Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

garments. Decima in all white – in contrast to her long black hair. Seth in all black – in contrast to his long white hair.
    Griffin had told me about them on the plane. Seth and Decima were the most religious members of the Assembly – which apparently made them two of the most vicious warriors. They came from a time when religion meant fighting to the death – though demonstrations were now very rare. Seth and Decima felt their presence necessary only at times of great war. Perhaps that alone was the reason it seemed so strange they were here today.
    ‘On my right,’ Josephine continued, ‘sit partners Hakon and Valerie, who also run the training academy. You can expect to see more of them in the near future.’
    I suppressed an urge to object to this. Griffin had warned me that it would be unlikely the Assembly would permit my stay unless I agreed to attend some Academy classes. I wasn’t happy about it. Something about conforming to their structure rubbed me the wrong way. Josephine didn’t try hard to hide her knowing smile.
    Glad to see she can entertain herself.
    Hakon was huge . I wouldn’t have been surprised if one of his previous names had been Hercules. He had short blond hair that made me think he might be Scandinavian. His light browneyes, almost topaz, met mine. He didn’t look impressed with what he saw.
    His sheer size was mind-boggling. I didn’t realise muscles could be that big and it wasn’t as if he was trying to hide them. He was wearing only a strip of brown leather over his top half. I could see his entire chest. It was …
    Lincoln cleared his throat.
    Crap. I’m staring.
    Embarrassed, I blinked, nodded to Hakon and quickly turned my attention to Valerie, who looked tiny beside him despite the fact she was probably the most athletically built of the women on the Assembly, notably dressed down in black leggings and a white sweater. She looked like she’d just come off a training session, which made me kind of warm to her. Then she gave me a full up-and-down and – by the judgemental glance she shared with Hakon – made it obvious she wasn’t impressed with what she saw either. I felt my cheeks flush.
    ‘And finally,’ Josephine spoke up again, after we’d exchanged nods and awkward hellos with Hakon the Hulk and Valerie, ‘closest to you are Wilhelm and Rainer.’
    It didn’t take a genius to realise that these two were her least preferred Assembly members from the way she brushed over them so quickly, barely gesturing in their direction.
    I guess that makes them my new besties!
    ‘You can call me Wil,’ Wilhelm said kindly, nodding at Lincoln and me. ‘Welcome to the Academy.’ His glance moved to Griffin. ‘Good to see you, old friend. You’ve been sorely missed.’
    Griffin nodded, a smile spreading. ‘And you, Wil. You too, Rainer.’
    Thewoman stood up – the first of the Assembly to make any kind of move – and walked to Griffin. She kissed him on each cheek and took his hands, emotion passing between them.
    ‘I’m sorry for what Magda has done. Her actions have hurt us all, but you the most. She was lucky to have you as a partner and wrong to have betrayed your trust.’
    I liked Rainer.
    ‘Thank you,’ Griffin said, his head bowed humbly.
    I could tell his respect for her was genuine and his gratitude heartfelt. Rainer leaned in again and whispered something in his ear. Griffin nodded again and I was sure I spotted a tear in his eye before he blinked it back.
    Rainer turned towards Lincoln and me. She was about my height. She was beautiful. Glossy black hair cut straight and sharp at shoulder length. She had an exotic look to her, more so than Adele’s. In fact, her eyes were so striking she reminded me of …
    ‘Nyla,’ I whispered. The name fell from my lips before I could stop it.
    She smiled. ‘Nyla is my sister. My twin sister, though not identical, obviously.’
    I stared at her – the similarities now clear. The way she conducted herself and the warmth in her eyes left no doubt she was Nyla’s kin.
    Nyla had never told me she had a twin. But then again, older Grigori rarely spoke of their families – it was a no-go subject. More often than not they’d either been lost or outlived.
    ‘I … I … Nyla was … She was amazing,’ I stuttered.
    Rainer’s smile broadened as I fumbled with my words. ‘She was amazing. And I have every confidence she will be again.’
    Atthat, a steely determination that was gone as quickly as it came