Prentice

CHAPTER 4

May 8th, 2015.

Unknown Location. 09:45pm.

A crowd of assassins in black leather outfits and masks stood before a man in a red robe and a mask. He held up a bowl and exhaled, he drank from it and sent it round. The assassins took off their masks as the bowl reached them and sipped then passed it on to the next. The man in the red robe smiled and underneath his mask then collected the bowl from the last assassin. He put it down on the floor then looked at the assassins,

“Do as you have been told and may The Fallen be with you.”

The Prentice Chateau. 07:01am.

Dante sat in the cabin studied the card Elvis John had given him. He looked up to see Cassandra walking in,

“What’s the problem? Jacob said you were searching for me.” She spoke then looked down at the card, she became uneasy, “Where did you get that?”

Dante closed his eyes and the card levitated over to her,

“He met me.” He spoke. She grabbed the card then looked at Dante in shock,

“Look who’s learning.” She said and sat beside him. “Crazy stuff.”

“I had a dream, Raven was in it, grandma Sandy.” He muttered and sighed, “I hate this whole s**t, how did we ever get into this whole mess?”

“You have your father’s dumb memory but your mother’s intelligence.” She said and rubbed his hair playfully. She stood and looked at the card then up at him, “You have to tear it and you’ll be at the academy…but do it when you’re ready.” She muttered and handed the card back to Dante. He nodded and she walked off,

“I’m not ready.” He whispered and tucked the card in his pocket.

The Hale Lodge. 07:31am.

Irene walked into her room then put on the lights. She put down her bag then turned to see an assassin in a black leather outfit sitting by her window,

“Hello Miss Hale.” Irene moved back and rose her hands quickly, her eyes turned crimson, “I’m not here to hurt you.” The assassin spoke and stood up straight.

“What the f**k do you want?” she asked.

“Make Alexander go to Marvin.”

“No way.” She said and wove her hands then the assassin flew and smashed through her window. She ran over and looked out but the assassin was gone. Kurt ran into the room with a Kitana in his hand,

“You okay?” he asked and ran up to her,

“Yeah. Some assassin was in here.”

“Did he hurt you?” he said checking her face.

“No…” she looked back at her window, “No he didn’t.”

The Hale Lodge. 08:21am.

Dante and Richard dashed into the living room to see Irene sitting in the living room. Richard ran up to her and held her face, he pushed her hair back and kissed her softly,

“Who was it?”

“An assassin.” Kurt muttered from behind the counter table. Irene looked back at him,

“Give us some space, dad.” She said softly.

“No problem, baby. Later boys” He said and walked up the stairs. Irene looked at Dante,

“He wanted you.” Dante stood still as Richard looked back at him, “He wants you to come to Marvin.”

Dante lowered his head and sighed, he looked up at the two,

“That’s it. I’m going to that school, I can’t stand this anymore.”

“Dude, wait up. Marvin is not some school you get into and bother about bullies, if they found out that you’re in there, you’ll be dead before a month.”

“And that’s if you have control of your powers, you wouldn’t last a week in there.”

“Then how do we end this?” he asked. Irene rose up a broken piece of the window with some blood on it,

“We track down my attacker.” She whispered, “We need a tracker.”

“That’ll take time, I’ll do it quickly.” Richard muttered then collected the glass and stood up,

“No way, not happening.” Irene muttered and held his hand, “We’re close to a full.”

“What do you mean?” Dante asked looking at both of them. Irene turned her head to him,

“A full moon, he can’t control his other half during that period.”

“I can if I don’t take long.” He said and took off his jacket. Irene slapped his cheek then held his chin,

“That’s the problem d**k, you’re angry and that’ll not go well.” She looked at Dante then exhaled, “Go on, pretty boy, we’ll track down this assassin.”

Dante nodded,

“Be careful.”

“I will.” She said and smiled.

“I was talking to him.” He pointed at Richard, “I know you can handle yourself, Renee.” He said and turned to leave,

“Hey Dan,” Richard called, Dante looked back at him, “go get ready for that date of yours.”

“You know me too well, Dick.” He replied and walked out. Irene looked at Richard,

“He has a date? When were you going to tell me?”

“Just do your job and we can talk about it later.”

The Prentice Chateau. 09:00am.

Dante came up to the chateau to see a gray Ferrari in front. He looked at it and smiled. He walked in and ran into the living room,

“Whose ride is that?” he asked then stopped. A man in his early forties wearing a black suit and shirt stood and faced him,

“Hello Alexander.” He muttered in a cold mysterious voice. Cassandra smiled,

“Lemme leave two of you to talk.” She said and left the room. The man rubbed his wrists then smiled, he had snow-white hair just like every Prentice and blue eyes. He gestured Dante to seat,

“You seem to know who I am already, judging by your calm expression.”

