Episode 4 — Separate Lives

Astrid stirs awake and slowly opens her eyes but hurriedly closed again when she felt the room spinning. When she was sure she was better, she slowly sat up, tried to focus her sight.

Where am I? she thought. This isn't home.

Then she tried to remember the events of the night before, I was in bed...

Her eyes widened realizing what had happened, I was kidnapped! 

She looks down at her hands and realized she isn’t tied down; in fact, she comfortably woke up on a queen-size bed, that was overflowing of pillows and she was snuggling underneath a thick warm comforter.

"I see you've woken up." Astrid turns toward the voice and sees a boy standing in the corner of the room. 

He had a smile of a prankster, but his eyes were friendly. Astrid raised her comforter to her chin to cover her. His voice was low and with a heavy accent that Astrid had never heard before. "I'm sorry for startling you."

The boy walks toward the window and opened the curtains, filling the room with sunlight that Astrid had to cover her eyes.

"Time to get out of bed princess."

"Where am I?" Astrid asks, her voice a bit raspy and her throat painful due to dryness. The boy makes his way to her with a glass of water. "Thank you." she quickly drinks, not taking her eyes off the boy. 

The boy snickered and stepped away. "You are in a Russian camp."

"Russia?" she asks surprised, quickly settling the glass back at the table.

"Grandfather told us a princess will come," he smiles, "I shouldn't have doubted him." Astrid felt a blush come and looked away. "My name is Dimitri."

Astrid lent out her hand for a shake, "I am-"

"Don't." Dimitri took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he kissed the back of her palm. "Princess suits you better." Astrid pulls her hand away.

"Thank you," she whispers, her cheeks growing hotter.

Dimitri chuckles, "Besides, you would probably be given an alias, so you don't have to go throwing your name around, that's rule number one." Dimitri now stood a few meters away but kept his eyes on her. "You have clothes in the closet and the maids had drawn you a hot bath as well."

"Thank you."

"Girl doesn’t need to thank me so much," he said walking towards the door. "It is a pleasure to have met and been of service to you, princess." With that, he gave her a wink and left.

Astrid sighs and looks around, "Well, at least the place looks ok." She reaches for her pendant and smiled, "Stay safe you guys."

She steps down the bed and walked toward the door leading to a balcony, she gasps surprised of what was out there. Her room was set in the highest tower of a castle, yes, a castle overlooking the grounds covered with hundreds of girls and boys fighting.

"I probably should too."

After an hour of preparing herself mentally, Astrid left her room to look around her new home. Intrigued of every little thing but not touching any she accidentally bumps unto someone. The girl shouts something she didn't understand, so she just stood up and bowed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-" then she moved aside, just in time seeing the girl was about to hit her. She looks up at her, upset, "I said I'm sorry."

"Ah, an American." the girl said, "A wuss."

Astrid frowns, she wasn't patriotic, but she won't take an insult sitting down. "A wuss you couldn’t hit."

The girl frowned and glared at her and was about to attack.

"Hands off Lila!"

Astrid, though only heard the voice once, knew who it was, and somehow, she felt relieved to hear it. He stood beside her, "Are you ok?"

"Yes." Astrid says, looking back at Lila, "Yes I am."

Then the girl, Lila, starts to scream again which, to Astrid, seems to be profanities in her language. Dimitri answers in the same language only then did Astrid thought that it was probably Russian.

"Well, this is awkward." Astrid rolls her eyes, irritated.

They, along with Lila's friends, turned to her.

"I'm sorry, princess, Lila was just saying-"

"What’s an American bitch doing here?" Lila finished the sentence for him.

"Why you-"

"Hey, calm down..." Dimitri blocks her way, "That isn't the smartest idea, Lila's one of the best fighters here."

"I don't care, I'll tear her apart!" Astrid snaps and tried to push past him.

The other kids laughed.

"American girl's crazy." a boy, one of Lila's friends, shouted.

"And you have a foul mouth!" Astrid retorts.

"That is enough."

They all turned around and saw an old man walk up to them. "Young miss, I am glad to see that you are fine."

"You!" Astrid gasps, then she glares at him, "You! You kidnapped me!" when he reached him, she balled her hand into a fist and punched him on the gut.

"Master!"

"Why you-"

"Princess no!"

But Astrid didn't listen to any of them, she didn't even give a damn.

"Bring me home!" Astrid shouts and punched him again. But this time he caught her fist and pushed it back and pulled it back again.

"I was told you could punch, but I didn't know you can punch hard," he says, eyeing her arm as if checking out a car part before buying it.

Astrid pulls her arms away, still glaring at the man. She wasn't afraid of him, and even if she was, she would not allow it to show. "They also say I have a mean kick; I'll be glad to show you."

The old man then straightens up and stifled a laugh, making his eyes squint, "Sharp tongue and stubborn, you are your grandfather's heiress."

Astrid frowns, "You know my grandfather?"

"Of course I do." he says, "If your grandfather wasn't my best friend, you'd be in a different situation.”

"What do you mean?"

"It’s either I'll be exchanging you for ransom by now or..." he grins, "you'd be six feet under." Astrid kept her glare and didn't even flinch, not a drop of fear run through her. The old man gave her a look, impressed, "Hm, you are braver than I expected."

"I am the heiress of my family; did you expect a cry baby?"

"Well, with how you were struggling and shouting for daddy when I took you?" he made a face, "Pretty much, yes."

"Shut up." Astrid snaps.

"Young miss, I'm not the enemy here," he said, "you wanted this, remember?"

"Then I would have gone quietly, wouldn't I?" Astrid sneered.

"Oh, well..." the old man scratched his head, "I didn't think of it that way."

"Well, you should have, would have saved all of us the trouble." Astrid sighed, "Ash's probably furious."

"Ashton?" Dimitri asks.

"Nobody." Astrid shakes her head, remembering what he said earlier about aliases.

