The door to the conference room was open and welcoming as Onyx and Venix stepped inside, nothing but the slight glow of a fireplace crackling.

The door slowly closed behind the girls, the crackle of magic sizzling in the air. Onyx looked around, trying to see through the darkness in front of her. Cautiously, her hand resting on the head of her sword, she took one step.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Onyx stopped in her tracks as the heavy, dark curtains drew back, the bright rays of the early sun spilling through the glass windows.

In the center of the conference room stood Rheynoak and Lucien in all of their leader glory, their hands clasped tightly in front of them. Lucien watched with cold eyes as Venix took a step forward, her nails curling into a fist.

"Already planning your assassination I see" Onyx sneered, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched the handsome leader march around the center of the room, his right-hand man next to him, silent and deadly.

"As you know, our tribe has been the target of many other tribes since its earliest days" Rheynoak started, pacing back and forth as he talked. "We have been attacked many times and we have lost several members."

Halting to a stop, Rheynoak focused his gaze on the two young ladies in front of them, a vein in his right arm twitching. "So I don't appreciate that you two are risking not only our reputation but our safety and fellow members for you killing sprees and midnight snacks."

He spat his words out, his dark amber eyes turning into slits as his gaze flickered to Venix, the young BloodBone witch. "Especially you. We found a dead civilian near our gate this morning. Safe to say you had fun last night."

Onyx furrowed her eyebrows, momentarily closing her eyes to remember the dead body by the gate this morning. It must have been pretty hard to miss but she couldn't recollect it from her memory.

"You might be keeping us safe but you can't stop our nature" Venix hissed, taking a step closer to the tribe leader. "This tribe holds many powerful beings with uncontrollable desires. Confining us only feeds into the problem and makes us unhinged. Don't you see?"

Onyx watched her friend and how her violet eyes flickered with the slightest glint of anger. Her nails dug so deep into the palm of her hand that the first trail of blood oozed from her clenched fist and down her wrist.

A cunning smirk appeared on Rheynoak's face, his elbow gently nudging Lucien. "She's foolish as she is delusional" he uttered to his companion, sharing a look with his right-hand man. "Such a foolish girl."

Carefully, Rheynoak took a step towards the young BloodBone witch, stopping in front of her heaving figure.

"What I see is a bloodthirsty, uncontrollable witch who can not control her hunger despite being alive for nearly two hundred and twenty years. For the sake of the ancestors, Venix, drain as much blood as you please but it won't aid you in getting any stronger. You're still as weak as ever and everyone knows it" Rheynoak insulted.

He paused momentarily between his words, contemplating as if he cared but the words tumbled out his mouth like jagged stones on the cliff sides of the kingdoms.

"I'm sure even your parents are aware."

Venix flinched at his words, her frown growing deeper. Her face was red and her ever-present violet eyes had shifted to a dull crimson as she hardened her gaze on the man in front of her.

Onyx watched, fearful yet entertained, knowing there were only so many ways this interaction could go. "If only your father could see you now" the witch whispered. "His bastard son on a throne he does not deserve nor did he rightfully inherit."

In an instant, Rheynoak's hands were around the witch's throat, squeezing tightly. Onyx instinctively reached for the small daggers hidden in her back pocket, panic setting in her chest as she noticed the redness of Venix's face and the frantic panic of her fingers trying to desperately pry his hands from her.

"You don't get to speak" Rheynoak threatened. "The orphaned witch who is nothing but a damaged body and soul. Tell me, who or what would tolerate you? Much less want you?"

Onyx threw the dagger without a clear aim. Luckily, it struck the tribe leader in the blade of his shoulder, sinking deep into his skin. He let out a scream, momentarily loosening his grip enough for the witch to push his hand off.

She inhaled deeply, stepping back as Onyx stepped forward. "You don't talk to her like that ever in your pathetic existence and especially not in front of me unless you want another one of those in a much more critical area."

Onyx's golden eyes ducked to the hollow of his neck and the tribe leader caught on, his hand covering a part of his neck. "Have some class. I'm sure six hundred and fifty years of being alive would have taught you better. If not, I'll gladly demonstrate again."

Onyx felt for the other dagger just under her shirt, tucked in a leather sheath and under the layers of her clothes. A static silence filled the conference room as the two held their gaze, neither of them wavering.

Truthfully, the mind siphon's heart was beating at lightning speed and she knew he heard it too but it didn't stop her from taking a daring step forward, challenging him.

Finally, Rheynoak spoke. "Lucien, please escort Venix to the dining hall. I need a word with Onyx."

