Chapter Twelve: The Midnight In Me

"We train at night," whispered Jamie, leading the way as he cleared away a cluster of grasses. Dressed in his usual sweater-and-jeans ensemble, he seemed even more unnerving in his...natural habitat. Tom trailed a little behind, bringing up the rear, garbed in his usual dark robes. Ruby had her trademark sunglasses pushed up above her forehead for visibility. She wore black combat boots, a black hoodie and leggings.

"Aren't there other... Assassins?" she queried.

"They're waiting for us," Tom responded, "For your... initiation ceremony."

"Ceremony?" Ruby balked.

They had come to a clearing. In front of them was a stretch of grass and heather, black tents with strange flags flying pitched up, a crackling blue flame. Out of the smoke materialized three forms. The first was that of a young man, the second a petite woman, and the third another young man.

"Nyx, Indigo, Xander, thank you for having us," said Jamie respectfully in his New York-Canadian drawl.

"May the stars align above your wands and may your blades be sharp, fellow Nizari Ismaili," added Tom.

"And may your arrows be true, Tom, James," replied the woman, Indigo. She looked about four feet ten, with long brown hair, a lean but curvy figure, and deep emerald eyes. She wore a little black dress, ripped finger gloves, and tall boots. She carried a sword, a dagger, a quiver of swords, and of course her wand. Her companions, Nyx and Xander were at least a foot taller than her. Both had dark eyes and hair, and similar features; they seemed to be brothers or twins. Like Indigo, they were heavily armed. Indigo turned her regal forest gaze to Ruby.

"And this is must be the initiate," she hummed, staring intently at Ruby.

"Indeed it is," responded Tom. Indigo smiled knowingly, with the same unnerving manner as Jamie. "You've got ample time for the ceremony, show her the camp." And with that, the woman and her companions dissipated into the smoke.

"Shall we?" asked Jamie.

"Why not?" responded Tom. He turned to Ruby, "Come along."

Ruby followed them through the sheet of smoke, coughing as she did. The air was suddenly filled with laughter and conversation, and occasionally the clanging of metal or the song of an arrow through the thick air. There was music too, wild yet refined in the way that its people were. Everywhere there were people dressed similarly to Indigo, Nyx, snd Xander.

Tom, now leading the way, stopped at a tent which flew a dark flag decorated with a snake eating its own tail. He lifted the flap inside, gesturing for Jamie and Ruby to enter, following them in a swish of robes. Inside, the tent was a spacious, shadowy room, with a table in the center, High-backed, ornate chairs surrounded the table. Tom reached above to tug at a string, and the room was filled with a eerie, greenish wavering light, as if the tent was underwater.

"Sit," he ordered calmly. Ruby sat cautiously, as did Jamie. Her stomach flip-flopped as Tom gripped the back of her chair, leaning over her.

"Happy birthday," he whispered. Turning, he walked across the room, opening a black chest and returning with a small glass and a green, tall-necked bottle. Setting the glass on the table in front of Ruby, he tipped the bottle, a viscous black liquid spilling into the glass.

"Drink up," he murmured, pushing the glass towards her.

Now both of their eyes were on her, piercing, judging, compelling. She lifted the glass with bated breath, inspecting its contents. Heart racing, Ruby took a tentative sip. It was cold and sour and disgustingly thick as it hit her tongue, and she grimaced as she swallowed it. It turned warm and sweet in her throat.

"Drink it all," Tom ordered. Obediently, as if she were compelled, she drained the contents of the glass.

"Good girl," he whispered. Tom turned to Jamie, "What time is it?"

"10:39," he responded.

"We have about an hour until midnight. Is it working yet?"

Jamie lifted her chin up, staring into her blank eyes.

"I think so."

"Good. We should start moving now."

Tom motioned for Ruby to get up. She stared at him blankly, and Jamie helped Tom lift her up from the chair and they exited the tent with Ruby between them.

It was almost midnight when Ruby woke. She was wearing only a black shift, her wrists tied to a wooden chair. Smoke rose in the air, and she was surrounded by a circle of black garbed people.

"My fellow assassins, let the ceremony begin!" cried Indigo from five feet in front of Ruby, flinging her arms to the sky. The crowd roared. Out of the smoke came seven black-garbed figures. Wraiths.

"Tonight, the initiate will show us her hunting prowess and her worthiness to stand among our ranks..." Indigo paused dramatically, her chest heaving with strain. "Or die trying!"

Fear overtook Ruby as the Wraiths came closer, their breath like rotten meat on her neck. Frantically, she attempted to wrench her hands out of the ties, but failed. Dammit, Ruby. She bent her head down, tugging at the rope with her teeth, and to her surprise, it gave, freeing her left hand. Relief flooded her for an instant as one of the Wraiths took a step towards her.

"No!" she cried, an unexpected strength taking ahold of her as she swung the chair at it. The Wraith crumpled to the ground. Ruby pulled her right hand out of the ropes. One down, six to go. She felt more courageous as the next Wraith bore down upon her, and two more fell with makeshift nooses from the rope around their necks.

The four remaining Wraiths advanced upon her. The crowd cheered, bloodthirsty.

"Incendio," whispered Ruby, gripping red fire in her palms. The closest Wraith howled in pain, and Ruby quickly dispatched the next two. But while she'd been busy fighting, the last Wraith had come behind her. Cold, bony fingers gripped her throat, obstructing her breathing, long fangs ripped through her skin like a knife through paper. Head swimming, Ruby gripped the Wraith's cold fingers, wrenching them away from her neck and the two stumbled apart.

"Now to end this!" Ruby launched herself at the Wraith, tackling the tall from to the ground, and pushing away the cloth to expose its throat.

And she bit down, the tangy taste of blood in her mouth as the monster went still.

A cheer went up from the circle, and Indigo appeared out of nowhere, pulling Ruby up to face the crowd and flinging a cloak about her.

"Tonight, as the clock strikes midnight, we celebrate the newest addition to the Circle! Tonight, this young woman has proven herself worthy to join us!" She gripped Ruby's hand, holding their fists up together. The crowd cheered. Ruby grinned, happiness overtaking her.