CLAIMED BY THE REGENT

4 and 5

The morning came after a very long night.

The previous night was quite eventful both for the clan members and Catherine herself.

When she finally came awake,her eyes ran into Nyxara who was seated before the mirror nurturing her marks with a really hard face. She wore nothing except a bra and jogger pants.

Her hair looked shorter now and in a firm ponytail.

Catherine pulled herself up watching her quietly.

The marks that spread all over her skin seemed so painful and she could only wonder.

Did Void really do all this?

When Soline had told her that Nyxara is Void’s sëx slave,she was rather surprised.

Since Nyxara got to the clan according to what Soline knows, she's only been ‘pleasing’ Void.

And it was far from pleasure on Nyxara's part.

She was more like a tool for carrying out insane acts.

She glanced at Soline’s bed where she laid,fast asleep. The blanket she had covered her properly and for a moment, Catherine thought she was seeing things.

Her stomach looked big.

She shook her head and looked away to face Nyxara again. That was when she noticed a tattoo on her neck.

It was a skull with bones and pretty weird too.

“Does it hurt?" Catherine finally asked. Nyxara said nothing and Catherine sighed, getting off the bed quietly.

" I don't know why you seem really hateful towards me but it's ok. I'm learning to mind my business –”

" Well you better do.” Nyxara cut in flatly and stood up going to trash the used cotton wool in the bin. Afterwards,she grabbed a shirt lying on her bed and pulled it on, leaving the bedroom.

She slammed the door noisily and that woke Soline up.

" How harsh.” Catherine scoffed and faced Soline who yawned coming awake.

“Rise and shine sleeping beauty." She grinned and Soline smiled sweetly.

Her sleepy eyes finally cleared up and she looked around.

“Did Nyxara just leave?" She asked and Catherine nodded.

“Have any idea where she went?" She asked too and it was Soline's turn to nod.

“Self training. She does that every morning. Especially when she is in a bad mood." Soline informed and that confused Catherine.

“Training? Isn't she a member of the Velvet Circle?" She had to ask. Soline climbed down her bed yawning again.

“Yes. She is."

“So why is she training?" Catherine questioned more.

“Oh. You weren't told." Soline muttered and made way to wash her mouth.

“Anyone is free to join the Unblooded but even if you do,you must stay in your first assigned post." She told and Catherine drew close.

“Which means you could also get in the same position as me?"

“Exactly." Soline confirmed. “But I am not interested. Especially not with how dangerous it is." She muttered and her mind wandered to a certain memory.

The last thing a person would willingly want is to be Unblooded.

The steps to finally getting into the night blade is never easy and every time Soline looks at Catherine,she feels so much for her.

The Unblooded would ruin her completely. Just like the way it ruined Nyxara. So they say.

“That reminds me." Catherine said. Her eyes now eyed Soline's body then she looked back at her face. “What station were you assigned to?" She asked and Soline stopped her brushing.

Her eyes slowly moved to look at Catherine.

Catherine could see how pale she was turning and that confused her so much.

“Oh. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have." She quickly apologized and Soline sighed.

She washed her mouth and the toothbrush before facing Catherine.

Their eyes held in a gaze for a while until Soline reached to take off the sweater.

It was something Catherine didn't understand. The night was hot so why was she wearing that to bed even with the blanket?

As the sweater lifted, Catherine's eyes widened at the same pace until her jaws nearly dropped to the floor.

She could now see the bump as Soline rubbed and held it.

“I am part of the bearers." Her faint voice spoke and Catherine dragged her gaze back to her face.

Her expression was sunken and that broke something in Catherine.

“I…I am so sorry. I didn't…” she stuttered really dazed and wasn't even able to finish saying anything.

" It's fine. Being a bearer isn't really all that bad. Just the process.” Soline muttered going to the wardrobe and Catherine gave way.

She felt so curious to know exactly what the process is all about but what she saw in that hall the previous night was more than enough to answer it.

Maybe Soline actually experienced something like that.

Wow.

" We should get set for the day. There's a lot of places in the clan you might want to see before your training starts officially.” Soline informed and Catherine nodded slowly.

*

**

The dining hall was not as full as it used to be on a normal day and Soline noticed.

She and Catherine went to get their meal. But a weird identity confirmation was being used.

Soline had to show her wrist which had a symbol of a small hollow circle.

That was when her portion was served.

“Show me yours.” The grumpy lady behind the bar demanded,eyes fixed on Catherine who was confused..

" I .. I don't have one.” She stuttered.

" Oh! You are the redhead huh?” The grumpy lady said, eyeing her badly. " Word has traveled fast about you. Void chose you huh? Happy death day in advance.” She hissed and roughly took Catherine's plate, dumped food on it and pushed it back at her.

