Shadow Samurai-Assassins of the Night Prologue




Bethany Hunter missed this. As her lips parted and then again sampled those of
the hooded man in front of her, she remembered when she was first meeting this
man who called himself Hawke. At first, they were fellow Warriors of the
Night, two vigilantes with no rules but their own. Nocturne had at first
rejected any advances but slowly found herself drawn to Hawke's mystery and
his hooded, yet noble warrior look. Then, in a moment of weakness, she found
herself in his arms, the Mistress of the Night swept off her feet. It had been
ages since then, when they were slowly finding each other. Nowadays, "Jason"
Hawke found himself staying over at the apartment of Bethany Hunter aka
Nocturne, Mistress of the Night. But there was a certain innocence and
uncomplicated feeling that came from making out on a rooftop, a sense of
mystery and temptation. As Hawke's arms wrapped tightly around her, Nocturne
remembered why she had brought Hawke here tonight following her patrol. She
had to try again, though the outcome would likely be the same as before. As
Hawke moved his hands down to her black leotard and fishnet tight covered
rear, Nocturne whispered, "I love you."

Hawke stopped and sighed, "Beth ... again?" Nocturne gently yet roughly pushed
Hawke off of her, "Yes, again." "I thought this was too good to be true,"
Hawke sounded frustrated. "Jason what's wrong? Every time I say it ... " "You
make it sound real," Hawke replied. "Because it is real. It's been real
between us for a long time. I've accepted it but why cant you?" Nocturne asked
furiously. "Look, I care, ok?" Hawke shot back, "But I can't ... can't do
that." "That? You mean love?" Nocturne folded her arms, "So what we were doing
just now against that wall. What we do every other night in my bedroom. That's
just sex? A good time? Stress relief?" Hawke couldn't answer at first but
tried, "Look. You asked me to change my way of fighting. I haven't killed
since I got rushed back from London when you were in danger from Hellhounds.
What more do you want?" Nocturne felt her heart breaking, "You really aren't
getting it. Jason, I love you." Hawke threw his hands up, "You care, just like
I do. But this, this is ... I don't know," he put his hands on his hips,
turning his back on Nocturne. Nocturne breathed, "I can't believe May was
right about you all along. You're afraid of something and you're willing to
push anyone away who gets close to fully opening your heart. You are a
bastard, Jason Hawke."

It was quiet on the roof. Neither wanted to leave but neither wanted to say
the next word. "Jason ... " Nocturne started to say. Hawke's head perked up a
bit. "Look ... if you cant tell me what I tell you every time we're together
... then I don't know ... " "Shhh ... " Hawke lifted a finger. "Of course.
Well I guess," Nocturne said. "SHHH!!!" Hawke said louder. "Hawke?" Nocturne
was confused. All of a sudden, Hawke turned around, "GET DOWN!!!" Before
Nocturne realized, several flashbang balls landed by her feet and exploded.
"AHHHHH!!!" she raised her gauntlets to her mask, trying to shield her eyes
from the blinding light. Her ears erupted with buzzing. Her head was swimming.
"H-Hawke ... ahhhhh ... " Nocturne called out. She could barely hear Hawke's
muffled voice and her vision was hazy as she reached out. Instead of her hand
touching Hawke's, Nocturne's hand was roughly brushed away. The gauntlet that
she felt was like Hawke's but it did not belong to him. Startled, Nocturne was
met with a solid punch to her jaw, sending the Mistress of the Night to the
ground. "W-Wha AHHH!!!!" she cried out as she took a hard kick against her
back.

Nearby, Hawke was being held down by several men wearing the same costume like
him. "NOO!!! LET HER GO!!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!!" He struggled but was just as
weakened by the flash bangs as Nocturne. All he could do was watch as these
men worked to further beat up an already defeated Nocturne.

"I know you came for me. She's got nothing to do with this," Hawke said
angrily, "LET HER GO YOU BASTARDS!!!" "Uhhhh ... uhhh ... " Nocturne was
dragged by two men to Hawke and his captors. "The Grand Master wants you back,
yes," one of these hooded assassins spoke, "And he wants you back in full.
That means," he motioned with his neck to the left. "NOOOO!!!" Hawke cried out
as Nocturne got punched several more times against her face and stomach. The
men then lifted her up and threw her from the roof.

