All that night, Bianca lay, alternately sleepless or thrashing in her sleep, which was filled with terrifying dreams.

When dawn finally touched the tops of the trees in the park, Bianca stood at the window, her white and haggard face drawn, but a new determination filled her heart. She was going to learn to shoot, even if it meant that she had to go down to the shooting arena to learn.

*

Putting her plan into action took some manipulation.

Her Masters had only sent a cryptic message. Bianca gathered that they were on their way to South America to rescue Proserpina, who had apparently tried to commit suicide by...