sanya's pov
I observed my reflection in front of the large mirror that stood in front of me. My appearance was unrecognizable from head to toe. My long black uncontrollable hair was now elegantly wrapped into a bun with a few wavy strands that seeped out. My eyes moved down to my body where a satin shoulderless gown fluidly fell down just below my silver heels and hugged my torso perfectly. The dress blended beautifully into my pale skin. I stepped closer to the mirror, admiring the makeup that took hours.
"Thank you," I said breathlessly to the make-up artist who smiled at me from behind. "Of course," she replied and made her way to the back. My eyelids shimmered with soft sparkles and other areas of my face were highlighted with a beaming tender white. A precise black wing strung along my eyes, accentuating its almond shape, and my eyelashes were defined for once. Blended tints of red stretched along my cheeks as well as the same shade covering my lips except with a layer of gloss above. I couldn't even make out the rest of the details.
Of all the eighteen years of my life, I had never felt this way. The feeling of feminity? Or was it rather the general existence of girlhood I had missed all throughout my life? I shook my head and laid aside such sentimental feelings that were merely a distraction. I had a mission.
I turned to Aamani, herself dressed elegantly as well. She wore a light blue dress that consisted of ruffled layers and light makeup that correlated with the soft ambiance of her presentation. "Hey, I'm going back to the dorm. I forgot a few things," I said. "Oh okay. Be there at seven pm sharp," she called out, sliding an earring through her pierced ear. "Mhm, thank you again," I said and made my way out to a cab.
Aamani was kind enough yet again to hire her cosmetologist and make-up artist friends prior to the event. I had to repay her somehow before the end of this mission, but how could you possibly repay someone who has everything she already has? Well, materialistically. As I arrived at the campus, the courtyards were already packed with fellow attendees in glamorous outfits as well as loading swarms of paparazzi. I had to be even more discreet with every move. I reached my room and placed a chair underneath the handle for extra precaution then grabbed the briefcase. I settled my arms into the gloves and placed only one of the thin daggers into the inner side of one glove, its thick cloth concealing any remnant of its lethal blade.
I grabbed my karambit and placed it into a sheath that attached to my leg strap. Slightly above the slit of my dress underneath, I tightened the strap. Not too high from reach, not too low for visibility, and not too loose for any incident. I lastly grabbed a small silver handbag and placed my burner phone into its hidden compartment, then topped it with a random lipstick, gauze, a tiny blade, and a random lip balm. As much as I wanted to carry my Glock, I was only attending for bits of interaction with Mattia. I looked over at the wall clock, six fifty-eight. Shit, Aamani called for sharp.
I exited the room and left through the same corridors and followed the familiar gravel paths that led to a large staircase followed by an enormous building that shared the same exterior as the other campus buildings. The paparazzi lined up against the railings of the marble staircase, their cameras flashing and capturing every step of the attendees.
"Sterling!"
"Jessica!"
"Thomas!"
All sorts of names who I assumed belonged to influential families were shouted throughout the entrance, but no Bernardi. I had to take a low profile and rounded to the back of the building, into a side door that opened to an emergency hallway. Although I kept my face hidden during many missions only for their corpses to see my face, I still had to keep discreet no matter the occasion. I continued down the hallways until I reached the back entrance of the banquet hall. The place was truly designed for the filthy rich. Extensively wide Fwindows scattered at the top of the walls and all sorts of excessive details filled the walls from its support beams to its intricate wall designs of gold, white, and black. There was a spacious area that contained tall top tables draped in white cloth that surrounded an empty space that seemed to be the dance floor. Following that space, marble steps led up to a quite tall stage, almost like a cathedral altar. A lectern that held a microphone stood, flanked by a few chairs. What was up with rich people and marble?
I meandered throughout the spacious area of tables and guests, observing the setting and what I had in store. No Bernardis, except for a specifically recognizable woman who stood beside a table. I nearly almost fell into a sprint toward Andrea, but my dress contained my legs to an extent. "Andrea!" I exclaimed. Her head snapped to me and she immediately pulled me into a hug. "I haven't seen you show so much emotion before," she giggled. I smiled and shrugged, unaware of what to say. "You look so beautiful Verity," she spoke. "As do you," I said, noticing her curled dark brown hair and black corset dress. "I'm here to collect as much as I can," she now mumbled, though the noisy chatter of people and light instrumental music tucked her words away. "The Bernardis and some other allied orgs of ous are in malicious conflict right now. It's important you stay low and be careful. You simply just cannot kill on sight in public, do you understand?" her voice was stern, with a hint of worry.
I nodded. "I just don't understand what you're doing here?" I questioned, my attention now vigilant to my surroundings. "I'm being sent out to collect info from various sources whether it's from the Bernardis or other orgs. There was a negotiation mishap over money and other dealings sometime ago."
