Destroying the Prince (Babysitting the Prince book 2)

Chapter 19.

Chapter 19.

*****

I stretched my arms across my chest lightly as I stared into the mirror. Sleeping at the base had been weird, I did not get my own room back because my cousin really had turned it into his own little man-cave, I could not be too mad because it looked pretty cool. The room I slept in for the past couple of days was a temporary one because I had not taken the evaluation yet. That was going to begin in about an hour.

I had spent basically every second of the past two days preparing to the point where Diego had to force me to eat because I had forgotten to. I was more excited than nervous to take the test, I was only slightly nervous about who I would be fighting but I could worry about that later.

"Come in." I called out hearing a knock on my door and looked over at it as it swung open and Diego leaned in.

"Hey, you ready?"

"Yup. Going to work?"

"Yeah, the directors wouldn't let me watch because they're afraid I will hack into the simulation to help you." He rolled his eyes and I shook my head smiling. "Good luck, I doubt that you need it." He grinned. I thanked him before he left and I finished stretching.

Walking out of my room, I stepped into the lit, windowless hallway and began making my way past the rooms towards the other side of the base. The place was built like a maze to use the space best and make it hard for people who were not familiar with the layout to navigate it while providing a ton of hiding spots. I took turn after turn before I left the living wing and entered the training area. I looked up as I turned a corner and heard voices. I recognised the three people immediately as they had already been 2nd levels when I took the test a couple of years ago and I would occasionally train with them when we were at the base the same time. I figured they were on their way back from morning training and was just going to nod a greeting and walk by because that was what we always did but they spoke.

"Oh, look who it is." I stopped walking because one of the guys, Chris, had lifted his arm to stop me, "You back, Aria? I thought you were fired." He asked, I looked from the arm in front of me to its owner, he was staring at me amused. I frowned lightly as his blond hair reminded me of Maximilian's. Chris's was just a lighter shade and gelled back neatly out of his face.

"Leave her alone, Chris. Daddy will have you suspended." I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the girl, Tania. They chuckled.

"Must be nice running through rankings because your father is one of the directors." Chris said seriously. I stared at him. I had seen his training videos when I was preparing because he was third level, they all were. I decided against saying anything back to him as I slipped under his arm to get past them.

"Let her go, we all know at this point it's like protocol for her family." The other guy, Isaac spoke and I stopped walking to turn back to them.

"You'll be at my reinstation evaluation, right?" I asked.

"How would that be worth our time? You're second level and you're going to get back in anyway because of your father." Tania said.

"Please come, I think it will be entertaining. I would love to be watched by third levels as skilled like you guys." I smiled. They looked at each other. "You're clearly not on any missions or heading on any soon. My evaluation starts in... thirty minutes? You guys could come by at five, I'm sure I'll be doing combat by then." I didn't wait for their replies as I greeted them and turned to keep walking.

I walked the rest of the way towards the room I would have my first task in and greeted Arthur because he as there with a couple of other people. I figured only one director would be there as the rest could just look over results and watch video footage to judge my performance and ability. I listened as they ran me through what was going to happen and all the rules before we began. I spent the next few hours running through a verbal test that was set up as a presentation to display my current knowledge of the weapons they set up. Arthur spent the entire time with his eyes narrowed at me while I told them about it occasionally pausing to consider that I was showing that I knew way too much for someone that had been gone for a year, but I figured they already knew Diego had kept me updated. The presentation was followed by a simulation where they tested my planning, cognitive thinking and weapon skills. Then there was the strength and endurance test which was by far the most tiring training session I had in a while and we took a break afterwards so everyone could have lunch and I could breathe.