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artificialqueens · 3 years

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Until We Go Down, 2/10 (Katlaska) - Calypso

a/n: welcome to the katlaska revival! strap yourselves in, we’re going back to 2017

tw: violence, blood

in which an assassin makes a decision.

Katya’s hand stilled, the point of the dagger resting lightly on Alaska’s chest, a small bead of blood welling up around the shining silver. Alaska kept still, hardly daring to breathe, still not entirely sure what decision Katya was going to make.

“I can’t,” the assassin breathed. Her hand, which was usually as still as death itself, trembled slightly. The disconnect between what she knew she should do and what she actually wanted to do was battling in her brain, neither side dominating. “But I have to.”

The silence seemed to extend on forever.

Eventually Katya took a deep breath and stepped back, her eyes bright with fear.

“I cannot kill you,” she said, her hand still gripping the dagger. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Alaska frowned. “So what, you’ve found your conscience now?” She had no idea why she was goading the woman who had been sent there to end her, but everyone in the kingdom had heard of Yekaterina Zamolodchikova, the Assassin’s Assassin.

Katya laughed, a chilling, tinkling noise which sent fear shooting down Alaska’s spine.

“I choose my jobs,” she said, listing on her fingers as she spoke. “No children, no friends, no innocents.”

Alaska laughed. “You might be the only assassin with morals.”

“Not for lack of my master trying.”

Katya’s eyes opened wide as she spoke her master’s name. “He’s going to kill me for not killing you,” she said quietly, knowing in her heart she was doing the right thing.

“So don’t go back to him,” Alaska rolled her eyes. Her heartbeat had slowed right down now Katya was further away from her, and she moved over to the bed to sit down. Her legs were beginning to tremble as the adrenaline left her body, and she didn’t trust herself not to topple over in front of the quite frankly, stunning assassin.

“I have to. My debts are not yet paid.” “I told you, I have money,” Alaska said, moving to get up and fetch her coin purse. Katya shook her head.

“There will be too many questions about where the money comes from,” she told the princess, squaring her shoulders as she accepted her fate. “Just - promise me you’ll keep doing whatever it is you’re doing?” Alaska nodded. “You could help me, you know.” Katya frowned. She’d never had any interest in joining the rebel forces before, despite hearing flutterings of rumours in the dodgy taverns she often frequented. But if this was the calibre of woman leading the rebel alliance well - well she might just have to reconsider her stance of not getting involved.

“How?”

“You have skills I don’t have. You have eyes and ears everywhere out there. There’s only so much I can do, cooped up in here. I can only risk a trip into the slums once a month or so,” Alaska explained, pale hands gesturing in the air.

That explained why Katya had seen her the once, and then not seen her leave the castle since.

“I still have to work for my master,” was all she said in response, the freedom that had been in her grasp slowly slipping away from her the longer Alaska remained alive. And she would remain alive now. Katya couldn’t kill her, wouldn’t kill her.

“I know,” Alaska said, chewing on her lip. “But I need you on my side. There are so few people I can trust - and if we’re going to win, I have to have people I can trust.” Katya nodded. To be honest, with the way Alaska was looking at her, and her beautiful face, and her pretty eyes, and her slender arms, well - Katya would have probably agreed to anything she had to say right about then. It was stupid of her. Sloppy. She’d not been trained to be this stupid because of a pretty face. In fact, she’d very nearly had it beaten out of her.

But Alaska’s face wasn’t just beautiful. It was extraordinary. And she’d not been trained for extraordinary.

“I’ll do it. I mean - I want to help.” There was only one thing left to sort out.

“I - my master said that if I killed you, there was a client ready with an army to storm the castle. But - if you’re helping the rebels, why would they want you dead?” There it was, the little niggle that had been at the back of Katya’s mind ever since Alaska had owned up to being part of the rebel alliance. Alaska just shrugged.

