Honor Among Thieves

It was nearing dusk by the time Dacio reached the Mansion the directions had led him too. The trip to Barcelona had been uneventful, especially considering Dacio had blinded himself to it all with a bottle of whiskey and was now contemplating why he had even bothered with doing Alonso’s bidding. One way or another he was probably going to die, whether it be from Alonso himself tying up lose ends and his general hatred for him or downing one to many bottles of whiskey in an attempt to drown out his own miserable life, he muttered to himself angrily. It hadn’t always been like this. He’d been happy once or a shade of happiness at least, and his name was known across Spain, people had quivered at its mention. But now what, many believed him dead or soon to be. His brief moment of happiness disappeared as soon as Alonso had shown up in his life, and taken her… Groaning at his own interior monologue of how pathetic it all seemed, Dacio shrugged off the lingering memories and concealed himself behind one of the many shrubs the front garden.

There was a wall, an incredibly high wall at that, but beyond that there appeared a decadent mansion resting atop the hill. Even from where he stood, Dacio could see the elegant glass pane windows that overlooked this part of the city, brilliant white marble encased the interior. It was huge and overly lavish, clearly the people who lived here had never known the crime and poverty that scourged the streets below them. It angered him slightly more than it should have, the suffering and the awful reality of poverty, and yet these people lived with far more than one could ever need. It was a pointless debate, the rich would always get richer and the poor would always get poorer, the only way to change the tide was what people like Dacio did; anything that wasn’t lawful. He tried not to put himself in a box with all the others, thieves, murderers, drug dealers. He was none of those things, not anymore, just a vagabond with a particular set of skills that were far more refined than most other people, but not by his choice. He had to be the best to survive, or at least that’s the way it used to be, now days it felt like the opposite.

There was too much going on in his mind, Dacio knew this, useless thoughts that whirled around continuously without purpose. It was one of his faults as his trainer had picked up, and as he used to say; Too much on the mind and the body won’t follow. This would be dangerous no doubt, Dacio knew he couldn’t afford any mistakes, taking a knee to the ground and ensuring he couldn’t be spotted, Dacio knelt and began clearing his mind as he used to but a few years ago. Mind cleared and ready Dacio checked his equipment, his bullet proof vest for this underneath his shirt, both daggers as always by either side, and a concealed firearms, as a last resort. Guns were not his forte, he was trained in the use of more traditional weapons, but they were a must in today’s world. These among other things were often staples to him, Dacio was ready. The fortifications were a perfect reason for a lapse in security, why have tons of security when you have walls that high. This was the vantage point, the walls could be scaled but it would be a fruitless effort when trying to escape if he was caught, there was no point of which to cast a line to climb across either. So it left one option; all security must be off the premises and Dacio knew exactly how to do it. That’s when the true fun began and a wicked grin spread across his face.

On a hunch Dacio had arranged a favour from a friend for this particular job and now he was sure it would pay off. There were two security personnel at the gates which was exactly where Dacio had hoped they would be. It wasn’t long before the favour arrived in spectacular fashion, a hail of gunfire rang out as brakes squealed from a car pulling up at the gate. The security as predicted scattered behind the wall as more gunfire rang out, one of the men in the car got out weapon drawn, and dumped a duffle bag at the gates “Dacio sends his regards motherfuckers!” the man jumped back into the car and with another squeal of the brakes the were gone. Dacio remained hidden watching from the distance.

The two guards emerged from behind the wall, but that wasn’t the aim, the aim was a ploy. Something Dacio was rather good at, and it worked like a charm. “We need all security personnel down by the gate now, there is a suspicious bag at the front gates and we were just attacked by armed men driving a blue van, gunfire was present. I repeat all personnel here immediately, we suspect they may be after Paul Valli’s assets.” Or something like that, Dacio thought to himself. Now was his chance, slipping from the shadows he snuck against the wall. The sun was just setting so the light was quite dim, just enough to not be noticed. It took but a few minutes for more security to join the others at the gate, they proceeded to inspect the bag. One of the younger personnel unzipped the bag as the others overlooked. “It’s a bomb!” he shouted, fear filled his pitch.
“Let me take a look boy, they wouldn’t be that stupid.”
“It is sir, I swear it,” They were distracted by the rouse and outside the gate, now was his chance, Dacio slunk behind the gate and pushed it shut with a loud clank. They turned.
“One of them is in! Quick!” They ran toward the steel gates but to no avail, it was now locked. and Spain’s most notorious assassin now roamed freely in Paul Valli’s domain.
“Good work gentlemen, you have caught a trespasser, or is it the other way around? I can never tell with these things. I thank you anyway, I didn’t want to have to take you all out. Bloodstains are so hard to get out of ones clothes, no matter, adios!” More shots fired and yelling but Dacio simply dodged and ignored by moving behind the wall, there was a job to be done.