“The hair and eyes help a bit.” The man chuckled,

“I’m Emiliano, your mum’s little brother.” He said with a grin.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He said with a smile, “I thought she was the only –.”

“She wasn’t, I didn’t use the family name in my businesses.” He said and looked around, “Tell me….is she still grumpy?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Hell yeah, as always!” he muttered and shook Emiliano’s hand, “Do I have cousins? Always wanted to have some.”

“Yeah, but they don’t know about the whole supernatural thing.” He said and stood. Dante followed, “Anyway, I got you a gift.” He said and tossed some keys over to Dante.

“The ride –.”

“All yours, you need a ride to that date of yours anyway.”

“This is awesome – how do you know about that?”

“I have my ways, just don’t tell Cassandra about it, she’ll think I’m a stalker.”

“No problem – how you gonna get home?”

“Got another ride waiting outside.” He walked out and a red Lamborghini drove into the yard. Dante smiled,

“Sweet ride.” He muttered.

“You can say that again.” He got in and lowered the window, “Give me a call, just ask my mum for it.” He said and drove. Dante looked down at the keys then walked over to the Ferrari,

“Test drive.” He said and jumped in. He put on the car and the engine roared to life, “Sweet!” He put the car in gear and drove out slowly.

Hale Sanctuary, Haven Forest. 05:45pm.

Irene sighed then dropped the glass. She looked up at Richard who was exhausted, he dragged himself on a chair and breathed heavily. Dante rushed in holding a knife, Irene looked him in shock,

“What is that for?!” she asked. Dante held up the blade, he looked at it and shrugged,

“I came prepared just incase anything creepy happens.” He muttered, “I’m getting used to these supernatural behaviors.” He put the blade on a chair then faced Richard. Irene looked as Richard covered his face and stood up, he dropped his hand then sighed,

“That was close.” He opened his eyes to reveal gold pupils, “I could have killed you all in a bite.” He muttered and rubbed his face slowly. Irene stood and held his hands, she hugged him and Dante smiled,

“I love it when you two get cute.” He said and stood, “The location?”

“Aspen. He stays in some safehouse.” Richard muttered. Dante smiled,

“Alright, I’ll go find him.”

“Nope, you’ll get killed.” He said and walked up to Dante, “My moon is close and I’m in the mood of killing an assassin.” He muttered then growled and leaned against a couch. Irene held him up then looked at Dante,

“Meet me here day after tomorrow and we’ll go after that assassin.” She looked at Richard, “I’ll have to calm his other half for the night.” She twirled her hand and a gold fog rose out of Richard and flew into a charm on her neck.

Haven Forest. 06:22pm.

Dante and Richard climbed out the hideout then locked flap. Richard looked round then held Dante back,

“We have company.” He said and sniffed. Black creatures soared around then surrounded the two, “And another.” Half a dozen assassins came out the darkness and surrounded them. The assassins pulled their blades and reduced the reapers to nothing. The assassins faced Dante and Richard immediately,

“Come with us, Prentice.” One of them muttered as it stepped forward, it pulled out its sword and rose it up at Dante. Dante frowned,

“I’m not going anywhere with anyone.” He announced then pointed at them all, “Nobody f***s with a Prentice and his people. Nobody!”

Richard smirked, his eyes turned gold as he took off his jacket,

“I couldn’t agree more.” He muttered revealing a flash of sharp fangs. The assassins looked at each other then nodded, they lowered their blades and disappeared into the darkness. One more stood and stared at the two,

“Good one, I’m impressed.” It muttered, “You will come to Marvin Academy and when you do, we will talk. Don’t think about finding me at that safehouse.” Richard sniffed then came beside Dante,

“He’s our guy.” He whispered. Dante stared at the assassin,

“Who are you?” he asked. The assassin cackled,

“I am the Shabh.” It said and walked away, “We shall meet again, Danti.”

The Prentice Family Room. 09:22pm.

Dante walked into the family room, he looked up at the portrait of James. He sighed then looked at his phone as a message came in,

I’ll see you tomorrow. It’s Candice by the way, :).

He smiled then looked up at the picture,

“I was gonna rain cusses on you for getting our family into this but I’ll keep it for another day.” He said and walked out the room then shut the door quietly.

May 10th, 2015.

Hale Sanctuary. 05:23am.

Dante climbed down the ladder then turned to see Richard chained up and Irene sitting in a corner. He rushed over to her and held her arms,

“Renee!” he shook her then she jerked awake and looked at him. He looked down at her wounds then looked back at Richard, “What happened?”

