Introduction

"I'm sorry I interrupted your honeymoon or something," their leader said facing her. Upon looking at me, his eyes opened in surprise.

"Ooh, Anthony Moore, you're the person behind the Dark Hood mantle," he asked still shocked at my appearance.

"What do you mean by that question," I asked. Now look here about five years ago, I and my father attended a meeting in one of his luxurious hotels. Unfortunately for us, someone planted a bomb there and the bomb exploded but I and dad were lucky to survive the explosion. But someone hired some assassins to hunt us down and unfortunately, my father died in that incident.

" I thought you died after that explosion?" he asked

" Keep thinking" I replied coldly.

" Now I know who this Dark Hood guy is. And it's you. The press media would soon know of your identity"

" Excuse me, are you with the impression that any of you is going to leave here alive?" I asked. They all got angry as they rushed towards me.

" Stay behind me okay," I said to her who was very scared. She just nodded her head in approval.

" Remember you said you trusted me," I asked as I smiled at her to cheer her up. She smiled too but flinched upon seeing a sword coming towards me. I must have to say that after receiving intense training from my old master, fighting had been so easy for me. It was more of dancing steps than physical exertion. And I used the techniques I always do when fighting swordsmen. I disarmed them of their weapons and used them against them. And in a matter of time, what lay before me were piles of dead bodies. She looked at the dead bodies as if admiring them.

" Come on, if you love these dead bodies, perhaps I can buy you a meat stall where you can have a good view of them." I removed my costume as it was soaked with blood and also dropped my weapons on the ground to thwart police investigations. I carried her out of the room and walked towards my car which was carefully hidden in the back garage.

★

I had a secret villa that no one knew about. And that was the safest place this young lady could ever be. I had servants who worked in the villa and these were paid heavily to keep their mouths shut about my whereabouts.

Mabel sat on the soft and comfortable cushion. In front of her was a large mirror that showed her reflection. Some female servants stood behind her working on her hair. They were soon done and walked out of the room. She sat down there in deep thoughts. She knew who Anthony Moore was. Son of the late billionaire. Derek Moore. She knew about the tragic event that killed both of them. Now here she is. Right in his room. Even at first sight, when she was about to be stabbed by that woman, immediately she saw the assassin, she felt kind of attracted to him. And the kiss, what she couldn't forget was the best kiss she ever had throughout her lifetime. And more so, she hadn't felt so strongly attracted to someone before. It might be infatuation or something. Of course, she knew who Anthony Moore was. A billionaire playboy and lots of girls had been attracted to him. And she knew the fate of those girls. Everything ended up in tears and sorrows. And now, he wants to use and dump her as he had done to other girls? No way. She was mad but not that mad. "Miss, you're food is ready," a maid said announcing her presence. She had been overthinking so she did not know when the maid came. The maid kept the tray of food on the table and brought it towards her.

"Hey, what about, isn't there a dining table?" she asked. She wondered why they would serve her in the room rather than the official place where food is meant to be.

"There is, but I'm sorry you can't use it" she replied modestly.

"Why?"

"Young master is not around. So I'm sorry you can't use it without his permission" she explained.

"I see" Mabel replied nodding her head. The maid took her to leave and closed the door gently. She began to worry. Where could he have gone especially at this hour? She looked at the food served before her and began to water. Not only it was appetizing to sight, but she was also really hungry. In a few minutes, she was done with her food. She felt bored again. She didn't know what to do in this gigantic castle. She got up from her chair and began to move around inspecting the room. The room was quite large and smelt like detergent. Which means that someone recently cleaned it. The detergent smelt like how hospitals do smell. And she hated this odor. She walked towards the wardrobe and opened it. It was filled with women's accessories and other kinds of stuff. Perfumes, pieces of jewelry, and cosmetics of various kinds were there. This looked more of a general room for women. Especially young girls. Jealously began to strike. Does it mean that Anthony also invited girls to this room just like she was invited? Her face changed from that of a surprise to that of anger. Okay, okay wait? What am I doing here? she asked herself. Of course, Anthony saved her life, but does she owe him anything? Her mind began to go haywire. Maybe Anthony needed s*x that's why I was brought here. She had weighed the circumstance already. Can an assassin save you and bring you to his home just for free? No, you must pay him back with something. Just then some maids came in.

"Please miss, it's time to take your bath"

"Don't worry, I'll do that soon"

"But miss, we can help you do that" one of them said. This sounded more of a joke than reality. That they'll help me a bath. Are they mad?

"How exactly will you help me?" she asked to be sure she heard it well. She was already planning her next line of action.

"Don't worry miss, just take your bath we'll only want to help you do your hair" another explained.

Mabel heaved a huge sigh.

"Speaking of that, I can do it myself" she replied.

"Sorry for disturbing you miss" they apologized.

"You're welcome".