I didn't know if Victor was directly dealing with the Bernardis or if we were simply his frontline pawns that he adjoined to another conflict that wasn't his. "Good luck, my favorite assassin," she mumbled even more lowly now and I walked away without saying a word.
I continued throughout the place, the cavernous space becoming even more filled with guests of my age and older adults. I spotted Aamani's blue ruffles from afar at a table and made my way to her. "Hey," I said, joining the table. Maeve and Daniel stood as well, their appearance spotlessly cleaned up. The three of them greeted me. "Is this your first time at a Bernardi event?" Maeve asked. "Yes it is," I nodded, observing my surroundings once again.
The ceiling lights suddenly dimmed and a spotlight covered the entire stage, illuminating its beautiful features. Pietro Bernardi appeared, walking towards the lectern, a smile on his face and his arms spread out to the crowd. Everyone's heads listened intently to him on stage, their attention locked.
"Good evening everyone! As most may know, I am Pietro Bernardi and it is with all my pleasure and honor, to host the twentieth "Dorian Academy Charity Gala". I would first like to begin by thanking everyone for attending this significant charity event to help the future of our generation and those in need. We will begin auctioning soon, but in the meantime, I'm sure plenty of you are all hungry. Go eat! Socialize amongst your fellow peers!" He chuckled and stepped back to his entourage of people, Mattia included. They bowed, and the crowd erupted into applause as well as the ceiling lights reverted back to their original state of bright gold.
The attendees began to scatter along the walls to where food lined up on tables. I peeked over to Andrea who chatted up an unfamiliar man. The walls were now aligned with guards. "Hey, we're grabbing food, you coming?" Daniel asked, Maeve and Aamani side by side continuing toward the food tables. I shook my head, "No, I'm not hungry," I politely declined.
The event felt like one large trap and I was walking on eggshells through the entire time. After what seemed to be twenty minutes, the lights dimmed again and Pietro commenced the auction. Displayed arts from paintings, ceramic pieces, student-crafted works, gifts, and all sorts of items were auctioned. There was bid after bid starting at high thousands, and many even reaching higher than thirty million for a simple piece that a kid could create. I scoffed at the ignorance of these people. This money was going nowhere near the hands of those in need.
"Five million!" Aamani raised her bid paddle to a collection of refined gold jewelry that lie on a cushion within an encased display that was wheeled in. Silence remained for a second, and a feminine voice called out.
"Six million!"
"Seven million!"
"Ten million!"
I turned to see Delaney bidding against Aamani. The prices increased, the bidding only remaining in a deadlock until Aamani quietly scoffed.
"One last call! Do we have any more bidders?" Pietro announced into the microphone. His kind demeanor for the crowd was unsettling.
Aamani was silent, and so was the rest of the crowd. "Then it's sold! The twenty-four karat "Glistening Gold" collection sold to Delaney Halls! Thank you."
Delaney glanced over to Aamani with a smirk. Mayne I could kill her in some freak accident as repayment to Aamani. I couldn't help, but giggle internally. Pietro concluded the auction with a final speech of mendacious gratitude. Classical music emerged from near the dance floor.
"She's just trying to poke at you," Maeve whispered to Aamani. She didn't reply. As much as I wanted to be there for her, I couldn't. I had one sole purpose to accomplish. Maeve and Aamani made their way in the direction of the ladies restroom, leaving Daniel and me.
"Care to dance?" He asked. I briefly scanned the tabled areas and stage to not see Mattia present anywhere.
"I suppose I could," I said, as the areas lacked any sign of hopeful productivity. I followed him toward the crowd where pairs slowly danced to the slow-paced, yet rich rhythm. Daniel clasped my left hand above my torso height and placed his left hand moderately above my waist. My right hand reached for his shoulder and he began to slowly sway left to right to the music.
I had never danced before, but I picked it up imitating his first few steps. "First time?" He asked as if he had almost read my mind. I nodded with a slight smile. "Well you have me, until the music changes," he chuckled with a sly grin. I tilted my head, unaware of what he meant until he gently spun me, and let go of my hand. The musical composition suddenly changed, into a gradually faster tempo. Someone clasped my hand and I was met with Mattia. He devilishly grinned at me and held onto my hip at a lower position than Daniel's placement. I just wanted to punch him.
"I was looking for you," he said, guiding each of my steps. His hand motioned my waist with gentle control like how he helped me earlier in the gym. "And why's that?" I asked and was released into a twirl.
"Because you never told me your name," he said, his gaze roaming my eyes as if he were looking for answers.
"I thought I was only piccolo diavolo to you," I said, my eyes softened under his hard gaze.
