Onyx - 14 years old
"Ahaha! You really thought I'd let you back into my home? You worthless whore. Your own father didn't want you. Why would I? Now, get out of my sight before I call the authorities."
Onyx Lauristen took a deep breath as tears ran down her face. Her mother's words burned in the front of her mind, causing her to want to tear something apart. Her mother had been the one to give her up when she was a child. So why had she expected anything different?
She shook her head, the black curls bouncing around her pale, freckled face. Move on. She's not worth it.
She sighed softly and wiped the tears from her green eyes, listening to the sound of her boots tapping against the pavement. Though it was still early in the night, she didn't see anybody outside.
Not that it surprised her. Crime was high on this part of Nathea. And if you were caught out after night had fallen, you'd probably be found dead by morning.
The wind blew against her exposed shoulders, causing her to shiver. She was still in training, so her uniform wasn't much. A black tank top, black pants, and combat boots were all she'd been given and it was all she'd wear until she became a true assassin.
Not that she wanted to.
The idea of actually killing someone terrified her. But this was what her mother and father had cursed her to, and if she didn't do it, she would die. So the best she could do was suck it up and go back to the League Academy. If they discovered her absence, she was sure to be punished.
A week after her return, and she was still sore from the beating she'd received. As soon as she'd slipped into the bunk room, she'd been asked where she'd gone and beaten until she answered. When they'd heard about her mothers' response, they'd laughed at her humiliation and forced her back to bed, still bleeding.
Glancing in the mirror, she gently touched a yellowish bruise on her cheek. At least it was finally fading, she thought.
Splashing water onto her face, she almost didn't hear the voices behind her. She froze for a moment, her eyes pinned to the running water.
"Oh! onyx. I didn't realize you were here."
Gritting her teeth, she turned off the water and grabbed her towel, drying the droplets from her skin. "Sure you didn't, Draven," she said, turning to face him.
Three years older than her, he stood a whole foot taller than her five foot. He wasn't ugly. Far from it. Though he still had a slightly boyish face, his tawny skin was an interesting combination with his light blue eyes and brown hair. It was obvious he'd grow to be very handsome.
And yet those good looks didn't work on her. Though she was young, she knew what a snake he was and it made her sick.
He grinned at her, an evil glint in his eyes. "You're right. Only I was hoping you'd be naked. It would've made this encounter much more interesting."
Onyx shook her head. "You're a pig."
"Only around you."
She shivered. Gods, she needed to get out of there. Pushing past him, se made her way for the door. "Good day, Draven."
A hand wrapping around her wrist stopped her.
She turned and glared at him as he smiled. "Now where do you think you're going, little gem?"
"Anywhere you're not."
He placed a hand over his heart and feigned being hurt. "Oh, you're breaking my heart."
"You don't have a heart."
"Oh, such strong words from a wee little gem."
"Let go of me."
Smirking, he pulled her closer. "I don't think so. There's so much fun we can have here."
It took Onyx a moment to understand his intentions. But when she did, panic ran her blood cold. No, no no! she refused to let that happen. "I'd rather die."
He shrugged. "That can be arranged."
Her eyes widened. Oh, Gods, he didn't care either way. She almost gagged. "Let me go," she said again, this time hardly over a whisper.
His grip tightened on her wrist. "Awe, have I frightened the little gem?"
This won't happen.
His free hand moved for the hem of her shirt.
This won't happen!
He slid his hand under it, his fingers grazing her stomach.
Screaming, she raked her nails across his face, tearing the skin of his cheek.
He cried out and released her, causing her to stumble back. He placed his hand to his cheek and hissed as blood stained his fingers. "You bitch."
Before she could react, his hands were on her throat and he back was against the wall.
The two boys that had walked in with him stared at them, eyes wide like they hadn't expected this to happen.
Onyx tried to gasp, but was unable to get any air with his hands tightening around her neck.
Grabbing his wrists, she brought her knee up between his legs as hard as she could.
He gasped and doubled over. Fury taking over, she brought her knee up again, hitting his nose. Blood spurted out onto their clothes and her face as he stumbled back. Ignoring it, she kicked him in the chest, sending him to the ground. He groaned, blood covering his shirt, mouth, and nose.
Onyx panted as she glared at his friends. "Do you want to try as well?"
They shook their heads as the door opened, letting in the one man that made her stomach drop.
Kyr.
Her anger gone, she straightened up. Not that it did any good. Kyr was six-foot-four, practically a giant to her. His hair was cut short, a chestnut brown with red highlights. His eyes, she knew, were a silvery blue. At least, the good one was.
What made her so intimidated by him were three things: he was the Prime Commander of the League, he was much bigger than she, and he had an eye patch where his right eye should have been. That he had earned when he'd lost it to Nykyrian Quiakidies, the only assassin known to put in the Leagues' face and live.
Everyone knew the story, and Kyr didn't hide his hatred for the man.
What was he doing here? Had someone reported the screaming?
Her stomach flipped as she thought of what the scene might look like to him. She would've begun explaining right then and there, but she didn't put it past Kyr to cut out her tongue for speaking without her permission. So she bit the words back.
Kyr looked over all of them, taking in everything without a hint of emotion on his face.
Finally he turned to the two boys. "And what happened here?"
The two glanced at Onyx, who was sure they were going to lie. She looked away, preparing for the beating sure to come.
But to her surprise, they didn't.
"D-Draven attacked her first! He tried to kill her!"
"She was just d-defending herself."
Onyx whipped her head in their direction, eyes wide.
Kyr held his hand up to keep them from continuing before turning his attention to Onyx. "Is this true?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."
He watched her for a moment before dismissing the two boys. "Take your friend to the infirmary."
They nodded and grabbed Draven, who groaned as he dragged out of the bathroom.
Onyx tensed, almost positive she was still going to be punished. The majority of the academy were men, and they had no regards for women. She was sure Kyr was no better.
He reached out and it took all of her strength not to flinch. His fingers grazed the bruise on her cheek and slid down to the ones forming on her neck. "You really took down someone that much bigger than you?"
"His size doesn't matter. I don't appreciate his attempt to rape me. Yes, I took him down and I would do it again."
"Mighty words for a child."
Child. She wasn't a child anymore. The child she once was died a week ago. But she nodded. "And I mean every single one, sir."
He nodded and moved towards the door. "Come with me, child. I think it's time you moved ahead in your training."
She hesitated. Move ahead? She was only fourteen. She still couldn't kill someone. And she couldn't bunk with the older men. They would kill her.
Gulping, she looked up at him. "May I ask you something, sir?"
"Speak."
"Who will see to my training?"
"I will."
She felt relieved and worried at the same time. Maybe he wasn't as ruthless as everyone said he was. Maybe he just wanted to seem intimidating. Nodding, she followed him. "That's a huge honor, sir."
"It is. And don't you forget that."
"Yes, sir."
He led her from the bunk room into the hall before he turned to face her, causing her to freeze.
"Understand, though, that I will not go easy on you. Training underneath me is a privilege and I expect you to work hard for it. If not, I'll toss you back in there with Draven."
Her face paled. He was just as ruthless as they said.
She nodded quickly. "Understood, sir."
She was so dead.