They left and she closed the door. This room was so boring as there was no one to talk to. Not even a mobile phone of my own at least use to while away time. She longed for Anthony to come back and at least they should gist. She stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Normally, in the bathroom, she would sing and make nice music but she can't. Especially in this strange room where the man she barely knew brought her to. She came out and dried her body. Ooh, what a sweet surprise. Anthony was right there staring at her. It sent some unknown signals around her body.

"Can I have a room please?" she asked her voice shaky at this moment.

"Yeah, you can" I replied as I walked out of the room. I didn't want to make a bad impression about me on her. Standing outside the door, I remember how beautiful she looked when she was almost half-naked and how her face was when her hair was water-soaked. I've seen ladies much more beautiful than her but I've never felt so strongly attached to anyone. Ever since I lay my eyes on her, I felt a strong desire to protect her, not use her as I do to other girls.

"You can come in," she said jolting me back from my world of fantasies.

"Thanks" I replied as I entered the room. The first few moments were awkward as we stared at each other for a long time. Her hair which was once water-soaked was combed brilliantly in a ponytail style. Looking at him, he too was confused. He wore a leather jacket and a pair of jeans trousers. She could see from the edge of his jacket, was carefully stacked with short knives.

"Thank you for saving my life," she said as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"Don't mention it. It's just okay" I replied. We stared at each other again. It was awkward for him to sit at the edge of the bed as any little chance, temptations could arise within them.

"So, what's your name?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Mabel" she replied. The name sounded quite melodious to my ears. Mabel. Mabel Moore. Had I began to start imagining things? As this woman becoming my wife?

"What happened that that assassin wanted you dead," I asked.

"Which assassin? " she asked back confused about who I was referring to

"The woman I killed to save you" I explained further trying to make her remember. As expected, she remembered and lowered her head in anger. Not exactly anger but I could feel it. It was more like a resentment that was stored up for ages past. And she couldn't control that inner bitterness.

"What is it. Tell me" I asked holding her on the shoulder. Electric currents began to flow, from the place I touched her to all around my body. Who is this girl? Why is she making me feel like this?

"I was kidnapped and I tried to escape so that woman tried to kill me," she replied slowly, each word having a certain amount of pressure applied to it.

"So, what's the big deal in your kidnapping!" I asked. She should be happy that at least you've escaped from whatever and the person who wanted you dead is already dead.

"My sister was also kidnapped a few years ago and was killed by that woman"

"And how did you know that?"

"She told me" She bent her head. This time, tears began to roll. Her tears were like a deep scar to my heart as I could feel it.

"It's okay, I'll find that person and I'll make sure I kill him," I said trying to reassure her. She looked up at me and tried to fake a smile. It was after some moments that she recollected herself and faced me again.

"Thanks, Anthony, but anytime I remember that I always get emotional," she said

"Of course, who won't get emotional after remembering the death of a loved one especially family."

"Come on, tell me about yourself, and how you became an assassin?" she asked. She said it in a manner that was quite funny as the both of them laughed. That was one thing I liked about her. The ability to let go of circumstances especially sorrowful ones and go on with life.

"Em, my father and I was kidnapped, and they wanted to kill me as the only way to make my father suffer but he took the arrow for me"

"I thought the both of you died after the explosion?" she asked.

"No, we survived and I and dad were further kidnapped by a special group of assassins known as masquerades. The Igbos call it Manu. And they took us to a deep jungle." At the mention of masquerades, she flinched.

"What happened," I asked looking at her

"No, those people are the deadliest on earth. Anyway, what happened to your father?"

"They beat him as they wanted to extract some information from him, but father was so stubborn"

"So.."

"They wanted to end my life with an arrow, but dad jumped right in front of me and received it"

She looked away in fear upon hearing this. I also knew how surprising it was for me. That dad sacrificed his life for me.

"He fought the masquerades with two arrows in his chest and kept me in a safe area. After that experience, I promised myself that I would find the very person who did that and kill him." Saying this story again made it as if everything has happened yesterday. I remembered how I felt watching my father die, and the worst part was I could not do anything about it.

"We're the same, just that you can carry out your revenge, while I don't" she replied after much deep thought.

"You too have" I replied smiling. She smiled back at me and that was heartwarming.

"So, let's move into something silly" Immediately she said this, my imagination began to fathom things that aren't possible even in a dream.

"What, silly?.." I asked trying to understand what she meant.

"Okay, let's me be straight to the point. Do you have a girlfriend?" She knew she sounded quite foolish but her jealousy couldn't allow her as she was forced to ask the question. The question was quite a dilemma for me. Like I mean, this girl knows my past life, how I use and dump girls yet she's still asking.

"Single and searching" I replied. This answer tamed her jealousy at least a bit. She still had a thousand and one questions waiting in store for him. She looked at me in disbelief. I wasn't expecting that look though.

"You know, they call the devil the father of lies, but he can't lie such a lie you lied right now" she ranted. It sounded much like a random poem made up accidentally.

"Repeat yourself"I replied. At this, she looked at me and we laughed. Our faces came closer as I was already leaning towards her. The temptation was ignited. I could feel the fire within devour her. And it started with a simple step. A kiss