The Competition

Chapter 2: Last Mission

"You will go to university." My father's voice cut through my thoughts like a blade, startling me out of my reverie. I hadn't expected to hear those words from him, and they hung in the air, heavy with implication.

"What? Is this your punishment? Because you know that's pointless. The universities around here are beneath my level." I replied, a mix of disbelief and defiance in my tone. It was the truth. I had amassed knowledge and skills that left the students-and even the professors-at these institutions quaking in their boots. To me, universities were little more than elaborate scams designed to funnel money and time.

"The university you'll be attending isn't local, and that's not what matters," he replied, his tone steady and unyielding. He sank into the sleek leather couch in the room, two magnificent tigers lounging on either side of him. The way he absently stroked one of their heads revealed his comfort in power, but the gleam in his eyes spoke of something far more serious.

"Blackwoods," he finally stated, revealing the family he had long sought to destroy. The name sent a chill down my spine; the Blackwoods had been a formidable enemy for as long as I could remember, a threat looming over our family's legacy.

"They're expanding their territories in the States, and I need you there," he continued, his gaze piercing into mine.

"How does this relate to a university?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"I've received word that the heir of the Blackwood family will be attending this university. They're desperate for a strong leader to help them grow their influence, especially now that the patriarch is beginning to show signs of weakness."

"Then why not seize the opportunity? Strike while their pillar is unsteady," I suggested, a tactical impulse taking over.

He chuckled, a dry sound that echoed in the spacious room. "You underestimate them. They know you better than you think. Do you really believe we're the only ones considering that strategy?" He stood, his formidable figure illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, muscles flexing as he moved. "Many have attempted that approach, but we understand that the Blackwoods always have something hidden in reserve, which is why no one has been able to eliminate them so easily."

Our family's rivalry with the Blackwoods was a long and convoluted saga, one that left me with more questions than answers. They were the one family about which my father and brothers remained unusually tight-lipped. All I knew was that the Blackwoods had betrayed us long ago, and this betrayal was considered unforgivable. Now, as my father warned, they were aggressively extending their reach-from Japan to Europe and, now, as it appeared, to America.

I felt the weight of this new responsibility settle heavily on my shoulders. With just four months left until I turned eighteen, the agreement governing my life would finally come to an end. The prospect of freedom loomed just over the horizon, but the tasks ahead felt daunting.

"What do you want me to do, then?" I asked, sitting upright on the floor, deliberately avoiding his gaze. The shadows cast by his imposing figure were enough to remind me of his authority without needing to see his face.

"Half of the Blackwoods' agenda has been secretly revealed to us, and we intend to use this to our advantage," he replied, his tone unwavering.

"What a stroke of genius from Alexie," I interjected, referencing my third brother, who possessed an uncanny talent for investigation and espionage. He had an innate ability to infiltrate and extract information from every rival we encountered, a skill that often left us one step ahead.

"The family heir seems to have plans to dominate the largest university in America, capitalizing on the properties they've acquired to cater to students. This institution could serve as a significant front for their underground operations and a means to exert control over the city, eventually reaching into the pockets of government officials and beyond," he elaborated, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the unfolding strategy.

"You already have Alexie spying on them. Why not let him continue your plans instead of me? I bet you won't tell me the specific reasons if I ask why I need to make them kneel and beg for their lives. Alexie knows every detail. How can I dominate them if I don't have enough information?"

Confusion washed over me. Why was this burden placed on my shoulders when I was kept in the dark about so many crucial aspects of this rivalry?

"Have you grown weak since you ran away from us?" he challenged.

"No, but I know you'd find me eventually," I replied defiantly.

"It's not the right time for you to know everything, Alynna. Just do as you're told, and you will get what you want."

I chose to ignore his initial words; it was his final statement that ignited a spark of determination within me.

"Yes, Father," I said firmly before stepping out of his room. His dark presence lingered behind me as I disappeared from his sight.

As I closed the door, I spotted Alexie leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face as if he had been eavesdropping all along."So, your last mission, huh?" he remarked, pushing himself off the wall to stand in front of me. I could tell from the gleam in his eyes that he relished the tension I was feeling. "If this turns out well and you don't die, I'm going to miss you."

"As if it matters whether I die or move away-you'll never truly miss me, Alexie," I shot back, shoving him aside as I brushed past him. "Admit it; fear is starting to linger in you." He clicked his tongue in annoyance at my words.

I headed straight to my room, determined to change out of my bloody nightgown and take a proper shower. However, when I opened my wardrobe, I was met with empty shelves. Just then, Alexie strolled into my room, and as my eyes scanned the space, I noticed that my personal items had never returned-something I expected ever since they captured me.

"Searching for something?" Alexie asked teasingly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. I shot him a poker-faced look, waiting for him to explain what was going on this time.

"All your things are packed up. You'll be leaving in two hours," he stated casually.

Surprise washed over me. I hadn't anticipated their plans would unfold so quickly and at the same time the smell of blood and the sting of my wounds were becoming increasingly irritating. I couldn't leave like this.

"Grandma will be here any moment now. Father already informed her what to do with you before you leave." He continued, stepping closer with a blue garment box, elegantly wrapped with a ribbon on top. "Wear this after you clean up. Everything else is settled for your flight; your presence is the only thing missing on the plane. They're waiting for you."

"What about you?" I asked, hoping for a moment of reassurance.

"Father has a different task for me," he replied, his voice growing distant as he turned away. As he disappeared from my sight, my grandmother entered the room gracefully, her arms laden with herbal remedies. Her eyes, though soft and wrinkled, held the same sharpness as my father's, and I braced myself for the inevitable lecture, given my injuries.

"You know, Alynna, you're the only one in this family who keeps putting my remedies out of stock," she began, a hint of exasperation in her tone. I couldn't help but smirk as I settled onto my bed, ready for her to perform her rituals on me.

As the plane soared higher, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. Whatever awaited me on the ground, I would face it head-on. I was ready to embrace my fate, armed with my own resolve.

****

Stepping into the VIP business class on the plane, a sense of liberation washed over me. This was the first time I would embark on a mission without my brothers by my side-an unusual circumstance that felt both exhilarating and daunting. The only company I had was Sean, a butler whose presence I couldn't quite understand. My father had insisted on his assistance, but I couldn't fathom the reason for it, especially since Sean was someone I had known since childhood, albeit as a mere shadow in the background.

"I'll be outside your room, Ms. Alynna. Just press the button beside your seat if you need me," Sean said, his voice steady yet respectful as he stepped out of my VIP suite, leaving me alone in the plush confines of the aircraft. I appreciated his discretion; he knew better than to intrude on my thoughts during such a critical moment. Sean had been working for my family for as long as I could remember, and while he was only three years older than me, I often found myself questioning how he ended up in our employ. But those musings felt trivial now-none of it mattered in the grand scheme of what lay ahead.

As the plane ascended into the sky, I settled into my seat and gazed out the window, the world below shrinking into a tapestry of colors and shapes. My heart raced with anticipation and anxiety. What awaited me at my destination? Who would be waiting to challenge me? The thought of war loomed like a shadow, threatening to engulf me in uncertainty.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I was no stranger to conflict; I had faced countless battles before, but this time felt different. This mission was mine alone. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on my shoulders, mingling with a flicker of excitement. With every passing moment, I felt closer to discovering my own strength, untethered by the expectations of my family or the judgments of my brothers.

As the plane soared higher, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. Whatever awaited me on the ground, I would face it head-on. I was ready to embrace my fate, armed with my own resolve.