Chapter 9

Ilana got out of her car at least twelve blocks away from the apartment she was supposed to go to and began her walk along the dark street.

She usually never drove to her missions. Cars were too risky and the chance of getting caught doubled whenever a car was involved. But today, she felt lazy and a little too confident. She’d been doing this for fifteen years now. She had earned the right for a little rest.

The silence around her was thick, pressing onto her ears and she looked around, trying to spot the cause but she saw nothing. Extreme silence had never meant good.

There was not a single soul roaming the street. It was only 1 in the morning but there was always someone. A drunk stumbling out of a pub or the whining of a child from an open window.

West creek was devoid of life. Ilana bit the inside of her cheek, feeling the familiar rush of excitement wash through her. A fight was coming and she was so ready for it.

She mentally counted through her daggers. Two in each arm band around her lower arm, concealed by the full sleeve shirt she’d choose to wear. Two sheathed and tucked in each shoe. Four in her waistband and four in her two back pockets.

Twelve in total. There was also a gun in her waistband even though she had always believed that it was a messy, unnecessarily loud weapon. Not to mention, it left too much to chance. All the more risks of getting caught, if anyone found a wayward bullet or gunpowder. But Vincent, her trainer, insisted that she keep it with her during missions.

“You have to be prepared for the worst of scenarios, Ilana. What if you run out of the absurdly little amount of knives you carry?” 

But Ilana had never run out of knives. There had been quiet one on one fights and then there had been fights where Ilana had faced five, ten, fifteen grown men and she had never run out of knives.

“I’m not stupid, Vincent. I know where and how to strike,” she had replied.

And that was true. She wasn’t the favourite or the most senior among the brood just because she could play pretend. Ilana had learned every single skill Helene had wanted her to and then she had perfected those skills until she could do them even in her sleep. She had proved herself over and over again.

It wasn’t only because she had desperately sought Helene’s approval. It was also because it would, in the end, fulfil one of her own vendetta.

A sound made her look towards her left. The area was covered with wilderness, thick bushes and jumbles of old trees.

Ilana silently pulled out a knife from her waistband and melted into the shadows, becoming one with them. 

Someone walked into her line of sight but she couldn’t make anything out except a silhouette in the terrible darkness.

She kept the grip on her dagger tight but she knew whoever it was, couldn’t see her. She knew how to become invisible. Now that was something Helene had never had to teach her. Ilana had learned all that by herself.

When your childhood was filled with slamming doors and broken dishes, you learn to become invisible. You learn to not be seen when you aren't desired. You learned how to melt into stone walls and pieces of furniture so you wouldn’t become the target of the storm.

The almost dead lampposts flickered weakly and Ilana caught a sight of the figure that had come out of nowhere.

It was someone from Helene's brood. She knew the face but she could never remember the names.

She frowned to herself and moved out of the shadows, moving towards the person. Even in the eerie silence, her footsteps made no sound.

She reached him and then pressed her knife against the back of his knife.

The kid yelped, almost jumping out of his skin as the gun clattered out of his hands.

Ilana held back the profanities that gathered at the tip of her tongue. Helene had sent her some squeamish newbie.

“State your business,” she demanded, her voice rough and heavy.

“I…er… I was just walking the street,” he whimpered. Dear God.

“Seriously kid?” She asked, pulling the knife away, her voice back to its original pitch.

He turned around, hands raised in surrender as he stared at her with wide eyes. 

Ilana didn’t blame him for not recognizing her. Her brown hair was tied in a tight bun and covered with a loose scarf. She had worn fake glasses and a mask to cover her face.

She pulled her mask down and the boy almost fainted with relief right then and there when he recognized her.

“Miss. Denvers. I'm… err… sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

She rolled her eyes, pulling the mask back up.

“Pick up the gun. And being prepared for the unexpected is what you need to learn or you’ll end up dead in a ditch somewhere.”

He paled even more, if that was possible.

“I’m new. I’ll learn, I promise.”

“I have no need for your promises, kid. What are you doing here?”

“Ms. Helene sent me.”

“She told you why?”

“Err… just that I needed to learn and you are the best.”

She spun about to face her and he took a terrified step back.

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t do her babysitting. Leave.”

She left him wide eyed and moved ahead. She was only a few steps away when she heard footsteps behind her.

“Oh, kill me now,” she muttered to herself, stopping and turning around to face the kid.

“Please Miss. Ilana. Please. Ms. Helene would be really mad if I returned.”

She wanted to scream but she bit the inside of her cheek. Helene really was getting on her last f*ck*ng nerve.

“Fine but you’ll pick a corner and you’ll hide and you’ll observe. If you’re seen, then and only then will you use your gun. And for god's sake, try not to drop it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am or miss. Ilana is fine.”

“Okay,” he nodded, following after her.

She pulled in a breath. “You’re going to wake the whole town up if you continue walking like this. Put more weight on your toes than your whole foot. You’ll make less noise that way.”

“Okay,” he said and Ilana noticed the footsteps getting a little quieter. It was still loud compared to Ilana, whose feet seem to hardly touch the ground as she walked but it would do.

There was a fight coming and she wasn’t going to let anyone, even this kid, ruin it for her.