eve adroxis. d9. fin.

Some names come with great expectations.

The Adroxis legacy is built upon pools of blood and thrones of steel. Eve can't hope to be as famous as Babe Adroxis, but she never cared about the games and its fabricated glory. The family has a new empire behind closed curtains, one built upon steel bullets rather than steel blades. The ammunition factory stands strong, as well as the pride of the Adroxis name. Eve grew up with no intention of changing the state of that empire unless it was to bury its teeth further into the flesh of District Nine. Make them bleed, that is the goal. To be respected, untouchable, feared. If Eve can't achieve that goal, then she is no use as an heir.

She considers herself the second mother of the family. With so many siblings, she needs the eyes of a spider to watch their every move. She doesn't hold them to the same standard as herself - in fact, she holds herself to an impossible standard while her siblings are allowed leniency. She can't show weakness, but she will cave in the wake of a brother's tears and hold him until he finds comfort. Nobody can touch them, or they will feel her wrath. She does not discriminate the wrongs and rights of their actions - if you touch an Adroxis, expect broken bones and bloody lips, perhaps a bullet in your skull if you're unlucky. She has little regard for the deaths of those who don't matter to her. There isn't enough time in the world to weep for every innocent, so she doesn't bother. Even if she is the cause.

Call it hypocrisy, she doesn't care. She will take a bullet for her family, and she already has. The ritual two years ago left a hole, quite literally, through her chest. A scar kissed by forceful steel and bitter blood. She hated the violent ordeal as much as anybody would, but for different reasons. It isn't the pain or betrayal that bothers her, as she knows how much she is willing to handle if it means keeping her family safe. It was the vulnerability. Showing weakness, leaking tears, uttering whimpers - she despises herself in such a state. She has a carefully crafted image of herself, beautiful and composed like a woman in a medieval portrait. To be writhing on the ground because of a bullet in her shoulder was pathetic, unforgivable. She vowed never to find herself in that position again.

If she must die it will be with grace, with pride, and with a cold glare.

She will vouch for every single one of her brothers and sisters. Night, her twin, and everybody else; Jules, Ty, Hal, Storm, Trace, she doesn't care if they set your house on fire. She doesn't care if your troubles are their fault. If you lay a hand on them, there will be blood.

She has trained in shooting since she was old enough to wear heels. They gave her a gun, heavy and awkward in her feather soft hands, and asked her to shoot. Bullet after bullet until her ears were ringing and her wrists were sore. Now she is the quickest draw of the family, every death sudden and clean. She takes no pleasure in the pain of others and prefers a quick, unexpected death. She draws before they can blink, always aiming for the heart. Headshots are a riskier gamble, and far more disgusting to clean up. She does have some respect for the dead, and hopes others would treat her the same should she find herself facing the barrel of a gun.

As a protector, she must be fearless. That doesn't mean she doesn't experience fear, but she can certainly hide it. She is a perfectionist when it comes to her own image. Painting a face of beauty, wealth, and composure every morning. Every wrinkle smoothed out, every eyelash curled, she must radiate cold confidence or risk shattering her own reputation. She can't be a protector if people begin to underestimate her. She fears the day that might happen - that she finds herself with another bullet in her skin, blood on her jewels, nerves on fire. If it does happen, she must pretend to be unbothered. A stone statue in the night. What use is she otherwise? Just a woman with a gun meant to marry and bear children? No, she needs more responsibility than that. She can't possibly live only for herself, she had not been raised that way.

She is happiest surrounded by family. They are a collective, and she cherishes each of their individual strengths and flaws. While she feels she cannot be her own person, she encourages them to express their individuality. They are Adroxises, and they are her babies. Their responsibilities can fall on her shoulders if they wish. Keep their innocence preserved for as long as possible, because it's only a matter of time before each of them finds blood on their hands.

That's one part of the Adroxis legacy that can't be avoided.