Confrontations: A Wolf Pretending To Be A Sheep, Part 15 - The Aftermath

"The First Worthy Foe I've Had In Ages... It Was Almost A Shame To Kill Him But... Orders Are Orders.," The Mysterious Assassin said as they walked over to where Aaron lay unmoving on the ground and with their foot kicked him in the ribs, rolling him over on his back.

"To Think He Had An Ace Like This Up His Sleeve.," The Assassin said, crouching down and examining what remained of The Light Shield Aaron had modified., "It's Too Bad. It's Just Useless Trash Now.," The Assassin openly lamented, throwing Aaron's arm aside and standing back up. The Assassin walked over to their companion., "How Is He?"

"He's Been Through Alot But He's Stable Enough To Move.," The other Assassin replied without pause.

"Good Then Lets Get Ready To Move... We've Been Here Far Too Long Already.," The Master Assassin stated impatiently.

The Master surveyed the area while their Apprentice hefted the heavily injured Kassim onto their shoulder like a sack of potatoes and in an instant, The two Assassins turned to face each other and with a light nod they both suddenly disappeared.

Somewhere In The Middle East...

Later That Night...

In an enormous throne room, A Man knelt down in front of a set of steps leading up to a massive throne resembling a Dragon made of Jade, Silver, and Gold with fist-sized Rubies for eyes. The Man wore no clothes and he was bandaged quite heavily all over, His bandaged arms hanging uselessly at his sides.

"Oh Magnificent Mandarin... I regret that I must come before you once more in Shame and Disgrace, and instead of The Glorious Victory My Lady deserves I have but a Stinking, Miserable Failure to lay out Your Most Perfect Feet."

"I am disappointed in you Kassim...," Came a refined Oriental Accent and out of the shadows leaned a Beautiful Woman. She observed her surroundings like a Predator in search of Prey, Her Magnificent Green Eyes holding the Unmistakable Hunger of an Apex Predator.

She sat unmoving... Her long legs crossed, her back straight and her gaze icy. Even still she exhibited an effortless grace that only one born to rule could exude. She was as Beautiful as she was Mysterious and she commanded the Respect and Admiration of all who gazed upon her. She wore an elegant gold and jade brocade Cheongsam Dress with an embroidered floral pattern traveling from the slit in the right hip up her ample chest til it reached her collar.

"... First you nearly kill Tony Stark when I send you to procure his aid in designing weapons for us so that we may drive The Capitalist Infidels out of our Holy Land then you allow him to escape and instead of recapturing him and putting him back to work he dies in a stupid accident precipitated by YOUR Incompetence...."

"Please Oh Mighty Mandarin Let Me Ex..."

"SILENCE!," Roared The Mandarin, slamming her fist down on the arm of her throne, causing the entire room to shake while from out of the shadows behind where Kassim knelt, Two guards took positions behind him, bringing the blades of their gold inlaid polearms to rest on the opposite shoulder from where they stood, forming a pair of wickedly sharp scissors ready to remove his head instantly should the order come.

"I want none of your excuses Kassim... When you failed with Stark my Generals wanted your head but I defended you... I SAVED YOUR MISERABLE LIFE AND... THIS... THIS FAILURE IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!"

Kassim lowered his head and said nothing. His fate had already been decided... The only thing he could do now was to accept it with what little Dignity he had left given the totality of his failure.

"It is only out of deference to your years of faithful service and to the members of your family that served before you and will continue to serve after you that I have decided quite graciously I might add to spare your Wives and Children."

Kassim immediately looked up, His tear-filled eyes meeting The Mandarin's Predatory Gaze, Revealing nothing but Gratitude and Undying Respect., "This Lowly Son of a Camel is not worthy of your Divine Mercy My Queen. I Thank You for granting your Servant this last kindness and I offer you my Soul as Penance so that I might serve you in The World to come as I could not in this one."

"Yes, Your Praise Pleases Me... If you were any other servant your Wife would be kneeling beside you right now with her eyes and tongue cut out... Your Sons would this very minute be castrated and left in the desert to die... Your Daughters would be sold to The Bedouin Merchants as playthings to The Highest Bidder.... So it is only Right and Just that you Praise Me for I have shown you a kindness you do not deserve."

Kassim looked up at The Mandarin with nothing but fierce loyalty and unwavering gratitude in his eyes.

