My chest burned to breathe. The pain spread down into my stomach. I’d had about a dozen Rolaids before training, but all the exercise must’ve made them wear off sooner.
“Does no one else think this is nuts?” Deacon looked around at the group with his blond eyebrows raised. “Do you do this a lot?”
No, we didn’t. Though I wasn’t about to go to his aid. Why did he need to ask so many questions? If Uncle Kessler told us to do something, he needed to just listen. I didn’t care if he was the Devil. I didn’t care if he was new here. I was still new, but I did what I was told. I didn’t think I was above the rules. If Uncle Kessler wanted us to do some crazy training technique, then he had a reason. Although in the back of my mind, I questioned it as well. We’d been training for an hour already, and now Uncle Kessler wanted to pull this?
“Kessler, could you just elaborate on this for a hot second?” Easton used his wooden training sword to scratch his back under his training gear.
“Yeah, ‘cause”—Royce wiped a towel across his face—“Tennessee ain’t human.”
Uncle Kessler grinned. “Exactly.”
“I got a bad feeling about this,” Braison whispered. He raised his hand, and the shadows from surrounding trees spread over the backyard. “We should’ve stayed in school today.”
“I did not get enough sleep for this,” Cooper mumbled and walked over to his water bottle. “Could’ve given me a day to recoup after Bentley’s dreams.”
Bentley frowned and raised his hand. For a moment, all I saw was the quest prophecy on his skin. “Um, yeah, I don’t have to participate, right?”
“No, Bentley.”
“Guys, really? All of us against him? I think that sounds like a fair fight.” Tegan adjusted her ponytail. Sweat dripped down her neck but vanished before it touched her shirt.
“No magic, Tegan.” Uncle Kessler pointed his finger at her.
Tegan cursed.
No magic? Not that I was the queen of magic or anything, but still. I may have been Empress, but I was no match for anyone even with my powers. How the hell were we going to fight Tennessee in hand-to-hand combat? I looked over to where I’d last seen Tennessee standing, expecting to find a cocky smile on his face. Instead, I found him scowling as hard as everyone else.
“Do I get a say in this?” our Emperor asked. His long jet-black hair was soaking wet and dripping sweat onto his arms, though he didn’t appear to notice or mind. Unlike everyone else, he was breathing steadily. The sweat was simply a byproduct of Florida summer humidity.
I didn’t even want to see what I looked like.
Uncle Kessler cocked his head to the side. “Are you going to take over as Leader?”
If possible, Tennessee’s scowl deepened. “No,” he all but growled.
“Then no, you get no say either.” Uncle Kessler grinned. He walked to the center of our training circle. “Though I give you full permission to thoroughly kick their asses.”
“Wait, what?”
“Hold up.”
“Dude, no.”
“Why you hate us?”
“Do you want us to die?”
At that, a wide grin spread over Tennessee’s face. The other girls probably all swooned at the sight. Tenn didn’t grin often. The sight of it made my stomach drop and a cold chill slide down my spine. He scared the hell out of me. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me for real. I knew he’d protect me in the real world. But he was the single most terrifying person I’d ever met. I glanced over to my twin and found her cheeks freshly flushed. She buried her face in her arm to hide her smile. They’d be the most petrifying couple ever.
Yeah, hence why it’s forbidden with the cost of their magic on the line. The rule sucked for them, but it made sense. I wondered if a Hierophant in the past had seen the two of them in a psychic vision and created the no-dating rule as a precautionary measure. Sure, the rule included the Empress as well, but that was of no concern to me. I had zero interest in boys. Or girls, for that matter. Nope, no thanks. I’ll be a cat lady. I’m a witch. It’s fitting.
Please tell me you’re picturing all your future cats right now.
I jumped at the sound of my sister’s voice in my head. “Stop doing that.” She always seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. It was irritating to be so transparent.
“What did I do?” Deacon flinched back with his hands up in the air. “I just asked if you were okay.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Well, then don’t.” I snapped my mouth closed before anything else could come out.
Ouch, bruh.