“It’s a big kingdom. We can’t be the only group who are tired of what my father is doing,” she said quietly. “I try to keep my presence as quiet as possible. Barely any of the rebels know who I truly am.”

Katya nodded. It did make sense.

“I’ll try and get word to the client without letting my master know the truth,” she promised. The client would just have to bring his army in some other way, create some other chaos that would have the desired effect. She couldn’t imagine that they’d be mad that she’d failed, not when they knew the truth.

“Thank you.”

“What do you want me to do first?” Katya asked, resigning herself to the fact that she was in now. There was no turning back. All of her careful plans, all of her turning her head the other way - she’d ignored the plight of the people for so long, accepting the corrupt coin of the officials who wanted her to do their dirty dealings for them, and it was all for nothing.

Somehow she’d become swept up in this, and she could help the frisson of excitement building in her stomach. Finally, maybe, she’d put her pathetic existence to some good.

“Introduce yourself to them. We have a house in the slums that houses the heart of the alliance.”

Katya nodded. She knew where it was. She’d tracked Alaska into the doorway opposite the house she’d been in for her last job, and had the scar on her face to prove it.

“Here, take this token.” Alaska pressed a small coin into Katya’s hand. Katya opened her hand, palm up, and examined the small golden coin. It was covered in strange markings, in a language that Katya neither knew nor recognised.

“Give this token to them, and they’ll know that you’ve come from me. Tell them to send word to me that you’ve made contact, and that you want to join. Don’t tell them who you are, not just yet. They - they won’t take to it as kindly as I have.”

Katya nodded, absorbing the blow. She knew she’d made mistakes in her time, she knew she’d not always made the right decision. Her entire life had been based on self-preservation, on ensuring that she would survive. Even if it meant others wouldn’t.

And they hadn’t.

“I will,” she promised, storing the coin safely in one of the many pockets hidden cleverly along the seam of her dress. “What then?”

“I’ll send word to you, through them. It’ll be too dangerous to meet too often. We’ll have to communicate through the heart, they know how to get messages to me through one of the guards. But - be at the docks, by the southbound crates, in exactly a week. I’ll meet you there.”

Alaska wasn’t sure why she’d added the last bit. It would be safer for both of them if they stayed completely separate. Alaska couldn’t risk going out too often, and she definitely couldn’t risk being caught with the assassin, even if no-one knew what she looked like. But there was something - she didn’t want to go too long without seeing the girl again.

Katya nodded.

“I - everyone calls me Katya,” she said quietly, surprising even herself. Alaska smiled.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, lingering over the words. There was nothing more for either of them to say right now, and the longer they stayed in her room, the more chance they had of being caught.

Katya was thinking the same thing. But - but she really did not want to leave. But she wasn’t the Assassin’s Assassin for nothing, and there was a job to do. A new job to do.

“I’ll see you there, princess,” Katya smiled, stashing her dagger back in its thigh sheath and checking her outfit to make sure it was still pristine.

“Alaska. Please - call me Alaska.”

“Alaska,” Katya repeated, before dropping into a deep bow. “See you around.” And with that, she nimbly made her way over to the window, threw it open, and disappeared outside. Alaska watched her go with wide eyes, the only evidence that there had ever been someone else in her room the curtain that was fluttering in the wake of Katya’s departure.

Alaska sighed. She wasn’t entirely sure how, but her already complicated life had just hit another snag.

****************************************************

Katya’s feet dragged the closer she got to the guild. She knew the master wouldn’t kill her - he’d invested too much money in her for that - but she was afraid of what awaited her. He’d know by now she’d failed, that the ball had been nothing but a success and the princess was still alive.

Softly sighing, Katya made her way across the entrance hall, forcing herself to swagger into the master’s office.

He was sitting behind the desk, eyeing her with a cold stare that sent shivers down her spine. Not that she’d let her fear show. She knew better than that.

Katya sat down in her usual chair, draping a leg over one arm in an act of defiance.

