“Keep your eyes on the ball, girl!" she whispered viciously in my ear as I was floored.
I couldn't detect any jealousy in her scent, but that sure as hell sounded like it. Hawk eye called her out on it too.
“Zaphire. Enough. End the session. Now." he growled as he stared her down.
Nothing ever got past the bloke.
We started our cooling down and Zaphire complimented me on my progress. She didn't want to leave on a sour note, I suspected.
We all desperately needed a shower so Zack ushered us back to our rooms to get cleaned up, promising Zaphire to give her a text to join us for lunch.
Both Zack and Zaphire had to encourage me to eat as I felt too nervous to eat. Well, Zaphire was encouraging, Zack ordered me. As if that would work. My stomach was knotted and I felt positively sick with the thought of meeting Markus again, as our last meeting wasn't exactly a resounding success. Also, even though I was curious and looking forward to meeting my father, I still felt wholly unequipped and inexperienced to actually do anything I was supposed to do, and it was going to happen a lot sooner than I'd thought.
“Don't worry so much, Eliza. Whatever is decided, you have all of us to back you up. You'll be fine, babe.”
Zaphire was trying to make me feel better, but failed. Zack was less subtle as usual.
“Zaphire is right. Stop thinking ahead so much. Eat your lunch. Now." he insisted.
I sighed and did my best to struggle through some of it. After about twenty minutes of pushing the rest around my plate, Zack actually gave up.
“Let's go." he sighed.
He told me to take the plates back to the kitchen and clean up, which I happily did. I was so looking forward to tomorrow when my punishment would end. I didn't mind doing useful things like clearing the plates, but the mindless tasks, just to prove I would obey, were getting very tedious indeed. I started to feel a bit like a robot, not having to think for myself and just mindlessly following orders, even to the point of being told when to go to the toilet. I would try my damned hardest never to have to do this again.
Markus was ready for us when we arrived at his office. He was joined by Laura, two other men and a woman that I had not met, which did nothing to sooth my nerves. Zack had made me stand behind him and Zaphire, which was quite handy because it gave me the chance to observe everyone without being too brazen. The only problem was that I couldn't see Zack and Zaphire's faces to read their expressions. I could smell their anticipation though, and Zack was emanating a calmness which surprised me considering his earlier tenseness.
“Zack, can you please introduce your trainee to your leaders.”
Markus stepped aside to let us past. Zack beckoned me to come and stand next to him.
“Mr Michael Jones, Mr Frank Van der Veldt and Ms Lois Langfield, this is Miss Eliza Mankuzay, daughter of Rick." Zack nodded at me.
“You're allowed to speak and make acquaintances now.”
I stepped forward and gave them a hand.
“Pleased to meet you all, Sirs, Ma'am.”
I managed to be polite, but didn't really know what else to talk about. Luckily Frank asked me how I was doing with my training and we were soon talking about techniques and what worked best for me so far, with Lois and Michael listening intently. Zaphire was by my side but Laura, Zack and Markus were having their own little private conversation, until Markus called us to sit down at the table.
I waited for Zack to give me permission to sit, also to see where I was expected to go. Not surprisingly he put me right next to him with Laura sitting next to me. It was intimidating to sit across from Markus with his henchmen and woman beside him, but I didn't detect any signs of nervousness from Zack. He either was fully cloaking or he was just that confident. Whichever it was, I was in awe of him.
Markus addressed Zack to present his plan, who proceeded to explain in detail how his thought processes had let him to decide to enlist my mum in the whole operation. My mum! What the hell.
I wanted to shout at all of them to leave my mum well out of it, but was wise enough not to interrupt or criticise. The consequences would be unbearable.
There was a lot of discussion about it, as none of the leaders were keen to bring in an untrained person to work with me, myself barely trained. However, unbelievably, they all agreed that it was the best option they had and unanimously agreed to the plan. No one seemed to want to ask my opinion, even though I must have emanated all sorts of emotions. I didn't even want to try and hide them. I couldn't bear it any longer and I had to ask Zack for permission to speak. He granted it but there lay a deep warning in his eyes to tread carefully.
“With all due respect." I started, though was immediately interrupted by Michael muttering with a little smile playing across his mouth.
“That statement is usually followed by something generally lacking in respect.”
The others sniggered a little, except for Zack who was staring at me icily. Markus however, asked me to speak.
“It would be incredibly difficult for my mum to face the man who left us