Deacon’s blond eyebrows raised in surprise. His mouth twitched then curved into a sideways smirk. “Feisty. Okay.” He shook his head and turned away from me to join the others at the other side of the circle.
I heard Tegan’s laughter in my mind. Telepathic laughing was worse than talking or yelling. She nodded and pursed her lips. A deep conversation coming, I see, she said in her best Yoda impersonation.
I narrowed my eyes and tried to send my response back telepathically, but it just hurt my head.
I wish you could talk like this, too, though I’d miss seeing that constipated look on your face all the time. She winked playfully then walked away. Come on, Empress. Time for me to embarrass myself watching Tennessee be amazing and hot.
I laughed and followed after her. By the time we caught up with everyone else, we only heard the tail end of Uncle Kessler’s instructions.
“…no magic. I’m serious. The point of this is to learn to fight as a team against something immensely stronger than you.”
Easton scoffed. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”
Royce shook his head. “He ain’t human. He already knows, dude.”
“Pretend he’s a greater demon. Yes, you have magic, but so do they, and kinds you don’t have. We need to learn to fight as an extension of each other,” Uncle Kessler said, completely ignoring the guys’ comments. “I told him not to hold back, so you can’t either.”
“So, if we die today, do we get excused from the quest…” Deacon turned to Bentley. “Or nah?”
Bentley looked down at the prophecy lines on his arm then back to Deacon. “Nah.”
“You boys are so dramatic.” Lily rolled her eyes. “We’re wearing magical training gear and using wooden swords.”
“If you get a splinter, I’ve got a potion to heal it.” Larissa patted Deacon’s shoulder and winked.
I rolled my eyes. Flirting, really?
Man, that conversation is coming soon. Cool your face, bruh.
I turned to my right and glared at my twin. She shrugged. She had a point. I had no idea what my problem was.
Focus, Em. I looked down at my gear and tightened the straps, readjusting the pads into proper placement. The gear was pretty awesome. The pieces were small and lean, as to mimic our real body and not affect our movement while at the same time protecting us. If we received a fatal hit, bright-colored smoke would explode from the gear. It made practice visually appealing, anyway.
“All right, let’s get started. As usual, you smoke up, you’re out.” Uncle Kessler yanked my chest pad higher and tightened the strap. “Drop where you fall. Have fun.”
Uncle Kessler turned and walked over to the low brick wall surrounding his porch. He sat and crossed his arms over his chest, an eager smile on face. I took a deep breath and waited for someone to tell me where to go. I frowned and stood up straight. Tennessee was the one who told us where to go and what to do. He was the one who led us in battles, both real and in training. I glanced around my group. Without the adult Coven members and Tennessee, there were only twelve of us huddled together on one side of the yard. And no one took lead yet.
I cleared my throat. “So, um…where do I go?”
“Where should I stand? Where are you standing?” Chutney asked behind me, her voice raised a few octaves more than normal. She was the youngest in the group, and she never did combat outside of basic training. “Do we stand in a line? Or a ci
rcle?”
“Can I be in the back?” Willow gripped her wooden training sword in both palms. Although she’d seen her fair share of fights, she always used her power of illusion. “No one wants me to be in the front, right? Right?”
“Wait, is his speed part of his magic?” Paulina frowned. She slid toward the back of the group, between Willow and Chutney. “Cooper?”
“I’ve never been sure.” My brother sighed. He twirled his wooden sword in his hand. “It doesn’t matter anyway. He can’t turn it off. And he’s not going to warn us before attacking.”
“He’s not going to attack us straight on,” Tegan said in a low voice. She swung her wooden sword around in the air while looking around the yard. “We need to get in a formation.”
“Where is he?” Deacon asked. He spun in circles. “I don’t see him anywhere.”
“You won’t. That’s the whole point.” Tegan turned to face our brother. “You know how everyone fights better.”
“Easton, Royce, Paulina, and Lily take the back.” Cooper pointed without looking. “Deacon take the left. Braison the right. Willow, Chutney, hang in the middle between them. Tegan, Emersyn, and Larissa, we’ve got the front.”
I nodded and jumped into action. I stood just on Tegan’s right side with my sword gripped in both palms. No magic. No magic. No magic. “How are we supposed to fight while in a circle?”
