//------------------------------// // The Penthouse // Story: Leap of Faith // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// The space ahead was completely dark, with only the light of the elevator illuminating the first few feet. It was absolutely silent, with the only sound being the breathing of the two Assassins. Velvet Breeze tried to remove the metal panel that was covering the buttons, but to no avail. The only way now was forward. “I’m sorry, Velvet,” Dewdrop took the first step out, looking around. “I should’ve listened to you before we arrived. Now… Now there’s no turning back.” Dewdrop took another step, only for light to suddenly ignite, powerful lamps set in the floor lighting up the hallway. In fact, it looked as though the entire penthouse had sprung to life. Dewdrop and Velvet were momentarily blinded. “What do we do now?” Velvet covered her eyes and staggered forward. “Is there another way out? A staircase? A emergency exit?” Dewdrop was about to reply, but a third voice cut her off, sounding like it came from all directions at once. “Well, well, well. What have we here?”  Dewdrop placed a protective hand by Velvet and drew a sword. “That’s Mirror Match, alright. Where are you, witch!” “Around,” Mirror answered, a smile in her voice. “But of course you’d like to find me. That’s why you came here, isn’t it? To slay little old me. Or am I mistaken?” “You are mistaken,” Dewdrop held Velvet’s shaking hand. “We’re here for Wolfgang, not you.” “Wolfgang? I’m afraid you’re too early for him. He’ll be around in an hour or two. In the meantime, why don’t you come find me? I’ve got tea set up for our little gathering.” “D-Dewdrop, what do w-we do…?” Velvet wheezed out of her throat, her legs threatening to drop under her. “I… I can’t do this… I can’t, Dewdrop…” “Velvet, Velvet, take a deep breath,” Dewdrop held her close, patting her back. “Don’t let her scare you. You’ve got to stay calm. We’ll get through this, don’t you worry.” Velvet did as she was told, slowly taking more controlled breaths, doing her best to stop her shaking. “Look, why don’t we try the elevator again. Maybe it’ll work-” “Not fair, tasty ones,” Mirror chided. “Either you start moving, or I’ll have to come find you. And believe me, that will be far less pleasant.” Dewdrop cursed and looked back to the elevator, then to the space ahead. “Velvet, we should move. Don’t worry. I’ve got you. Just stay by me.” Velvet started walking forward, holding onto one of Dewdrop’s arms. The two Assassins progressed down the lighted path, watching out for any unexpected encounters. Their path led them into a spacious living room with a wall-sized TV on one side, and a minibar next to the couch. “Where are you, Mirror?” Dewdrop called out, her voice echoing in the silence. She held her pistol in one hand, ready to fire it at any sign of the Templar agent. A flicker of movement came at the edge of Dewdrop’s eye and she whipped around, firing her pistol twice. When she looked to see what she had hit, it was a pot plant. “Tsk. You brought a gun into my house? Such disregard for common courtesy. Here I am, offering you tea, and you have the nerve to shoot up my home? Really.” The Assassins searched around her living room, trying to find any indication of where she could be. Dewdrop threw open a door, revealing a single bed and bedside table beside a large window. “Any sign of her, Velvet?” “N-No,” the young Assassin didn’t see anyone close by, even with her eagle vision. “Dewdrop, can you track her with your eagle sense?” “I can try,” Dewdrop said before focusing her senses. At first, she didn’t see anything, but then a faint trail of golden sparkles appeared on the path beneath their feet, this one leading away from the bedroom and around the corner. “I-I see something. It’s kind of hard to make out, but there’s a trail here.” The two Assassins followed the golden trail, rounding the corner and appearing at the foot of a set of stairs. “Very good,” Mirror’s voice came. “You’re getting warmer.” Dewdrop led the way up, holding her sword firmly in one hand and her pistol in her other. Velvet walked up behind, keeping close to the blue haired Assassin, her knife in her hand. This floor was vastly different from the first. Whereas the first floor of the penthouse had been tastefully decorated with