Assassination Contract: Ms. Cooper

Today was one of those days whereas Dubhlainn would be absent in Savage Skull, other than the guild his workplace extends that to the neutral grounds whereas he’d be sent regularly by degardos to collect rent, should they refuse to pay for rent or pay for the loans, they would be met with heavy consequence as a price instead. The underworld was a scary place and what makes it dangerous to most mages is that it negates the use of magic. How terrifying it must be for mages who are used to using their magic only to come into the city powerless. Such habit and tradition spoiled these mages to frequently use their magic.

Dubhlainn turns to a corner and went to one of the residents of a rental place to collect payment, so far three doors answered to him properly and without any trouble but the fourth one was a whole different story.

“What do you mean you don’t have the money?” Asked Dubhlainn as he glared into the man’s soul.

The fourth door resides a man who acted pretty much like a delinquent thinking he can do whatever he wants. The fact was that this delinquent was taller than Dubhlainn, flexing muscles to show that he can get away with everything just by the means of brute force.

But unfortunately for the delinquent, his reality turned against him as both he and Dubhlainn show the same methods of settling disputes, in less than a minute the delinquent was sent crashing into the wall of his own room and sent off the window with such brutal and terrifying force. He pressed the wrong buttons in Dubhlainn that he only now regrets doing. Dubhlainn pursued the man down on the street where he fell and smashed his face on the concrete using his hand.

“You will pay the money… won’t you?” Dubhlainn asked the crushed delinquent in a monotone. The Delinquent could only nod and shake before the debt collector’s strength. An old lady passed by and was witness to the scene, she took liberty in telling the fallen delinquent.

“Well that’s what you get for thinking you can win just everything young boy.” She giggled as she carried a bouquet of roses.

“You must be Dubhlainn, Degardo’s hired muscle am I correct?” Dubhlainn kicked the delinquent aside and faced the old woman. “You know of me from him I assume?”

“OH yes I do and I also heard a lot of things about you Dubhlainn, in fact I was told you would be around here so here I am, finally caught up to you at last!”

“For what reason did you seek me?” Dubhlainn asked as he started walking with the old lady, leaving the mess he did like he wasn’t even involved.

“Well I asked for Degardo about hiring you and… OH dear where are my manners? You may call me Ms. Coldflower! Come, come this isn’t the place for our conversation Mr Dubhlainn!” Dubhlainn did not need to speak but only to follow Ms. Coldflower, texting to Degardo about meeting Coldflower down the street. Degardo replied to his text message and it reads: “Well she did asked for you, best to do as she says for now.”

Now Dubhlainn is getting the impression that he was just sold to an old lady for a day.

The old lady led Dubhlainn into the corner of an alley and began telling her story.

“You see I’ve been trying to find a way to win my garden cup, however I was always beaten every year by that Ms. Cooper who always puts me at second place. Now I know you’re a dark mage but the thing about this job requires you to… put her in a coffin early.” Dubhlainn was shocked to hear this from the old lady.

“I see, you wish for me to eliminate the only obstacle between you and winning the gardening competition, any information about the target?” He did not ask why her reason was unethical but now that Degardo had Dubhlainn borrowed, he had no choice but heck it was all for the sake of paying off the bills to get all his weapons and parts here and shipping these is not so cheap.

“Yes that’s right, but as much as possible make it looks like it was an accident, she lives in Oak town a few miles away from my home which is right here.” The old lady smiled and nodded, showing Dubhlainn a visual of the map.

“I’ll pay you the reward as promised.”

“Understood” replied Dubhlainn as both of them parted ways.

As Dubhlainn was about to leave to his target, he grabbed his cellphone and texted Degardo about Ms. Coldflower’s request, demanding information about Ms. Coldflower herself. To his surprise, Ms. Coldflower used to belong to a dark wizard guild but had long retired in peace. Though age may have changed her appearance, her intentions were still as cruel as the witch she was years ago.

Night was about to fall, the sun started to set as Dubhlainn ride his horse, leaving neutral grounds and heading straight for his destination.

Night fell and all in Oak town was silent, the lights on the street lamp flicker in some areas in Oak town which gave anyone who’s out on the streets the eerie feeling that something is about to happen. The sound of a horse trudging through the streets shattered the silence, the lamp post started to flicker upon his arrival and the first ones to have seen him were bystanders who trembled in fear. Their eyes were wide open only to see what could have been the Urban Myth.

The Black Rider.

They flee before the sight of him; the black mist that coated him, the presence of death itself has come to Oak town. Up on a hill, the Dullahan gazed down on the target. The moon shines brightly, revealing the figure of the man on the horse. “Cooper… your time has come.”

These words drawn Ms. Cooper outside her garden, almost as if she was hypnotized and later upon arriving on the hill, Ms. Cooper died of a heart attack, Dubhlainn need not to do anything to her.

It was her time to die anyways and as soon as her soul communes with his blade, he whips his horse as the rider disappears into the night.

The next morning, Dubhlainn woke up on a couch; he seems to be right at Degardo’s humble abode. He shook his head, trying to remember everything that had happened. The last thing he did remember was that he was thinking of a plan to eliminate Ms. Cooper discretely but then…

He was taken over.

“Feeling alright my friend?” Degardo asked as he looked down on his seated visitor. He gave him a cup of tea and an envelope containing a check not only containing his salary but also containing the reward money promised Ms. Coldflower. “It happened again didn’t it?” Dubhlainn asked as he shook his head as he grabbed the cup and took a sip.

“Do you always transform like that?” Degardo asked.

“Not intentionally” Dubhlainn replied as he grabbed his salary.

“Hey listen, I think its best if you took a few days off for now, I fear that this may have been a result of your stress.”

“That’s not the reason Degardo, this usually happens when someone is destined to die, and I’ve been through many accursed scenarios like that, only by chance can I not remember the times when I have fully transformed.”

“Huh well if you say so but do take my generosity and rest, I don’t want my good man running around half dead all the time.”