Lucien nodded, turning his attention towards Venix. He took a step forward but the witch warned him, pointing a talon in his direction. "Don't bother and stay away from me."

Without another word, she excused herself, letting the door slam heavily as her footsteps became fainter. Lucien silently followed after her, not darting a second glance at Rheynoak.

When the door had shut, the tribe leader turned to the siphon. "What's wrong with you? Defending her and injuring me in the process. Have you lost every ounce of sense you have?"

"Venix is my friend, my family and I was not going to stand back and let you insult her like that!" Onyx defended.

"She left a lifeless body in front of the gate! Do you know what that could have done if some mortal found it or worse, the other tribe leaders? Unless mandated, witches of her kind should refrain from hunting. She agreed to that when she became an active participant of this tribe and I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

Rheynoak reached and grabbed the dagger from his shoulder, cursing in the process. "I am trying to protect you both!"

"Who says we need your protection? And as I said, if you ever threaten Venix like that ever again, I'll make sure nighttime will be the last thing you see" she threatened once more. "Leave her alone."

Rheynoak set the knife down on the table, shaking his head. "I won't even waste my breath explaining the complications of running a tribe with rare beings who dislike following orders. Instead, tell me this."

The tribe leader looked up, locking eyes with her. "Why did you kill King Jerome of Rethica? What does he and all the other kings you have beheaded have that you so desperately want."

"Answers. He has answers and I want them" Onyx breathed. "If not, I'll continue with what I have started until every last kingdom in this world is beheaded along with its ruler."

"And how will leaving a trail of evidence benefit you? Benefit us?" Rheynoak challenge. "The whispers are starting and you are already a suspect. I don't want to put you in danger with other tribes. Stop your killing madness."

"So you train us to be unstoppable, unhinged, revenge-driven beings with a thirst for blood and then tell us that we should not embrace the very monsters you have created? Hypocritical if you ask me" Onyx taunted. "Perhaps Venix was right."

Rheynoak watched her carefully, his honey-glazed eyes raking down the length of her body. He breathed heavily, his gaze lingering on the patches of skin peaking through her torn pants before raising his eyes to meet hers again.

The tribe leader approached her cautiously until there was barely an inch of space left between them. The siphon sucked in a breath, taking a step back to widen the space so she could breathe better.

"You're becoming messy, Onyx, and whatever mischief and chaos you are causing will lead back to you. I can't protect you forever, even if I wanted to" he stated.

"Who says I need your protection, Rheynoak?" the siphon questioned.

"Have I not kept you alive for the last one hundred and eighty years?" the tribe leader asked.

"You've given me the bare minimum at best. Don't give yourself credit, especially in a space where you don't deserve it" she said.

The tribe leader frowned, taking a step forward to limit the gap once again. Onyx instinctively took a step back and her body met the wall. She was trapped with the looming figure of Rheynoak towering over her.

"I appointed you as my head assassin. You may be one of the best assassins there is. You're skilled, you're talented but you are becoming uncoordinated. Stop while you are ahead before your weaknesses start to show" he warned.

The siphon grimaced at his words, shaking her head.

Weakness? She had none.

He should know better by now.

"You stay in your place, Rheynoak" she warned, pushing him away. "And I'll continue to stay in mine. Don't overstep whatever little boundaries are established between us. I may be your personal assassin but that's where our relationship stops. Don't push it further."

And with that Onyx pushed herself off the wall, holding his gaze as she walked past him and retrieved the dagger on the table. She wiped the blood on the blade of the torn pieces of her pants before tucking it back in her pocket.

"You're going to die if you continue with this trajectory, Onyx!" Rheynoak shouted. "I command you to stop!"

This time Onyx chuckled, turning her attention back to the tribe leader. "Command yourself and stay out of my sight unless you prefer your head in my hands."

The siphon raked her eyes over him, raising a brow as she smirked. "You'll make a nice commodity. Perhaps I will place you next to King Jerome. The sewers should have more than enough space for two tyrants."

And with that, Onyx left the conference room, leaving the tribe leader in disbelief and anger. 

Venix was sitting alone at a small table in the dining hall when Onyx strolled in long strides. The dining hall was half full with members of the tribe beginning their day. They walked past her in whispers and groups as they gossiped but Onyx easily identified the white locks of Venix who sat in the middle of the dining hall at a large empty table.

The siphon barely brushed her friend's shoulders, sitting down across from the witch. "Are you alright?"

