My eyes flusttered open at the soft creak of the door, a sound I'd once associated with servants entering a grand bedroom or morning sunlight slipping through elegant curtains. But this was no royal chamber. My vision adjusted to the cold, dim light filtering into a cramped basement room, my arms straining as they hung, bound, four feet above the ground. Blood trickled down my body, staining the thin, white nightgown I've been wearing from my slumber sleep before they drag me out of my apartment away from them. The pain was dull-barely noticeable. After all, pain had woven itself into my life long ago, becoming as familiar as my own heartbeat.

I could have freed myself easily, but chose not to, allowing my brother the satisfaction of thinking he had the power over me. I knew I was stronger than him and he knew that as well, but I'm just letting him revel in his illusion of control.

As the door creaked fully open, one of my brothers stepped in- Angelo, the second son, gripping the same whip he'd been using to whip my back for the past eight hours. I just remained still, my expression indifferent, enduring his punishment from my three-month absence.

"Are you still not sorry for leaving?" he muttered, his frustration mounting as he snapped the whip against my back, trying to shatter the calm expression on my face.

"I'm... sorry." I responded in a soft voice, almost amused, and he knew immediately it was not anything sincere.

The whip cracked again.

"You have no idea how our little sister cried every day," he spat, anger flickering in his eyes. "She threw such fits that it was like an earthquake tearing through this house."

My lips curled into a smirk, a silent defiance that only fueled his rage. And I looked almost pleased, as if the chaos from my absence had caused the sweetest revenge.

"Angelo, enough," came a firm, gravelly voice from behind. My grandfather stepped into the dim room, his sharp, knowing eyes fixed on me. Without a second thought, he snatched the whip from my brother's hand. "You know she won't give you what you want, no matter how hard you try."

"Grandpa! I'm not finished! She deserves this." Angelo protested, his voice laced with frustration.

"Alynna, get down from there. Stop playing," my grandfather commanded, his voice unyielding. He knew me too well.

With a slight smirk, I wrenched the chains from the hooks above, letting them clatter to the floor as I landed smoothly. "Hope that was satisfying, big brother," I taunted, my voice as cold as steel.

"See? She's not even sorry!" Angelo's voice cracked, desperation overtaking his anger. But my grandfather and I simply turned away, leaving him simmering in frustration as we strode down the dim hallway together.

"Was it true, Sophia been causing an earthquake tantrum all over the house after I left?" I asked my grandfather, half-amused, half-curious.

"She only ever listens to you," he replied, rubbing one of his arched eyebrows as though weary from the memory. "The day you disappeared, she tore through the house looking for you. First, she went to your father, then your mother, and when your four brothers couldn't calm her, she stormed around like a hurricane. Nearly took her maid's eye out with a pair of chopsticks just for telling her to eat." He sighed. "We had no choice but to contain her; we'd be losing servants left and right otherwise."

He paused, his tone shifting as he added, "Have you thought it through? You know your father will track you down, no matter how far you run, until you fulfill his commands."

He stopped walking then, turning to meet my gaze."And what do I gain from all this?" I shot back, my voice fierce, defiant.

A knowing glint flickered in his eyes as he replied, "The one thing you've always dreamed of." He turned, his final word lingering in the air, the one thing I'd chased for as long as I could remember: "Freedom."

My family is anything but ordinary, a truth hidden behind the polished smiles we present to the world. To everyone and my circle of friends, we seem like just another affluent family, enjoying the perks of wealth and status. But what they don't see is the darkness that lingers beneath the surface-a shadowy legacy coursing through our veins, threatening to consume us.

From the moment I entered this world, I was marked as special, not merely for being the first girl after four brothers, but because my father had meticulously orchestrated my existence. I was not just his daughter; I was a pawn in a game of power and dominance, crafted to serve the ambitions of a select few. He envisioned a life where I would be a powerful tool, a means for him to exert influence over those who needed to bow before him, as if he commanded an entire realm.

In my father's eyes, the world is ruled by men, but he believes that the greatest threat to their authority lies in a single woman-a girl so remarkable that she can unravel their strength. He taught me that my worth would stem from my ability to manipulate and conquer, to wield my femininity as a weapon. And despite the twisted nature of his beliefs, he was never disappointed in me. I was his perfect creation, a blend of beauty and cunning designed to bring even the strongest men to their knees.