"Well, I'm sure your grandfather is taking care of that." the old man says. "Now, please, follow me-"

"I don't go with strangers." Astrid crossing her arms over her chest.

"You don't have much of a choice, do you?" the old man says, Astrid raised a brow and sat on the floor.

"Why you spoiled little-" Lila steps up, hands raise to slap her.

"Lila!" Dimitri warns her.

The old man laughs, "Very well, I'm Charles, Charles Duchovny. Though children here call me father Charles." he said, "Now will you please get your butt out of my clean floor?"

Astrid gives him one look before standing up and stretching her hand out, "It is nice to meet you, grandpa Charles."

Father Charles chuckled. "Grandpa, huh?"

"Well, you are best friends with grandpa..." Astrid points out.

Father Charles nods, "True, but..." Astrid frowned, "Grandpapa works better here in Russia."

Astrid smiled and nodded. "Grandpapa..."

"Now c'mon, we need to feed you before you start training.”

"Will you be joining us Dimitri?" she asks.

Dimitri glances at Father Charles who shook his head. "I need to keep an eye on this bunch." Dimitri says, smiling, "I'll see you after breakfast."

"Yeah, at the field, where I'll pound you to dust." Lila sneered.

"You wish," Astrid says with a smirked.

"Ok, ok, enough of that. Come now, princess." Father Charles puts an arm around her shoulder and stirs her toward the dining area. "Food is getting cold."

Astrid gave Lila one last glare and turned away.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the boys arrived at NSA. The plane and the car ride were quiet and uneventful.

"Here we are, young masters." Albert says, "North Star Academy."

They step out of the car and looked up at the building in front of them.

Nothing's special about it, is there?" Derek says.

"Well, the whole place is an ideal escape for you boys." Albert says, "Everything you need is here-"

"But Astrid isn't here, is she?" Ashton shrugs. "We shouldn't be late for class." 

Ashton walks up the front steps of the academy with Derek and Jared behind him.

"Thank you, Albert." Damien says, "We'll be fine from here."

"Of course Master Damien," he says, looking worriedly at Ashton. "Collin and Allana are waiting inside."

"Thank you." Damien nods and follows the boys.

"What did he say?" Derek asked.

"He says Allana and Collin are waiting for us inside."

"Collin? The supposed guard?" Ashton asks with disgust.

"He's your cousin too Ashton." Jared points out.

"Yet grandfather always asked him to guard Astrid."

"And Allana," Damien pointed, "They are arranged to be married, so I'm guessing he's Allana's guard."

"Why would anybody need guards if NSA is supposedly safe?" Ashton points out.

"You sound like Astrid. You've been reading too much," Derek ran ahead only to face them and start to walk backward. "Supposedly... kids don't talk like that. Now if- oof!"

"Hey, watch where you're going!" a boy barks.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident." Derek raising his hands in surrender, "Am sorry, man."

They walked past the group of boys, but the boys kept their eyes on them.

"Loser newbie." one boy says before going back to their business. Unfortunately, Derek hears this and looks back.

"What did you say?" Derek frowns. “Who you calling a loser?”

The boys, who were bigger and older than them hovered over them, angry.

"Stop it, Derek." Damien hissed.

"Please, we don't want trouble," Jared says. "I apologize for my brother’s rudeness."

"What? No J, I'll rip off that guy's tongue!"

"Enough," Ashton shouts over all their voices. They turn to Ashton who was now a few feet away from them and turn to leave; they all calmed down and followed him.

"Again, our apologies," Damien says pushing Derek ahead of him.

"A bunch of wusses." the boy said again.

"Shut up." they see Allana ahead with Collin. "You shouldn't taunt them to fight."

"Why?" another boy joins in, "Cause there's no mommy to patch them up?"

"Your sister's probably ashamed of you." Ashton stops. "Ooh, touched a nerve there newbie?"

"Something Father Johan didn't tell you," Collin says, leaning on a locker, "NSA allows fighting, and I'm sure you're still pissed off from last night." Ashton stared at him, Collin merely grins, "Go blow off steam."

"No Ashton," Damien says, blocking his way. "They're just taunting you; they don't know anything." Ashton doesn't move.

"So, the pretty boy has a sister..." another boy says, "Wonder if she's pretty. She'll be easy prey with her brother being such a wuss, don't you agree boys?"

Damien frowns and turns to the boys.

"Ooh, they're angry now." the boy laughs.

Ashton and Damien start to walk up to them, angrier than ever. Soon a fight between two boys against a group of bigger and older boys started, the two boys were winning.

"There goes the new school record," Jared says with a sigh.

"Don't speak as if you know my sister!" Ashton shouts as he punched one guy to unconsciousness.

 "If you even dare look at her, I'll do something to you worse than dying!" Damien kicks one guy away and broke another guy’s nose.

Not a minute longer, they left the boys in pain and down on the ground.

"Seriously Ash? Damien?" Mr. Matthews paced around the room, "You haven't even had your homeroom."

"But they started it, uncle," Allana argues.

"I don't care!" Mr. Matthews snaps, "You should have just walked away."

"Ashton they're kids-" Mrs. Matthews starts wrapping her arm around her son.

"Who knows better!" Mr. Matthews adds.

"Ashton that's enough." Mrs. Matthews begs, "I'm just glad that you boys are ok."

Mr. Matthews took a deep breath and sighed, "I don't understand, this isn't like you."

"They were talking as if they knew..." Ashton mumbles.

"Knew what?" Mr. Cayce asks.

"Astrid." Damien said, "They said she's ashamed of us for not being able to protect her."

The grown-ups exchange looks.

"Well, I guess you showed them you can kick their butts." Mr. Cayce says, "Boys, you did your best to find Astrid, it isn't your fault she was kidnapped."

"But-"

"No more buts." Mr. Matthews, "Especially no more kicking it. Knowing Astrid she'll kick your butts seeing you boys are getting yourselves in trouble." they boys grinned. "Now go to class and stay out of fights."

