The Assassin’s Code – Astucia story 7

It has been a year since her assassinations of the baronic vampires, and WinterStag was now with her and would be for another few moons.  She has been so pleased when he could come.

After she was named the Chief Assassin for the French Cadre she knew that she would need a set of rules and ethics that she would have to place.  Selene already agreed to it but she also knew that it was probably not going to help.

She had already spoke to Ibrahim who she had found because he approached her to join his Assassin’s Sect.  He was very nice and he really wanted her but she told him she planned to leave the area of Europe for good at some point.  He understood but also helped her by telling her what their rules were. 

She also had met other Royals as well and each Queen or King seemed to have their very own assassin not linked with the sect and only used the assassin sect when they needed something done formally. 

The Emporess Kirsti had been here once as well.  She was a mean spirited lady who treated everyone beneath her.  She also didn’t care for underlings ordering multiple guards’ deaths.  She didn’t know what Kirsti wanted or why she had come as all underlings had been locked out of the meetings.

The barons and yes there was 4 new ones over the last year.  This time no women were chosen.  Alexandre his position went to someone she had known quite well in the form of Jacob who was actually from England but had been with her Sire for centuries.  He didn’t like politics and had greater strength than normal.  Why he had chosen the rank was a mystery that would never be solved.


The others were weak that if someone wanted to take them out they could.  The only rules that they had was to be a Baron you had to have a special power.  Most of the times a class b or class a vampire was chosen but not always. This time Selene had went for class f vampires.  Class f can take a long time to get out of especially to a place were you could potentially challenge the Queen.  This was a stupid move as she had basically just put the nail in the coffin of the French Cadres.

It wouldn’t be long before she would be in her new home with WinterStag.  Since they had met and fell in love he had built them a wonderful house with his band up in Northern Canada.  It was a log cabin but was big enough to hold at least 20 people.  They would never have kids but it would be a place they could invite others to stay and it would become an extended family.

Summerfawn was already waiting for her to return as they wanted her to take on some of the training duties.  She had done some as she was snuck to Canada once a month.  Her training them would make them a huge force to be reckoned with that no European cadre would dare try and usurp the power of the north american bands.

She still practice with the bow that had been handmade by Winterstag it was the only weapon she would ever use made by someone other than herself.  She touched it and all she got was the good visions of her love making the bow.  It was made with his love of her in mind and it would remain pure just as he was.

“Well what do you think of the home that I live in”. She asked Winterstag.

He shrugged “It was good but doesn’t feel homey enough for my liking.  You haven’t put your special touch on it the way you have our log home.  It feels sterile but it is beautiful”

She nodded and understood.  This may be where she lived but it really wasn’t her home.  She hadn’t had a home in so long it was hard to understand.  Even her old home in Portugal which she owned still wasn’t her home anymore.  In fact a great nephew lived there now with his wife and kids even though she had a place just for herself in the house.  She still felt uncomfortable going there. 

She shook her head “What do you think of the job that I do for the Queen?”

He looked a bit sad “I am not sure I like you putting your soul at risk.  Assassination is not something that the bands go in for.  I know currently all of the people you had to kill were all very evil people however there is no guarantee that the Queen will only ever be asked to destroy.  I am cautious as when I met the Queen I don’t trust her”

She nodded “I don’t either she is manipulative and she would happily take over the Cadres and make them into a more destructive place.  The Royal Court has made her selfish and sure she can do anything she needs.  We need to touch read and find out what her goals are”

He nodded even though he knew he wasn’t there to spy he also knew that when Astucia and he were back in North America whatever she was up to could affect them.

———-

WinterStag entered the private chambers of Selene.  They knew that Queen was at the Royal Court dealing with some issues that could only be because of her ordering the deaths of her own Barons. 

As he touched some items he allowed his mind to open just enough for his powerful touch to read what was happening.  The power was fleeting and he couldn’t get much out of her room.

Astucia he was hoping she was having better luck.  His mind reached out to hers he would be able to boost her abilities if need be or see what she saw.

