"Raylana!" I immediately jerk out of my daydream and look up. Everybody looks at me oddly and I suddenly start to feel self-conscious. "Are you okay?" asks Paul, his eyes the only ones carrying concern.
I clear my throat, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night." Paul nods, accepting my answer. "We were just discussing how long it your training will take, so then you can start school as soon as possible."
It was my turn to be confused, "I'm sorry; school?"
Matilda snickers, "Well, we can't have our best assassins an illiterate." I grit my teeth in anger. The more I got to know Matilda, the more I got the feeling Matilda didn't want me here.
She turns to me, an evil glint in her eyes, confirming my theory. "Mommy, when will start my training." Squeaks little Isabelle, her blonde hair in two tiny pigtails. Like a switch, Matilda's gaze turns loving as she touches her daughter, "Someday sweetheart when you are older."
Isabelle giggles, "I want to be just like Rayla."
Matilda smiles forcibly, "I'm sure you will be." The door opens and Akatsuki enters, "It's time to go. I need to continue her training." Paul and Matilda nod and they get up. Paul takes me in arms. I stare at him, a little taken aback.
After a moment of hesitation, I wrap my arms around him. It's been a long time since I was hugged lovingly. Warmth erupts inside me and I know that I've found my real family.
Next comes Matilda but this time that hug felt anything but loving. "Better enjoy life right now because it won't stay like this." She whispers in my ears. She untangles herself from me than gives me a fake smile. Both of them plus Isabelle go out of the room.
The door shuts and Akatsuki raises an expectant eyebrow. I sigh, "I know, I know." I follow him out of the room and back to the dungeon.
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50! 50 whips. Warm blood drips down my back and pools under me. It's amazing how I haven't died of blood loss. I close my eyes and focus on something other than the pain. Light appears outside of my eye and open my eyes to find the notice of the light.
I catch the sight of the full moon hovering outside one of the holes. Huh, how can I see the moon if I'm in basement? Maybe I'm not. Maybe that's why they go up and down, so I lose all sense of direction. All the questions fly out of me as I gaze at the beautiful white moon.
The surface glitters as it calls out to me. Something flickers in my chest; something dormant. It spreads to every inch of my body, including my fingers and toes.
Suddenly, excruciating pain detonates inside me. My mouth draws out a silent scream. Shouts start behind me, but I don't pay attention.
My body rips itself apart as hair erupts everywhere. Claws break out of my skin as my hands turn into paws. I use my claws to tear the ropes apart as I hunch down in pain. My teeth turn into huge canines and my nose grows into a snort.
A growl rips itself from my mouth. My human mind is pushed back as something else takes over.
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Blood! Need blood! My red eyes narrow into the man with the whip. I strut to him and watch him lift up his whip. As it come down, I catch it in my mouth and pull it from his hand. The leather cuts his hand, spilling blood. Fear coats his eyes as he cowers back into a corner.
My paws silent in the room as I make my way to him, ready to feast. I come face to face with him watching a soft whimper come from him. Coward! I smell the scent of his blood and taste it. I stagger back, the taste overcoming my senses.
Poison and cowardice; that's what his blood tastes like. But it also tastes like something strange. Something that shouldn't exist. Before I could do anything else, somethings prick me. I growl, not in pain, but in angers.
I pivot to the source and see the black-eyed person. I whimper in fear as images blur themselves together. Dizziness starts and I gladly let the blackness overtake me to escape the black-eyed person.
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Pain bangs inside my head like a bongo drum. I moan in pain and try to shift in the bed to find a comfortable spot. Bed? Since when do I sleep in a bed? I try to open my eyes, but it feels like they are glued shut.
"Stop moving, Raylana, you are only going to cause yourself more pain." That voice. It sounds familiar. I try to open my eyes again but this time slower. The first thing that consumes my eyes is light. Lots and lots of light. "Can you please close the lights?" I whisper hoarsely.
The room dims and a glass of water comes in front of me. I carefully hold the glass and bring it to my lips. A hand helps me to lift my head towards the glass. Once I got my full, I the person back the glass with a light thank you.
I rest my head my pillows and turn towards the person. Paul's warm brown eyes meet my own.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"Well, I had to see that my daughter didn't die." He answers. The same warmth spreads inside me, "Thank you." I say sincerely.
"Now that we're done with the father-daughter reunion, can someone tell me what just happened?" Akatsuki suddenly appears beside my bed.
"Um, I know as much as you do sir." I reply.
He raises an eyebrow, "So are you telling me that you knew you could shift into a dark wolf that are meant to be extinct."
All words disappear from my mouth as I shake my head. "I honestly didn't know I could shift. I mean I had a suspicion, but I didn't know it was possible."
"How?"
"It was when Tyler attacked me. I got many fatal wounds that they thought I wouldn't survive. But one doctor in the hospital said that I could survive but in a price. My parents agreed but they didn't ask what the price was. The doctor said that it will reveal itself when I'm at a very vulnerable spot."
Akatsuki nods but doesn't question me further. "Get some rest, we will start the next level of your training tomorrow." With that, he leaves.