Fan Fiction ❯ Child of Darkness ❯ Chpater Six ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Six

The old woman tied the final bow into her hair and stepped back to look at the young woman
sitting before her. Dagger closed her eyes, inhaled a deep breath, and exhaled it slowly out
her nose. Her stomach was flip-flopping with nervousness. A light tap on her door made Kavin
lift his head off of the bed and turn his head to the door.

"Derian." he growled.

Dagger nodded. "Come in." she called, rising slowly to her feet.

Derian entered, stopping as soon as he crossed the threshold and his eyes landed upon Dagger.
His mouth feel open slightly at the sight of the young woman. The dress was made of the
deepest red velvet that he'd ever seen. It's bodice was tight to help make her breasts
appear larger than they really were. Her tiny bare feet were hidden under the flowing skirt
and her hair was tied up in bows, the same deep red as the velvet dress. Regaining his
composure, Derian bowed to her and offered the servant a small smile.

The old woman smiled back. "Take care of her while you're throwing her to the sharks." she
said.

"I'll do the best I can, Nanny." Derian said.

Nanny moved to Dagger's side. "Now, dearie." she said, straightening up the bodice of her
dress. "Be good. Eat slowly. Don't let Kavin bite them or growl. Don't kill anyone."

Dagger chuckled. "I have no intention of killing anyone...yet." she said.

It was the first time he had ever seen her smile. Truely smile. Derian offered her his arm
and lead her out of her quarters. Kavin leapt off the bed, following close behind his young
mistress. Dagger had insisted that they bring him to scare the Nobles. Lord Sazic had been
a little reluctant to have such a beast running around the palace, but then he recalled that
the former king had allowed the creature to slink through his corridors before so he'd
allowed. King Daedryk had insisted that Dagger bring her 'pet' so that he could sniff out
the would-be assassin.

Derian lead Dagger down the torch lite corridors of Sazic Grant. She looked straight ahead,
as if she didn't want to look at him. Derian knew that she hated to wear the dresses that
Lord Sazic's wife, Lady Elane Sazic, picked out for her. They always had to complaiment the
wonderful figure she tried so hard to hide.

The youth smiled to himself. She can't hide the most beautiful feature from anyone. he
thought, smiling softly. Those eyes. Those eyes that haunt my very dreams.

Firelight danced over her pale face, causing her platinum hair to shimmer and her platinum
eyes to glimmer. Derian had to take a deep breath to calm himself. The very thought of all
the secrets those eyes kept made him long to discover the woman she kept so cleverly hidden.
Derian wonder, not for the first time, if she knew how lovely she was.

He shook his head. No, probably not. he thought. She's not vain like the girls at Court.

Behind him, Derian could hear the soft padding of the huge white tiger's paws. Dagger looked
over at him and cocked an eyebrow at him. The young man smiled slightly, chuckling softly
to try and throw off the fact that he'd been so deeply in thought about the assassin woman
at his side. She returned the smile, half-heartedly.

"Scared?" he asked.

Dagger shook her head. "I'm not afraid of anyone." she said.

Kavin growled behind them. Derian took that as the large feline's way of telling his
mistress that he knew she was lying. Dagger cringed at the sound of the growl, confirming
Derian's thoughts. What was this young woman afraid of?

When they stepped outside, a coach awaited them. Lord Sazic and his wife were waiting in a
large one in front of their smaller one. Derian moved to the door of their coach and held
the door open for Dagger and her large feline companion. He climbed in last, taking the seat
next to Dagger. Kavin had taken up the whole other seat for himself nad was busy licking his
fore paws clean, least he be even the tiniest bit dirty.

The coach lurched forward and they were on their way to the palace. Dagger still didn't
really look at him as they rode down the cobblestone roads. He glanced at her from time to
time, but her eyes were on Kavin's exaggerated cleaning. The silnce made his ears ring
until he thought his head would burst.

"Lady Alexa?" he said finally.

Dagger visible swallowed her angry comment. "Yes?" she asked, sweetly and turning her face
towards him .

Just like I taught her. Derian thought, smiling inwardly. At least she's looking at me now.

"I was just wondering if you're going to be comfortable being surrounded by all those people
tonight." he said. "You haven't been to anything like this before. Have you?"

Dagger averted her face once more. "A long time ago." she replied. "With my mother."

Before Derian could ask more, the coach came to a stop and the door was swung open by the
footman. Dagger stepped out and Kavin leapt out right behind her. Derian followed the two
of them quickly, took Dagger by the arm, and followed his uncle and aunt into the palace.
The Herald looked at them when they came to stand at the top of the steps leading down to
the ballroom.

"Lord Alita Sazic. His wife, Lady Elane Sazic. His nephew, Lord Derian Sazic!" the Herald
shouted. "And his daughter, Lady Alexa Sazic."

The ballroom fell silent and all heads turned towards Dagger and the large tiger at her
side. Her heart was in her throat as she ascended the steps with Derian, Kavin at her side.
Dagger's platinum eyes shot to the throne where King Daedryk sat, his fingers steepled and
his eyes locked on hers. A slight smile played at his lips as he watched her enter his
ballroom.

"Arrogant little bastard, isn't he?" Kavin said.

"Humph!" Dagger snorted.

Derian looked at her in question, but she only shook her head. She had to concentrate on the
task at hand. It was her job to find and kill the man or woman who had tried to assassanate
the King. Dagger ground her teeth in anger. The bastard held her life in his very grasp and
he was enjoying ever sickening minute of it.