The Venatrix

Chapter Eighteen

This won't do. This won't do at all. I watch my soldiers practice. Despite the training they have received they are still making sloppy mistakes.  They are throwing wild haymakers and kicking with little to no accuracy. No wonder they have been getting slaughtered left and right. Abducting the special girl from the wolves is just a daydream at this point. Eh whatever every person here can be replaced.

"What's wrong executioner?" The witch said sitting down beside me. 

"I'm debating on starting over. Just kill them all and start over." I said to uh oh wait what's her name again?

"Are they that bad?" She asked, chuckling. 

"Yes. I could take you out to wolf territory and show you how bad they are, or I can kill them myself. Both options sound great and end with the same result."  I said grinning but not hiding the irritation in my voice. 

"Now, you have to exercise some restraint. It would be hard to get two hundred more soldiers." She said sternly. 

This place operates like the military. Everyone here goes through training. Their abilities are assessed. Then they are issued a uniform and a weapon to match their rank. I had high markers across the board. Hand to hand, close combat, short range weapons, long range weapons you name it I passed it. My uniform is a high collared black uniform. My rank is displayed on a bright white patch sewed onto the shoulder of my shirt. My weapon of choice. A bow.

I picked up the bow that sat beside me. I drew three arrows from the container on my back. I positioned the arrow and fired at the first guy that irritated me. It met its target and he disappeared. His opponent looked up at me, his eyes showed fear.   

"I thought I told you to show some restraint." She said a bit more sternly. 

"I thought you brought me here to teach these guys how to fight. Everyone here may be a vampire. Everyone here has strengths and weaknesses. However, laziness will not be tolerated." I hiss, firing off another arrow. 

"Spoken like a true commander." She said, patting me on the shoulder before taking her leave.

I felt my eyebrows twitch with irritation. I should feel some sort of pride. I just received a compliment from the brass but something about it irritated me. She's up to something. I know it won't be anything good, but she will expect me to lead it and succeed at it. 

However, they aren't ready. 

We are filled with darkness, but emotions lie deep inside. 

Are they willing to fall in line and follow every order given to them or will they fight the man and riot against the cause?

Will they be a liability or an asset?  

Can they take a life and have no regrets? 

I look out across the sea of trainees. Everyone here has nothing to lose. There is no one to mourn them when they die. I can't remember them anymore, but I think I had a family. My fingers touch the ink on my face. I was branded. 

None of that matters now.  I will lay down my life for my mission.