Blanca was utterly terrified. First, she had been swept away to a strange land, only to discover it was quite possibly the most secluded and terrifying place she had ever been to—and she still wasn't sure what the howling noise was that seemed to echo from everywhere.

    Second, she was now being forced to steal one of the most powerful magical objects to exist, otherwise, her family would be brutally slain.

    But, she doubted this was the most frightening experience she had ever had. Even with her fragmented memory, there were scars on her shoulders and arms that couldn't have a happy story behind them.

    Looking at everyone else in the ballroom, the one woman, Verre, seemed quite at ease, executing a few warm-ups that led Blanca to believe that she was more than skilled at this sort of thing. Blanca had always prided herself on her excellent figure, but it seemed an excellent figure alone wasn't going to get her anywhere when it came to training. She couldn't even practice with her abilities, considering the deadly potency of them.

    "Blanca," the wolf-girl called. "Perhaps we can spar together?"

    Swallowing nervously, Blanca nodded. Of the four of them who had been captured, Verre and the wolf-girl--Cerise?--seemed the most adept, as if they had done this violent sort of thing before. She would have preferred Aura, who at least seemed slightly nervous herself, but at least it wasn't Verre, who at that moment was summoning glass shards and throwing them expertly into the wall ahead of her.

    "I'm Cerise, in case you didn't remember. Judging from your face, I'm guessing fighting isn't something you're accustomed to?" The curly-haired girl smiled softly, though even Blanca could tell it was forced; all lips, no eyes. She couldn't blame her, though. They all were in a strange and new environment. No one knew who to trust, especially Blanca. They were all too confident, too deadly.

    Shaking her head slowly, Blanca gestured to her throat. The slight paling of Cerie's features was enough for Blanca to understand that she knew of the deadliness of her breath. This quest, or "heist", as the strange Madame Rose called it, was going to be exceedingly difficult if she could not converse with the others.

    "How about we start with some simple warm-ups to get the blood flowing? I'll be certain to go slowly so that you can learn. We're going to need all the help we can get if we're to survive this." Cerise chuckled softly and shrugged.

    The speech was such an exceedingly common and motivational one, that Blanca grinned. It seemed public speaking was not Cerise's strong suit, however, it had been Blanca's. Though the days she had been able to speak without fear of being hit--or even now, afraid of killing someone--were like a pleasant dream that was achingly just beyond reach.    

    Readying herself for the spar, Blanca followed the simple warm-up steps Cerise provided. Stretching arms, bending legs, inhaling, exhaling . . . Blanca had to remain cautious and to not breathe too hard. Normal breathing usually wasn't toxic enough to harm, but she didn't wish to take any chances, not with Lyra's and Rose's lives on the line. As it was, her dress was a nuisance, getting in the way of the physical exercise. She was beginning to understand why the rest all wore trousers.

    Cerise balled her hands into fists, the kind expression on her face turning cold. "Ready?"

    Blanca gulped, breaking out in a sweat. She was not a warrior; fighting was not her style, not at all. But she needed to make sure Lyra and Rose would remain safe. Nodding slowly, Blanca tensed, clenching her own hands into fists. For once in her life Blanca wished she had lived a healthier life, eating fewer sweets and more vegetables and fruit. She had always been rather fond of her voluptuous built, but she doubted being curvy would help in a situation such as this.

    Cerise struck out without warning, Blanca barely ducking under the lightning-fast punch. Thoroughly scared, Blanca backed away slightly from Cerise. This wasn't exactly how she expected training to go. Cerise came at her again, this time the solid blow finding its way towards Blanca's soft abdomen. With a groan she keeled over, hand clutched to her stomach. Poison spilled from between her lips, causing Cerise to step back in fright. Glad for the momentary respite, Blanca gasped loudly, more poison spilling out. She couldn't help it, her body needed more oxygen.

    "Stop!" Cerise commanded sharply, still moving back carefully. "That's not fair, using poison. You don't see me turning into a wolf, do you?"

