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The teacher left the room to do something, I wasn’t paying attention, and the room broke into chatter.

I had taken out my butterfly knife and was absently carving the edge of the wood on the desk.

The girl sitting in front of me turned around in her seat to face me, eyes widening at the knife in my hands. “Hey, uh, Cinth.”

“Don’t call me Cinth.” I squinted at her.

“Sorry,” she squeaked. “Hyacinth. Do you know if Cel is–”

“Why would I know a thing about Celestine?” I turned my focus back to the desk, peeling the wood.

“Aren’t you two close? I see her talk more to you than her own friends– ”

“No,” I muttered. “We’re not close.” We hardly talk, I don’t know what she’s saying.

“Hyacinth,” another guy in the class called my name from across the room. Why does everyone think they can talk to me? “Is it true you and Cel are secretly dating?”

“Bloody hell,” I cursed under my breath. “No.”

“What a lie!” Someone else laughed.

“He wants her, obviously,” another piped up, sparking more conversation. Possessive is a better word for what I felt. She doesn't mean anything to me.

“He doesn’t even like her. He messes with her all the time.” The classmate in front of me turned back to me. “Right?”

“Stop talking to me,” I said in a low voice, my lungs burning. I deepened the knife into the desk, taking a large chunk of it out. I really have a low tolerance when it comes to Reaper.

“She doesn’t like you back. Is that why you two aren’t dating?”

Gods . “Celestine and I hate each other. That’s why we’re not together.” Why did I have to explain myself? “Now stop asking me about her. You’re pissing me off.”

Though they ignored me. “Didn’t you see them kiss at that party?”

“Bet they already did it.”

“Was she good, Hyacinth?”

“Guys, stop,” Lin intervened.

“Shut up,” Jamiel snapped at them.

When I was a kid, before Niko found me, I moved between multiple foster homes and youth houses.

I never understood why there are so many selfish people who have children, only to abandon them or why people who despise children become foster parents.

Every one of us who had been in there either became like me, where the very thought of ever being intimate with someone made them want to throw up, or came to crave the feeling, wanting to erase the memory or hoping to recreate the scenario but this time with control .

But then when I think of doing any of it with Reaper… It just gives me heart attacks.

I handed my knife to Iri, sitting closest to me, before I stabbed someone. My friends were trying to quiet everyone, but they were drowned out.

Was the fear they had for me really less than their curiosity of Reaper?

I’m not sure if I still wanted to kill her, but I might if this is what it’s like to be around her. Before it got to the point of me jumping out the window, the teacher came back, quieting the room and I'd never been more relieved to see a teacher in my life.

***

Niko was on the sofa with Renee, their tongues shoved down each other’s throats when I walked in the door. “Bloody hell,” I muttered. “Can’t you do that in your room at least?” I kicked off my shoes, setting them to the side.

Renee pushed Niko away, flustered. “Oh, hi, Cinth.”

“Hi, Renee.” I gave her a polite bow.

“Do you want your assignment before or after dinner?” Niko asked.

I’d like to get out of the house, so I don’t have to listen to them going at each other. “I’ll do it now.”

He pulled out his phone and texted me the details. I nodded, going into my room to set my bag down and change, then looked at the message Niko sent me. How fun .

Avoiding looking in the direction of the sofa, I made my way out, trying to slip on my shoes as quickly as I could. They really didn’t care that I was there.

I took the train to the edge of West Soulesity and walked the rest of the way to the warehouse.

This area was quite comical. Most clans had their own warehouse for their lower-ranking clansmen or for storing or producing whatever it is they do.

All right next door or across from each other.

Walk into the wrong door and you’ll face consequences of trespassing on another’s territory which could lead to a clan war .

This assignment had me slaughtering the leader of a small gang.

Calling them a clan would mean they were influential, but they were currently only a small group.

So, I’m not sure exactly why I was here, most likely it was due to their potential and threat of shifting power dynamics.

But I trusted Niko’s choice in assignments, he would never accept them if it wouldn’t let us sleep peacefully at night.

Wanting to have a bit of fun with it, I walked straight in, turning the heads of at least thirty people. Some wearing red hats, among them were Leo, Sterling, and Reaper.

Reaper sat on top of a box, her legs crossed over her, meeting my eyes with amusement. Right under her stood Sterling and Leo, their arms folded across their chest.

Wait, what? Why is the Kokkino clan here? If there’s one rule Niko stressed to me ever since Ender’s death, it was to avoid the Stygian clans. He’d never accept jobs that involved them anymore, even though theirs were always much more fun.

