Unexpected

Ru Shi hadn't returned by the time Jiang Ying Yue had placed the finishing touch to her Paralyser ensemble. Lifting the mask to her face and slipping the veil like hood over her coiled hair. Ying Yue was unrecognizable. Covered in white with streaks of black and red along the edges. Her face covered and obscured. A woman, a young lad, or a flower boy. No one will be able to tell unless they ripped her mask away.

Giving the place one more glance. Ying Yue hoisted herself above her bed and slipped through the beams. There standing above. Concealed in darkness was one of her brother's trusted phantom assassin's. Familiar with the mask and silenced by loyalty. They both nodded in greeting. Slipping across the roof and bounding down. She crept along the pathway that she had found earlier. Hidden from sight.

Across the bridge in a white flash. Ying Yue snuck through the courtyard and entered the unlocked double doors. An empty room aside from a couple of barrels and three doors. Running her hands across the wooden door. The one to the right is run down. Overused. She could only assume it's the servant's doorway. The one facing before her was the one they used when they had all arrived that morning.

She slipped through the left doorway. Counted the steps ahead. Two guards on patrol closeby. Easy enough. Sneaking her way upstairs. Pulling the pins from her hair. She shot them towards the men. Down they went.

Checking their pulse. The steady lull of a sleeping beat thumped against her fingers. Casting her gaze to the side. She reached for the necklace hidden beneath her robes. A cold pulse emitted. Growing stronger the further she crept up the stairs.

Ignoring the doors that littered about the spiralling hallway. Ying Yue kept her pace. Knocking out guards as she grew closer and closer to her destination. Using her last silver pin. She crept up behind the last guard blocking the door. Spider-pinching him until his body swayed and fell. Out the door and making an immediate veer to the left.

She was not alone on the roof. Her necklace hummed with life. Burning with cold heat. If she really peered into the darkened spots and strained her mind to seek high above her. Ying Yue would be able to catch glimpses of her brother's hidden guards. She knew that they knew that she was there as none had stepped out to stop her. Their presence hung heavy on her necklace as she moved deeper in.

Silent gratitude washed over her for taking her brother's advice years ago. Adamant to keep herself separate from his assassins. Jiang Min tricked her into getting the Paralyser to make an appearance on the secret training field and sparring with his select few assassins. Earning their respect and loyalty. It would have been a pain to have to attempt to fight off however many assassin's that were lingering around. A harder feat than taking on the Royal Guards in the hallway and the entrance.

Underneath, beneath the roof that was used as Paralyser's coverage, was the eldest royal son. The crowned prince Feng Mo Chen. His sword twisted in his grasp. The letter discarded on the table where the group had huddled around dissecting its contents.

Lines buried deep between his eyebrows. His body swung carelessly and without thought. His mind miles away. Fingers curled tighter. Anger and thirst for revenge weighed heavy in his arms. Feng Mo Chen had been at it the moment the guys had left. The sun had long set. His body had yet to ache with the strenuous workout.

Suddenly, a shiny object whirled past him, his sword reflectively swung to deflect. Narrowly missing the talisman that was now embedded in the bedpost.

Eyes narrowed in fury. He swung around to seek the perpetrator. Already in a defensive crouch ready to switch to an offensive lunge the second his spotted the traitor.

A spark of regret flared seconds after he charged forward. Stopping seconds of piercing his sword right through Paralyser's chest.

Immediately he dropped to a bow of respect.

"My apologize, Paralyser."

He could not see the smirk behind her mask. Nor the glint of mischief in her gaze. She merely bowed in return. Not uttering a sound.

The second he stood upright. She created distance. Watching avidly as he headed towards the stand by the table. Catching the glint of the red rubies embedded into the blaze of a phoenix etched into the hilt. An inscription ran down the blade. She caught the word ash before he sheathed and returned it back to its place. Curiosity itched her fingers to grasp the sword into her heads and feast onto its glory and power for a little longer.