    Blanca shook her head vigorously. It wasn't her fault that just breathing could harm others. She hadn't asked for such a curse. And it was a curse, not some gift like Madame Rose liked to think. No, it was a horrid curse. "Please don't, I can't control it." The words were spoken in a whisper, but poison still poured out.

    Cerise's hard expression softened, a hint of a real smile playing on her lips. "I know what it's like to not be able to control something. The wolf I turn into, well, oftentimes I don't have control. Sometimes I won't even remember what happened."

    Blanca's eyes widened. Cerise, one of the ones who seemed so confident, actually had trouble with control? She smiled hesitantly, unsure of how to respond, if she should respond at all. She decided on simply nodding her head, a gesture Cerise seemed to understand the meaning behind.

    "Want to try that again? You're fast, you just need to remain focused. Back when I lived in the forest of Lithrium, I would have to hunt to provide food for myself and others. I learned how to fend for myself and grew proficient in the laws of hunting and survival. It took me a while, but I learned. Don't worry, you'll improve." Cerise returned to her initial stance, her face the same hard look, except now Blanca could detect a glimmer of a smile as well.

    Blanca did not wish to try again, she didn't even want to be here. But for now she was stuck in Denthlire, and she most certainly wasn't going to be able to find a way to escape if she couldn't even block a punch from Cerise. Rising from the ground, Blanca nodded, a smile on her face.

    Cerise struck quickly again, this time with a swing for Blanca's face. She ducked again, but this time she didn't drop her guard. Cerise was fierce and fast, and Blanca didn't relish the thought of another bruise on her stomach. After her first attempt was foiled, Cerise aimed a kick at Blanca's waist, which was again dodged. Feeling slightly more confident, Blanca began to assess any weak points that she could exploit. Even thinking such a thought sent a thrill racing down Blanca's spine; this was something out of a book!

    "Not bad," commented Cerise, as she threw another punch, this one clipping Blanca's shoulder. "With time, you'd be quite proficient."

    Trying to ignore the warm, happy feeling the compliment gave her, Blanca focused on dodging kicks and blows, and it was far more difficult than she could have imagined. After but a few minutes, Blanca was sore, numerous bruises no doubt forming on her skin.

    "Ready to take a break?" Cerise was breathing evenly, though the shine of a sweat could be seen on her brow. "I could use some water." She wiped her face with the back of her hand, and Blanca noticed that Cerise's blouse was soaked in sweat; hers was too.

    Pan appeared to their right, wisps of grey shadows the only reminder of the portal he had jumped through. "There is a jug of water by the left wall of the ballroom. Feel free to partake of it as you wish. From what I've observed, much work is needed, but with time you could excel." He glanced over the young women with a half-smile. For some reason, his smiles were never joyful. Instead, they were dark, as if knowing a deadly secret that no one else did.

    Verre snorted, throwing a spiraling glass shard directly into a makeshift target. Another perfect throw. "I doubt I need any extra training. I've been doing this--the missions, or as you call them, heists--for quite some time, so please, don't insult my intelligence by your mediocre analysis."

    Blanca couldn't believe that Verre had the guts to say something like that to Pan. Didn't she know how powerful he was? But then again, Verre was pretty powerful herself. Pan strode slowly over to Verre, his eyes scanning her, analyzing her. Blanca thought he would say something, perhaps challenge Verre to a duel, but, as if satisfied with what he saw, he simply smiled and walked away.

    "You."

    Blanca panicked as she realized that Verre was calling her. Thinking it better to comply, Blanca hurried over, a thousand scenarios racing through her head. "Your ability is poison, yes?"

    Confused, Blanca nodded, unsure as to why Verre was smiling. The warrior woman smiling was frightening indeed, almost more so than Pan. Though she knew very little about both, a fact that was equally terrifying.

    "That's good. Just keep training, understood? I might be able to teach you some things myself." Verre smiled reassuringly, but all it did was frighten Blanca more. The woman was intimidating, and it wasn't just her height. There was a commanding air about her, this deadly silence.

    Blanca didn't know how to react. Verre's tone was foreboding, sending a shiver coursing down her spine. Nothing about this place felt right. She was just a messed-up, broken, and deadly girl. And even then, she didn't know who she was.