Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.23 ~ 𝓡𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓻𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓚𝓮𝔂

Jezamine didn't talk to Kaleb again after they were busted stealing the candy. When it was time to do trash and dishes, the boy kept to himself and was silent the entire time. Although Jez wanted to talk more with Kaleb and get to know each other better since he was right, they were siblings now, but instead she kept to herself as well. The silence continued long after their punishment was over.

It wasn't until Caine decided to see who was better at combat training, each thief has to learn how to defend themselves with hand to hand combat, putting the Prodigies against each other. Jezamine was still mastering the training and was unsure for the first time ever on her father's decision. She also didn't know where Kaleb was at with his training and if he would make a fool of her in front of the entire Guild. She couldn't allow that to happen.

She couldn't argue with the Leader of Thieves and neither could Kaleb, who prepared himself for combat. Jez felt nervous not knowing what the outcome would be, but didn't let her emotions show on the outside. She would not let Kaleb or her father see her weaknesses, preparing herself for the fight to come.

"Begin!" Caine instructed, watching them both intently from his chair.

Kaleb didn't hesitate, throwing the first punch towards her face and another jab towards her ribcage. Both attempts she blocked easily, realising Kaleb was holding back so he didn't hurt her.

"What do you call that boy!?" Caine yelled from across the room. "Hit your target like you mean it! I want to see blood spilled!"

Blood?

Jezamine was surprised by her father's words. Training was usually sparring with your partner, not trying to make them bleed...

Kaleb gave Jezamine a look of hesitation, not liking Caine's words anymore than she did. But they could not defy the man, having to play the game by his rules.

"Again!"

This time Jezamine made the first move, taking Kaleb by surprise as she knocked his legs from underneath him with a swift kick if her leg. Before Kaleb could gain his bearings, she stood over him with a raised fist, hesitating to take the final blow to the face which would knock the boy out cold. She didn't want to spill blood like Caine wished, lowering her arm.

"What are you doing daughter!? Take the final shot! End this and take the victory!" Caine stood from his seat, stalking towards them with steam coming out of his ears. "Hesitation is weakness and can be used against you. Do not hesitate Jezamine!"

The man now stood over her and Kaleb, his eyes bloodshot with rage. Jezamine was afraid of her father when he was in this state. There was no talking sense into him or changing his mind, so she raised her fist again.

"Yes that's it! Take the final blow!" Caine cheered her on, waiting for her to finish the fight. "Don't disappoint me daughter!"

Kaleb looked up at her with pleading eyes, looking back and forth between her fist and her face. He knew they would be punished for not obeying Caine's orders, Jezamine felt his body give in underneath her.

"Do it Jez. Make him proud." Kaleb whispered loud enough that only she could hear him. He gave his permission with a small smile and nod.

She took the final blow, Kaleb's eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body went completely limp. Caine erupted into laughter, picking Jezamine up spinning her around in a crazy circle.

"You did it! I can't believe you actually did it Jezamine!" Caine laughed, placing her down again.

Jezamine couldn't believe she had done it either, following through with the action and feeling instant regret. Sometimes what her father expected a person to do wasn't right, but she was too afraid to stand up to the man and speak her thoughts.

"Somebody take the boy to his chambers and fetch a healer!" Caine ordered. "Jezamine needs to celebrate her victory!"

Although she won, she did not feel thrilled to be the winner. Kaleb was going to hate her now if the boy didn't already. Caine was pleased with her but it didn't make her feel as good as she wanted to feel.

"Come on Jezamine! Don't dawdle now!"

Jez didn't move until Kaleb was taken out of the room, she could tell his eye were going to be bruised and swollen tomorrow. The pang of guilt hit her again as she followed the Leader of Thieves to the dining room to celebrate her guilty victory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caine would say he was proud of his daughter, but the girl hesitated to make the final move showing her weakness. It also told Caine that she cared about Kaleb. He had a trick up his sleeve to cause chaos amongst the Prodigies and hoped it caused a wedge between them for good.

Jezamine sat quietly beside him, barely touching her roast beef or drink. He praised her with a small pouch of gold, breaking his rule for members having to be the age of thirteen to receive payments. The girl still didn't look happy.

"Don't beat yourself over Kaleb. The boy lost fair and square. He will get over losing eventually." Caine attempted to cheer her up. "You did well today."

Jezamine gave him a small smile before excusing herself from the table, claiming to be tired and wanted an early night. Caine allowed her to leave, waiting for Jez to be out of sight before pulling out a hidden bottle of whiskey. Since she would not celebrate, he would by drinking himself to oblivion, wanting to drown out the ghost of Arianna who stood before him with disapproval in her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaleb woke up hours later, the side of his face throbbed where Jezamine had hit him. He knew he let Caine down by failing combat training, but he did it for Jezamine. If she failed, her punishment would be worse than what his own would be. Caine wasn't as nice of a Leader or father as Kaleb first thought of his impression of the man.

Now he knew better.

Jezamine needed to succeed because Caine has high expectations of her. If she ever failed or let her father down...Kaleb was afraid of what would happen to the girl. Feeling protective towards Jez.

He meant what he said the day they stole candy and upset Caine - they needed to have each other's backs. Why? Because Caine was unstable and unpredictable in his moods and outbursts. Who knew what the man was capable of if he ever succumbed to the darkness completely.

That is why he decided and allowed Jezamine to beat him and claim her victory. She had to keep her reputation as the Prodigy and heir to the throne, but Kaleb had to maintain his place as the rival in Caine's game. Kal had to do whatever he could in his power to make sure Jezamine took over the Guild. She would be a much better Leader than Caine.

Kaleb sighed, holding a hand to his temple as the headache grew in intensity. He had to admit, Jez had one hell of a punch for a girl. She gained his respect after today. Kal fell asleep after some time of deep thoughts, hoping sleep would help the headache fade away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jez laid in her bed trying to fall asleep but the guilt from today was too much for her. Tears strayed down her face seeping into the pillows. If her mother were still here maybe Caine wouldn't be so...cruel hearted.

She loved her father, he has raised her to be her best so far but he wasn't very affectionate or fatherly. Sometimes Jezamine just wanted to be hugged and told that everything would be okay. Most of all she wanted to be told she was proud of. Pleasing Caine was never easy and making the man proud was even harder. No thief ever exceeded more than a job well done.

The only person who seemed to be fatherly and understanding was Finn. He was not her father but he did spend most of his time raising her like a father should. She cherished Finn for being the one person she could rely on to be there for her.

Jezamine continued to cry, feeling all of her bottled up emotions until she no longer had any tears left. Eventually she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of her mother and what life could have been like if she were still around.