"Stop pulling at it," the gaurd reprimanded. "It'll be set off."

Still, Cecily's small fingers danced around the collar that was chocking her. She tried to fit her finger between the weird leathery material and her skin, but even her fingers weren't that small. She could feel her neck bruising underneath.

"I can't breath," she replied. Short, quick, and too the point.

Another tug and a quick spark of electricity was sent down her spine. She jumped a bit before sending a glare at the foreign guard named Reiko.

"Yeah well, neither can the woman you killed. Unlike her, you'll survive."

She sent him a small glare, but moved her hand anyways.

They were rushing through the city of Royale, the hover car speeding over the ash fault roads of the old city. The palace was still a ten minute drive away, Cecily estimated.

The prince himself, was sitting besides his loyal gaurd. The hunter felt that maybe she should feel a little bit of awe, but didn't.

He was only a bit above average. Wavy black hair falling to his eyebrows. Plain brown eyes, watching her carefully and much too cheerfully. His face was a bit rounded, but not fat. A smirk played on his lips as he watched the hardened criminal and the sarcastically sassy guard battle it out in comments and glares.

He'd yet to say anything more than necessary to the strikingly beautiful murderer.

She was fine with that. She liked the silence that was slowly filling the car. It was comfortable. She placed her elbow on the door and considered falling asleep.

Until...Reiko opened his mouth again.

"How is it that you can fight so well?" He asked, voice purely filled with curiosity. No taunting in the question. "I read your file and there was nothing significant other than, you know, murdering you mother in cold blood. So how're you so good?"

She considered not answering. There really was no obligation to tell him. But she'd been by herself for so long that she missed small talk. No 'I may or may not kill you' business.

"Practice mostly. I hunted for food at home, so I'm well practiced with weapons."

"Yeah, but you're kickass in a fight. Sword on sword combat isn't something you get from fighting deer in the forests."

"Bears and wolves too. Mostly trial and error."

He didn't seem satisfied with the answer, but he left it at that, not badgering her any further.

"A little briefing," the prince finally said, "before we pick up our two other teammates. If that's okay with you."

She gave him a nod.

"The list this year has twenty three targets. My father made a lot of enemies in his time, mostly while completing the Free Man Act. That was over forty years ago, his first act, but people still resent him for it. Especially the nobles who had to release slaves.

"Now, as for our team, we have you, Rei, and me, as of now. I plan on picking up a medic and Saint by the name of Alma Reebank and an assassin from the Royal Keep named Orion Magnus. They're both excellent in their professions. I want you, both of you, to refrain from fighting as much as possible."

Zephyr sent a glare at the foreign guard who gave him a smirk.

"Gotcha'," Reiko replied. "No arguing."

"Or taunting or teasing or anything to upset anyone."

He rolled his eyes but agreed anyways.

The Prince's eyes slid to her. "I have a feeling that you already know what I'm going to say, but I'm going to say it so we're perfectly clear. No killing anyone without my permission. No running off and do not leave one of our sides without permission."

She gave a quick nod, eyes still focused on the city blurring passed that outside. Towers tall enough that they reached the sky, made of brick and silicon and other materials. Some clearly from older days. Fake and real grass and trees in nearly every yard that she could see from the highway.

Cecily truly thought that she'd rot in the prison. Rot to nothing but flesh and bones with her heart cut out of her.

At least I had my weapons then, Cecily thought. I may have been more happy if I died with my weapons around me.

Now, she felt embarrassingly naked. Even if should could go hand to cybernetic hand with any weapon or person that stood in her way, she missed their weight. She missed their cold comfort against her body.

"The king summoned you," Zephyr said, looking at the phone he'd pulled out of his pocket. "Not surprising. He probably wants to warn you or something."

Her eyes slid to him in question.

"He's a bit over protective."

"A bit?" Rei laughed. "More than a bit. When you were little he had a thermograph machine set outside your rooms just to make sure no one brought any weapons with them."

"Hey, that's not that bad considering that I am the prince."

"Yeah, it wouldn't be that bad if it was just the thermograph. But it was two checkpoints with full bag and body inspections and then the thermograph."

The Prince's cheeks lit up a bit as he turned away.

"Anyways, da- sorry, his Majesty wants to meet Cecily so, Rei, can you escort her while I get Alma and Orion?"

"Ugh, I guess."

"What, it's not like she could make a kabob out of you. She doesn't have any weapons. Besides, I need her washed and changed into more suitable clothes as well."

Cecily looked down at the rags she'd considered clothes. Stretchy yoga pants that squeezed just below her knees, cut and bloody, a t-shirt, also cut and bloody, and a jacket. The jacket was newer, so it was really cut. It was, however, bloody. A single glove as well to cover her hand, older than anything because it had lasted longer. Yes, also bloody.

"Why do I have to do that?" Rei whined.

"It's not like I told you to scrub her down, just show her to the bathes and get her some clothes that aren't rags."

The pair were and odd combination. The prince, more soft yet serious. The guard was another matter. Filled with jokes and crappy puns and taunts. They made good friends though, Cecily thought.

"Cecily?" A voice asked, drawing her attention to the prince. "We're here."

She nodded, pulling herself out of the backseat of the car and onto the pavement. Her shoes were still decently useable, so she didn't have the misfortune of touching her small feet to the cold pavement.

