A sickly sweet smell that once invaded the room from the copious amount of drugs, alcohol and other hedonistic pleasures was rapidly released- drained out.
…replaced by the metallic scent of blood making itself know.
Two bodies lay at the feet of a masked man, sword in hand with blood dripping from the blade. Evidence of the recent kill.
Though two body's lay on the floor, the bloodied smell only comes from one of them. A man with a long face and matching proportions, a face stuck in an enternal expression if fear-if despair, clearly indicating his death wasn't as instant as intended.
The women who lay next to the man being merely unconscious, spared even with close proximity to the target. A spiral of never ending drama will await her once she is awoken, for the death of the aristocrat dead next to her, but like all things in the world-it will keep moving.
Another room a floor below shares a similar tale as this. The two men with the same face, a women unconscious nearby and a pool of blood slowly leaking out the door. Evidence that will swiftly be found, quickly kicking up a storm that will cover the whole distric…
But the one responsible has already left.
The footsteps of his swift dash is muffled and barely heard to anyone but himself. Then with a leap in a suicidal move to most, he falls from the building, landing heavily but will a roll to continue his momentum.
And just like that he slips away unseen, whisked away like a ghost.
———
Corvo eventually finds his way back to Samuel's boat, he journey not taking more than half an hour. In this time he has assassinated both of his targets, collected 8 runes, 5 bone charms and a hell of a lot of money that would make even the wealthy sigh with envy.
Getting into the boat the duo that came here is now a trio heading back.
——-
"So you did the business, did you, Corvo? I'm not one to speak against my betters, mind you, but if anybody ever deserved their Fate it was those Pendletons."
Samuel speaks out loud to corvo, Manoeuvring the boat around the debris back to the hound pitts. Though what he says draws a curious look from Emily.
"What business are you talking out."
An awkward looks appears on Samuel's face, almost regretful for speaking out of turn to both the future empress… as well as a child.
"Oh… I,uh. Frown up business girl. I mean, your lady ship. Forgive me."
He bows his head slightly, well as much as he is allowed while guiding the boat.
She just laughs though finding his awkwardness amusing.
"It's okay. I heard a lot of grown up buissness at the golden cat."
"Oh. Well I should focus on piloting the boat now."
He politely shuts down the conversation having had enough.
The three of them sift up to the dock to the houndpitts, an entourage waiting outside for them or more accurately Emily.
Emily rushed of the boat in excitement of being in a new decent place. Corvo following alongside her, offering a hand just as he always done before.
She eagerly takes it with a childish grin on her face, allowing him to guid her to meet the other residents of the houndpitts pub and loyalists.
As they approach the two maid in front now their heads low in a professional curtesy and the owner does the male equivalent.
"Young lady Emily, I'm Callista. I'lI be caring For you and schooling you while you're with us."
Emily two lowers her head slightly in a sign of politeness, corvo demasking himself all the while.
"Pleased to meet you."
"As am I. Would you like to see your room inside the tower?"
Callista lowers her body to come more eye level with the mini pseudo empress.
"Can I see it?"
"Yes, you may. You'll get to see it all, the entirety of the Hound Pits."
"Good. I think I'll like it here." Emily says then turns to corvo with a smile of enjoyment on her face "I'll go with Callista, corvo. I'll see you later." And runs off with Callista.
As Emily and her new lackeys leave, havelock comes over to corvo after a quick bow to her.
"You do not Failto impress. Armed with a blade, you've changed the course of the city Forever, and with the Pendleton twins gone, our own Lord Pendleton will assume their votes in parliament."
Havelock and corvo exchange a firm handshake with the admiral seeming very please with how the work has gone so far.
"In one night you've done more than most men do in a lifetime."
'Work the shaft bro.'
"I need to speak to you soon, but For now Lord Pendleton requests your attention."
"Alright admiral."
With a nod between each other, the two part ways in two different destinations.
Before talking to Pendleton corvo arrived at pierros workshop, finding the man sitting in the sun outside.
"Oh hello corvo. Would you like me to make you anything."
"Actually… yeah. But I've got some good stuff that I want to show you first.
"Oh…"
The two walking into the workshop and upstairs, where corvo pulled out a suspiciously heavy sack.
"What is this, corvo?"
Pierro asked curious as to what's in the sack- corvos suspense not helping at all.
With a smirk corvo turn the sack over… allowing hundreds of coins to come pouring out like a waterfall.
Only after the desk fills with coins does the waterfall stop, only silence remaining.
Looking over corvo is filled with amusement at pierros face. Eyes wide as saucesers, mouth wide open.
He has to hold back a laugh while observing the priceless sight.
The silence dosent last for long though….
"WOAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Before a loud shout ripped from pierros throat from his overstimulated emotions.
It's takes a while but the man eventually regains his composure, coughing to hide his embarrassment.
"Ahem… corvo. Are you sure you would like to leave this sum of money with myself? It is…. A lot."
