RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage (24 page)

I dressed and headed to the common room. The coals glowed in the darkness, giving the room a warm orange hue. I knew I had at least an hour and a half before I had to be at the training ground, so I headed down to the prep area to find something to eat; no sense waking Sarah when I was perfectly capable of fixing something myself. There were two Watchers in the hall, and one positioned at the bottom of the stairs. Entering the prep room, I could see fruit and yesterday’s bread covered with a towel. Good, I thought, something simple. A jug of water was all there was to drink; it was too early for fresh Crimson. I chose some grapes, a piece of bread and jam, and a slice of dried meat to round out the meal.

Satisfied, I drank some water and decided to go see Nulla, grabbing an apple for her on the way out. I double-checked my sword and dagger, which now seemed like part of my body and were never very far from my reach. Even at the ball I had strapped a dagger to my thigh. Better safe, than defenseless was my new motto. Maybe having to fight for my life every other day, was affecting me more than I thought.

I strode confidently down the hall. I didn’t see anything of Thomas, which was fine, since I really wanted to be alone. The other Watchers had let me get this far alone only because I had convinced them that I was meeting Thomas at the stables. As I headed across the courtyard, the sun was just about to make its appearance. The air was crisp but still. I took a deep breath and sighed;
mmmmm
, I felt good—strong, fit, and ready to take on the world.

I had almost reached the stable when I recognized his scent, Damien was close!

I swiveled and surveyed my surroundings, then closed my eyes and tried to “see” where he was. “Finding” him, I looked up and there on top of the wall in front of me was Damien looking down at me. I couldn’t believe it; he was here. He dropped off the wall to land gracefully at my feet. He rose not inches from my face. My heart was racing, his spicy scent filled my head.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

And then I realized that I had missed him too.

“What…how…when…?” I stuttered.

“My father sent Ivan to find me and relay that, thanks to your intercession, I had been cleared. My father was so thankful that at least one of his children wasn’t to be hunted down and killed, that he has arranged for me to go with the others to the Americas.”

He took my hands in his, raised them to his lips and kissed my fingers. Reminding me of the first time, it felt like energy moved from his lips through my skin and tingled up my arms. While doing this he never took his eyes, those dark sexy eyes, from mine.

“Thank you for telling your father I was innocent.”

“Believe me, Damien, you have many traits but innocence isn’t one of them. We can say ‘not guilty,’ maybe.”

He laughed, breaking the sexual tension between us.

“I’m going to see Nulla. Walk with me.”

He clasped his hands behind his back and walked beside me.

“I hear you had a surprise arrival this week. How are you?”

This stopped me in my tracks. I turned my head to see a concerned look on his face, and studying him for a brief instant I thought, “
I really did misjudge him.”

I managed to reply, “Well, now that the shock has worn off, I’m glad to have not only my mother but my twin sister in my life, I’m fine. I think actually I’m better than fine. And Father has never seemed so content. So we’ll see what transpires, but for now we’re making our best efforts to get to know each other and make it work.”

We started walking again.

“There have been so many times I wondered about my mother, and if she would ever come back,” Damien said. “Your mother being here gives me hope.”

He sounded so sad that I turned to look at him and after a few seconds reached out and gave him a hug. He seemed surprised but adapted quickly, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

“If that’s what you want, I’m sure someday you’ll be together again.” I told him.

“There are many things I want that I’m willing to wait for,” he added, holding me away and looking into my eyes passionately. Then he pulled me close again, and his breath on my ear and neck made my stomach quiver. How could I feel this way about two such different men?

He released me and we began walking again. We reached the stables moments later.

“Well, we’re here. I’ve brought an apple just for Nulla.”

He gestured for me to lead the way. It was just after sunrise and getting light now and the grooms were busy cleaning stalls and feeding horses. Nulla had had her bath, her stall was clean, and she was happily munching on fresh hay. How I loved the smell of that fresh straw bedding and hay.

“Nulla?” I called, and she raised her head and whinnied in recognition. “Look what I brought you,” I teased.

She reached her head out to me impatiently.

“Very well, here you go.” I laughed and offered her the plump green apple.

She snatched it from my outstretched palm as if she hadn’t eaten in a week. I patted her neck, scratched behind her ear, and stroked her beautiful face.

“I’ll see you later, girl.”

“Maybe we could take her out later, unless you’re not staying. I know most people are getting ready to be on their way back home,” Damien said. “I came back to ready myself for the journey ahead, and then I’ll head to the port with the others.”

“I’d like to go on a ride, maybe this afternoon. Has there been any word of Luena?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No,” he said angrily, “and if I never see her again it will be too soon for me; but I have a feeling I’ll never be free of her. My participation in her plot was only that I agreed to keep silent about it. I really had no idea that she could actually convince anyone to join with her. And when it became apparent that her plans actually had a chance of success I vowed to stop her. I only agreed to keep silent because I sought to protect my father. She told me she would kill him if I said anything about her army. I’d grown to see how deep the level of her evil ran, and believed her capable of actually doing harm to Father. After she revealed her full intentions to me, I was able to convince Father to resign, so she would have to change her plans and expose herself and her army before it was too late. Of course you know the rest.” He sighed.

“Well, all we can do is to be vigilant. I, for one, am going to make sure the girls and I can always take care of ourselves. Speaking of preparation, I have to get to the training grounds. I’ll see you later, then?”

“Of course, I’ll meet you at the stables for that ride.” he called after me.

I waved as I walked away. I was getting more and more excited, the closer I got to the training grounds.

