EVARA'S POV

I tightened the bandages on Irina's arm and I enjoy watching her flinched. How can she be so stupid to stopped a bullet with her limb. That's so reckless! "Evara.. you're going to kill her if that's how you treated her wound." Athena spoke out. I don't care. She's always endangering herself for the sake of others. Why can't she think of herself for a change.

"All done." I smiled and simply patted her wound. Irina closed her eyes while rubbing her arms. "You should know better than to injuring yourself. You old wounds haven't even heal yet." She sheepishly smiled at me. "It's just my instinct, telling me to protect everyone. Maybe it's in my gene to be protective."

"Since we're in Athena's room..." I turned to my ex. "Can you please tell your sister not to spy on us." Athena is confused as ever but when she looked at her door, Zinovia, Natalya and Annushka looked into the room, whispering something. "DONT SPY ON US!" Athena scream and startled them all. "I thought you all been gone by now."

"I have no concert to prepare for." Zinovia mentioned.

"My business can take care of itself." Natalya added.

"My fiancée went to Prague for a business trip." Annushka smiled at us.

They walked in and leaned in to Irina who's laying on this majestic bed. "I wonder." Zinovia said and grabbed her hands. "I know she's talented but what does it take for that girl to make it all possible." I am confused. What does she meant by that.

"She turned you to this being. Don't you feel pain?" Natalya sat next to her side. "I do feel pain. I can resist them far more better than other human if that's what you mean." What being? She's human herself. I felt someone touched my shoulder. "Hey, cook something. Remember that Borscht soup you made for me." I nodded.

"I'm sure Irina will feel better." Athena smiled at me and ushered me out of her room. I sighed and went to the kitchen. "What are you doing here?" Somebody asked me. When I turned, it's Gustow. "What does an Artem want from us?" He asked and face me. "Athena wants me to cook something for Irina."

He never liked me. After he knew my mission was to kill Athena, he disliked me to the core. "Oh really? Are you going to poison us all? Maybe you're here to finish your mission." Suddenly something flew towards Gustow's forehead and he bend down as he rubbed his forehead. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" He yelled at the person behind me.

"Your the oldest of the Vladimir siblings, have manners." It's Natalya. "Come on Evara. Let's go to the kitchen. I'll help you out." Come to think of it, Natalya always have my back when I'm still dating Athena. "Ignore that boy. He's being childish." She said when we both in the kitchen. "I'm curious about something." I voiced out.

"What is it?" She asked while filling the pot with water. "If you're here, who's taking care of the business back home?" She proceed to the stove and turned it on. "My girls will take care of business while I'm here. They're really reliable if I need them too." Girls? I thought her club has a host as well.

"Sometime the man is not reliable enough for me to trust upon. The girls promise to take care of stuff if not..." she looked up to me with a smile. "I'll punish them, sexily." She winked at me. That's Natalya for you. She can seduce anyone, anytime. Her looks are beyond and her hot body just screams perfection.

She's truly one of the many woman that could easily sweep you off your feet. "How are you, Evara?" She asked. "I'm fine. Just recently I feel trouble but nothing I can't handle." I smiled. "Athena is right. You are a bad liar. She told us about Empire. I, including Zinovia and Annushka will help you. After what happen, remember, we promise to have you back, correct?" Oh Natalya.

Sometime I think I don't really deserve their attention at all. But, they knew what happened to me and my late parents. "Tell me something, what happened back there? The cafeteria." I explained to her what had happened. She was surprised as well when I told her about how Irina could even stopped a swinging katana with her thigh and elbow.

"Seriously? You witnessed it?" I nodded. She's mysterious alright. All we know about her is she's an Audra." Suddenly I remembered about my promise to Varvara. Shit! Me and my big mouth! It was too late for me when Natalya stared at me. "She's an Audra? Like Larion's kid? If so, she's Alina and Maksim's little sister?!"

Now it's my turn to be confuse.

"If she's an Audra.. that's mean she's..." she shake her head and smiled. "It's impossible." She laughed and chopping the potatoes for me. She's what? What does she meant by that! It seems Natalya know something about Irina. "Do you know her siblings?" Natalya shrugged.

"At this point, I am not sure myself. But there's a way for us to know if what I'm thinking now is true." Really? "What is it? How?" I asked. She smiled. "Well, if you manage to see her wrist, there's a huge gushed from a blade. If that's there, that's mean she is the person who I think she is."

"What kind of person you think she is?" I asked again. "Oh in my mind right now, someone so dangerous, even the Volin chairperson is afraid of her." The further question I wanted to know, the more confusing it gets. But, Natalya gave me a weird vibe about just who Irina might be.

