Olga and Hazel arrived at what Alina had referred to as the Retreat. It was a large mansion that looked like it had recently had a face lift. It was out of the way and surrounded by thick forest. The grounds were well tended and looked like they had been upgraded with training areas. Olga had actually driven here in a car provided to them in Moscow. The saw others had arrived before them. There were a mix of ages, but all were female. Most were teenagers, some were older, like Olga. Hazel fell in the middle. They took their bags from the car and waited. A few more cars arrived. After about thirty minutes, Alina walked out of the front door hands folded behind her back.

“Welcome everyone. Please go inside, your rooms are labeled. You will be meeting with your instructors in an hour and a half. Get your kit stowed away and please get into your uniforms. Officially this is a finishing school for young women. If anyone asks, that is what it is for.”

She stepped aside and the girls present walked through the doorway. After a few minutes of looking Olga found her room first, Hazel’s was off the beaten path and she had to ask for help finding it. Alina ended up being the one to point it out. Hazel wanted to ask why she was there but figured the best course was to do what she had been doing, keep her mouth shut and head down. So, she just started unpacking. She was so far from the other she felt quite singled out. She filed into what used to be the ballroom and was now more of a large meeting area. Chairs were set up. Olga had saved her one, so she sat beside her. Olga spoke quietly.

“Where the heck was your room?”

Hazel shrugged.

“In the tower. Its… round. Like opposite side of the house.”

“There are empty rooms by the rest of us.”

Hazel shrugged again.

“Maybe they couldn’t fit a big enough bed.”

Olga shook her head at her friend. A row of people stood in the front of the room. There was an etiquette teacher, firearms instructor, English instructor, French instructor, an accent specialist, Math, literature, sciences, driving instructor, a flight instructor. Finally, Alina spoke.

“Your hand-to-hand instructor is currently indisposed and will arrive in the next few days, you’ll have to meet her at your first class. You will be expected to excel at all lessons. Failure will not be tolerated. If you fall behind, you will be left behind. You are all here because I feel you capable of succeeding in our mission.”

There was a murmur in the audience. Alina continued.

“You have the rest of the day to get settled, and to tour the house. Morning PT starts at 6 am.”

*****

Hazel was set up with the younger set of girls. They were on a less punishing educational schedule, still far more packed than normal high school. The girl’s Hazel was with were a mix, some smaller, some larger. There was one girl who was obviously a troublemaker. Rumor had it she had been pulled out of a prison. Hazel new the type, they were the ones that would try to push her around because they wanted to prove they were tougher. Hazel while she’d had her moments rarely felt the need to prove her prowess. She’d been in enough battles to know she did not have anything to prove except for her mother. As she was thinking of her mother eyes started to turn towards the front of the combat training area. There she was, the first she noticed was the familiar curly red hair. Then the emerald eyes, and pale face. She was caught between utter shock and running forward to bearhug her mother. She fell into a weird grimace. She felt a hand on her back and looked back and down and it was Alina.

“It is alright, she’s on a tight leash.”

Hazel nodded. Alina must have mistaken her frustration at not being able to hug her mother and just talk to her as anger at seeing her again. Alina sat down at the edge of the class to observe. Enid looked at Hazel and with a flick of her eyes told her daughter to keep up the act. Enid spoke.

“You may call me Anna, ma’am, or Ms. Roth. I am fairly easy going but do not test me.”

The tough girl who Hazel was expecting to try and push her around laughed. Enid pointed at her.

“You, did I say something funny?”

Alina leaned forward a cigarette dangling between her fingers. She was eager to see how this ended. Hazel tried to grab her arm, she saw this trainwreck coming a mile away but the girl shoved her off. Hazel stepped back. She’d tried.

“You, teach me how to fight? It’s a joke.”

“Well, Iskra Lavrov, why don’t you come up here and show me what a joke I am?”

Several girls stepped away from Iskra who laughed and stepped forward. Enid looked up at the girl.

“Whatever happens from this point is on you kid.”