"But it’s a requirement Uncle Rhaumwald." Jared reminds him.

"Well, I guess that's another reason to give a more formal fighting lesson." Rhaumwald glances at his best friend who shrugs.

"Seriously? Like you guys?"

Mr. Matthews nods, "Master Schizek will be here in his own time, until then," he grins, "I think you can manage."

Astrid glances at the old man in front of him who was making her run around and fall on the ground, she was out of breath, the old man, well, he was in much better shape.

"Again." the old monk look-alike demands.

Astrid attacks again, but the man blocked her every hit.

"I usually discourage street style of fighting, but I have to admit, yours is remarkable."

"It isn't a style." Astrid says in between hits, "Its instinct."

"Instinct, huh?" The monk grinned and hit her on the legs making her fall again, "well, your instinct stinks."

Astrid stood up and was about to attack again.

"Enough." Father Charles walked up to them, "That was good, for a beginner, don't you think, Master Schizek?"

"A beginner?" Master Schizek raised a brow.

"Yes, master," Master Charles says, "This young one arrived only a year ago with basic taekwondo and judo, which I must say, she had perfected so much she can hold up against my toughest fighters. She has been watching older kids train too."

"You learned by watching?" Master Schizek eyed her.

"It isn't hard to imitate what you see." Astrid says, "Its strength and thinking that cannot be taught or learned, not even imitated."

"Then you must learn from scratch." Master Schizek says. “You are not allowed to fight until I say so."

"What?!" Dimitri steps in, but his grandfather gave him a look, but for the first time in his life he brushed it off, he knows how the children were in his home, they're heartless, she'll be killed within hours. He thought. "She'll be killed."

"Exactly." Master Schizek smirks at Astrid, "Would you allow that miss?"

"No," she says bluntly, "if he thinks this is necessary, then I’d agree."

Astrid gave Dimitri a shut-up look, a look that Dimitri learned to push away since she arrived.

"You may go rest for the day." Master Schizek says, "Tomorrow we'll go for a walk."

"Yes Master," she says with a bow.

Dimitri rolls his eyes, pushover. If that was him, he would probably ask what the walk was for. Dimitri quickly follows Astrid out of the private training room where she regularly had her training the past year.

"The girl is brave." Master Schizek says as they watch her leave.

"She is." Father Charles agrees. “Johan said she ran into a burning house to save her adopted parents."

Master Schizek shook his head, "No, not like that... Look into the girl's eyes, she sees fear. Her own and of her opponent." They now stood by the window and sees Astrid and Dimitri walk across the training field. "She'll be your best fighter by the end of the year."

Father Charles chuckles, "Probably already is." Master Shizek raised a brow. "I asked Dimitri to teach her Russian, she refuses and says thanks, but I get into enough trouble with understanding any insult, what more if I spoke your language?"

Master Schizek laughs. "Chooses to be quiet..." he says, "A silent killer."

"That's why I call her Angel." Father Charles gazed back at Astrid.

"Princess wait!!" Dimitri calls out. "Princess!"

"I'm tired, Dimitri." She shrugs slowing down.

"I just don't understand why you agreed with the monk."

"His name is Mater Shizek," Astrid says, amused.

"And he's getting you killed."

"I doubt that he is, Dimitri." she rolls her eyes and shook her head.

"But-"

Astrid stops and faced him, "Dimitri, I know I'm small for my age, but seriously, I'll be fine." she says. "I need to do this."

"I know, I know..." Dimitri rolls his eyes and sounding exasperated, "For you to be able to go home."

"Exactly." she says, "You heard Master Schizek, I'll be learning from scratch, that's a long way to go. So, if this no fighting thing helps, I'm all up for it."

"So you aren't allowed to fight, huh?" Lila asks from behind. “That's a bummer."

"Yeah, bummer." Astrid murmured under her breath and walks pass, Lila.

"Just wait until the others hear the good news." Lila grins earning a frown from Astrid. "What would an American girl do then?"

"Leave her alone Lila," Dimitri warns in Russian.

"You and your little crushes, Dimitri." Lila chuckles, "It's cute."

Dimitri slaps her, "You are forgetting who you are speaking with."

Lila glares at him, holding her throbbing cheek, "Because you have gone soft, and it’s all because of her." Dimitri raises his hand again.

"Dimitri." Astrid calls, "That's enough. Your father told you to teach me Russian, remember? Might as well start now." She leaves.

"Your princess is calling you." Lila mocked.

Dimitri glares at her again, "Fight with her all you want." he says. "It will be your downfall."

The news of Astrid no fighting orders spread like wildfire and with every chance they get the others attacked her. She never fought back nor said a word, a year of this and she continues to calmly wait for Master Schizek's return to lift the order.

"This is irritating, might as well finish this." an older boy says, he pulls out a dagger as he and Astrid circle and glare at each other, Astrid now had her eyes on her opponent's dagger and would glance at his eyes to show the reaction of when he would move.

"Angel-" Back off Dimitri." Astrid snapped.

The boy took the chance and attack, Astrid stepped aside, but the boy turns and slashed her on the side. Astrid flinched and grabbed her wound. She looked at her blood-stained hand.

"Not so feisty now..." he smirks.

Instead of backing out, Astrid went back to fighting stance, "Again."

"This isn't training, little girl" the boy snaps.

"It is for me." Astrid snaps back, "Again."

The boy, angered, attacked nonstop and full force. Astrid blocks every hit, feeling every kick and punch, her eyes on the dagger. 

“Instinct is natural to you...” she remembers Master Schizek saying while they were climbing a mountain a year ago.

"It’s the lack of concentration that weakens you," he says.

"How do you know that?" Astrid asks, almost out of breath.

"You haven't slipped the whole day until-" Astrid falls on her knees, "now."

Astrid glares at him and pushed herself up and continued the climb.

