Face of Deception Pt. 2

Small electrical discharge shot off the beam, giving the ethereal sickle a dangerous look. The figure crept agile-like through Eric’s room. He would eliminate Revwel and Karen first; for Eric’s distressed cries would alert them. He sped hastily through the hallway, and took a turn into Revwel and Karen’s bedroom. The room was totally black, and the only source of light was the man’s sickle, but even that illuminated the room immensely. The figure approached the couple’s bed, and raised his sickle high.

Revwel’s eyes shot open. "Karen! Go! Get Eric to safety!" He cried, knowing the man was a threat, as he reached for a staff that lay perfectly adjacent to the bed. He gripped it tightly, and turned to face his oppressor. When Karen had left the room to protect Eric, the figure began to speak.

"Revwel Metsen. You should not have alerted your wife. It would be much easier for me to strike you down!" The figure rasped in an eerie, hoarse voice.

"Long has this weapon remained idle, but idle it shall remain no more." Revwel said coolly, and whipped his weapon up to face his foe. He activated a switch in the middle of the staff, and held it horizontally. Both ends of the staff lit fire, and the two men engaged in battle. The cloaked and hooded fiend cleaved at Revwel, but he raised his combusted staff quick enough to shield the blow. Revwel whirled his staff several times, attempting to strike a blow at the other man. The flames singed the tips of the man’s cloak, but did not make enough contact to set the cloaked man on fire.

The fiend made a sudden lunge towards Revwel, but he nimbly leapt out of the way. Revwel stood motionless in front of his enemy, then quickly flicked the staff upwards, hoping to set fire to the other man’s legs. The cloaked figure then hit Revwel’s staff out of the way with his sickle. The two were both equally seasoned fighters, and the battle would continue for quite a bit of time. The figure then realized his advantage: his sickle was hook-shaped, and Revwel’s staff was straight. He hooked his sickle on to Revwel’s staff, and tossed it aside. Now the man was disarmed. Revwel stared straight through the man’s hood, showing no fear. His gaze was piercing right through the hooded man. "Go on. Kill me, and live the rest of your life living with the guilt. You’ll see. Your life will become a living hell." Revwel watched the staff’s flame spread across the room, setting everything alight as it went.

"Don’t be a fool. You know I would not do this had my master not ordered it." The concealed man spoke solemnly. He raised his sickle, but then hesitated. He was showing reluctance… perhaps it was a sign that he and Revwel had once bore a bond. Regretfully, the man brought it down to Revwel’s neck. He slit the throat, and quickly drew his weapon back. Revwel’s frozen gaze stared up at his killer, and the stricken man keeled over, lifeless. The man lowered his sickle by his side but did not deactivate it. It was evident that the cloaked assassin had respect for the man he slew. But his master’s orders had to be carried out.

The assassin headed towards Eric’s room, his sickle held at his side. All sympathy seemed to have evaporated from the man’s soul. "Karen Metsen! Show yourself!" He rasped evilly, his sickle held at the ready. He scanned the room, looking for any sign of life. Karen suddenly leapt out from behind with something that resembled a wooden plank.