Chapter 6

Aeron and Luke jumped apart, Aeron tumbling to the floor as if to retrieve the fallen box—but no one had noticed them. The group was talking and laughing, and it was only when Aeron stood up when anyone saw them.

“There you are!” Alicia said, walking over and handing a disgruntled Jazz back to her.

“What happened to you guys?”

“Why is our apartment sealed off?” Lesley asked, walking over to the boy’s fridge and grabbing a can of Sprite.

“Good idea,” Justin said, and went and got drinks for everyone.

Decius took his ferret out of his jacket and Jazz jumped from Aeron’s lap. The two animals streamlined for, what Aeron assumed was, Decius’ room. “So what happened?” Decius asked, looking from Aeron to Luke, who were now seated across the room from each other.

“Well,” Aeron began, but Luke cut her off.

“We have a problem. A trio, and not an experienced one, was sent to see how difficult it would be to break into our apartments.”

“Seriously?” Shannon asked, her scandalized look falling short because of her disheveled hair. “Why?”

“Beats me,” Aeron said, grabbing a handful of chips. “I mean, it’s a pretty lame mission if you ask me.”

“Where are they from?” Alicia asked.

Aeron smirked. “McCarthy.”

“I don’t think they were on a legit assignment,” Luke added. “The girl was talking about her Aunt Janet sending them. It’s screaming rouge agent if you ask me.”

There was a soft knock and everyone looked toward the door. It was late to have any visitors. Decius went over to answer it. “Who is it?”

“It’s Sarah. I’m only being polite in knocking. Open the door.” She didn’t sound too happy, and Decius quickly opened the door for her.

“Everyone is safe and sound?” Sarah asked, as she did a quick head count—a habit from when they were younger. “It was nice to get a phone call so I didn’t have to come all the way over here.”

“We were getting to it,” Shannon said, with an apologetic smile. “We all just got back together ourselves.”

“It’s alright,” Sarah amended, smiling back at Shannon. “I had to come anyway. I got an alert that the girl’s apartment security door was activated.” She rose an eyebrow. “Care to inform me of what happened?”

“I thought Jazz had been left in the apartment,” Aeron said quickly. “Shannon said she had grabbed him, but I didn’t see him in her arms. Turns out he was passed onto Alicia. It was my mistake.”

“I see,” Sarah said, but did not pursue. Whether because she believed it or because she knew they would say no more, Aeron wasn’t completely sure. “It is late; I have unlocked your door. I think it would be a good idea for you all to return to your own rooms.” She stood by the still open door while the girls gathered their belongings and headed back across the hall.

“I don’t know where Jazz is,” Aeron said, afraid wandering even into her brother’s room would set Sarah into a lecture.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine for one night,” Sarah said, looking back toward the door.

Aeron took the hint and followed the other girls across the hall, glancing back to see Luke staring after her.

***

Aeron sipped her third cup of coffee. She hated coffee but wanted to be coherent for this class. They had not gotten back to bed until close to two-thirty—for Aeron it was closer to five—and they were all grateful to be excused from morning Parkour. She had run the kiss over and over in her head. It was perfect, in the spontaneous, romantic way, except they hadn’t spoken about it.

The group sat in an old conference room which—with the cob webs and broken blinds—had clearly been neglected for years. She grabbed another doughnut and was surprised to see Victoria walk in. Victoria Grace was the head of the Guardian department, and highly respected in the assassin community.

“Technically speaking,” Victoria said, dropping a stack of folders on the desk and looking around, “this class does not exist. You are to be learning about something or another, but what I am going to teach you is much more important. The Institute does not acknowledge the information I will be sharing with you—for obvious, security issues—but we have come to the understanding that it is important. Please keep in mind, this class will be of much more use to some of you more than others.” She leaned against her desk and looked around the room. Aeron felt Victoria’s gaze linger on her.

“Now can anybody tell me what happens when you leave here in two years?” Shannon raised her hand. “Yes, Miss Gale?”

“We are emancipated from the Institute.”