From all the experienced combat move she display in the try out and tonight's event, she might be as dangerous as what Natalya been thinking. Suddenly, Natalya decide to sit on the counter while crossing her legs. With her wearing a mini dress doesn't HELP AT ALL!

"Evara, you naughty girl... are you thinking of something sexy you wanting to do with me?" She flirtatiously said. I tried to ignored her but when she crossing her legs the other way, I can totally see her black panties. "Evara, darling... you naughty girl you." She giggled. I felt a sudden chill on my back.

Oh God, please help.

***

I sighed heavily when I'm alone at the upper balcony of Athena's mansion. After what happen in the kitchen with Natalya, I have no idea if I could look at her face to face anymore. Thank God Annushka decided to interrupted us. I was this close to have sex with Athena's older sister!

"You look pale. What's up?" Irina asked me. "By the way, that's a really delicious soup. Your a great cook. Thank you." I waved it off. "Just get yourself heal properly so you can be ready with The Game. Since we already received our first mission, only time will tell when will we going to attack." I seriously just made it sound like we're going for war.

"You sound like you're going for war. Well partially. We are going to hurt the other participant as well. But that would be fun." She actually enjoying it? "You know, this is the second year I'm joining The Game. Well for Varvara and Athena, it's their third year, but they both getting better in combat and gun handling. I'm a weak fighter. My only expertise is with a sword and a gun."

I sighed. "I don't fight well, I did try with Varvara. But, hitting people with my fist or legs, that's just my weakness." Did I just shared my insecurity to this new girl?! I never open up before. "Well, know how to fight doesn't make you a great assassin. It's how you can think of a way to be ahead of your target, now that's a assassin."

She just said something sound smart! "Did Audra thought you that?" She shake her head. "My sister did. Her name is Alina. She's one of the instructor in Audra. She thought me how to be aware of my surrounding and be smart to overcome any obstacle I may face in my mission." She turned to me.

"I am never a great fighter myself. My brother, Maksim, he thought me to be one. It's a long and tiring process, believe me. But when you manage to beat your own mentor, that's the best feeling ever." She smiled. "Since Varvara is your mentor, work hard and try to beat her. If she's beaten, that's mean your a great fighter. Like my brother said, no one is a great fighter. It's your will to win, that's what count."

I can't believe I actually felt better listening to her advice or is it ranting? I'm not sure myself. "Don't worry too much okay. I'll protect you and the others. But, promise me you'll have my back." She chuckled. I nodded. "I can do that." I smiled. She's actually a pretty decent girl if she can be. She's so different than Athena. But Athena does have her own perks

"Hey love birds. Get inside. We're watching a movie together." Athena invited us in. She lead us to a dark room with a huge screen in front of us. I remembered this room. It's the cinema.
"Sit wherever. Natalya choose a horror movie." I stopped dead on my track. Horror?! I hate horror! "Oh come on Evara. You're an adult now."

Athena joked. "Don't tell me you're afraid of horror movies." Irina voiced out. I didn't respond and walk backwards. "Oh no you don't!" Athena grabbed my arms and lead me to a sitting area. Not only that, she placed me to sit next to Natalya of all people! "What are we watching?" Irina asked excitedly.

"Interview with a vampire. Brad Pitt is one heck of a man." Natalya winked at me and slide her hands under my arm. "You will not escape from me ever again." She whispered and licked my earlobe. With Natalya being seductive like this and a horror movie playing, I really can focus on my thinking.

When the scary part comes, we'll not really, it's just jumps scare, I literally clinging onto Natalya's arm like my life depends on it. Out of all the people in the cinema, I'm the only one who scream! When it's finally over, I'm still clinging on Natalya's arm. Athena patted my back and tell me it's all over.

I released Natalya's arm and watched as Irina laughed her heart out when she saw me with Natalya. "A student-teacher clinging on the seductive woman. Now that's funny!" She continued to laughed. I clenched my fist and went to face her. "It's funny huh?" I showed her my fist and then she stopped laughing.

"Whoa! Relax. I'm just having fun." She tried to calm me down. "Having fun huh?" I swing my fist on her face and punched her on the cheek. I straighten my body and walked out of the cinema. The last thing I heard was Athena laughing at her. "You really want to die huh." I chuckled and went to the balcony again.

I rested my head on the railing while sighed heavily. After that crazy movie, my mind still wondering about something. How am I suppose to find Seraphim Blade in this massive academy. She's probably one of those new transferee including Irina. But I really don't want it to be her.

I don't want to kill the person I begin to feel love for. Maybe this time I can finally find my happiness I yearn for years. She could also be one of the freshman girls right? Right? "Evara? Something wrong?" Athena went to my side. "I'm sick of being used as a pawn. I really want to finish my job and be free."

