It was him. It had to be him. Wasn’t it him?
All it took was a single glimpse for every hair on Elias’s body to stand. Just one glance at those dark curls, pale skin, and the wicked grin that played on his lips, scaring any employee that passed him by, and Elias was certain. Mostly certain. He had the face that a man wouldn’t forget even years later. Even when the first time he saw it it was a face covered in dirt and blood with a mouth screaming orders to attack him and his men with more ferocity than any soldier Elias had ever encountered before. A look of absolute determination and dauntlessness.
Power like that left an unforgettable impression on a person no matter what side they were on. An impression and an instinct to pull out a blade and press it against the skin of his throat should he come any closer. Something that Elias would have done the second the man passed him in the hall if he hadn’t seen him conversing with his boss first. And if Elias himself wasn’t staring at him through the cracked door of the break room. It gave him the narrowest view and smallest look and left him with more concerns and questions.
When he gathered himself enough to move from his spot and peek through the door, the man was no longer there. Standing down the hallway was Mitya, scrolling through his tablet as he walked back the way he came and in Elias’s direction. The dark-haired man didn’t look up even as Elias moved back and out of the way so that he could enter the room.
“Who is that?” Elias cautiously asked, glancing between the door and Mitya. He tried to appear as relaxed as possible. He had fought battles upon battles of the physical and verbal kind. Though, those had all been on the soil of his own country. He felt more helpless in Cervia than he had anywhere else. And he had been in the country for so long now.
Mitya lifted his freckled face from the blue light to smile at Elias.
“A guest.” Of course, there was no name. Those guests never liked them to be on file for someone to see. They preferred to be anonymous except for the names they told you to call them by.
“You’re free,” Mitya dragged his words, eyes looking Elias up and down.
“Athletic and a high tolerance for pain,” he mumbled mindlessly as he set the tablet down on the nearest surface.
“Is that his request?” Elias nearly snorted.
“Afraid so. I think he bites.” Mitya warned, whispering as if it was the most scandalous thing that went on in their establishment.
“Seems like he does a little more than bite.” if he was who Elias thought he was.
“Can I assign you to him? I think you’re the best match.”
Best match? Elias could have laughed. Instead, he smiled.
“If he does bite, I deserve a bonus for every bite.”
“But what if you like it?” Mitya laughed as he scooped up his tablet and walked back towards the door.
“Don’t keep him waiting too long. He seems like an impatient one.” He shrugged as he left him.
His impatience was the least of Elias’s concern. If he was who he thought he was, a soldier - a general who fought in the Cervia-Sesozapa war, he could recognize and expose Elias. Worse, try to kill him on the spot. Try was as far as he would get. Which meant, Elias would have to take matters into his own hands.
The first stop he made was to his personal locker. Behind the small metal door sat his personal belongings; his clothes outside of the Potamus uniform and a small bag. In that bag was where he kept his blade. Always sharpened and easy to hide. He twirled the blade through his fingers with the dexterity only an expert would possess. No one was around to witness him tuck the weapon away beneath his clothes, ready to be pulled out at any moment.
Elias closed the door to his locker with determination before turning and making his way to the rose room. He paused at the door, deliberating to knock as he was always instructed to do with these guests. The circumstances were different, however, for him. He opened the door as quietly and gently as possible, taking the silent, soft steps of a cat hunting its prey. Through the opened double doors he could see the back of his head.
The curls of his hair were looser in the back.
It was unfortunate he didn’t see his face first to confirm or refute his suspicions. The position did give access to stab him from behind. But Elias preferred to see the faces of his enemies when he caused their end. He certainly wanted them to see his. Then again, his preference was also to also be back in Sesozapa and not exiled. Maybe if he brought the head of a Cervian general he could curry his queen’s favor again.
To start, he would need to see if this man was the Hennigar soldier. Furthermore, he would need to catch him off guard. Red bloods weren’t easy kills.
“I hope you’re enjoying your bath, sir.” Elias greeted him as smoothly, keeping his voice warm and sweet as he approached him though kept just enough comfortable space between them. If he invited him to close it, he wouldn’t hesitate.
“I’m Lee, I’ll be your assistant for the night. What would you like me to call you?"