Hunter policy #00013 (Redacted):

While not publicly sanctioned, it is the duty of the staff at our various Orion divisions to tolerate violent actions instigated by students onto other students. We do not need weak Orions, but those cunning and ruthless enough to get what they want, be it resources or vengeance.

I flinched. The dawning light that peeked through my curtains was an omen of death. It meant that I had to move my bruised and fatigued body, and I knew with immediate certainty that today was going to be awful.

“Aw, shŸnka,” I proclaimed bitterly toward my ceiling. Last night’s events caught up with me, and a knife of adrenaline stabbed into my heart. I got moving, the rituals of reclaiming my sturdy uniform from where it hung a welcome distraction from the strange horror of yesterday’s activities. Elio, the saint, had taken me to the infirmary, but apparently the healing cloth that cowardly hunter used on me and my family was expensive. So—and with no small amount of profanity on my part—only our worst wounds were treated.

When we returned to our respective dorms, which, as it turns out, we lived on the same floor, I was too tired to figure out the damned contraption on my arm. Early this morning, however, I awoke to find it calmly retreated back to its band-form.

I clumsily laced up my boots and shouldered the few books I needed for that day.

“Enchanting 101, here I come.”

I grabbed a bite to eat from the dining hall, but my clenched stomach only permitted a few berries and a fresh slice of sourdough. The bread was delicious, and while I couldn’t name the fruit, their orange and yellow hues were enticing enough for me to pocket a few for later. Hopefully, by then, my traitorous appetite would return and I could think about more than who I was about to face.

I glanced down at the parchment assigned to this class and followed the enchanted arrows through various halls and sections of the enormous academy. Students bustled past me, but I was just one more first-year amidst the small horde of scrambling cadets. My eyes alighted on a tall, lean, boy walking in step with another human whose entire face appeared to be a discarded art palette for the color purple.

Prince James.

Though I couldn’t hear his words over the cacophony of boots against stone, I didn’t need to in order to ascertain his mood.

Someone would die today.

“Shÿnka,” I muttered and stepped behind a column to my left. I might’ve been overreacting, but I knew that I was already on thin ice. And the way I’d treated Charles last night would make any attempt at peace now a farce. Resolute that I was not a complete coward, I hid behind the thick marble pillar. With my newfound proximity, I took a moment to appreciate the ornate, if weathered, carvings of several elves and humans beheading some type of hydra in a rocky tundra.

A hand as strong as iron and half as forgiving clamped over my mouth and left shoulder. With casual ease, I was thrown back and into a side door I didn’t even notice until now. I screamed, panic riding up my throat. It didn’t get past the fierce clamp my assailant held over my face.

“Quiet, or I will rip your tongue out and feed it to the beasts during the next surge.” A brash female voice hissed into my ear. A sharp point colder than night pressed against my throat. “I’m not playing, first-year.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. I held my breath, but the knife only pulled closer against the soft skin beneath my chin.

“Answer me, and answer me quickly, and I won’t carve you into ribbons. Got it?” She asked, and I tried to nod with as little movement as possible. Inwardly, however, my mind screamed to act. I focused on my gauntlet—its weight and purpose to protect me—and I felt the thick bracelet shudder. In a blink, it was covering my right hand and forearm.

I moved in a blur. My hand reached out for the blade and caught it right as my attacker pulled its length across my neck. Blood seeped from the tiny gash, but I tucked my chin and twisted my arm in one quick motion. The girl grunted, but didn’t let go, even with the enhanced strength the gauntlet provided my arm. Instead, she jumped, and I caught sight of a blonde braid right before she landed with both legs resting around my shoulder.

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Her entire weight yanked me off my feet as she pulled on my gauntlet. The knife flew free and scattered across the ground, but that didn’t matter. She twisted in a strange fashion I had never seen before. My head slammed to the floor as soon as she finished her wild contortions, my armored hand pulled back at an awkward angle as she leveraged it with ease.

I couldn’t punch. I could hardly feel or think or breathe properly with her knees in the small of my back and her arms firmly pulling back on my arm. I could feel the muscles and tendons in my shoulder shout in protest at the abuse.

