I have to admit. My earlier high hopes are a little less high. You people are brutal. Anyway, I uploaded this chapter early in hopes of getting more hits. Twenty four hours and nine hits...Yeah, I did not see that coming. Even my least popular stories had gotten more hist than hat. Maybe my summary needs work...I don't know. You tell me. Pretty please?

Chapter One: Sibling Rivalry

Kali
I sauntered my way out of the forest that conceals us Primavera. We were named for the trees that became such a big part of our lives. We are elite. We are the all-powerful, yet we choose to hide out in forests and mountains. I shook my head. It never ceases to amaze me that not a single one of us could come up with a better hideaway.

We're generally left alone, despite the numerous times those Mundanes have tried to capture one of us. Living in the wilderness does have its perks.
My name is Kali and I'm a mercenary. One of the best of my age group. Clients are always surprised females would pursue this kind of career. I'm here to change that.

Alister
I softly drummed my fingers on the cracked earth, waiting for my hit man to arrive. I want to get matters over quickly, before any of the others notice I'm missing.

"Are you Alister?" called out a disembodied voice that had obviously been scrambled, catching me off-guard. I admire their equipment.

"Yes," I replied, trying to keep the excitement from my voice. "I hired you. Show yourself."

A tinkling laugh reached my ears. I frowned. This individual is a girl. And quite young at that too. She stepped out from behind a tree, flinging her hair back in that annoying way that girls do. "Who said I was hired?" she asked, approaching slowly. "I haven't heard the facts yet, and I don't recall any contracts."

I took a step back to study her properly. Her hair is brown, long, and tucked behind her ears with several simple black pins to keep it there. Her eyes are like mine, a strong grey, glinting dangerously. She's dressed in a green vest to blend in with her surroundings and long pants despite the heat, complete with black boots that look like they could do serious damage to a man's abdomen. Perhaps I shouldn't underestimate girls after all. This one looks quite formidable.

"Well?" she prompted, smiling. "Who is it you want to get rid of and how much would you be willing to pay for it?"

I smiled back, determined not to be outdone. "The Kaiba brothers. Surely you've heard of them. The reward will be half a million." I have never owned even a fraction of it, of course, but I could always pull together the money. Plans are forming in my head already.

The girl narrowed her eyes in thought. No doubt this isn't the biggest offer she'd had, but it can't be too shabby either if she's thinking about it.

She shook her head slightly. "No. Only one target. Unless you have another half a million dollars up your sleeve?"

I scowled. Now I have to choose between the runt and the Gozaburo clone? This is going to be tough. On one hand, hurting the young one will destroy both. On the other, he reminds me of Mikey and I'm not sure if I can live with that. I do have to draw the line somewhere. Besides, isn't it the elder who's in charge? "Seto Kaiba," I said decisively.

The girl nodded in approval. "Good choice. I've heard a lot about him. I'm not the first one who's been sent to try. It'll be fun to finally do him in."

This is more than I had anticipated. I marvel at this girl. She seems to almost enjoy killing. It worries me slightly. "I'm glad you look forward to it," I commented.

She bared her teeth in a wicked grin. "Oh I do, Alister. Is there a time limit? Does it matter when?"

"No, no," I replied. "As long as you get it done. You can find me at-"

"I know where you live," she interrupted. "At least, I will."

Feeling a little unnerved, I answered, "Will you?" Did she somehow bug me with surveillance equipment without my knowing? I'm going to stop interacting with people of this trade. Dartz would have my soul for sure.

She gave one more brisk nod. "We'll stay in contact." I wish we won't. There's something intimidating about her. It gives me chills.

Kali
I made sure he had fully departed and that Darris was successfully on his trail before heading back and chuckling to myself. The fool. He didn't even ask for my name. Not that I would tell him of course, but he obviously isn't very bright. Or perhaps he feared me. I like that idea and toyed with it for a while.

The myriad of branches above forced any sunlight that might be trying to peak through to recede. Even though it's broad daylight outside, under the protection of the trees, it's always dark. For the sanity of us Primavera.

"Kali."

I flinched ever so slightly and turned. I hate being caught unaware. "Kieran," I spat. It has to be him. He's the only one of our persuasion who dares to mess with me. Publicly. Probably because he's my brother. He knows things other people would only dream of. It's not like he'd tell anyone. He enjoys having me under his thumb from time to time, and his alone, too much. He's a 'nobody messes with my little sister but me,' kind of person.

He leapt out from a low branch and jauntily stuck a hand into his jeans pocket. "Was that Kaiba you just agreed to slay?" he wanted to know. "The Seto Kaiba?"

"What does it matter to you?" I asked coolly. "Since when did you take an interest in my jobs?" I know, of course. We all do. I just want to hear him say it.

Kieran gritted his teeth. "He's been proven difficult to kill. Us Primavera have a reputation."

I suppose that's as close to an admission as I'm going to get, but I couldn't resist one more dig in. "You mean we did before you screwed up, trying to murder him," I pointed out. "You almost exposed us all. Bugging is the ultimate third class trick. Acharius was going to have your head. Even Xanthus wasn't pleased. You were this close to giving away our homebase."

He risked a warning growl. "I didn't, and that's what matters," he snapped. "And I don't want you taking on Kaiba."

I threw my head back and laughed. Really, we're getting too old for this. "Don't think of it as me putting our Primavera image in danger," I suggested slyly. "Think of it as me paying him back for your humiliation."

Kieran narrowed his eyes. "How much did that Mundane offer you to kill him?" he demanded.

I heaved a small sigh. He still doesn't get it. "That's not why I'm doing it, Kieran. I want a challenge. That British ambassador last week was so average, so ordinary. I need to level things out. I'm not like the others. I don't do this just for the money. It's to make something of myself." Not to mention prove to everyone in public once and for all just who is the better hunter of us two.

Still glaring frostily at me, he nodded. "I can understand that much. But you're a fool to 'challenge' Kaiba. You know how tight his security is. I'll be watching you. I want to be there when you fail."

With that, he reached up, launched himself back onto that stupid tree, and disappeared into the thickets of the before I could say a word. The show off.

Ever since we were little, he never cared for me. When he first entered the Primavera, he wanted me to leave him alone, thought I'd get in his way or embarrass him. In our preteens, he realized I was a potential threat and steered clear of me. A few years later, he started treating me like the enemy. Not entirely sure why at the time, I retaliated, therefore creating the animosity and resentment of the years to come.

It doesn't matter to me. Not anymore. He's made it clear he wants nothing to do with me unless he has to.

And now I know that he's going to tail me. Lovely.

Crystallized tears,
Silenced fears.
Blame those memories locked inside.

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