Page 25

too stygian to train

“ D on’t be stupid in there,” Niko warned me before getting out of the car.

The twins opened the door and escorted us to the living room.

The Kokkino Estate had three stories, if you count the basement. The top floor was where all the many bedrooms were. The ground floor held the living rooms, dining, kitchen, and a ballroom, and the basement had a training facility, medical room, freezer, and soundproof rooms for 'interrogations.'

We found Reaper sitting with her feet on the sofa, knees bent, leaning her back on Silias’s shoulder, sharpening one of her knives in her assignment outfit. The only light came from the fireplace, bringing a soft, warm glow into the room.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been inside. When Ender led, we were often invited to dinners and gatherings. I even trained with them and had my own room at one point.

It’s different now.

But it wasn’t just the Kokkino clan that changed. After Ender’s death, the whole Underworld had and not for the better.

Now we were all waiting for the next move.

Reaper’s eyes shifted to mine. Despite the smile on her face from just laughing at whatever Silias had said before we came in, her eyes were completely empty.

Sterling and Leo took seats on either side of them, Rayne stood behind the sofa, and Oremus was in the seat on the side.

The sound of a blade running across the stone was satisfying. One of my favourite sounds.

“So, you finally agreed to train Reaper,” Silias started, gesturing for us to take the seats across from him.

Why else would we be here?

Reaper shifted her gaze back to her knife, continuing to sharpen it.

“Yes, Vulture can start training her tonight,” Niko said

“And how will these training sessions go?” Silias asked.

I actually didn’t have a plan, I was just going to play it by ear. But I needed to think of something quick. “I’m taking her on assignments with me.”

“How many times a week?”

“Every day,” Niko answered for me. “There’s a lot she needs to learn.”

Every day? I refused to spend that much time with her, though I couldn’t say anything.

Silias nodded in agreement, then turned to Reaper. “You won’t give Vulture a hard time, will you?”

“Maybe,” she said in a low voice.

Dog.

He chuckled. “That’s right,” he said. “You only listen to me.”

She nodded, boredly analysing the blade.

“They can do her assignments as well,” Niko said.

Silias looked at us, squinting.

“Oremus will work out the finances,” Rayne said.

Niko shook his head. “No, you keep the profits from the assignments.”

Silias smiled, relaxing. He liked money. “Then what benefits you to train her? ”

“Her father would have wanted it,” Niko said, and though his voice held steady, there was a hint of spite. Reaper turned locking eyes with Niko, no emotion on her face, before continuing her motions against the rock.

Silias took a deep breath. “It’s a sensitive topic for her, so don’t speak of it.”

Niko nodded.

“And if anything happens to Cel, I’ll have you both killed.”

I must have heard that wrong. Did he just threaten me?

“She’ll be back alive, but we can’t promise she won’t be injured,” Niko replied, before I could say anything.

“You can be as rough as you want with her, as long as she’s functional,” Silias warned.

Niko looked at me. “Cinth will take care of her.”

Gross.

Silias met my eyes. “Will you, Vulture? You won’t try to kill her again?”

I took my time to answer, and it took a lot for me to get the word out. “Sure.”

“Good.” Silias tilted his chin up. “You don’t secretly like Celestine, do you?”

Not this again.

Reaper paused mid-stroke. “Why would you ask him that?”

“I’m simply shocked, Cel,” he said. “It’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t.” Silias turned back to me. “So?”

“I would rather cut my fingers off than be around her.” I caught the slight curve at the edge of Reaper’s lips, but Niko glared at me and I rolled my eyes, muttering, “but I won’t harm her.”

“That wasn’t the question.”

Was I not clear? “No, Silias, I don’t like Reaper.”

He nodded. “Keep it that way.”

Stop telling me what to do .

Silias snapped his head towards Reaper, but before any words came out of his mouth, she said, “I already told you, no.”

“Does he know that?”

She lifted her eyes, completely annoyed, then shifted her gaze towards me. Out of absolutely nowhere, that little snapping turtle flung her knife at me.

Niko cursed.

I grabbed the knife right before it punctured me. “Are you actually bloody asking for it?”

“Now he does,” she said.

Niko quickly grabbed the knife out of my hand before I did anything everyone would regret.

I looked at Niko, exchanging silent glances with him. The absolute audacity. I wanted to leave, I really did not want to train her now, but Niko urged me to stay.

“Your reflexes are insane.” Leo sighed in awe.

They all seemed to be laughing at what had just happened, as if Reaper almost didn’t just try to kill me. I looked at her, but she was turned away from me.

