowledge needed to gain access to the upper levels of the Guild.
Asher ran his hand lightly over the cold stone blocks of each until he stopped before a statue of the Guardian. A God who had taken fae form to help slay the cursed, according to lore. The foot of which was perched at the neck of a dragon. No one knew which Quartaine the god ruled over. With Frenlorn ruling over Winter, Metlorn with Spring, Lunalorn protecting Autumn, and finally, Solslorn having Summer, there was no telling where this god belonged. Maybe they were just their name, a guardian, a protector. Not belonging to any place but only using their absolute immortality to protect.
He had always been fascinated with this sculpture. It was beautifully sorrowful. He’d often found himself in his younger years making up stories of how the two had been lovers only to have the angel be forced to take the life of his soul mate.
His fingers brushed over the foot of the guardian standing on the raised platform until they came to rest on the cold toes, the largest of which Asher pressed on firmly. The nail gave way, sinking down into the foot, and the sound of stone scraping on stone could be faintly heard as the slab at his own feet began to pull back, revealing steps descending into the dark.
Casting his gaze skyward, the warm sun on his face, Asher sighed softly. No matter how long he had lived there, no matter how many times he had descended the stairs, he had always hated it. There were times during his youth he would crave the warm caress of the sun”s rays on his pale skin. Then upon each new assignment, he looked forward to the embrace of the searing heat of the Summer Quartaine, even if it truly irritated his pale skin to be in such a harsh climate for so long, the deep reds of Autumn or the smell of Spring’s blooms, he loved them all. But nothing beat the way his soul sang when standing in the biting wind of the Winter Quartaine. Winter always called to his soul, and although he never knew why, he also never questioned it.
The stone began to move slowly back into place overhead as he continued down to the first level of the underground bolt hold. Looking over his shoulder, Asher watched the light from above as it grew weaker until the slim ray of sunlight blipped out when the entrance was sealed tight.
Asher continued walking. He removed the satchel from his shoulder as he walked. Asher made his way along the dimly lit corridor until he came up to a set of heavy oak doors. He was tired, even though he had evanesced the last part of the journey leaving his horse in an obscure little village on the shores of Summer. Distance jumping in short spurts was fine, but covering the distance he had in the short period of time drained him of energy. Asher knew once his head hit the pillow, he would be out to the world for hours, if not a day or two.
He pressed an open palm to the door and pushed it firmly. As it eased open, sounds began to filter through to him, and the sound of others began to make their way to him. Pushing forward, the door quietly closed behind him. Asher followed the corridor for a few minutes more until it opened up into a fairly large underground chamber.
There in the center, stood four pairs. Males and females faced each other, swords or daggers in hand at the ready, as a Guild trainer wove between them, calling out fighting stances. The younglings moved gracefully, with balance and stealth. Swinging their blades, they brought them down on their opponents, who with equal flair, blocked the attack.
The Guild never differentiated between males and females. Neither were hailed weaker nor superior because, with the training of the Guild, they were equals in their abilities. Trained in all things, the aim solely to achieve the success of their assignments, the assassins, and spies born from the Guild were the best for this reason.
Trained in not only killing but seduction and manipulation topped nicely with education in various main languages and the inner workings of each court in the Quartaines.
Honeytrap or brutal killer, all wore a beautiful face with the ability to steal your court secrets or kill you while you screwed your mistress. The only thing that mattered was completing the assignment and returning to the Guild with a completed successful mission.
Lost in thought, Asher passed along the outskirts of the chamber and took the next set of stairs to the floor below. He was fighting tiredness, but the delivery of the stolen wagers to the Accountant came before sleep. No rest until he had this assignment marked as completed.
As he turned the corner, Asher was suddenly intercepted by Mikhai. The hallway was wide enough for two people to pass each other but not to avoid someone you had no desire to talk to. Not possible.
Mikhai”s eyes lit up when they landed on Asher, “Took you long enough to make your way here. Did you and Eli have a little heart-to-heart up there?”
That annoying smirk was back.
On a tired sigh, Asher didn’t falter in his steps, he walked past the male, and as he did, he lifted a heavy arm and flipped the assassin the bird. Asher knew he was on reserve energy, and soon, that too would run out.
Mikhai laughed at Asher’s gesture and slowed his steps, “Tell me did Eli go behind my back and tell you all my secrets?” Humor danced in his eyes, but there was a hint of seriousness.
“You know, I realize this might be a difficult concept for you to grasp, but not everything is about you. But just so you know, there is nothing that you have done or could do that would be of even the slightest bit of interest to me. Whatever your secrets are, they are still your own.” Asher found himself glancing in the male’s direction as he approached the doors to the Accountant’s office. “Now, if you are done, I have business to attend to.”
Mikhai was liked by many in the Guild. Both males and females flocked to him, and he ate it up like it was his favorite food. Once upon a time, Asher had been one of those people. That was before Marcia and that night.
The role Mikhai had played in it may have been small to the male, but to Asher, it was anything but. The older male had promised to watch over him while Eli was gone, and he had failed. Why? Because he would rather focus on getting his dick wet than recognize he was being lured away from his responsibility.
Asher approached the door at the same time as the other male. Mikhai reached out, gripping Asher”s arm, turning the male to look at him. His expression, suddenly serious, “How about your assignment? Nothing went wrong, I hope.”
“You know we aren’t supposed to discuss our jobs!” Asher hissed through clenched teeth. His voice was low as he rounded on Mikhai, “And right outside the office, too. Are you trying to get us punished? Fuck sake...you aren’t fucking stupid, even if you do look it.”
