Ashes, Part 4

by Tiki


Quick Disclaimer: Voltron is the property of WEP



Lotor turned to face the window. The news he had just received was not the best in the world. In fact, considering the consequences of what could happen if his informant's suspicions were right, this was extremely bad news. He turned away from the window to face the person sitting in the chair across from him. "This puts you in a dangerous position."

"I knew when I accepted the assignment, it wouldn't be safe Lotor." Pidge crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Do you realize how hard it was to infiltrate this group? The leader is a sadistic bastard. And the rest of the group," he sighed, "I don't know how to describe these people."

"Why don't you try?" Lotor had been curious for a while about Pidge's experiences among the assassins. So little was known about this particular group.

Pidge shrugged. "Why not? I would sit down if I were you." He waited until Lotor sat down in another chair before he spoke again. "There's something different these assassins. The targets are all picked for one particular reason and it's not money."

"A reason? Do you know what this reason is?"

"I haven't been there long enough to be trusted with why certain people are picked." Pidge smacked his fist into his palm. "I just know there's a connection between the targets but I can't figure out what it is."

"If only we knew what the connection was, then we'd know who would be killed next."

"We know several of the next targets have been invited to the party, unfortunately we don't know which guests they are. I'm sure I could get Keith to tell me why certain people are picked but Sven has him under his complete control."

"Oh yes, the one you say is innocent."

"He doesn't kill, he just observes the other for Sven. There are currently about seven members of this group," Pidge chuckled, "including myself of course. I only know the identity of the four located here. The other two are a mystery. All I know is Sven's says if we're ever caught, they'll make sure we never see trial."

"So whoever these other two are, they must have some connection to the Alliance."

"That's what I was thinking."

*******

Hunk flinched when he heard the crash from upstairs. It was another one of those really bad days. Several more crashes and thumps were heard. "There goes the piano. That's the third time this year."

"Please don't! Please I'm begging you!"

"Shut up!"

"Make the little worm pay! Make him bleed! Destroy it all!"

Hunk shook his head sadly. Romelle was in a bloodthirsty mood again. One of her favorite pastimes was tormenting people, especially Keith. Not that Sven was any better, but still she wasn't satisfied until there was a broken and bloody body lying at her feet.

He heard the someone running down the stairs over the sounds of the destruction going on upstairs. The front door opened and closed. "There goes Keith." As much as it hurt, noninterference was the best course to take when Sven was like this. Hunk had made the mistake of trying to come to Keith's aid once. Instead of a bruise, Keith had ended up with a broken arm and leg. Left alone Sven just smacked Keith around. If somebody got in the way and tried to stop him, things were much worse later.

"The lesser of two evils."

A while later Romelle drifted into the room. She sighed and sat down near Hunk. He barely glanced up from the book he was reading. "This place would be so much better if that little slug weren't here."

"What do you have against him, Romelle?"

Romelle smirked and examined her fingernails. "He's not the same class as Sven and I."

Hunk gave up the illusion of even trying to read his book. He may not be able to do much against Sven, but he could at least handle this little girl. "You mean he's blocking your way to Sven's bed."

Romelle snorted. "Sven deserves a better class of consort." She ran a hand thru her hair and tossed it over her shoulder. "Someone of his own level, not that piece of guttertrash."

Who did she think she was fooling? Hunk could see right through her. "You mean yourself of course."

"Oh I wouldn't presume to be worthy of Sven," Romelle laughed softly, "but I am a sight better than that worm. Of course I wouldn't deny the man his little flings as long as he accepted mine."

Hunk eyes narrowed as he stared at Romelle. Did she really believe this crap she was saying? He was far more intelligent than she was and he knew better than to play games with Sven. Then he smiled. It would be nice to watch Romelle destroy herself though. "As cold as always."

Romelle gave Hunk a cold smile. "I was always destined for better things. I'm just making sure I get them."

*******

Keith ran on blindly, not caring where he was going. His arms were wrapped around a small canvas, holding it close to him. It was the only one he had managed to save from the destruction. He bit his bottom lip, keeping the pain inside. How could he? Sven had swore he wouldn't destroy Keith's paintings again after the last time. What did I do wrong? Why is this happening to me?

Romelle teasing hadn't helped as she watched Sven destroy his work. She'd treated his precious paintings as if they were trash, tossing them around like that. She'd spoke degradingly about his work calling them pathetic scribblings or saying she'd seen mud splatters that look better than what he had painted.

Didn't she understand, his paintings were his life? He put everything he had into every brushstroke. That was why it hurt so much every time Sven decided to punish him by destroying them. It was one of the worst things Sven could do to him.

Once he found stopped running, Keith found himself in a park. He walked slowly over to a nearby tree and leaned his back against it. He looked down at the small painting cradled in his arms. It was okay. Well about as okay as any other painting that had been through as much as this one had. Sure the paint was starting to flake off in a couple of places, but the poor thing had been through fire, flood, buried and a number of other unspeakable things.

It was perhaps his most prized possession. This painting was about as old as he was, but it was the reason he had started painting in the first place. One day Keith planned to restore this old painting to its glory. If Sven knew Keith had this particular painting, he would tear it to pieces. It was his one major rebellion. The one thing he wouldn't let go of.

"So do you often come to park and stare at old paintings?"

Keith looked up, startled at the sound of another voice. "Huh?" He looked up to see a man with brown hair and a warm smile looking at him. "Were you talking to me?"

The man turned his head to the left, to the right and then faced Keith. "Yeah, I don't see anyone else here so I must be talking to you. I'm Lance and you are?"

"Keith."

The smile on Lance's face froze for a moment. Did he say Keith? It couldn't be. This can't be the guy who's involved with the assassins. He shook himself. I'm being silly. "So do you paint or do you just like looking?"

"I paint a little." Keith looked back down at the ground. "I'm not that good though."

Lance, I do believe you have a shy one here. "Really? I've always been interested in painting. I couldn't ever see myself painting, it all seems so personal to me. Like the artist is putting themselves into the painting."

"Well painting isn't for everyone."

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