Masquerade Assassin Read online

  Masquerade Assassin

  Tales of Tarza Book #2

  K.M. Jenkins

  Edited by

  Michelle’s Edits

  Storyteller Publisher 22

  Copyright © 2022 Storyteller Publisher 22

  All copyright for all material within, remains with the author.

  First Edition

  Published August 23, 2022

  All rights reserved.

  Editing by Michelle’s Edits

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or re-distributed in any way. The authors hold all copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction and does not represent any individual living or dead. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors’ imaginations , are used fictitiously or with permission.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.

  For permission to reproduce or distribute any part of this book, contact the publisher directly: [email protected].

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Dragon’s Stone

  Skulls & Needles

  The Princess

  Dancing for a Fight

  Hope in Darkness

  A King Plots

  The Doppelganger

  Fake It Until You Make It

  Bound and Gagged

  Zorakan

  Assassin Association

  Continue the Series…

  Upside Down Vixen

  Author Note

  About the Author

  Also by K.M. Jenkins

  Dragon’s Stone

  Pierce

  Eyes cast in darkness watched from the shadows of the trees. The Queen’s servants buzzed as they prepared for the masquerade party happening tonight. Chatter filled the streets as his eyes watched on. No one noticed his cloaked figure as he slipped from tree to tree, drawing closer to his target.

  The servants’ hall had people coming and going as they pleased. Pierce bit his tongue as he kneeled down to get better sight lines to view the door. He just had to get himself inside and hid before anyone noticed he was there. But that was easier said than done with all the activity around the castle. There was only one chance at this, and his sister’s life depended on him. He couldn’t fail.

  Moments passed as panic set in. I will not get in. I will get caught. Then what happens? The men of the Zorakan will kill my sister. They promised she would never walk free if the King didn’t die. As if the gods answered his prayers, a young servant girl ran out the door, drawing the attention of the others. All eyes were on her as Pierce jumped from behind the trees and ran for the door. He slipped inside, turned right through the first hallway and ran like fire blazed on his tail. The map he got from the Zorakan showed the way through the castle. They marked everything, right down to the King and Queen’s quarters. He just had to stay clear of the busy sectors.

  After what seemed like hours, Pierce turned into a wide hall. This hall is gigantic. Twelve of him could stretch full-length across the width of the hall. He couldn’t even figure out how high the ceiling was. This is so huge. I wonder why they made it like this? Pierce stepped into the vast area and proceeded through it. After walking for several feet, he pulled the map free of his travel cloak. The passage should be here, somewhere.

  His eyes danced across the stone walls, taking in the engraved creatures from war stallions to dragons. The details given to each image were spectacular. Why would they keep such beautiful art to a deserted hall? Shaking his head, Pierce went back to inspecting the map. “A passageway should show by the dragon’s mouth. What in the stars is that supposed to mean?”

  A scuttling of feet caught his attention. Pierce turned and noticed a mouse by the dead end of the hall. An enormous dragon’s head was engraved into the stone with his mouth wide open. He walked up to it and noticed a crack in the surface. The mouse squealed and dove for his hiding place. Thank you, little friend.

  Notes on the map spoke of a lever to open the doorway. He reached around, testing each surface until his hand gripped the crystal on the dragon’s chest. Light blazed to life within it at his touch. Great, I suppose magic protects this doorway. It just isn’t my day, he grumbled to himself. His fingers pressed hard against the crystal surface. Then, to his surprise, it gave under his force. The stones within the dragon’s mouth folded into themselves, leaving an entryway to the King’s hiding place.

  His eyes followed the stairs up into the sky above. I wonder what the King’s hiding place looks like? Tentatively, he stepped into the stairway and ascended one step at a time. The light at the end of the stairwell grew brighter. Pierce held his hand over his eyes to dull the light reflecting in his eyes as he stepped out onto the large balcony. This is it? He searched back and forth, but yet nothing of interest showed. “It’s just a boring old balcony. What’s so great about that?”

  He walked over to a table and chair braced up against the walls of the castle exterior. Pierce threw his pack on top of the round surface and removed his cloak. He released a long breath and threw himself back into the chair. Great, now I just have to wait and hope no one comes up here. This would be easier with some ale or darts to pass the time.

  The sun was high in the sky, which marked midday. “Got up here just in the nick of time. Now just have to figure out my route to get to the grand hall,” Pierce said to himself as he pulled out the map of the castle. He sat there contemplating his path for hours without the realization that time went on.

  Skulls & Needles

  Kero

  She paced her room in a rage. In all her days, she never thought her mother would do this to her. Kero wanted to rip off her mother’s head and stuff her full of hay until it came out her nose. The thought of wearing that fluffy, disgusting dress lying on her bed made her want to commit murder.

  Silvia, her handmaiden, hid over in the corner trying to keep out of Kero’s sight. “Ugh, she hates me! That’s it. She hates me so much she wants to make me a laughing stock!” Kero yelled at the top of her lungs as she threw a pillow across the room.

