I stepped out, ran my finger over the labels.Hurry, hurry.My entire team waited on me, and we only had until midnight. After pulling the crystal lids off several and taking a whiff, I found a bottle of whisky that smelled particularly strong.This will have to do.If it didn’t work, I would be the utter shame of Team Assassin and we’d lose again.
That wasn’t going to happen.
I slipped back out into the alley, closing the window silently behind me. As I dashed through back roads to avoid people, I caught a shadow following me from a distance.
My skin prickled.
Vander.
I didn’t have to see him up close to know. There was something in me that recognized him. I was surprised he let me catch a glimpse of him, though. Unless he wanted me to. I smiled and sprinted at my full speed to the first bridge, down river from where the other team waited. I slowed, entering a grove of pines, and peeked over my shoulder. Vander was there, somewhere among the buildings, even if I couldn’t see him. I waved and raised the bottle of whisky.Cheers.I swore I heard a deep chuckle and went back to my mission.
I moved quickly, half crouched, avoiding leaves and pinecones, anything that could give me away. Once Team Vampire came into view, I dropped into a crawl, cradling the bottle to my chest with one arm. The liquid sloshed quietly inside.
“The losers must be too scared to approach us,” said a female on their team. “There is no way they haven’t spotted us yet.”
“Of course they’re scared,” Beast bellowed, his voice echoing through the darkness loud enough for anyone within threehundred yards to hear. I really hated him. “Assassins should be fearless. When do they start making cuts and sending the weak ones into Lothleton? Bunch of worthless pricks if you ask me.”
“Only the best of the best should become assassins,” someone else agreed. “They should get rid of that outsider girl too. She should have never been here to begin with. She’d be a better vampire bloodbag.”
“Bonecarver won’t make it through her apprenticeship,” Beast said darkly, like he was going to ensure that. “Vampires will get her eventually,” he added quickly. “Dred and I have been talking and agree that there should be higher standards. No peasants from Lothleton and only those from warrior or assassin families should be allowed into LOA. The scholar bloods don’t belong either. It breeds weakness.”
I shook my head at his narrow views. Vander was the best assassin here and came from a scholar family. I reached into the pouch on my belt and pulled out flint and my dagger. All winter I had carried it in case the need arose for a fire. I set the bottle of alcohol on its side with the rag stuffed into the opening and hit the flint on the metal creating sparks.Come on, light,I thought.
“It’s too quiet,” a man said, moving my way. I struck harder, faster. “Should one of us scout and find out where the other team is?”
“No,” Beast barked. “We stick together on this bridge. Remember when they split up? We’re not doing that shit. They’ll have to come for us eventually or they’ll forfeit the game.”
Finally, a spark caught, and an orange flame quickly lit the rag. I snatched up the end of the bottle.
“What’s that?” a woman asked.
I stood up, revealing myself on the riverbank at the end of the bridge. “Hey!” I waved, then I threw the flaming bottle. It shattered on impact. The fire rapidly spread over the east endof the wooden bridge. The heat of the blast warmed my exposed skin instantly.
Their team scattered, rushing off the bridge onto the other riverbank. I smiled. Yes, run, little rats, right into the trap.
My team darted out from behind cover, and the clash ensued.
Now I had to get back over there. The other bridge was a half-mile from here, and although I was fast, time was precious. I stared at the rising flames catching the wood railings and not just burning the alcohol. I gritted my teeth. It was the only way.
Steeling my nerves, I shot forward and jumped through the fire. The heat licked at me, but I landed on the other side. The hostages weren’t being guarded. Everyone was fighting someone. As soon as my feet touched the snow on the riverbank, I was tackled to the ground.
The heavy weight of my opponent dragged me into a roll until I was on my back, with him bearing down on top of me. He grunted and cursed. I knew his voice, knew who it was.
Beast clamped his hands around my throat. I jammed my elbow down hard across his forearms, breaking his grip, and thrust my hips up to toss him off. I kicked hard at his groin, smashing him in the family jewels with my heavy boot, and rolled to my feet. I wasn’t just a peasant from Lothleton. I was an assassin. I was shadow, a weapon.
“Oh, does it hurt? I’m surprised I hit it. Celine told me how small it is.” I held up my thumb and finger with barely any space in between.
He groaned, holding between his thighs. “Bitch. You’re going to pay for that.”
I didn’t have time for a personal vendetta. I was here to win. I sprinted for the hostages, weaving around the fighting and tapped all three of them wearing the green scarfs. “Follow me,” I said and they did.
“Bonecarver has the hostages! Protect them!” Taewyn yelled. He smashed his fist into his opponent’s face, dropping him, then ran up beside me. “That was marvelous, Bonecarver! The wave before you threw the fire was the cherry on top too.” We laughed together and were quickly joined by three more, Foxglove and two others I didn’t know well, and sprinted through the open snowy field for Drakthar.
“No, the cherry on top was kicking Beast in the dick and balls.” I couldn’t wait to tell Vander about it.
“Damn, I missed that! I wish I hadn’t.”
“That bastard deserves several kicks to the balls,” Foxglove said. He must have been the one to hurt her badly during the last game.
