Capítulo 9: Bad Habits

Footsteps were heard in the corridors of the Chasseur mansion. Von, Sophie, Norgard and Krauser were walking to General Norgard's office. Inside the office, Samantha was sitting in one of the armchairs, next to her were two men that Von found familiar. When everyone had entered, the general locked the door and let Krauser sit in the main chair.

-I have gathered all of you here tonight because I believe you know of the future events in Cermina.- Said one of the men, the tallest present, with white skin and gray hair.

-I have brought the key to Berolav's mansion. - As she said this, Samantha threw the key to the man.

-Good, Sam. Tyr, who is in charge of the party right now? - Krauser questioned the man in front of him.

-One of my personal guards. - Tyr spoke looking at Krauser. Von remembered who the two men were. The brothers from the day he was defeated, Tyr and Fenrir.

-Who will get the ingredient for the anabolic steroids from Berolav's house?- Sophie spoke up.

-I will, Miss Sophie Chasseur. You just have to infiltrate the Dendalian embassy and find out what kind of deal they will make with Gran Tlabo.- Fenrir said while lighting a cigar and looking Sophie's body up and down.

-Samantha is going to Grebeci with Ambassador Agmundr, right? - Tyr continued talking and looked at Von. - I would have thought that you had run away. -

-Run away? - Samantha spoke as she touched Von's shoulders, her blue pupils looked at his with a seductive tone. - You'd think so, my father was always very complimentary about his work, you know he doesn't compliment just anyone. -

-That being said, was your mission successful? Sophie was watching you. - General Norgard spoke while pouring shots of whisky for everyone in the room.

-Yes, the body is in the cabin for further investigation. - Von replied coldly.

-Let's not lose the focus of the conversation. - Krauser interrupted. - Soon after the removal of the papers with the ingredients from Henry Berolav's house, and the preventive investigation at the Dendalian embassy, we will prepare our troops for an attack on Dendalion. Lotevi will help us with biological weapons and they sciences, and Innsmouth with more ships.

-Lotevi I understand that will support us, but why would the port city help us?- Sophie asked Krauser, she was standing in a secluded corner near the wall, finishing her glass of whiskey and returning to her glass of wine.

-Innsmouth's legal and illegal trade only functions safely because of Cermina's influence over the maritime territory. Most of those who run the city have eternal debts to our nation. - Krauser explained. Someone knocked on the door and General Norgard unlocked it. One of Tyr's personal guards was standing in front of the door.

-Sir, these guests have drunk all the wine, I think we'd better close the party. - The brown-haired guard spoke while keeping his head down out of hierarchical respect.

-Right, we'll discuss this matter more calmly in the tower. Norgard, thank you for your time. - Tyr put his hand on the general's shoulder, smiled at him and left the room. Norgard then left, along with everyone else present in the room.

Fenrir, who was standing next to Sophie, looked at her face for a reaction.

-Trying to make the dog a toy. - Sophie whispered to herself as she swirled her glass of wine.

-Caring again? - Fenrir spoke as he took an empty bottle of wine from Sophie's hands. - Is it empty already? This is your second bottle...-

-Yeah... But I still feel good.- Sophie said, and walked away in search of more drink.

Fenrir sighed in defeat, he had known this girl since she was just a child. As much as he was not against drinking, it was uncomfortable for him to see the girl getting drunk. Fenrir looked at Samantha, the blonde was grinning mischievously at Von as she danced with Grebeci's diplomat and waved provocatively at the assassin. -Have you any idea what you're going to do yet, boy? - Walking up to General Chasseur's BloodHound, the man with long black hair and yellow eyes spoke while expressing curiosity on his face.

-I am not stupid, Fenrir. I know about Samantha's game just by watching her smile at me. - The assassin spoke as he pointed his finger at the young blonde who was dancing with another man, glaring at Von.

-I doubt it very much. - Fenrir took another drag on his cigar. Fenrir and his brother Tyr, are two totally opposite figures who complete each other. Fenrir is extremely sadistic, malicious and outspoken, but he hides this personality when he is the least bit concerned about some person or situation, such as the fact that Sophie is drunk. Tyr, on the other hand, is a man of unshakable values, his unique posture before Cermina reveals his extreme patriotism. A man of few words and little sense of humor, unlike his brother.

-Continue to doubt. - As he said this, Von walked towards Norgard, who made a sign calling him.

