Mazikeen was pacing back and forth in the old throne room, stealing glances every so often at the royal, empty seat before her. Where was her Lord? Hadn't one of his Followers sent word that she had urgent matters to discuss?

She tenderly touched the tattoo on her collarbone. She felt nothing now, and yet, there was no mistaking the electrifying feeling that had coursed through her veins during her encounter with Iris, nor its glowing light that had shone so iridescently.

The large brass doors finally swung open, and Adiran strode in, his red cloak flowing behind him as gracefully as ever. The Follower she had sent to fetch him stood just outside in the hallway, momentarily glancing at the two of them before closing the doors after the Assassin Lord, leaving Adiran and Mazikeen alone.

"Back already?" Adiran mused. "I don't see her head."

"There's something wrong with me," Mazikeen said coldly. She tried not to snap, to remain neutral but the truth was, for the first time in a long while, she felt off her game. "Our encounter—" Mazikeen started, but Adiran held up a hand, dismissing her.

"I watched it all," he said, and Mazikeen masked her surprise. He was watching her? Didn't he trust her to do the job right? She clenched her hands into fists, suddenly angry at herself. Except she didn't do it right.

"How does it feel?" Adiran asked carefully.

Mazikeen knew what he was referring to without needing further elaboration. "The tattoo itself doesn't hurt, but I have a burning sensation all around, like an itch."

"You must resist it, Mazikeen," Adiran said quietly but firmly, his eyes narrowing.

Mazikeen felt her heart skip a bit. Perhaps he really did no longer trust her. "I won't use my element, my Lord. You can count on that."

"So said many," he drawled, walking past her and sitting comfortably on his chair. "And they don't have to resist what you have... the power that comes with being a royal."

"No," Mazikeen hissed. "I will slit my neck before that happens. It will never come to that."

"I sure hope so, Mazikeen," he said, his catlike eyes boring into hers. "I do sincerely hope so, for your benefit. You know what happens to traitors, to cheats."

"I will never use sorcery to gain what I need. I have technique and skill at my disposal. I am like any other assassin here. No," she shook her head, teeth clenched as she took a step towards him, "I'm better."

Adiran was only quiet as he stared at her, deep in thought. The silence stretched uncomfortably long before he leaned in closer. "In your free time, while you wait for your next best moment to attack, you'll be teaching the new ones."

"What?" Mazikeen snapped. Upon his sharp glance, she quickly recomposed herself. "They're kids, my Lord. My focus is on killing the girl, Iris."

"And that shouldn't be too hard for you," Adiran said breezily, leaning back. "As you so claimed. But if you already have an itch to use your element after just one encounter..."

"I'm fine," Mazikeen growled, and Adiran moved, fast as lightning. Before she knew what was happening, he had her head in a tight deadlock, his fingers on a dangerous pressure point in her neck.

"Listen to me," he hissed into her ear, and Mazikeen dared not move in her state of vulnerability.

"You are already losing control. You must learn to regain it through patience. So," he released her, and she stumbled forward before facing him, their eyes meeting in a cold stare. "You will teach these 'kids' what you know when you are not hunting down your sister. I want them trained until the next call-out in three months, and we'll see which ones are still worthy of being assassins."

Mazikeen nodded stiffly and Adiran waved a hand. "You're dismissed."

She bowed, resisting the urge to punch through the pillar next to her as she stood to leave.

"Do not disappoint me, Mazikeen," he warned before she swung open the brass doors and shut them just a little too hard behind her. She almost ran into the taller girl before her, and a snarl escaped her lips.

"Sorry," the girl quickly apologised.

Mazikeen glared at the red-head. It was the one whom she had ultimately decided to spare due to her unwavering determination. Mazikeen almost snorted at the thought now. They were all amateurs. She had to waste her time teaching them?

She grabbed a fistful of the girl's tunic.

"Tomorrow at dawn," she growled, meeting the girl's unnaturally golden eyes. "Tell your other friends to meet in the practice room. I'm teaching," Mazikeen recoiled slightly at the last word, but the girl only nodded, and Mazikeen released her before trudging off down the corridor towards her own chambers.

Adiran, although not a king, had his own castle, an abandoned, forgotten one that was once half-buried beneath the soil by some dark, ancient force during the Great War. It meant that half the rooms in this castle had no light, being below surface level. Her chamber, however, was on one of the top floors, meaning she could still walk out onto the veranda and view the world above. Not that there was much of a view. Just miles and miles of red desert that stretched painstakingly long and out of sight.

Still, the minute Mazikeen entered her room, she stepped out into the cool air, her hands gripping the veranda's railing as she observed the barren, war-ridden land before her. No one dared venture into the barren land of the forgotten, of the dead. But that was how they had managed to keep the Assassin League's whereabouts a secret thus far. It was situated way past the current wars wading between the elemental districts, away from nature and anything resembling signs of life. There was absolutely nothing here, which was why a few were sent out weekly to fetch whatever rations and other necessities that were required or requested by their Lord.

Mazikeen sighed and rubbed her temples, grimacing.

First the reoccurring free-falling dream she'd been having every night recently, then the mark started glowing, and then she let her kill escape. Perhaps she truly was losing control. But she couldn't finish Iris off at the time, as much as she had ached to do so; because when she and Iris had made skin-to-skin contact, Mazikeen hadn't just wanted to kill Iris with her bare hands, she had had a sudden desire to burn Iris. With her element.

Mazikeen closed her eyes. She had to resist the urge to use that crackling fire within her. To use your element in the Assassin League was seen as a disgrace, and all that respect she had worked so hard to earn over the years, would be for zilch. All of Adiran's followers would think her weak, and she would certainly no longer be considered Adiran's protégée afterwards.

For so long, she had managed to deplete her element, like many others who joined the League. So what was the issue now? What had that Iris girl awoken in her?

And that boy that was with her. She hadn't counted on her companion being so persistent, so willing to risk his own life for a princess he had never met prior. Still, his element would not be an issue.

This was exactly what Adiran preached to all beginning assassins, swearing them to an oath that they will never use their elements again so long as they're training under his wing. Adiran oftentimes reminded them that people relied too much on their elements these days. They grew slower in the mind, not as quick-witted. Mazikeen and the other Followers had been taught through skill and technique that not many others knew in this world. It was Adiran's brutal training that taught her to remain focused, to reach her end-goal, whatever the cost.

Mazikeen thought once again of the apprehensive buzz she felt course through her body when she had made contact with Iris. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on the railing.

Nothing. Mazikeen was afraid of nothing. And she certainly wasn't afraid of some stupid element - hers or any other's. Mazikeen had killed numerous times, committed unspeakable crimes, done so much to gain her position by Adiran's side. She wouldn't lose it over something so insignificant.

No. She would get to Iris when the girl least expected it. It was all about timing, after all. Patience, as Adiran had said.

Mazikeen smirked. And when she did go after her sister next time, she'd be ready.