Breaking Apart and Liking It

The pain was acute, like a concentrated ball of light with jagged edges, bouncing around her insides. Each time the ball hit a particularly sensitive organ, lets say the heart, Sassha winced. There was no backing down from the anger that pain brought with it. Byron would pay. That was the only choice she had. She would use everything in her power to make him pay.

"Are you even listening to me Sassha?" Arcana slammed her hand on top of the desk so hard that Sassah thought the wood would splinter.

"Excuse me for zoning out. I'm currently experiencing a shift in hatred here," Sassha said with so much venom that Arcana looked surprised.

"I don't think you understand--"

"What's there to understand?" Sassha slammed her own fist on the leather seat's armrest. "I was sent here by the man I thought I had loved. What am I missing?"

"One thing." Arcana held up a finger. "You don't know all the facts."

"Oh, I believe I've heard enough about it. Just get on with what you have to tell me. So, I'm probation," Sassha gathered all the calm she could muster considering her current internal turmoil, "that certainly means I have some things at my disposal."

"Your aura isn't being unlocked. You're staying as you are as per your father's orders. But you will be getting some equipment to compensate."

"Equipment?" Sassha was floored. Nothing beats using your aura, but if that's not possible then using gadgets was the next best thing. "Does this mean I'm on a mission again?"

Arcana shook her head, making her hair wave in the process. "Not necessarily."

"Then what?"

"Being with the sons of Sanctuari and the daughter of Capricorn was unexpected. Your father wants you to keep an eye on them."

"Recon? That's not a mission!" Sassha stood up again. "Might as well have me doing scut work."

"Information gathering is a vital part of what we do Sassha. Put your ego aside," Arcana admonished. "Just because you started off as a Hunter doesn't give you license to treat those you help you get where you need to go with little respect." Arcana smiled. "You know, I think this is good for you, learn your place."

"That's ludicrous and you know it!" Sassha stomped a foot like a five-year-old child. "You know that I'm the best Hunter that ever came out of the Academy!"

"Once, maybe. But that's only because Byron never wanted the position."

Sassha didn't think anything could hurt her worse than Byron's betrayal. But she was wrong. Her mother's words were just as cutting. She knew deep down the Byron was the best Hunter that ever lived. He even surpasses her father in skill, if not in power. It was a bad day for revelations. And Sassha wanted nothing more than to get away from all of it.