Dacio made his way into the mansion, and began moving through the rooms searching for this Arista Valli girl, helping himself of course to many of the trinkets lying around that interested him. The house was enormous and far more lavish than Dacio could have imagined. It was full of expensive pointless artefacts that would no doubt sell for a nice bit of coin on the black market, no point in wasting a chance to make a little extra. Dacio picked up a beautiful gold pocket watch off the table, chucking it in the air lazily, what wealth these bastards had, he slipped the watch in his pocket. Suddenly he heard s creak from the floor above, he paused, that must be his target. Slowly and stealthy he moved towards the staircase.

“Don’t move you bastard or I’ll put a bullet in you!” Dacio pivoted on the spot to see where the voice came from, it was an older man. Maybe in his late twenties, he had a pistol pointed right at Dacio’s chest and hands around the barrel were sturdy. The man had obviously had some sort of military experience, this may be a little more difficult he had first thought. Dacio sidestepped slowly, his eyes glued on the man as he did so. "I said don't move! Are you deaf?"
“Solo cuando quiero ser?" Dacio mused, he watched as the man side stepped with him, mirroring his movements, he was good Dacio would give him that, but he wasn't good enough. Watching the sidestepping Dacio picked up a fatal flaw, the man favored his left knee, a weakness that he intended to take full advantage of. "Detener! Um.. Whatever the Spanish word for freeze is, bloody bastard.."
"You mean congelar?" Dacio smirked.
"You do speak English you bastard, so damn well stay where you are, or I will put a bullet in you!" Dacio only needed to get a little closer before he knew he could take him out, it would only require some twisting of words for such a distraction he mused,

"You must be a military man, I can tell. So tell me how do you feel when you kill someone? Do you get that rush of adrenaline when you fire that gun, you see their corpse slowly fall to the ground, blood flowing from their wounds. Do you enjoy it? Will you enjoy killing me? I would enjoy killing you, it's like an art form, requires a certain finesse. I'm sure you'll agree."

"Shut up you fucking shit, you know nothing of what it means to take a life, to watch people you care about die. War is nothing like what you do. Your a thug, a hitman, disgusting scourge of the earth. The military fights for justice for a cause, you do so only for selfish reasons. I'm not going to justify myself to you, of all people."

Dacio edged ever closer, "You are wrong, how are your causes any more just than yours? Ask yourself the question are there any wise wars? Or is the killing always done in the same name? For the sake of it? I bet you watched your friends die, I bet you saw their faces as they passed, knowing you could do nothing. And you'll do the same with this girl, that I promise."

With that something snapped inside the man as he lunged at Dacio, who avoided the hit and instead in one fluid movement plunged the dagger right into his favored knee. The gun fired and Dacio dodged, knocking the gun out his hand. Grasping for the dagger, Dacio was to quick once again and they grappled, he managed to gain the advantage and pushed the man to the floor wrapping his hand around the front of his throat. Dacio finally managed to slide his right dagger out, and pressed it to the mans neck with enough pressure it drew a fine red line of blood.

"Who are you? You picked a terrible time to intrude friend.” The man obviously panicked and in pain, clutching his knee which still had the dagger embedded, was breathing incredibly fast as the blade nicked his throat.
“Marcus,” he spat angrily “But I’m no friend of yours.” And with that Marcus kicked Dacio hard, right in the gut with his good knee groaning in pain as he did so. But Dacio didn’t even flinch, he pressed the blade tighter to his neck.
“Like a pup that has yet to grow into his fangs you bite, quite ferociously, and yet you are no wolf” Dacio smiled keeping the pressure on his throat just enough to draw further blood. Marcus was fuelled by adrenaline and the words simply floated past him.
“What do you even want? Paul Valli’s safe has multiple safeguards, you'll never get past it.” Dacio grinned further, setting Marcus further into a panic.
“Not all assets are silver, gold or money.” He spoke coldly, a smile still playing on his lips, a foolish man this one was. Marcus tried to think, but his head was swimming with thoughts and adrenaline and he couldn’t focus, what did this guy even want? Not valuables… Then it hit him.
“I will die before I let you get to her, you sick bastard.” Marcus struggled against the blade only making the pain worse.

“A bold claim, but are you willing to follow up?” Dacio moved the blade and punched Marcus hard, right in the face blade still in hand. Marcus fell back from the force, groaning in pain as blood trickled from his nose and mouth. “You need not die today, so eager to throw away your life you don’t even think of the consequences.” Dacio kicked Marcus hard right in the stomach, he recoiled in pain on the floor once more. “You people will never change, you’d happily die to save another and yet I fail to see them doing that in your place, you are nothing to these wealthy pigs, if you die you are just as replaceable as the next man. El honour es una mentira, foolish man.” Dacio callously, yanked the dagger from his knee, causing Marcus to shriek in pain. Dacio simply stared at him, cold eyes calculating, he lifted the badly battered Marcus halfway up the wall and threw him against it, the force cracked the walls outer layer, leaving Marcus lying bloody and unconscious in a pile of rubble.