various kinds of white furniture, this floor felt like a museum, with plush red carpets and walls, dim lighting, and glass cabinets that seemed to hold various outfits and other historical knick knacks. “Ah, you’ve reached my halls of history,” Mirror giggled, her voice amplified by the hidden speakers all around. “Feel free to look around, but don’t tarry too long, the tea’s getting cold.” Velvet peered through the closest case, looking at a circlet of sorts. It had a crescent moon sigil on the front of it. “What’s all this stuff?” “Historical remnants,” Dewdrop answered as she looked a display of a steel katana with a chipped end. “Right you are, but not just any historical remnants. These are my historical remnants.” “Whatever, you found them, so what?” Dewdrop slapped the display case. “I did much more than find them…but if I tell you everything, that’s no fun. Much better if you figure it out for yourselves.” The Assassins crept along the hallway, passing glass cases with a suit of armor, a spear, and another with a folded set of robes in them. Then they came to a glass case that was unlocked, this one with an open book in it. A quill pen was set aside the book, its tip still wet. “An ocean of blood, For a smile from Chrysalis, I would gladly spill.” Dewdrop read aloud. She turned the page. “The blood in my veins, Calls me back toward your side, My queen, Chrysalis.” “For a single touch, Of your perfect hands on mine, I would trade the world.” “Who wrote this?” Dewdrop muttered, turning to the front page. “Scarlet Lily. Who the hell is Scarlet Lily, and why does she have such a fascination with this Chrysalis person?” Velvet turned the page and read, “I yearn for your love, Without it life means nothing, My beautiful queen.” “My dearest sister, When will I see you again? It is so lonely.” “It certainly is… poetic. I can relate to that last one,” Velvet said, thinking of Satin. “Wait. Queen?” Dewdrop said flicking through the pages and then looking at the quill and ink. “It can’t be… some of these entries are over seventy years old…” “How can you tell?” Velvet leaned closer. It all looked the same to her. “There are dates written next to the poems,” Dewdrop pointed to a set of Eastern characters that were scrawled next to each haiku. “The earliest is eighty-three years ago…” “You read Eastern?” Velvet looked at the characters. She didn’t know what any of them said. “Rose Petal taught me how to read a little, but that’s not what’s important. What is  important is that the poems mention a Queen Chrysalis. And how this Scarlet Lily is pining after her. But… but that means…” “What? What does it mean?” “Is this the same queen that Mirror Match was killing for back then…?” Dewdrop said to herself. “Ah, you’ve almost figured it out,” Mirror said gleefully. “Almost.” “Enough riddles, Mirror!” Dewdrop spun around and yelled to the air. “Where are you? Why are you still hidden? Come on out!” “Ah, but that’s no fun. However, if you insist…” For a moment, Dewdrop and Velvet were alone, the next, the lights went out and a dark shape blurred out of the gloom, snatching the gun from Dewdrop’s hands before darting back into the shadows. “Hey!” the blue haired Assassin yelled and looked around. Somewhere in the near distance, there were a series of metallic noises, and then the lights went back on again. There, scattered all across the floor, were pieces of Dewdrop’s gun. “What gives?” She bent down and began picking the pieces up. “You know I can just put it back together, right?” “I do, but I also kept the slide. Good luck shooting that without it. Now, if you could proceed? You’re almost at one of my favorite items.” Dewdrop looked at the pieces in her hands and tossed them down angrily. Velvet decided to play along, moving past her friend to the next display case. It was the mask that Mirror had been wearing to the masquerade party. Up close, it looked almost alive, glaring out at Velvet with its hollow sockets. The horn on its forehead was gnarled and twisted, spearing out aggressively. “Ah, yes. My assassin’s mask. For all the times when you don’t want to be recognized in the midst of a murder. Did you know that an Eastern assassin from the Mareji period known only as Razor Gale also wore that mask? I wonder how she’s doing.” Mirror’s voice practically squealed with