The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
Assassin’s Magic
by Kim Richards
Siorah bent low in among the sticks and dead leaves of the winter forest, letting her hair fall forward to conceal her face. She moved into position with the ease of an experienced contortionist. A professional assassin, she bent her body into the prerequisite symbol required to bring about the magic of invisibility. This time she was naked, having learned the lessons of clothing movement revealing her presence with the slightest disturbance in the air. The scar on her abdomen would forever remind her. If they never knew she was there, there would be no need for clothing or armor.
She chanted the incantation and instantly the skulls on either side of her spoke. The elder skull, carved in intricate tribal shapes of wings and flames cajoled and insulted her. She knew it’s job was to dissuade her from using the hell sent magic. It talked to her of freedom for her soul if only she would rise and break the incantation.
“Do not doom yourself as I did,” it pleaded.
She ignored it, concentrating on the voice of the younger skull.
This one was fresh—taken from her last victim. Its presence added venom to the incantation, giving her an added strength with the invisibility. She wouldn’t need a weapon other than her hands because of it.
It sang of vengeance and offered up its other enemies for her to kill. Siorah stifled a snicker. Most of those names were already on her list The Blade assigned her. That the skull had no idea allowed him to add his spirit magic to the spell work.
The spell wasn’t complete when her head came away from her shoulders, toppling onto the sticks and covering them in hair and blood. The remainder of her body sat in its position, having a perfect balance.
“It’s about time,” the younger skull said as the air behind Siorah rippled. “I thought I was forsaken again.”
“Never,” said the invisible assassin.
The air rippled again and he was gone.
Fiction © Copyright Kim Richards
Image courtesy of Pixabay.
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Women in Horror Month 9
Spreading the Writer's Word 
Cool. I loved the twist at the end.
I liked the twist too!