When he approached him, Norgard smiled in satisfaction, almost dragging him to the hut outside the mansion. Von took a closer look at the place, it was the Chasseur family armory. Observing that place answered why Sophie liked that cottage so much.

-What did you think of my daughter, Samantha? - General Chasseur spoke when he noticed Von playing with a golden dagger; it was very likely that the assassin had ignored his question. - Have you learned to handle the Katana yet?

-Yes, I have practiced a lot with this sword, I confess it was quite difficult to learn at first. But Sophie explained a few techniques to me. - The assassin put the dagger away and looked into Norgard's green eyes. - Samantha... I still don't have an opinion about her. -

-Soph is teaching you? - He raised his eyebrows. - How can someone of my own blood always be ahead of me? You are my subordinate, Von, not hers. - Norgard made a point of emphasizing the word subordinate. He had sacrificed a lot of time and many soldiers for the High Command to recognize Von's potential as a good assassin and a great threat to the nation.

-It always seems to get lost. But it also seems that there is always something in common between the two of us. Although unpredictable, Sophie does this kind of thing to get your attention, Norgard.-

-I thought it was the guns and the food that kept you here, but from what I can see... it is one of my daughters. -

-Don't say that, General. I am opening up to you at least. Sophie only makes staying here more fun due to her sadistic temperament. Only this.

-May I say that I am jealous of you. The one who was supposed to teach you how to use the Katana should be me. But Sophie will always be my best student. As a little girl she used to lock herself in here, running away from Veronika. I think that's where her taste for blood and murder started. Soph was never part of the "council" like Samantha.

-I suppose Veronika is your wife. -

-Yes. - As he said this, they left the cabin. The words that came out of Norgard's mouth seemed to scratch his throat. Von deduced that this subject did not sound pleasant.

Sophie was dancing in the main hall with Grebeci's ambassador, Von and Norgard watched her. General Chasseur idolized the daughters he had, none had reached the point of perfection as Sophie had, that is, in Norgard's opinion. At eighteen years of age, the redhead possessed a rare beauty. The pale and serene face often resembled that of an angel. She danced gracefully, letting herself be led by a man with long greenish hair. Like a wave, Sophie's body moved according to the symphony of a violin.

Norgard knew that inside she was burning. Even though she was, she had not been born to be graceful, she had shaped herself to be an assassin, a beautiful assassin. Sophie kept dancing with her green eyes closed as her Father admired her. In a father's eyes, a daughter would always be perfect.

The music ended. The green orbs opened and a smile came to her face. Sophie looked at the man next to her father. Von was watching her as well, noticing how well that girl could perform when needed.

-General Chasseur, I am Lucius Agmundr, Grebecian diplomat, pleased to meet you. The pale, tall, green-haired man held out his cold hands to Norgard. He shook it while looking into the diplomat's blue eyes.

-So you are Agmundr? You should have introduced me to him before the party ended, Sophie. - Norgard scolded her, still not stopping to stare at his own daughter.

-I only found him now. - Those were the few words Sophie spoke. She closed her eyes, her head heavy, the dancing had made her dizzy. And Norgard realized this.

-Von, it seems our little girl has been drinking a little. Take Soph to her room while I talk to Agmundr.-

They were walking through the mansion's garden, Sophie had asked them to go to the small lake that was near the cabin-arsenal. They walked side by side, Von had removed his suit, leaving only his white dress shirt with two buttons open. Sophie carried his shoes in one hand, and a bottle of rum in the other. They sat down on the grass facing the lake, not bothering to get their clothes dirty. She opened the bottle and took a large sip.

-You should stop drinking. - Von said with a smile as he took the bottle from her white hands. - It's not good to mix drinks. -

-Do you think I care? - She ran her hand over the little bit of drink that ran down her chin. - You know, ever since that day, I had been curious about what it would be like to drink rum. Then I thought about how I had thought about it that day, and thought to myself again, "Isn't rum supposed to be drunk warm? After all, there's no refrigerator on pirate ships!" So I stole your rum.-

-I felt something was missing. - Von ignored the girl's disconnected sentences. Sophie Chasseur was drunk. The moonlight and the red face caused by the drink had made her extremely attractive and sensual. The assassin took some of the liquid from the bottle and looked at her discreetly. She was beautiful, he never tired of admiring her.

-Von, you should teach me how to drink. I always get like this at parties like this. Especially that dance!I got dizzy as hell!