“You’re the one sent to kill him?” Leo cursed under his breath.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out and answered.

“Your assignment is compromised,” Niko warned.

“Amazing timing as always, Niko,” I muttered. “Kokkino clan’s here.”

“Why are they there?”

I pulled the phone down and nodded to the twins. “What are you guys doing here?”

“They paid us for protection,” Leo replied, extending his staff, ready for me.

“Hear that?” I asked Niko.

“Can you get out of there without a fight?”

I glanced at the door, a couple Kokkino clansmen now blocking it. “Unlikely.”

“Don’t kill them,” he warned.

“Obviously.” I hung up the phone, slipping it back into my pocket.

“Who sent you?” Sterling asked.

I shrugged. “No idea.” I never cared to ask, nor was I a snitch. “But I’m leaving now.” I headed towards the door, but they didn’t move. “You’re in my way.”

They looked towards the twins for instructions.

I let out a deep breath, annoyed, turning to face the twins. “Why don’t you save their energy and let me go?”

Sterling smiled. “I’ve always wanted to see the untouchable Vulture fight.”

Leo chuckled, twirling his staff. “Same.”

“If he wants to leave, we should just let him,” Reaper said.

Sterling’s head snapped up to her. “Since when have we ever done that?”

How troublesome. Kokkino really enjoyed pointless killings. My eyes scanned for an alternative exit. There was a window at the far end that I could reach with those crates stacked conveniently below it. I pulled out my container, popped a pill in my mouth, then shoved it back in my pocket.

I slowly walked towards the twins, trying to get as close to the escape route without alerting them. “Let me leave,” I said, stopping just in front of them. “I don’t want any trouble with you.”

“You don’t want to fight us?” Sterling mocked. “Are you scared, Vulture?”

“I’d rather not have to finish what the Angels started.”

Reaper looked the most offended out of everyone, narrowing her eyes at me. She hopped off the box and got up close to me. “That’s a little racist, don’t you think?”

I rolled my eyes. “I couldn't care less what you are, but if you Stygians come after me, I won’t make the mistake of leaving any survivors.”

She grabbed the collar of my hoodie, pulling me down to her level. “You Stygians?”

I pried her fingers off me. “You’re so bloody sensitive.”

She cursed at me and threw a punch, but I grabbed it before it could contact me.

“Are you sure you want to continue that?” I asked .

“I want you to apologise,” she spat, snatching her hand back and shoving me, but I barely budged.

I shook my head. “They’re just words. I hate everyone equally.” Although I hated the way she was looking at me more, it wasn’t amused or playful like usual. She was genuinely insulted and angry. I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Reaper.” I’m only apologising to her, no one else.

She blinked, as if not expecting that I was ever going to apologise for my words, but they were insensitive, I’ll admit. Reaper took a step back and nodded.

“Cel, why aren’t you fighting him?” Sterling asked.

She turned to him. “He apologised.”

Sterling took out his daggers. “Who cares?”

I stepped to the side to avoid Sterling’s slash and caught Leo’s staff, shoving him to the side. Then bolted for the boxes, the others hesitating to approach me.

“What are you guys doing?” Sterling shouted. “Get him!”

They came at me from the side, but I blocked their strikes, pushing them away from me.

I couldn’t hurt them, no matter how much they asked for it.

Just before I reached the crates, someone tackled me and I quickly rolled us over, swiftly striking their temple and knocking them out before beginning my climb up the crates.

Reaper was waiting for me on the very top of it, a playful smile on her face. Is she going to kick me down to the wolves? She opened the window for me and stepped to the side. Surprising everyone, including myself.

“I didn’t need your help,” I sneered.

“I know.” She smiled.

“Cel!” Sterling barked, but she ignored his anger. No one dared to climb where Reaper and Vulture stood .

“Do you have no loyalty?” I asked her, stepping closer to the window. Nothing below, perfect.

“No one’s quite earned mine.” Interesting. Even I have some loyalty to Niko, Renee, and my friends. “But I am yours now, aren’t I?”

I turned to look at her and gently patted her head. “Don’t put yourself in danger for me again, yeah?”

She closed her eyes at my touch and nodded.

“Good girl.” Pulling away from her, I slipped out through the window, landing in the grass below. I sprinted to the station, not looking back to see if they were following me. They weren’t, they wouldn’t.

Niko and Renee were cooking in the kitchen when I made it home, looking extremely worried. “What happened?” he asked.

“It was fine.” I mumbled.

“They wouldn’t let you leave?”

I shook my head. “No, but Reaper helped me escape.”

He gave me a weird look. “Why would she do that?”

I shrugged.