I can’t remember what happened last night, or who’s in my bed, or why they are dead. The cold, clammy corpse lay between the sheets, her eyes wide open, and her auburn hair spread around her pillow. Through my hungover eyes, I could see a slight trickle of blood slipping down out the side of her mouth.

                This scene should unnerve me, make me jump out of the bed with extreme panic; instead, calmly, I raised my hand to her face and brushed her hair out of the way. She was astonishingly beautiful. I’ll never find another woman like her, and I can’t even remember her name.

                I’m sure I had something to do with her death. If she’s in my bed, then that must be the case. The sheets around her had dried to a coppery colour. Judging from the amount of blood, she had been gone a while.

                God, she’s beautiful. I hope last night was as good as she looks. Then again, I could have killed her before we got to the nasty. She’s nasty now anyhow.

                Why am I still not freaked out by this? A dead bitch is in my bed and all I can think about is the time we’d have had last night. I am also not shocked that I’m not in my own bed.

                The wooden walls of the tavern were covered in what looked like blood. Did I slice her up? Fucked her little brains out and, as she came, slit her pretty neck? Everything is such a haze. I’m still not sure I even did it. I must have done. Surely, if it was a random attack, the attacker would have killed us both? Surely, if it was a random attack, they would have left us both bleeding on the bed? My head swam with all the questions that were unanswered. Or was that just from the booze? Was it even booze?

                The thin line of sunlight fell across our chests; the early morning sun was my personal favourite for hunting game. I had no idea of the time. Too early, as I could hear the bastard birds calling really noisily. The shadow of the tree that stood outside confirmed that that was their favourite perch. I raised my hands to my face in defiance. I should really leave.

                I rolled over to find my gear. Thankfully, my boots were next to the bed. I spied my bodice and leggings over at the bottom of the bed. We must have had a good night last night. I smiled at the thought. Having sex with women was frowned upon if you’re already a woman. But my chosen career wasn’t exactly something that the kingdom was happy with, but who gave a fuck? As long as my gold was given, I couldn’t care less.

                After I dressed, I gave my dead lover a kiss on her freezing cheek. I grabbed my dagger and began my decent through the tavern. I approached the bar, and gave the slimy bartender the money for the room.

                “Good night, was it?” he grinned creepily.

                I tapped my nose and smiled. His grimace widened. 

                “She’s still up there, if you want to try her yourself.” I pulled my hood over my head and left. I was not waiting for what I knew was going to happen next. I saw him hurry upstairs hungrily. That was my cue. A loud scream could be heard, and a mob was soon formed, chasing me down the street. I watched the mob of imbeciles flee in my direction from my perch. Being a Crow was probably the most exciting thing I had ever done.

                As the shouts and yells evaporated into the distance, I hopped down and headed towards my nest. I picked up my bow and quiver as I passed; you never know when you may need ranged weapons against an angry mob.

                The forest behind the tavern was eerily quiet for this time of day. Even the birds had clapped their beaks shut. It was nice, peaceful. I broke into a little jog, until I found myself at the nest’s entrance. I double checked my surroundings and opened the large stump’s hidden hatch. I quickly slid down the hole before some nosy busybody came along. I crawled down the dark, damp tunnel until it began to widen.

                I cannot wait for the day that they expand this tunnel, my back is killing.

                Oddly enough, it felt sore, like I had caught it on brambles. I couldn’t help but grin, as I knew they were marks from last night. She must have been one hell of a lover. Shame she had to die. I could have gone for her a few times.

                The tunnel opened its mouth until I came to the Crows’ door:  its charcoal-coloured crow stuck out, bearing an open beak down at any intruder; its massive wings captured the bird in flights perfectly, with its grace and serendipity that came with it. I stroked certain feathers within its glorious wings and uttered the sacred words:

                Only the carcass of our enemies suffice.

                A loud cawing of a thousand crows came from deep within the chambers. The door pushed open slowly, inviting me back in.

                I’m home.

                I strode in proudly, my head held high amongst my brothers and sisters. They welcomed me back with disdain in their eyes, arms folded, and angry grumblings.

                Shit, now what have I done?

                “Lovely to see you all, too.” I tried to lighten the room. With no such luck.

                “Do you have any idea what you have done, Clarissa?” barked Thesius, angrily. His voice echoed off the stone walls.

                “Yes,” I replied sarcastically. “I’ve just pulled off the best murder in Fallen Vale, and I fucked her while I did it,” I moved closer to him. “and she screamed my name all through it.”