Iskra moved forward and didn’t mess about and took a swing at Enid who wasn’t there any longer. Iskra tried to hit Enid again who wasn’t there and had backed away a bit. Iskra lunged at her fist first. Enid grabbed her arm and helped her along so that Iskra hit the grassy ground hard. Enid hadn’t let go of her arm and was now twisting it. Enid firmly placed her shoe against the girls chin. She could easily kill her now by stepping on her throat. This caused the girl to start scream in frustration.

“As you see, Iskra made a common mistake, she underestimated me because I’m much smaller than her, but all her weight and strength have now become a liability. Because I used it against her. Now she has a choice, break her arm and dislocate her shoulder to escape my hold and risk me crushing her throat. Or she can admit defeat and tap out.”

Enid twisted the girls arm harder now which brought tears to her eyes.

“What is it going to be Iskra, eight weeks in a cast, or are you going to go line up and keep your big mouth shut?”

Alina looked amused as she took a drag from her cigarette. Also, somewhat prideful. Hazel looked at the big girl silently praying she’d just give in. She knew her mother’s threats were rarely hollow. She’d had many broken bones in her training with her mother. She finally spoke up.

“Iskra don’t push her, she will break your arm. She’s a trained assassin.”

Iskra was still being defiant and straining against the hold so Enid dislocated her shoulder before she could break her own arm. Enid backed away. Iskra was wailing in pain now. Alina nodded with approval. A couple of soldiers that were acting as guards for the training center rushed forward and where carrying Iskra away. Enid dusted her hands off then looked to her class.

“You should all listen to Greta, she’s about the only person that has ever managed to beat me in a fight. It was a cheap shot from behind and I was injured, but I’ll give her credit where it’s due. Now then. Let’s make one thing clear your lives and physical well-being mean nothing to me. I’m here to train you to kill efficiently and effectively, not coddle you. Push me I will push back, just ask Iskra. She’s just lucky I didn’t want her dead or out of the class for eight weeks.”

Enid started teaching basically stances, strikes and blocks at that point. Eventually she separated the girls into partners. She pointed at Hazel.

“Greta, you’ll be my partner since the one I had in mind for you is in the infirmary. Don’t worry I’m not holding much of a grudge.”

Once they were at the edge of the training area. Enid motioned for her to start. Hazel was smart enough to pretend to suck at this part and was throwing ineffectual punches. Two years of training in ninjitsu made these lessons redundant.

“Now you block.”

Enid punched Hazel hard in the chin sending her daughter reeling.

“What the hell?”

Enid spoke loud enough for the other girls to hear her, along with Alina.

“Sorry if you’d blocked like I told you instead of like a flailing infant I wouldn’t have hit.”

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Hazel rubbed her jaw and glared at her mother. She was regretting not going harder with her punches. She realized though her mother could have done a lot more damage and it was more for show then anything else. Enid stood beside Hazel and started to show her how to move her arm to block more solidly. Hazel felt like her mother would always be ahead of her in hand-to-hand combat just because she’d had so many centuries to master it. Enid spoke quietly.

“You look like a few months in Moscow have done you some good.”

Hazel nodded.

“Just keep it up hon, you’re doing great. Make contact with anyone?”

Hazel nodded then spoke.

“Asked Eyre to tell Grandpa we’re out of blood.”

“Noticed that did you?”

“I thought something was up when we didn’t just do a ritual and get the hell out of here.”

Enid nodded. Then switched it up when she sensed Alina approaching with her gift.

“If you block with strength then you’ll stop my punches, next time I’m going to break your nose if you miss my fist.”

Hazel shoved her away.

“You’re a murdering psychopath.”

Enid straightened her top.

“Which is why you need to stay on my good side. Take a break to cool off.”

Enid walked back towards the other girls and started correcting their form. Alina touched Hazel’s arm.

“A piece of advice Greta don’t hold grudges, and don’t get attached to people. It does us no good in our line of work. Enemies can become friends an instant depending on the landscape. Friends can become enemies by the same token. And you can learn much from your enemies. Especially the most dangerous ones.”

Alina’s eyes drifted to Enid.

“Anastasia is probably the most brutally efficient women I have ever met. You can learn much from her. She is a master assassin and spy. She is always a few steps ahead of everyone around her. She actually told me Iskra would take the bait this morning at breakfast. She has a purpose for everything she does. Be cautious however, dealing with a person like her is like being on a runaway train, any moment things can turn deadly.”

