The Liberal Assassin

The journey to my new mansion was a horrible if not torturous one. It was meant to be my alone time with Sable but the third wheel had to steal all the limelight. It would be a lie if I said there wasn't a mini celebration in my head when Rush pulled the vehicle to a halt. Almost immediately I jumped out of the hoverer and stretched my legs a little. Rush beat me to the game when he walked around the vehicle and offered a hand to help Sable out of her seat.

"You're such a gentleman," the idol giggled. Wait, did she just bat her fake eyelashes at Rush?

The self-proclaimed lackey had the nerve to smile and reply, "Only for you."

The nerves…

Stalking over with the grace of an enraged head librarian, I shoved Rush away and plastered on a very forced smile.

"It's been nice Mr Chauffeur. I think you can go now."

Before Rush could reply Sable beat him to it.

"Well, I think he's a rather nice person. Is it alright if he comes inside for the tour as well?"

Scandalised at the words leaving my angel's mouth, I gaped like a fish. Why would she even suggest that?

"Well, I'm not so sure. I don't really want to intrude on Mr Crowley's privacy here."

"Nonsense! You're not intruding on anything. Right, Tits?"

Those doe eyes must be the reason why she got everything she wanted despite her brattish attitude. I didn't have it in me to refuse her when she was pleading so fervently.

"Fine, he can come but please don't break anything."

Half of me wanted to shoot Rush in the kneecap there and then. The other half wanted to wait till Sable was out of the picture to bury him alive.

"Are you coming?" the sweet voice pulled me away from the bloody thoughts. I trotted up to join them for the grand tour.

Placing my hand on the reader, Sable waited with barely concealed excitement as Rush twiddled his thumbs in restrained enthusiasm. I wasn't doing much better with palms turning sweaty even in the cold weather. Ignacio really went all out.

The door clicked open and I ushered them in before following behind. Just as the door was about to shut, there was a glint from the right side but it had been so faint I could have imagined it. Staying for a little more than necessary, nothing about the Slums seemed out of place despite the nagging feeling at the back of my mind. There was the strange feeling of being watched.

"Tits?"

Sable's voice brought me back to the present and I faked a smile before hurrying to join them. It was weird having to give them a tour of a house I've never been to. Khronos said something about a secret entrance to the base but the exact location wasn't mentioned.

On second thoughts, how will the plan proceed with Rush in the way? Nash will be in for a surprise.

"Oh, what a beautiful collection of clothes you have. They are all splendidly made! Which shop did you buy them from? I might pay them a visit," the idol gushed.

From the corner, I heard Rush snicker but ignored it in favour of entertaining my idol. "It's actually handmade by the best seamstress I know."

"What's her name? Could you recommend her?"

"Well, she goes by the name Lisa and has her own small shop. Unfortunately, she's always fully booked and you have to make an appointment in advance to see her. Her skills are worth the prices she quotes."

Sable fell silent and for a moment I worried. "Um…"

"That's amazing! I didn't know mom made clothes for you too! You really do have good taste. Mom makes all my costumes as well you know?"

It took me two seconds to register what she just said.

"Mom?" Rush yelled loud enough to wake the dead.

Sable made a little 'oops' gesture and smiled nervously. "Please don't tell anyone?"

My brain was failing to make the connection. How did the tiny bespectacled imp give life to such a beautiful idol? Then again, Sable isn't exactly tall so it might still be possible.

"I'm actually at a loss for words now. Lisa is your mother?"

Sable sighed. "Well, yes. I became her model from a very young age and somehow became an idol. Cass has been my manager for as long as I can remember. He scouted me one day when he visited my mother's shop."

Rush had already settled himself on my chair and Sable on my bed. I dragged the dressing table stool over to make myself comfortable as Sable recounted how Cass helped her out.

"He's like a father to me," she smiled and I understood the feeling. My mind immediately went to Nash even though I knew rightfully that title should be given to Janon.

"I know how you feel," I sighed.

Sable's eyes widened. "You do? Normally when I say that people would ask 'What about your real father?'"

"Well," I frowned. "It's a little bit complicated for me but my biological father couldn't afford to raise me so I was raised by my teacher. He's more than a teacher to me and the closest I could come to think of is a father even if he really could be my grandfather or great-grandfather."

Sable chuckled. "I know that feeling. Cass isn't that much older than me and he could be an older brother but he acts so much like a father, I don't know how else to see him. Whenever I'm dating someone, Cass always tags along in the background. It's quite annoying how he does background checks of everyone I interact with. I'm sure he threatens them to behave in my presence with do's and don'ts."

"Yikes! That's terrible," the maroon-haired Yankee whistled lowly. "It sounds like a case of an overly protective papa to me."

"Rush have you never had someone like that before?"

The Yankee shrugged. "I never knew my parents as the last survivor of my race. I was raised by Ignacio's family back in the Slums."

That's new even to me. I never knew Rush and Ignacio were that close, I only assumed they were best friends.

Knock. Knock.

"That's strange. Tits, do you have anyone around? I thought we were alone."

I frowned and shook my head. Giving Rush a warning stare when Sable wasn't looking, I went to open the door. The plan will commence despite the changes and I hope Nash could react spontaneously with the Yankee's presence.