I took to the gym which was a mixture of sandbags, target practices of all shapes and forms and various weapons of guns, spears, arrows, and throwing knives. Weights, extended poles, even spring vaults to help with flexibility and ability to use surrounding objects when confronted with an enemy. I took straight to the punching bag. Why dodge the classic when all I wanted to do was beat the shit out of something? I wound my knuckles with red tape which was rather a luxury since I never had the chance to say ‘Excuse me, before we fight can I bind me knuckles?’ in any fight but something made me feel more bad ass having them on while I trained.
An hour flew by and I was dripping sweat and bleeding knuckles. I had taken my frustration out on the bag. It was already in the past but a warning to be more cautious in the future. I couldn’t allow myself to be compromised so soon. I refused to let myself be beaten by such an ugly demon.
I could feel Gabe’s presence sneak up on me but I said nothing. I wouldn’t let him disturb my vengeance on the boxing bag which kicked my ass the first few months of my training. I basically lived in this room for my first three months. A natural they called me, as if I had been fighting my entire life. All Guardians could tap into their demon’s history and knowledge. That skillset was usually dragged over too. It’s why all of our fighting styles differed. The months of training was to assure my body was fit enough to keep up. The first time I tried to do a back flip, I did exactly that and went splat straight onto my back. Oh yea, even a Guardian had to train.
“You look as though you could do with a sparring buddy,” Gabe said from behind me, leaning against the French windows of the door. The training room was attached to the Japanese gardens around the back. It looked over the lake with wide windows surrounding us. I currently had the metal sheets over the windows, enjoying the lack of lighting that would seep through at sunrise. I punched harder.
“Are you offering to get your ass handed to you?” I asked taking another strike at the punching bag.
“Only if you can get me on my back,” he said provokingly. I kicked the punching bag and looked over at him. He wore only his long pants, ones that he wasn’t wearing yesterday. He wore no shirt, his perfectly formed biceps and chiseled stomach with pecks that were meant for shredding into. I looked away from the glory. Obviously, I didn’t have much sleep because I was starting to become delirious with a sudden appetite for him.
I welcomed him with a bitter smile to the mat where we often sparred and practiced. Just muscle to muscle, no demonic or angelic powers involved.
“You can’t use your wings,” I said. “That’s a rule.” He smiled as he walked over.
“Already trying to get a handicap?”
“Unless I can use my demonic tail then its unequal footing,” I countered.
“I was born with my wings, they are a part of my every movement,” he sneered.
“Your mother must’ve been pretty loose to push out your proud wingspan,” I said getting a little vulgar. He didn’t find that funny. He smiled but all amusement was gone.
“You’d be surprised how many women struggle with my size even now. But let’s not get distracted. Fine I’ll bind my wings as much as I can,” he said and they snapped shut flawlessly. A low breeze rustled through the room as he straightened them firmly behind him. And he was right, I was being distracted because what angel boy appeared to have forgotten to wear was some underwear to hold in his very apparent and dangling friend in his loosely fitted pants.
“Three tap outs and the winner’s announced,” I said raising my hands. He smiled at me and stretched his arms for a moment jokingly before loosely raising his too.
“I don’t want to hurt you, you are a girl,” he purred to irritate me.
“You’ve never seen me as a woman before so don’t start now,” I said and then I lunged.
Chapter Twenty-Four- Vivian
My left arm was still dead weight but that didn’t stop the rest of my body. I kicked at him to test the waters and to initiate the fight. I didn’t expect to actually land a hit. My kick was countered by his hands and he pushed me back. We circled one another for a moment before he lunged at me. So, he wasn’t the patient type I assumed him to be. His muscles flexed with stealth and skill of a man who has been a hunter and warrior his entire life.
He came down hard aiming to knee my stomach as a decoy. His real intent was to punch my chest and push me back. I circled around him to kick at the side of his ribs but he had already caught me and flung me around. I flipped in the air but despite his force, found control and landed on my feet. Already I was set to defend against his uppercut that promised to wind me if it connected. I dodged it and punched towards his face using as much strength as I could and used my clumsy left arm to block. He blocked my punch and with ease swiped away my left arm. He didn’t even have to punch at me again because I fell into the force that my left arm had been thrown and rolled on the ground catching my balance.