                Thesius raised his hand to strike me. I reacted by slicing his hand with my dagger. His howls of pain brought wincing sounds from the rest of the group. I grabbed his hand and pressed hard on his wound.

                “No man moves to strike me. Ever, Thesius. Attempt to do that again, and I will make sure I do not miss your throat.”

                “Clarissa! Let him go, immediately.” Thaddius, Thesius’ older brother stormed in. I let the whimpering wreck fall to his knees. I turned to Thaddius as he strode across to me.

                “My room, now.”

                Thaddius’ forcefulness shook me a little. It’s not often I piss off our Murder Father, but he was highly strung. I wiped Thesius’ blood off of my dagger on his cloak, and quickly followed Thaddius. I dreaded to think what I had done.

                As soon as we were both in his room, he deadbolted the door and turned to face me. His face was like thunder, his eyes red with anger.

                “What the hell do you think you were playing at?”

                “Thaddius, I’m sorry! How was I supposed to know?”

                “You were supposed to kill the correct target! Now our contractor will no longer come to us. We’ve lost a well-paying customer, Clarissa, all because of your stupid, drunken mistake!”

                I stopped in my tracks. Correct target? So I messed up?

                “How could you be so stupid, girl? The Baron will be out for your – our – blood!”

                “Thaddius, I don’t understand! Who did I kill, if it wasn’t the correct target?”

                He shook his head in deep rage.

                “Clarissa, you made love to, and killed, Baron Hearthfire’s youngest daughter. Left her body to rot in a seedy pub along a dusty track and let the revellers discover her naked corpse!”

                I sat, mouth gaping, looking at Thaddius. In my drunken state, I hooked up with the wrong target: the daughter of a very powerful and bloodthirsty man. I was too far up the creek to be worrying about a paddle now; I was more concerned about the cascading waterfall a few feet away from me.

                “Shit, Thaddius. What do we do, now?”

                “We?” Thaddius scoffed. “No, Clarissa, there is no ‘we’. Not until you sort out this mess you’ve gotten yourself into, we cannot help you. I cannot risk losing my children.”

                My heart sank, but I knew he spoke the truth about what was happening. I could not risk losing my siblings for my mistake. It would not be fair.

                “Thaddius, until this matter is resolved, I wish nothing more to do with the Crows. I will hand over my uniform and weapons, but for now, I am no-one you know, someone posing as one of your own, but not affiliated with you.”

                “You’re making the right decision, Clarissa. We’ll give you some gold to get you by and out of Fallen Vale, but if you see any of us again, act to not know us.”

                I nodded with a heavy heart. I turned to leave.

                “Oh, Clarissa.”

                I looked back at Thaddius, my hand on the latch.

                “Take care of yourself out there.”

                I slid the bolt back and opened the door to leave, only to be greeted by the rest of the murder. I strode through them all pushing past them before the tears fell, accidently knocking into Yasmina, one of the Crows oldest and most skilled killer. I ran to my room.

Finally alone, I let the tears fall. In front of others, I try not to show my emotions. But now, by myself and leaving behind the memories of the best years of my life due to a drunken slip-up, I sobbed quietly to myself.

                “Clari?” Yasmina’s voice came from the doorway. I quickly wiped away my tears and spun around. Before I had chance to speak a word, she had me in a comforting hug.

                “We’ll have you back before we know it.” She squeezed me tighter as she spoke to me. The tears fell harder now, and I began to break down in her arms.

                “Hey, now! There’s no need for tears like that! A true Crow never lets her wings be clipped!”

                I wiped them away once more and smiled at her. She was right: I will always be a Crow until I am six foot deep, and my wings will forever be spread in flight.

                “I’ll find out what happened, Yas. I will not go out like this!”

                “That’s the spirit, girl! We’ll have you back in the nest before long.”

                I broke away from the hug, and smiled a large smile at Yasmina. I grabbed my satchel, and we both left my room together, her arm draped across me, like a mother bird would for her baby in a rainstorm.

                When we got to the main entrance, everyone was there, including Thesius, nursing his bandaged and bloodstained hand. Thaddius approached us and handing me a small purse, laden with gold.

                “There’s five hundred gold pieces in there. It should cover you for a month or so.”

                I bowed low to him. He brought me in for a hug.

                “Hurry back.”He whispered.

                I pulled away and nodded. I made my way up the hallowed tunnel to the surface, ready to find out what happened to ruin my life.

02/07/2013 22:01