"You want me to do what?!"
His eyes the colour of steel bored into the impertinent man standing before him as his hand closed tight around the handle of his dagger.
"It's a talent show!" The Host exclaimed, and the hidden audience once again cheered, calling for action.
The sound put Kieran even further on edge, and he crouched low in a fighting stance, his eyes scanning the blackness for some hint as to how he was brought to this strange place.
The Host waved a hand in front of the assassin's face, snapping the scarred man's attention back to him. "The audience would like to be entertained!" he explained again, and Kieran scowled.
"You dragged me out here to put me on show?" He said in obvious disgust.
"Of course," the Host said simply, waving a hand dramatically towards the blackness off the stage, "if you have no audience to cheer you on, then what do you have?"
"A life." Kieran snapped back.
The Host laughed heartily. "Come now, dear character; have you no form of entertainment for us?"
In a swift motion, Kieran drew his dagger and stepped forward, grabbing the Host by his necktie roughly and bringing the dagger up to rest against his exposed throat. The audience collectively gasped, and went quiet.
"Would they enjoy me killing you?" His voice was barely more than a whisper, and the Host swallowed hard over the sudden lump in his throat. He looked into the assassin's steeled gaze and saw his own death.
Forcing a smile, the Host brought his hands up in surrender. "You make your point very effectively, sir."
"So I've been told..." Kieran mumbled, releasing the man and relaxing his body. His eyes remained trained on the Host, however, as he backed a step away, his senses straining to catch the slightest sign of retaliation.
The Host adjusted his necktie, trying hard to hide his indignation at being manhandled in such a way. Satisfied, he turned back to Kieran.
"Is there nothing you can do for us here to entertain or amaze?" Noticing the dangerous scowl cross Kieran's face, he quickly added, "I cannot send you back until you show off your skills. Rules, you know..."
Sighing and running a hand through his hair, Kieran replaced his dagger in its sheath at his hip and relaxed his shoulders. "Fine. What is it you seek?"
"A show of skill, perhaps?" the Host offered, "or a bit of storytelling?"
Kieran chuckled. "A man in my line of work doesn't show off to an audience unless he wishes to find himself executed. And as for stories..." He drifted off, his eyes half-heartedly scanning in the darkness that surrounded this stage. He imagined men, women, and even children gazing back at him expectantly, eagerly, begging him for entertainment. A story. A life lesson.
He gave a dangerous smile and returned his attention to the host. "I do have a story that might be worth something."
The Host grinned nodded, stepping back out of the spotlight. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our next contestant, Kieran!" He exclaimed excitedly, allowing the assassin the full stage.
Running his hand through his hair, his eyes scanned the darkness once more. Seeing nothing but complete blackness, he began, his deep tenor voice measured and dripping with hatred.
"There were once a man and a woman. They had a little boy, and life couldn't be happier for the three of them.
"One day, however, the woman gave birth to another. Not human, this child was a demon. He was corruption and proved dangerous to those around him.
"Their oldest son tried to warn them, but the young demon had already corrupted their minds. They were dead to the boy, and he vowed to free them from the creature's influence.
"One night, he did. He killed both his parents while they slept, so as to free them from the demon's spell. He sought to destroy the creature as well, but it had fled into the night.
"That demon lingers still somewhere in the world, preying on the weak and the innocent. No one is safe from his malice. No man, woman or child can resist his siren call. Only I have seen through his disguise. Only I can see what he truly is.
"I will end him myself, and free the world from his influence forever."
He turned back to the Host, who was watching him in shock. "Are we done here?"
The Host shook his head to clear it and stepped back beside the assassin. "Ladies and gentlemen, Kieran!"
Silence.
"Well?" Kieran asked, glaring at the Host, "we had a deal."
"Yes, yes..." The Host waved his hand and a portal appeared on one side of the stage.
The assassin approached it cautiously, uncertain. "This will take me to where I was?" he asked, whipping around to face the Host again.
The Host nodded and smiled nervously, waving a hand dismissively. "Yes, of course. It'll be fine. Go back to your story, good sir."
"Never call me that again or I'll carve out your organs with my dullest blade."
"Of course!" the Host exclaimed quickly, still hiding behind a nervous smile.
Kieran rolled his eyes and braced himself, stepping into the portal and vanishing.
"There you have it, folks," the Host addressed the darkness, "You can see more of Kieran in his story, Assassin's Blade, right here on Penana! Now bring in our next contestant!"
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