-Okay. I'll teach you to drink if you teach me to dance. - He took another sip of rum and heard her curse. In a spontaneous movement, Sophie supported her left hand on the small space between Von's legs, stepping over him and reaching for her bottle. He threw himself off balance and knocked the bottle to the ground, spilling the liquid all over the lawn.

-Vooooooooooooooon! You spilled the rum! - Sophie spoke close to the assassin's face.

-Me? You're the one who climbed on top of me! - The BloodHound defended himself and turned his face away from the green pupils. It closed its eyes and pushed her subtly to the grass, which was not wet. - Stand up. - Von stood up and pulled her by the arms, making her eyes widen. -Are you going to ask a dog to teach you, Miss Chasseur? He spoke softly into the corner of the redhead's right ear. - I'll teach you. Don't mix the drinks.- Von whispered, and Sophie shivered at his warm breath. - Don't smoke while drinking, or take medicine. When you want to drink everything you see, that's exactly the time you should stop. - Von's husky voice began to eat her up inside, but when the assassin put his hands around her slim waist and brought their bodies closer together, her body burned inside to the point that she almost lost her sanity. - And lastly, always when you want to get drunk, be with someone you trust to help you. -

-Ahn... I think I understand. - She answered him perplexed, while looking deep into Von's dark eyes. She wished the redness in her face was just from the drink. Sophie tried to come to her senses, she watched the eyes of the man who was holding her by the waist. Eyes always so dark, so obscure.

-Teach me how to dance, Sophie. - Von spoke as he took the redhead's white hands and put them on his shoulder, the other he held, feeling the warmth mix with the cold of his hands.

-Your hand is always so cold...-

-Yes...- He whispered again in her ear as he took small steps that on Sophie's part started out slow, but Von guided her. He knew how to dance, he danced with several women during the nights. But that lie would make him be with the girl in his arms, and so he would continue. And like the dance Von had seen before, Sophie let herself be led, no music, no violin, just the wind blowing against the leaves on the grass and the sound of the small lake. Sophie felt dizzy while dancing and collapsed in Von's arms.

-Hey, wake up. We're here. - Sophie opened her eyes and with her right hand touched Von's face, making him look at her.

-Vooon! Why did you bring me to your room? She spoke as her fingers brushed the corner of his lips.

-We're in your room, Sophie. - Von opened the door with difficulty and threw her onto the bed.

-That's right! It's my cuddly little bed. -Sophie says. The assassin knelt down to say something, but forgot the moment he looked at her again. - It sucks being the only drunk...- There was a silence and Von sighed.

She rolled over on the bed and stared at the dark pupils. There was so much intensity in that look, an initial and continuing shock of various emotions as they looked at each other like that. Anger, arrogance, distrust, loneliness, and...Desire. Von realized it was so strong the moment he looked at her completely. The moonlight reflected on her white skin just like when he saw her play the piano. The slit in Sophie's dress showed her white legs, not so thick and not so thin, they were perfect. Her breasts were almost out of the dress, the strands of red hair falling across her serene face, her full lips parted. Von was about to lose his sanity.

-Bye.- Von said, quickly getting up and recovering. Repeating over and over in his mind that "self-control is everything".

-No... - She whispered and held him by the wrist. Von gave in.

If she asked him to stay, he would stay.

Sophie pulled him by the shirt, making him fall over. She grabbed him by the back of his neck and pressed her lips to his. Von froze. Sophie was kissing him. Giving up his self-control, he grabbed her around the waist, deepening the kiss as he slid his hand intensely down the redhead's body. As she nibbled his lips and tugged at the brown hair, Von let go of her mouth and moved his lips down to Sophie's neck, licking and sucking her with necessity. When she slipped her hands inside the assassin's shirt, Von couldn't resist squeezing her buttocks hard. He felt her muffled moan in his ear and bit her collarbone in excitement. But there was no more response, Sophie fell asleep.

Von stopped what he was doing and lay down beside her, looking at her in disbelief at what had happened. He sighed in defeat. He sat up in bed and shook his head, trying to regain his sanity.

Von had done many cruel things in the course of his life, but taking advantage of drunk, unconscious women was never one of them. He didn't want to have sex with her drunk. He wanted her awake, enjoying every moment, and remembering every detail. He looked over and saw the serenity on Sophie's face as she slept. What was there in common between the two of them, was this intense desire for each other? Von wondered.

