by K. R. Smith
“You have to work up to that part.” Mum joked.
*****
Sixty minutes later, once the dishes had been washed and teeth had been cleaned; Mum and Gran instantaneously phased us to my ‘training area’.
“Huh, this is it?” I looked about, feeling let down.
We were standing in one of the grassy glades inside of the Lokoti National Park. I mean, sure it was pretty…the grass was long and soft, we were surrounded by woods, which in turn were surrounded by mountain ranges. But seriously, this is it?
“Why are we training here?” I whined. “Why not at the futuristic Circulate HQ?”
“I trained here with your grandmother.” Grandfather smilingly shrugged.
“I watched your mother train here with your grandmother.” Dad winked at his wife.
“When did you train, Grandfather?” I looked on in disbelief. “You’re a Werewolf, not a Circulator!”
“I taught Em self-defense and fencing.” His wife informed.
“Grandfather knows how to fence?” I looked on my big, strong grandparent. “But he’s a Werewolf, so why does he need to use a sword?”
“European Vampires fight with swords.” She said simply.
“They do?” my eyes widened at her words. I guess Vampires would exist just like Werewolves exist, but it still felt strange to hear about them.
“European Vampires aren’t as strong as Werewolves, so they fight with silver-coated swords.” She advised. “They also fight each other with those swords. Vampires, like Werewolves and other Shape Shifters, are allergic to silver too.”
“Really?” my eyes widened in surprise. Then it dawned on me, “so you want to train me with a silver sword, so I can fight European Vampires and European Werewolves, like the one who changed Declan?”
“Bingo.” Mum smiled.
“Think of the Boy Scout motto B; always come prepared.” Gran said humorously. “By the time your training with us is finished, you’ll be able to fight in armed and unarmed combat in the speed of light. Plus, you’ll be able to incorporate these fighting skills with your ability to phase.”
“I liked it when Arabella taught me. I also liked it when she flipped me to the ground and landed on top.” Grandfather laughed to the other men.
“I don’t mind helping Jess out with her training now and then either.” Dad snickered back.
“B, observe.” Gran ordered.
I stood back carrying my sword sheathed, in a special holster on my back. Gran and Mum unsheathed their swords from the holsters on their backs as they began to circle each other. I watched them carefully, noting their foot work and their stances; one in an attack posture and the other poised in defense. I was looking forward to seeing this, since it didn’t happen often that I got to watch them practice. I guess it was because they were always busy with other things; Gran with helping Aunt Susan and Mr. Lightfoot teach and Mum was always doing something else, like phasing to England or to Mars.
The two women circled each other carefully, not taking their eyes off their opponent. As I studied their movements, I saw that everything was deliberate as well as calculated. It was almost like watching dance partners, as they each adjusted their movements when they saw the other change. They watched the other warily for any sudden strikes.
Just then Mum swung the first blow which Gran easily parried and then the two women fought each other so fast, they both looked like two bright blurs!
“No way!” my eyes widened. I’m supposed to be able to do THIS one day?
The Circulators were fighting so fast, the sound of their swords clashing were constant and loud that I had to put my hands up over my ears!
Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang claaaaaaannnng!
They moved so fast that they seemed to instantly appear in their new positions and I couldn’t keep track of their arm movements.
Suddenly Mum’s sword went right through a bright and blurry Gran who went into phase! My hands flew up to my mouth in shock…! But just as suddenly, Gran now appeared behind Mum and she started to swing her sword when Mum spun around to block her!
“No way!” I watched the two women in wonder.
The two Circulators continued to fight like this for another thirty seconds. Since they were fighting in light speed, in those thirty seconds they probably made so many movements it would be the equivalent of two humans fighting over thirty minutes. It almost seemed like a stale-mate with neither Circulator able to get the upper-hand as their abilities matched the others. It was when abruptly Mum landed on her back on the cushioned, grassy ground, with Gran standing over her that the fight was over.
“No way…!” I stared at Gran, taken aback. She’s pretty spry for an old guy! She doesn’t just look like she’s still in her twenties, but it was physically as well.
“How many times do I have to tell you Jess? Watch your footwork.” She lightly scolded as she offered her hand. Mum was pulled to her feet before the two women looked over my way.
Subconsciously, I took a step backwards… “There’s no way I can fight like that!”
“Not at first, no.” Gran laughed at my apprehension. “Hence the lessons.”
“C’mon B, don’t be a chicken.” Mum teased. “I learned how to fight when I was pregnant with you, so how hard can it be?”
“Bianca Elm, come on down!” Gran sung like I was a contestant on the ‘Price Is Right’.
I took a deep breath as I unsheathed my sword which made the males take a couple of steps away and gingerly, I came forwards.
“First of all, let’s look at your leg work.” She started.
“And how to hold your sword in a defensive posture.” Mum added.
I looked back at Grant, who was standing in between Dad and Grandfather and he gave an encouraging grin.
“If worse comes to worse, you have three Lokoti Werewolves here that can share their blood, or put your cuts inside their mouths to heal you.” He joked.
