Shadows and Steel | ✓

chapter twenty-four

-24-

Training continued for the next few days and Elle had assumed that Cerid had forgotten about the outside sessions she had asked for. She swigged from a flask of water, as he sheathed his blade and walked hers over to the side of the room. "Thanks for today," she said breathlessly when he returned.

His lips pulled up into a smirk. "Today's not over yet. Your first session with me starts now—come." Immediately he set off.

The assassin struggled to keep up with his brisk pace, and half felt like reminding him of her shorter legs to slow down. He led her through familiar passageways, the network of twisting hallways mapped out neatly in her mind.

Then they broke into unfamiliar territory, Cerid gripped her arm, pulling her forwards. Her ears pricked as laughter was thrown across the walls, chatter resounding from somewhere further inside. Her suspicions mounted when his long strides led them to a long hall, the stone floor had been scuffed under many passing feet. 

At the end lay a grand archway, engraved with patterns. As they drew closer, Elle squinted. The same drooping flower had been depicted, ushering them inside. The same flower she had seen on the door to the outside world.

Words had been carved into the pinnacle of the arch: Antechamber.

"DETRA needs some design pointers," she muttered as Cerid ducked under the curved opening. "Where are we going?" Her eyes flicked to a sign pinned on the wall, warning that the area was for DETRA's official agents alone, no recruits allowed.

He didn't answer, leading her through another few hallways and up some stairs. There, at the top, they stepped onto a wide balcony. Elle's brows furrowed, her curiosity pulling her to look over the edge. She recoiled when a bright light blinded her.

Once her eyes had adjusted, she peered over the edge again, mouth agape.

The assassin found herself leaning over a giant chamber. Shaped like a cylinder, when she peered upwards towards the dizzying height she couldn't even glimpse the ceiling. Candles upon candles burnt fiercely on every candelabrum, contrasting to the darkened DETRA she was used to—this new area was nothing but light.

Looking down, Elle could see the bottom floor of the vault. She didn't step away from the edge, but if one should fall they wouldn't survive the impact.

What fascinated her more than the immense scale of the room was the shaft of light in its centre. A beacon shone in the middle of the circular shape, careening towards the ceiling. Her eyes watered from staring at it for too long. Why did DETRA have a bloody beacon in the centre of their headquarters?

Balconies like the one they stood on had been built at different heights. If Elle squinted past the light stream, she could make out agents standing on them, swimming in the distorted brightness. Some stood in boxes, both ascending and descending along the walls of the cylinder, then moving horizontally inside holes and stations. Curious.

Cerid leant over the rail. "Welcome to the Vault," he said simply. "This is the main chamber of DETRA, running straight down its centre. I don't know how many levels there actually are. Recruits start on the lowest levels, then you work your way up to the surface."

"How long have we been underground for?"

He looked to her, unsure. "It's just for my peace of mind. Please."

"A week and a bit. The snowfall on your first elimination was one of the first of winter months. New year celebrations are underway."

She clamped her lips together. Back in Eryan, Elle had always spent new year's with Kade, yet she was miles underground and deprived of seeing the sky. "DETRA won't celebrate the coming seasons?" The assassin noted the absence of decorations.