The Reaper's Apprentices #1: Awakened by CS Patra Read Free Book Online Page A

we’ll be the most powerful creatures in the world. We’ll be respected and feared by all. It can’t be all that bad.”
     
    “Now you’re thinking more like a demon,” Fabian approved. “It won’t be all that bad, girls. I also had my complaints when I started, but I got used to it. Before you know it, training will be over, and you’ll be unstoppable. You’ll have all the free time in the world to do what you want. Just as long as you remember your responsibilities, of course.”
     
    “Of course.” Tessa nodded, slowly taking a few steps. “Maybe being a Guardian might have more perks than I thought. Grim Reaper Salvador made it sound like my life was over.”
     
    “That’s a Grim Reaper for you! They’re supposed to do that,” Adair joked. “But no, your life is just beginning. It’ll be hard, but I think you’ll grow to like it. Now go and wash up. It’s almost time for dinner.”

 
    Chapter 5
     
    The excitement of being a Guardian only lasted two days. The four of them had each started with trying to harness a different river. Sebastian was trying to teach Yuka all about Phlegethon with its burning flames and boiling blood. While she had enjoyed hearing the description of it, harnessing its powers was not as much fun. Also, she was supposed to be able to make fire, yet she couldn’t produce a thing. The flames came out of Sebastian’s hands with just a snap of his fingers, yet hers produced nothing.
     
    Tessa wasn’t having much luck either with trying to harness Cocytus’ powers. Adair had told her about how cold and icy it was and how she was supposed to act similarly. She had to be able to control water and turn it into ice on will. So far, the water in the glass remained water and nothing more. Kaska was being taught about Acheron and healing, neither of which she had any interest in. Instead, she grew bored and tired of Fabian’s lectures. All she wanted to do was practice her cheers and finish up her art project.
     
    But the one who hated the practices most was Avani. Gideon had been teaching her about Lethe and it was, in her opinion, the most boring of all the rivers. She hated the way it looked, and she hated what it stood for. The power that she would get from it would be to manipulate others. Originally, demons in the past had used it to make others forget, but times had changed that. These days, unscrupulously, they used this power to make people do exactly what they wanted them to do. To make matters worse, she wasn’t any good at it. Gideon had started her with bugs to try to make them move at her will. The bugs were more interested in eating the leaves and flowers, than doing what she was asking of them.
     
    The last couple of days had been fruitless. All anyone wanted was a vacation. But their masters weren’t cutting them any slack, instead acting more like drill sergeants. If something wasn’t going right, they would groan and demand the girls start over. If anyone refused or answered back, they were given lectures on how Guardians never caved in or surrendered. The worst were the lectures about how demon slayers would never rest until they were dead. Just hearing the words ‘demon slayer’ was enough to put sides on edge.
     
    “What are we going to do today?” Tessa asked as they gathered in the backyard one morning. Not that she needed to ask. The props had already been set up and everyone looked exhausted. “Don’t tell me it’s more training.”
     
    “You don’t have to ask anymore, Tessa,” Adair responded mid-yawn. “I know you feel like this is getting repetitive, but Grim Reaper Salvador insists on going through these techniques.”
     
    “But we’ve practiced these same techniques for the last two days!” she complained. “Why can’t we do something new? Or at least give us a break so we get used to the old techniques?”
     
    “Because you aren’t ready for anything new, and I don’t think you are used to the old techniques,” Gideon