“We got attacked, he took out the big ones but he lost control and became wild so I brought him here.” She muttered then pointed at a crate, “Bring it down here.” Dante pulled the crate down then opened it to see charms and talismans. Irene inhaled then pulled off the charm on her neck then muttered something he couldn’t grasp, her wounds closed up slowly then she took a talisman and hit it hard against the wall, a white dust filled the room slowly then disappeared. She sighed and sat up, her wounds healed completely. Richard groaned then rose up his head and looked at the two,

“Nice to see that you’re both alive.” He muttered and let out a soft chuckle. Dante slumped back and sat against the wall, he looked up at the two then rose a finger with anger,

“Who?” he asked.

“Hollows.” Irene said then stood up slowly, “There’s too much supernatural activity happening in Haven valley.”

“Probably because of me.” Dante scoffed then stood, “I’m going to Marvin.” He took out a card then inhaled. Richard stood and held Dante’s arm,

“You have a date.” He muttered and smiled. Dante chuckled, he looked up at Richard and placed a palm on his cheek,

“f**k you, Dick.” He said and put the card back. He helped Richard sit then Irene cleaned his wounds. Dante cleared a table and sat watching the two. Irene kissed Richard then held his chin,

“My hero.” She whispered then caressed his face. Dante smiled, he stood and climbed out the sanctuary. Richard looked pass her then caressed her hair,

“I have to train him, he has to know how to watch himself in that graveyard.”

“Then do it after his date.” She said and kissed him softly.

Haven Forest. 06:05am.

Dante sat and watched as the sun rose in the sky. A figure walked out behind him then watched him, it was Richard. He sat beside Dante and was silent. A gazelle walked pass the two, it stopped then looked at them before walking off.

“You wanna get to Marvin?”

“And end this madness.”

“Then you have to be prepared.” Richard muttered and stood up, “I have three nights when my half goes wild and that’s today, tomorrow and the next.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I want you to fight him, you’re a Prentice and you will survive.” He said and smiled, “If you win, you get to go to Marvin…”

Dante frowned,

“And if I don’t?”

“You forget Marvin and let us handle it.” He said and smirked, “Are you scared?”

Dante stood up and came up face-to-face with Richard,

“I never back out of a fight.” He said and shook Richard’s hand.

“You backed out on Irene!” he yelled as Dante walked off.

“Don’t piss me off, Richard.” He rose a middle finger and disappeared.

Marvin Academy. 01:33pm.

Elvis walked down the hallway and into his office. He sat and inhaled then turned to see the assassin sitting behind him,

“Hello Mr. John.” The figure muttered then pulled his sword and pointed it at Elvis’ neck quickly. Elvis stood stiff then rose up a paper and handed it over to the assassin,

“All the locations, potential threats –.” The sword moved up to the cheek then lowered.

“You work well, Mr. John. The Fallen needs another favor from you.”

“Anything.” He muttered and looked at the sword.

“Leave the Prentice boy to us.” The assassin muttered and stood, it sheathed his sword then looked up at Elvis, “We know you sent the hollows and reapers to get him to come here but we can take it from now.” Elvis stood and scowled,

“Why?!” he asked. The assassin looked back at Elvis, it rose its hand and Elvis held his neck and choked slowly,

“Because we can make you suffer if you don’t.” It said and dropped his hand then Elvis gasped for air, “Have a nice day, Mr. John.” He said and walked out the office.

Tom’s Diner. 04:45pm.

Dante walked into the diner in a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and black ripped jeans. He walked to the back and sat then lowered his head onto his arms. He took out a card and twirled it in his fingers slowly,

“Dante,” he looked up to see Candice standing in a black crop top and denims, “you’re here early.” She said and sat. Dante hid the card then smiled, he shrugged his head and avoided eye contact,

“You look nice.” He mumbled and Candice blushed, she looked at him and held his chin, raising his face up,

“I never knew a Prentice to be shy.” She said and c****d her head slowly. Dante sighed and looked up at her,

“I’ve had bad relationships over the years. All ends up with them going after another guy…the last girl went for my best friend.” He muttered and exhaled, “Wanna go somewhere else?”

Candice stared and nodded, she stood and walked out and Dante followed behind. They stepped out the diner and she walked toward the bus stop and waited but Dante didn’t move. She looked back to see him waiting in front of the diner, she walked back to him,

“What’s wrong?” she asked. He took out his keys and smiled,

“I’ve got a ride.” He said and chuckled. Candice groaned and punched him playfully,

“You’re an asshole.” Dante walked into the lot and came up to a red Audi. She smiled and knocked on the windows of the Audi, “Let’s go.”

Dante shook his head and pointed at the next car and Candice stared at the gray Ferrari in shock. Dante opened the doors and looked at Candice,

“Will you get in or are you gonna absorb the beauty?” he asked and got into the car. Candice got in and the doors closed. He pressed the ignition button and the engine roared to life,

“Where do we go?” she asked. Dante looked forward,

“I know a place.” He said and drove off.