Oh yeah that really made me feel better…NOT! I looked helplessly from the Lokoti Werewolves in the shapes of my husband, father and my grandfather. You would think being around Werewolves, it was natural to be wary around such dangerous creatures. But when you saw your mother and grandmother as Circulators who were significantly weaker than they were, but were such masters of instruments of death? Now I didn’t know what was scarier! I took a deep breath before I joined them. OK here I go…
Over the next sixty minutes, I was instructed to always mind my footwork and how to carry my sword. I felt like I was learning how to waltz with a dangerous dance partner. I learned how to circle and by holding my sword correctly, how to parry and to block.
The men ended up sitting in the grass and watching this way. I noted that although Grandfather and Dad could casually lean back on their hands in a relaxed manner, Grant could not. My husband sat forwards, watching us carefully. His protective instinct to guard his young bride was in full-force. His long, black hair blew playfully in the wind, but his face was a mask of concern as he never took his eyes off us, in particular me.
Within ninety minutes, I learned to fight Gran or Mum, as they took turns at coaching. When I fought Gran, Mum stood back and called out her advice on how to move or what to do. Then the same would happen when I fought Mum, with Gran issuing instructions.
After two hours, I fought my mother as my grandmother now stood quietly beside my grandfather, looking on. We circled the other, with our swords raised and our footwork planned.
“Be careful Jess.” Dad frowned as his own overprotective nature kicked-in. “Do I need to remind you that B is our ONLY child?”
Mum ignored him before she made her strike, which I parried. Then she swung again and again, each time her sword clanged against mine.
“Good work B.” Gran said encouragingly. “Just keep your tip up.”
My mother tried to throw me off guard by suddenly ducking right and then swinging left, but again I was able to block. Then she sped up her attack,
moving faster and faster…and somehow I could keep up. I could see that she was going faster, especially by how bright she turned. Yet I was able to block everything that she threw my way.
Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang claaaaanng!
I could hear the noise and hell, I could even hear the ‘whir’ in the air from how fast she swung her sword around! Yet I was able to block and parry, minding my foot work and also keeping my sword high and ready.
Suddenly she stopped and broke off her attack. When she stepped back and lowered her sword, her bright, blurry form returned to her solid shape. She beamed, looking proud as punch.
“Not bad for a beginner.” She commended.
“Really?” I wanted to check.
“Hell yeah!” Mum laughed. “I don’t know if you realize it B, but you just fought me in the speed of light.”
“No way!” I looked over at our audience for clarification.
“Way.” Dad smiled.
“You were faster than a speeding bullet.” Gran giggled.
“You could give ‘Road Runner’ a run for his money.” Grandfather chuckled as he put his arm about his mate’s waist.
Lastly I looked on my husband, who seemed to be in shock for some reason. He was standing completely still, with a blank expression on his face.
“Grant?” I turned worried. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” he snapped out of it. “Nothing’s wrong, it’s just that I never expected to find myself married to a ‘Light Person’.”
“Welcome to the club.” Dad clapped him on the back.
Mum leaned in to say cheekily, “I’m sure if you put away your sword, your husband would give you a kiss.”
“Oh!” I blushed at her words, “of course.”
As soon as I sheathed my sword, Grant came forwards. He tenderly cupped my face to stare into my eyes before he said huskily; “I feel like I’ve won a prize in a competition I didn’t even know I had entered.”
In retrospect, it was may have sounded a little cheesy? But at the time it made my heart race and my body tremble. Then as his lips molded to mine, I felt a strange heat build up inside of my stomach and radiate outwards… Yep, I’m definitely starting to get used to this ‘arranged marriage’ kinda thing.
*****
The sun set and turned the light in our bedroom into a reddish-orange glow, which was observed by the newlyweds, from their bed.
We were lying naked in each other’s arms, with the wife’s cheek resting on top of her husband’s chest. I was starting to get used to his body, as I enjoyed how constantly warm he felt. I also liked how his heart beat would fall into sync with mine.
I wondered if it was the same with Grant, was he still getting used to the feel of me too? He was always using his hands to stroke my skin as he looked on my form. Now was one of these moments as I smiled softly, enjoying the feel of hi’s hands running over my shoulders and down my back.
“That was good.” He commented.
“Mmm… ” I smiled in agreement.
“It felt different today.”
“It did?”
“It felt like somehow I helped you win the war and now we were fighting on the same side.”
I looked long and hard into his eyes which held mine and this time I didn’t look away. “You’re right, you did help me win the war. You tended to me when I was sick. You healed the cut on my finger. You’re continually showing me all of the benefits to being one of our kind, just as you showed me how wonderful you are as a husband.”
“B.” He placed his forefinger underneath my chin to ensure he held my gaze. “I meant what I said in the week leading up to our wedding. I’m looking forward to our future together. We have much to look forward to. The future holds so much promise for you both as a Light Person and a Lokoti Werewolf and I will always be by your side to greet it with you.”
This made me falter, “but I’m not an angel, Grant.”
“I know.” He spoke plainly. “You have the light of a Circulator but you battle the darkness just like the rest of us. I think it would be harder to be your mate if you were the embodiment of perfection,” then he kidded, “and it would definitely be more boring.”