Hawke gasped. "No more distractions," his captor spoke. Hawke's heart was
beating so fast he couldn't hear Nocturne crash below. "I ... will kill you
all for this," Hawke growled. "You will kill again," his captor said before
his companions used tazzers to knock Hawke out, "When we allow you to." "Uhhhh
... Noc ... turne ... noooo...uhhhh ... " she was all Hawke could think of as
he drifted away. He had let Bethany get too close to him and what was worse
... he never told her what he should have said a long time ago.

"Uhhhh ... uhhhhh ... " Nocturne hadn't felt so sore in a long time. "Hawke
... God ... what happened ... who ... happened ... " She thought to herself as
she tried to come too. Thankfully, the attackers who had tossed her off of the
roof neglected to notice the trash bin that had cushioned her fall. That
didn't ease the fact that she and her partner had just been ambushed, beaten
and defeated ... possibly worse in Hawke's case. Nocturne's senses were coming
too when she heard the sounds of two pairs of boots landing nearby, belonging
to two grey and red trim cloaked Assassins. Quickly, and quite easily given
her state, she closed her eyes and played possum. "Over here," one of the
Assassin's, called Thane, pointed to the fallen heroine. "She had luck on her
side," his fellow warrior, Reeve, noted. "All the better for us. The Grand
Master wanted us to make sure she was dead." They peered into the trashcan and
saw the "unconscious" Nocturne in a head of garbage. "Are you sure she isn't
still alive?" Reeve asked. Thane glared at him, "She is the chief defender of
this city. I think it would take more than a short fall like that to kill her.
Also ... the trashcan," he motioned. "Top MARKS!!!" Nocturne shouted as she
kicked Thane in the face.

Reeve was thrown off guard by the kick to his comrade and didn't notice
Nocturne roll out of the trashcan. On the ground, she used a sweep kick to
knock Reeve down. As she rose though, Nocturne realized she was still not at
100%. Thane landed a kick to her stomach and pressed her against the edge of
the trashcan. Nocturne got her hands up to try and defend herself but Thane
was strong. He used a spin kick to knock Nocturne onto the ground to her left.
As she struggled to get her bearings again, Reeve was on his feet as well.
"Wretch," Reeve spat. "Not dead. But," Thane looked down at the injured
heroine, "Our initial attack on the roof has taken its toll on her." Nocturne
tried to stand but her legs were wobbly. Much of what little strength she had
regained had faded in her attempt to push away her attackers. "So what do we
do with her then?" Reeve asked. "What ... have you done ... with Hawke?"
Nocturne raised her gauntlet covered arms in defense. "I have an idea. Take
her Reeve ... alive." "Alive?" Reeve was curious.

Thane nodded, with a sly smile. Nocturne's mind was swimming and the battle
had worn her. Her vision blurry, she didn't even see Reeve move at lightning
speed towards her. And she only felt a tiny bit of the blow to her gut that
defeated her. "J-J-Jasonnn ... " the last thought before the darkness she
called ally claimed her ... was of another ally she called her lover.

"Uhhhh ... ohhhh ... " Nocturne came too once again sometime later. She didn't
know how much time had passed. But her mind had its time to rest at least. Her
senses were coming back a lot faster. So much so, that she felt herself
dangling in the air, the high heels of her sexy knee high boots not touching
the ground. Nocturne slowly opened her eyes under her mask. She wasn't as high
off the ground as she though, maybe a few centimeters at best. But she could
feel her arms above her, shackles on her wrists held up by chains. Looking
around, Nocturne put the detective skills of Bethany Hunter to work, taking in
her surroundings. She knew this spot. Many gangsters she had faced in the past
brought their hostages and rats here for interrogation and torture. "So that's
why I'm here," Nocturne looked up. As if on cue, Thane and Reeve entered.
Thane had what looked like an MP3 recorder in his hand. Reeve was cracking his
gloved knuckles.

"She lives," Thane observed. Nocturne glared and said nothing. "I see a
defiant glance underneath that mask," Reeve said, almost excited. "I can see
why that fool Hawke favored her," Thane noted. "I doubt it was just because
she can fight," Reeve licked his lips, "Just look at her." Thane was looking
at her. Although not as crude as his partner, he could not deny Nocturne's
beauty. Her black costume hugged every curve. Her chest was comfortable and
distracting. Her legs, long, powerful and sexy in black fishnet tights. Her
face, though behind a mask, oozed a beauty he had never known before. "Well,
can I get started?" Reeve asked. Thane pressed the record button on his device
and nodded. Reeve grinned and approached.