  Silvia shook her head. “The Queen doesn’t hate you. She just has an unpleasant taste in dresses.”

  “What am I supposed to do, Silvia? She expects me to wear this hideous thing tonight.” Kero clenched the pink-tulle mess in her hand and shook it at her servant. Silvia stepped forward but stopped as the door opened. Who in the blazes thinks they can come in the middle of my meltdown? “Who in the stars…?”

  “Oh, calm yourself, it’s me.”

  Kero’s fiery, blue eyes locked on her father. The King stood before her with his charming smile plastered across his handsome face as always. She snorted. “What do you want?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, let me guess. You came to see the show where your daughter gets disgraced by the horror of your wife’s pitiful sense of style.”

  “Now, I wouldn’t say her sense of style is pitiful.”

  “Really. Look at this…” Kero held the dress up against her frame and threw it at her father. He chuckled and held it up to inspect. His smile faded away into a grim frown. “Okay, you might have something pitiful here.” She threw her arms up in the air and guffawed. Silvia chuckled in the corner.

  The King’s eyes drifted to her for a second. He smiled with a sparkle of mischief dancing in his gaze. Kero slumped onto the bed as the King walked over to Silvia. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear that Kero couldn’t hear. Silvia stiffened. “You got this?” he muttered to her. She nodded her head and slipped from his side
. Quickly, Silvia said her farewells to Kero and dashed from the room.

  What was up with that? Kero thought. Her solemn eyes looked at her father for answers. He stood before her in his black tunic and trousers, his hands in his pockets, looking at her with all the care in the world. By the gods, I will not go to this joke of a party in that horrid thing. “You can’t make me go. Not in that dress.”

  A smile broke out across his eyes as his eyebrows raised. “You do realize your mother means her best. She doesn’t know how to show it the proper way with you. You’re what they call…”

  “Headstrong? Destructive? Stubborn… I can keep going.”

  The King laughed a full belly laugh at her words. He gasped for air. “You are right. You definitely don’t fit the standards of a normal princess. Perhaps that is why your mother has such issues bonding with you.”

  “All she ever does is tell me how I’m doing everything wrong. She says I’m too much like you. She never yells at Ray, Joey, or Billy.”

  “Now that isn’t true,” King Tyler sat on the bed and gripped his daughter’s hand. She looked up into his eyes. “Your mother yells at each of you in her own way. It just so happens Billy doesn’t do much to anger her. Let alone the fact the boy is still attached to her apron strings.” Kero giggled and relaxed. “You just need to stop worrying about pleasing her and do what is best for you.”

  “How am I supposed to do that when everything I do gets me yelled at? Everything I love, apparently, isn’t appropriate for a princess. Everyone thinks I’m weird, not just mom.”

  Nothing you say will change the fact that we just don’t get along. We never will, not as long as she demands things the way she does. “Sometimes, the hardest thing in life is to walk a path made for you that others think is wrong. You just have to know they love you and hope for your health and happiness.” King Tyler gripped her hand hard and nodded his head.

  “What are you saying, Papa?” She never called him anything but ‘Father’ or ‘Sir’ when she was among others. She only called him ‘Papa’ when she was at her most vulnerable.

  King Tyler sighed and put his arm around her and pulled her close. “What I am saying daughter, apple of my eye, is that you need to stand and be the woman your mother knows you can be. Even if it is in a different molding than she desires.”

  A tap from the door interrupted their conversation. “Come,” her father barked.

  What is he up to?

  Silvia stuck her head inside the cracked door.

  “Do you have it?”

  Kero looked at her father confused.

  “Yes, your Majesty. I got it as you asked.” The door swung open and Silvia stepped into the room with a fine, green dress with silver embroidery.

  Kero gasped in surprise. She looked to her father with happy tears spilling free. “I’ll leave you two to get ready.”

  King Tyler stood and kissed Kero on top of the head. Then he made his way to the door. He nodded his approval at Silvia. But before he left, he turned to his daughter. “The woman that stands before me is stronger than she appears. I believe you’re capable of changing the way others see you. You just have to be strong and press on.”

  Kero squared her shoulders. “I’ll do my best, sir.” He smirked and stepped out into the hall where his armed guards awaited him. The door shut, leaving the two women inside with a beautiful gown. I’ll do whatever needs done to make you proud, Papa.

  Silvia coughed. “I take it your talk calmed you down.”

  Kero glanced at Silvia out of the corner of her eye. Dang nabbit, was I flipping out that bad? From the look on Silvia’s face, she must have been bad. No wonder my father showed up. He probably could hear me cursing all the way to the throne room. Kero sighed. “I’m sorry, Silvia. I shouldn’t have lost it on you.”

  Silvia shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, it comes with the territory. I’m used to your orneriness.”