I was crouching but not defenseless. He seemed to have noticed my left arm but before he spoke, I jumped at him again. I kicked knowing that he would grab my leg. As soon as he did I flicked my other one over it and tried to kick him off the side. The thing with having one arm and being half the weight mass of your opponent is that maneuver wasn’t such a great idea. Especially when he locked his grip around both my legs locking me in place. I was suspended in the air on his two arms and he smiled.
“You know it will hurt,” he purred.
“I bet that’s what you say to all the girls,” I smiled back. I knew it was going to hurt but it would hurt my pride more if he didn’t go through with it. This was a one on one and fair fight.
He dropped me to the ground. I locked my feet around his shoulder to take away how much force he could bring down on me. As soon as my back hit the floor I lost my breath but flicked my legs back, taking his unbalanced weight over with me. His imbalance forced him to release me. Instead of pouncing on me straight away he let me catch my breath.
My left arm bowed a little as I tried to use it to push my weight up. Instead I balanced on my right arm.
“What could you have possibly done to your left arm in those six hours I wasn’t guarding you?” he asked curiously having noticed my weak arm.
“Maybe I enjoyed myself a little too much last night and my wrists gave way to the feverish desires of my fingers,” I said walking over to the collection of spears. I heard him tsk at my filthy comment. I was not a princess nor did I speak like one.
Before he could comment I aimed and shot the spear at him, only to clip his arm. It didn’t make it that far. He moved and caught it, swinging around with the force of it. It twirled in his fingers for a moment as his eyes fastened on me not at all impressed.
“Cheap shot,” he said. I grabbed another spear and walked back into the ring shrugging.
“I just wanted to see how senile your reflexes were. From what I’ve heard you’re a very old man,” I said noticing the flexing of his muscles as he spun the weapon over his fingers with ease. A sprinkling of sweat glistened his body.
“And yet your eyes seem to enjoy this senile old man’s very healthy body. And mistake me if I’m wrong. I’m not the only immortal standing here.”
That was true. Both angels and Guardians were immortal. But forty-four years was the longest any Guardian had survived. I wasn’t about to tell him that but I’m sure it was noted by those who took interest in Haymen and tried to find a weakness to his guard.
Gabe tucked his right hand back and swung the spear with ease with his left. Interesting. I only just noticed now that he was left handed but he stepped forward with his right.
“Fair is fair,” he said. “But are you good with only one hand with a spear?” He asked provokingly. I charmed a smile and jumped at him. The force and slap of the spears should’ve shattered if they weren’t already pre-built to fair against a demon’s strength. Minutes flew past as we countered one another again and again and those beautiful wooden pieces chipped away at one anot
her. He got me once now, a slice on the cheekbone that provoked a cocky smile. That was two now that he had me on. I had to seriously pick up my game.
We smashed into one another, kicking and blocking with our knees as the spears went to our shoulders and face. With swift maneuvers and leaving myself open, I was over these games. I wrapped my foot around his ankle as I forced him to step back. He tripped as I pushed my weight down on him, knocking his spear away that would jeopardize piercing my shoulder.
I wrapped my knees around his waist as he keeled over and I sat on top of him. He was lying flat on his back. I heaved with breath as I inched my spearhead to his neck. His face gave nothing away. There were both the old echo of death many had seen; his forest green was the last thing they saw. But amongst that chaos was amusement. I looked down and noticed the sharp pointed spear that had caught in my shirt, slowly he glided it up, slicing it open with ease. Right above my heart.
I was still straddling his torso as my exhausted left arm was pressing against his chest. Hard and lean. The tattoos that scrolled over his torso spoke of the many wars he had already fought through. My eyes wanted to read those stories but I couldn’t remove my gaze from his. We froze there for a moment heavily gathering our breaths that mingled with one another. His was hot and mine was cold. My chest rose up and down, the tip of the spear etching closer each time.