Nocturne let out a low growl as Reeve came towards her. "Don't worry Mistress
of the Night. Just pretend I'm that traitorous Hawke and you might get
something out of this. I may look like a brute. But my specialty is sensual
torture. Making a woman forget their fears in order to divulge their secrets.
And I can only wonder what Hawke knows about you." Nocturne's lips opened, as
if she wanted to reply. But she did not. In fact she wasn't even trying to
seem defiant. Reeve's hands slowly clasped the sides of her costume. Nocturne
let out a low murmur at the Assassin's touch. "Uhhh ... " His hands moved up
and down her sides. "So tight fitting. So smooth. You'd never think this
material could harm another human being," Reeve analyzed. His hands moved
around to the front of her costume. Nocturne bit her lip. She knew most who
ever got her in a position like this couldn't wait to rest their hands on her
chest. In fact, it made her think of a night she and Hawke made love at her
home. Her arms were raised above her head, much like they were at this moment.
And Hawke was giving her breasts the best massage they had ever received.

Nocturne sighed, slowly losing her mind to the pleasure her enemies were
inflicting upon her. She felt the zipper of her costume pulled down. "The
beauty of this one is ... bewitching ... " Reeve himself sounding almost lost
in Nocturne's body. "Careful Reeve," Thane warned, "This is meant to torture
Hawke. But once you're finished, we will kill her." "Shame," Reeve pulled the
zipper down to Nocturne's naval, revealing Bethany Hunter's sexy, lacy black
bra, and ran his tongue from her belly button up to her neck, "It's been a
long time since I tasted something this beautiful." He grabbed her leotard and
tights covered butt, forcing a whimper from Nocturne's sealed lips. "That's
right," Reeve grinned, "The more turned on you feel, the better it will sound
for Hawke ... when we force him to listen to me taking you in his place. But
rest assured, this will not pain you in the slightest. I think Hawke will get
the worst of it, knowing you had a night better than he ever gave you in bed."
"N ... no ... Hawke ... " Nocturne muttered. Reeve smiled, "Perfect. She's
already defeated. All I had to do was mention her lover," he slapped her butt
cheek hard, causing Nocturne to gasp in ecstasy. "I wonder which turns you on
more Nocturne," Reeve gloated, "Being used in such a way ... or knowing that a
terrible fate awaits you and your would be boyfriend. Knowing I will pleasure
you, take away your costume and identity ... while Thane records your cries of
ecstasy and plays them for Hawke. Oh how he'll break, knowing you died
unmasked, defeated, and in a state of sexual bliss."

Reeve stopped his taunting and moved to a nearby wall. Suddenly Nocturne felt
herself tumble to the ground. "Reeve, what are you doing?" Thane asked with
right concern. "Stringing them up is for causing them pain. My sessions work
better when they're on their backs," Reeve said, sounding like he was excited
for what was to come. Nocturne withered on the ground before she was roughly
grabbed and forced onto her back by Reeve. "Oh I cant wait to discover how you
feel naked. Wet already I'm sure," Reeve looked too excited as he said this.
Nocturne lightly gasped, her head trying to lift itself upwards. "Oh,
something to say?" Reeve asked, leaning in. As he listened to what Nocturne
whispered, his eyes quickly became confused more than triumphant. Swiftly,
Nocturne wrapped her legs around Reeve's waist and pulled him onto her chest,
burying his face in her boobs. While not an ideal picture, it allowed Nocturne
enough time to whip the chain binding her hands still in Thane's direction.
The recorder fell from his hands as it struck his face.

"MMMMMMPHHHH!!!" Reeve flailed while his face was smothered against her
breasts. "What?" Nocturne said before forcing him up, Reeve took a deep
breath, "I told you you'd enjoy what happened next." With that, she head
butted her would be assaulter right on the nose, forcing Reeve off of her.
Nocturne rolled onto her knees and quickly undid her chain bound wrists. Thane
was moving toward her with two knives. Taking a defensive posture, Nocturne
moved first with a kick before she was trading blocked blows with the furious
assassin. Reeve looked ready to get back to his feet as well. "Together,
they'd be tricky. Gotta finish them one at a time," Nocturne thought. Nocturne
grabbed Thanes wrists and twisted them outward, removing his knives. She then
slammed the heel of her boot into his foot before kicking upwards, years of
gymnast flexibility landing a perfect straight up kick to his jaw. With Thane
down, Nocturne was easily able to dodge the flying kick from Reeve. "Sorry
lover," Nocturne quickly connected a spin kick to the landing warriors back.
Reeve was knocked off balance and Nocturne was in the air, landing a solid
punch to his face. However, even when he was down, Nocturne was still in a
state where she landed blow after blow to his face. The seventh punch was her
last one before she was out of breath and Reeve was unconscious.

