with fire and blood `` burn

[TheLivingDead]

While the world above barely stirred and sighed quietly with sleep, the underground base of the Order of the Dragon bustled. With Vonti perched at her shoulder, Darque slid down through the hallways, a stream of smoke and the heavy aroma of fire clinging to her. The slight woman reached a hand up as she turned the corner and Vonti took the affection gratefully, leaning his horned head into her singed fingers and cawing softly. "I need you to stay outside and keep watch alright?" and with that, Vonti gave a nod and leapt down off of her shoulder, beating his wings softly. Darque glanced around and went into the bathroom. A great black bath tub greeted her, already full of hot water.

Peeling off her clothes, she came to the thin armor she wore above her underwear. She tore off her bullet proof vest, glad to be free of it. Although fire could not harm her, bullets could still mortally wound her.

Stepping out of the remainder of her clothes, Darque lowered her aching form into the steaming bath. Darque released her white hair from its braided keep atop her head, and the curls, coarsened by sweat and the neglect it had endured the last few days, fell into the water. Darque began washing them, pulling her fingers through the tangled mess in an attempt to tame them. Moving down to her body, she found a wound at her side. Just a scratch. Her lips finally curved upward into a wry smile. Her target had put up quite a fight against her, but he stood no chance against Darque and her fireball. Soaping herself, the cinder fell away from her body, blackening the water. But not a single burn graced her body.

The bath had long since gone cold when her phone buzzed on the side. Rolling over, she dried off her hand and opened the text. Rolling her eyes, she hauled herself out of the bath. Darque threw on a fresh pair of black loose fitting pants, her vest, and a loose fitting ragged black top, with a hood. As she came from the bathroom, she quickly set her hair into a messy braid that hung about her waist and headed off to the headquarters.

"Ah, Darque. Thank you ever so much for your work this morning, but we already have another assingment for you." the boss had barely let her walk through the door before speaking. Vonti gave a little whine, puffing smoke from his tiny nostrils. Darque said nothing. She folded her arms across her chest, waiting for her next assingment. Ideally, she would have liked a few hours sleep before heading off, but basic human needs didn't come into play when she was at work. "I'm going to need you to go and grab a certain scientist for me. And... bring back a few souvenirs if you will. Just a few papers would be nice. The Princess nodded in understanding. She went toward the desk where the full report on the assignment, but stopped. There was two. "You know I work alone." she spat. Her eyes flicked up suddenly, and the dragon on the desk came to attention, snarling. Vonti flapped his wings furiously, squawking fiercely. "You'll be glad to know that you're not only working with one of your colleagues, but with your favourite one too."

Storming out of the office, she slammed the door. She felt the hallway fall silent. She shoved her way through the group of assassins who had gathered outside the boss' office and made her way to the exit. Though, just as she was about to leave, alone, she slammed straight into just the person she was avoiding. She stopped, not looking at him. "I suppose you've heard."

[Deleted]

i had received a text from the boss man, telling me to hurry the hell up and get my ass to HQ. I was to be working with Darque, and if I didn't hurry up she was likely to leave without me. I didn't mind her, but she was so damn competitive it made me sick some times. However, despite the news I remained stoic on the outside, and pushed my sword back into its hilt. I hid several other blades on my person, and at my side in her hostler was blood rose. She was the only female good to me. I tapped the supernatural gun as if it were real, and then glanced toward my companion. We all got some type of companion upon joining, and I don't know where they got it from, but my companion happened to be a griffin. Half bird half lion. Despite its oddities he has provided me with companionship, and so I offered binx my shoulder. Then we were off.

I pushed open the double doors that lead out to the main area, and found it bustling with life. My black boots thudded against the ground, and black eyes looked about me in awareness as I strode forward. Other's moved out of my way with no nudging on my part. I was just about to open the door to the main hallway when... aha! There she was, and her bristling dragon as well. Binx ruffled his feathers, but didn't make any sound whil watch her. She asked if I'd heard. I nodded. "Its just a job. Do it, and we can be rid of each other." I continued to the bosses door, opened it, and received my paper work from the boss. I nodded my head in thanks, and left the office without word. This job could be a real head ache sometimes.

[TheLivingDead]

Vonti squawked away, the horns on his back standing on edge with surprise. He looked at Binx with those beaded eyes of his and regarded him, cocking his head and releasing a tiny puff of smoke from his shapely nostrils. Darque hardly approved. Once Zero had returned, Darque was still stood there, tapping her foot. "Take your time then. It's not like I want to get there before sundown." and with that, she turned tail and released herself and her dragon up onto the stairwell that led to the exit. She ascended the stairs swiftly and Vonti took flight, dashing up onto the ground level. In a whip of her white braid, Darque was above ground and heading toward the woodland around the base. She called over her shoulder; "The bike is a little ways into the forest." and she set off at pace.

