InsaneJournal

Her heels beat a tat-tat-tat against the marble floor. The elevator doors behind her closed, making a guillotine-like swooshing sound. Lights on the walls half-heartedly flickered on, and she stopped. No one else was in the large, ominous 'Greeting Hall' with her, which was just as well. The one who wanted to speak to her was waiting in the Briefing Room. 

Emerald put down her oversized utility bag and dug in her purse for a mirror and her favorite brand of lipstick, 'Crimson Seductress.' While the 'visitor' told her not to take too long, she couldn't help just one more touch-up. Woman's prerogative. She checked her hair as well, recently re-dyed a dark, dark green.

Ever since he had shown up, literally 'poofed' into her life, she felt something again. Before his arrival, she had been hopelessly numb and bored. She had achieved what she had always wanted at the Guild and she had proven that she would never let anyone make her vulnerable again. Mission after mission, she raised her body count and she was one of the most successful (not to mention stylish) assassins the Shining Stone Guild had ever produced. 

So what did one do after one has accomplished all this at the age of twenty-four? Go on a suicide mission? 

'Tried that,' she mused. 'Still alive. You'd think a horde of vampires would be harder for a human to kill.'

Killing wasn't enough anymore. She had to have the rush back. Her new 'best' friend promised it, guaranteed it even. New places, new enemies, new battles... 

One of the doors behind her opened. Emerald glanced over her shoulder, then did a double take. 'Wonder why he's here?' Her lips raised in a slow, sensual smile. 

"Hello~, Diamond." 

Diamond didn't smile. He never smiled. Tall, albino white hair and skin, gray eyes, twenty-nine years old (but acts much older... like 500 years old), Diamond was above Emerald in rank because he was being groomed to lead the Guild after 'Old Man Topaz Iscariot.' She hadn't understood why -- out of all the Guild's mercenaries, Diamond seemed to enjoy his job the least. 

Then she had witnessed him decapitate a U.S. ambassador with a plank of plywood. His telekinetic powers were extremely advanced, to say the least. If she hadn't had her own powers, she wouldn't have made it as far as she did.

"You're leaving," he observed. He always spoke with a neutral voice, knowing that he never had to show-off his bad-ass-ery in front of her. "Mission?"

"Something like that," she replied. "This one will be a bit longer than most. Come to see little ole me off? How chaaarming of you!" 

Tat-tat-tat. She slinked her way towards him and stopped within about an inch of his person. She had to look up at him still, even with her heels giving her two added inches to her petite five-foot-nothing. Putting her hands on her hips, she tilted her head and gave him her most adorable, and most bold, scorching eyes.

"How 'bout a goodbye quickie?" Emerald winked. Diamond's expression actually registered annoyance. "Darn. I'm still not your type, huh?" 

"I came here to tell you that I know who you're meeting with, and that you should be careful."

Now it was Emerald's turn to be annoyed. "How the hell could you know? Aren't my clients supposed to be classified info, private, need-to-know shit?"

"Sapphire told me."

Each mercenary had his or her classification alias, by gemstone or precious/semi-precious gems. That was the Guild's 'theme,' as it was since Medieval Europe. Sapphire was also male, and he could use water as a weapon and for scrying. He could be very perceptive and intuitive. Assassinship was perfect for his sociopathic tendencies, too.

"So now he's spying on me? I knew the bastard was hot for me, deep down inside!" She sighed, all melodramatic with her hand over her forehead. She turned and began to walk away. "He's too late, I've found somebody else! Someone much sexier than him, by the way." 

A firm hand gripped her arm. Emerald's eyes flashed and seconds later she had her dagger at Diamond's throat. 

Although she knew she couldn't, and wouldn't, kill him, it was too strange that he actually touched her. That was something else he never did. Diamond didn't flinch, but he did let go. She'd swear he looked almost confused at his own actions.

"Baby, if you got something to say, please do say," she purred. "I'm late already, you see."

"Emerald, Sapphire saw you leaving, and where you are going. He wouldn't have said anything at all, but he thought that I should know." The blue-eyed hunter had recognized Diamond as leader already, apparently. "You'll be gone much longer than you think. You might not even be able to come back to this world. Are you sure about this?"

The dagger returned to its place on her belt. 

"More sure than anything else in my entire life, dah'ling."