  Silvia had the dress tucked in her arms as Kero tried to sneak it from her. Silvia smirked and held it up once more to inspect. The sweetheart neck was extravagant with the silver trim. Kero studied the dress, she realized the fabric had skulls embroidered into the dress itself. What in the world? “Silvia, why are there skulls on the dress?”

  “You remember that theatre show the King and Queen went to the other month?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, your father thought, we could borrow the leading lady’s dress. After all, the Queen is throwing a masquerade party. What better person to dress up like a princess of death than you?”

  Kero laughed in hysterics. The princess of death! That suits me perfectly. My father definitely knows how to pull a fast one over on my mother. And she wonders where I learned it from. “So, you just walked down to the theatre and they let you borrow it?”

  Silvia smirked. “A few gold pieces and a request from the King, they practically demanded I take it for you. We just need to do some alterations fast with the seamstress and all is good for tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  Silvia grabbed Kero’s hand, and they made their way over to the door. Kero noticed the guards were gone. Hmm…wonder where they’re at.

  Silvia saw Kero looking around the entrance to her room for the guards. She gripped Kero’s wrist harder and pulled her down the hall. “Come on, before they come back. We need to do this unseen if you don’t want someone tipping off the Queen.”

  They hustled through the halls, doing their best to avoid anyone that was associated with the Queen. Kero found herself surprised at how busy everyone was. People ran every which way. Silvia led Kero down a side hall that led to the weaver's corridor within the castle. An enormous hall caught Kero’s eye as they ran through, and she couldn’t help but notice the caricatures on the wall. Those images are stunning. I’ve never seen them before. She froze in place, making Silvia turn around with an exasperated gasp.

  “Princess Kero, we have to hurry.”

  Kero pulled herself away from the hall and followed Silvia once more. A few doors down, they came to a stop.

  Silvia reached her hand out and knocked firmly. Seconds ticked by…then the door opened. An elderly woman crouched forward because of her back, peeked out. She eyed Silvia wearily. “What ya need, girl?”

  Silvia held out the dress to the old maid. “Mistress Sue, could you do a quick alteration? It needs to be done by tonight.”

  “Too busy.” The old lady went to shut the door, but Silvia blocked it with her foot.

  “We are under duress, Mistress Sue. We really need your skills.”

  Mistress Sue leaned forward and looked past her to Kero. She eyed Kero up and down with her milky, blue eyes. “Fine, but only because it is for her.” Her scraggly finger pointed right at Kero.

  Silvia looked surprised. “Do you know who this woman is?” The old woman shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, want a stitch up, get your behinds in here.”

  The two girls looked at each other. Kero shrugged. “What could happen, right?” Silvia frowned. They stepped inside and saw the biggest mess ever. Neither girl had seen anything like it.

  Kero took in the tiny hollow and grimaced. God, doesn’t this remind me of Ray’s room. Looks like no servant has touched this place in ages.

  Mistress Sue looked over her shoulder and motioned for them to come in further. Silvia picked her way into the center of the room.

  Kero still stood at the doorway. Food of all phases littered the place, creating an awful smell. Her nose crinkled at the stench. Fabric littered the floor and draped over the furniture. She really couldn’t see where anything was under all the cluttered-up mess.

  “Are you coming or not?”

  Her eyes went to Silvia as a sense of panic set in. This place is where old people go to die.

  Silvia reached out to her with her free hand. “Don’t worry, Kero, nothing will happen, I promise.”

  That’s what they all say. Then, boom, you’re dead.

  Against better judgment, Kero walked forward and put he
r hand in Silvia’s.

  The old woman rolled her eyes. “Go put the dress on.”

  Kero deflated as she looked for a place to change. Silvia motioned to a wooden divider over in the corner. Kero shook her head, not wanting to move an inch.

  “Put the dress on, or you will get stuck wearing your mother’s dress.”

  She growled at Silvia. Her handmaiden just smiled in response. Great, glad someone is enjoying my discomfort. Kero tiptoed over to the divider and slipped behind it. A scream escaped her lungs as two golden eyes glared at her from behind a box.

  Silvia ran over. “Are you all right?” Kero stood still as a black cat jumped out, hissed, and ran away into a pile of fabric. Silvia rolled her eyes., “Really?”

  “Don’t judge me, I’m already on edge.”

  “Whatever, just get changed.”

  Kero grumbled to herself as she quickly put the dress on. She stepped out moments later and got up on the pedestal. Mistress Sue scuttled around the base of the dress, pinning things up. Once she finished, she told her to change out of the dress. Back in her normal clothes, she felt better. The old woman moved to a work table off in the corner. “Give me an hour and it’ll be done.”

  “Great,” Kero said. “Do we have to wait around here in this mess?”

  Silvia sighed. “Go back to your room. The guards will look for you if they don’t hear you messing around in there. I’ll stay here and wait for the dress.”

  Kero hugged Silvia. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are the best friend a girl could ever ask for.”

  Silvia just laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Just get out of here before the Queen figures out our dastardly plan.”