Celine lifted a shoulder. “A trainer and their own apprentice are strictly forbidden from having a sexual relationship forobvious reasons, but Falcon told me other than that it’s not against the rules.”
“Yeah, they don’t want distractions and complications or messy breakups during training,” Taewyn added. “I heard one year that a trainer and apprentice got into a relationship, then the trainer slept with someone else, and they got into a huge fight here in the courtyard. The apprentice was assigned a new trainer obviously, but the year was halfway through, and Commander Ace was furious.”
“I don’t know who Commander Ace is.”
“She’s the head of LOA. The one above Commander Locke.”
“Wait,” I turned back to Celine, “Falcon is your trainer?”
“Yep, she’s been respectful and pretty nice to me so far. She’s talking to Viper right now, with the short bronze hair.”
“You’re lucky. Viper is very rigid. I’d say borderline an asshole. Want to trade?” I said as a joke and poured myself a glass of water from the pitcher at the center. The table went silent and stared. The weight of their gazes made my skin itch. I must have hit a nerve by talking down on theirlegend.
Taewyn leaned into me and put his fingers to his lips. “Shh, you can’t talk bad about your trainer,” he whispered. “Anyway, it’s expected to be treated like you’re worthless because we are at this point.”
“Someone’s worth isn’t determined by their status,” I mumbled.
“It is around here,” Taewyn added. “Get used to it and prepare to be humbled.”
My skin prickled in warning. It was an instinct I’d always had when danger was near. I turned to find Morrow standing behind us. At least he had a shirt on today. “I thought I did all the humbling you’d need yesterday, loth.”
“Mynameis Aesira.”
“I know.” He took hold of my left braid. I jerked away from him, and he gripped the end of my hair tighter. “Settle down, I’m not going to bust up your face again in the middle of the courtyard. We’ll save that for another time.”
“Let go of my hair,” I snapped.
Celine scowled and stood up. “Aesira is my friend, so scoot along. You’re not wanted.”
Morrow dropped my hair to reach for her face, and she smacked his hand away. “Don’t be like that. You’ll be acting differently when you miss me in your bed. I might have you in the weekend rotation if you’re lucky.” I wanted to punch him right in his stupid mouth for her. His two new friends laughed. One was tall and lanky with a severe black mustache, and the other had a round face with eyes a little too close together.
“As if that’s ever going to happen. Go away, Morrow.” Celine sneered and sat back down.
“It’s Beast now. I already have my codename from my trainer Dred.” He nodded to the table across from them, and an attractive man, with dark hair sheared on the sides and a long braid down the center, tipped his chin up at Morrow. Dred’s gaze shifted to me like a strike, and I didn’t know if he was just a malevolent person or if it was me. Whatever it was, he made me uncomfortable.
Morrow and his friends laughed as they walked off, and Mustache pointed at a table full of women apprentices. There looked to be twenty female and thirty or so male apprentices. We were outnumbered by the trainers, too. It didn’t surprise me.
“That is Rune, also known as Dred,” whispered Taewyn. “The one I thought could be Viper. He’s the closest in kills to Viper.”
“Rumor has it they hate each other,” Celine said.
“Well, Viper hates Dred and I hate his apprentice. At least we have something in common.” I feared that was the onlything we’d agree on. Maybe once I showed him I wouldn’t be an embarrassment, he’d respect me more.
Commander Locke walked in from a side door. It shut with a loudthumpand everyone quieted down. He marched down the center line between the rows of tables and took the standard stance in the middle. The silence that followed made the corner of my mouth curl. I heard the birds chirping for the first time.
“Good morning, new apprentices,” he nodded toward the right side, “and their trainers. Welcome to Drakthar and into the League of Assassins. We pride ourselves on honor in our conduct, duty to our fellow assassins, valor against our enemies, and loyalty to LOA. I am certain your trainer has informed you already, but I will reiterate to make a point. None of you will ever speak of the location of LOA headquarters to anyone outside of this guild. None of you will speak the magic to reveal Drakthar to outsiders either. It is imperative for security.
“You will be issued seven standard uniforms that can be replaced as needed. You will wear your uniform at all times outside of your room unless it is a day off. While in uniform, masks must be worn outside of Drakthar. Our identities are kept private. Weapons will be given to you by your trainer as he or she sees fit. You will eat, sleep, breathe becoming an assassin. Your life and the lives of the people in Nighthaven depend on your dedication. The warriors defend the city, but we are what will shift the tides in this hundreds-year war for victory. One day we will bring the vampire kingdom to its knees.”
I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t mention the people outside of Nighthaven. My people. They never did care to protect us.We’re the feed.
With his hands behind his back, he continued walking up and down the center aisle. “Pay isn’t much for an apprentice, but you will be given a modest stipend.”
I perked up at that. If they allowed me to send what I made back home to help my family, I would. If not, I would save it until I could get it to them.
The Commander went on, “Every third Sunday is considered your rest day. You willnotgo outside the walls after sunset unless you are given specific orders to. Your trainer is here to keep you alive, listen to them. Apprentices die every year because of negligence. Vampires are the most dangerous thing in our world.” He paused. “But we are training you to be killers, and one day even vampires will fear you.”
The apprentices started clapping and cheering. I found myself smiling, too. I was terrified of vampires, but I didn’t want to be. I wanted to be someone they feared, and the Commander made me feel like that was possible.
