A Spy's Only Weakness

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Zaina hated herself, all day and all night she had no choice but to sell herself at the local brothel just to survive.  She tried to turn off her feelings and her emotions so that it was just her body being used but it didn't matter.  Every time she closed her eyes she would relive it like a horrible nightmare that never ended and that is when she started to hide from herself.  

Dressed in all black she started to explore the safety and security of the shadows.  In the darkness she was nimble and she could control what happened as she always carried all her knives with her.  Many times she considered never going back to the brothel because when she was in the shadows was the only time she felt happy.  If she could have found another way to feed and shelter herself she would have.  

One day while she was lurking in the shadows she did find a way to start distancing herself from the brothel.  She started to overhear things that she was able to use to pay for the things she needed.  Secrets were getting easier to come by once she learned who to sell them too.  More and more time she was able to disappear into the darkness that she craved.  This darkness also lead her to meeting him....

Since the day she was torn from the life she used to know Zaina had refused to ever let herself connect with any other person.  She had no ties to anyone and she liked it that way but fate had different plans.  The mission was to learn more about Reuben Slade, he had many enemies who were willing to play for whatever information she could give them.  That is what led her to be creeping through his house late one night when she believed the house to be empty.  

She found her way into what she thought was his study and this was where she might find the best things to sell about him.  Rifling through the papers on his desk she tried to be as quiet as possible but then suddenly she heard something.... turning she found herself nose to nose with the man she had been sent to spy on.

Reuben Slade

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: @zainayadav
Note: Better gif coming soon!

what doesn't

KILL ME BETTER RUN

Business often drove Slade from his home as there were certain business affairs he would not conduct at his estate. Especially when Evelina was present. Though tonight, she was with a close friend along with a couple of guards and her governess. This caused Slade to enter an empty house, though the moment he stepped inside . . . something felt, off. One of his guards asked if everything was well, for they knew him well enough. Slade instructed them to search upstairs, and they did as told. Slade made his way through the hallway quietly, pausing when he saw the door to his study slightly ajar. Slade was a meticulous man, calculated in all he did and aware of his surroundings at all times. His memory strong and so he knew, and felt the presence of another.

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Making his way to the room, he lifted his cane and gently pushed open the rest of the door to reveal a young woman. He was well aware of his enemies, most of which were indebted to him and so he suspected this person was looking for some form of leverage. Assassin she was not, for an assassin would not be rummaging through his papers. He stood quietly, his stealth entrance not yet alerting her. There was no fear in him. Instead, was intrigue. For this was the first occasion that anyone had managed to enter his otherwise secure estate. It was fortunate indeed, that Evelina was not present. For that was not the sort of leverage that he wished his enemies to gain knowledge of. When she turned around to finally face him, he remained perfectly still in front of her. Expression stoic and demeanour composed.

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He need not ask if she found anything, nor her name. There was however, one thing he would demand of her, for he was not going to let her leave this place without it -- if he allowed her to leave at all. "Who sent you?" His voice calm, but stern and holding a natural tone of authority. "It would be in your best interest to answer." The words holding an underlying threat to them as his gaze fixed on her. She was not the slightest bit familiar to him, and the intrigue strengthened in her skill entering his home undetected.

[Deleted]

Tonight's job was very important, the employer was offering her the best money she had ever had.  It was rumored that no one had been able to find out anything about this man Reuben Slade or the business he ran but Zaina was determined to accomplish this.  The amount she was being offered was almost half of what she still needed to buy her freedom so there was no way she would come back without something.

It had been much easier than she planned to get in but once inside it had taken longer than expected to figure out which room was his study.  Once there she found the jackpot and now she was quietly looking through the papers trying to decide which was going to get her the most.  There was so much here, names of associates, list of businesses and plans for so many things that she lost track of time reading through them all.

A sudden creak from a floorboard near her and Zaina pulled out one of her knives and quickly turned to face a strange man.  Her heart was racing as she stared at him.  She had met many men in her life but this one, damn it this one, she held her breath as she stared at him.  With any other she would have already tried to strike but him, she didn't want to strike him and she didn't know why.  

No one sent me, I am a spy for hire.  She told him as she stood poised with her knife ready to strike at any moment.  Now she was eying the papers and then looking over at his window trying to calculate how much time it would take her to grab what she needed and flee out that window.  Now she quickly grabbed the papers and rolled them up while still staring at him.  I don't think that it matters if I tell you anything.  You know who your enemies are.

Zaina kept her eyes on him and she glanced over the window again but seeing him leaning on a cane she figured that she had plenty of time to get out that window before he reached her but she still hesitated looking at him.  Maybe you should be asking me instead what I know that could help you.

Reuben Slade







gif from eggsaladstain.tumblr.com/

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: @zainayadav
Note: Better gif coming soon!

what doesn't

KILL ME BETTER RUN

She claimed that no one sent her and yet, stated she was a spy for hire. So, someone had hired her and sent her to his residence. It was not a surprise. As she said at a later point, he had many enemies, but the fact that he did . . . only further added validity to his question. Of which of these enemies had sent her. "You appear to be more of a thief for hire," he stated, motioning to the paper she had taken from his desk, rolled up in preparation for her to depart with it.

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"Do you truly believe I would leave anything of importance exposed on my desk." The question rhetorical, for he knew the answer by the way she had clearly gone through his papers. His extreme organized tendencies aware when even a single paper was out of place. And he was no fool. He was incredibly meticulous, calculated, methodical in all he did. It was after all, the only way he had managed to keep anyone from holding incriminating evidence against him. Otherwise, he would have long been arrested and perhaps sent to NewGate. "Are you an assassin for hire as well?" He asked, once again, the question rhetorical. She was no assassin. Otherwise, her attack against him would have been far more swift.

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Whoever hired her, was not stupid enough to try and kill him. But perhaps, that was their mistake . . . for Rueben would come after them in full force. Recognizing her eyes darting to the window, he continued. "Let me save you the time. My guards have surrounded the perimeter." Now that he was home and indicated to do a search, they would no doubt be diligently patrolling the area. "So you can risk getting caught, and killed." Better dead than escaped. "Or you can sit down and we will talk." The choice seeming rather obvious, but he obviously did not know her personality well enough to know whether she would rather take the risk . . . of if the greater risk to her was conversing with him. Either way, he looked at her, remaining composed as he awaited her answer -- whether it be revealed through words or actions.

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Zaina had not put down the papers she was planning to take as she looked over at him.  He was too calm to be trusted, he didn't see her as any kind of threat which was his first mistake.  Being a woman and a spy was very advantageous.  She was not seen as a threat but they didn't know of the seven knifes she had hidden on her body whenever she left home.  One swipe of her arm she could have cut his throat wide open and let him to bleed out but she hesitated.

You talk like you already know my answers, if you have any questions you really want me to answer you should ask them now.  Once I move you won't be able to find me again unless I want to be found.... the darkness is where I live and your guards were here when I got in so I don't see them as any kind of threat.  If you want to know how I got in to properly protect yourself and your... family I might be open to a discussion.

She challenged him, she had been through this whole house and had seen what appeared to be the room of a little girl.  One that no one knew about, she had studied him well before she took this mission.  Just the news of a weakness like this would pay her richly for that kind of weakness could be his downfall.  I am open to a talk about this, it is your choice if I expose it or not.

Reuben Slade