Author's note: Thanks for adding this to your reading list, enjoy!

In other news, I had to delete several scenes and condense chapters for this story so I'll update a few chapters today in return. Hope you all remember Rush because it's his pov in this chapter.

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Rush:

"This shall do quite nicely," Rush's uncle echoed from below him.

Rush snorted in disgust; the leader of the largest evil organization stooping to such levels as interrogating a nobody was unprecedented.

Looking around, he noticed Blackheart had vanished, leaving him to perform necessary tasks that were assigned to him as the leader of the assassins group.

Sometimes Rush remembered Blackheart wasn't just his mentor, but a high-ranking member of AoE and if his plan went to fruition, the first line of defense between his uncle and him.

A few minutes ago, Blackheart had proceeded to lecture him on the tenants of obedience, but Rush had, as usual, halfheartedly listened and nodded every few seconds as a sign of servitude.

However, Blackheart had not been convinced and had then brought up Rush's dirty laundry back in his face.

"Rush, are you ever going to learn?", Blackheart pouted, watching Rush for a response.

"I was retrieving my brother..." "Lie" "...for an assignment..." "Also, a lie." "that I was ordered to..."

"Rush!", Blackheart barked before slapping him hard across his face.

"I will only ask once more. What was the real reason you disobeyed me?"

"I...", partially-lying for his own sake, Rush answered, "I...wanted recognition in uncle's eyes."

Blackheart guffawed in disbelief.

"It's true! I've always been lesser in his eyes and...I thought that if I brought him back, I would be redeemed from...the past.", Rush stated.

His eyes watered as he realized that even though that was the not the reason he sought James out, it was nonetheless the truth.

He would never be the heir as long as James was around.

Why would they want a broken soldier when they could have an elite leader in charge?

Blackheart softened after hearing his reply, saying, "Rush, you have nothing to prove to anyone."

"What?", Rush whispered back.

"I mean it. You will not believe this, but I think that, in you, you have as much or more potential than your brother. In fact, I've seen your test scores while in school, you are much smarter than you give yourself credit for."

"That doesn't matter as I wasn't chosen though."

"Some of us aren't chosen by others to lead, instead some of us rise up and lead anyway."

"Blackheart, but isn't that treason to..."

"I learned back when I was still in the military that a leader does not have to have rank or position to lead others. One day, you and your brother will be all that AoE has left and if you don't learn to work together, AoE will destroy itself. Like the Good Book says, a house divided against itself cannot stand."

"I thought that the Evil Hand ruled by themselves and that the Book of Secrets chose who took their place."

"True, but Mockingbird only oversees things; he has a board of different groups of people who oversee the various groups associated with AoE and branches all over the world. He can't do that by himself, can he?"

"No."

A guard came up to Blackheart and the moment was over. Blackheart stood up straight and touched his ear readjusting his hearing device and speaking quietly with the guard before turning to Rush.

"I must leave and attend to business. Stay here and I will see to it that transportation is provided."

"Shouldn't I be going with you?", Rush asked.

"You broke our promise. Soon, you'll be heading back to assassin school and completing your training."

"BUT BLACKHEART, I'M WAY MORE ADVANCED THAN THOSE ROOKIES!"

"That's not a request, it's an order."

He turned to leave and called out, "By the way, no one is to know Mockingbird is your uncle to keep his anonymity. Keep your mouth shut and your head up, kid."

I hate his guts, Rush growled, thinking back on that exchange.

For a few moments, Rush had forgotten the fact that Blackheart was Mockingbird's head of security and not his dad.

It was sad that his own father could never be bothered to have such talks with him, just like his mother disregarded his existence.

His sister had been more of a mom to him and though he had only known Blackheart for two years, he respected him more than any of his family members.

At first, Blackheart had despised taking care of Rush until Rush tried to prove he would be fine by himself. After that, Blackheart had slowly opened up and seemed to have taken a liking to him.

Too bad he would soon let down his trust again by betraying him.

Now, where was the exit?

Trying to gain a sense of his surroundings, he peered over the balcony and observed the scene below him with indifference.

"You still haven't said what you want.", the girl that his brother...James had called Maria.

"I was waiting for you to speak, dearie.", Mockingbird responded while he put his phone away in his pocket.

"Well?", she asked with boldness in her voice.

What was she up to?, he wondered. Most would have come down with cowardice at the mere sight of the Evil Hand, but she remained consistent in her unwavering stance.

He liked her vigor. If only things had been different, but there was no time to dwell on that now.

Monsters did not get the girl in the fairy tales he'd watched growing up.

Rush groaned. He thought that assassin school would have wrenched those thoughts of Disney movies out of him, guess he was wrong.

"I'm confused on why you willingly partnered with my nephew and even prevented him from being returned back home."

"He's...no. You're lying! James is not your nephew! That would mean...", her face turned pale at the realization.

"Yes, you are correct in your presumption. James is the heir to AoE."

Rush was bored now. He had to escape and enact his plan of revenge.

Vengeance was imminent and soon, he'd rule all.

When he did, he would let people like her go...she was innocent, not like him.

Turning the knob, Rush went in search of his brother.

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Author's note: It's a quarter past midnight...that's the time in the story.