I don't know who came up with these stupid initiation rules, but I was hating each one more and more.

After getting driven by one of the Mayor's drivers to Royden, I was guided by Ash back into the secret hive underground. Auntie withdrew my blindfold and turned to Ash.

"Did she keep her blindfold on at all times within the past 24 hours?"

Ash hesitated for a slight second but steeled himself with a response that would give an army private a run for his money. "Yes, ma'am."

Auntie gave us a skank face that showed she smelled something fishy; but whatever it was, she didn't pursue it.

"Bring out the bracelet," she shouted to someone in the back. Emerging from the backroom was Devin again, as he wobbled forward with an iron bracelet that looked like it weighed a dozen pounds.

Devin bent down on one knee next to me and lifted up the sleeves of my jeans. He strapped the bracelet around my ankle and rolled the sleeve back over it. The iron bracelet seemed to tighten around my ankle until it snugged itself close enough to my bone to scrape it every time I moved.

After Devin's job was done, he retreated to the back room, leaving me with Auntie and Ash. Auntie looked at Ash and Ash had a wicked grin on his face that meant something was up.

"The ankle bracelet you are wearing," Auntie informed me, "will unlock itself after 24 hours."

These people love their 24-hour deadlines.

"However, throughout the next 24 hours, you will become the slave of a Locust member."

Auntie looked to Ash with a bit of stern face. "Now although my nephew here isn't a full-fledged member yet, he's pretty close to becoming one. And since the two of you seem to be intertwined already, I'll appoint Ash as your overseer."

Ash pumped his fist like Tiger Woods after scoring a hole-in-one. Then Auntie gave her famous skank eye that said Boy, you're embarrassing me. Ash quickly straightened himself up like a soldier.

"Now, some hives don't put restrictions on this stage, but we have two. Nothing sexual, and nothing harmful. Everything else is on the table." Auntie looked down at me and her breasts cast a shadow over my body like an eclipsed sun. "And you must do whatever else he asks of you."

"Or what?" I dared say.

She looked over to Ash. Ash rubbed his arms a bit shy. "Sorry Zay, but it seems like you're not listening to me."

Next thing I knew, a shockwave was sent up my legs to my entire body and I was momentarily paralyzed. I fell to my knees feeling a tingling pain that felt like the shock one gets from touching a light switch in winter, only spread out across my body and amplified. It was brief, but wildly uncomfortable.

With my face towards the ground, I looked up at the two of them and sighed. "I hate you."

Auntie crossed her arms. Meanwhile, Ash rubbed his hands together. "Oh Zay, we're gonna have so much fun."

***

Ash wasted no time making me his slave, or "special servant" as he preferred to call it. For starters, he had me carry him on my back through the tunnels, up the elevator, and into the car that took us to my house. Now, Ash was taking after his father and growing pretty tall. He was already 5' 8'' in seventh grade and although he wasn't fat, he wasn't necessarily a feather either. Carrying him felt like I was carrying a sack of bricks the size of a person.

When we arrived at the car, I dumped him into his seat and collapsed by the door panting like a dog in summer.

"Thank you, my special servant. Now, have us depart to your finest mansion so I can bath in an eloquent jacuzzi with a view."

I was surprised I didn't slap him right there. But if a slap was followed by a shocking pain sent up my entire body, I didn't think my measly slap was worth it. A nice squared punch however...

"Get in my special servant."

I pulled myself into the car and slammed the door. "Stop calling me that."

"No problem maid."

"And that too."

"Mistress?"

I bawled my fist and closed my eyes counting to ten. Just 24 hours Zay. You can do it.

"Mistress it is."

It was an instant reaction, but I punched Ash's arm hard enough that it started to bruise. He yelped and rubbed his wound.

"Fine, I'll stick with Zay, sheez." But I noticed he was blinking back tears.

Great, now I felt bad, as if I wasn't the one being the slave around here.

When we got to my family's estate, I was glad that no one was home nor would be home for quite some time. It was Friday and Lay usually went out to bars pretending to have friends that liked her. My parents usually had fancy parties and dinners with other rich and powerful people. I usually had the place to myself, and of course the couple of dozen guards that patrolled the place.

I showed Ash to a jacuzzi located near one of five pools in the shape of a lotus flower near the shore with a view of Lake Michigan. The jacuzzi was always hot, even in the deepest freeze of winter. I activated it and started up the bubbles before Ash was down in his boxers and did a cannonball right into the jacuzzi like an idiot.

He emerged from beneath the water and whipped strands of water from his hair, spraying my pants and forcing me to back up. The sun was setting on Lake Michigan with an incredible orange hue that skipped across the shimmering water. Steam rose from the jacuzzi and floated off in a gentle breeze from the lake like clouds forming in the rainforest.

"Zay, think you can make me an ice cream soda with Mr. Pibb?"

