The Veiled Grey (Prologue)

PROLOGUE

St. Cloud’s Academy: Camp Anita Dolor

“Brother Dan by the order of the Brotherhood, you are to take Camilita Ramon to Camp Anita Dolor. We can tell she has the potential to be one of our greatest assets, if we can get her to follow the rules. Camilita has been here for one year and has been exhibiting unruly behavior even after the behavior modifications. If she doesn’t show any progress over the next year-in-a-half—kill her.” Brooks stated while sitting on a chair with a high black velvet back. The other six members sat beside him, although they were sitting in normal chairs. There was no question who ran the counsel—Brooks.

Brother Dan nodded his head in acceptance. He knew of the child they spoke of—she had been disciplined more than any other child in St. Cloud’s Academy history. She spoke out of turn in classes, she refused to say the St. Cloud’s Academy prayer to the Great Ones. The worst offense, she refuses to follow—The Rule.

He was surprised that they were keeping the girl a little longer, although everyone knew that Camp Anita Dolor was the last resort. He also knew his career depended on the success of Camilita becoming an asset. He shook his head, he would need to come up with a different plan if he was to keep his life. He let out a sigh as soon as he was out of the room, he feared this would be his last mission.

(5 Months into training)

Brother Dan smiled as he watched five-in-a-half year-old Camilita—Cam, which she insisted she be called, wield a short knife. She ran through series of offensive and defensive moves almost to perfection. Her little body rotated and twisted through the air as she did several acrobatics across the makeshift areana. She had memorized all the footwork and had prided herself on coming up with new and creative ways to best him. She was clever, he had to give her that. The first week she was there he found out she could do magic. He finally understood why it was so important that she be trained. Her magic and deadly training would certainly help the Brotherhood. He also found that if he didn’t beat her and force her to follow the rules—she started to would follow them on her own volition.

“Cam, do you know what this is?” Brother Dan asked after their evening meal.

“A book.” Cam rolled her eyes. She had noticed the book in his study the night before when she was working on her night stealth skills. Skills, she was sure Brother Dan would kill her for practicing—so, no need to mention that she had thumbed through it already. She grinned as she ran her fingers down the worn leather spine, flipped through the pages while smelling the parchment.

“It's not just a book,” Brother Dan continued. He had learn to keep his aggrevation to a minimum. “A spell book.” He proudly presented the book to her. “Now, just a few rules; no eating with the book, no taking the books to the woods, pond, creek, or marsh.” Cam nodded her head barely listening to the man, she was engrossed with looking at the words.

“I can’t read it.” She pouted and threw it on the table, where Brother Dan immediately picked it up and dusted it off as if she had thrown something breakable.

“Of course you can’t, it’s written in an ancient text. It’s meant to keep other inquiring minds out of it. Although, against my better judgement I am going to teach you how to read it.” Cam’s eyes lit up. She had been waiting to learn some spells even though she just learned she could do magic. She also just learned how to read and had been sneaking books into her room. She felt that she owed Brother Dan.

“Thank you, Brother Dan. Do you think tonight I could say St. Cloud’s prayer with you?” Brother Dan’s spoon clattered on the table. He was so still that Cam asked the question again. “Can I say St. Cloud’s prayer with you?”

Brother Dan beamed down at her. He finally felt he was doing something right.

(Camp Anita Dolor: Two years later…)

Cam sat back on her bed. She could hear voices outside her door, whispering about her. Another house had been erected earlier in the day to house at least ten people. Brother Dan had brought in reinforcements. She felt sick to her stomach she knew things were changing but didn’t know if it were for the best. Cam had finally mastered her adult skills, she knew it was almost time she selected a career.

She could be an Assassin, Faithful, Grabber, or Solider. She liked them all and she was good at them, in fact she had mastered all the skills that one must have to become anyone of them. She was told that when she graduated from St. Clouds she could choose which of the two professions she wanted to go in, Rangers or Protectors.

Rangers were the Assassins and Soldiers. Where Protectors were Grabbers and Faithfuls. She had asked to be all of them but Brother Dan said it was impossible—hence the extra help.

(Camp Anita Dolor: 3 Months After the Brotherhood Arrived)

“Listen to me little girl, you will never become one of us with that attitude.” Brother Mack brought a wooden cane down on her back. “I told you to be quiet and you stomp around here like rampaging elephants!” He brought the cane down seven more times. “I will beat quietness into you if it’s the last thing I do!” He screamed while veins popped out of the sides of his forehead. His face wrinkled while it lit up like a stoplight.

“You’re just mad because you weren’t watching where you were going and tripped over that rock.” Cam forced out while she up-righted herself. Brother Mack didn’t know she could heal herself. She muttered a few words under her breath but stood up slowly.

“Why you little,” Brother Mack let the cane do the rest. Cam still felt proud even though she was getting a beating. She giggled a little because she had made Brother Mack trip with a little of her magic. Unfortunately, Brother Dan heard her giggle and in the first time in two-in-a-half years—he took over for Brother Mack and began bringing the cane down on her with extra force.

Rule 3 stated that a pupil must never fight the Brothers. Cam wanted to make Brother Dan proud, but she was so surprised at his twist of character all she could do was fight back. It earned her one week in hot-box hut chained to the ground.

(Camp Anita Dolor: One-in-a-half years later…Testing Day)

“I cannot wait to get out of this damn camp!” Brother Mack complained as he swatted another mosquito. They were surrounded by lakes, trees, ponds—anything nature could offer, except for city living.

“Let’s just hope she can pass the tests. It’s four years earlier than any other student. I don’t think she’s up to it.” Brother Sander’s commented.