BloodHound didn't want to imagine her reaction the next day when she woke up and remembered that she had kissed and almost had sex with her father's subordinate, he would even rather she didn't remember. He subtly took the comforter from the bed and covered Sophie, walked out of the room and went to his own. He drowned in thoughts about what had just happened until he fell asleep.

The day dawned cloudy and cold in Cermina. Samantha had already left early for Grebeci with Louis Agmundr. It was already over one o'clock in the afternoon, and Sophie was sitting in front of a small fountain in the forest that crossed the mansion's garden.

Her clothes were similar to the day of the piano, a long white dress, more like a nightdress. Red strands fell down her pale face, there was more melancholy than usual in the green orbs that looked up into the gray sky. The grass was a worn, dry green. Sophie compared it to herself. She was suffocated. Today was a special day. She remembered everything that had happened the night before, and ignored for the moment the kisses with Von, but strangely accepted that desire without hesitation.

She was taken out of her thoughts when she heard some footsteps, and turned to see who it was.

-What are you doing here? - She asked him without looking away from the dark orbs that had been staring at her with such desire, such equality.

-The General said you would be here today. - Von said as he tried to understand why Sophie was so distressed, it shouldn't be because of last night.

-Ah, apparently he must remember... -She laughed as she spoke in a hurt tone. Von realized, it wasn't about last night's kisses. He looked away and sat down next to her.

-Why do I feel that you are worse today? - Sophie lowered her head, hiding in her hair like a child hides from its mother. He was ignored, for the first time Sophie was running away. -Tell me. We know each other well enough for that. -Von just heard her sigh. He looked at her confused for not understanding how she felt, and also not understanding why he was being so solicitous with her. - You know... I feel out of place in this mansion. And without knowing what goes on inside this family, I feel even more so. It makes me want to disappear, I'm not like you.- Sophie lifted her head and looked deep into Von's eyes. The gleam in her green eyes were nothing more and nothing less than repressed tears.

-It will be six years today. - She began to speak in a tearful voice. Wiping her tears with trembling hands. - My mother was sacrificed, or murdered, I don't know. Whatever you prefer to understand. Six years ago. - The green of her eyes plunged back into the darkness of Von's eyes, they were a grayish green. Emeralds drowned in sadness - Usually, when I come here I only have good memories. But not today...Norgard married Veronika because she had an extremely dangerous power, so dangerous that it threatened Cermina. They gave the order that she should be sacrificed if there was any suspicion of rebellion coming from her. But my mother was always naive, in a way. She believed what the High Command said. I always saw this as a noble form of patriotism. To die for Cermina. But not after the truth. Killing her was not necessary for the High Command, not after mixing with the Cerminian elite and forgetting her duties, forgetting her powers and who she really was. But, Norgard did. And acted well enough to make her blindly believe every word. My father killed her, and the child inside her too, Von.-

The BloodHound said nothing at first, he could only see the sad gleam in Sophie's eyes. He drowned in the green immensity, he was motionless. He did not know what to do or what to say, he did not know what this was. The feeling of losing a mother, or a father. He didn't have the warmth of a home. He had already lost people he loved very much, but not someone he really loved. The emptiness must have been enormous. He understood that Sophie was suffering inside, but he had no idea of the pain the girl felt, having her mother murdered by her own father's hands. Sophie stood up, although sad, she was still beautiful.

-Do you understand now? Norgard Chasseur is not the hero everyone thinks he is. - She spoke as she closed her eyes with her head held high, feeling the cold wind ruffling her hair. - I told you what you've wanted to know since yesterday and you have nothing to say? Pathetic. -

As she took the first step out of the place, she felt Von's cold hands on her wrist, making her body shiver. She was pulled by him and was welcomed into his arms. They stared at each other for a long time, she wasn't sure what the dark brown eyes were showing. She could smell Von's scent, a scent that she had never paid that much attention to before. She felt again as she had before...inebriated. She could hear the assassin's heartbeat. She felt weak, she couldn't get away from Von, or the memories of her mother. Paralyzed, she could only feel the warmth emanating from him as he ran his hand down her back, hugging her tighter as he stroked her hair.

-My words won't wash away your feelings. But I will always be here to wipe away your tears. - The Bloodhound gave up his arrogant posture. Still hugging, they both sat down on the grass. Von leaned his head against Sophie's hair. He didn't want to see her cry.