She touched her hand to the throne, and was drawn down the rabbit hole.  She felt her body morphing into th site of one of the Queen’s guards named Elyse.

The scene was Elyse kneeling in front of the throne.  “Your majesty.  The information you requested I am sure I have found the truth.  Alexandre is alive she couldn’t kill her Sire.  I believe it is because she didn’t want to be put to final death due to killing her sire.  We don’t know where he is but Astucia has proven to be a hindrance to our cause. “

She nodded “It’s as I thought she is a very nervous person.  I am afraid I may have to end her employment permanently.  She is going to bring the Queen’s down on me.  Rabiria is not as easy to deal with as Kirsti.”

She nodded “There is more.  Your conquest idea of North America and the bands.  From my research the bands do things so differently.  You won’t have an issue in taking them over and setting yourself up as the Empress of the American rea which would rival even the power of our current royalty.”

Astucia was shocked this could destroy everything she worked for.  She had earned the right of the bands respect  and she had been given membership with them and all other magical community member.

She came out of the vision from touch reading and was upset.  “We are all in danger.  The Bands believe Selene is their friend as she helped them before.  I have to stop this, I could challenge her right to rule problem is I would be stuck here forever.”

“I know Summerfawn must be warned, Alenna can warn her.”

She shook her head “WinterStag, you must go with Alenna there is no way that anyone would be able to get by all of you if they are warned and you are the only one who they will fully listen to.  I will deal with Selene and if all else fails I will meet you in the next life”

He nodded and she could see tears coming to his eyes.  He quickly left and by the time she has confronted her employer he would be long gone and if she did her job correctly so would she.

———-

Selene entered her throne room and saw that Astucia the Portuguese woman was sitting in her throne.  This was a hugely insulting thing to do.

“How dare you be enjoying my throne.  Only queens and kings may sit on them.  You are looking for death or are you attempting to challenge my right to rule?”


She laughed “I don’t want your Kingdom.  What I want is to prevent you from taking advantage of our friends in the North American region.  I will stop you even if it takes all my power.”

Selene drew her dagger from her side.  “You will be put to death.  Elyse she is all yours “

Elyse came out of the shadows and started to make the dark mist rise from the ground.  They both then drew their daggers and would be fighting under the shroud of darkness. 

Astucia knew she would be blind but that Elyse would be able to see through the mist and fight like normal.

Astucia could feel the vibrations in the atmosphere and she knew where it was coming from.  WinterStag and the entire band were linking to her so she would feel what was needed.  Aranai was working with the earth that knew were Elyse was and would give her a chance to feel the vibrations of the weaponry.

She blocked the slashing at her legs with her dagger.  She dropped low and do a leg sweep knocking the legs together of Elyse who fell over.  The mist was starting to dissipate.  She quickly looked and slashed the dagger beheading Elyse in one fluid motion.

She looked at the Queen “You thought she could best me.  She was never going to do that.”. She quickly threw her hand out casting forth a blood arrow that pierced the shoulder of Selene.

Selene screamed in pain and Astucia cast the blood arrow again this time piercing the opposite side knee.

The Queen was on the ground in tears.  She went up and pulled her dagger up over her head holding it in both hands “You have destroyed to much in this life.  For that you deserve to die.” She started to aim for the back of the neck which would sever the spine and decapitate the queen.

A person tackled her off of the queen and as she stood up saw that it was a powerful looking female “Enough.  My name is Agnes.  I am the chief investigator of the Emporer.  You are to be arrested however I have other ideas and that is you escape so that you can fight again another day.  You are needed Assassin whether we want you to be or not.  Now go while I deal with this aftermath.  Do not fear Selene will be handled.  We must keep her as the puppet queen for now.”

Astucia quickly left her faith in the cause sorely shaken.  She never wanted to return to France it had never been her true home.

——-

Two weeks had passed and she was no longer in the European region but was back home as she thought of it, in North America. 

She was living in the big log house that WinterStag had crafted lovingly for them.  She was with the only person she had loved and who loved her without asking for anything.  She had never been happier and if it was true that she woke be needed in the future for some form of war than at least she would have peace until that day.