Mikhai’s eyes narrowed at Asher’s outburst, irritation flaring, “Not used to other people but Eli looking out for you? You can lean on other people, you know. Eli won’t be around forever,” his voice lowered as he spoke about the other male.
“Really? Pity you didn’t hold onto those sentiments a few years ago, huh?” His eyes flashed briefly with pain before he shut it down. He was tired, and it was making it difficult to keep the things he had locked away to stay that way. Forcing himself to calm down, he turned from the male, tugging roughly, freeing himself of Mikhai’s grip.
With a heavy sigh, Mikhai lifted his hand to reach out to Asher, only to let it drop when he turned away. His shoulders slumped as he slipped his hands into his pockets, “Four years ago, I made a mistake. I broke a promise, and for that, I will always be sorry. I failed to protect you, but this...this front you put up, this persona you have adapted, it’s not you, Asher.” Taking a deep breath to fortify himself, Mikhai straightened. Speaking before thinking it through, he rushed on, “Instead of using that experience to make you stronger, you let it slowly break you. You are the way you are now because of it. It’s a–”
Mikhai didn’t get to finish what he was about to say. The bag he was carrying had barely hit the floor before Asher had whipped around, his large hand gripping the male’s throat, his nails biting the flesh as his other held the tip of his favorite blade to the hollow of Mikhai’s throat. He slammed him hard against the wall just by the door. Rage burned like wildfire through him. His heart was pounding so loud he could hear it as he struggled against the urge to slit the slimy bastard”s throat.
“You have no fucking idea,” he hissed, his face a breath from the male before him. “Speak of that night once more to me or anyone else, and I swear on all I am that it will be the last words to fall from your lips.”
Asher was struggling, but it was no longer tiredness threatening to overtake him. It was the desire to wipe the look off Mikhai’s face. Even with a knife to his throat, the piece of shit before him still looked smug. But reason won, and taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, Asher pushed away from the male.
Mikhai didn’t seem the least bit worried that he’d had a dagger ready to tear open his throat. Stepping away from the wall, he straightened his shirt and tugged on the sleeves of his jacket.
The male cared more about his appearance than anything else.
Looking at Asher once again, the corner of Mikhai’s mouth lifted slightly. A hint of sadness suddenly hidden behind the mask of the asshole he now had back in place. “I admit my mouth took charge before my mind could stop it,” he laughed softly. “I shouldn’t have said those things, and I recognize that. I apologize, Asher.”
Asher took a threatening step towards him, his fist clenched at his side.
Mikhai raised his hands in surrender as he continued, “Part of what I said still holds true. Having other people look after you is never a bad thing. I will always look out for you because I failed that night. I owe it to you, and if you need me, I’m here.”
His words stalled Asher. The warring emotions were clear on the young male”s face for only moments before being shut down.
Mikhai closed the short distance and gripped Asher’s shoulder, his smile genuine, and winked at him. Squeezing Asher’s shoulder lightly, with a small sigh, he removed his hand and gave the young male a knowing nod, then he was gone. Sauntering down the hallway, strutting like the world was his stage.
Asher stood, feet rooted to the spot as he watched the arrogant male. His heart was still racing, and he was doing all he could to gain control over his warring emotions. Mikhai always had the ability to push his buttons, even before that horrible night. He knew the male got some sort of sick, perverted kick out of it, and he usually didn’t rise to his baiting, but he had taken it too far.
Waiting until the male in question had turned the corner before turning to face the doors of the office, Asher took a deep, cleansing breath to ground himself and then slowly let it out. It only took a moment. It was so well practiced that it was like flipping a switch. One moment his emotions were raging, the next, he felt nothing.
Picking the satchel up from where he had dropped it, Asher tossed it over his shoulder as he pushed the doors open and entered the dimly lit room. Being underground meant natural light was not an option, and candles were too much of a fire hazard. Light in the Guild was garnered by magical globes. Spheres of iridescent liquid that, when shaken, radiated light. The brightness depended on how hard they were jolted. Once glowing, the light of one sphere could illuminate a small room, and as time passed, the light would eventually fade and then blip out until it was needed once more, and the process repeated.
It appeared the Accountant liked to scrimp on those as only one sat lit and glowing on the desk before him, its light just a dim glow.
“Come in and close the door, Rivenshaw. You are late, and you know how I hate tardiness.” A tall, willowy male stepped from the shadows, his hair cropped to the skin on one side, the other side barely there, and his head topped with a mane of curly brown hair. The lenses of his spectacles glinted in the flickering light as he pushed them up his nose.
Laughing softly at the clipped tone, Asher set the satchel down on the table and unbuckled it, flipping it open to reveal the wagers. Upon handing them over and giving a verbal rendition of what had happened in Summer, minus his tryst with Darius DeVere, Asher signed the contract to signify its completion.
He waited only long enough to watch the male roll the contract before sealing it closed with the Guild. That was it; the job was officially accepted as done and dusted, freeing Asher up once more for what other assignment the inner circle deemed worthy of his skills.
He subconsciously rubbed at the center of his chest, an ache still sitting after his interaction with Mikhai.
Although hungry, his body was losing its battle to keep him upright. Bone tired, he just about made it to his quarters, Eli’s old room, before that final blip of energy ran out, and he collapsed on the bed.
The last thing on his mind was the male he left behind in Summer, and as the darkness claimed him, a small weak smile pulled on his lips.