If we were serious we could end one another’s lives right here and now. Neither of us would remain a victor. We would inevitably take one another out. And there was resistance to lower our weapon, because that threat became very real. Because despite the chemistry that burned through us, and I knew the look of passion when it was devouring me. It was the craze of madness and lust combined. Sometimes a warrior even had the same expression when they slaughtered.
Destiny grunted behind us and we both slowly cocked our heads to look at her. Neither of us moved from our death holds and were both weary of the weapons. She tapped her wrist watch and waited. I looked down at Gabe again and slowly but still with my weapon pointed at him, rose to standing. He didn’t raise his weapon to follow me but now that my weight has shifted and I was no longer pinning him he would have time to swipe my weapon out of my hand if he needed to. He didn’t move and only waited as I stepped back and threw the spear to the side. I turned my back on him and walked towards Destiny. It wasn’t me that she watched but Gabe. Her arms crossed and her hatred for him emanated from her eyes. If it weren’t for the treaty and the point that Gabe could kill her easily, she would’ve tried to kill him many times over now.
“I didn’t realize we monitored one another,” I said as I came to stand by her. It was a threat and my eyes conveyed that as she looked at me evenly with the same intensity.
“Perhaps you are getting side-tracked from your task at hand and need reminding?” Her voice was flat and matched my own tone. I smiled, nothing but savage as I leaned in closer towards her. Our eyes never diverted.
“Since when did you become Haymen’s lap dog?” It was a shot in the dark but I figured it was the only reason she was watching Gabe’s and my interaction so closely. She would have no other reason to unless reporting directly to him. She didn’t deny it.
“I like you Vi, but as soon as you’re compromised I’ll be the one ordered to put you out of commission.” I stared at her for a long time, to counter that threat. If I had to, I would kill her first. My stare conveyed that threat.
“I think rogue would suit me, don’t you?” I teased and walked away. I had no intention of going rogue. There was no way I could defy Haymen. Even if I ran away he would be able to find me anywhere in the world. But her absolution and following disturbed me. That was who we were and what we had to be for Haymen but I wondered if Destiny held something more for him, perhaps even admiration. It wasn’t hard to fall for Haymen to those who appreciated power and feared repercussions.
After a quick shower and preparing for my travels I threw my trusty backpack over my back. It held throwing knives, two guns and I strapped one sword to my back. And a lunch of course. They were all tightly strapped in for when I needed to collect the bag in a hurry. If Tahmeed didn’t fare well against the demons in the outskirts of Shabeah, then I had to be as well prepared as possible. Tahmeed had the blessing of a demon who could teleport although limited to the amounts of times she could in one day. It lacked in stamina unlike Haymen who had no end to his power. Yesterday that very demon’s gift was what saved her life and her ability to come back home.
I walked into the kitchen and was nodded in greeting by our chef. Gabe was sitting at the long white dining room at the end table. Destiny was staring at him with arms and legs crossed as he ate. The floundering chef came and scraped more bacon onto his plate and seemed rather flustered by his presence. Odd, he never so much as spoke to me. With accurate timing he looked at me and walked away. I stole two of the blueberry muffins which were freshly baked and cooling off the plate and his eyes chastised me. Maybe that was why he didn’t like me. I smiled and walked out. Time to negotiate with some demons. Underworld or death. But after seeing Tahmeeds wounds, I doubted that there was much room for negotiation. I took a bite of the buttery blueberry muffin. Awesome. I wouldn’t have to hold back today.
Chapter Twenty-Five- Vivian
Despite being scary to most, the mosquitoes seemed to have a requited taste for me today. Slap. I got one of the many bastards on the back of my neck. Swarms of them seemed to find me as I squatted among the trees looking at the tracks in the moist ground.
“I want to make a sexual banana joke,” Gabe said from behind me. Haha very funny. Because eating bananas increase mosquito’s attraction to you. How hilarious. I had been ignoring him all morning but couldn’t help but look over my shoulder and give him an effective glare.