Hazel nodded.

“Why is she free?”

“She is useful. Which is why I say you should not hold grudges. She can be an asset or she can be an enemy. I chose to make her an asset instead of trying to fight someone who could take me down with her. That is another lesson. Never kill someone who can be useful to you.”

Hazel nodded again.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I have a special interest in you. You managed to capture someone single handedly that probably could have killed anyone we sent after her, even if we sent a team. That means you have potential. You are more then you seem Greta. All these girls looked scared and shocked when Anastasia hurt Iskra, but you knew exactly what she would do to her. You even tried to warn her, a symptom of your weakness when it comes to others. Be concerned about yourself and not your fellow recruits. They are competition, not your friends. I suspect your mother taught you more then you let on. Don’t hold back next time. Be the star I know you are.”

Hazel nodded. She hated almost everything about this, but she liked having her ego boosted. She watched her mother instructing the girls. Her mind drifted back to her home village. When her mother would push beyond what she thought she could do. She was so happy to have her back they were ten feet apart but they may as well be on different planets. Her wrist started vibrating. She raised her hand. Enid walked over.

“What is it Greta?”

“May I be excused?”

She touched her abdomen.

“Sure, don’t make it a habit.”

Hazel rushed to her room and prayed the connection would hold. She’d already made sure the room was bug free with her contacts. It looked like her mother had paved the way for her. Enid tapped her wrist band with a shaky hand. The voice she heard wasn’t the one she had expected. It was the soft, calming voice of her grandfather. Like a warm fire on a frigid day.

“Hazel.”

“Grandpa!”

“It has been a long time for me, I’m not sure how long it has been for you.”

“Too long. I missed you.”

“Can you talk?”

“How did you even get a hold of me?”

“Apparently whatever trick you used on the satellite created a phone number for you. I had to call in a favor with… a few people. You seem to have vanished from the face of Russia.”

“We’ve been moved… into the country. Mom is with me, I think…I think we’re safe. It’s a mansion.”

“KGB?”

“Yes, there’s a tower. That might help right?”

“Perform a ritual set up a spirit beacon. I’ll be there after dark.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

“Stay safe little wolf.”

Hazel heard the line go dead and she waved her hand to turn off the holo-phone display. She rushed back to her class which was rotating to pilot training. She could barely pay attention to classes for the rest of the day. She was so excited by the prospect of seeing her grandfather and being able to talk to him.

*****

Hazel had used her mother’s ritual ingredients to send up a flare in the spirt realm like her grandfather had asked. She could sense many spirts attracted to it. It wasn’t exactly the safest idea. Sometimes it attracted spirits you did not want around. She couldn’t sense any of those. She sat cross legged on the floor of her room looking up at her wide-open window. A raven landed on the window sill then leaped into the room and by the time it landed it was her grandfather. If he were not a vampire she would have probably ended up tackling with how hard she ran into him to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her back.

“Your mother isn’t here?”

Hazel shook her head hiding her face in her hair.

“It looks like you left yesterday, well besides your hair. It looks good. You look so…refined. So why isn’t your mother here?”

“Umm, because, well the Soviets think I hate her.”

“Why would they think that?”

“Because…well… it’s a very long story.”

“Which involves an attack on a Soviet Nuclear Silo. And the deaths of several mortals.”

Hazel nodded and collapsed onto the bed.

“I turned her in, she asked me too, she wanted me to be above suspicion so now I have to pretend I hate her.”

He smiled.

“I’m sure some days that is a true emotion. I remember you telling me when you were twelve that you hated her because she wouldn’t let you go fight in a battle.”

“That was just…puberty.”

He smiled.

“Something tells me you are far older then you look. But you aren’t a vampire.”

“Well time travel is bad for non…dead things I guess.”

He sat on the bed beside her. Hazel had tears on her face.

“I’m so sorry about Grandma.”

“Where did that come from?”

“I uh, was there the night she… Mom made you forget. She nearly died from a demon…fallen one… you saved her with your blood but we didn’t ask for a refill and we totally should have. I guess it felt wrong.”

“You killed the pugmentia who did it, didn’t you?”

Hazel nodded.

