The Blades

Chapter Eight

June 21st, 3850

"Atla! Wake up, it's your birthday!" Bayah sang through my door, knocking forcefully on the wood. It had to have been the crack of dawn.

"Bayah, go away!" I groaned, rolling over and shoving my head under my pillow.

"You can't sleep all day! Come on, we have cake!" she said.

I lifted my head up so she could hear me, "I don't care! Wake me up when I'm 21!" I told her, returning to the muffled silence under my pillow.

"You are 21!" she said.

It had been a year and seven months since my first contract and Bayah still woke me up at the crack of dawn. To this day, I have never managed to wake her up first.

From under my pillow, I heard the door burst open, slam against the wall and my sheets were yanked away from me.

"Hey! What if I was naked?!" I snapped, rolling over to shield my pajamas from view. She had infiltrated my room, quite aggressively. She seemed to be alone.

"Then Kodi would be paying to get information." Bayah laughed genially and began to dig through my drawers, looking for clothes and then throwing her selection at my face.

I laughed as she turned so I could get changed. I threw my hair up into a ponytail and inhaled deeply, "If there's a surprise waiting for me in the dining hall like last year—"

"—There's not, just go faster!" she said, taking my hand and pulling me along.

She did this exact thing at my 20th birthday. As of right now, the exact same events and conversation had occurred exactly one year ago.

"Remember the last time? I punched Thorn because you had everyone jump out at me?" I reminded her. Thorn's nose was still crooked to this day and now everyone could clearly tell the difference between the twins. It was a blessing to us and a curse for him since Briar officially decided he was now the good-looking one.

"Fair point but you do punch a lot of people." She grinned back at me.

"That's because I keep getting—" I was interrupted as a large sack was thrown over my head and I was suddenly sitting in total darkness, falling towards the stone as my feet were swept away.

"Ahh! Hey!" I cried, shifting around uncomfortably as I was held aloft in the bag. I tried to roll around to free myself but to no avail. I was stuck in the cramped little bag.

"Uh oh, oh no, I ain't getting punch again, mate." It was Thorn.

More grumbling ensued as my kidnappers tried to decide who was going to carry me and my sack. I felt someone heave me into the air and I was left swinging as we set off, my captivators whispering quietly and sometimes chatting out loud.

"Guys! It's actually really hot in here!" I said in an attempt to free myself.

"Nah, it's just me," replied Flax. He was directly to my left. I stuck out my foot and felt it collide with the back of his knee.

With a cry of surprise, he went crashing down, taking me and my sack with him. My escape plan failed and I succeeded in getting the wind knocked out of me as my back hit the stone.

"Bayah, I didn't sign up to get kicked!" he whined.

"Please, for me?" she begged. I could visualize her big, blue eyes and her pouty bottom lip. She had him wrapped around her finger.

Sucker. I thought as he sighed and got to his feet, hoisting my sack over his shoulder and continuing.

I was left swinging slightly in my sack as we continued on our way with no more interruptions. Suddenly, I was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground, bruising my tail bone on the hard ground, "Ow!"