“You know she’s up to it! You’ve seen her fight and you’ve seen how smart she is. I think she could go into any of the professions and you know it. You’re just jealous. Besides, all of us at some point in our careers at St. Clouds wanted to do it all, dreamed of it even.”

Brother Cathy was tired of hearing the mean complain over the littliest things. She silently motioned for the others to follow her before she took her wrath out on her. The others grumbled and followed her through the trees to the meadow where Cam was supposed to test.

Where Cam was supposed to be waiting, a letter stood in her place.

“What is the meaning of this Brother Dan?” Brother Sander’s anger could barely be contained, he hated Cam the most.

“I suggest we read the letter. I think the testing has already begun—but we’re not the ones who are running it.” Brother Dan’s voice hinted with pride. He knew Cam had the whole test planned to go the way she wanted, on her terms. Even though she had followed The Rule, he knew deep down she didn’t truly believe in it with her heart.

Brother Dan calmly walked over to the letter, opened it and read it aloud,

“The test has already started, come find me. I dwell at the place of your treasures.”

*****************

Cam waited for the others to arrive, she was standing outside of their house and she had plans. She knew what was expected of her:

Brother Mack: wanted her to be ruthless and not to back down—an Assassin

Brother Cathy: wanted her to be kind and teach, maybe even heal—a Faithful

Brother David: wanted her to persuade them to do something they wouldn’t normally do—a Grabber

Brother Sanders: wanted her to kill mindlessly—a Soldier.

Today they would all get what they wished for. As the Brotherhood emerged from the tree line, Cam smiled—she just persuaded them to change the location of the test. It was time they followed her rules.

Cam mumbled under her breath and calmed her mind. She smirked as the gray hatched roof caught on fire. The fire was blue and green, something The Brotherhood said was impossible. Another rule broken. The Brother’s house burned quickly. Cam ignored the screams from inside—they wanted her to be ruthless. She was killing their pets, lovers and other precious secrets. There was nothing they could do but watch until there was just dust and ash. They wanted a monster—Cam hadn’t even started yet.

Cam needed to persuade them with more than a test location change—they needed something that would unnerve them—they were going to die. She created air bubbles around each Brother and made it seem as if they were suffocating. Cam stood over them as they withered until lifeless on the ground. Brother Cathy and Brother Dan had tears dripping down their faces. They were still breathing—but the magic she used made them think they were dead.

“I just killed you and your pets—there was nothing that you could do to stop me.” Cam stated. She made it so they could hear her through their air bubbles.

She released the Brother’s shortly after and as they came out of their stupors, they just sat and watched Cam move around, their faces blank without emotion.

She began to move her hands in circles creating blue, green, purple, red, yellow, orange colors. The cloud of colors grew and grew until they hovered over the still smoking ashes of the house. Slowly as the colors intertwined the house was rebuilt. People and pets ran from the house weeping. Cam put everything back in place not missing a detail for she knew her life would be forfeit if it wasn’t.

Cam smiled to herself, she finally did something right. Maybe they would stop hurting her and she could live her life as a Protector and a Ranger. She turned towards the Brother’s expecting them to bow or congratulate her. What greeted her was; horror, shock, fear and disgust. Brother Dan recovered first and grabbed Cam by her hair. He used his fists and feet, landing them in all of Cam’s soft spots. The others joined in—all their rage was felt with every blow.

“Enough!” Cam screamed. She muttered under her breath and used the air to throw them away from her. They each hit a tree—the tree’s roots and branches held the Brothers secure. She used the last of her strength to heal herself. “You will never lay another hand on me again.” She spat at them and pointed towards the house.

“You wanted me to be ruthless, so I killed everything you loved—an Assassin. You wanted me to persuade you so I did—you all thought you were dead but you weren’t—a Grabber. You wanted me to be kind and heal so I brought everything you held dear back to you—a Faithful. You wanted me to kill mindlessly—I did so when I killed your lovers—a Soldier. I’ve done everything you wanted and yet it’s not enough.”

Having said that Cam walked into the forest knowing that they couldn’t find her if she didn’t want them to. She knew her life was over, she went too far. She made herself a promise to never intentionally hurt another human being and she would die trying to protect the innocent.

The Brothers looked at each other in shock and fear. They had never seen power like that before. In fact, they were terrified of the nine-year-old girl that had bested them using skills they thought only to be myths.

“That was interesting.” Brother Dan stated.

“She’s going to have to be killed.” Brother Cathy glared at Brother Dan, “You did too

good of a job training her. Why didn’t you mention in your reports that she could do magic?” Brother Dan shrugged,

“We all have some magic or else we couldn’t be in the Brotherhood.”

“You do realize you will be killed for your success, right?” Brother Sanders stared at Brother Dan until he bowed his head. “You are going to be the one to kill her.”

“You did the dirty work, now you’re going to have to pay for it.” Brother Mack laughed gleefully.

Brother Cathy had more magic than the other five men combined. She let them out of their leafy prisons.

“Alright,” She stated, “I hereby state—in the place of Brooks, label this incident as the Cookie House Incident. It’s also stated that Brother Dan will kill this child—and we shall never speak of this again.” She looked at each of the Brother’s in the eyes and held their gaze until they nodded.

“We will also record what has happened here—so we can learn from our mistakes. Gentlemen, if we have found this kind of power you can guess the other side may have something better. We must prepare our future Rangers and Protectors. Is that clear?” Again, she waited for another round of nods. When she got them, she walked over to Brother Dan and placed a hand on his shoulder,

“You know what you need to do.” She handed him a gun with extra bullets. “Once the job is done report back to me, I am sorry but you know what has to be done.” She gave him a sympathetic smile and moved to towards the newly created house.