“For someone talking a mighty game against the mosquitos you seem to be wrapped up in those little pink cupid wings of yours pretty tight.” I turned and stood up shuffling my backpack. I could sense the cocky smirk behind me. When I walked he did. I was getting irritated quickly by the constant surveillance. I wondered if I took a shit right now in the forestry if he’d offer to wipe?! “I’d rather you not get in my way and flutter about in the canopy or something. It’s a bit much.”
“I’m following you on the suspicion of murder. While you come out and prepare for what... another murder?” he said. I rolled my eyes at him. Like they cared much for the demons. Double standards really. Kill a demon who cares, and admittedly we often did like to kill one another, I mean we were demons. Kill an angel, oh no hands down and bring the shackles out because you are being put to trial!
“What was that?” he asked from behind me. Did I just say that out loud? He swept into the sky where I couldn’t see him past the green of the treetops. I have to admit, I was envious of the prick–I wish I could fly. Hell, I’d probably fly a broomstick if it gave me the chance to drift through the sky. Bye-bye black slick bike I’d be all hot straw and sticks. Snap. I looked to the left and was confronted by a very huge and ugly looking bug demon.
It had no face that I could see and it glittered white that could be camouflaged in the snow. It was quite stark against the greens and browns of the forestry. Its giant pointed legs were edged with slick black blades. Well that would certainly explain the gash on Tahmeed. One clean cut and you would be beheaded, luckily it had nicked her stomach instead.
“Aren’t you an ugly thing.” I breathed measuring its weak points, which were looking pretty nil. Its height towered over me as it pressed two of its legs against a tree to look down on me. The implied weight forced its legs to slip through the thick trees like butter. A part of what I thought to be its head in the center looked at me and was quaking. I continued watching it but noticed the motion of another coming out from behind me. Silent. It’s only noticeable approach was its white flesh.
I slowly reached into my bag for my gun. I wondered how quick their reflexes were. Another one came to my right and I realized the one in front of me see
med to be calling them. Its head in the center was still shaking. The forest went quiet and I watched their delicate steps. Each leg was a sharp point as they stationed themselves. Clever. They were surrounding me. I noticed the one in front of me was the largest and wondered if by chance it had something to do with hierarchy. Usually take out the biggest and you might have a chance of the others retreating. I couldn’t hear or even sense Gabe anymore. Bastard left as soon as it got tough. How convenient. I placed my backpack to my feet and put my finger on the trigger of the gun.
“Let’s see how this goes, shall we?” I aimed for the one in front of me and pulled the trigger aiming for what I thought to be its head. The demon reacted instantly and covered its face with one of the blades from its leg. I dodged the bullet that was backfired at me. As soon as I pulled that trigger all of them pounced with surprising speed. The blue of my tattoos glowed as I turned into my cat demon. I slid along the ground claws catching mud as I dodged the first sweep of their blades. I jumped back twice. Dodging with speed that I was certain only my cat demon could match. I jumped for the trees, gaining height to re-evaluate from the treetops. They were fast. Very fast. The tree I was balancing on was sliced in one clean cut. I jumped to the other tree and was greeted mid-air by one of the demons who had jumped to reach me. Fuck.
I flipped awkwardly in the air to divert my execution. Which didn’t work in favor as my left arm lagged behind. It was only a nip but it was enough to extend down and instantly cover the fur of my arm with blood. As soon as I hit the ground on all fours I rolled and kept running. Right now all I could manage to do was run. I turned into my succubus form. It was risky but I had to get close to them. Somehow. I briefly looked at my left arm which glistened with blood oozing out. Better my left arm than its intentions of splitting me in half. I went for the smallest one on my right. They seemed to work in sync and the center, what I imagined to be their face continued to quake as if communicating with one another. I dodged the blades as best as I could, making sure that my tail wasn’t caught in the cross fire.
The Shadow Minds Journal, #1 Page 20