Chapter One

A cool shudder trickled down Alex’s spine. She cursed herself for shakiness and uneasiness, shining her flashlight around the dark grand foyer of a rundown mansion. The moonlight streamed in through the one glass cracked window, shadows crept like grasping fingers on the walls. Multiple somber portraits stare at her from behind layers of dust.

Alex crept forward, her shoulders tingled. She felt as though someone was following her. Whirling around, seeing nothing but the empty grand foyer and the faces in the portraits staring at her, Alex swallowed continuing into the dark bowels of the old mansion.

Her heart was racing and she wanted to get out of here. She normally wasn't scared, but something about this mission didn't sit well with her. Pushing herself forward in her search for the murderer, her and her brothers were ordered to kill. Kicking down a broken door hanging by one hinge, the hairs on the back of her neck rise as the feeling of being watched came back in full force.

"Alex? Everything all right?" Of course, Kellin would notice something was wrong. It didn't helped that the fair-headed was an empath.

She put up a mental wall. Feeling that someone was following her, Alex hesitated before answering her brother.

“I'm fine, something just-“

A stunning flash blasted her shadows across the room as Alex was slammed by a strong force. She tasted the rust of blood in her mouth as she shook the dirt and debris off of her. Her lungs burned, making it hard to breathe. She used the wall for support to stand up, ears ringing from the boom. The heat from the fires caused by the explosion licked her body as she stood. Reaching the door, Alex grabbed the handle, pulling her hand back as intense stinging pain flared up her arm. Hissing, as she searched for another way to get out.

Her name was being yelled through her head telepathically by her brothers, asking if she was okay.

Of course, I am not okay. I’m in a burning mansion. Just got thrown across the room. I am totally fine. Let’s just finish this, Alex thought.

Her vision blurred. The world was spinning and made her want to vomit as her head pounded, sharp and heavy. Alex closed her eyes, fighting off nausea.

Trying, even through the pain, to remember how and why she had arrived at this strange, dark place where nothing seemed familiar. Cursing herself for getting injured, she took a few moments for the dizziness to cease, before she remembered to respond to them. Pushing herself to take small steps forward, she searched for anything that would help. White dots formed in her eye sight as she quickened her steps. Pushing the pain aside, she moved forwards into a different hallway closer to the front of the mansion.

“I’m fine. I just need to check one more room before heading back.”

"Negative, get back to the jet, Lex. Ryder and I are on the way back. The explosion would have destroyed everything helpful." Nikolai commanded through the telepathic link.

"Where's Levi and Kellin?" Alex asked Nikolai, walking into a dark room, climbing over debris that covered the blackened floor. Licks of flashing red and orange surrounded the room. Black smoke filled the burning room, flickering flames rampaging and engulfing everything as Alex covered her mouth with her sleeve. She had to get out soon before she passed out.

"In the jet. They just got here,” Lucas commented instead. "Lex, get back before anything else happens. We got enough for now."

"But what if-“

Cutting his sister off, Ryder said, "It's fine, Alex. We need to leave before anything else blows up and injures you more."

"Who said I was injured?”

"No one, but I hear the pain in your voice, Sis."

Alex frowned. Remembering what their mentor had said about physical pain and how it distracted them. Alex pushed the pain aside once more and headed out of the mansion toward the field where the jet waited. It was a cool, windy night; the swaying of grass and rustling of leaves could be heard but not seen. Black smoke had spread out, covering the night sky. The flickering flames had engulfing the whole mansion, by the time Alex had arrived at the jet. 

"For the record, I’m perfectly fine,” Alex lied, walking up the ramp leading into the cockpit to see five pairs of eyes looking right at her, each with concern.

Alex dropped herself in her seat behind Lucas and Levi.

"You look terrible and smell worse,” Levi smirked.

"You sure know how to compliment a girl.”

“Love you sis.”

Alex rolled her eyes at her youngest brother, glancing away to hide a wince, as pain spread through her body. 

“Everyone set?” Lucas asked. Hearing responses of ‘Let’s go’, Lucas pushed the control forward, engines started to roar, as the siblings were pushed back in their seats as the jet ascended into the sky.

Feeling her head started to pound, her ears popping and feeling blood rush down her body, Alex glanced away so she could hide a wince once again.

