Battle Wounds || Jasper Hale {2}

Chapter 16

"Emissaries are gifted people, but our gifts don't always provide the support we need when it comes to protecting our supernatural elect," Guillermo said, pacing in front of the class of emissaries in Cartwright Hall. "Does anyone know what to do when your gifts fail you in the heat of battle? DuPree?"

"Have a weapon on hand, Sir!" Ellie called as she had been taught in the first two weeks of training.

The training they had endured in the past two weeks had been rigorous and hard. They had each started to learn how to hold their own against each other in a fist fight, and each of the six had found themselves on scrubbing duty for losing a match throughout the fortnight. Now, they had made it to the second portion of their training.

"That's correct, DuPree," he said, stopping his pacing and facing the group. "An emissary typically carries a weapon of their choosing designed specifically to *take care* of any creature who threatens your pack or coven."

Guillermo walked to a large maroon tapestry hanging behind the statue of Philip Cartwright. "Come this way."

As the emissaries gathered in a semi circle around him, Guillermo pulled the tapestry back to reveal a shiny, metallic wall. He placed his hand in the center of the wall causing a red glow to illuminate under his palm before a bright white lit up the west side of the panel, and the panel slid open revealing various weapons lining the walls, catching the eyes of the six emissaries.

"Your weapon will be your safe haven," Guillermo said, pulling a sword from the wall and weighing it in his hands. "You will learn to use it. You will clean it. You will cherish it. It will protect you and those you are called to." He gestured to the wall behind him, littered with guns, swords, and bows of all kinds. "Choose your weapon carefully. It's your lifeline now."

The six emissaries looked at the wall for a moment, weighing their options, before stepping forward and claiming their weapon of choice.

Ellie weighed the gun in her hand. It was similar to others she had used, but different in its own right. It was lighter than than her standard .45 and sleeker with streaks of silver licking up the barrel, and as strange as it may have sounded to anyone else, it was almost as if the gun had called to her, begging her to pull it from the rack as if they were meant to be together.

Guillermo watched the group studying their weapons. They had all chosen just as he had expected they would. From Eleanor's Excalibur 5 to Zeke's Trident 12 bow. Everything was going exactly according to plan. "Get to know your weapons. Target practice will begin tomorrow. Class dismissed."

After Guillermo marched out of the room, Felicity turned to Ellie flashing her shiny katana with pride. A bright grin on her lips, she asked, "Isn't this the coolest?"

Ellie offered her a small smile and nodded, a wave of nostalgia rushing over her. She could remember when she was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as her brunette friend. It had been immediately after her first marking, before Jesse had ripped the most important person in her life away from her. Allison had always laughed off her enthusiasm and reminded her that while it was charming, it wasn't practical when facing off against an enemy.

A sigh slipped through her lips causing her to close her eyes.

"Hey," Felicity said, furrowing her eyebrows at the blonde's countenance. "Are you alright?"

Ellie opened her eyes and nodded, a small frown replacing her smile, "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Felicity narrowed her eyes at the blonde, knowing for certain she was lying, "You just don't look like you feel well."

Ellie sighed and placed a hand on her forehead. Of course, Felicity didn't believe her. Granted, she was right not to believe her, but she wasn't going to let her know that. "I'm just tired, that's all. It's nothing to worry about."