Yassen stood in front of the room where Alex sleeps. In all years, he never disobeyed an order given to him by Scorpia. Not even when they told him to bring Alex rider to malagosto. Maybe he shouldn't have done that, maybe he shouldn't have told them in the first place of Alex's interference in Cray's plan or his stay in Point Blanc. He put the boy in Scorpia spotlight or maybe the young spy put himself in their line of view, and now he was simply living the consequences of his actions.
In truth, Yassen was giving an opportunity to Alex, to train himself, to learn the tools he needed to succeed to not get himself killed like he would have been if not for his interference, to build a name for himself. It would be up to Alex if he grabbed the opportunity or not.
"Yassen" a voice called; it was Rothman walking in his direction.
"I'm leaving, I have some board matters I need to attend" she pauses looking briefly at the door that the assassin was in front
"You place him next to you? "She asked
Yassen nodded, "it's better to keep him close by" he explains.
"Right, I'm glad you finally agree to train someone, I should expect you would only cave in for hunter's son" she paused again thinking of something "well I have great expectations, don't let me down" she said finally, walking away, probably to catch the boat out of the island.
Yassen watches her disappear in the hallway, before entering his room next to Alex's, preparing for the day he would have tomorrow.
Alex woke up with someone calling him
"Alex, wake up" that was not Jack, Alex sat up abruptly looking at the person in front of him. Yassen, right, Ash betrayed him, betrayed Mi6, and now he was in the grasp of Scorpia
"Change to these clothes, you have 5 minutes" the assassin said unbothered, dumping a pile of clothes in front of him.
"If you're not out of this room in that time I'll come in and put them myself" Yassen threaten, leaving the room.
Alex slowly got up and moving almost automatically he dressed in the clothes Yassen left him, sport clothes, he notices, but nonetheless it was better to not piss off the man.
He didn't know how much time he took, but when he was done, he opened the door to find Yassen still waiting for him.
He didn't say anything before starting to walk away, clearly expecting Alex to follow, an upgrade from the night before when he as almost dragged through the hallways. Alex didn't stretch his luck, not yet, not when he didn't know how to get out of here and followed the assassin.
Only then Alex realized that the building was huge, they walked massive halls, modern ones, passing the occasional armed personnel. Regardless, for a Scorpia owned building there was little security, at least to the naked eye.
But that was a positive thing, when he made his run out of here, he at least won't have to worry about guards patrolling the grounds. Of course, there is still the issue of Yassen, there won't be necessary guards to stop him when he is being forced to walk in the assassin shadow.
What about the other students, were they forced into it like he has been, or they were here on their own free will.
"Mr. Gregorovish" someone called from a room that had the door open.
He stopped, Alex did too. "I heard you got yourself an apprentice" the man said. Looking inside, Alex saw a classroom, full of people double his age. Alex didn't know if he should be surprised or not, but he had automatically assumed that this 'school' would be full of people his age.
Instead, in front of him were half a dozen of grown ass man. Surely that wouldn't be all right.
"Oh, I see you have him with you" the man exclaimed turning his attention to Alex who was almost inside the room "Alex rider, I suppose, it's a pleasure to meet you" he said his name slowly, as if he had heard it before
"The pleasure is all yours" Alex responded snarky. Alex was fully expecting the incoming rage, he was in a school for assassins, after all. But instead, the man laughed, "you really are your father's son"
Before Alex could question that, Yassen pushed him out of the room "well, Alex is always welcome to join my class" the man said
"I appreciate your offer, but I will teach him everything he needs to know" Yassen said not giving room for discussion
"of course, although if you're ever busy, just call me. There is always room for one more in my class" the man said one more time, but respected Yassen request
"Thank you, doctor Three. I will let you carry on with your class" Yassen stepped back closing the door continuing walking to is destination, with Alex following him.
Apparently, his destination was a small cafeteria where two trays already sat on a table near the door.
"Sit" He ordered him, like he was a dog.
"No "Alex responded, not moving from where he stood. Yassen stops slowly turning to face Alex raising an eyebrow at the defiance "I won't move until you tell me what's going on"
"I believe that was explained to you yesterday"
"Ok, let's pretend that's true. Why do people know my father then" the assassin didn't say anything for some time
"First you eat, then we talk" Yassen said sitting down in front of the table. Alex stood there for a moment, watching the assassin starting to eat.
Alex wanted to remain standing just to spite Gregorovich and to teach him that he wasn't a dog, but he knew how to pick his battles and this one wasn't worth winning. Slowly he sat down in front of Yassen eyeing the plate of food that was in front of him, breakfast. Alex looks sorely at the food, it reminds him of something his uncle would eat, it was awfully healthy, all that your body would need for substance during the day. Eggs, and fruit, was the main one standing.
"Eat, Alex" the man said after catching the young boy looking at his plate, "then we talk"
Right, Alex thought, grabbing the fork he contemplated the possibility of the food being poisoned or drugged, but realistically it Yassen wanted to kill him he already would have done it, and it would be pointless to drug him again.
Defeated he took a bite of the eggs only then realizing how hungry he was, faster than he predicted his plate was clean
Silently gregorovich got up gesturing to follow him once again, he took him outside the building
"I'm sure your friends at MI6 told you all about us" he started while they walked
"Not really, and they don't really like me"
"So why did you work for them?" the assassin inquired, looking at him
Alex felt a wave of pleasure of having that piece of information "you're the assassin, shouldn't you know" Alex said with a smirk on his face
"it would be unwise to hold information when asked about it, Alex"
"You didn't answer my question, why should I answer yours" this time Yassen stopped.
"You must realize your position here, Little Alex, you wouldn't want your housekeeper to get hurt" he threatened, "Now I will ask again. Why did you work for MI6?"
"They blackmailed me, ok. They threaten to deport jack and send me to an orphanage if I didn't go to that stupid school" Yassen didn't show any reaction to the confession, instead he asked, "and cray?"
"You went after my friend's father" Yassen raised his eyebrows at that
Alex sighed, "I couldn't let cray start a war"
"You didn't know his plans until the end" the assassin pointed; Alex merely shrugged his shoulders as an answer. The truth is that he didn't really know why he went after Cray, maybe it was his destiny, maybe he had enjoyed too much at point Blanc
"alright" he continues walking
"Wait", Alex called out, "you didn't answer my question"
"I didn't say I would"
"Well, it's only fair"
"You will have to earn that" Yassen compromised "you will do as you're told, you will train, and you will put the effort into it" once again he stopped walking "you don't want to find out what they will do if they find you useless. They will hurt you, but first they will go after your housekeeper and your friends."