The Phoenix Society

Chapter 11

I stood staring at the weapons wall in front of me. It was weird how overwhelmed I felt with the variety of choices. Part of the training at the Order requires that you are proficient in at least five different types of weapons. Or so I'm told. Although, I am sure everyone has their favorites. My eyes wandered over to the Kunai knives. I recognized the blade and knife design from the Phoenix Society. While these Kunai knives were a little better crafted, they looked identical to the ones I had used while working with the Phoenix Society. I remember, I had spent countless hours perfecting my knife skills, anything to impress my father. However, after I left, it became hard to get my hands on anything nearly as nice as blades like these. It had been years since I laid my hands on a throwing knife.

I brushed my hand over the hilt of one of the throwing knives. I smiled at the thought of being able to hold one again. I glanced over my shoulder to where Reid stood at the edge of the training room. He stood in the same position I had found him in outside my bedroom. I had to admit, it looked pretty uncomfortable. His eyes watched me intently, anticipating my next move. Carefully, I picked up a set of five throwing knives off the wall, then took my stance in front of a training dummy. I stared at if for a moment. I twisted a knife in my hand, feeling the weight of it, then took a deep breath as I took my aim. I launched the knife through the air. It landed with a thud in the wall behind the dummy.

I frowned. That was not supposed to happen. I heard Reid snort from behind me. I shot him a look. Reid cleared his throat before replanting his feet and straightening his back to the same standing position he had been in all night. I took my stance again, this time making sure my aim was right where I wanted it. I twisted the knife in my hand, then launched it. It landed a millimeter beneath the first knife.

"You're kidding." I stared at the knives in disbelief. At least I was consistent. I knew I was rusty, but there was no way I was missing the dummy by that much.

"You realize the point is to hit the target." Reid said with a raise of his eyebrow.

"I don't want to hear it." I snapped shooting a glare his way.

"You need to keep your arm straight when you release the knife. You're crossing your body, its throwing your whole alignment off."

"Listen buddy, you're here to babysit. I don't need you to comment on everything I am doing."

Reid held his hands up, the first time I had seen him break his stance.

"Its throwing you're whole alignment off." I mimicked my voice turning back around. "What does he know about alignment."

I planted my feet again studying the dummy, I'll show him.

Sweat dripped down the side of my cheek. I took a deep breath to slow my heavy breathing as I stood in the same spot in front of the target. I didn't know how long I had been at this, but it was now my mission to at least touch the dummy. The sun had begun to rise, now peeking out through the windows near the ceiling of the room. The sun lit a path from me to the dummy, almost as if it was taunting me with the one thing I could not seem to do. The PIT had become a bit busier as assassins began filing in for their morning duties. Small chatter sounded throughout the PIT, contrasting the previous hour when it was silent. Reid had moved closer to where I worked. He now sat, leaning against one of the large pillars splitting this room from the rest of the PIT. As much as it annoyed me to have him here, he did supply me with some helpful tips. And while I didn't want to admit it, he was right, I was crossing my arm across my body during my release.

"Alright Kya. This is it. Remember, straight back, straight arm. Deep breath, and release." Reid spoke as I stared down the dummy. I sucked in bringing my arm back to my ear.