"Your judgment is good too." he added, "Astrid stands and follows him, "Its trust that you have to work on."

"My trust?"

"Not all who lends a helping hand means to good." he says, "Sometimes they do that to get you to do things for them."

"Do things?"

"You'll probably be the best fighter Charles will ever have." he says, "Your grandfather is financing this whole ordeal for you, but when it’s time for you to leave, Charles will have nothing." he stops walking and faced her, "What will you do?"

"I'm not in a hurry." Astrid said, "I'll help grandpapa."

"Even if he asks you to kill people?" this surprised Astrid. "You are with one go the best assassin in the world and you are being molded into one." he continues. "Much blood had stained his hand; will you allow yourself to be an instrument of that?"

Astrid frowned, "That is Grandpapa's business and I have my own. If it’s reasonable, then I'll help. But I do have my mind and principles."

Master Shcizek smiled, "That is good enough for me."

Astrid stares at him, "Telling me those things may cause you your death."

Master Schizek smirks. "You mean death in your grandpapa's hands?" she gave a weak nod, "You seem to be forgetting, he is just one of the best..." Astrid gave him a questioned look, "I am the best."

Astrid stifles a laugh. "At least now I know who to beat."

Master Schizek laughs and continues with their walk, which leads to a clearing by the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, from that day on it served as Astrid thinking spot and training ground.

Astrid snapped out of the memory, giving her full attention to the fight.

Being molded into a killer...she thought. If this is the only way that I can protect my family, so be it.

"Angel!" Dimitri called outs, a piercing pain ran through her body, looking down and saw the boy's dagger pierced through her.

"That'll leave a mark." he sneers and roughly pulls out the dagger.

Astrid gasps and drops on her knees. No, no... not like this.

"Angel lay down, I'll call Grandpapa. We need to get you to the hospital."

"No." Astrid says through gritted teeth, pushing Dimitri away and going back to her fighting stance, "Again."

"Angel, enough."

"AGAIN!" she screams out the pain.

"Don't worry Dimitri, I'll make her death quick and painless." he smirks, "At least I'll try."

He starts to attack again, Astrid remains at the offense, blocking every hit, the pain almost blinding her. 

There! She sees an opening.

She grabs his wrist and hit him on the gut, moved behind him twisting his arm, and maneuvered it so that the knife he was holding was over his throat.

"You have to do better than that to kill me," she whispers tightening her hold making the boy flinch as repositioning the knife and presses the dagger on his cheek, blood trickles down as she pushes the blade down his face. "That's the payment," she says, "you'll remember me and this day forever."

Astrid pushes him aside; he was on his knees gasping and in pain. Astrid moves back and looks at him before darkness consumed her.

Dimitri ran to Astrid before she hits the floor and caught her, "Angel, stay with me... Angel..." she shook her to wake up.

Seeing that she was already unconscious he carried her inside the house and rushed her to the hospital.

Ash sat in his study doing homework. He glances out the window hearing a girl laugh he stood up and looks outside and saw a girl running around with her friends.

"Ash?" Jared calls the other boys and Allana lookup.

"It’s been two years," he whispers, "isn't there any news?"

"Father hasn't given us a call." Derek shrugs, putting down his book.

"Do you think she'll come home?" Allana asks, worried.

"I know she will." Damien says, turning to look out the window watching a girl jog by, "She's probably having an adventure."

Ash smiles, still looking at the girl, "Like in her books."

"But she doesn’t have a prince." Derek points put.

"This is her story," Damien says. "I'm pretty sure she wouldn't need a prince."

"How could you stay so calm Damien?" Collin asks, voice filled with curiosity that had been lit from the very beginning.

Damien frowns, "I am worried too, almost scared." he looks at the girl Ashton was watching, "But saying the opposite gives me the strength to hope that she'll come home. It doesn't matter when, just as long as she comes home." he now turns to Ash who was also looking at him, "That's what she would say, don't you agree?"

Ash smiles and nodded his answer.

Then they heard cars screeching to a halt outside the dormitory, they saw Father Johan steps out of the car and up the front steps of the dorm and out of there sight.

"He didn't say he was arriving today." Derek says, "And we all know he isn't one for surprise visits, especially in the dorms." he turns to everyone, eyes wide. "Maybe he has news!"

With that said they all dropped what they were doing and ran out to meet Father Johan.

Damien drops his book and stands up. "Ash, aren't you coming?"

"He didn't look happy." Ash asks, "What if it’s bad news?"

"It’s news still," Damien said. "We'll know then if we still have something to worry about."

Ashton stared at him for a moment then they both stepped out of the room and followed the others at the main hall of the dorm where they surrounded Father Johan, asking for news.

"Have you found her?"

"Is she ok?"

"Can we see her?"

"Children, children," Father Johan raises his arms in defeat, "I'm an old man, as Young Cayce has so gently put it two years ago, do care for my heart."

"Do you bear news?" Father Johan looks up and saw Damien and Ash a meter behind the others.

"Yes, yes I do, young Cayce." Father Johan says, "But..."

"But?" Allana asks, her face covered with worry, Collin stood behind her and reached for her hand, squeezing it.

"But what?" Jared asks.

"We found her; she is currently with a friend of mine."

"A friend of yours?" Ash asks, "Should we be worried?"

"Oh no, Charles is harmless, well, if you set aside the fact that he is an assassin, but then again he is one of my most trusted friends, my best friend so no you need not worry." Father Johan animatedly talks.

"An assassin?" the others, except for Ash and Damien, asks and leave their mouth open in shock.

"Yes, a good one too, probably the best in Russia, but like I said, he is harmless."

"And what is the bad news?" Damien asks.

"Bad news?"

"You mentioned a but." Jared reminded him.

"Oh, that..." Father Johan fidgets for a second then pulled himself together, "she is currently in the hospital healing a stab wound."

"A stab wound?!"