“Explain.” The word came out sharply, hitting Katya with some force.

“She was too well protected. I didn’t foresee that they’d put on that much extra security just for one simple girl. I couldn’t get close, not without taking all the guards out and making a scene.”

“So why didn’t you?” He wasn’t backing down. He’d never take no for an answer.

“Because if I’d caused a scene, they would have taken her somewhere even safer,” Katya ground out.

“You’re better than that. The Katya I know would’ve been able to take the guards, and slit the girls throat, before anyone had even seen.”

Katya resisted the urge to growl.

“It wasn’t that simple.”

“No, no I’m sure it wasn’t,” his voice had dropped into a soft purr. Katya shivered. Dangerous. He was dangerous, and she was a fool for forgetting it and leaving that stupid girl alive.

But she still couldn’t bring herself to regret what she’d done. She never would, not even now as she noted the master’s hand flutter, gesturing in someone - or several someone’s - she couldn’t see.

“I’ll give you one more chance,” he said, his voice even softer than before. A single strand of silver had escaped his normally perfectly coiffed hair and Katya watched as it bobbed in the soft wind that came from the cracked window.

She sighed.

“I failed, okay? I failed, just once. I’ve never failed before, and I won’t again. And this way, I don’t get to pay off my debts and you get to keep me. Is that not punishment enough?”

Katya sensed movement at her back, and forced herself to keep staring forwards, eyes locked with the master. She knew that she’d be able to take the two men standing behind her, without even knowing which particular assassins the master had handpicked for this task, but there was no getting past him.

He was lethal, and he was legendary, and he currently had that cold, cold stare centered on Katya.

“No, you won’t fail again. I will make sure of that.”

His fingers fluttered once more and Katya felt herself being hauled out of her chair, strong hands gripping her arms and preventing her from going for her weaponry. Not that it would be any use. She wasn’t going to die here, she knew that much.

“Don’t,” she whispered, already hating herself for showing any sign of weakness. “You wouldn’t want to ruin this carpet.”

“Oh, but I would,” he purred wickedly, and before Katya could even take a breath for her next response, the master had landed the first blow, knocking all the wind out of her.

She didn’t know how long the beating went on for.

The master was trained in the art of torture, and knew exactly where to land his blows to cause maximum pain and discomfort, without causing any real lasting damage, or risking her life. Eventually the pain washed over her, too much for even Katya to handle, and the world went black.

*****************************************************************

“A letter for you, your majesty,” the servant knocked before opening the door, and she hesitated on the threshold.

Alaska rose from where she’d been sitting at her vanity, and hurried over to take the pristine white envelope.

“Thank you, Sasha,” she said, smiling at the woman. Sasha nodded back, before taking a step back and shutting the door again.

Alaska stared down at the note, unsure who this would be from. It had been almost four days since the ball, and she’d hoped to have gotten word from Katya that she’d met up with the rebels and was alright. Alaska knew how much risk the assassin had been putting herself in by not killing the princess, and she wasn’t entirely sure how she’d repay the life debt. But this - she didn’t recognise the handwriting. It was none of the rebels she knew.

Alaska sat back down again, turning the note over slowly. The name on the front was written in their usual code - but who could it be from?

Alaska groaned. She’d never know until she opened it up, and there was still a chance that it could be direct from Katya herself. Suddenly unable to stop herself, fear for the assassin filling her body, Alaska ripped open the note and scanned her eyes down it, her blood instantly turning to ice in her veins.

Your Majesty,

Word has come from the slave camps at the edge of the kingdom. There was an attempted uprising. They had apparently got word of our doings and got it in their heads that they would help.

There are no survivors.

Men, women, and children. Over 250 of them, all dead. Please do something. Please help us. Your people are dying.

The note was unsigned.

Alaska stared down at it, unable to accept the reality of what was written down in stark black and white. Over 250 slaves dead. And she’d been sitting here worrying about the fate of one measly assassin.

