D E L P H I N I U M

As soon as I got the message that Orion needed me, I rose from the chair I'd been sitting in. Because I was now Orion's right hand, I had all the amenities that came with that position again. Namely, a large room with a bed and sitting area. It was as luxurious as many of the upper officers' rooms, with maroon curtains and bedsheets and dark paneling along the walls. Orion had been gracious enough to give me the best quarters they had to offer, save for his own.

Locking the door behind me, I began to stride down the hallway. Once I got out of the housing sector, the hallways became busy, as they always were. Lower soldiers kept their eyes down and strides fast. If they were high enough in the ranks, they looked into my face and nodded respectfully. But no one looked for too long.

They were afraid of me. Everyone was afraid and I loved it. With fear came respect and I knew that because Orion's legendary assassin was back inside the walls of the fortress, no one would step out of line. They feared the consequences of getting on my bad side. That was clear enough by the way no one stepped within a meter's radius of me.

My blades hung off my belt, as did a handgun. Two more knives were strapped to my thighs. If anyone crossed me or gave me any reason to believe they weren't as devout in Imperium's cause as they should be, they would suffer my wrath.

I was Orion's second hand for a reason.

I was nearly to the throne room now. Though I was ashamed to admit it, I wasn't completely familiar with the details of the fortress's layout yet. It was so large and expensive that getting lost was easy for someone new. But I wasn't new here. So I learned as I walked, determined to memorize every inch of this place.

My kingdom. My dominion. My home.

Guards opened the doors of the throne before I entered. Marching to the dais on which his throne sat, I bowed. When his hooded head inclined in a small acknowledging nod, I straightened and took my rightful place at my master's side.

Orion placed both gloved hands on the arms of his chair. "We're ready for them. Bring them in." The guards obeyed his order and dragged in two writhing people wearing our uniforms.

When they were shoved into their knees before our master, I got a good look at their faces. Both were young, only a few years older than me: one man and one woman. They were both roughed up, as seen by the few cuts on their faces, blood drying now.

The soldiers behind them aimed their guns at the back of their pitiful heads. All Orion had to do was order them to shoot and it would be done.

But instead of giving the order, he addressed the two agents on the floor. "Surely you know why you are here."

The woman spit at Orion's feet in response. "Go to Hell." I bristled, but made no moves for her. Not until Orion commanded me to.

"You were accused of conspiring against Imperium." Orion's voice was so deep it cut through them like a dagger, both of them grimacing when he spoke. "What exactly did you expect to become of your pitiful plans? A revolution?"

"A reckoning is coming," the woman said, to her credit, still sitting with her spine straight and chin raised. But she was stupid nonetheless. "You are all too arrogant to see it." Her dark eyes shifted to where I stood, silent and still as a shadow.

"Do you want to know what I see? I see two traitorous agents that I extended my kindness towards, only to have them turn against me and the cause they swore themselves to. You are either with us or against us. And you are not with us." He still lounged on his throne, reveling in their obvious fear. A predator toying with his prey.

"You and your cause are cancerous. When the others see it, they will turn against you as well. And when that happens, there will be no forgiveness for what you've done. They will slaughter you."

Orion laughed at her delusion. I allowed myself a small twist of my lips. "You think they will turn?" His masked face turned toward one of the soldiers in the corner. "You there, kill him." He jerked his chin toward one of the other soldiers. Without a question, the soldier in question shot the other in the head. As the body crumpled, all the eyes went back to Orion.

"I have something that you never will," my master spoke calmly. "Control. I will never fall because I am the only one to truly have it. I have entire armies that bend their knees for me. Their single leader. This talk of revolution are the ramblings of those who cannot accept the glorious cause of Imperium."

"You thrive on others' fear. But once they see who you truly are-" His statement was cut off by the soldier kicking him in the back.

"You have no fear?"

"None. We're not scared of you."

"No?" With a flick of his index and middle fingers off the arm of his throne, he finally gestured for me to step forward. So I obeyed, striding toward the wide-eyed traitors with boots clicking against the tile floor.

"You truly have no fear?" I stepped off the dais. "You feel nothing as the Reaper stands before you, prepared to open your arteries?" All eyes were on me as I circled the two prisoners like a panther, knives in hand. "Tell me, what do you really feel when she is so near?"

"Nothing," the man declared, but I heard the waver in his voice. The uncertainty. I flicked the tip of my knife down his cheek, drawing a thin red line. After he flinched away, I showed he was indeed scared.

"You have no fear and yet you continue to obey me in the open, while secretly spreading your heretic nonsense to my other men? There is a lie somewhere." He gestured to me. "And Tesla can smell lies."

I edged closer, now looming over them. My shadow darkened their upturned faces.

"But perhaps you are not fearful of me. That should mean you do not fear death, for I am death to all traitors."

The woman said nothing to him, kept staring up at me. "I know about you, Delphinium," she said softly enough so that Orion couldn't hear. "If this is just an act, I know you won't kill us."

I nearly laughed. She thought that I was faking my devotion to my master. Was that what prompted this sudden rebellion?

My mouth opened in a teeth-baring smile. "The old Delphinium Tesla is dead. I murdered her. Now I stand in her place, for she was too weak. Much like you two." Leaning over, I ripped the Imperium symbol off of her uniform. "You don't deserve to wear this." With that, I ripped off the man's as well. "As for your pitiful belief that I won't kill you..." I dragged my knife lazily—painfully slow—across the man's throat as she watched. He fell to the side, gasping and gurgling while grasping his slit throat, trying to save himself. But he would bleed out in mere seconds.

Her dark eyes widened. "What did he do to you?"

"The Unul Exaltat enlightened me, saved me from my weak, insignificant self. He showed me that humans need to be governed. I am once again a part of Imperium through his undying mercy. But there will be no mercy for you."

She realized what was about to happen. "Death to Imperium. You will all burn."

The echoes of her yell reverberated around the throne room even after I plunged my dagger straight through her body, the point sticking out of her back. Pulling my dagger from her body, I took a step back so that her blood wouldn't touch my feet.

"For Imperium's glory," I said. Turning back to stand back on the dais, I told my master, "This rebellion has been extinguished, as will every one after this one. They must learn that I am not who I used to be. For you, master, I will slay them all. I am here to stay."