"Yes, apparently she asked Charles to teach her to fight and refused to come home." Father Johan explains. "Albert is with her as we speak, your parents would have wanted to go but fearing that other enemies might track them and attack Astrid at her weakest, they let Albert watch her until she comes home."

"Then we'll go." Derek says, "I'm sure we can force her to come home."

"That's right," Allana agrees, "one word from Damien and Ash-"

"No." Ash and Damien say in unison.

"No?" Johan asks.

"She was never kidnapped, was she?" Ash asked, "She planned all this, that's why that man said this is what she wanted."

"What are you saying?" Allana asks.

"Being the heiress meant danger to us," Collin says. "She left to protect us."

"That's stupid, Astrid wouldn't do something that foolish." Jared disagrees, his eyes were doubtful.

"Because it isn't foolish." Damien says, "She has reasons, stupid as it may be for us, but she sees differently."

"But she will come back, right?" Derek asks. "She can't hide forever."

They turned to Father Johan.

"I don't know all the answers." he says, "This went out of my hand since she was abducted."

“But you said Albert's with her now? “Allana says, "He will report to us, right?"

"He will." Father Johan says, "or until Astrid tells him not to do so."

"This is your entire fault." Damien says through gritted teeth, "You should have just sent her back to the orphanage."

"Damien..." Allana calls for him, but Collin held her back. She looks up at him and he shook his head.

"Your family is in danger because of you." Damien continues. "Now she has to pay for everything, she isn't even a pure Matthews-" with that Allana slaps him.

"That is enough!" she shouts, tears in her eyes, "Astrid wanted to be here, she said so herself. She knew the danger of it and was selfish to bring you in." she glares at the boys, "She wished she didn’t, but it was too late, she already loved the Matthews, and so did the family. So don't dare point fingers, Damien, you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Father Johan."

Damien glared at her, "Yes, I am safe and sound while Astrid is out there lying in some hospital and none of us can see her. I can just see the justice in that." he gave a sarcastic bow; he turns to leave. "Excuse me."

"Damien!" Derek runs after him.

"You need to understand that we grew up depending on each other, your family may have given us everything we want and need, everything we dreamed of, but we would rather have nothing than losing Astrid," Ash says.

"I understand." Father Johan says with a tip of his head.

 "Please tell Albert to take care of my sister." Ash says and gave a low bow, "Thank you." 

With that said he follows Damien back inside the dormitory.

"Ash-" Father Johan calls, but Jared stepped up, blocking his way.

"We have to go back to study now, father Johan." Jared says, "Thank you for the news."

Later that night, Damien slips on his coat and snuck out of the dormitory. He ran across the garden and to the streets of NSA. He pulls out a map and checked it.

"If you go through the forest in the park you'll be at the end of the island."

Damien turns around and saw Derek leaning on a lamp post watching him.

"What are you doing here?" he snaps.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?" Derek asks, "Planning to escape the island?"

"Go back inside." Damien hissed and was about to walk away.

"You'll reach the walls of NSA; beyond that you'll probably die." Derek calls out, "NSA is an uncharted island, no one knows what's beyond the walls."

"It sounds like you do," Damien grumbled as he continues to look at the map.

"Yeah, I know that much since I have no intention of leaving the island." Damien tries to not listen, he is still one of his best friends, he knows Derek well enough to know he would not stop. "Damien, I know you're worried about Astrid, but seriously, what do you think she'll do if she found out you died because you went off to look for her?"

Damien sighed and rolled his eyes, "No one's dying, idiot-"

"She's risking everything for us." Damien stops. "Don't let it go to waste."

No one spoke for a while when Damien sighs and shook his head, "She's such an idiot. She should have never left, we're safer too-"

"Together?" Derek asks. "We'll also be easy targets, but yeah, whatever floats your boat, Damien."

Damien shook his head, "We promised to help each other... to take care of each other..."

"And that's what she's doing." Derek points out. "She's taking care of us by keeping us safe," Damien remains quiet. "We also promised to take care of ourselves, to remain friends forever, and to love each other together or not. Quite frankly, she's been keeping her part of the bargain, until she got stabbed. And of course," Damien looks up at Derek hearing him sigh, "she owes us two birthday gifts, two adopt day gifts, two Christmas gifts, and New Year’s too."

Damien stifles a laugh. "Coming home will be enough for me."

"I guess that will do..." Derek made a face. "For you, I for one, when she comes home, I'll ask her for all the toys that your dad makes."

Damien laughs, "Let's go back to the dorm and make you a list."

Astrid walks through the forest and finally reached the cliff where she and Master Schizek stood with her four years ago, she looks out at sea and cleared her mind. It was her 13th birthday, it has been more than four years since she arrived in Russia.

It has also been two years since she last heard from her family since she woke up in the hospital bed with her stab wound.

"Urgh, where am I?" Astrid didn't almost recognize her voice as her throat burned.

"Mistress! Thank goodness!"

"Albert?" Astrid asks, surprised.

"Yes mistress," Albert looks at her disappointed, "Everyone had been so worried."

"What are you doing here?" Astrid asks looking around making sure none of Father Charles men had seen him.

He frowns at her, "Wanting to learn to fight is one thing, but getting stabbed is another." he snaps at her, he hands her a cup of water, "Drink."

Astrid was more than glad to do as told.

"Two years of the search only to find you unconscious in a hospital for two weeks! And only to learn that you were the one taunting the boy to fight?!" Albert continues, Astrid finished off the whole cup.

"I've been unconscious that long?" she asks, lying back down, tired.

"And if you would have remained unconscious, I could have already gotten you in the jet and flew you home." Astrid frowns, Albert sighs and sat beside her, "Everyone's been worried and extremely snappy since you left, princess.”

"Just a little more patience Albert," Astrid sighs, lying back down, "then I'll go home. Tell mom and dad-"

"You can tell whatever that is yourself since I'm under orders to stay here until you are ready to go home, and no," he says before she can argue, "I am not going to accept orders from you until we are back in your family's land, consider this as my martial law."