excitement. “I’m pretty sure she’s dead,” Dewdrop answered. “So we’ve seen your precious mask. Where are you?” Mirror sighed. “You’re no fun, you know that? Now, onto the jewel of my collection… just around the corner, if you please.” The Assassins pressed on with Dewdrop leading the way again. The golden trail was brighter here, meaning that the Assassins were now getting closer. Velvet looked from case to case, noticing more and more ancient artifacts from different time periods, like the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Finally, the trail of artifacts ran out and there, at the end of the hallway, was an enormous painting. “Looks medieval,” Velvet placed a hand on the frame. “It must be over a thousand years old!” “So what, it’s a painting,” Dewdrop scoffed and went ahead, looking around for a way out. “Was paint even invented then?” Velvet asked her. History wasn’t one of her best subjects. “Morning should be here. She’ll go nuts over all this stuff.” “You don’t recognize a family portrait when you see one?” Mirror’s voice seemed softer, as if she were reminiscing about something. “And you call me uncultured.” “A family portrait? But you’re not even in the picture!” Dewdrop was getting tired of Mirror’s little exhibition. “Just show yourself so I can stab you,” she growled. “O-Or at least give us a way out,” Velvet tried her luck. Maybe Mirror would just let them go if they left her and Wolfgang alone. “I assure you, I am in the picture. But it seems that Dewdrop is growing impatient. You wish to meet me? Very well.” The lights went out again, plunging the two Assassins into darkness. Something whipped past Dewdrop. Velvet screamed and reached out for her friend, but it was too late. When the lights came back on, the girl was gone. Dewdrop spun around, but came up with no signs of anyone. “Velvet? Velvet! Where are you? Mirror, where is she!” “Why don’t you try using that eagle vision that you Assassins taught me?” Mirror replied with amusement in her voice. “The girl is safe, for the time being. What happens from here, is up to you.” Dewdrop grated her teeth together and ran forward, looking for the staircase. She wasn’t going to let that witch harm Velvet. She honed her eagle sense and looked up, the golden path materializing itself again, leading around another bend and finally, up a black flight of steps. “I’m coming, Velvet!” Dewdrop yelled out, hoping the girl could hear her. “Wait for me!” She hopped up the steps, two at a time, moving as fast as she could go. Finally, she burst out into the open air, and there, sitting next to Mirror Match, was Velvet. Mirror Match had changed into a red kimono with white lily patterns, and she and Velvet Breeze were seated at a squat, square table beneath a cherry blossom tree that was gently shedding its petals over the scene. An Eastern teapot and a set of cups was placed atop the table, and Mirror greeted Dewdrop with a smile as the Assassin ran over. The setup was placed on a balcony that overlooked the snowy city, giving Dewdrop a beautiful view of Manehattan. “Ah, there you are at last, Dewdrop. We were starting to think you wouldn’t show,” Mirror gestured to the empty seat. “Please, sit and have some of this dragonflower tea. I had it imported from the East last week.” “Velvet, are you okay?” Dewdrop ran to the young girl’s side. “Did she hurt you?” “She-she bit me,” Velvet whispered. “I can’t m-move.” “You monster!” Dewdrop wrapped her arms around Velvet protectively. “You bit a kid? I thought you supported orphanages?” “I do, and if you don’t sit down, we are going to have a disagreement.” Mirror lifted her hand and there in her grasp was a gleaming katana, the point leveled under Velvet’s chin. “So sit, please, and we will talk.” “I-It’s okay, Dewdrop,” Velvet gasped, unable to lift her head away from the weapon. “Ju-just do as s-she says.” Dewdrop scowled at Mirror Match, but went along, sitting herself down opposite the Templar agent. “Here, let me pour for you,” Mirror said comfortably, as if she were among friends. She poured Dewdrop a cup of tea, the smell wafting up and tickling the Assassin’s nose. Dewdrop accepted it, only drinking it after Mirror gestured for her to do so. She had expected it to be poison, but instead, it was rather fragrant and delicious. “So? How’s the