Despite her relatively cold exterior, she didn't doubt Zero in the slightest. She knew he was a... Decent assassin at least, she just thought herself and her dragon better. She knew he could run quickly, she just thought she could run faster.

Reaching the bike, she threw him a helmet before securing her own onto her head. This time, she spoke louder, as the hemlmet muffled her eloquent, high pitched vocals "his lab is in the inner city. Apparently he's been experimenting on something the boss isn't happy about. I think there's been a feud over companion eggs..." at that, her voice sounded angrier. Her attatchment to the dragon who barely left her side was evident. As she spoke, Vonti's eyes grew gradually more passionate, and he began to flap excitedly. This would be a triumph for his fellow companions.

[Deleted]

i ignored her comment, and fell into pace beside her. there was no reason for us to be snarking, and fighting, now was there? she believed she was better than me, and i would allow her to believe as such. that didn't mean that it was true, and that didn't mean i was going to stroke her ego. i just didn't have time for her petty bullshit.

when she reached the bike, and threw me a helmet i eased it over my head with some mild distaste. i didn't do helmets, but i supposed i should wear one because who knew what her driving was like. i also kept this comment to myself as i looked at her impassively. binx shifted on my shoulder, and cocked his crown to the side at her words, and the fiery dragons show of fierceness. his lion tail twitched behind him in anticipation. this would hit home with binx as well, and his feathered wings flapped in irritation.

zero swung onto the back of the bike, and sat back so that she could slide inbetween his legs. "so we're exterminating the scientist, then." i said in my normal distant tones, my black hues staring at her while i waited for to mount the bike. who was slow now?

[TheLivingDead]

she grimaced as she watched him sit on the back of the bike and look at her expectantly. Was he trying to prove a point. "yes that is exactly right" the princess nodded just as she started the bike. It purred beneath them as Darque shifted to become comfortable. She waited for him to secure himself and for Vonti to burrow himself into her top safely before finally setting off up the road. She called behind her at zero, "we also need to collect a few papers. The other assassins will release the other eggs and take them to base. I wouldn't like to be the one to have to look at those poor babies." she feared a lot of the experiments would have involved taking them apart and doing... Wretched things to them. She couldn't bear to think of it.

Rounding the turn, she reached the junction into the city. It was then that she got into work mode. She kicked up a gear and swung into the city. It was true, she drove a little too fast for most people's liking, but zero was sure to be fine with it. And if he wasn't, she didn't care. It was when they came to the business section of the city that things started to get exciting. "right. I'm going to take us behind the lab. I decided a stealth attack would be easiest. We start from the top, where the mad scientist is, then we work our way down through the guards. That way, if alarms would get set off, they Won't be able to do much about it. So we scale up the building and smash a few windows at the top, but we can walk out the front door." and she smiled to herself, pulling up in an alley way behind the lab.

[Deleted]

this was a little weird for me, having to cling to a female just to make sure i didn't fall off of the bike. so instead i wrapped my arms loosely around her, and relied on my super human strength in my thighs to keep my astride the bike. binx rooted down into the folds of the black cloak i wore, and as soon as the bike took off it was flapping in the wind behind us like a black flag. when she said that they would dispose of the mad scientist, and collect some of the eggs something in his head told him that it should not be this easy. "got it." i spoke, but made a mental note to watch out for some kind of trap.

she kicked the bike into high gear, veering between vehicles and lane cutting until they reached their destination. when they came behind the location, and the bike came to a stop zero slid easily from his perch, and took off the helmet with ease. reaching to his belt he took out a grappling gun, and pointed it into the sky. it shot up to the very top of the building, and he arched an eyebrow expectantly at her. "i assume you've got you're own?"

[TheLivingDead]

As soon as they reached their destination, Darque and Vonti could already smell the stench of death, pain and biochemistry oozing from the laboratory. A fire began in her belly, her skin heating with rage. As he spoke, her eyes flashed straight to him, and her anger was evident in her wide, thickly-lashed eyes. She wasn't in the mood. Ignoring him, she walked straight up to the building. Pulling out her own grapple gun, she shot it up, and Vonti chased it up, scaling the building with ease. Darque followed swiftly, jumping over the edge. She strode straight over to the ventilation system and tore the grate off of it. "Vonti, check whats going on in there." and with a squawk and a ruffle of his wings, he hopped inside. His needle claws clicked softer and softer as he trotted off merrily and Darque turned back to Zero.