“That is why… but you’re petrified of fire…”

“It was my grandma.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and held her close.

“Thank you for trying. Now, let’s speak of other things… In fact, start at the beginning. You know when you snuck through the portal…”

Hazel blushed and nodded.

*****

Sextus was stroking his beard. He looked at Hazel.

“You are your mother’s daughter, there is no doubt in that. Are you sure you want to keep my presence secret from her?”

Hazel blushed and nodded.

“You know she can sense deception by virtue of her gift, yes?”

Hazel nodded.

“What is so important that you want to stay?”

“Umm, I…well, they are going to teach me to fly and drive.”

Sextus chuckled.

“Well, I’m not leaving you two in the clutches of the Soviets without a safety net. I believe I shall be the new language teacher.”

Hazel quirked her head to the side.

“Isn’t mother going to notice?”

His face morphed, and suddenly she was looking at a different man.

“She’ll know your name a lie.”

“We’re in a training facility for spies that don’t exist, everyone’s name is a lie. And don’t worry, everything your mother can do as a vampire, I can do better.”

Hazel blushed and nodded.

*****

During combat training Hazel was being overly rough with her partner Iskra. Iskra was on the ground nursing her abdomen after Hazel had been less then gentle with a kick. Enid and Alina both notice and approached. Alina tended to watch the close combat sessions when Hazel was involved. This forced Enid to keep her distance for the most part just to avoid suspicion.

“Greta, I said go soft. What the fuck are you doing?”

Hazel looked down at her mother she had been clenching her fists and ready to give Iskra a beat down she wouldn’t walk away from on her own power. She turned back down to Iskra who looked more like a broken animal then her usual vicious self.

“Sorry I thought she could block it.”

Enid motioned to the edge of the training area.

“Cool off Greta. Someone get Iskra to medical.”

Iskra looked up at Alina, who gave a slight nod. Alina walked over and sat beside Hazel.

“Greta, its nice to see you fighting back finally. I can see you’ve been holding back. However, I’d prefer if you don’t injure the other girls at this point. You seem to be in a bad mood. Anything I can do?”

Hazel shrugged.

“I was looking forward to learning how to fly.”

“Couldn’t be avoided, instructor was redirected to Vietnam. I have all the flight time booked, simulator time. Helicopter, prop and MIG-17.”

Hazel looked at her mother who had been close enough to hear the conversation. Enid glanced at the pair. Alina followed her gaze to Enid who sighed and gave the class another set of instructions and walked towards the pair.

“I am not exactly licensed but I’m qualified on all the above. Might have flown in combat a few times.”

Alina quirked her head to the side. Enid shrugged.

“Being able to fly makes my price tag higher. And the people I work for just want the job done. Dick or no dick. How do you think I got into the USSR? I would have stolen a plane to escape, but limited range would mean I’d have to stop before a border for refueling, easy to get shot down. Double my fee I’ll teach your brats how to fly. Triple it, I can teach them how to land and take off from an aircraft carrier. Oh, wait you don’t have any real ones.”

Alina frowned at Enid who shrugged.

“You have my offer. Take it or leave it. I’m just as good at flying as I am at close quarters combat. Probably better. I love piloting things that are fast enough to do something stupid in.”

Enid wandered back to the class. Alina lit up a cigarette and watched Enid closely. After several minutes she glanced at Hazel.

“You think she’s telling the truth.”

“Yes.”

“How does a twenty-year-old woman know how to fly jets?”

“Maybe she’s older than she looks, maybe her ID is fake.”

“Interesting perspective. I actually was hoping we could speak about something I’m concerned about.”

Hazel got a bit worried and it must have shown on her face Alina patted her hand.

“You and the linguistics instructor have been getting very close, has he been… inappropriate with you?”

Hazel took few moments to catch the meaning of Alina’s words she had to fight the urge to laugh at the absurdity of her being involved with her grandfather like that.

“No, no, well I mean we are close, he’s been spending extra time helping me with my reading and stuff, but not anything inappropriate unless… getting extra help is inappropriate?”

Alina shook her head. She finished her cigarette and mashed it out under her foot.

“No, I’m glad you are recognizing your weaknesses and shoring them up.”

Hazel smiled and nodded.