"You are my piccolo diavolo, but I want to know your real name. Unless you prefer angel face or—". I cut him off. "I am nobody's possession, and I'd rather be referred to as your little devil than my name be spoken from your lips."
The music changed into a slower tempo, and partners began to switch, but his grip tightened on my hand and he pulled me in closer. He smelled of a sharp, yet soft pin-like evergreen smell that eased my nose. Though, this brat refused to switch. I eyed Daniel from behind who only chuckled as we made eye contact and I rolled my eyes.
"Spoken? So you'd rather have it be moane—". I interrupted him again by jabbing my heel into his foot. "You really have to stop hurting me, my piccolo diavolo."
"If I tell you it will you leave me alone?" I debated with such a question.
"I would keep my promises only for you, but I don't think I'd be able to resist you," he said, his voice was rough now. I stayed silent.
"Let me take you on a date tomorrow, and from there if you still don't like me, then I'll leave you alone — for a week or so," he proposed. I could feel my cheeks heat up at his date request, but I brushed it aside and looked up at him as if it were the most stupid offer.
"A month," I simply said.
"Two weeks," he shot back.
"Fine."
"I'll pick you up at five pm by your dorm building."
"Why do you know my building?"
His grip suddenly loosened on my hand at the shifting change of the music and he twirled me into the hands of another man I left after the next exchange.
God that man was just a horny freak and creep, but I couldn't further because I spied on people for a living. As I neared back to my table, Delaney joined me as a champagne glass of a burgundy-colored drink peeled from her lips. "Get your hands off Mattia, you slut," she casually said, her expression flawless of disgust with only a facade of innocence. "Or what?" I asked, turning to her. I couldn't believe I had to argue over a filthy man. "Face the consequences," she whispered and tossed her drink onto my white gown. "Sorry! My hand slipped," she said and walked away as if she had done nothing.
The piercing color of burgundy began to seep into the white satin of my dress and stick to my skin as blotches of the dress were soaked. The fluid began to drip all the way down and all the nearby tissues were useless. If only I was permitted to "accidentally slip" my hand and strike at her face, but I remained silent and made my way outside through the same back entrance I entered from.
The usual cold air was even more chilling this time as I stalked through a series of courtyards as far as possible from the building. I groaned in annoyance. I was supposed to be progressing with this mission, but here I was, immobile on a bench, unproductive. Victor would beat me if he knew what I was doing. I sighed, the one night in my entire night that I did not feel like a dirty murderer.
"Verity?" A voice called out from the shadows. It was low and masculine. I didn't reply and only stared into the indecipherable shadows. Mattia stepped out, running his hands through his dark hair, and a cigarette released smoke in the other.
"Leave me alone," I simply demanded with genuine frustration. "No, I will not leave you alone. It's cold and dark, why are you here?" He said, walking closer. I looked away, not replying. I really wasn't in the mood, I wish I could just be Sanya again. He now stood in front of me, looking down on me, his towering figure shadowing me under the pale moonlight.
He bent down to a squat. "What happened my piccolo diavolo?" He asked quietly, his hands now grazing the stains of my dress.
"I don't like the smell of cigarettes," I inapplicably said, my face still avoiding his. He got up and threw his cigarette elsewhere, crushing it into the ground. "Is that better?" He said and squatted back down in front of me.
"Verity talk to me. What happened? I can fix the damages by tomorrow," he said and I let silence waft between us for a minute. I looked at him," Your little whore happened." He looked at me puzzled and questioned, "Delaney?" I nodded and he laughed. "She's not my little whore." I stared at him with disgust. "From what I've seen and from how I have been treated, your lie says otherwise."
"Are you jealous?"
"Why would I? I don't even know your name, nor do I care to."
He laughed again. "Mattia Bernardi, it's a pleasure to meet you. Now allow me to fix the damages for you."
"I don't want your pity."
"You are so stubborn."
Before I could retort back at him, the noise of an ambulance neared the area of the building and we simultaneously both got up. My breathing was sharp. Andrea. I quickly picked up my dress and sprinted toward the back entrance, and into the main hall. The atmosphere was cold and the chatter amongst people felt agonizing rather than the liveliness that once permeated throughout the place.
I rushed toward the large crowd that circled around something and jostled my way to where I could see what happened. A man in a black tuxedo lay lifelessly on the marble floor. His chin was stained with blood and his face was a pale blue. A broken champagne glass scattered amongst his hand. He was poisoned. I noticed Andrea within the crowd of people across from me. Her face was expressionless and she looked up at me, then back down at him.
He was the other agent she had been sent with to collect information. Whoever was out there knew Victor sent out his pawns. The only problem was, I didn't know what the hell was going on.