Haven Forest. 08:49pm.

Dante and Candice laid on the hood and watched the moon come out. Candice looked at Dante,

“It’s a nice full moon.” She muttered and a howl followed. She looked round, “And we’ve got wolves.”

Dante sat up quickly and gulped,

“Oh s**t!”

“What’s wrong?” she asked and sat up quickly. Dante looked round then noticed the gold eyes staring at them, she looked up to see a creature staring, “Oh!”

The creature stepped out of the darkness and growled at them. Dante looked at the long sharp fangs of the brown werewolf,

“Richard, calm down. This is too extreme.” He muttered and opened the door slowly. Candice looked at him,

“Dante?”

“Come down slowly and quietly.” He whispered. Candice gulped, got off the hood and came up to him, “Now get in and stay quiet.” She got in and Dante closed the door. The werewolf pounced but Dante slid underneath and ran into the forest. The werewolf chased after him immediately. Dante came up to the sanctuary then open the flap and climbed down. He took a baseball bat then climbed out and stood waiting. He gripped the bat and exhaled,

“Dante!” he heard Candice yell. She ran up to him and hugged him, “What is going on?”

“Trust me, you wouldn’t understand.” He said and looked round,

“I wouldn’t understand that your friend is a werewolf?” she asked and frowned. Dante shrugged and looked up as the werewolf stepped out,

“I guess you do understand.” He’s eyes turned dark blue, he looked at the werewolf and dropped the bat. Candice looked at him and held his wrist,

“Dante, you okay?” she asked. Dante nodded then picked the bat and sighed,

“I’ll kill him when this is over.” The werewolf growled and pounced. Dante swung and hit the werewolf but the bat broke, the werewolf smashed him to the floor and rose up its claw when Candice jumped on the wolf and stabbed it in the back with a long sword. The werewolf howled in pain and threw Candice off then ran into the forest. Candice groaned and stood up slowly to see Dante standing before her with the sword in his hand, “Where did you get –?”

“I saw it in the hideout.” She interrupted and looked round, “Where did he go?”

“I don’t know.” He muttered and rose the sword up to his face then noticed the wolf grip.

Haven Forest. 11:33pm.

Dante walked up to a cave and held the blade with both hands. He followed the trail of blood and came up to a naked boy,

“Richard,” he called and the boy nodded. Dante lowered the sword, “what the f**k happened to you?” he took off his jacket and handed it over.

“Day one.” He said and looked at the blade, “You were prepared.” Dante looked down at the blade,

“Looks like you guys had it in the hideout.” He muttered and handed it over but Richard shook his head,

“That’s silver-coated, it can kill me. I’d never keep one of those.” He said and left the cave. Dante forced the sword into a vine and followed Richard out the cave. Richard wore the jacket and pulled a pair of shorts from a hole in the cave, “So, Candice saw everything?”

“Yeah, she didn’t talk much as I drove her home.” He chuckled and looked at Dante, “You almost killed us, Dick.”

“Yeah, adrenaline can make you find out who you are.” He muttered and smiled. Dante frowned and pointed at Dante,

“That wasn’t the deal!” he yelled and stood. Richard lowered his head, his eyes turned gold and he growled,

“Calm down.” He looked up at Dante then walked off. Dante walked back into the cave then looked at the sword, he pulled it out and looked at the blade closely.

May 11th, 2015.

Tom’s Diner. 10:09am.

Dante walked into the diner and came up to the counter, the waitress looked up at him and smiled,

“How may I help you?” she asked. He looked round,

“I’m looking for Candice, the other waitress.” He muttered and she gestured to the back. Dante followed and stepped into an alley where Candice sat. She looked up at him and smirked,

“Dante,” she sat up, “come to check if I told anyone about you friend’s secret?” she asked. Dante grinned,

“If you say it like that, it sounds like I’m –.” She covered his mouth, shook her head then let go,

“I haven’t told anyone.” She said and looked away. Dante looked up at her, he folded his arms and stared, “I’m leaving, Prentice.”

“Where to?” he asked. She looked back at him,

“I came to see my uncle before I leave.” She muttered, “Tobias Wayne.”

Dante gulped,

“That is one creepy connection.” He muttered then rubbed his neck. She came up to him slowly then leaned in and kissed him softly, she opened her eyes and stared into his,

“I’ll see you some other time, Dante.” She muttered and walked back into the diner. Dante exhaled and took out the card, he twirled it then smiled and walked out the alley. He came out into the street and looked round, a man sat in front of the diner and looked over at Dante then smiled,

“We’ll be seeing, Danti.” he muttered then took a sip out his cup.