“I’m happy for you, Clara. In all seriousness, I know how hard you work for this.”
Clara gave her a tight smile before focusing her attention on finishing her food and keeping it down. Reese couldn’t know how hard she had worked for this. No one understood the full price she had paid to reach this level.
There were still operatives within the assassins who walked without the weight of blood on their hands. A feeling Clara couldn’t even vaguely remember. She couldn’t remember the number of lives she had claimed. All through direct orders. So many prisoners gone by her hand. Diplomats, advisors, generals, and those she knew nothing about except for their name in a list of instructions.
It was part of the training, after all. And Clara had been singled out from the beginning. What he saw in her, she still didn’t know. She had been fierce, but after things with Carver ended, she was simply angry. She had a fire that could burn the world down, and no clue how to direct it.
Ferris had singled her out immediately. He claimed she was weak, and that she’d never survive. And he told her from day one he would destroy her. After three months, Ferris realized she wasn’t easily destroyed and he flipped his actions. He made her his star pupil, and he, knowing he wouldn’t be allowed to stay an operative much longer, taught her his trade secrets he paid too much for to share in a class. He led her through every drill,every practice, coaching her to stay through lunch and dinner, adapting her body to training through weakness. She loved it. She loved the focus. She loved the pain that engulfed her every waking minute. She loved the feel of cool metal in her hands, and the destruction she realized she could wreak.
No one could tell her she was weak ever again.
No one could accuse her of needing a crutch.
Now, here she was. She carried the loss of her innocence as proof of her competence. And she would do it yet again.
“Thanks for the encouragement, Reese,” she managed to say through her rushing thoughts. Clara picked up her tray and moved to the door as Reese wished her good luck and goodbye.
Another deep breath as she stepped out of the dining room into the narrow hallway. This is it. No weakness. She focused on the physical reactions she could control as she calmly walked to Command. Deep breaths. Consistent steps. Heart rate slowing.
That’s more like it.
The walk to Command was shorter than she remembered. She blamed it on nerves. Command was at the center of the base, with each of the three disciplines sectored off in different directions. Operatives were encouraged, though not forced, to stay in their own sector. Each discipline was different, and what happened if too much cross pollination occurred?
Afraid to become pariahs, most people followed this rule.
Clara, in her path for perfection, of course followed this rule. And so, although she could have passed through and visited old friends from base training, explored a different section, or even come to present a request to Command, Clara only ever walked this way to have her fate sealed. Whatever words were spoken, whatever assignment was given, that was her new destiny. She would execute it regardless of the cost.
She paused before the door, her feet almost stumbling as they broke from their previous pattern.This is what I’ve beenwaiting for. I’m here.Straightening her already perfect posture, Clara inhaled through her nose, exhaled through her mouth, and stepped through the door.
2CARVER
Carver never understood the fascination with receiving a summons from Command. He loved exciting assignments for the change of scenery, but frankly he just didn’tcare. Yet somehow, he was the best.Built for it.So he was constantly told.
He’d been brought before Command for special assignments a handful of times now. Unheard of for the amount of time he’d been an operative, in fact, unheard of in general. He supposed he had proven himself. Command was comfortable with him carrying more information than anyone else in the sector because they knew he, at least, wouldn’t break. After his slip up on his last assignment, he was surprised to be called in so soon.
Now he stood before them again, hands clasped behind his back and his eyes scanning the room. They sat in chairs arranged in a crescent shape, and from their stage, they were just high enough to look down on whoever stood before them. There were always five, never the exact same five, but they all had the same presence–icy, unfeeling, robotic. He had been scared the first time he was brought before them, their masks intimidating, their sleeves covering their hands. Now it almost felt routine and he resisted the urge to shift his weight from foot to foot. Couldn’t seem too impertinent.
“You’ll have a partner for this assignment.” Was the first phrase that caught Carver’s attention. His eyes snapped forward. This, this was different. He listened more intently as the woman continued.
Her voice was low, her eyes dark, but those were the only distinct features about her. With their masks and outfits, it was impossible to define anything about them. No one knew how many people were actually members of Command, and only those within the fold were capable of identifying other members.
“You’ve heard rumors of the ‘Eclipse?’” His brain spun across the nickname. An assassin rumored to have killed more than any other operative. The rumors say he had never been caught, never failed an assignment. This assignment might end up being more interesting than he had expected.Why are they assigning me to work with an assassin?
His gut twisted, unsure about this change in normalcy but he nodded. “The two of you will be partnered for this assignment.” The woman looked beyond him to the open doors behind him, “Ah, here she is now.”
She.Carver’s heart began to pound. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. He turned slightly, looking over his shoulder. Praying he wouldn’t confirm his suspicions. But he was right. He knew he would be. It was her. Her steps faltered for only a beat when her blue eyes met his. She was just as shocked as he was. Carver was glad he was standing so carefully. His lungs no longer wanted to expand, and he was pretty sure his vocal cords would betray him if he tried to speak.
His eyes tracked her as she recomposed herself, far quicker than he could, and walked until she was at his side. Feet away. Far too close. And way too freaking far. Her posture was straight, and something about her expression sent a chill down his spine.
“Reporting for my assignment.” Her voice was careful, unwavering.
It snapped him from his reverie. It was her. How was she the Eclipse? His best friend, lover, then nothing. And now she was a feared assassin.Of course she is.
The woman who had spoken earlier looked between the two of them. She obviously knew their history. She was a member of Command, and their relationship, and then lack thereof, had never been a secret. Satisfied with what she saw now, she explained their assignment. “We’ve received a report that Noxvalis has successfully created an airborne biological weapon that can be used over a long distance.”
Carver couldn’t stop his eyebrows raising and the surprise that rushed through him. Noxvalis was a violent kingdom, hell bent on destroying all neighboring kingdoms. Their kingdom had been at the top of the list for a while. If Noxvalis had created a biological weapon that powerful, it would end their kingdoms’ feud. And cause the death of far too many people.
“We need you to infiltrate Noxvalis, gain access to their labs, and retrieve the weapon.”
