**OLD DRAFT**Sworn: Book 2 of Protectors**OLD DRAFT**

Chapter 1

Wolves will keep you warm

If you convince yourself you're one

Wolves will keep you warm

If you convince yourself you're one

Take it like a man

Arm yourself with apathy

They'll understand, you know they'll understand

You can take it all

Dress yourself in parody

You'll look the part, at least you'll look the part

Wolves will keep you warm

If you convince yourself you're one

Wolves will keep you warm

If you convince yourself you're one

-Wolves, To Kill A King

 

Chapter One 

 

"Jade!" Her name was shouted from somewhere beyond the wood. Jade stood up from where she had been squatting in the creek, trying to catch a fish with her hands. "Jade!" Her name was called again and Jade scrambled out of the creek and ran toward the voice. Her tongue slipped out between her lips in concentration as she watched where she placed her feet carefully but quickly making her way towards the man calling out to her. Jade emerged from the wood and ran across the open ground and didn't stop until she was caught and swung high into the air by her father's arms.

                "Where have you been my gem?" he asked pulling her close. "You're covered in mud."

                "I was playing in the creek papa," She pressed her check to his and laughed when it left a muddy streak behind. He smiled down at her and carried her inside.

                "You know your mother doesn't like you playing in the creek by yourself," he scolded gently as he walked down the halls of their home toward his library. Jade knew he liked his daughter being bold and adventurous; her mother was slightly more reserved.

                "Nothing will happen papa. I'm strong and brave just like you."

                He looked at her a smiled, "I know you are my sweet gem." They reached the door of the library and her father stopped and placed her onto the ground in front of the door. Jade felt suddenly cold and afraid, she grabbed onto her father's hand tightly. "I don't want to go in there, please lets go somewhere else."

                "You're strong and brave Jade," her father reminded her and disappeared through the door. Jade looked around, daylight disappeared and everything went dark, the study door was open and warm light spilled out onto her feet. She stepped into the library, he father and mother were dead in front of the fireplace, the hooded man stood next to them. He turned and faced Jade.  

                "Now, what shall we do with you?" he asked coming toward her. Jade reached a hand in front of her to defend herself. Her katana appeared in her hands and Jade no longer looked at the hooded man from near the ground at a child's height, but rather faced him eye to eye as an adult. The library shifted behind him, and Jade found that they were suddenly not in her old home, but in Reiner's common area. The fire blazed behind the hooded man and when she looked, Reiner lay on the ground unmoving and surrounded by blood. Jade yelled out to attack but when she brought her hands down the Katana was gone and the hooded man grabbed her wrist. He sliced a sharp blade across Jade's right hand exactly where her scar was. It stung and Jade cried out when he twisted her arm and forced her to her knees. She stared into the dark void where his face should be and he drove the knife into Jade's stomach.