I blinked slowly, licking the front of my teeth. I really didn’t understand what she was doing. Replaying the moment in my head, I watched her give me a warning, aiming towards my hand, knowing I would catch it more easily. She also looked relieved when I actually stopped it.

Silias put an arm around her. “Good.”

Good?

And she had the nerve to smile up at him.

Silias handed her a small black note. “You can go now.”

She gave the stone to Leo and waited for Niko and I at the arch .

I stood up with Niko, but I didn’t bother with goodbyes as I brushed past Reaper to get to the door.

Reaper hurriedly put her shoes on and caught up to me to slip the small black paper with an address and a name written in red ink into my hands. Niko took it from me and drove us there. I couldn’t even look at her.

“Um,” she broke the silence with whispers. “I’m sorry I threw my knife at you.”

I glanced at her reflection through the rearview mirror. I couldn’t tell if she was crying or if it was just the light.

“Could I have my knife back, please?”

Niko pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her. She thanked him, but I didn’t reply to her apology. “It’s okay, Celestine, I know Silias is scary,” Niko said.

“I’m not scared.”

I jumped at how sharp her voice was. That was probably the least convincing sentence I’ve ever heard coming out of her mouth. One thing Reaper was known for was being a liar.

“What is he doing to you?” Niko asked her, his voice angry, but it wasn’t directed at her.

“Nothing,” she mumbled. “He doesn’t do anything to me.”

Niko restrained his voice to a softer tone. “You can tell us, Celestine. We won’t judge you for any of it.”

“Silias wouldn’t do anything to me,” she snapped. “Stop talking about him like he’s a bad person.”

Niko and I exchanged looks, neither of us liked Silias. He had never done anything unless he had something to gain from it, the last thing anyone expected him to do was take in a child. So, why did he take in Reaper?

“If he’s so great, then why did you throw that knife at me to convince him you don’t like me?” I spat.

That shut her up and hopefully opened her eyes to the manipulative grip Silias had on her. We rode the rest of the way in complete silence.

Niko dropped us off near our location and we headed out.

Reaper’s hair was up in a high ponytail, a strand wrapped around the hair tie, revealing her slender neck and the small, red Stygian tattoo behind her ear. I looked at her outfit, very feminine. A black long-sleeved, turtleneck, a red skirt, and black thigh high socks.

“Isn’t a skirt impractical?”

She gave me a sideways glance, lifting the side of her skirt to reveal her black shorts underneath and her thigh straps, packed with six throwing knives and a pocket for whatever weapon it contained. “Easier access, easily hidden.”

“I guess.”

“And if I’m the last person someone sees before they die, I should look my best,” she added with a laugh. Her make-up was a darker look compared to what she usually wore at school and the black made her icy eyes look piercing.

I let out a slight chuckle at her thought process. “How considerate of you.”

“I know you don’t actually want to train me,” she sighed. “So I can go by myself and you can leave.”

She can’t go on assignments by herself.

Reaper played with her long hair, deciding to add. “As if you actually have anything new to teach me anyway.”

“I have plenty to teach you.”

She rolled her eyes, adjusting her hair.

Just a little closer, so I can strangle that pretty little neck of yours. “You’ve been in this field for, what, four years? I’ve been in it for nine. I think I’ll surprise you with my wisdom. ”

“Oh, yeah, so wise,” she said, sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest. “You don’t even know the human body.”

Just because I didn’t know the names and functions on a frog… “I don’t need to know the human body to know where to kill it.”

Reaper walked to me and condescendingly leaned towards me. “Yeah? Well, did you know just a tiny slice here.” She grazed her pointer finger across my neck. “Keeps them alive and silent?”

Who doesn't know that?

“Don’t touch me.” I growled.

She pulled her hand back with a gentle laugh. “You’re a hypocrite.”

“So are you,” I snapped back. “Drinking and doing drugs, but not allowing me to do the same.”

“I don't smoke cigarettes,” she clarified. “They're bad for you.”

I furrowed my brows. “So are alcohol and drugs.”

“It's different.”

I shook my head, letting out an annoyed breath. “My career will sooner kill me than the consequences of smoke in my lungs.”

She turned away from me. “I can't stand the smell of it.”

“And that's my problem?” I snapped. “Half the city smokes, yet I seem to be the only one you put a stop to.”

Reaper rolled her eyes, beginning to walk away, towards where we needed to be. “Whatever,” she said, “do what you want.”