The Venators

Chapter 2-Marian

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Three arrows split the trunk of the tree, burying themselves up to the feathers. A woman walked over to examine the arrows, running a hand over the smooth feathers on the end. She turned, her face softening slightly at the sight of the stiff girl standing with a bow in her hands.

"Good, Marian. Perfect,"

"Thank you, Master Amor," Marian replied woodenly. Her white hair was long, falling to the middle of her back. It was an odd color for someone so young. Marian was only eighteen, but she had seen more then any eighteen year old should, even if they were a Venator. She was emotionless, cold, cruel, and calculating.

She has learned the values so well. Much better then I ever did.

Amor walked over to Marian, her face just as stiff as Marian's. Yet there were a few wrinkles around the lines of the woman's face, and she seemed much less cold. More inviting then the young girl and, strangely, more uncertain.

"Marian, it is good to be proud of your work. We are helping people," Amor murmered, her voice smooth as silk. Marian nodded, eyes focused on nothing in particular. She was a machine, made for one thing. To kill anyone who got in her way.

The two Venators were standing in the middle of a clearing located in one of the many government owned forests scattered across the land. Civilians were not allowed on this property. It was the training facility for the Venators. The cruel league of women who carried out the governments dirty work and kept regular people in line. If you did anything wrong a Venator would be the one to carry out the punishment. The training method was basic, but effective. Baby girls snatched from the homes of victims and raised by individual Venators. The grown Venator would work the child hard and teach her that the world was cruel and no one deserved pity. That made them merciless and impervious to all pleas.

She will be a good sucessor.

Amor turned away from Marian, a hand gently tracing the knife that was currently strapped to her leg. Venators were trained in specific weapons. Amor had learned the knife, Marian was learning bow and arrow. Amor knew enough about it to teach the girl the basics and Marian was enough of a natural to grasp the rest on her own.

I've never seen one so inherently talented as her. Brave, too.

Marian walked over to the tree where the arrows were stuck. Almost casually the girl reached over and pulled them out, one by one. As if they had been stuck in butter. Amor watched, a flicker of pride in her eyes. There was no doubt that Marian was a promising young Venator, but that was not what struck a cord in Amor. The older woman beckoned to the girl and they headed for the small cottage on the edge of the clearing. Trainee Venators and their Mentors were recquired to live together until the Trainee was considered done with training. There was no specific time limit or age when a Trainee would become a full fledged Venator. One day the Mentor would simply tell the Trainee that they were done and disappear.

Marian entered first and Amor followed, pausing on the threshold to scan the surrounding forest. Then she closed the door behind her and turned to face Marian. The teenage girl was standing in the middle of the one small room, smiling at her Mentor. Amor smiled back and approached the girl to pull her into a warm hug. Marian wrapped her arms around Amor, hanging on tightly.

"You did good, child," Amor murmered. The two quickly seperated and Marian went to the windows, sharp grey eyes making sure no one had witnessed the show of affection.

Yes. She will be the one to bring them down.

Marian ran a hand through her hair, her mind buzzing. She had learned well from Amor how to hide behind the cold mask a Venator was supposed to wear. Amor had taught her from the beginning how to act as a true Venator should, while secretly giving her the love and affection Trainee's were supposed to be denied. Marian had asked Amor several times why she was betraying the Venator's like this, but her Master always said she would tell her later. Marian was still peering out the window as Amor headed for the various baskets hanging from the ceiling of the hut that served as the kitchen. In them were types of dried meat, fruits and herbs. Nothing else would keep in the blistering heat of the Summer and Venators were taught to survive on very little. Between the two of them, Marian and Amor would have found it impossible to eat even a single basket of food. Marian was looking out at the forest, as always. Constantly on alert, another Venator teaching. This time it paid off.