"Of course. With this you can get all the materials you need at top quality and still have a lot to spare. I have a couple projects I want you to work on as well. One regarding a weaponised music box that I have in my room . Another that will have to wait until I grab the blueprints."
'Besides, I haven't given you it all anyway. Mwhahah….sighh.'
Pierro just stands there though. Once more stunned to silence.
"Corvo. I'm honoured you have placed so much trust in me! I will do my best with regards to your equipment. Would you like to leave any for upgrades for now?"
Pierros now eager to respond to corvos trust asks for work.
"Yes, pierro. I would like you to upgrade my pistol to the maximum you possible can. As well as enhancing all my all my ammonium packs and storage units."
As corvo speaks he places all equipment he wants upgrading onto a separate table.
"Anyway, I'll see you later pierro. I'll be going back into the field for the night."
"Yes goodbye corvo. Happy hunting."
And with that corvo leaves the workshop… through the balcony. He has a meaningless conversation with Pendleton about how much they have invested in him, pointlessly projecting his grief. Then leaving to have another conversation with havelock and Martain about the next mission.
Too summarise the useless talk it would be…. They found more infomation from Campbell book, we need anton sokolav because he has infomation on the lord regent, he lives on kaldwin bridge and corvo needs to leave now.
Done and done. Boring conversation over.
Corvo himself just nods along, already knowing what to.
Before leaving though he ascends the houndpitts building and climbs across to the tower where Emily's room is stationed.
Corvo already knows Emily and Callista are there by a quick use of dark vision.
Walking up to the door he heard the two talking and listens in.
"Callista, I don't want to look around right now."
"Of course, we can go when you are more rested."
"I was wondering, do you think my mother is really dead? I saw her get stabbed, but maybe she was still alive and got better. Is that possible?"
"I'm sorry, Emily. But no. I'm afraid she's dead."
As a child usually is she was curious about death, not entirely understanding its concept thus creating confusion in them that is hard on them.
'Poor girl.'
"Did you girl to her funeral? Was it fancy and beautiful?"
"A train of carriages rode through the city. It was very beautiful. Flowers everywhere, and thousands of people wept because they will miss her."
At this confirmation, a conflicted look was drew over Emily's face. On the one hand happy that her mother was so loved and was shown that love and respect at her funeral. On the other hand….
"I wish I could have seen it."
"I'm sorry, dear."
A quiet sigh leaves corvos nose- Emily's sadness becoming his. But as much as he wants to sit down and comfort his 'daughter' he has a mission to do. The least he could do though was go in and say goodbye.
Opening the door to the room corvo walked in, drawing tbe eyes of the two girls inside.
"Hello Emily, Callista."
He greets the two drawing a smile from both.
""Hello, corvo.""
The atmosphere quickly transform back into a neutral one upon corvos entrance.
Kneeling down he brings himself eye level to the little girl.
"Is this place to your liking Emily?"
"It's not as pretty as the golden cat, but I like it a lot more."
"That's good. I'll be out for a couple hours, so don't wait up for me-okay?"
"Okay corvo, I'll have Callista to keep me company anyway. See you tomorrow."
The two exchange a quick hug before Emily quickly gets back into her reading. Seeing this a smile is brought to corvos face, happy that she is back together with him-safe.
He quickly goes over to Callista to have a quick chat about Emily.
"Hey Callista, how's Emily?"
"She's had a hard time and is clearly a little traumatised by both her time in the golden cat as well as the empresses death, but she's a lot calmer in your presence.
I have also been planning for Emily. Lesson plans are together. A schedule is prepared. We will make life as normal as possible here. This should ground her a bit, allow her time to heal."
Callista fully gets into the gist of what would be good for Emily and help improve her mental health. This causes flutter of happiness to appear in corvos heart, improving his mood dramatically.
A kind smile that has only been shown to Emily, Jessamine and corvos long dead family crawls onto his face as he gazes upon Callista, stunning the women momentarily.
"Thank you, Callista. Truely."
But she breaks out of it at corvos words, smiling back with a bright smile to him.
"No need for thanks corvo. You have saved my family and that's not something I can repay, but I will treat this girl as if my own."
He dosent reply back just gives a happy nod.
But he knows time is limited and he needs to leave, to get this mission over and done with as soon as possible.
Corvo walks out the door, pausing to don his mask, then turns his head to look at the two over his shoulder- his demonic voice ringing out.
"Goodbye, girls."
Before he flickers out of existence gone.
———-
Though as corvo leaves, a screen appears out of knowhere-hovering there, always unseen to anyone but the already departed corvo.
< degree of synchronisation - 68%>
<69%> (cough, cough. Nice)
<7*#$€>
<85%>
-Synchronisation is accelerating to quickly.
-Personality drip will increase dramatically causing harmful effect to user!
-User is suggested to slow the sync rate by grounding themself to their own ego, separating host body and soul!
———-
Word count: 2,2023