“If we’re not together, he’ll pick us off one by one.” Tegan’s eyes sparkled like gemstones in the sunlight. “Weapons at the ready, guys. He’s coming.”
I opened my mouth to speak when I spotted Tennessee out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned to face him, he was gone. A dark shadow passed in front of me. I gasped and jumped backward just as Chutney’s chest exploded with hot pink smoke.
Chutney shrieked and fell to the ground.
“WHAT?” Deacon pushed his hair back. His purple eyes were wide. He cursed then threw his head back and laughed. “Holy mother of Earth. She was in the middle! How?”
How was right. Chutney was surrounded by eleven people. How did Tennessee get in and out of the group without detection? My pulse skipped a beat. Adrenaline pumped through my veins so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. I whipped my head back and forth, searching for the recognizable head of long black hair but he was nowhere to be seen.
Another streak of darkness ripped through the center of the circle in one big blur of black and purple smoke. We spun toward it with our weapons drawn, but we were too late. Willow dropped her sword and stared down at what would’ve been a hole through her stomach. She blinked and sat down in the same spot.
“Dude, seriously?” Cooper shouted. He walked a few steps forward, away from our formation. He raised his arms out. “Those two?”
Tennessee appeared at the far side of the property, laughing and twirling his sword around like a toy. “Oh, c’mon, I put them out of their misery. Did you see the panic on their faces?” He grinned and charged toward us, running at what looked like full speed.
When Cooper leapt forward to meet him in battle, Tennessee slid under his feet in a blur of motion. Larissa gasped and clutched her throat. Purple smoke billowed from her neck strap. She stomped her foot and dropped to the ground. Braison shouted in alarm. Orange smoke erupted from his back. He shouted in pain and plunged to the grass.
“No!” Cooper cursed violently and raced back to our cluster.
Tennessee had capitalized on Cooper stepping outside.
Deacon cursed but that grin was still plastered on his face. “Amazing.”
I turned my back toward my twin’s and raised my wooden sword in the air. Tennessee jumped out in front of me. I gasped and sliced my sword through the air. Wood smashed into wood, sending little tremors up through my arms. He spun in a tight circle then slammed me right in the chest. Pain flared and oxygen grew tight. Black smoke billowed out from my training gear and into my face.
CRAP. I was so busy watching, I forgot to fight. I dropped down to my knees as we’d been told. At least I wasn’t the first killed. I sank to my butt and crossed my legs in front of me. Royce shouted in surprise. When I looked over to his spot, I found him flying through the air doing spins. He landed on his stomach, and yellow smoke exploded under him like a popped beanbag chair.
“Don’t play with your food!” Paulina spit out a line in Spanish which I assumed was cursing.
“Yeah, come and give us a chance!” Lily shouted.
“As you wish, ladies,” Tennessee said with a chuckle as he appeared right behind the two girls.
He swung his wooden sword in the air like it was a whip. Paulina leapt forward in a beautiful arch and aimed her sword for his neck. Tennessee ducked under her caramel arm and sliced through her back pad. Easton dashed to their aid, but it was too late. Tennessee was faster. Orange smoke seeped out from Paulina’s mid-back. Lily screamed and charged, jumping through the air like a gazelle. Tennessee moved so fast he was a blur of black sliding under her body. He dragged his sword with him, chopping Lily right above the knees. Purple smoke poured out from the backs of Lily’s legs like actual blood.
Tennessee appeared on the opposite end of the yard. “Then there were four.”
“We can’t just stand here with our thumbs up our asses!” Tegan crouched into fighting stance with her sword ready to swing. She rolled onto her toes. “We have to attack.”
“On it!” Deacon yelled. He charged forward with a grin still plastered on his stupid face.
“Deacon, no!” Cooper shouted. He took a step then stopped.
Tennessee chuckled and shook his head. “Deacon, yes.” He rested his wooden sword on his shoulder and watched Deacon run toward him. His mismatched eyes twinkled. He was the picture of ease, not even slightly concerned.
What does that feel like?