Nocturne let herself off of Reeve. "Damn ... too much adrenaline ... and still
... a little turned on ... still a little ... weak ... " She got to her feet
and saw Thane trying to recover. Shaking her head, Nocturne moved to him and
yanked him up, "Where ... is ... Hawke?" she asked furiously. "You'll never
find him," Thane spat back, "Even if you are the great defender of this city.
By dawn the Hawke you know will be gone and the one loyal to us will have
returned." "I won't let that happen," Nocturne pulled him close, growling.
"You barely handled two of us," Thane observed. "Says one of the two assassins
whose asses I just kicked," Nocturne argued back. "Be that as it may, you are
one. And we still have the numbers to overtake you. Even if you manage to find
us, we will overwhelm you and exploit your weaknesses. You think Reeve was
something. Just wait, Nocturne," Thane let his calm façade fade in exchange
for a more menacing face, "I think it will be better for Hawke to see you
seduced and pleasured over and over again by his brothers in arms. That will
surely break him. Hahahahaha." "YAHH!!!"" Nocturne cried out as she let Thane
down and connect the hardest, most powerful spin kick she could muster to his
head. Thane spun in the air, then landed unconscious not far from his partner.
Nocturne gasped then fell to one knee, "Dammit ... I'm in ... no shape right
now ... but Hawke ... Hawke ... " she repeated his name several times as she
tried to clear her head and catch her breath.

A few minutes later, Nocturne reached the top roof of a nearby building. She
left Thane and Reeve chained up and called in anonymously to the police for
their pick up. Confident she was in the clear, she zipped up her costume and
removed her mask and let her fingers rub her eyes. Bethany was exhausted and
she had only dealt with two Assassins. What's worse was she had to let her
secret defeat fantasies almost take hold of her in order to lure them into a
false sense of security. The ordeal had weakened her and there was still much
to be done. On top of that, she smelled horrid, the double edge sword of
landing in a trash dumpster earlier. Bethany had to admit something that
almost hurt her pride, "I can't do this alone." Her side a little sore,
Nocturne reached for her cell phone and dialed a number. "What's up Nocturne?"
"Nightshade it's me," Bethany replied, "Are you still on patrol?" "Nope,
headed back to our hideout for the night? You? What's up, you sound ... are
you ok?" Nightshade, also known as Bethany Hunter's roommate and best friend
May Starr, changed her tone from chipper to concerned. "I was ambushed by
Assassins from the Guild, lots of them." She heard Nightshade sigh, "Beth,"
she risked using her friends name, hoping their connection was secure.

"They came for Hawke and they tried to kill me ... almost did too," Bethany
said. "They came after Hawke once before remember? I was there and we could
barely take one." Nightshade reminded her. "And I almost got seduced by two.
Look Nightshade ... ." "WHAT? They tried to ... and there's an army of these
sickos in Fortune City now? What the hell? Bethany please tell me you're ok
... shit" May shouted into her ear, totally panicked before calming down,
"Hold on, I'm coming to you just stay ... " "Nightshade, stop. Look let's ...
ugh dammit ... I still hurt ... " pain interrupting Bethany's train of
thought, "Meet me back at our place. I need to change and we need to regroup.
And May?" "Yeah?" "We're going to have company coming." "Right, see you at
home," Nightshade said before she signed off. Bethany could only imagine how
worried May must have been. But there would be time for May later. Next
Nocturne dialed another number, stood up and waited. When the line connected,
"Hey. Are you and Tiffany maybe busy tonight? I could use some help on
something. No ... no I'm ... well im not ok but I'm not dying. Tell Tiffany to
head to my place. May will be waiting for you both. Thanks, see you soon and
Emma ... thank you." Nocturne hung up the phone and looked to the sky, "I'm
coming Jason. Just don't give up on me ... or us." She reapplied her mask and
headed back towards her home apartment.

The new war had only just begun.