" Next!” She called out sharply, looking away from Catherine.

" Let's go.” Soline urged and they left to find themselves a table to occupy.

" That was weird. Why is everyone on their tippy toes here? It's not like I killed someone.” Catherine sneered and turned each of her meals of baked beans and rice separately with her face crumpled.

“I can't eat this." She said and Soline who was already deep in her meal had to look up, surprised.

“You can't? Well let me have it. You cannot be picky here unless you want to starve." She advised and Catherine shook her head.

“You don't understand. I am an ulcer patient. This would trigger my issue and I don't think any medical care here would be able to handle it." She explained and Soline muttered an 'oh'.

“I didn't know." She mumbled and watched Catherine, really worried. “ What would you have now? We could try the vending machine. The only thing is that I have little money on me." She offered and that caught Catherine's attention.

“But you said you don't get paid." She reminded and Soline nodded with a smirk.

“I don't. But I get care for my pregnancy. It is registered and I received packages weekly. The thing is that I don't use it often so I trade with my colleagues. Cool cash.” She explained with a proud smirk and Catherine had to laugh.

" You are so smart. Damn! I'm glad I am your roomie.” She admitted.

" Oh!” Soline gasped looking behind Catherine then began to wave frantically.

" Over here!”she urged and Catherine had to turn around when she saw a girl and a guy approaching their table.

She faced Soline again.

" Who are they?” She had to ask.

" My friends.” That was her simple response. The girl sat next to Soline and opposite Catherine and the guy sat next to Catherine and opposite Soline.

" Is she the redhead everyone's talking about?” The girls asked, adjusting her round glasses with her eyes fixed on Catherine who was looking between the two strangers who just joined their table.

The girl had her hair dyed blonde and blue. It was packed in two separate buns and tendrils close to her ears. Her piercings were insane and one look at her,one could tell she is not one to mess with.

Catherine looked at the guy seated next to her and he smiled, waving at her.

“Hello there.” He said and Catherine forced a smile before facing Soline.

There was no need trying to check him out. One look is enough to tell that he is hot as hell.

" Mind introducing?” Catherine asked Soline who nodded.

Her energy is just out of this world and it made Catherine smile.

" This ..” she pointed at the girl who was chewing hard on a bubble gum and that was when Catherine noticed.

She came with no food tray. Just a pack of happy hour.

"...is Galaxy. She is among the elite tech wiz we have in the clan.”

Wow. Catherine was blown away.

" Hello Catherine.” Galaxy said, waving her short almond nails polished blue and Catherine smiled faintly.

" Hello Galaxy."

So they have tech wiz here? What more shady things go on around here?!

“The hot stuff sitting right next to you is–”

" Rickon.” He spoke up, interrupting Soline and Catherine looked at him again.

This time,she noticed his brown eyes as it dragged her in a kind of magnetic pull.

Then she broke it with a small smile.

" Hello Rickon." She said softly and looked away at Soline.

“He is a member of the Night Blades." Soline told and that truly impressed Catherine.

“Rank V5." He quickly added and Catherine looked at him again.

“I have no idea what that means." She admitted.

“You will eventually." Galaxy said and Catherine looked at her. “I heard you are in the Unblooded now. Hopefully,you pass that level into the night Blades. That's the only way your life is guaranteed. At least." She told and that sent a warning feeling deep in Catherine's gut.

Soline nudged Galaxy quickly.

“Ow!" She cried.

“Why would you say that to her?" She demanded and Galaxy shrugged.

“If we are meant to be friends with her too then the least we could do is stay transparent. She needs to know that anyone who fails to upgrade from the Unblooded gets wasted or probably joins the Velvet Circle or Bearers. No offense.” Galaxy was so directional and that amused Catherine but also shocked her.

The things she said shocked her.

" And how much time do I get to upgrade?” She asked.

" Three months max. Void doesn't do well with weaklings. I for one am glad my genius got me my position. He was about to turn off the light in my life. God bless my sweet soul.” She swooned dramatically and Catherine had to laugh despite how serious things sounded.

" Wow. You are lucky.” She had to admit then faced Rickon.

" And you? How long did it take you to upgrade?”

" Two weeks.” He admitted truthfully.

" Wow.” Both Catherine and Soline marveled.

" You didn't tell me!” Soline exclaimed and he shrugged.

" Our conversations never really got there.” He defended and she playfully reached to smack his arm and he laughed.

Catherine had her gaze fixed on his face until he looked at her, smiling.

" I believe with how feisty you are,you would get out of there in a week.” He hyped and Catherine choked on her own saliva before quickly reaching for her cup of water to drink.

That was like hoping the sea dries out She doesn't even know how to set punch not to talk of joining the most elite assassins and fighters known and feared .