Deacon raced ahead. Tennessee watched without moving while Deacon charged for him. I thought he was going to engage, swing his weapon at him or something. Except he only narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side, like he was waiting to see what Deacon would do. When Deacon ducked down, Tennessee’s shoulders dropped. He shook his head, like he was unimpressed with the attack. He rolled to the balls of his feet then jumped over Deacon’s head. Just straight up leapt over him.
I’d never seen anything like the way Tennessee moved. It was graceful and elegant and entirely unhuman. His toes hadn’t even touched the grass again before he swung his sword against the backs of Deacon’s legs. The red smoke from our Devil’s gear was eerily similar to the prophecy the night before. Deacon face-planted in the grass with a thud and a string of curse words I’d never heard in such a combination.
“Now!” Tegan screamed and sprinted forward.
Tennessee’s eyebrows rose. He smiled. “Oh…devious.” He slammed the tip of his sword into Deacon’s back without looking then moved toward his oncoming attackers.
Cooper reached him first. Their wooden swords clashed together, and the thud echoed through the yard. They seemed to anticipate each other’s moves as they slashed and swiped in a duel they clearly had had before. Easton was seconds behind. He didn’t hesitate to jump into the fight. The two blond guys danced around Tennessee, but he blocked each and every one of their advances.
Wait, where’s Tegan? I peeled my eyes off the three boys and spotted my twin stealing Deacon’s dropped sword. She spun around with a weapon gripped in each hand and a wicked smirk on her face.
What’s with the smiling in a fight? What is wrong with them?
Tegan bounced on her toes, watching the tango in front of her. After a few seconds, she leapt forward. Tennessee’s back faced her. His long black hair flew in the air around his head, possibly even blocking his peripheral view.
This was planned. I leaned forward, my heart pounding with adrenaline. They were going to do it. Tennessee hadn’t noticed Tegan creeping up behind him with two swords. All of his attention was on Cooper and Easton, who were doing a great job holding their own against him.
Tegan
slid in closer, silent as a mouse. She bit her bottom lip and raised her sword. I glanced back and forth. All she needed was the beat of a second with the right angle and she’d win.
Easton and Cooper ignored her. Their faces were tight and strained, with flushed cheeks and sweat dripping. The muscles in their arms twitched with fatigue. If I saw it, then Tennessee probably did too. Tenn leapt to his left, landed on one foot then sailed into the air. I wasn’t even sure what I saw after that besides a black blur flying around Easton then under Cooper.
Easton and Cooper slammed into the grass like meteors. Tennessee landed on his feet right in front of Tegan. She gasped and glanced down at the guys. They were moving and groaning, but their gear hadn’t received a fatal blow so they were still in the game. Which meant Tennessee had been playing with them. He’d totally seen Tegan creeping up on him.
I released a breath. Amazing.
Tennessee chuckled. “Show me what you’ve got, High Priestess,” he whispered.
A brilliant pink flush filled my sister’s cheeks, but she didn’t hold back or hesitate. She growled like a tiger and attacked. For a moment, I was lost in Tegan’s skills with a weapon. She ducked and spun as they fought, constantly moving. She swung and jabbed her swords in perfect form.
My jaw dropped. I had no idea when she’d learned to fight like that or where I was when she did.
Except it didn’t matter.
Tennessee was incredible. He blocked and countered every one of her moves without strain. Even the ones I didn’t think he saw coming, he dodged.
Tegan was panting. Purple dye dripped off the tips of her hair and onto her arms from sweat. Tennessee lunged forward, swinging his sword in an upward arc right across Tegan’s arms. Both of her swords went flying across the yard. He brought his arm around in a full circle then swept her feet out from under her.
Her body crashed into the grass. He flipped his sword upside down and slammed the hilt against her chest gear. Rainbow smoke exploded right in his face, but he paid it no mind. He spun around then leapt over to where the guys were climbing back to their knees. He jumped over Cooper and somehow threw my brother through the air like a baseball. Cooper was a solid six-foot-three, two-hundred-thirty-pound heap slamming into Easton’s chest.
The Rebel Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 3) Page 7