"I saw that." Alex turned a bit, directing her brown eyes toward Kellin, straightening up so it looked like nothing was wrong.

"Saw what?"

"You know what," Kellin gave Alex a concern glance.

“No, I don’t.”

"That's the second time you have winced. Don't think I didn't see you do it before we took off."

"I haven't winced. You must be seeing things." 

“Quit being stubborn. You’re hurt.”

“Just leave it alone, Kellin.”

Alex was thankful that her brother had dropped it, for now. She knew he was going into doctor mode as soon as the plane level out.

Feeling the plane level out, Alex caught Kellin pulling out a cloth, dipping it in cold water before turning in his seat facing her. She moved farther back in her seat, but Kellin caught her jaw, so he could clean off her face.

"You should see how you look.”

Alex slightly raised her eyebrow before flinching at the movement, double vision forming. Keeping her mental wall up, the best she could, Kellin saw right through her. “How did you get a concussion, Lex?” Kellin whispered his question, pushing her dark chocolate strands to the side, continuing to wipe off the blood and grime on Alex’s forehead. 

“I don’t have a concussion, Kell. Just a minor cut.”

Kellin sighed. "You know you don't have to be stubborn all the time. We are your brothers, we want you to lean on us. We want you to tell us when you are hurt or when you are sick before it is too late."

"It was just one time, Kellin." Alex rolled her eyes. She would never live that down. A mission several years ago, didn’t go as planned.

"We almost lost you, Lexi. I don't think we could handle that. It tore us apart when you were in that coma." Raw emotion shone in Kellin's blue eyes, catching Alex off guard. 

"Sorry, Kell." Guilt consumed her from within. 

Kellie smiled as he patched Alex up. "There you go. Looking brand new. Please rest.”

Alex smirked as she got up and walked over to the boxes they had retrieved. Pulling out several folders, she opened them up so she could started reading them. Feeling eyes on her, she looked up to see her brothers glancing at her.

"What? These aren't going to read themselves. We need to find something. Anything that would help lead us to Dimitri's next target."

"You need to rest," Ryder reached for the folder and it flew into his hand.

"But, Dimitri isn't resting. We need to get a step ahead of him." Alex protested, but Nikolai pulled her into him, being careful of his strength and her injuries.

"Ryder, Kellin and I will look at them. You get some sleep before we land. We’ve got two hours before we are home. You can't think straight right now.”

"I can think straight, you are the one who can't. Nik, I’m fine."

"Alexandra, please. Just for an hour then. The three of us can handle it,” Nikolai reasoned.

"Fine," Alex sat back in her seat. She tried to listen to what her three oldest brothers were saying. Her brain playing tug-of-war between resting and wakefulness as she struggled to remain awake. Her eye lids getting heavier moment by moment. Fighting to stay awake, her gaze meet Kellin. His voice entered her mind commanding her to sleep. Stupid mind control, she thought, continuing to battle against her consciousness as it ebbed away, her last thoughts were how they were going to find Dimitri before he murders again.

Author's Note

What you all think? Where can I add some Dialogue? Where can I add some action? Where can I add more about the characters? Where do I need to improve? How can I make it more exciting, more action, more detail of relationship with the siblings? Also any good plot twists and where to move on?

Reviews

[Ruth]

I loved the story line, but some ideas were underdeveloped. The plot is full of imitation. I would love to be shown the mission instead of being told about the mission. I would like more information on the characters of the story, instead of just mentioning their name . You will entice readers because of your characters. Readers will want more.

[Dogbomb3]

Nice. Gets right into the action! I feel that you could 'show' a little more at the start. Us readers like to deduce things from the descriptions you give and not be given every detail straight up.

[McBear]

This is a very good start. I only have a few minor critiques. In the first paragraph or so, some of the wording is a little bit off. To give an example: "Her hands shaking as she held her gun out in front of her, as she search for the man that her and her brothers were sent to kill."

I would write it as "As she searched for the man that her and her brothers were ordered to kill, Her hands shook as she held her gun out in front of her. She was nervous of what the outcome could be"

See what I am saying? It is much more smooth and easier to understand. I do not mean to sound rude or anything; I am only trying to help.

[Chafino]

I like how you just get right the story in the beginning instead of a build up. I guess what I could suggest is an A B story telling. Where A is the main story line and the B story line talks about how they became assassins and there training. But that's just me.