“Boring, huh?” I raised my eyebrows.
He roared with laughter as next I took several playful bites of his torso, before he could stand it no more which made him roll back on top.
“Careful B, teeth and nails are powerful aphrodisiacs to our kind.” His dark brown eyes glinted their glowing silver supernatural colour.
“Oh really?” I began to chew on his neck.
I heard a deep growl build up inside of his chest and rumble up, through his sharpening teeth. He bent his head to tenderly bite my ear as I overheard him inhale my scent.
“Grrrr!” he growled louder, which sounded like frustration.
To my surprise, Grant gently pushed my head back as he raised himself up. Puzzled, I watched him climb out of bed as he proceeded to get dressed.
“Where are you going?” I asked, wondering if I had done something wrong?
“Downstairs to the kitchen, I’ll make a sandwich before I go.” He answered as he buttoned up his jeans.
“Go where?”
“I’m on patrol tonight.”
“You are?”
“Yep.” He answered before he turned and left our bedroom in just his jeans.
Oh, patrol… I had almost completely forgotten about it, let alone the dangerous world outside of our blissful one. Grant was going out tonight to risk his life for the safety of his home, family and tribe. Now I was his wife? I was part of the family he fought to keep safe.
A couple of minutes later I came down the stairs dressed, with my sword’s sheath strapped to my back. I found him in the kitchen, making me a sandwich too. He placed cold slices of caribou meat on the bread with some mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato in a manner that said ‘one for me and one for B’.
“What’s the sword for?” He gave a peculiar look.
“I’m coming with you.”
Suddenly the knife he was using to spread the mayonnaise was placed loudly on the plate. He stopped what he was doing so he could frown my way. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“It is the will of the pack as it is also the direct order of the First that you will not patrol.” He said firmly.
“So you as the husband can fight, defending his home and land, but me as the wife, can’t?” I asked unimpressed.
“Yes.”
“I’m not letting you go out there alone -” I began.
“B!” he interrupted. “It may be the will of the First that you will not fight, but it is the wish of your husband that you obey.”
“Then it’s the wish of your wife,” I crossed my arms to glare, “that you don’t go out there alone.”
“I won’t be alone, two members of the pack patrol each night. Tonight I will be patrolling the borders with Ian.”
I huffed as I momentarily looked away before I met his steely-gaze once more. “Grant, it’s not fair that I just sit around looking pretty because I’m a female! Why should only the male Werewolves risk their lives? I’m faster than you so -”
“You may be faster but we’re stronger.” He interrupted. “You as a female will also one day, be with child. Also the world doesn’t know that a female Lokoti Werewolf exists. All of these reasons have been taken into consideration by the pack when the First decided that you will never patrol.”
I felt angry at his stubborn determination. “It’s so sexist!”
“It is.” He admitted. “But it also puts my fears at rest for your safety.”
“So you can feel safe that I’m stuck at home, but I don’t have that luxury about you?” I argued.
“Have you been shot before?” he suddenly asked.
“What?”
“Have you been shot before?”
“No of course not!”
“I have, six times since I sta
rted patrolling when I was 15 years old.” He said unhappily. “As a male Lokoti Werewolf I’m stronger than you so I don’t know how you would fare, if you were shot. But then what if you were shot in the abdomen when you were pregnant?”
This thought disturbed me so much that I turned away, when Grant caught my arm. He pulled me into his arms before cupping my face to make me look his way.
“I patrol for the safety of my mate, my family and my tribe. I patrol so my future children lives will not be in danger.” He said in a low voice.
I didn’t know what to say to that and I couldn’t look into his eyes either. My head ducked so I could stare at the floor instead, when he gently rested my cheek against his chest so I could hear his strong heart beat.
“I’ll come home to you, B.” He promised.
“I bet Uncle Jack said the same thing to Aunt Meg the night that he was shot.” I said sullenly.
“Jack was killed by two bullets removing half of his head and the other which blew a gaping hole through his chest where his heart used to be.” He spoke candidly. “But it takes a lot to kill us B and right now I have a lot to live for. I’m looking forward to our future, remember?”
I sighed unhappily because I knew there was nothing I could say to change his mind. “It’s still hypocritical since I’m one of the pack, aren’t I?”
“You’re a Light Person first, you’re my wife second and you’re a female Lokoti Werewolf third.” Grant said strongly. “Three very good reasons why you will never patrol.”
Eventually he released his hold to return to finishing up our dinner. I leaned on the fridge to watch him complete the sandwiches. I realized arguing about this would do me as much good as yelling at the sky for being blue.
“How about a glass of milk with our food?” Grant next gave a playful grin, which was his way of asking me to pour him one.
I set about pouring two glasses of milk as he carried our sandwiches over to the table. I asked as I joined him with the drinks, “what time will you be home?”
“Patrol usually goes until dawn.”
He was right, I recalled growing up, I’d hear my father come home about the time my bedroom would lighten with a new day. Now I was in the same boat as my mother and my grandmother. We were forced to sit on our Circulator hands as our Lokoti Werewolf husbands fought outsiders without us.