“I respect the fight in you, girl, but try anything else and I’ll rip this arm off.” And by the way she said it, I knew she meant it. I stopped squirming, but I was far from giving up. After a moment, the pressure on my shoulder diminished, if only slightly.

“Good,” she whispered. “Now, tell me. Who sent you? Was it uncle Dimitri, or one of his goons? What are they calling themselves now? The Scythes? Is that it? Are you one of the Scythes?”

“What? Hells no! What are you even talking about?” I didn’t have to fake the sheer confusion in my voice, and it was quickly reflected in the tone of the woman currently grappling me.

“Don’t play stupid. I know I recognized you. You’ve been playing it smooth, I’ll give you that, but I never forget a face.” If I didn’t know any better, I could’ve sworn that she sounded desperate. For what, I had no idea. The tension on my joint lessened a little bit more.

“Do you have any connection with the Barons?” She asked. My blood went cold at the mention of those murderous bastards.

“No. I would never stoop so low. Who the hells are you, lady? You seem to be running with some pretty messed up people if that’s who I think I’m with,” I spat back at her as best I could.

I was right. This day is going to be awful.

“AHA! So, you admit to belonging to someone!” She turned me over in her grip so that we were face to face. I took in her features instantly, and the chilled nature of my blood shifted in an instant when I recognized her.

Blonde hair.

Elven features.

A perfect braid.

“Wait a second. You’re that rude prick who kept eyeing me at on the first day!” I saw the two orange stripes down the front pocket of her uniform and grimaced.

I wonder what enchantments she’s got with two hunts at least under her belt? I wondered suspiciously.

“What of it?” She demanded. Now that I got a better look at this strange and violent elf, some details started to click in the far recesses of my mind.

“Wait,” I started, but quickly shut myself up. The girl narrowed her eyes from where she still straddled me like some expert wrestler.

“Yes?”

“Nothing,” I offered smoothly.

Her hand gripped my chin and I squirmed under the pain her incredible grip evoked. I noted absently the myriad of tiny scars that carpeted her rough fingers and arm.

“Speak.” The one word contained enough threat to pierce a wyvern’s thick hide. I swallowed hard. Head firmly shoved against the cold cobblestone, a thin chain emerged from beneath my uniform. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “What do we have here?” She pondered out loud.

Her hand reached for the dainty necklace, and I writhed furiously. One of her calloused fingers picked up the chain.

“What are you hiding, Thea Shade?” She asked, her grip still viciously tight against my chin and neck. Red started to taint the outermost edges of my vision. “Distraction enchantment, but seven hells is that weak.” She sent a disappointed expression down at me. “What? You got some old trinket from your mum hiding beneath there?”

She pulled on the chain. I felt whatever magic Charlie’s uncle infused into the necklace strain against her casual display of strength. The amber amulet hidden so neatly beneath my clothes was slowly unearthed with her free hand.

The pendant fell free. I could feel my heart stop at the sight of it in her sweaty palm.

Dread filled every morsel of my limbs and I found new power surge through me. With a yell of fear and defiance, I bucked her off of me. She tumbled back, but her grip remained on the pendant. I felt some muscles in my neck buckle under the power of her arm as she yanked back on it, but thankfully the chain held. I punched forward and clipped her jaw. She fell backward, her hand flying free of the ornate charm in her grasp.

I was at the door before she could recover. My hand raced for the doorknob and the elven kidnapper cursed. I heard movement behind right as I fumbled with the handle and opened my way to freedom.

A knife thudded barely an inch past my face, and a warm trickle smoothly dripped down from the top of my ear. Outside this confined space, a few students hurried to their respective classes. I didn’t hesitate. I rushed out and into the classroom marked Enchanting 101 and ignored the name of the professor below it.

I already knew who it was.

The elf cursed behind me but I was too fast for her this time. I got in right as a tall and handsome man closed the classroom door behind me.

“Oh, why hello, Ms. Shade! Glad you could join us,” Professor Alaric Hawthorne intoned playfully.

Today is the worst.