Right, no companion casualties, okay? I don't know how much you care for ones that aren't your own, but I do. Alright?" and just then, Vonti came hopping back, giving a little wheeze of smoke. "How many baby?" Vonti cocked his head slightly and then gave his right foot a single tap. "Good boy, well done." and with that, she crawled into the vent herself.

[Deleted]

i could sense the anger oozing off her, and my mouth tipped into a frown at the corners. Strong emotions were not good to have on assignments. They made you make mistakes, clouded your judgment, and make you all that more an easy target. That's why I remained stoic, and indifferent about things. When she shot into the air with her companion I allowed my grapple gun to pull me to the top of the building as well. When I leaped over the edge and landed softly, Binx took to the air and flapped his feathery wings. He waited for her dragon companion to come back. She spoke to me about no companion casualties, and I arched a brow at her.

Did she think me heartless? I shook my head, and didn't bother to reply. I shouldn't have to. When she disappeared into the vent, Binx did as well. He veered off into a vent to the right, and began scouting out that way. I followed Darqu quietly, my telepathic capabilities staying tuned into binx just in case he needed me.

[TheLivingDead]

as she crawled down through the vent, she followed the tiny dragon closely. They drew to a stop over a large grate and Vonti wheezed out a puff of smoke. Darque turned to zero and gave him a look. She wanted the scientist. As she did this, She pushed the grate through, and it swung down on its hinges. Good. No squeaking. Both Darque and Vonti dropped down from the vent and her boots hit the ground with barely a tap. She ducked down, and scanned the lab. Rows and rows of eggs sat in little tanks, all hooked up to machines. It was then that Darque saw the balding scientist. The princess crossed the room silently, leaping up onto a bench and she jumped down onto him, slicing his throat as she went. Blood sprayed, and a feeling of triumph washed over her. It was then that an alarm sounded. She looked down at the scientist and realised her mistake. An alarm belt was strapped to his waist. She looked back at zero with a sheer look of horror. To evacuate would be cowardice. But all the guards in the building would be heading up toward the lab.

Fuck it, their main goal was to protect the eggs. It was then that the guards began filing in. She took cover with Vonti and began firing. Looking over at zero, she struck her gaze to the eggs, hoping he understood her goal. She wanted the eggs out.

[Deleted]

we crawled through the ventilation system until we came to a large grate in the vent. She sent me a pointed look, and before I could object she slid out of view. I visibly face palmed, and then dropped from the vents. Just as I did, an alarm sounded, and my gaze hardened on my partner. She looked at me with a look of horror, and I sighed as the first guards entered the lab. I had Blood rose drawn, and fired a few rounds as I moved to flip a table where no eggs reside. I dropped to my ass to reload.

She sent me a pointed look, and I nodded. Steadily I rose, and focused my power augmentation on the guards. With a struggle I zapped them of their energy, efficiently bringing them to their knees. A ice pick began to pick at my brain. I wouldn't be able to hold this cease fire for long. "Hurry up." I grit out through clenched teeth. Binx would have to hurry and do what I sent him to do.

[TheLivingDead]

She gave an apologetic look and dashed for the eggs. Taking off her backpack, she loaded them all in. Vonti came swooping up and created a huge fireball, firing it at the guards. The first few went up in a flurry of flames, and Darque took her chance. She placed the last few eggs in the bag, slung it on her back and went back to Zero. "Thank you. We're leaving." and she fled back up toward the grate. The initial set of guards remained on their knees, but it was then that another string came dashing in from the door on the other side of the room. Shots were fired, and Darque ducked for cover, Vonti following. "Shit." she breathed. She was getting rusty. Raising her Golden Eagle, she fired several rounds, hitting the mark everytime. She was a sharp shooter, but her wit was giving up with her. A fatal concoction of fatigue and rage had poisoned her quick thinking. Diving back under cover, she looked upward and then to Zero. They'd need to clear the room before they could get out of this.

It were as if Vonti read her mind. He swirled upward and away from her, and instantly she saw his mistake. A shot was fired. There was a shriek. And for a moment, she knew not if it were herself or her dragon. She felt his pain. A bullet through his side. A bullet through hers. She just looked at him as he dropped to the floor alongside her. A pain ripped through her chest. Her... her baby. Rage swallowed her, and in a fit of adrenaline, she tried something that had worked once for another assassin. A bold move. She jumped from her cover and shot wildly, taking out another five guards as they stood dumbfounded at her, before ducking back under to take her dragon in her arms.

