shadow in shadow slithered into the crooks of the columns, within the ornamentation, under the portraits lining the long halls of the grand palace; the hallway was as quiet as a mausoleum. the hush that had settled in the wake of the commotion was grave, reeking of death and imminent peril. in the near distance, the faint screams and yells of the dignitaries still fleeing the banquet hall turned muffled, and the tinge of gunpowder seeping into the air became sparse. the darkling glanced to the side, biting back an irritated growl when he counted his two grisha soldiers, the two shu guards, and one princess instead of two. turning, kefta billowing with the manoeuvre, he espied too late the familiar face of the man that had fired the first shot that had reverberated around the hall, when the initial assassination attempt had occurred. he held a knife against the throat of the younger princess, tucked under her chin, gleaming in the ill-light. there was a gasp, and then came the blood.
across the walls, shadows contorted into something monstrous, crawling down unto the carpeted flooring, sliding up to wrap around the neck of the assassin. whispered last words slipped from the man's mouth — for ravka, he had said — the sound of bones snapping. it all transpired in the span of seconds.
curiously, the darkling spared a passing thought on the relative tranquillity with which she approached her own death, her face impassive, acceptance dawning upon her. it was eerie. trained. faux. this calmness was more than could be said for the repercussions which would fall upon ravka, and him, but ruminations of politics could not be afforded until he had the sister escorted to safety.
❝ come now, your highness. we must go. ❞ the darkling commanded, grasping the elder princess' upper arm with a gentle urgency and pulling her along into the adjoining hallway. (there would be time to panic later, once the shock had subsided.) behind them, the man crumpled to the ground like stones in a sack, with a heavy thud. the sound of boots descended, signifying the presence of the other two assassins. he motioned to his soldiers, a heartrender and an inferni; the two men fell, then, feverishly clutching and clawing at their chests, their hearts bursting through their ribcages.
the darkling almost scoffed; what a spectacle of a diplomatic visit. he was certain this could not possibly become worse.
STARTER CALL, @springtimehasreturned ft. princess ehri.