He crafted me to be his perfect weapon, but I've reached a breaking point. I've fulfilled every expectation he set for me, conquering rival factions, eliminating his enemies, and even orchestrating crimes, all in the name of the family's twisted ideals. My brothers and I have shed blood, sweat, and tears to earn our so-called rightful place in this ruthless world. Yet, as I stand amid the chaos we've created, I feel increasingly trapped in a role I never chose. I am better at all these but I want to break free.

Everything changed seven years ago when my mother gave birth to another girl-Sophia. At first glance, she seemed like a delicate flower, but her fierce demeanor revealed a depth of strength that belied her innocence. Growing up surrounded by violence, she witnessed the bloodshed that defined our lives, and shockingly, she had her first kill at just four years old. This chilling reality made me confront my own path and the suffocating legacy my father imposed on me. I realized I could no longer continue this cycle. I struck a deal with my father: once I turned 20 and Sophia turned eight, I would be free from my assassin duties. The prospect of liberation fueled my resolve, but it also meant I needed to prepare Sophia for the brutal world we inhabit. Over the past three years, I've trained her, pushing her to hone her skills and strengthen her abilities.

What I didn't anticipate was her astonishing growth. She surpassed my expectations, evolving into a powerhouse that even my four brothers struggled to contain. Each day, she grew more formidable, a fierce warrior in her own right. It was evident why Angelo was so furious with me; he loathed having to deal with Sophia. She was an enigma, someone he couldn't control or intimidate, and the only person who could navigate her complexities was me.

In her, I see not just my sister but the potential to break free from our father's oppressive grip-a hope for a future unbound by the chains of my past.

"You will go to university." My father's voice cut through my thoughts like a blade, startling me out of my reverie. I hadn't expected to hear those words from him, and they hung in the air, heavy with implication.

"What? Is this your punishment? Because you know that's pointless. The universities around here are beneath my level." I replied, a mix of disbelief and defiance in my tone. It was the truth. I had amassed knowledge and skills that left the students-and even the professors-at these institutions quaking in their boots. To me, universities were little more than elaborate scams designed to funnel money and time.

"The university you'll be attending isn't local, and that's not what matters," he replied, his tone steady and unyielding. He sank into the sleek leather couch in the room, two magnificent tigers lounging on either side of him. The way he absently stroked one of their heads revealed his comfort in power, but the gleam in his eyes spoke of something far more serious.

"Blackwoods," he finally stated, revealing the family he had long sought to destroy. The name sent a chill down my spine; the Blackwoods had been a formidable enemy for as long as I could remember, a threat looming over our family's legacy.

"They're expanding their territories in the States, and I need you there," he continued, his gaze piercing into mine.

"How does this relate to a university?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"I've received word that the heir of the Blackwood family will be attending this university. They're desperate for a strong leader to help them grow their influence, especially now that the patriarch is beginning to show signs of weakness."

"Then why not seize the opportunity? Strike while their pillar is unsteady," I suggested, a tactical impulse taking over.

He chuckled, a dry sound that echoed in the spacious room. "You underestimate them. They know you better than you think. Do you really believe we're the only ones considering that strategy?" He stood, his formidable figure illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, muscles flexing as he moved. "Many have attempted that approach, but we understand that the Blackwoods always have something hidden in reserve, which is why no one has been able to eliminate them so easily."

Our family's rivalry with the Blackwoods was a long and convoluted saga, one that left me with more questions than answers. They were the one family about which my father and brothers remained unusually tight-lipped. All I knew was that the Blackwoods had betrayed us long ago, and this betrayal was considered unforgivable. Now, as my father warned, they were aggressively extending their reach-from Japan to Europe and, now, as it appeared, to America.

I felt the weight of this new responsibility settle heavily on my shoulders. With just four months left until I turned eighteen, the agreement governing my life would finally come to an end. The prospect of freedom loomed just over the horizon, but the tasks ahead felt daunting.

"What do you want me to do, then?" I asked, sitting upright on the floor, deliberately avoiding his gaze. The shadows cast by his imposing figure were enough to remind me of his authority without needing to see his face.

"Half of the Blackwoods' agenda has been secretly revealed to us, and we intend to use this to our advantage," he replied, his tone unwavering.

"What a stroke of genius from Alexie," I interjected, referencing my third brother, who possessed an uncanny talent for investigation and espionage. He had an innate ability to infiltrate and extract information from every rival we encountered, a skill that often left us one step ahead.

"The family heir seems to have plans to dominate the largest university in America, capitalizing on the properties they've acquired to cater to students. This institution could serve as a significant front for their underground operations and a means to exert control over the city, eventually reaching into the pockets of government officials and beyond," he elaborated, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the unfolding strategy.