“There she is,” Rosa called out to the others. “Where were you?”

“I woke up early, so I made a trip to the stables to see Nulla, and you won’t believe whom I came across on my way.”

“Who?” Letta asked.

“Damien!”

“Really? Damien? When did
he
get back?” said a shocked Eleanor

“Who’s Damien?” Kate asked.

“You remember, Luena’s half-brother,” Rosa said.

“Oh.” Kate shrugged her shoulders to show didn’t really know who we were talking about.

“We’ll have to talk about it later. Here are our fathers,” I said.

“All right, let’s get started, girls,” Gunter said, clapping his hands. “First, I just want to explain to those that haven’t had much training with Watchers, why we train as we do. Our methods develop your skills deliberately, slowly, so that the moves become routine and with time are easily mastered. When you then add your vampire speed, you will become almost unbeatable.”

“Why the swords and daggers?” Kate asked. “Why not pistols and bullets?”

“Good question, Katherine. Bullets are of no use against vampires. Because of your speed, by the time the bullet leaves the barrel of the gun pointed at a target, the target is no longer there. Against humans your speed and superior strength is your best weapon. The swords, especially the short swords you all carry, are light and lend themselves well to speed. They are also silent and lethal, and with them you are capable of killing your opponent before he even detects your presence. Each of you also possess special gifts, and we as Watchers are especially adept at recognizing those gifts and will be helping you develop them as well. So let’s get started. First I’d like Katrina to come forward to show you what I’m talking about. Katrina?” He gestured to me.

I walked up next to Gunter smiling, and he gave me a wink. “Show them what you’ve got,” he said.

I replied, “Yes, sir,” and took up my weapon for the exercise.

Exchanging my real sword for a wooden one like those the brothers were all sporting—we wouldn’t want any fatalities, just injured pride—I got into my defensive crouch, closing my eyes so I could concentrate on my hearing. I could detect the brothers arriving at their positions surrounding me.
Ah my favorite
I smiled. It was up to them to begin. I could feel their apprehension. Then in an instant it was on. Six brothers, all taking their task very seriously, came at me from all sides. I ducked and countered each of their blows, rolled underneath Thomas’s and Simon’s jabs, and was out of the circle. Now they charged. I dispatched each one easily in turn. Gunter was right; it felt as if I were fighting in a slow ballet compared to their human full speed. I was one step ahead of them at every turn. In minutes it was all over. The girls all erupted in cheers and clapping.

“Impressive daughter, now show us your skill against our vampire guard.”

Once again six men approached carrying wooden swords. These were the elite palace guard, but the rules were the same: if a weapon was dislodged or a blow struck that in a real battle was deemed to be debilitating, the opponent was out of the exercise. As before, I began in the middle, surrounded by the enemy. I centered myself again, breathing in deeply so I could “see” them. Then three charged, one from the front and one from each side. This exercise was at full vampire speed; humans could perceive us only as a blur. I jumped over the front guard and whacked him on the head; he was out. Then as he took himself out of the fight, the other three guards now entered the game. I engaged two more, one from each side, ducking and slicing. I threw my wooden dagger, and even though this crude weapon lacked the balance and heft of my real weapon, it hit one right in the chest. That left four remaining, with one in each quadrant, surrounding me. The larger of the two lunged in for a chest wound, but I kicked his sword out of his hand and flipped backwards over the second, making a mock slice across his neck on the way over him. I swirled around, hitting each of the other two across the throat as well, finally taking my sword to the first, now weaponless guard and held its point to his chest. Done! I was breathing hard but the adrenaline rush made me sorry it was over.

Again clapping and cheering filled my ears. I smiled, looking over at my thrilled roommates. Then someone rushed at me from the rear, I dropped to one knee and thrust my sword backwards towards the would-be assassin, aiming right for the gut.

Gunter applauded. “Good job, Katrina. Never drop your guard.”

I looked up and saw Damien in the audience, smiling and clapping with everyone else. Our eyes met. I rose, still breathing hard, and brushed some hair out of my face, all the while never breaking eye contact. Everyone started coming over, praising my work and patting my back.

I held up my hand in a mock show of modesty, “Please, it’s only because I have worked so hard all this time with great trainers,” I said as I noticed Damien being joined by his repulsive Watcher, Ivan. The man was big and tall, with beady brown eyes and a scar across his left cheek and nose and black slicked-back hair. More than his appearance, it was his manner that unsettled me. He truly set me on edge, and then I had to look away then to speak to my friends and our fathers.

“She’s very accomplished my Lord, and very beautiful,” whispered Ivan to Damien, “but still very much interested in her Watcher boyfriend.”

“For now, but I have time on my side and I am willing to wait for her, she’ll be mine I assure you,”  Damien said.

“Do you really think we can ever be as good at fighting as you are, Katrina?” Arletta asked excitedly, eyes still wide with amazement.

“Absolutely, if you work hard and take it seriously, I have no doubt.”

“Are you willing to do that, girls?” Ricardo asked.

“Yes,” they all answered together emphatically.

“We’re very determined, aren’t we?” Rosa said, the others all nodding.

“Very well,” Gunter said. “Then the work begins now. We’re going to test your skill levels and agility so we’ll know how to approach your training.”

Gunter and his brothers put the girls through the basic moves of swordplay, testing their balance, movement, and form. During the grueling session, he found they had been well schooled, had a good command of the fundamentals and was he was pleased to discover that as a group they were quick, agile, and stronger that he expected.

“Good work, everyone, we’ll start early tomorrow,” Gunter announced.

The girls all looked at one another.