“That is correct, but where will you go from here? Surely, some of you are raised into a family business of sorts?” This got a chuckle. Of course they were or they couldn’t have gotten into the Institute. “But do you know that there are more opportunities than you might imagine.”

“You could come back as an instructor,” Alicia said.

“Yes,” Victoria agreed. “Or what about attending a University? You have all earned an ample education to be accepted, or at least the skills to create an outstanding, reliable application. Let us see…Mr. Wayward. What are your plans after leaving the Institute?”

Luke looked up. It was odd to hear him called Mr. Wayward—Aeron had always associated that name with his father. He seemed to have the same feeling.

“Could you please call me Luke?”

Victoria nodded. “Of course. Your father was a magnificent man, I was sorry to hear of his death last year.”

Luke acted as if he hadn’t heard the last part, and answered her original question. “I am currently being trained to work under my Grandfather, although it is not my first choice. Given the option I would pursue a degree and possible set up my own line of connections outside the family business.”

“That is an excellent plan,” Victoria said. “Miss Seward, if given the option, what would you do?”

Aeron pulled her eyes from Luke, who had seemed to withdraw into himself at the mention of his father. She had never thought about college. She had never thought about what she could do when she finished training—join her father she supposed—but she wasn’t exactly sure what that would entail, considering he disapproved of every achievement.

“I’m not sure ma’am—”

“You may call me Victoria.”

“—Victoria. I have never given it much thought.”

“What if I told you, that we have had students leave here and join the ranks of such organizations as the C.I.A. or Blackwater. I knew a young man who was recruited to be a Marine Sniper, and one who eagerly joined the Navy Seals.”

“What about overseas?” Justin asked.

“Yes, we have some contacts overseas, but if you wish to discuss those, we should speak after class.”

“What is that considered, when you leave U.S soil?” Alicia asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, from our community here, as you’ve put it, is there support for overseas agents?”

Aeron clarified. “Wouldn’t it be considered traitorous to work overseas?”

“Would you consider an exchange student a traitor?” Victoria countered.

“Then it depends on what jobs you take,” Justin said. “If you’re going after terrorist or serial killers then no. If you are going after big names just for the money then, well yeah.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Decius interrupted. “Back up a second. So you are saying there are government agencies that are aware of where to find us?” he asked, concern clear in his voice. “I mean, if they can recruit from us, isn’t it only matter of time before they shut us down?”

There was a mumble of agreement, and Victoria raised her hand for silence. “No, no, not at all. They are of course aware that something has been going on in New York City, and across the nation for generations—and yes, at one time there was cause for concern. But we, as a community across the nation, have set up a network for our own.”

Aeron didn’t see how this system would work. Assassins agreeing and playing nice with each other? Luke seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “How can that work though? Wouldn’t one of the other schools—say McCarthy—from whom we have stolen assignments and jobs be likely to report us?” he asked.

“You’re thinking too small. School is just that—school. The world is large enough for many assassins to play, and to have a little competition,” Victoria said simply. “Besides, haven’t I pointed out that not all of you will be contracted out? Some of you may leave here and simply live on your family’s money, or you may find a passion much greater than this to pursue.”

It was a good point, Aeron agreed. She looked over to Shannon who had been surprisingly quiet this entire time.

“For next class,” Victoria continued, “write an essay on what your options are. Let me be clear to you—I am the only one who reads these. The Institute believes I am teaching you…” she looked into her folder and shuffled some papers around.

“Disguises,” Lesley chipped in.

“Oh right, those you will discuss in your Cover Story class, but we will spend a few days working on them as well. But whatever you put in these papers are confidential, and burned after reading. Have a good one.”

The class gathered their bags, and Aeron eyed Shannon again but she was already heading for the door. “Hey Shannon!” she called, and Shannon hesitated at the stairwell.

“What’s up?” she asked, pretending she was straightening her perfectly placed red hair.

“No,” Aeron said, “What’s up with you? You usually are all over classes like this.”

“Can we just go out and get lunch and I’ll explain?”

“Sure,” Aeron agreed, looking around for Luke—but he had already disappeared. They headed to a Chinese place just a few blocks away. They didn’t speak until their food came and each had taken a few bites. Aeron wanted to pounce and get Shannon to spill whatever was weighing so heavily on her. But when she went to ask, Shannon blurted out, “Keara joined the IRA.”

