First Lesson

CONTRACTED TO THE DEVIL'S BODYGUARD

EPISODE 4: FIRST LESSON

`364:22:15`

The SUV didn’t drive. It sank.

Down, down, past traffic, past subway tunnels, past a river that ran black. The city above faded and the garage door closed over them like a mouth.

Ava stared at the screen. Three red dots were still moving toward her old apartment.

Ava: "They’re at my place."

Ryder: "Good. Let them find nothing."

His hands didn’t shake on the wheel. But his jaw did.

The car stopped in front of two massive doors made of iron and bone. No handle. Just a sigil carved into the center. The same shape as the one burning under Ava’s red card.

The doors opened on their own.

HOUSE BLACKTHORN

It wasn’t a house. It was a cathedral built for war.

Black stone. Stained glass with demons in it. Torches that burned blue. And people. Dozens of them. All in black. All with weapons. All staring at her.

At the front of the room stood a woman. Silver hair. Red coat. A scar from her lip to her ear.

Woman: "So this is it." Her voice echoed. "The Vessel."

Ryder stepped in front of Ava before she could answer.

Ryder: "Lady Vexa. Eyes down."

Vexa: "The Wrath is protective." She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Let’s see if she’s worth it."

She snapped her fingers. The torches flared. On the wall behind her, words burned into the stone.

VESSEL PROTOCOLS

RULE 1: SURVIVE

RULE 2: CONTROL THE MARK

RULE 3: DO NOT TRUST THE OTHER HOUSES

Vexa: "Lesson one starts now. Come."

They were led to a training room. No windows. Circle of salt on the floor. In the center: a pedestal. On it, a dagger. Black blade. Red hilt.

Vexa: "Touch it."

Ava: "What is it?"

Vexa: "The only thing that can cut a Wrath. And the only thing that can cut you now."

She looked at Ryder. "Step back."

Ryder didn’t move.

Ryder: "No."

Vexa: "You want her to die in 364 days because you’re scared?"

The timer in Ava’s vision pulsed. `364:21:58`

For a second the numbers flipped. The hours flickered, then steadied.

Ava exhaled. She stepped forward. Pulled off the red card.

The sigil on her wrist flared to life. Red light, hot, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

The whole room went quiet.

Ava reached out and picked up the dagger.

Nothing happened.

No cut. No pain. The blade just... hummed.

Vexa’s smile dropped.

Vexa: "The Mark accepts her."

Ryder finally breathed.

Then the lights went out.

Glass shattered. They were under attack

The doors blew inward.

Masked figures poured in. Not Kestrel. Not Virel. Something else. Grey coats. No faces. Just smooth skin where mouths should be.

One of them pointed at Ava and screamed. No sound came out. But the salt circle cracked.

Ryder moved.

He wasn’t human anymore. Shadow poured off him. Six arms. Claws. Teeth too long.

He tore through the first three in 2 seconds.

Vexa was already fighting. Blue fire from her hands.

Ava stood frozen in the circle, dagger in hand, timer flashing in her eyes.

`364:20:33`

A grey figure lunged for her.

Ryder was too far.

Ava reacted. She slashed with the dagger.

The sigil on her wrist screamed. Red light shot out and hit the figure square in the chest. It went up in ash.

Silence.

Vexa stared at her. Then at the ash.

Vexa: "Well. Lesson one: complete."

She turned to Ryder, who was already shifting back. Black blood on his face. Not his.

Vexa: "She’s raw. But she’s got teeth."

Ryder wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at Ava. Really looked.

Ryder: "You okay?"

Ava was shaking. The dagger was still in her hand.

Ava: "The timer... it jumped. We lost almost 2 hours."

`364:20:31`

Ryder’s eyes went cold.

Ryder: "They’re attacking the contract. Trying to burn the days."

Vexa: "Then we don’t have a year. We have weeks. Maybe days."

The room went dead quiet again.

From outside, over the sound of rain, came a voice. Amplified. Smooth.

Voice: "Hello, House Blackthorn. This is House Kestrel. We’d like to discuss terms for the Vessel. Before her time runs out."

On the big screen, a man in a white suit waved. Behind him: Ava’s apartment building. On fire.

Vexa looked at Ava.

Vexa: "Welcome to the war, Vessel."

The timer ticked.

`364:20:29`

...TO BE CONTINUED......

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