I wasn't sure what to be more appalled by. The fact that he thought I was a bartender at some kiddie saloon, or the notion that he liked Mr. Pibb.

"Mr. Pibb?"

He just nodded. I took off to the nearby Tiki bar that was mostly out of commission since it was still late winter. I looked into the freezer and there was still some leftover vanilla ice cream. I grabbed a glass and a scooper. I put two scoops of vanilla inside the cup and was tempted to spit inside it. Then I rummaged through the cabinets that had all the drinks. Surprisingly I found a Mr. Pibb. It was expired by several months, but hey he wanted it.

I presented his royal highness with his ice-cream soda. He sipped and was satisfied. Then he patted the warm water and said. "Do you want to enjoy the jacuzzi with me?"

I crossed my arms. "You just want to see me in my underwear."

"I mean, you can come in with your clothes on if you like. And don't worry about the bracelet. It's waterproof."

I rolled my eyes as I took off my shoes and socks and placed my phone by the side of the jacuzzi. I went in fully clothed to not give Ash the satisfaction. The water was warm and instantly relaxed my muscles.

Ash offered me his ice cream float. I suddenly felt thirsty and grabbed it. The expired Mr. Pibb didn't taste that bad. It might have even enhanced the flavor, or maybe it was the ice cream.

"You know Zay," Ash said, staring at the sunset. "I didn't force you to come inside the jacuzzi, but you got in anyway." He smiled and turned to me. "You like to be around me."

The heat from the jacuzzi was making me blush. "Keep telling yourself that."

I handed back his drink and he put it on the side. Then he started splashing me with warm water. I wasn't sure whether to toss him outside the jacuzzi or let it go. I opted for a third option and splashed him back. He started smiling as we splashed warm water on each other, filling the air with smoke, droplets, and laughter.

He held my hands to try and get me to give up. For some reason I didn't pull back. There was a long second of silence between the both of us as the sun cast our shadows on the deck. The jets from the jacuzzi seemed to be pushing us closer to each other. My heart was vibrating. I could hear it growing louder as it rushed to my ears.

Then I realized it wasn't my heart reaching my ears, but the noise of my phone vibrating near the jacuzzi. I let go of Ash's hands. He cleared his throat and reached over to scratch his back as he focused his glance back on the lake.

I looked at my phone and noticed multiple notifications from my father. He apologized but had no choice but to send me a contract. My sister was busy studying for her midterms (which I classified as a load of bull), and my parents were at some function with politicians trying to form an anti-mayor coalition in the city council. My older brother Ka was still on some international mission. That left me to get this done tonight.

That posed a problem.

I got out of the jacuzzi and Ash looked pretty stunned. "Where are you going? Was it something I said?"

"No," I said, shivering once I was out of the jacuzzi. I grabbed a towel and dried myself as best as I could. "I have a job to do."

"But you're supposed to be my personal Zay for the night."

"I'm sorry Ash, but if I don't do this, I'll be in trouble with my parents."

"What is it you have to do on a Friday night?"

"None of your concern. I just need you to go home." I made my way towards the gated fence to leave the pool area, but Ash got out quickly and held onto my arm with his warm hand stopping me from shivering while I seemingly transferred my cold onto him.

"You must tell me. Unless you want to get shocked."

"Is that a threat?" I said, pulling my hand away from him in disgust.

"Tell me Zay."

"Fine," I said, tossing the towel in his face. "You want to know? I have to kill someone tonight. And I don't want you to get in my way."

Of course, I was more concerned about him getting hurt. The last person who accompanied me on an assassination attempt was Noa when I was nine—and he ended up dying because of it.

I couldn't let the same thing happen to Ash, no matter how annoying he was.

"Too bad," he said, wrapping my wet towel around his body to dry himself off. "I'm coming with you, and that's an order."

"No you won't," I gritted my teeth.

"Zay, the only thing that can stop me from coming with you is if you kill me right here."

False. I could incapacitate him and dump him in my room until I returned. But I doubt his Auntie would take kindly to that if she found out. Or worse, if the Mayor found out. Still, I couldn't just allow him to come. Assassins work solo. We're not some Navy Seals team. This wasn't a joke, Ash could die. Then how would I explain to his Auntie and the Mayor why their son, the son of my family's rival gang, was dead?

"Ash listen to me," I said gripping his shoulders. "It's too dangerous."

"All the more reason for me to be there with you. After all, it was me who got the jump on you back at the hive, remember?" He grabbed a hold of my arms and pulled me closer to him. "Don't count me out like some child. I can handle myself. Now, let's get changed."

He led the way back to the mansion like he owned the place. I still had my doubts about taking Ash along. If he died, I'd never forgive myself.

I won't let that happen, I told myself. Even if I have to exchange my life for his.