"You already have Alexie spying on them. Why not let him continue your plans instead of me? I bet you won't tell me the specific reasons if I ask why I need to make them kneel and beg for their lives. Alexie knows every detail. How can I dominate them if I don't have enough information?"

Confusion washed over me. Why was this burden placed on my shoulders when I was kept in the dark about so many crucial aspects of this rivalry?

"Have you grown weak since you ran away from us?" he challenged.

"No, but I know you'd find me eventually," I replied defiantly.

"It's not the right time for you to know everything, Alynna. Just do as you're told, and you will get what you want."

I chose to ignore his initial words; it was his final statement that ignited a spark of determination within me.

"Yes, Father," I said firmly before stepping out of his room. His dark presence lingered behind me as I disappeared from his sight.

As I closed the door, I spotted Alexie leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face as if he had been eavesdropping all along."So, your last mission, huh?" he remarked, pushing himself off the wall to stand in front of me. I could tell from the gleam in his eyes that he relished the tension I was feeling. "If this turns out well and you don't die, I'm going to miss you."

"As if it matters whether I die or move away-you'll never truly miss me, Alexie," I shot back, shoving him aside as I brushed past him. "Admit it; fear is starting to linger in you." He clicked his tongue in annoyance at my words.

I headed straight to my room, determined to change out of my bloody nightgown and take a proper shower. However, when I opened my wardrobe, I was met with empty shelves. Just then, Alexie strolled into my room, and as my eyes scanned the space, I noticed that my personal items had never returned-something I expected ever since they captured me.

"Searching for something?" Alexie asked teasingly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. I shot him a poker-faced look, waiting for him to explain what was going on this time.

"All your things are packed up. You'll be leaving in two hours," he stated casually.

Surprise washed over me. I hadn't anticipated their plans would unfold so quickly and at the same time the smell of blood and the sting of my wounds were becoming increasingly irritating. I couldn't leave like this.

"Grandma will be here any moment now. Father already informed her what to do with you before you leave." He continued, stepping closer with a blue garment box, elegantly wrapped with a ribbon on top. "Wear this after you clean up. Everything else is settled for your flight; your presence is the only thing missing on the plane. They're waiting for you."

"What about you?" I asked, hoping for a moment of reassurance.

"Father has a different task for me," he replied, his voice growing distant as he turned away. As he disappeared from my sight, my grandmother entered the room gracefully, her arms laden with herbal remedies. Her eyes, though soft and wrinkled, held the same sharpness as my father's, and I braced myself for the inevitable lecture, given my injuries.

"You know, Alynna, you're the only one in this family who keeps putting my remedies out of stock," she began, a hint of exasperation in her tone. I couldn't help but smirk as I settled onto my bed, ready for her to perform her rituals on me.

****

Stepping into the VIP business class on the plane, a sense of liberation washed over me. This was the first time I would embark on a mission without my brothers by my side-an unusual circumstance that felt both exhilarating and daunting. The only company I had was Sean, a butler whose presence I couldn't quite understand. My father had insisted on his assistance, but I couldn't fathom the reason for it, especially since Sean was someone I had known since childhood, albeit as a mere shadow in the background.

"I'll be outside your room, Ms. Alynna. Just press the button beside your seat if you need me," Sean said, his voice steady yet respectful as he stepped out of my VIP suite, leaving me alone in the plush confines of the aircraft. I appreciated his discretion; he knew better than to intrude on my thoughts during such a critical moment. Sean had been working for my family for as long as I could remember, and while he was only three years older than me, I often found myself questioning how he ended up in our employ. But those musings felt trivial now-none of it mattered in the grand scheme of what lay ahead.

As the plane ascended into the sky, I settled into my seat and gazed out the window, the world below shrinking into a tapestry of colors and shapes. My heart raced with anticipation and anxiety. What awaited me at my destination? Who would be waiting to challenge me? The thought of war loomed like a shadow, threatening to engulf me in uncertainty.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I was no stranger to conflict; I had faced countless battles before, but this time felt different. This mission was mine alone. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on my shoulders, mingling with a flicker of excitement. With every passing moment, I felt closer to discovering my own strength, untethered by the expectations of my family or the judgments of my brothers.

As the plane soared higher, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. Whatever awaited me on the ground, I would face it head-on. I was ready to embrace my fate, armed with my own resolve.