tea?” Mirror grinned and waited. “You know, I’ve been told that I’m good at brewing and cooking. I can thank dear Friggy for such compliments.” It was good, but Dewdrop didn’t feel like fueling her ego. “It’s tea. What more do you want?” “You know, I wasn’t expecting you initially,” Mirror’s grin seemed to shrink. “I was expecting Friggy. How is he doing these days?” “What do you want, Mirror?” Dewdrop ignored her question. “Why are we here?” “You are here, because you foolishly decided to invade my party, and attempted to break into my home. As for what I want, I want a great many things, but from you? I want to know why you ignored my warning. Yes, that will do for starters.” “It’s not you I want, Mirror. It’s Wolfgang. All I need to do is kill him. As a Templar, you should know what he’s done to us. He deserves to die, as do you, but your time wasn’t now. But maybe it is now.” “I thought I told Sunset Shimmer to warn you that the next time we met, I wouldn’t spare your life. Or did she not tell you?” She waved her arm, the kimono sleeve making a strange clinking noise as she did so. “She did, but Wolfgang’s death far outweighs my fear of you,” Dewdrop narrowed her eyes at the ex-Assassin. “Just tell me where he is!” “And I said, he’ll be along soon enough. But if you want a shot at him, you’ll have to face me first.” Mirror Match stood up and held her katana above her head, the point facing Dewdrop. Dewdrop drew her own sword, leaping to her feet. The two women circled each other around the tea table, with Velvet Breeze in the middle, unable to move her body. Dewdrop moved first, hopping atop the table and delivering a diagonal slice to Mirror’s midsection. The Templar parried it and countered with a slash at Dewdrop’s feet, which the Assassin avoided with a somersault off the table, landing beside Mirror Match, sword raised to block another of Mirror’s attacks. Pulling out a second sword, Dewdrop pushed against Mirror, bringing down blade after blade, trying to break the Templar agent’s defense. Mirror countered with quick, measured slashes of her own, keeping Dewdrop on her toes. “Just die already!” Dewdrop shouted as she blocked and slashed with her two swords. She was so close, so close to avenging Satin and High Noon, but this witch had to stand in her way, keeping her from accomplishing her goal. Tears fell from the Assassin’s eyes as she realized how close she was, but yet so far away from finishing it. “Yes…” Mirror’s eyes shone like lanterns in the dark, the cherry blossom petals giving the whole scene a quiet, unearthly feel. “Love them more…” Dewdrop unleashed a warcry and jumped up, cutting down hard. Mirror stepped out of the way as Dewdrop’s blade cut into the wooden flooring, before kicking her away, sending the Assassin bouncing on her back and stopping a meter away, her sword still in the floor. “I’ll kill you…” the blue haired woman snarled and unsheathed her third blade. “Very well!” Mirror laughed and backflipped away, landing next to the cherry blossom tree. “Let this next strike end our contest. Are you prepared?” The Templar agent flourished her sword in a quick circle at her side and gestured to Dewdrop, her sleeve making that strange tinkling sound again. “Please, don’t do this,” Velvet squirmed, trying to break out of her paralysis. “Mirror, you were an Assassin. You understand why we do what we do. Please stop this. You don’t have to do this. Please don’t hurt Dewdrop. She’s like a sister to me.” Mirror lowered her sword a fraction. “I know of sisterhood. I had a sister, once. However, I cannot ignore Dewdrop’s trespass, nor can I ignore yours. Now come, Dewdrop. Let’s finish this.” “It’s okay, Velvet,” Dewdrop returned a sword to one of her sheaths, then holding the other one in both hands. “I’ll end this here. I’m ready, Mirror Match.” Velvet watched helplessly as the two women rushed each other, Mirror Match and Dewdrop sprinting at top speed, blades shimmering in the lamplight. There was a flash of steel, and suddenly it was as if Dewdrop and Mirror had swapped places, both of them standing with blades outstretched, backs to each other. For a heartbeat, no one moved.  Then Mirror Match stumbled, a swathe of her now-cut kimono falling away. Dewdrop stood up, triumphant. Then her hand went to her side, coming away with blood on it.