The sun was just visible through the cluster of clouds. The bright yellow colour squeezing through the creases, desperate to be seen. It had been a long time since I last saw the sun and clouds, when I was younger I used to sit in the garden for hours just staring at them. Making up stories about the shapes the clouds formed, even alone I could keep myself entertained. I missed the sun more than anything else, but at least I get to see it occasionally. My eyes followed the clouds as they started to disintegrate leaving the blue sky behind for the darkness to take its place. The stars shone, sparkling in the dark, it seemed impossible for there to be so many at a time. It looked so magical. The moon standing brightly where the sun once was. I’d seen thousands of moons- hundreds of thousands, but it was still as beautiful each night.

A swift kick to my chair leg brought my attention from the painted ceiling of the school hall to the person next to me. Annie. I made little attempt to make friends with the other girls in our dorm but Annie was the exception. With a face permanently smiling, it was hard not to like her. She was as kind as she was beautiful- which couldn’t be said for many vampires around. She’s the only person you find smiling after been woken up at sundown and dragged across the grounds for what looked to be another one of Kian’s lectures. Most looked like they had died all over again, half weren’t even fully dressed.

“Any idea what this is about?”

“How should I know?”

“Obviously cause you’re Kian’s favourite. I bet you get all the gossip on what’s going on” She winked at me. I could tell from her tone of voice she was joking, but even with Annie I had to be careful. Being a master vampires favourite never lead to anything good.

I decided to ignore that last comment. “I’m not his favourite” Then before she could open her mouth again, “We both know that Eva was his favourite, and that’s not like it’s going to change anytime soon.”

Eva. She really had been Kian’s favourite. She was one of the few of us to have been turned by Kian himself, and with the majority of her other ‘sibling’s’ disappearing and being slain by hunters, she was pretty much the only ‘daughter’ Kian had left.

“Yeah well, that still doesn’t answer my question” Annie shifted throwing one leg over the other gracefully, and then at my confusion, added, “What are we doing here? I mean come on, what’s so bad that can’t wait until late evening at least.”

“Like I said how the hell should I know what’s going on.”? Straightening my back in the chair, I envied Annie’s grace and how she wasn’t in the habit of slouching whenever she parked her backside. “Trust me, I know about as much as this as everyone else.” I pulled my legs in to let someone pass.

The room was starting to fill up more now, the last remaining seats were claimed, not like there was that many in the first place since some vamps had decided to destroy a bunch during the last meeting after Kian announced that feeding was restricted to once a week. To say that had gone down badly would be an understatement; one vamp had foolishly tried to attack Kian. That was where I stepped in. The fool was so consumed with his rage he failed to notice when I pulled out my sword, and by the time he realised he has less than a second before I took his head clean off.

That had certainly shut the rest of them up but Kian wasn’t pleased. He knew that the rest would be even angrier knowing they couldn’t resist.

“Do not use death as a weapon. Death creates fear, and fear creates anger. One angry vampire is nuisance. A horde of angry vampires is a war.”

That’s what Kian had said, when he lectured me again. I’m sorry but what the hell was I supposed to do? You trained me as an assassin; you trained me to kill others to ultimately defend you. Talking may solve some issues but that was certainly not one of them.

“Well, whatever this is about I hope it doesn’t take too long, there’s a new camping ground about 3 miles down the eastern road. Me and some of the others were gonna sneak out and see what there is to offer, wanna come?”

“You know Kian would kill you if he found out?” Her smile morphed into a full on grin.

“Well he won’t have to find out, will he?”

I sighed, “I won’t come but I won’t say anything either, and don’t look at me like that! I really don’t feel up to trapeezing 3 miles down the road to find what might not be more than scraps of bones. Maybe next time.”

She looked satisfied, but then I doubt anything could wipe that smile off her face, this wasn’t the first time I’d been invited to something similar. The last few occasions I said yes were filled with tension. Turns out the idea that I’m Kian’s favourite is something that is widely believed, I spent the majority of the last hunt watching my back more than drinking.

“Fine suit yourself, but the offers still open in case you change your mind. We leave at 2.” She turned back around just as Kian stepped on the stage.