"Rei will be taking you to bath and he'll also be getting you new clothes. After that, the king wants a word with you. I'll be meeting up with Alma and Orion. After that, we'll be heading on our way."

She gave the prince a short nod before turning to Reiko, waiting for him to lead her to where she needed to be.

--

For the first time in four years, Cecily truly enjoyed wading in water.

In the prison, she could only take quick baths in cold ponds and rivers that weren't all that clean. In the prison they'd held her in before that, she'd taken quick showers with a few other girls, mostly younger than her.

The royal bathing house, as the dark skinned foreign guard had said, had no time limit. The water was fresh from a filtered source below the palace and could be heated for as long as she wished. Also, she didn't have to think of anyone spying on her.

Not to say that Reiko wasn't a flirt, but she didn't see him as the type to peek on a naked girl. She could give him at least that much.

So she laid, legs crossed and feet resting on the far rim of the tub, taking in the nice hot water. After washing herself, she had to drain the dirty water before she could refill the bath with clean water.

Her hair felt lighter, even soaked in water, without all the dirt in it. Her skin had changed a few shades until it was more the paler tone she had when she was young. A bit sunburned as well.

"Gods dammit, you criminal!" Reiko's voice yelled from outside. "What're you doing in there?"

"Bathing."

"It's been over an hour! There's no way in hell you're still dirty."

"The water's nice."

"We don't have all day, you know. The king is waiting." When she didn't reply, he continued. "If it helps, I can promise that you'll take another bath."

She sighed, a bit more content to get out when he promised that. Water sloshed onto the floor, quickly escaping through the drain in the center of the the room. She pulled the cotton white towel from the wrack and slowly dried of every inch of herself, enjoying the nice feeling.

Looking around the room, she didn't see any clothes, so she asked.

"Clothes?"

"I have them ou-"

The door clicked as she unlocked it and slid her arm out.

She felt the heavy pile of clothes rest in her open palm and quickly retracted, locking the door behind her.

More yoga pants that fell just below her knees, but not tattered or bloody. Her shirt was a sleeveless gray tank top made of the same material as the pants. A blue jacket as well, one that would easily hide her partially titanium arm, was in the pile. The jacket had more of a cottony feel to it. There was also a nice set of gloves, used to stop weapon chaffing on the hands, that she pulled on.

She made a fist, testing their durability and flexibility, to find them well made and easy to move.

This time, when the lock clicked, she stepped out of the steamy bathroom to where Reiko was waiting.

He eyed her up and down before giving her an approving nod.

"About damn time. I was worried your arm electrocuted you or something."

"Electronics became waterproof in 0129."

"You really did go to school, huh?"

The guard started to walk forward, so Cecily followed. Not like she really had much of a choice.

"It's illegal for a child over the age of five not to attend school, according to the Education Act of 0145."

"You don't give a lot of straightforward answers, do you?"

"Apparently not."

She got an eye roll from that one.

Honestly, she enjoyed seeing emotions that weren't fear crashing across someone's face, even if they were obnoxious. Excessively obnoxious. She loved expressions and all the stories she could pick from them. Having been imprisoned for five years in total, four of which she spent fighting for her survival and making a name for herself, she didn't get conversation often. Cryptic messages were the only thing she could think of to make them longer. Besides long sentences, but those weren't nearly as appealing.

"We're here," Reiko said, catching her attention. "I've been instructed to wait outside so," he opened the door for her, "good luck. Don't be stupid."

At that, even she let out a huff of a laugh. She was anything but stupid.

Like the rest of the palace, the room the King had requested her to meet him in was white walled, made of different squared and rectangular sections. There was a desk on the far side of the room and bookshelves lining the walls. A red rug with fine vine like designs was just a step away from the door she was nearly pressed against. A fake fire flared to her right inside of a fireplace, still giving off artificial warmth.

"Cecily Earnheart."

Her eyes danced over the room, halting on the older man behind the desk.

Her head dropped, eyes closing, and her right hand placed on her heart. "Your Majesty."

Behind him stood a thin man with shaking hands who did anything possible to avoid eye contact.

He chuckled, surprising her. "You're surprisingly polite for a murderer."

So he was that kind of man. Teasing to see where it hurt. What a fine king. "Criminal or no, you are the king of my beloved country. As a citizen, it is my job and my honor to respect you."

Calm face, she reminded herself. Don't let him see the real you.

"You may face me, Cecily."

She looked up, black eyes meeting on his blue ones.

"It has come to my attention that my ever-so-smart son has chosen you as one of his candidates for the hunt."

"Yes, Majesty."

"And, apparently, you agreed. What could've made a criminal like you agree? Perhaps, the chance at freedom? The chance to redeem yourself? Or was it the money?"

"The money."

"Of course, how silly of me to think you had any honor. Unless, of course, the money isn't for you."

She felt a twitch in her eyebrow, a twitch in her mask. She forced her body to still itself into a calm.

"Let's stop the charades, dear girl. You and I both know the truth. I know part of it anyways."

She looked him in the eyes, a calm rage sweeping over her as she prepared for the threat.

"There's no need for that," the king reprimanded. "I'm not going to insult you or your family. In fact, I'd like to offer you a deal. A deal on top of my sons. If you're ready, I mean."

"I'm listening."