"Now Kassim, Before I send you to meet your Ancestors... I wish to know who did this to you and your Men?," The Mandarin eyed Kassim intently.

"He was like no Man I have ever seen before... His hair was blacker than the soul of a Demon and his eyes burned in the night air like yellow coals... But it was the dreaded paleness of his skin that gave me pause..."

The Mandarin leaned forward, peering down at Kassim with a serious expression., "Are you saying you saw a...," The Mandarin hesitated but only for a moment., "... Pale Shadow?"

"I know how it sounds My Lady... But on My Honor I swear by the lives of my Family that that is what I saw. He even bore The Holy Mark upon his arm Mistress."

The Mandarin leaned back on her throne and smiled.

The Mandarin spoke in a whisper so low that no one else could hear., "At last he has come. The moment My Family has been waiting for for centuries is finally upon us."

Still smiling The Mandarin waved her hand and Kassim's head effortlessly fell from his shoulders and toppled to the floor looking reverently up the steps to where The Mandarin decided Life and in Kassim's case... **** and his lips bore a contented smile.

"Soon The Ten Rings will take their place in The Light at The Right Hand of God. No more hiding... No more being victims of The World. We will Serve and We will Rule."

"I'm Afraid That Won't Be Possible.," The Mysterious Assassin dressed in black stated, stepping out of the shadow of a nearby wall.

"Ah, Sandra... There you are. I have been waiting for your report. Where is Little Cassandra?," The Mandarin asked thoughtfully.

"Is That Really Important Right Now?!," The Assassin/Sandra asked.

"Come Now... Why so hostile? The Ten Rings and The League of Assassins have been allies for centuries.," The Mandarin smiled slyly., "And Just What Do You Mean That 'It' Won't Be Possible."

"The Boy Was Strong and Unbelievably Skilled But In The End He Was Just Another Target and I Have Never Failed To Strike My Target's Heart.," The Assassin stated with no small amount of confidence and one might even say swagger.

The Mandarin smirked., "You are skilled Sandra and a Credit to The League... There are none who would dispute that fact not even I...," The Mandarin held up a finger., "But... If he was indeed a Pale Shadow then Heart or Head... It makes no difference. He would not be done in by something as simple as an Assassin's blade...," The Mandarin looked down at her number one Assassin and long time friend with an imperious gaze., "... However skilled that Assassin might happen to be."

Sandra seemed to take issue with that statement as her posture became aggressive, Guards previously unseen stepped from every shadow in the room wielding a variety of weapons but what they all had in common were that they were all pointed at The Assassin.

With a dismissive wave of The Mandarin's hand, The Guards faded back into The Darkness from whence they came just as quickly as they appeared and The Mandarin leaned forward, Her ample breasts threatening to spill out of the tear-shaped opening in the chest of her dress which displayed an impressive amount of cleavage.

"Calm yourself Sandra... You know this is a day that The Ten Rings has been waiting for since the time of The First Mandarin, My Honorable Ancestor... You should join me and rejoice. Our time is at hand.," The Mandarin stated with The Passion of a True Believer and The Fervor of a Zealot.

"Pfft.," Replied The Assassin., "It Doesn't Matter Since Your So-Called Pale Shadow Is Dead."

The Mandarin frowned as her Assassin disappeared back into the shadows. The Mandarin leaned back, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes and looking to her left., "Is That Right Daughter?"

From the wide shadow cast by The Mandarin's throne rose presumably another Assassin from The League dressed just as the previous one had been. The Assassin took a knee and bowed in front of The Mandarin then looking up, The Assassin pulled back her hood to reveal an Ornate Skull Mask reminiscent of Oriental Design which was removed in turn and sat down beside her.

That's right, I said "Her," This Assassin was apparently a Woman as well and quite beautiful at that. The Mandarin had referred to this young Woman who looked all of 18 or 19 as Daughter and she indeed bore an uncanny resemblance to The Mandarin herself... Almost like a younger version of The Fierce and Dignified Woman sitting so naturally on such an awe-inspiring and intimidating Throne.

The beautiful and melodious tone that crossed those soft and inviting lips could enslave a Man's Soul., "He is alive Mother."

The Mandarin's gaze narrowed., "Are you Sure?"

"I swear on my life oh Mighty Mandarin. The League's Best Assassin's aim was on point but The Pale Shadow Still Lives."

The Mandarin's beautiful green eyes flashed with excitement., "Tell me everything Daughter... Everything."