Assassin's Eye

Chapter 4.

Lucy and Nemos walked into the barn and were instantly met with a flood of panic. Kath leapt up before they came in and shouted, "Someone's coming! I smell blood, too."

The duo stepped through the door and Seili had already came to meet them. "What the hell happened to you two? You're covered in blood!"

Malicem leapt down from the rafters and quieted the chatter with a simple, "It's not theirs."

Kath met this with distaste. "How many people did you kill to get that much blood all over you, murderer scum?"

"It wasn't her," Nemos said quietly. She turned on him.

"And I suppose you only think that because you like her so much... She's worth more to you than this," she motioned around the room. "Than us, isn't she?"

"Kath, quiet," Malicem said sternly.

"Hell no," Kath spat. "I was willing to accept the terms of our agreement, but if she's going to massacre people on the streets still, after making her resolve to be better, I swear. She doesn't deserve to be here. She's a killer."

"Kath," Malicem said quieter, somehow becoming about a thousand times more terrifying. "Quiet. I'm sure she can explain."

Lucy shifted uncomfortably as everyone's eyes focused on her. "I- uh..."

"She went looking for me after some idiot," Nemos looked at Aryn as he spoke, "gave her false directions, and she ended up going to a level eight job, by herself, against a bunch of weapons dealers selling top quality machine guns. It wasn't her fault, Kath, and I do not have feelings for Lucy that blind my judgement. She is a skilled fighter, and my friend, but that is all. You all are as important to me, and she is included in that. She is one of us now."

"She is a murderer."

"Well, she did not do it. Someone saved her," Nemos said, his eyes meeting Kath's.

"You mean—"

"Yes."

Lucy narrowed her eyes. She killed those men, right? And she was fairly certain that if she had killed them, she had wanted to. "I don't know what happened," she said slowly, shifting around. "I just know that when I woke up, I was in a pool of animal blood, and Nemos was there..." She trailed off, looking at the floor.

Kath shot her a glare, which was silenced by Nemos. "I promised to help Lucy figure out exactly what was going on, so I expect none of you to get in our way," he declared, pacing back and forth He turned to look at the gradually appearing streetrunners. "And if you agree with Kath, stand against me, I don't care. But, if you lay one hand on Lucy or tell her one thing, voluntary or not, about how she doesn't belong, I will personally skin you alive." He scowled, his teeth looking slightly pointy in the dim lighting.

Lucy stared at Nemos for a moment. "Why are you doing this?" She whispered, quite confused. "It doesn't make any sense."

Nemos looked away. "I have my reasons. Don't ask unless you really want to know." His face darkened , and Lucy thought she saw a tear roll down his cheek, but as he turned his face back to look at her, she thought it was just a trick of the light.

"A-Alright..." She said, a bit flustered.

Nemos turned and began to storm out of the barn, losing his cool in the meantime. He was upset for some reason out of his reach. The whole situation was out of his hands now, and he had even lied to protect his secrets... Lied about helping Lucy. She could never find out about what was happening to her, else she would be put in danger. Simon would kill him if he ever put her in danger, the fool. Nemos hadn't seen Simon since a few days ago, and before that, well, years before. Back before they had gone their separate ways, before Nemos had joined the Streetrunners. Simon had been one of his closest friends.

He remembered the other day when Simon had approached him...

Nemos stood from his perch atop the barn, taking in the view of the city once more. A shadow flashed in the corner of his vision. Nemos whirled, his forearms shooting up just in time to block a blow to the chest. A familiar laugh sounded softly.

"Nem, you sure have gotten stronger. You even sensed me coming that time!" a voice said jokingly. Nemos flinched.

"You are still as weak as ever, and how long again, have you been training?"

The man stepped from the shadows, his green eyes sparkling under his black hair. "Hey, Nem," Simon said, a crooked smile forming on his face.

Nemos nodded in reply. "Simon. Never expected to see you crawling back. Heard you've been hanging around my crew. I don't appreciate that. You're going to corrupt 'em, I'm telling you."

Simon grinned again. "Listen, I've gotta go soon... I need you to look after her for me."

"Why are you leaving? What happened, Simon? Did they find you? The Organization of Assassins?" Nemos asked, his face turning serious.

"It's worse than that. She came and found me... She was so broken... I need to see if I can get the Jaseron before she gets to it. Take care of her, ok? Take care of Lucy. But, don't lay a hand on her or I'll slaughter you." He gave Nemos a devilish grin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nemos replied innocently.

"She's in danger right now... That job you didn't take? I'm going to help this one last time, but you can't tell anyone that I spoke with you. I have to go."

"Wait—he's gone. Great." Nemos leapt down from his perch and turned to see Aryn leaning against the barn door...

Nemos cursed himself for losing it again back there. He didn't know why, but for some reason Lucy always put him on edge... Made him act odd. Well, odder than usual. He shook his head, gazing at his surroundings flusteredly. He had no idea where he was again. His heart was racing as he thought about how... he stopped himself from thinking any further.

"Damn it all," Nemos muttered, sitting down against a wall. The shadows seemed threatening to him, and he pulled his knees up to his chest and put his head in his hands. He sat still for a long while, hearing a few people walk hurriedly past, and cleared his mind.

It didn't last long though, as someone new approached and threw a pebble at him. The pebble ricocheted off of his head, and hit the stone wall, bouncing back to hit him once again.

"Gee, thanks," Nemos muttered, lifting his head to see Lucy standing there, laughing to herself.

"Listen," she said, coming to sit beside him with a smile. "You don't have to tell me what's going on if you don't want to. I'll let it slide this time because it's obviously bothering you more than it would bother me."

"Thank—"

"However," Lucy continued. "You should tell someone. It's not good to keep stuff to yourself. Take it from someone who knows."

Lucy put her head against the wall and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. Nemos noticed how exhausted she looked.

"I will," he said, actually meaning it. "Thanks."

Nemos raised an eyebrow as she didn't reply and turned back to staying still and quiet as the night progressed. Eventually, Nemos and Lucy fell asleep, tired out from the day's hardships. Lucy dreamt.

It was dawn, the sun right below the horizon. Lucy stood alone in a vast desert, waiting for something. She paced back and forth continuously, expecting something to happen, but nothing ever did. Finally, she saw a figure in the distance. As she ran towards it, she distinguished features: black hair, pale skin, and green eyes are what stood out the most. But what the man wore was what scared Lucy. Where she felt should have been a white shirt and trousers was a black trench coat, lined with red silk, and golden buttons running down the front. She approached him, Simon, and he blinked once. His eyes were suddenly black. She screamed.