As she turned from the window, Gwen�s eyes fell upon her red and black uniform of the Crimson Guard. How she abhorred putting on that uniform every morning. The memory of all the pain and anguish that it represented was stitched into every fiber and her skin always pricked and tingled uncomfortably underneath. She walked to the sink and began to wash her face all the while thinking of the first day she was given that uniform, three years ago this very day.
She had just graduated college and then it happened. She lived with the tragedy that occurred that day every minute of her life. It fit so nicely with the memory of her mother on the Witch�s Pyre that her heart ached the same way it had done for the past 18 years. Ironically, the memory of her mother was the only thing that saved her from the tragedy that day. She remembered that one incantation used on her mother. When that pet Witch Sniffer sensed the magic in her, she simply spoke it and summoned the same flame that sent her mother to her grave. And with her luck, the High Chancellor himself had witnessed her handle that power. She was admitted into the Crimson Academy immediately and given that horrible uniform to wear. In a way, it was the perfect disguise, sort of like hiding out in plain sight. She passed every course with flying colors and graduated the Academy in just under a record six months. No one ever knew that the spells she mumbled were nothing more than a cover for the real power within her. Everyone just thought she was gifted because of her mother�s �condition�. She was commended and promoted so many times, the youngest guard to be given the rank of Captain. Her uncle would be so proud. But it never made her feel proud. She only ever felt hollow, empty. Three years of being hollow. One thousand ninety-two days of being empty. Her mother would be turning over in her grave right now. Her father might just be doing the same. And her uncle would be so proud.
Gwen walked down the dark-stoned, barely-lit halls of the capitol, her skin prickling and tingling under her uniform. Chancellor Deline had summoned her for a special assignment. She walked past bureaucrats, who ignored her presence, Crimson Guards, who saluted her with stiff faces, and common citizens, who looked at her with fear in their eyes. That stung the most. She was once one of those people, who looked at the Crimson Guards as a force that could decide at any time that she was a criminal and her whole life would be destroyed. Now she was part of that force; she was the thing that everyone else feared. The emptiness deepened. Then her eyes fell upon a familiar face and her heart skipped a beat. A woman in a cool, professional black business suit with her black hair pulled back into a curl at the back of her head walked past her with her gray eyes barely betraying the shock of recognition Gwen knew she felt too. Neither one stopped, though. To show anyone else that they knew each other could very well be a dangerous thing. Besides, Chancellor Deline was waiting and she hated to be kept waiting.
As she approached Chancellor Deline�s office, the door opened and another familiar face appeared in front of her. Unlike the last one, which had filled Gwen with a feeling of curiosity and hope, this face gave her nothing but anger. She looked at this raven-haired woman who, wore only remnants of the Crimson Guard uniform, with nothing more than mild reproof. This second youngest Captain of the Crimson Guard�s reddish brown eyes were filled with scorn and malicious intent.
�Well if it isn�t Captain Hart,� the woman said with mock amusement. �How are you this morning, Gwen?�
�Quite well, Rena, and yourself?� Gwen answered in a mild tone that spoke volumes.
�I�m doing quite beautifully, thank you for asking,� Rena replied with a slight smile.
�So beautifully that you feel you can make free with the uniform of the Crimson Guard. I would suggest that you change before Commander Soren has the chance to reprimand you.�
�You can�t order me around anymore, Gwen. In case you�ve forgotten, I�m now a Captain, which makes me your equal.�
�That�s why I suggested it. If you wish to continue strutting around in less than full uniform, then I can�t stop you, but you will have to take that up with Commander Soren.� Rena�s face blanched at that, which gave Gwen a small feeling of satisfaction. �Now if you�ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Chancellor Deline, and I don�t want to be late.�
With that, Gwen stepped past the outraged Rena and entered into the lavishly decorated office of Chancellor Deline. Sitting at the desk was a slim, flat-figured woman in a severe black suit. Her pale blond hair was pulled back into a severe bun at the crown of her head and her icy blue eyes were half hidden by a pair of reading classes precariously perched on her nose. As the Chancellor stood, Gwen pulled into attention and saluted the woman.
�Ah, Captain Hart, right on time, as usual,� Deline said with a thin-lipped smile that seemed forced.
�Yes, your Excellency. I came as soon as I received your message.� Gwen replied formally, staying in attention.
�Please, have a seat, Captain.� Destine said in her normal deliberate tone, with which she addressed everyone, that is, everyone except High Chancellor Windsor.
�Thank you, your Excellency,� Gwen said in her own business-like tone that she used with everyone around her as she sat in a chair in front of the desk. Deline sat behind the desk and regarded her through her small reading glasses. �Your message said you had a special assignment for me, your Excellency?� Gwen continued on.
�Yes, Captain, I do. As you most likely know, the Destiny Diamond is going on display tomorrow morning at the Cerestian Historic Museum. The jewel will arrive this afternoon and the display will be set up this evening. As you most likely know, the famous Witch Thief is still at large, and we suspect that she will most likely strike tonight. We already have Danielle Destine of Destine Enterprises putting in special security measures, but the Council has agreed that a small force of Crimson Guards set in protection of the crystal would be best. We also agreed that we need the best and most discreet member of the Guard on this mission, and that, Captain is why you are being assigned to this mission.�
�Your Excellency, if I may be so bold as ask a question, why would you need the best and most discreet? After all its just one witch.�
�This witch, Captain, has already bested several of our forces and has still remained elusive enough that her identity has yet to be confirmed, let alone even suspected. We need you to guarantee that she will be taken into custody, alive. We need to know if she�s working with the rebels and the only way for that to happen is for Rena to get her hands on her. So, you will take with you ten of your best Guards and report to the Museum at sundown tonight. Are those orders clear, Captain?�
�Yes, your Excellency, crystal clear.� Gwen stood and saluted Deline. After the Chancellor�s gesture of dismissal, Gwen turned on her heel and left the office. The emptiness inside her had now fully vanished. She knew what she needed to do. The plan that had started three years ago with her admittance into the Crimson Guard was finally coming to completion. Tonight she would finally have a chance to make things right. Tonight she would make up for the evils that she had to do to keep her cover. Tonight she would have the chance she was waiting for. After tonight, her life would begin anew. Tonight would be the end.