The moment his heart had quietened down he faced Paralyser. Eyeing the sudden guest with veiled fear. He stood four feet away. Giving the guest an inconspicuous once over. Shorter than expected and covered in white. Never has anyone seen Paralyser up close. But he looked like what they whispered. God of Death. The demon of hell walking among us. He wanted to ask if that was the reason his attire was dominated by white. Was it a signal of their death? A white flash so you knew death greeted you? Or was it to mourn those that he killed? Instead, Feng Mo Chen went straight to business.

"Jiang Min has spoken to you about what has happened here?"

Paralyser nodded.

"You are aware of the letter?"

Again she nodded. Canting her head to the side.

In frustration of Paralyser's muteness. Feng Mo Chen turned away. Running a hand through his dampened hair. Eyes flickering to the very object that had almost made him offend his last chance of putting an end to this vicious cycle.

Pulling the talisman out from the wood. Mo Chen wondered just how powerful this man was. Managing to not only bypass his own guards, but also to make it out unharmed against Jiang Min's trained assassin's, and getting into his room without him even detecting any essence of him. Catching him, for once in his life, off guard.

"My men---"

She waved her hand. Puffing out her chest in frustration. Honestly, of all the things they could be discussing. He wanted to talk about his men's safety. She was here on his request and also her brother's. Why would she harm his men? Unless they were spies but even then she'd keep them alive to turn them into an unknown double spy or give them to her brother to meet their end.

She cocked her head towards the talisman in his hand.

Feng Mo Chen turned it over and noticed the markings. It was the same symbol as that on the scroll. Only there were noticeable difference's in the flames and how the five tails were cocked.

"I already knew it was a fake."

She really wished there was a way to disguise her voice. This is why she never did face to face. Rolling her eyes and bypassing the frustration that bubbled in her chest. She strolled towards him as she pulled a dagger from deep within her robe. Ignoring the widening of eyes and subtle flex of his muscles. She grabbed the talisman back and pried it open. Inside was a hibernating insect. A Malorrew. Found only in the deepest part of the valley of the southern tribe. A single drop of blood and it will hunt the target down.

"How did you get this?"

When she didn't reply. His lips thinned as he put the talisman back together and stowed it away in his robes. Only when Paralyser was gone will he put it in a safe place only known by him.

She had many trinkets like that. When people can't pay they always did a trade. From a simple meal to something as significant as the talisman. It is only men and women like him, those that flaunt their riches, did she request a fee of monetary value.

"I'll keep it safe until it is needed."

She nodded.

"As soon as I have anything... evidence, clues or whatever. I will send word to you," he paused for a second. "I am sure you will keep me in the loop."

She shrugged. Teamwork wasn't her thing. Then again working for one of the royal prince's wasn't her thing either.

Turning away from the prince. She paused the moment he heard his voice call out to her.

"Please protect Jiang Ying Yue when using her as a messenger. I promised her brother that I will keep her safe while she remains here."

Bowing. She left the same way she came. Pulling pins from necks. Knowing they will awake soon enough with a lot of questions. Questions the prince can answer himself.

At least they won't endure the same experience again, at least for a while. The next time Paralyser will make a show before the crown prince will be when a body was dragged in her grasp. The young miss of the Jiang family can now officially take over as messenger.

As Jiang Ying Yue made her way back towards the Jade Moon Tower. Adrenaline was still pumping through her veins. Contemplating heading down towards the soldiers quarters or even to cohere one of her hidden guard for a sparring match. Her thoughts seized the moment her necklace pulsed hot. Burning her skin with a flaming fierceness. Frowning. She turned just in time to see a masked man leap his way towards her. Fingers pointed outwards. The move of the pecking death.

Eyes widening. She dodged the strike last second and went on the defence. Making sure to keep an eye and ear out for any unsuspecting late nightwalkers.

Who exactly is this person? Was he the one she is hunting down? The prince's attacker? He was no known soldier or Jiang Min's men.

"Hello, Paralyser." His deep voice called out as he pounced towards her.