Astrid shrugged and nods, "I knew you got my family whipped, not the other way around." she teased, Albert forces a grin, "Just a little more patience Albert, I promise, we'll go home soon."

"Well, I do hope you run out of patience soon." Albert stands and walks toward the window and took a peek outside. "Snipers and assassins as guards aren't comforting."

Astrid watches him with a smile, “I guess you’d be calling me by my name.”

Astrid smiles and opened her eyes, I guess assassins grows on you. 

She thought, seeing Albert was still with her. Still following her around, and even sometimes telling Dimitri off when he does something stupid or foolish, saying "I have your back" as he likes to put it. 

She reached for her pendant. Damien, she sighs, he's probably furious of me, but I know he'll understand, and so will Ashton.

Astrid remembers the other boys and their days in the orphanage; she stifles a laugh at the memories.

"I knew I'd find you here," someone behind her says, "but I never thought I'd be hearing you laugh."

"And here I thought I'll find peace here." Astrid sighs and turns to face Dimitri. She looks him over, only realizing how much he had changed since they first met, he was taller, perfect body, handsome. 

Girls back in the States would go crazy over him, she thought.

Dimitri laughs, "Happy birthday, cranky." He says before pulling out a bag from behind him.

Even his English had drastically improved. Astrid grins, she was not known to show emotion in the House of Duchovny, but she tries to put down her walls in front of Dimitri, she excitedly walks up to him, as he hands her his gift.

She opens it and her mouth dropped as she pulled out a black kukri* from one of the black bags, she checks out the other bag and saw a twin silver kukri, she held both swords and skillfully studied it.

"I had it especially made for you; the blades are light but as deadly as any kukri. The arm sheaths are in there too, they’re leather and strapped on your back, I added gun holsters on it for extra weapons." she studied the swords, one black the other silver, delicate thin carvings on the other side of the blade making the blade seem less dangerous. 

"Check out the bottom of the hilt, I had your pendant lightly carved on it, you can change the handle but keep the bottom part, which you'll have to pay for yourself then." Astrid checks on the blades and her eyes widened seeing the angel blade mark carved on it. "Thought that would make it more personal, you know?"

"Thank you, Dimitri." Astrid smiles at him and kissed him on the cheek. "They're beautiful."

Dimitri blushes, "No problem."

Astrid raises the sword on her right arm, "Shadow and," she raised her left arm, "Blade"

"Why Shadow?" Dimitri asked.

"She'll be the one that'll distract the opponent," she says, expertly swinging it in the air. Then she quickly does a move and had Blade up on Dimitri's throat, "Blade kills."

Dimitri chuckles and steps back. "Anyway, father is calling for you."

"It’s my birthday," she pouts, "no training."

"I don't really know, but you should check it out."

Astrid shrugs, "Fine..." she puts her swords back in the bag and left with Dimitri through the shortcut she made a year ago.

An hour later they finally reached the House of Duchovny and steps into his office.

"There you are, birthday girl."

Astrid grins and shook his head, she always found it interesting how Father Charles reminds her of her grandfather Johan, yet they are different in so many ways.

"You called for me grandpapa?" she asks.

"Yes, yes, well, I thought that you've been working so hard, and well, maybe we should celebrate," he says. Astrid raises a brow; she had never seen a celebration in the Duchovny house except for successful kills by his assassins.

"What did you have in mind, grandpapa?" Astrid asks.

He hands her a folder, "Here."

Dimitri's eyes widened. "Father-"

"What is this?" Astrid scans the folder seeing the information of a man named Jacob Anderson.

"Jacob Anderson," Father Charles says, "A successful businessman, he imports and exports cars and other merchandise and, of course, ahead of one of the biggest drug syndicate in this side of the world."

Astrid shook her head and looked up at him, "I don't think I understand..."

"There's a three-million-dollar bounty on his head, he will be your first target."

"Target?"

"You will have to kill him by tonight." Father Charles says casually going back to his work. "Don't worry, we have a clean-up crew and-"

"Grandfather, Angel is not one of our assassins," Dimitri says.

"Well, she lives in my house, doesn't she? She trains with the assassins and even had the Master Schizek privately train her, I don't see why she is an exception to you and the others."

"Her grandfather sent her here for her to learn those things-"

"You bought that save- my- family- crap, Dimitri? You cannot be any more gullible, how you became the best assassin is the 8th wonder of the world." he laughs at his joke and she turns to Astrid, "Your family can protect themselves quite fine without you." he sits back, "According to Master Schizek your brother is almost as strong as you, but then again, there is that quiet Cayce boy."

"Damien..." Astrid whispers and unconsciously reached for her pendant.

"So I guess they no longer need you back home."

"Grandfather-"

Astrid glares at the old man, dropping her arms on her side, "There's no need to bad mouth, my family, I will do what you ask so shut up with the bull." she steps up and leans over his table. "I will go home when I see its time, I'll kill anyone who'll be on the way."

With that said she turns and stomped off.

Father Charles smiles, "Go with her Dimitri, kill her if she hesitates." he glared at his grandson, "We don't want a rogue assassin."

"But-"

"Go or I'll personally see that you are punished, maybe even killed."

Dimitri glared at his grandfather before running after Astrid.

"If you get nervous, just close your eyes and go for the kill." Astrid gave him a weird look, "What?"

Astrid rolls her eyes, "Well, that's sort of lame isn't it?" she says, "If you're going to kill someone might as well look."

Dimitri frowns, "Angel you don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do." Astrid pulls her hair back in a high ponytail as she studied the area.

"This won't make you strong." Dimitri points out, "Do you have the guts to face your family after you kill every person father tells you to?"

"Hypocrite." Astrid teased, "You are constantly out in assignments yourself, Dimitri."

"It’s in my blood," Dimitri argues, "But you, you are from a good family. This isn't a place for you."