[Deleted]

i raised my blood rose as i disabled the men, and shot a single bullet into the center of each of their eyes. I let my grip on their dead bodies fall, and I turned as a bullet ripped through her dragon. I bit back a curse, and ducked behind cover with her. She got up, and started shooting at nothing in particular. I wanted to punch her. What the fuck was this? Amateur hour? If I had hackles they would be bristled right now. She ducked back down, and cradled her companion in her arms. A moment of understanding washed through me, but I was far too logical to let emotions ruin me.

I could feel the getting closer to where we hid, a few bullets ripping through the table we over turned. I grit my teeth, and just as I thought binx had failed he projected into my mind "move now." Without a moments hesitation I grabbed darque in my arms, and sprinted to the vent. I didn't trust her to run because in her state she might even fuck that up. Bullets were fired at us, but I turned down the lights with my shadow manipulation, and boosted her up to the vent. "Get to the roof. Go now."suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and the ground began to give out from underneath me. I lunged for the edge of the vent, and heaved myself up.

I could smell the smoke, and flames as I crawled through the space, and nearly shrieked as the ventilation system came unhinged, and tipped back toward the inferno. I placed a hand on both sides of the vent, and splayed my feet apart as well. Slowly I moved toward the roofs entrance, but the system fell. And so did I. Thinking quickly I grabbed my grappling hook, and shot it at the roofs entrance. It snagged, and pulled me up toward the roof, but suddenly stopped. The mechanism must be faulty. I began to climb, but to my dismay my side suddenly told me I was shot in a sharp stab as I reached up. "Darque!" I called, but didn't know if I'd get an answer from her.

[TheLivingDead]

suddenly, she was lifted, and she seemed confused. Dazed, she jumped up into the vents, and dragged her dragon with her, his little head flopping to the side. She galloped up the vents and made for the roof. That was when the whole world fell apart. Or so it felt. The lab was on fire. There had been an explosion? And she heard someone calling her. In a mess of loss and anger, her head swam. Placing her dragon down calmly, she peered down the vent and saw Zero dangling over the fire. Darque quickly clicked into action. She saw the grappling hook that dug into the side of the building and grabbed it. She would pull him up that way. With all her strength, she hauled upward, hoping he didn't drag too much along side of the vent. She kept pulling, her entire body shaking. She had the weight of all the eggs on her back and the weight of a grown man beneath her. She gave a few final tugs and hoped she had done enough to haul him out.

Turning for the edge of the builing, she called back, "How the fuck do we get down?!"

[Deleted]

she came back, and peered over the edge to see me. to my amazement, she didn't hesitate to begin pulling me up to her level. i would have to thank her later. my muscles just wouldn't do the work that was required to haul myself up. when i got close enough to the top i grabbed the ledge with my hands, and hauled myself up onto the roof despite the pain. i quickly unlatched the grappling hook, and then looked about us as she asked us how we would get down. where was binx? i pursed my lips for a moment before striding toward the edge of the building, and looking over the edge. to the side, was a shorter building that was just within jumping distance if we used our super human strength to jump. there was a fire escape ladder on the side of it's building, and we could use that to get down to the ground.

i turned back to darque, and grinned. "jump." i replied simply, and took a few measured steps back. just as i was going to sprint forward my feathered friend burst from one of the windows just below the roof, and flew up to perch on my shoulder. i was relieved of course, and raised a hand to stroke his head lovingly before moving forward at an alarmingly fast rate of speed. i leaped, and landed in a crouched roll. i turned back to darque, and yelled "throw my the eggs. you leap across with the vonti, and let's get the fuck out of here.'

[TheLivingDead]

Watching with wide eyes as he jumped, Darque clung to the eggs and her Vonti. As he told her to throw them, the hesitated visibly. But it was then that the fire exploded from out of the vents, the shock sending her braid flying wildly. It was then that she realised that it was now or never. She took off her backpack, and then threw it across the synapse that stretched between them. Holding Vonti against her, she took a step back, and then pounced off of the side of the building. Suddenly, there was an explosion and she hit the ground rolling, curled around her dragon protectively. She coughed and stood, looking down at her dragon, who rolled his eyes and squawked weakly. Grabbing the eggs back off of zero, she slung her backpack back on and nodded, "Ill take us back to my place. I have everything Vonti and the eggs need." and with that, she made for the fire ladder, and began her way down.

Reaching the bottom, she pushed a few broken bricks off of her bike and pushed Vonti down her top once again, where he curled against her warmth and whimpered. Looking back at Zero, the fear was present in her eyes. She'd die if anything ever happened to her baby.