“What?” Aeron asked, taken aback by the abruptness.

“I’ve been courted by them as well—I haven’t said yes or no, but—”

“Shannon, take a breath. What has this got to do with anything?”

“Well, in Victoria’s class, you asked about overseas. I didn’t realize you were so opposed…”

“I’m not opposed!” Aeron said shocked. “I was just curious. I’ve seriously never thought about life outside of my family’s legacy. Actually,” Aeron continued in an undertone as the waitress refilled their waters. “I don’t even know what role I’ll play in the family business. My father has made it pretty clear I am a disappointment.”

“Aeron, you can always come with—”

“Shan, I know we’ve had this discussion before, and I can’t just leave Decius. I can’t leave my mother.” They finished their meal in silence.

Aeron headed back to the apartment, deciding to skip medical class. She wasn’t in the mood for Figg, and the thought of seeing Luke…Aeron wanted a full night’s sleep before that conversation.

“You know you’re only giving her more ammo against you!” Shannon called after her, as Aeron descended the subway stairs. Aeron hesitated as she stepped off the elevator. Mason was leaning against the wall, his head down, waiting by her door.

“Hi, Mason,” Aeron called down the hall.

His head snapped up. “Thank god,” Mason said, pushing off the wall as she approached.

“I knew you’d skip medical. I heard how that class was going.”

“No offense, but why are you here?” she asked, unlocking her door and inviting him in.

He waited until she had closed and locked the door behind them before answering. “Two reasons. First, Molly’s going on her first assignment, and I was wondering if you could shadow her.”

Aeron paused on her way to the kitchen and looked back at Mason. “You would like me to shadow her?” She dropped into a stool at the breakfast bar. Shadowing a first assignment was an honor, usually taken on by a parent or bestowed upon a mentor. No one had shadowed Aeron on her first kill.

“If you don’t mind,” Mason said, taking a seat next to her. “You’re the closest person she has to a mother. And I’m far too nervous to follow—I might interfere.” He placed his hand on hers and she looked up into in chocolate brown eyes. “It would mean the world to her—to me.”

Aeron’s heart was racing. She stood quickly, sliding her hands out from his and went to retrieve a water from the fridge; the bottle shook. “Would you like a water?” she asked, trying to control her voice.

“I’m all set,” he said. “If you don’t want to—”

Aeron whipped around. “No! Of course I do. It’s such an honor, really. I was just remembering my first assignment,” she fibbed. “It’s been a while.”

“She’ll be glad to know you’ll be there.”

“When is it?” Aeron asked, her heart calming. Mason was her mentor, there was no need to be nervous. She leaned on the counter across from him.

“About three weeks. I know I’m jumping the gun, asking so early, but…”

“No worries,” Aeron said. “It’ll give me something to look forward to. Now what’s this other reason for a home visit from my favorite teacher?”

“Figg. Something must be done. Now I know those gears in your head are already spinning, just let me know if I can help.”

“How do you know about Figg?”

Mason laughed and leaned forward. “You only pass through those back doors in the gym when you’re on a mission. I happened to check your schedule and…well let’s just say I know she’s not who she says she is.”

There was a jingle of keys at the door, and Mason stood up suddenly and took a step back. Aeron hadn’t realized how close they had been. “I should go.”

“But what about Figg?”

Mason was at the door. “We’ll talk.” He slipped out just as the door opened and Lesley came in, quickly closing the door over.

She looked from Mason leaving to Aeron and smiled. “Do I even want to know?”

Aeron saw a movement behind Lesley. “Would you like some privacy for you and…”

Lesley blushed. “Right then. I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going to sleep for the night, I mean day. Just pass word I’m asleep.” Lesley nodded.

Aeron went to her room. Jazz purred and wound around her ankles. “Hey Jazz,” she said affectionately, glad to see he had returned home. She tossed him some treats and headed to the bathroom. She would enjoy a hot bath, and a long night’s sleep. Too bad it didn’t happen.