Chapter Seven

July

“Congratulations on reaching the end of your first month,” Thirteen said at breakfast.

“Yay. What does that mean?”

Amelia poured milk into her coffee. “It means I’m taking you to London.”

“What’s in London?”

“Headquarters. Currently for the entire Agency.”

I swallowed a bite of unsweetened oatmeal. Still torture. “I don’t have a passport.” Every time I tried to sneak into the kitchen, one of the adults was there. It was freaky.

Would it be so bad to allow me a little butter?

“It’s been arranged,” she said, and left the dining hall.

“Weird,” I said, watching her go. “She didn’t eat this morning.”

“She was up early on the phone. Reporting in.”

“’Yes, sir, Kaede is still an obnoxious brat’,” I imitated.

He choked on a piece of toast, cleared his throat, and laughed. “They’re sending her home tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“She doesn’t have it.”

Ah, the freak-of-nature gift in his blood and mine.

This many weeks of mastering physical challenges later, I couldn’t deny something extraordinary was going on. I didn’t tire when I should, ache for as long, or stumble over the constant influx of new techniques. In only a month, my body was visibly different—leaner, stronger, and defined, including Slave 4 U abs. I hit bull’s-eyes on eight of ten of my archery targets—nine on a good day—and could best Thirteen with the Bo half the time.

A normal girl would’ve been killed, drained of her blood and possibly even turned. By grace of God, I hadn’t been normal since my sixteenth birthday in April.

“What happens in London?”

“Proficiency tests, then more training. Lots of people to meet,” he replied.

My brows rose. “Lots?”

“Sure. Researchers, agents, the administration…you know, book people and field people.” He continued devouring his cheese omelet and hash browns.

I pushed my oatmeal around in the bowl. “Sounds big.”

Did I mention I was shy around crowds?

“Four stories.” Noticing my discomfort, he patted me on the back. “You’ll do fine.”

I smiled for him. “Where do you go next?”

He shrugged. “Where they send me. Maybe searching for more of you.”

“I heard Amelia talking about prospects the other day.”

“Yeah? Hope so. Come on.” He stood. “I have one more lesson for you.”

I put my dishes on the tray. “Where are we going?”

“Into the woods.”

Uh-oh. This was not a trip to Grandma’s house.

I’d never liked the look of the forest behind the school. It was the height of summer, yet that wood still looked dark and foggy, like an evil fairytale forest. The thought of going in there gave me the heebie-jeebies.

“What’s the objective?”

“Find me,” he said, and grinned.

Yeah, right. “Hey, I’m no Indian.”

“Tracking is at least seventy percent of our job, Seven. Can’t escape it.” He pushed open the door to the outside and took off running for the trees.

I started to chase, then remembered a lesson he’d been hammering into my brain—never go into the unknown unarmed. Detouring for the training building, I grabbed a small sheathed knife, a crossbow, and a tranq pistol. I attached the knife to my belt loop, slung the crossbow over my shoulder, and resumed course to the wood.

The air was cooler when I neared the trees, and all light seemed to be soaked up below their entangled branches. No person in their right mind would want to venture into that forest.

I found the clearest path between the trees and followed Thirteen in.

Dry leaves crunched under my feet.

My pulse beat faster the further into the darkness I went. Wings suddenly fluttered overhead; I crouched and aimed the crossbow at the sound.

Calm down, Della, or you’ll be wandering this forest all day.

Sure, easy to think it. Try telling my heart it can slow down.

Remember your training, dummy.

Deep breath. Observe your surroundings. Deduce.

I got in control of my fear and looked around me. Unless Thirteen could fly, he had to be crunching leaves like I was. The whole forest floor was covered with them.

I spotted his trail and followed.

Checking my watch, it’d been ten minutes since I entered the tree line.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “Who’s there?”

Nothing answered but the breeze shifting the leaves above.

Merely run-of-the-mill paranoia.

Keep going.

Walking another five minutes, my eyes on the crunched leaves, I had the sudden feeling of being watched, and put my back to a tree and waited.

Nothing.

Waited another minute.

Hate this place.

“Hey, Teach! Really funny, tryin’ to scare the apprentice and all, but this is gettin’ boring.”

Somebody laughed, and it was not his voice.

“Screw this.” I turned back the way I came and set a brisk pace for the open field.

My teacher stood waiting for me. He glanced at his watch. “Not bad. You lasted twenty minutes.”

“You…you were never in there?” I could kill him. “What is that place?”

“A forest.” He grinned. Waggled his brows. “Some think it’s haunted.”

I pushed him. He went back a couple steps. “What if I got lost in there? How dare you send me on a wild goose chase?”

Thirteen straightened to his full height. “The lesson is conquering fear, Seven. Had you not given up, you would have seen where I doubled back and knew exactly where to find me. You’re going to be looking for the innocent and helpless, kid. They need you to stick to the task at hand no matter what.”

“I’m not ready,” I said, and stomped off for the residence hall.

“Hey, you’re dismissed when I say you’re done.” He stepped into my path, making me bump into his chest. “You better get ready. Like it or not, this is your destiny.”

“Says who? You? Amelia? Try sending an archangel, then it might be convincing.”

I stepped around him and resumed my course. Thirteen grabbed my arm. On instinct, I decked him with a right hook.

He went down. Like on his knees down. I stared at my hand.

“First time I’ve felt you mean it.” He rubbed his jaw.

Oh God, what had I done?

“I’m sorry!”

I ran full speed and didn’t stop until I’d locked myself in my room.

He didn’t deserve that. Striking out of anger went against everything I believed in.