The heel of his boots clicked against the wood as he strode forward in strong yet graceful manner. His face shone with the light of the moon peeking through an uncovered window, causing the black in his eyes to contrast vividly against the whiteness of his face. Kian stood elegantly, his black hair falling past his cheeks to his shoulders in waves, as he folded his hands behind him, silently watching the crowd interact. His eyes flashed to mine; briefly, silently he nodded, then without waiting for a response turned back towards the crowd. The crowd silenced under Kian’s stare, they may not agree with his ruling but they respect him. Well, most did anyway; many had formed an alliance to rule against Kian. A few weeks months back our master ruled against the needless slaughtering of humans, claiming that with our hunger we were becoming reckless. After a family of five were found dead by the humans, some of ours began to disappear. Hunters had managed to track us down, following the trail of bodies had lead them to a few miles from our old home. It wasn’t as though we weren’t strong enough to fight against them, Kian simply forbade it. Said that killing would lead to more killing, and eventually we would end up with a war against hunters. Most of the clan didn’t see this as a problem, feasting on the hunters would get rid of the majority of our problems. Most humans were either too stupid or too scared to believe in us, making it all the more easier to creep up and feed while they sleep. The clan divided then, those who swore an oath to serve Kian followed to Whitmoore boarding school, while the others remained to take their chances. But even those who followed were not happy, our master was developing a dangerous reputation, any more rules and it’s likely that I, as Kian’s best assassin, will have a very busy schedule.

He cleared his throat, the small sound vibration against the walls. No one moved, the room remained silent, transfixed as Kian spoke. “My family. I begin by thanking you for attending this abrupt meeting, I understand that many of you wish to spend most of your nights relaxing, before attempting to sneak out and disobey my rules.” Annie stiffened. She wasn’t the only one, others had been doing the same, the only reason I’d done it myself was in retaliation to the lectures he kept giving me. He never understood that what I did was only to help the clan, any suggestion or idea to help he would just shoot down. As an assassin, suggestions were not my job, and instead I am required to sit down, shut up, and do as I’m told when I’m told to do it.

A small frown graced his face, “Alas, your disobedience is not why I call you at this hour. The fate of my last remaining daughter is known.” His head fell forward as though he were in prayer. “It was hunters which took my Evangeline’s eternal life.” The crowd roared, shouting for vengeance. Vampires jumping out of their seats, screaming in anger at the killers who were not there.

“Now now, my family, let us not get ahead of ourselves.” His bony hands spayed out in front of him, as though he were trying to tame a mutt. “In order to get the compensation we deserve, we shall have to think logically. I understand that my views are ones in which many of you disagree, but in order to remain in this clan those rules are still in effect. Therefore I made the decision to send my most lethal assassin Zada to capture the young son of this hunter and bring him to me.”

I could feel a hundred eyes on me, but mine were on him. He met my stare with an expression of determination; I could tell there was no use in arguing. Once Kian had made a decision, there was little anyone could do to change it. The crowd was murmuring to each other, I could hear each word perfectly.

“- I can’t believe Eva’s gone, I wish I could be the one to-“

“Seriously? Zada? Yeah she’s good at killing vamps but let’s face it, she won’t stand a-“

“There’s no way she’ll be able to control herself around him. Bet you fifty quid that she drinks within the first-“

“Kian’s losing it. He won’t be able to carry this on for much longer. It’s only a matter of time before they atta-“

Their voices were mingling into one attack heading straight towards me. My eyes flicked around the room, all I could see was vamps whispering about me, vampires all huddled together to attack their prey-

“HEY EVERYBODY! WHY NOT SHOW SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OUR OH MIGHTY HERO”

Haytham. I closed my eyes briefly to calm down. I was glad for the interruption, even if he was just going to mock me.

“COME ON THEN BLONDIE! STAND UP AND SHOW US WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!” His mocking drew little laughter from the crowd. Many looked to Kian to see his reaction, but he merely looked as stone faced as ever.

 “Well come on then. Got anything to say?” He stalked towards me with a dangerous smirk on his face. “SPEECH! COME ON, SPEECH” His velvety voice transformed into a roar, this time a small number of his ‘followers’ joined in with his laughter. “You’ve got to have something to say in return for this generous offer. No?” His headed cocked to the side, resembling an owl. His teeth gleaming in the light of the candles.

“Enough Haytham” The firm voice was only one who could control Haytham, and even that was to an extent. Being Kian’s oldest remaining ‘son’ he listened to no one else. With black hair, which fell to his cheekbones, he originally started the rioting against Kian to remain at our old home. He remained behind but showed up on the doorstep of Whitemoore less than a month later, not to mention alone. He’d been forgiven for his betrayal, on the condition that he didn’t cause trouble and stayed low, which until now he’d somehow managed to do.

Haytham matched Kian’s glare with a smirk before sinking into a bow, turning on his heels and left. The rest followed, leaving only myself still seated.

“Well I suppose a good luck would be in order” Annie swept her hair over one shoulder as she stood, I followed suit.

“Only if you mean it,” I replied, teasingly.

“Oh well I take it back then” she said in the same tone. She smiled before making her way to the exit. She sent a small wave in my direction as I watched her go. Her red hair bouncing against her shoulders as she walked out of sight.