Astrid stops and faces him, "Dimitri, I'm an orphan, who my family was or is, is a mystery to me, who I want to be is my choice," she turns around and checks on the area of where her target was supposed to be. "And right now this is what I choose."

"Angel..."

"Let's go, I want a face to face kill," she grins up at him, "Let's make use of those gifts of yours."

"JACOB ANDERSON, ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST MAN IN USSR AND A SUSPECTED LEADER OF A DRUG SYNDICATE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS HOME ALONG WITH 50 OF HIS MEN..."

Father Charles turns off the television and clapped, "Very nice, Angel, 51 kills on your first assignment." he says. "Very impressive and let me say that the hair looks good."

"I didn't want blood on my hair," Astrid says after she swallowed the last bite of her sandwich, she was surprisingly hungry from all the running and fighting she did an hour ago.

"Let's just cut it short then." one of the boys says, standing up, dagger in hand.

Astrid pulls out a gun and shot at him, but the bullet passed by him, passing by his ear about a centimeter away, the boy drops on the floor holding his arms over him before looking back at Astrid with disbelief as the bullet hit the wall.

"Anyone who dares to cut it will have to die afterward," Astrid says casually before holstering her gun back underneath her jacket.

Everyone was quiet and was staring at Astrid until Father Charles laughs.

"Well, I can see that you are indeed a jewel to anyone who benefits," he says, Astrid frowns, remembering her Uncle Rhaumwald saying the same thing. "For now, you are exclusively a jewel of the House of Duchovny, everyone, a toast for Angel." He raises his cup and smiles, "For the birth of possibly the deadliest assassin in the world."

Everyone whispers around.

"Cheers!" Father Charles shouts with more authority for everyone to follow. "To Angel!"

"To Angel..." everyone says with not much enthusiasm as Father Charles.

Astrid watched them drink for her, she then stared at her hand, her mind blank.

After dinner, Astrid went to her room, leaving the dining hall with drunk assassins, something that does not settle well in her mind.

"Albert, I'm back." she walks into her room, "Albert?" there was no answer. Fear starts to crawl into her mind, "Albert!"

Then the air blew through the terrace door, Astrid runs toward the terrace, preparing herself for the worse. She knew how Father Charles can be a cheater, but all her fear disappeared when she saw a table set by Albert, who had just lit the candle. He looked up at her with a smile.

"Welcome home, young miss," he says.

"Wow Albert, this looks great," Astrid says.

"Well I hope I can say the same to you." he looks her over and sees a rip in her jeans where she was scratched with a knife. "Go wash up and put on the dress I prepared on your bed, tonight you are miss Astrid, the stubborn heiress of the Matthews family." Astrid laughs.

"Yes sir." Astrid salutes and turns to enter her room.

"And since I don't want the dinner to go to waste..." Astrid looked back curious, "I might as well say the magic words."

"Happy Birthday?" Astrid guessed.

"No." Albert's face turns to all kinds of serious, "Blood and corpse."

Astrid frowned and was questioned. Suddenly the memory of the skirmish earlier flooded her mind the scent of blood came lingering again as if she was back at the house of her target. Then, as if someone punched her on the gut, the little food she ate during the dinner with the other assassins rebelled and moved up. She clasps her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom.

Half an hour later she stepped out of the balcony wearing a pale pink dress and black ballet flats. Her hair was neatly combed and was flowing down her back to her waist.

"Ah, feeling better I hope, young miss?" Albert smiles, admiring her.

"Yes." Astrid says, "But I would have felt better if you didn't do that."

"Trust me," Albert says, lending out his hand for her, "you'd want it out before you sleep." Astrid took his hand and let him lead her to her chair which he pulled out for her. "Your father’s initiation wasn't as cruel, but I learned a thing or two that night. Now eat up, this one will settle, don't worry."

"Thank you."

"You are very much welcome, young Miss Astrid," he says. "Now, I know you might not want to, but your grandfather linked you to one of the satellites, he said you might like to check on the boys."

Astrid sighs, "You know I can't do that Albert."

"Why not? Wouldn't you like to see them?" Astrid frowns and looks down her lap. "It is Ashton's birthday too you know, not to mention Master Damien's birthday was the other day and you were extra depressed and cranky. Master Dimitri told me you almost sent your sparring partner to the hospital, again, this time he was almost in a coma, broken every bone and not to mention blood loss."

"Please no blood talk on the table Albert." Astrid rubbed her temple, pushing the memories of earlier away.

"My point is, Master Shizek already said that you are ready, you are one of his best fighters, you have proven yourself to him, to Master Charles and the assassins here, isn't that enough?"

"Blessing from them isn't enough unless I am satisfied," Astrid says. Albert does not argue, he knew how stubborn she can be. "I miss them enough to go home, what more if I see them?"

"Then why don't we just go home?" Albert asks for the nth time since he arrived two years ago.

"Not yet." Astrid says, "Just a little more patience Albert, there are still some things I need to prove to myself."

"Very well," Albert says, "But, at least check on the boys. I heard Damien sent a gift, again. He misses you most, next to Ashton, or probably just as much." " Albert squeezed her shoulder before taking the seat across her.

Astrid reaches for her pendant again, "He promised to wait..."

Later into the night, Astrid made her way to her bed wanting to sleep and end her worse birthday up to date but she caught a glimpse of her laptop that was beside the monitors for the surveillance camera she secretly set up outside her room, balcony, and the training grounds.

"At least check on the boys..." she remembers Albert said. It wouldn't hurt.

She opened her laptop and logged into the Matthews system that would link her to the satellite which will link her to the security camera of the Matthews' and NSA. She typed in the Matthews Residence to check on her parents, who were already asleep.

Then he typed in NSA. She reached for the dormitories; Albert gave her all the information of the boys the first time her grandfather offered the access of the satellite a few months ago, right down to their locker number. 