Numbly, Alaska ripped up the note and tossed it in the fire burning in the grate, not wanting the words to be discovered. She was sure her father already knew about the rebel uprising in the slave camp, and was sure that he’d be toasting the supposed victory this evening.

At least he’d be too drunk to wonder where she was.

Not wanting to be in the castle any longer, feeling suddenly oppressed by the stone walls surrounding her, Alaska slipped on her longest black cloak, tucking her distinctive hair inside the hood, and fled.

*********************************************************

Katya wasn’t entirely sure how long it had been since she’d been beaten up.

Someone had carried her back to her rooms at some point and cleaned her up before tucking her into bed, and there she’d stayed ever since, waking from unconsciousness just long enough to slurp down a few spoonfuls of broth before blinding pain had taken over again, forcing her back into blissful darkness.

But now she was awake.

The pain had eased, though she was sure she still looked like a fright. She lay in bed a little longer, contemplating how she was going to get out and dressed when it felt like she still had several broken ribs, when the door cracked open.

Katya stiffened.

“Yekaterina?”

Oh thank the gods, it was just Alyssa.

“I’m awake,” Katya called, breathing through the pain and managing to get herself to a seated position. She smiled at Alyssa, trying to reassure the older woman whose eyes were filled with such sorrow.

“What did you do?” Alyssa asked, bustling over and helping Katya out of bed and over to the tin tub in the corner, already filled with steaming liquid. Katya hauled herself in, grimacing as the hot water touched still open wounds.

“I didn’t do what he wanted.”

“The princess?” Alyssa clapped a hand over her mouth.

“She’s still alive,” Katya confirmed, before stilling. How long had it been? She’d not missed their meeting? Gods help her if she had. “How - how long have I been out?”

“Nearly four days,” Alyssa said, dumping hot water over Katya’s head and attacking her scalp with soap and her fingers. “At one point I thought-”

Katya cut her off.

“Four days?” she hissed, blood freezing in her veins. She’d not missed their meeting, but Alaska would’ve expected her to have gone to the rebels already. “I - I have something I need to do today. Can you cover for me?”

She looked at Alyssa, dark eyes unfathomable. They both knew the price Alyssa would pay if the master found out she was lying. Katya was a living example of what the master could do if he was displeased. But Alyssa knew that Katya would never ask such a thing of her if it wasn’t important. She swallowed down her disapproval and nodded.

“Of course. Are you okay to leave though?”

Katya nodded, picking up a hand mirror from its place on a shelf beside the tub and examining her face. Gods above she looked dire. The master had truly done a spectacular number on her. Her left eye was still black and blue, she had a wide cut by her temple, and her jaw was littered with vibrant bruises.

Message received. Next time it would be her life.

“I have to do this.”

Without further ado, Alyssa helped the assassin from the bath, and assisted her as she dried off and changed. Her ribs were tender and her arms and legs covered in bruises. There wasn’t an inch of her that the master hadn’t pummelled, and Katya was sorely tempted to get back into bed and not leave until she was healed. But that could take days, or even weeks, and she didn’t have that sort of time.

Pulling her favourite cloak down, Katya wrapped it around herself before stashing an assortment of weaponry in the cleverly concealed sheaths on her skintight suit.

“My dress - from the ball. Is it around?” Katya asked, suddenly remembering the token that Alaska had pressed into her hands.

Alyssa shook her head.

“It was ruined, Katya. But I checked your pockets for you and - I thought this might be important.” Reaching into the bag that always stayed at her side, Alyssa pulled out the small coin. Katya grinned.

“I promise I’ll explain one day. I’ll be back later.”

Alyssa just nodded, stepping back as she watched Katya move, her usual swiftness dulled by pain, to the window. Within seconds the assassin had it open and had dropped out of sight.