"How could he utter my parents like that knowing I barely know them? How would he know their thoughts?" the witch asked in annoyance, a frown on her face.

"He doesn't. Does Rheynoak ever know anything?" Onyx asked.

Venix passed her a passive look, tucking her talons away into her lap. At this moment, Onyx noted how small her friend looked, no longer the confident witch she was not too long ago.

With a sigh, the siphon reached over and took the witch's hand in hers, squeezing tightly. "Your parents would be proud of you. You know that."

And even though the siphon knew her friend didn't believe her, it still made her smile to see Venix lighten up as she nodded at her words.

"Okay. What do you need? I know you have a plan in that wicked head of yours" Venix stated.

Onyx smiled brightly, nodding her head. "I need to get over the gate Venix. I feel like I am so close yet so far. Before I beheaded him, Jerome had briefly mentioned the war near Lake Kakarauri. The same place I was found when I was a baby. That must have something to do with my parents' abandonment."

"That's a very promising assumption but it's a mortal king we're trusting here. Is his word any good?" Venix questioned.

The siphon shrugged, a lazy smile on her face. "He was near the brink of death anyway when he confessed. What good does a dead man benefit from lying? Either way, his fate is sealed."

Venix shook her head but smiled. "Even so, a second problem arises. How do we get over the gate and how do I benefit from this arrangement? I love you Onyx, but a price has to be paid."

"I'm aware. You BloodBones don't do much for free" the Onyx said. "It's too crowded here. Meet me at the south end training room and I'll tell you."

"The suspense is killing me" Venix whispered.

Onyx only offered her cunning smile. "And let it. I promise you'll benefit from this and more."

"You're offering free rampage of the mortal kingdoms as my personal buffet if I help you tamper with the magic around the gate" Venix considered, swinging her body to the side as she nearly dodged a deadly

"I'm traveling to the Kingdom of Asyein tonight and just west of the kingdom, not too far, is a small community called Fritheis. It is filled with immortal-worshiping mortals. I'm sure they would be more than willing to have a rare BloodBone witch like yourself sink her teeth and feast upon them" Onyx informed.

"How do you even know this?" her friend asked.

The siphon simply shrugged. "I've traversed many kingdoms. I have kept a record of what each kingdom has to offer."

The siphon barely caught Venix's fist, pushing her aside to gain the upper hand but she was too slow as the witch twisted her arm to the side, long enough to strike a kick toward the siphon's chest.

Onyx barely heard the crack of her own ribs as a strangled gasp left her lips. Venix smiled proudly as the siphon stepped back to catch her breath. "Are you trying to kill me?" she asked.

"Not yet. I need to keep you around for a bit longer" the witch joked, chuckling to herself.

A cold hand settled on the siphon's back. "Are you okay?" her voice asked.

With swift movements, Onyx elbowed her friend under the chin before spinning around and grabbing Venix by the throat. The witch gurgled a scream as her back met the hot concrete floor.

The witch let out a hiss as Onyx dug her knee into the side of her body, effectively pinning her body to the floor. "So what do you think of my proposal?" the siphon asked.

"Well it's rather interesting, I must say. I am enticed" the witch whispered through harsh breaths. Her breathing labored, her face turning a slight red but she did not give in. "However, there is one problem. The offer is extremely tempting but I am not sure I can undo the spell around the gate. Why can't you do it?"

Onyx released her grip around her friend's throat. "I'm saving my energy for tonight when I reach Aysein. Using my magic on the gate would bleed me dry" she explained, helping her friend back up. "Besides you're a BloodBone witch. When it comes to spells, you surpass me by a million."

"Yes but you know our spells aren't made to aid. They are made to destroy and I don't know how effective it'll be against the magic fused with the gate" Venix explained, shrugging her shoulders. "I can try but I can't guarantee anything."

This time, Onyx offered no rebuttal.

"I promise the reward is worth it. What do you say? It will be like old times sake before you got old and decided not to accompany me on my midnight missions" Onyx teased.

This time, the siphon was met with another blow to her ribs. She let out another scream, gritting her teeth as she felt another strike to the back of her knees and finally a whole-body collision that took her down to the floor.

The siphon screamed in agony as her back met the hot concrete, violet eyes greeting her when she opened her own. Venix has her pinned, a knee digging into each side of her body.

"Never call me old again. You're not so young yourself" the witch warned, a smile on her face. She rolled off of Onyx, getting back on her feet.

"And secondly, my old wicked friend," she said, her lips curling into a devious smile. "when do we begin?"