Chapter 4: Assassin?
--Back at Home--
<Hestia's POV>
Gulp* now I'm in big trouble.
As my mom's piercing eyes looked down upon me, I instinctively shifted behind my dad. Currently, me and dad are kneeling on our knees, our heads hung low, in front of our door as my mom was standing before us, pointing her finger at us while she's at it. Huuhu... here goes...
" Where have you been all day, Hestia? Do you know how worried your father and I were?!" my mom then began scolding me. "You were supposed to come back right after giving your father his meal! You know what, from now on you are to stay in this house! Unless you tell us first where you intend to go!"
Waaahh, mom is always so scary whenever she scolds me. Well I should have expected this. After all, I was only supposed to give dad his meal and come back right after. Though my mom never specified it, it was for my safety to not linger any longer in the village than I should.
I slowly looked up at her, "But mom...I was planning to go back home soon after..." I said trying to defend myself.
"Then why were you found near the forest!?" my mom argued back.
'Urgh...that was because I was being chased by a vampire. I didn't want to lead it into the village and endanger everybody.' Of course I didn't say that out loud. Mom may never, EVER, let me out by then.
"Charlotte, calm down. Hestia's still child, of course there are times where she disobeys us." my dad then intervened, standing up as he did so.
"Calm down?... Fabian, are you saying that you weren't worried at all when Hestia wasn't here when you returned from work?!" she then faced dad, directing her anger towards him. I was beginning to feel guilty about this because it was my fault we got into this mess.
"Of course I was worried! She's our daughter, isn't she? Do you think I was yelling her name all afternoon without feeling a bit of worry for her?" my dad continued calmly. "However, even if she is our daughter, it doesn't give us the right to restrict her every action. We can't just isolate her from the world! Same goes to Chiyo, Charlotte..." dad said pleadingly.
"Sigh*, fine. But if the chance arises, I won't stand by and do nothing." my mom said begrudgingly as she turned to the kitchen.
Haaa...finally that's over. Then suddenly I felt a small tug on my dress. I looked down to see Chiyo yawning as she pulled on to me.
"Oh hi Chiyo! Did you eat dinner yet?" I asked.
"Not yet. What about you? Where were you?" Chiyo then asked me.
"Oh nothing really... Just staying out longer than I should, heheh." I said awkwardly.
"Is that why you were being scolded earlier? But isn't sister strong? Didn't Sister Hestia say that one look at her they won't dare talk back? Then why were you and dad scolded so much by momma? Sister is strong enough to protect herself." she then bombarded me with questions.
Ohh Chiyo, you really took that seriously? Then again she is a 4 year old right now, so its easy for her to believe things like that. But wait, how was she able to perceive that I was hiding things from her? I'm starting to rethink of my previous thoughts about Chiyo.
"Ahahah...that's... because sister isn't almighty and powerful. There are some cases where I won't be able to defend myself which is why." I tried to explain to her, though she merely tilted her head to the side as she tried to comprehend this in her little mind.
"Say, why don't we go to the kitchen and try to appease mom? With mom being in a bad mood, dad might have to sleep outside." I then suggested to lift the awkwardness a bit.
"Mhm! Okay then let's go!" Chiyo nodded.
We then stayed spent the rest of the night literally glued to our mom just to get back to our mom's good graces. Nevertheless, we were kicked out of the masters' bedroom in the end because it was past our bedtime.
--Later Tonight--
<Narrator's POV>
As the family finally settled down and are now resting in their rooms after a long day, a hooded person was standing against one of the windows. He has watched the family about their conversation earlier and has seen his target up close. He waited patiently once he made sure that all of them were sound asleep. After remaining there for a few minutes later, he infiltrated the household. Calmly walking his way through the corridors, he searched and searched for his target's room. Until he saw a door that was left open, unattended. Curious, he entered and saw a girl with hazel-brown hair thrashing about in her sleep. But what has surprised him more was the silvery glow her hair illuminates once struck upon the moonlight. In truth it, made her more captivating despite her age.
'Strange...master said that the target was a 4 year old girl who had a high affinity of Nature Magic. He claims that she was the dragon he dreamt in his dreams and that he wishes to marry her. So how come this girl's mana resembles a dragon's more compared to the little girl's earlier?' the hooded person tried to contemplate this when Hestia suddenly stirred in her slumber.
<Hestia's POV>
'Brrrr... So cold...' was the first thing I thought as I tried to register what I was seeing right now. Blink*, "W-WHA--Mmph!" my scream was muffled due to the hooded person's hand covering my mouth. What in the world?! Is he an assassin?! But why is he here? Did the Village Chief send him? Was he targeting Chiyo? Why now?! As my mind is filled with numerous questions, the hooded person lowered his head towards my ear.
"Who are you?" the hooded person inquired, whispering in my ear.
I'd ask the same thing man. Who. Are. You. Weird though, why is he asking me? Isn't he supposed to assassinate his target and be done with it? Though I am grateful that he hasn't hurt Chiyo yet, I still can't be at ease. 'Yet.' I then thought. I have to get rid of this guy before he reaches Chiyo. But how?
"Aren't you going to answer?" the hooded person then said, gritting his teeth. Hearing that made me come back to reality. Huh? Although his voice was rather husky...
I then grabbed my pillow and hit the person as hard as I can. I wasn't trying to hurt him which is unnatural, I know, but I was trying to prove something. Once distracted, I pinned him against the wooden floor, putting all my weight onto him. In a flash, I pulled out a rope underneath my bed and tied it around him as tightly as I could before he could even retaliate. I change my mind about hating this birthday gift, thanks dad! I then seized his hood and pulled it down.
I was right, the hooded person wasn't a man at all. But a girl...