his every move fascinates me. His voice, the smell of his cologne, his dapper attire. It isn’t hard to see why Catch idolizes him.
At sunset I find my way down to the training room. There turns out to be several, so I wander until encountering Xan.
“How did you sleep?”
“Dead to the world.”
He is sorting through some equipment. I flash back to my old grade school gymnasium, except this is a much more lethal version where swords and daggers replace bats and tennis rackets.
“So what kind of training are we doing exactly?”
“We will be starting with basic combat techniques, then move on the weapon training. Do you have any martial arts training?”
“Umm…does piloxing count?”
“Right, so there’s a variety of stylistics: Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Taekwondo—”
“And I’m going to learn them all? Doesn’t that make it a good decade before I’m out in the field?”
Xam laughs. “For a human, maybe. You have to start thinking like a vampire, Lor.”
“Fair enough. You find we actually use this stuff against the wolves?”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt. You see, you’re not nearly as invincible as fresh, blood-infused veins make you feel. Here we teach novices like you how to apply your power to, well, let’s say maximize destruction. You may be able to throw a punch and land on your feet, but when you’re pinned down by a wolf, a few defense tactics can’t hurt.”
***
Ever since I awoke in the hotel room, there had been a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I wasn’t really awake. That I had died and my mind had kept going (which in many ways holds true), transporting me into this world. That this journey was all in my head and my body was worm food.
Then I get smacked in the back with a wooden staff, pain radiating through my body, and I realize this is no illusion.
Once we get started, I quickly realize he isn’t messing around. We spend hours punching, kicking, jumping, and grappling. His blows often floor me and likely would send a human to the nearest hospital or morgue. During these exhaustive drills, I come at him with everything I have, trying to impress him and no doubt looking very foolish in the process. Finally, when dawn is nearing, he decides we are finished with today’s session.
“Okay, that’s good for now. I’ve got to meet with Dade and Catch in a few. Great work tonight.”
I stretch a little, then hang around the room and play with some of my new toys.
Xan goes upstairs and, as expected, finds Crina in the observation room.
“I figured if you weren’t out hunting you’d be in here sizing up the fresh meat.”
“Tomorrow night, I’m hoping. I’m awaiting confirmation on my target’s location.”
“I see. So what’s your impression of Lori? You want to take over training?”
“No.” Crina gives a coy little smile. “You’re doing fine. I’m not sure about her yet, but she’s got potential—I’ll give her that.”
“High praise coming from you. She was an athletic human, that’ll translate well. Quick learner. Throws a fast punch,” Xan advocates.
“Good. I’ll be anxious to see how she does in the field.”
“Why do you think Adrian chose her?”
Crina shrugged.
“Adrian doesn’t have to justify his decisions to the rest of us.”
“True.”
“Real question is, why has he suddenly taken interest in the war?”
Crina makes for the door. Xan’s focus lingers on the two-way mirror and the gym below.
“Her eyes. They have a ferocity in them—reminds me of someone.”
Crina hesitates but doesn’t turn as she exits. Xan grins, looking down on Lori who is fixing the tape on her wrist.
Chapter 13
Much of my time is occupied with Xan and Dade in the training room. Dade has the build of a linebacker and the brains of a cockatiel. In his past life he’d worked in a lumber yard somewhere outside Berlin and had a night job working as a bouncer for a club in the city. At thirty he was in his prime and
At sunset I find my way down to the training room. There turns out to be several, so I wander until encountering Xan.
“How did you sleep?”
“Dead to the world.”
He is sorting through some equipment. I flash back to my old grade school gymnasium, except this is a much more lethal version where swords and daggers replace bats and tennis rackets.
“So what kind of training are we doing exactly?”
“We will be starting with basic combat techniques, then move on the weapon training. Do you have any martial arts training?”
“Umm…does piloxing count?”
“Right, so there’s a variety of stylistics: Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Taekwondo—”
“And I’m going to learn them all? Doesn’t that make it a good decade before I’m out in the field?”
Xam laughs. “For a human, maybe. You have to start thinking like a vampire, Lor.”
“Fair enough. You find we actually use this stuff against the wolves?”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt. You see, you’re not nearly as invincible as fresh, blood-infused veins make you feel. Here we teach novices like you how to apply your power to, well, let’s say maximize destruction. You may be able to throw a punch and land on your feet, but when you’re pinned down by a wolf, a few defense tactics can’t hurt.”
***
Ever since I awoke in the hotel room, there had been a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I wasn’t really awake. That I had died and my mind had kept going (which in many ways holds true), transporting me into this world. That this journey was all in my head and my body was worm food.
Then I get smacked in the back with a wooden staff, pain radiating through my body, and I realize this is no illusion.
Once we get started, I quickly realize he isn’t messing around. We spend hours punching, kicking, jumping, and grappling. His blows often floor me and likely would send a human to the nearest hospital or morgue. During these exhaustive drills, I come at him with everything I have, trying to impress him and no doubt looking very foolish in the process. Finally, when dawn is nearing, he decides we are finished with today’s session.
“Okay, that’s good for now. I’ve got to meet with Dade and Catch in a few. Great work tonight.”
I stretch a little, then hang around the room and play with some of my new toys.
Xan goes upstairs and, as expected, finds Crina in the observation room.
“I figured if you weren’t out hunting you’d be in here sizing up the fresh meat.”
“Tomorrow night, I’m hoping. I’m awaiting confirmation on my target’s location.”
“I see. So what’s your impression of Lori? You want to take over training?”
“No.” Crina gives a coy little smile. “You’re doing fine. I’m not sure about her yet, but she’s got potential—I’ll give her that.”
“High praise coming from you. She was an athletic human, that’ll translate well. Quick learner. Throws a fast punch,” Xan advocates.
“Good. I’ll be anxious to see how she does in the field.”
“Why do you think Adrian chose her?”
Crina shrugged.
“Adrian doesn’t have to justify his decisions to the rest of us.”
“True.”
“Real question is, why has he suddenly taken interest in the war?”
Crina makes for the door. Xan’s focus lingers on the two-way mirror and the gym below.
“Her eyes. They have a ferocity in them—reminds me of someone.”
Crina hesitates but doesn’t turn as she exits. Xan grins, looking down on Lori who is fixing the tape on her wrist.
Chapter 13
Much of my time is occupied with Xan and Dade in the training room. Dade has the build of a linebacker and the brains of a cockatiel. In his past life he’d worked in a lumber yard somewhere outside Berlin and had a night job working as a bouncer for a club in the city. At thirty he was in his prime and
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