It didn’t take long for Katya to find her way through the shadows of the slums to the house she’d seen Alaska disappear into. She stayed out of sight as much as she could, stealing from doorway to doorway, ducking into alleyways when groups of drunken men crashed toward her. She wasn’t in the mood for a fight, nor could she risk getting injured further.

Katya hesitated at the door. What if they didn’t stop to hear her out?

No. That was her cowardly brain talking, and she would not be a coward. Not any longer. Steeling herself, Katya rapped loudly on the door once, before pushing it open and striding inside. Within seconds someone had appeared, sword already drawn.

“Name?” the stranger demanded, holding Katya in place.

“Catalina. I come from the princess. I need to talk to you, and get a message to her.” The stranger in front of her snorted, stepping forward one pace, raising the sword up slightly. “Likely story. You’ve got one more chance to tell the truth and convince more, or its a hole in the ground for you.”

“It’s true. I have a token from her.”

But before she could produce the coin, someone else stepped around the corner and into view, someone who was all legs and platinum hair and - and dawning horror on their face. The princess. But what was she doing here? It was still three days until their agreed meeting at the docks.

“Ka-Catalina?” Alaska gasped, catching herself just in time. “What happened to you? I thought you’d get word to me by now.”

The stranger glanced between them, confusion apparent on his stupid face. Katya wanted to punch him, just so he’d get out from between her and the princess.

“Wait, you know her?” the stranger asked Alaska, his sword now drooping at his side. Alaska nodded impatiently, pushing past him to stand in front of the assassin.

“Told you,” Katya said, peering around Alaska to smirk at him. “I don’t make a habit of lying.” Swearing, the stranger backed up a few paces and stood guard at the end of the corridor, eyes fixed firmly on the two girls. Sensible of him to not trust her, Katya thought. She was almost definitely the most dangerous person currently inside the house, even if he didn’t know that.

“Catalina. What happened?”

In response, Katya pushed her hood back, revealing her battered face to the princess, who gasped in horror.

“Who did this?” she asked, lifting up a gentle hand to push Katya’s hair back to get a better look. A shiver went down Katya’s back at the feel of Alaska’s cool fingers, and she inadvertently leaned into the touch slightly.

“My master,” Katya said quietly.

“He did this - because you didn’t kill me.” The truth dawned on Alaska and her eyes opened wide. “I didn’t think - you should be dead.” Alaska could see the bruises that spiralled down into the neckline of Katya’s suit, and could only guess at the extent of the damage elsewhere.

“He’s very good at his job,” Katya told her bitterly. “I’m sorry I didn’t get word to you before.” Alaska shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d never come here at all.”

“But why are you here? I thought you said it was dangerous for you to come here?”

Alaska’s face drooped, and tears sprang to the corner of her eyes. Gods above, Katya would do anything if it meant she never had to see Alaska look like that again.

“My father - the King,” Alaska spat, each word laced with venom. “There was - gods, Katya, there was an uprising in one of the slave camps. They slaughtered them. All of them. No survivors, not even the children. And now he’s drinking, and partying like their lives didn’t even matter!” Alaska was crying now, and Katya had no idea what to do. She reached out a hand to pat the older girl on the shoulder, her eyes glinting.

“I promise you, when the time is right, he will die. And this will all end, and no-one in this kingdom will have to be a slave again.”

It wasn’t a statement, it was a promise. Katya had often debated whether she could get close enough, whether she had the guts to kill the king, but had always dismissed those thoughts. She had a policy of not getting involved, after all.

But she was involved now. She had no other choice. Within the space of a week, Katya had managed to get herself so firmly entangled in this mess that the only way out was through. They had to win - none of them had any other choice. If they didn’t win, they’d all be dead.

Alaska lifted her head up to look the assassin in the eye.

“Let’s plot.”

#rpdr fanfiction #katya zamolodchikova #alaska thunderfuck #katlaska #angst #fantasy au #lesbian au #until we go down #calypso #tw violence #tw blood #concrit welcome

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