Who Sent You?

Ariana raised her brow as she positioned herself in a fighting posture. With her brass knuckles on her right hand and a sharp blade in the other, she was prepared for the upcoming war. The straight face that the man in front of her had had broke into laughter as he waved his palm for a pause.

"Ahahahaha, long time no see, Ariana. Can't believe you're still this fierce. Didn't I give you the advice to quit being as fierce as a tiger when you two got married? I gave you the most memorable wedding gift." The man took out a hand mirror and fixed his fringe.

"Hah, Alexander Enu, I'm surprised that your leader didn't slice that tongue of yours and drink your blood already. If locking my husband up on our wedding day and almost making him your leader's dinner is equivalent to a gift, then perhaps your dry corpse would be one to your boss."

She squinted as hatred filled her eyes, "talk. Who sent you here?"

"What? Can't this old friend visit you? You're as cruel as you always were. I was just dropping by." He cracked both sides of his neck as he stepped closer to her. Instinctively, she stepped backwards.

"Hah? Who's your friend? Don't say that it's a pure coincidence for you to appear at a hospital and somehow found this room. Visit? Drop by? Bullshit." She looked around to search for any shelves or objects that she could move to block the door.

Her inner thoughts were all red alerts. 'Shit. Even if Chen Nan is here with me, we could still lose to this asshole! What to do...' As her eyes wandered around the dark hallway, she noticed some trays on a nearby cart. Although it was dark, she could still see the name on the anesthesia container label using the light that shone through the windows.

'Susu's...right. I remember there were some unused ones prepared for emergency use. The nurse must have forgotten about it or something...if I could use that...' She quickly concentrated back on him.

Even though he had a decent face, his narcissism was way too much. He raised his palm once again to doublecheck his hair and then his lips to make sure everything was moisturized and neat. Ariana rolled her eyes as she grew closer to the cart.

"Why think of using the anesthesia for? You know that wouldn't work on me. Did you think that I would miss the obvious expression on your face and the way you were staring at that cart? It's useless, so hand the girl over."

"Over my dead body." She replied and threw sharp blades aiming at his eyes. His fingers clipped the blades and avoided the attack. After tossing the blades to the floor, he rubbed his cheeks, "so brutal! What if those blades cut my beautiful face?"

"Shameless!" she rushed towards him with her metallic spike designed brass knuckles. Once she reached close enough, the edge of the spikes flicked out and targeted his arm.

"Woahh~ Sharp weapons are not for kids to play with. Especially the spikes that you have modified on. It might cut yourself instead. Did you already forget who taught you this trick? Haha" She could feel every strand of her hair raise in alert mode as she backed away from him. It was then that she realized the blades and spikes on her brass knuckles have been removed.

"You-..."

"Looking for these?" He spread the blades out like a fan and gave himself a manicure with it.

A smirk formed on her face as she watched him use the blades like a professional. 'Heh...he took the bait.' she thought to herself as she blocked the entrance to Susu's room.

"So? Where is she? Behind that door?" His voice echoed wickedly in the hall and triggered her inner fears. Her body trembled at the sight of him approaching.

"Who sent you? I asked you first." She tried to hide her uneasiness as she took out another blade.

"This isn't the first time you've been on a mission. You know the rules and this mouth is zipped tight. I just know whoever offered to pay me the highest amount would get whatever he or she wants."

She counted his steps and crossed her fingers for her plan to have worked. Suddenly, he paused in his steps and coughed. Her eyes sparked from excitement and a smile appeared on her beautiful face.

"Y..you..." he pointed at her and then at his bruised fingers. He started scratching his jawline as red bumps formed.

"That's right. It's exactly what you have in mind. While you were busy being a narcissist and blabbing about how pretty you looked, I took a wet cloth that had nail polish content on it. It was not too wet, so I was here worrying that it might not have worked on you. Thank goodness it did, though." She glared at him sharply.

"That's cheating." His hands reached into his back pocket to take something out, but were interrupted by her words.

"Says the man who cheated on his exams back in middle school and still got a zero as a grade because he wrote his neighbor's name on the test! I don't care what you do now, but it better not involve anyone I know or else I'll make you a eunuch."

Taking the leftover needles from the cart, she played flying darts with it once again. This time, two needles scratched either side of his cheeks lightly and the rest pinned his posture on the floor. She turned around and said, "You saved my life once. Consider this debt, paid. From now on, don't accept any jobs related to this girl and her family."

"And if there is a next time?" his tone was no longer playful like before.

"Then I wont hesitate in killing you," She replied.

"Heh, sounds like you. Alright, consider this mission a failure. I won't accept the jobs from him anymore, but I still can't tell you who are after that girl. My advice to you is to stay away from this girl and her family." He realized that after getting the cuts on his face, his throat didn't feel as swollen.

He thought to himself, 'Just like how I never meant to harm her; this girl never wanted to hurt me either. Guess she realized that I was avoiding her attacks and didn't try to attack. Seems like she's still the same old her. Never hurting anyone who doesn't deserve it.'

He stood up and turn around to leave, but halted when she said, "My advice to you is to stay away from me, my husband and the rest of those whom I swore on my life that I would protect. Unless I die, or else this remains the same. I'll be cautious about my surroundings and have my guards up at all times after this."

A relief smile formed on his face; an expression he would never show her. "Then I can certainly say that you were glad that it was me who came tonight. I'll see you soon."

"Hold on. I know you lost to me on purpose. You could have returned the attacks plentiful times, but didn't. You came tonight to give me a warning. So, thanks."

She tightened her fists as she watched him wave the back of his hands. Before he had left, he whispered, "you're welcome." Conflicted by the mixed feelings that he gave off, she felt a headache coming up. "Why the heck is he so weird? Ugh."

What she didn't realize was that Alexander hid after turning the corner of the hall. Once she returned to the room, he covered his mouth and coughed up blood. "ah... the wound must have opened. Stupid, you knew you were going to fail but still took the mission. Oh wells, as long as she's alright."