"You still don't get it do you? Finishing the job will only mean more suffering. Don't do anything stupid yet. Let me deal with that bastard. You just stay focus on The Game. We do need our sniper you know." I sighed. Maybe she's right. I need to stay focus.

To protect them all.

***

"Evara. You look so distance. What's wrong?" Zoya asked me while we're at the cafeteria. "Nothing. I'm just not feeling well." I lied. I'm trying to find the Seraphim Blade but failed every time. "Do you know why the Volin never put Seraphim Blade name on their list to kill? I wonder why papa and mama decided to ignore the fact she's dangerous." Faina actually sound like she's on to something.

"Maybe papa and mama thought that Seraphim Blade just a person who wants to keep orders in the world. Most of her target, they affected the world's order. And she's just doing what we, can't. What if she's only want to safe us from all those people she killed." Varvara has a point. But it sound like she's protecting my target.

"Evara, you don't even touch your food." Zoya pointed out. "Eat something then take your medicine. We don't want you to be sick for The Game." Varvara has a point. I force myself to eat and proceed to our class. Since I have the same class as Zoya, we both walked together. "What's up? There's something in your mind. I'm sure."

Did I mention we both took psychology course? She's trying to make me spill it out. "It's nothing. Hey, have you done the work Miss Kia told us to do?" She nodded. "Can I borrow yours?" She nodded again and handed me her book. Ugh, what I have to do to avoid being ask. "I know what your doing. Follow me later on after class. I need help." I nodded. Maybe this will ease my mind for a bit.

After our class ended, Zoya lead us to a forbidden part of the academy. I wondered why. "Since the try out, I've been snooping around about Irina's information." Zoya unlocked the door to an unknown room and closed it shut. "What I found recently really baffles me." She said and turn the lights on.

"Welcome to my cave. Or unused school wing. The Dean grant my wish to be here for my research." She went to a bookshelves and grabbed one. "This is what I found about Irina Audra." My eyes widen. How can she know about that?! "I have eyes and ears everywhere. Beside, when everyone including Faina leave the control room, I was still watching you all and listened to what Vanessa Christ said."

I remembered the time we're at the arena. Irina was badly injured. "My friend, your roommate, she's one crazy chick before she moved to Volin. She killed one of the most dangerous drug lord in the world. Most influential world leaders. Your roommate is one heck of an assassin."

I have no idea where does this conversation goes to. "The truth is Evara, I'm jealous of her. She's can fight, she can protect you." She's jealous of her for protecting me? Zoya need check herself. She's more talented than I am. She suddenly grabbed my hands and kissed it. Now that's just weird for me. She never did this before.

"I love you, Evara. Always was, always will. I know, I've been your best friend since we both in Volin, but, the friendship we have, turn to love." Did she just... confessing her love to me?! I don't know what to say. I only see her as my friend and that's it. Nothing special. How to I turn her down nicely? Ugh... why do I have to be in this situation every time!

"Oh Zoya. I don't know what to say." She smiled. "Well, don't say anything, go on a date with me. This weekend." Did she just asked me out. When I didn't respond to her, she chuckled and released my hands. "I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot." She went to a table filled with books and sit down.

"Just forget about it and act as if it didn't happen." She's hurt. I know she is. "Zoya. I'm sorry but I only see you as my friend. And only friend. I am honour to be so much in your heart but, I really don't feel the same way about you. You're my best friend." She held her hand up to stop me from talking.

"Don't say that. Rejection is enough. Just never say the friend part. I hate to be friendzone after the embarrassment I received." Zoya will always be Zoya. "I see you always with that roommate of yours. You hardly with us anymore." She pointed out. She's seriously jealous of Irina?

"But, who am I to pointed it out, right?" She giggled. She stood up and opened the door. "Let's go. I don't want anyone to look for us." She let me walked out first and locked the door behind us. She lead me out and I wondered what's in her mind now. I know she's hurt but she kept her stoic expression to everyone like always.

"There you two are. Where have you been?" Faina asked us when we walked up to the garden where she's sketching a portrait of someone I have no idea who. "No where. How's your art going?" Zoya asked. "Good. But.." Faina turned to me. "Evara I need you to model for me. With your looks, my art will be one of a kind. Beside Athena agreed to help and so does her sisters."

I could never say no to this seductress. Wait a minute, why does she need the Vladimir sisters for this? Zoya seems to keep to herself more now after everything. "Faina, I'm here." Athena announced herself. "And I brought them." The Vladimir sisters waved at us. Natalya to be precise, blow me a kiss.

"Great! My art will be one of the best in submission! I'm sure of it. What's better than to have the most beautiful woman model for you!" Faina seems excited about this.

Too excited.