Astrid first checks on Ash and saw him asleep, a book in hand. She smiled seeing how they still looked so much alike, she zoomed in on what he was reading making a mental note to read whatever he was reading, he always had a good taste on books. 

She moves into Jared’s room who was snuggled underneath his comforter. When they were younger, Astrid would often choose to sleep beside Jared since he hardly moves, unlike the other boys, Derek in particular, who tosses and turns often even kicks or punch. 

Moving in Derek's room his lamp was still on, and he was twisted in his comforter. Astrid zoomed in and caught his lips moving, she giggles remembering how they would often watch Derek sleep he tends to talk. She zooms out and sees a piece of paper and a note on his side table with her name on it.

"What is that..." Astrid wonders out loud as she typed a few commands to move to another camera in his room which was pointed beside his bed giving her a better view of his side table. She zooms in and what she read made her laugh. 

On top of the list was her name, Astrid's gift list for me. It was divided for birthdays, adopt-day gift- whatever that is-, Christmas, New year, and Just- for- the- sake- of- making- Derek- happy. She shook her head, happy how nothing much seems to have changed.

Then she took a deep breath deciding to move to Damien's room. She typed in a few commands, and when his room appeared on her screen, she sat up seeing his bed empty. She widens the view of the video; she maneuvers the camera to look around and she let goes of the breath she didn't notice she was holding.

Damien sat by the window, fiddling with something. Astrid smiled and quickly moved to another camera, the one above the window. He was looking up and he smiled straight at the camera and mouthed "hi".

Astrid smiled back, "Why are you still up..." she whispers.

He looks around and ran in his room, Astrid leans closer to the monitor wondering what was up. As quickly as he was gone, he was back with a drawing pad and coloring materials. He was writing something, Astrid patiently waited, a few minutes later he raised the pad at the video.

On the pad was a drawing of a cake with thirteen candles with the message, "Happy Birthday Astrid"

Astrid smiles and quickly printed the screen. Damien smiled and she secretly zoomed in on him and printed the screen again. Then Damien flipped to another page of his pad and start to scribble something and when he raised it, Astrid felt a tug in her heart as she read the word HOME.

"Soon, I promise," she whispers and logged out of the system, knowing Damien would know she did.

The next day, Astrid was preparing for training when Albert enters her room.

"Well, you are up early, is that a birthday resolution?" he teases.

"I'm always early, Albert." she reminds him with a grin.

"True, I can't argue with you on that one. So what will you be doing today?"

"I'll be meeting the new arrivals." she says, "Father Charles wants me to teach newcomers, I think Dimitri asked him to never send me to assignments."

"He did? How do you know?"

"Saw him and his new bruised when we went for our run earlier." she says, "I swear that boy is going get himself killed if he doesn't stop butting in my business."

"He is just looking after you-"

"I appreciate that I do, but seriously? Getting beat up for it is not worth it." she straps on her kukri and two guns on her thighs, two on her lower back, two under her arm, and a belt of ammunition.

"I didn’t know world war 3 was starting?"

"Training is war." she reminds him while tying her hair up, something she had gotten accustomed to. "School is canceled today, so after training, I’m planning to get some shooting and sparring for a while." she shrugs, "That ass-" Albert gave her a look before she finished saying what she was about to say, "idiot, sorry, that idiot that scathed me yesterday proves that."

"Well, I do hope that you come home with no scars today."

"I'll try." Astrid grins and was on her way out. "Oh, by the way, Albert, can you do me a favor?"

"A favor miss Astrid?" he asked surprised.

"Yes, can you get me the boys' school schedule, along with their extra-curricular?"

"The boys' schedule?" Albert raised a brow, "For whatever reason?"

"I just want to be updated on what they do." She quickly ran out of the room. “Thanks, Albert!"

Albert smiles catching the blush on her face just as she turned to leave. 

"Where is Angel?" Father Charles asks.

"In her room." Dimitri answers, "She asked her dinner to be sent there."

"Again?" Father Charles frowns, "How was her assignment today?"

"Done before sunset, that’s after an hour you gave it to her," Dimitri reported with a grin.

He still doesn’t approve of it, but Astrid seemed easier to handle since her first kill on her birthday, though she talks less and seen less except during classes that Father Charles had added for the younger assassin upon the request of Father Johan for Astrid.

"This is not fair Father Charles!" Lila says, who was honored to sit with Father Charles being one of the best assassins in the house, but she was at the end of the table, as Astrid garnered the honor to sit on Father Charles' left hand, Dimitri on his right. "She gets all the special treatment! A butler, education, private training room, access to the armory, freedom to wander around and not to mention exceptions to the rules."

"Well, she had been bringing in the money, 5 million dollars today and along with other assignments this month alone, she still holds the biggest earn, no matter how small the assignment is, she has the most request." Father Charles says, "Plus the money her grandfather sends, we'll survive for maybe a decade."

They all gaped at him, Lila's mouth dropped open, but she quickly recovered and roughly stabbed the meat on her plate, "Still, she's as much of an assassin as any of us here, is she so special we cannot be graced by her presence?"

"I just want a little privacy." Astrid was standing by the dining hall's door. "I don't think that is too much to ask."

"Well, we do wonder what you do in your room." Father Charles asks.

"Reading as usual." Astrid says, bored, "It’s the only time I can forget what we do."

Dimitri grins, "She has the store manager of the book shop whipped, he practically throws himself at her feet after the first visit she made there a month ago." Astrid rolled her eyes on the memory. "He should have never belittled our little Angel here, thinking she's all body and beauty with no brains."

"He should be glad that he has the books I was looking for, or else the police would surely be scraping his remains off the floor of his ridiculous excuse of a bookstore," Astrid adds. "Now, if this interrogation is over, I'd just like to drop this off at the kitchen." She lifts her hands showing her plate and glass. A maid stepped up and took it from her. "Thank you, Krishna." then she glanced at Father Charles and the others, "Excuse me."