Killing On Command

Chapter 17

"Come on, Cheshire! You call yourself a Blood? Hurry up!" Alex's coach yelled after her as she ran through the woods. The sweat on her brow was falling at a rapid pace, but was being pushed back by the resistance of the wind pushing against her. It was hard work, but Alex had managed to climb her way to the top of her training in just a few hours. As unbelievable as it was she b was finding that it was not fully pushing her to trying her hardest. Requiem was highly impressed, and Lord Lamia had even shown up to watch the newly renowned trainee in the Hall of Heroes. Requiem was a little suspicious of that; Lord Lamia had never taken much interest in the trainees before. As long as they could fight in the war and bash in the heads of a few Lupines, he was content. 

The fireflies in the air were beautiful tonight, and knowing that there was only a few hours now until she went to her initiation ceremony with the other new Blood soldiers, she wanted to make sure that she could take in the flawless surroundings of the Mystic Woods around the castle fully once more. Although they were more commonly known as training grounds, she'd spent more time here trying to calm herself than actually training. In a way, Alex saw her training as a release in itself, a sort of therapy if anything.

During her break, Alex climbed a young redwood tree and perched herself on the top branch, watching over her new home. She couldn't help but wonder what was happening to her old home; to Zach and to her Father, but what choice did she have? She couldn't just leave without telling anybody... Or could she? Escape plans came to mind on impulse, but Alex's fate remained the same throughout the evening and far into the night. There was no escape, and she had grown more comfortable in the Haven in her time there. In fact, it had become the norm to wake up in the darkness and avoid the sunlight as though it would burn her (which it had failed to do as of yet).

A feast was being held in the Haven tonight, and in the Great Hall of the castle, huge tables the length of the room were laid out and filled with eccentric cutlery and glasses embossed with what looked like silver. In her time here however, Alex had learned that the one weakness the Bloods had was to silver, and a shot of silver dust to the heart would kill them instantaneously. An advantage perhaps? She thought to herself as she carefully made her way down the redwood.

"I'm pleasantly surprised to see that you're taking your training so seriously..." Lord Lamia's velvet voice purred from behind her. Alex froze to the spot before turning. His eyes were covered by a hood on his cloak, and although she wasn't at a close enough distance from him, she could feel the icy coldness emitting from him. "You see, I have never seen a newly recruited soldier able to control their instincts so well. You truly are as unique as Master Black has told me." She shivered, her heart seizing up for a moment before she released a breath.

"Ah- T-thank you My Lord," She replied politely, curtsying in respect for him.

"Come, my child, I have a gift for you," He chuckled, speeding off toward the castle. Alex followed swiftly behind him, her body exhausted from the day's hard work.

Alex saw the journey as a pleasant jog back to the Haven, but noticed that Lord Lamia became more out of breath a lot quicker than the other Bloods did when they were running, although she wasn't too sure if he actually did breathe. As the castle came into view, Lord Lamia stopped still and looked back at her. She could only see his mouth under the hood her wore, but he seemed to be smiling.  Alex turned to look in the direction he was gesturing, only to see a horse-sized black creature prowling in her direction. It's eyes were a vibrant shade of green, and it's black scaly skin reflected the moonlight in places.

And then there were it's wings.

Wings with wicked hooks on the tips like cruel witch fingers. The wings of the beast looked thin and lacy, but could no doubt hold her in the sky for hours. Although it's initial appearance scared her, Alex watched for a moment to assess the danger, and after a minute of no attack, she relaxed herself.