The sky was still painted with pink and orange

Transcription

1 chapter two Ava sits across from her grandmother, morning sun flooding the south dining hall of the Napa Valley Country Club. Ava is fourteen years old, and while she loves coming to the club with her grandmother, it doesn t dim the recent loss of her parents. Her grandmother gazes with concern at Ava s untouched plate. Ava, you must eat. I know it s hard, but your parents would want you to be healthy and well. You know that, don t you? Ava hears the worry in her grandmother s voice and picks up her fork. Sometimes I don t remember them, she says guiltily, forcing a bite of poached egg into her mouth. That s what I m here for, my dear, her grandmother says gently. To remind you. She reaches across the table to squeeze Ava s free hand. And the vineyard will remind you, too. Every breeze. Every harvest. Every vine. Ava musters a smile. Just thinking about the vineyard brings her comfort. Her parents may be gone, but their presence lingers in the soil at Starling, in the wine aging in barrels in 5

2 jesse lasky the cellar, the wind rustling the vines. As long as Ava has it, they ll always be near. Ava is taking another bite, feeling the tiniest bit better, when a man approaches her grandmother. Tall and distinguished, his hair frosted with silver, he s wearing a suit and tie despite the fact that it s Sunday and quite warm. He pulls out the chair and joins them almost before her grandmother can register his presence. Hello, Sylvie, the man says. Looking lovely as ever. Ava s grandmother looks up, her elegant features turning into an emotionless mask. I d ask what you want, Mr. Reinhardt, but I ve never been one for pretenses. The man s laugh is brittle. One of the things I admire about you. She waves a hand in dismissal. You have my answer; I will never sell Starling. There s nothing else to be said about the matter. The man named Reinhardt nods. So you ve said. He reaches across the table, plucking an apple from the bowl of fruit at its center. He bites into it, his gaze falling on Ava. You know the story of Adam and Eve, don t you, sweetheart? About the apple in the Garden of Eden? Ava s eyes slide to her grandmother before she looks back at the man and nods. Do you know what made Eve want the apple so badly? Ava thinks about it, wanting to get the answer right, although she could not have said why. Because the dev il tricked her? she suggests shyly. The man sets the fruit down, dabbing at his mouth with one of the linen napkins. Because she was told she couldn t 6

3 schooled in reven e have it. The man s expression hardens. And that just made her want it more. The sky was still painted with pink and orange when Ava arrived at the training area behind the tera. She had hardly slept, the ghosts of her past swirling through the haze of half- sleep until she couldn t be sure if she was awake or dreaming. She was glad to be outside, glad to finally begin her journey. Sleep wouldn t come easy until her demons were exorcised. The training room was about a half mile behind the tera. A smaller version of the main house, the structure was surrounded on three sides by large stone walls. The fourth side needed no marker. It ended at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the far- reaching sea. It wasn t as cold as it had been the day before, but that wasn t saying much. It was still a million times colder than Napa. Ava forced herself not to think about it. Cold was minor compared to what she had endured, compared to what she was willing to endure to see vengeance served. She entered the training area through a wooden door, surprised to find a powerfully built man with short sandy hair already inside. Hi, Ava said quietly, unsure about the rules and customs of their training. He nodded. Hey. She stepped forward, extending a hand. I m Ava Winters, resident new kid. He chuckled, taking her hand, his brown eyes guarded. Jon West. And I thought I was the new kid. 7

4 jesse lasky It s your first day, too? Ava asked. It is, he confirmed. There was something dark behind his confident gaze, and a powerful current of attraction flooded Ava s body as his eyes held hers. Before she could respond, another guy, tall and lean, burst into the room, Reena, the flinty- eyed redhead from the night before, at his side. The newbies have arrived! he exclaimed, opening his arms magnanimously. You re such an asshole, Cruz. Reena rolled her eyes affectionately before smiling at him. I like that about you. Their exchange was familiar, like they d replayed the same scene many times before. The guy named Cruz gave Reena a slow grin, the chemistry between them a palpable presence in the room. A moment later, Takeda stepped through the weathered door, his expression solemn. Cruz immediately fell in line next to Reena, his lighthearted demeanor gone. After a brief hesitation, Ava and Jon followed suit, taking their cues from the more experienced students. They watched Takeda reverently as he paced in front of them. Revenge, Takeda began, is not a swift blow to the skull or the simple pull of a trigger, although you will learn these things in the event that something goes awry in your quest. Rather, revenge is death by a thousand cuts, a slow and calculated pro cess to make your enemies suffer as you have. This is not cruelty. It is a restoration of justice, of balance. Takeda stopped in front of Ava, meeting her eyes as if he was speaking only to her. You must dedicate yourself to revenge. It is not a hobby. 8

5 schooled in reven e Not a part- time pursuit. It will consume you. It will engulf you. But with my guidance, it will also empower you. Faces flashed across Ava s mind. Charlie. William Reinhardt. And everyone who helped them take what was hers. Together we will map a course to bring justice to every person who has wronged you, Takeda continued, resuming his pacing in front of the group. But to exact revenge without preparation is suicide, and first among these preparations is control. You must learn to control your emotions, your mind, your body, so that you may act with a clear head and a focused heart. I will teach you this control. Takeda s words were still ringing through the training room when the door opened and a young woman stepped in quietly. Slender, with long blond hair twisted into a loose braid, she looked even younger than Ava. Somehow the scar that ran across one cheek only added to her fragile beauty. Eyes downcast, she took up a position apart from Ava and the others. Ava refocused on Takeda as he stopped in front of Jon, placing a hand on his shoulder. Revenge is not an option. It is a need. A burning desire to right the wrongs of those who have taken someone from you. Daring a glance at Jon, Ava was surprised to see his impassive expression turn steely. Is that why he was here? Because someone had been taken from him? Takeda walked farther down the line, stopping in front of Cruz. To right the wrongs of those who have crossed you... Cruz stared straight ahead, unflinching, as Takeda continued to Reena. To right the wrongs of those who have destroyed 9

6 jesse lasky everything without consequence. Without remorse. He gazed at each of them as he made his way back to Ava. When he spoke again, his words seemed meant just for her. Revenge is a room with an entrance but no exit. Are you ready to walk inside? 10