Dacio now more determined than ever placed one of the daggers in its sheath, clutching the other losely. He made his way up the stairs as stealthily as he could, the door was shut but he quietly twisted the knob, it wasn’t locked. He lifted his dagger and creaked the door open. A beautiful young woman stood by the elegant dresser, she froze when she saw him enter, a look of pure terror crossed her face as she saw the blood dripping from dagger. The lights flickered and for some unknown reason the power went out, Arista heard the door close and lock, her heart began to race.

“Who are you? I presume you know who I am, so what are you here for?” Her voiced wavered a little as she backed herself closer into the corner of the room near the window. Maybe she could jump.
“Clever girl, I am in fact here to send a message to your father. But not any old ink will do you see. Actually the man who has forced me into his service requires a very specific way this message is to be delivered. Though it’s a shame, because you are a rare beauty and it will be a shame to ruin such a gorgeous dress. Also I wouldn’t jump like I know your contemplating, the fall will either kill you or leave you a drooling vegetable, so it’s really not an escape.” Dacio mused as he twirled his dagger in hand.
“Who gave this message to my father?” Arista paused, remembering a few moments ago when Marcus told her to jump if anything happened, was this man speaking the truth? Wait, where was Marcus. “And... and where is Marcus?” she uttered fearfully.
“In fact it was a man called Alonso, rather distasteful man if you ask me. I’d rather see him dead, but sometimes we don’t have a choice. And your friend Marcus and I had a disagreement, he wanted to die for you, so I almost granted his wish. But I’m not the wish granting type you see, he will live, probably, but what state. I can’t say.”
Arista stared into the darkness, at least Marcus was alive. Maybe there was hope yet, and Alonso, that name was familiar, she had heard her father mention him, wait until her father heard… she had to get out of this, to tell him. “Well you didn’t kill him, so surely your no monster, no murderer, you wouldn’t kill an unarmed young woman. Especially since you don't even like this Alonso, seems a little counterproductive?" Arista tried to think quickly she needed a weapon of talking failed. She reached across the small table in the corner, her hands grasping the smooth timber, and she found not a weapon but a candle lighter. She held it up and pulled the trigger and a flame roared to life at the end. “Stay back!”

He stared her down smiling, what an intriguing young woman he laughed "You are a smart one, a very clever one indeed, especially charming. But you misunderstand, monsters are not the monsters you so seek in tales." He paused, eyes gleaming at her through the dark, it was a look of dominance, one predator might give before devouring it's prey. Intense, devoid and emotionless, he moved towards her, fingers grasping the cold steel, the whites of his knuckles burned bright as he dragged the blade across the wooden table as he drew closer. The sound elicited icy snakes writhing in her gut, and her pulse quickened, there was no escape, like an animal caught in the headlights, paralysis took over and she dropped the candle lighter. She scrabbled to the window trying to lift the pane as she heard his footsteps closer in the dark, until she could feel his hot breath on her neck. She wanted to fight, she wanted to scream to run, but her feet remained frozen. His lips brushed her neck, that shot electric shivers down her spine, fear made her immovable. He spoke again, in hushed velvety tones, moving the cold steel closer to her, pressing it against her rapidly pulsing jugular "Murders are men, and that is the scariest part.

It would have been simple for Dacio to slit her throat then and there but he hesitated, was it the soft touch of her skin, the scent she wore that reminisced his old love, the soft whimpering of a woman’s cries? Who knows, but he didn’t. He just stood their holding the blade to her throat, frozen in fear. He stepped back dropping the dagger as he did so, falling onto the dresser behind as he drew deep breaths recalling the memories of his trainer, telling him to draw a breath and clear his mind, draw a breath... Arista stood there dumbfounded expecting a blade to slit her throat but instead she heard the sound of metal hitting the floor and his footsteps backing away. Confused and scared Arista knew it was her only chance, through the darkness she could see he had his back to her and was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating. She had to do something now, he might change his mind.

She turned and saw a ceramic statue next to her, one her father had no doubt had someone purchase from the markets for her. She grabbed the cold ceramic, her heartbeat so fast she could feel it pounding in her chest, grasping it and moving toward him she launched the statue over his skull. He fell, but didn’t make a sound, but spoke eerily “Finish it, muerte seria una benedicion.” It was in that moment Marcus all bloody and broken staggered through the door, knocking it off its hinges. Through the darkness he saw Dacio on the floor, and instinctively leaned down and punched him hard, right in the face. Dacio fell back this time and the darkness around the edges enveloped him.