by J. J. Bonds
We hit another dead end, and Shaye stomps her foot in frustration. “We could just cut through,” she says, her eyes lighting up hopefully. The silence must be eating at her too.
“What fun would that be?” I challenge her. “Come on. If Jade can do this, so can we.”
“Yeah, but she’s probably got Nikolai to lead the way,” Shaye scowls.
“Yeah, well you’ve got me!” I return, grabbing her arm and dragging her back the way we came. I can’t blame her for wanting to cut through. Every stalk of corn looks the same. It’s impossible to tell if we’re actually making progress or if we’re walking in circles. We continue on for another ten minutes or so when I begin to hear voices. Encouraged, I pick up the pace, still dragging Shaye behind me.
What I see when we burst into the clearing makes my blood boil. We must be at the halfway point. There’s a small bonfire burning and benches have been placed all around it offering an opportunity for a little R&R. I notice a natural spring, which probably comes in handy when it’s time to douse the flames, and an abandoned station with marshmallows and roasting sticks. It looks like the maze workers have been called away, leaving the scene before us.
I spot Jade first, fangs bared, looming over a human girl who can’t be more than twelve or thirteen years old. Lexie and Blaine are with her. They’re taunting the girl, hissing and laughing, feeding on her terror. She’s crouched alongside the corn, her face stained with tears.
“Leave me alone! Please!” She cries futilely. They laugh in response and creep closer, which only makes the girl wail louder. I can’t say I blame her. The fire casts an eerie glow making the appearance of her leather clad tormentors even more demonic as shadows slant across their faces.
I charge forward without thinking, slipping between Lexie and Blaine and placing my body between the cowering girl and the three monsters assailing her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout furiously as I catch the lingering scent of the girls’ fear. A new surge of anger bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and I feel my fists clench, instinctively preparing for battle.
“This is none of your concern,” Blaine growls, assuming a defensive position. “Get lost.”
“We’re just having a little fun,” Lexie drawls, her accent sounding more sinister and disgusting in the firelight.
“Well now you’re done,” I tell them firmly, meeting Jade’s heated stare. Lexie and Blaine are puppets. It’s Jade who pulls the strings.
“But we’re just getting started,” she tells me. “It’s Halloween. And we want to play.” The way she draws out this last word makes my stomach twist in disgust.
“This isn’t a game,” I respond, curling my lips back to reveal my own teeth. I may just have a taste of Jade’s blood yet. I lick my lips in anticipation as anger courses through my veins. “Let her go.”
“Why don’t you make me?” Jade replies, as she steps forward menacingly.
She doesn’t have to ask twice. I pounce immediately, knocking her to the ground, the weight of my body pinning her to the dry earth. Her reflexes are sluggish compared to my own. Either she’s not as dedicated to her physical training as I am or she didn’t think I’d dare lay a finger on her. Apparently she has me confused with someone who’s worried about rules.
Blaine and Lexie watch in shock. Neither moves to intervene on Jade’s behalf. As we struggle I see Shaye rush across the clearing and grab the human girl by the hand, pulling her to her feet and leading her swiftly toward the back half of the maze and safety.
“Bitch!” Jade snarls scratching at my face with blind fury. She gets a handful of my hair and pulls with all her might. I never imagined hair pulling could hurt so much! She’s got a death grip on my ponytail, and I swear I think I’m going to be scalped. I struggle to free myself from her grasp, and we roll to the left, inching closer to the spring.
Jade drives her fist into my stomach and climbs to her knees in a weak attempt to crawl away. The blow to my stomach hurts, but not enough to slow me down. I recover quickly and grab her from behind, dragging her back to the ground and dunking her face first in the nearby water.
She thrashes wildly, but I’m unconcerned. It’s not like she’s going to drown, after all. I figure the cool water will help her calm down and be more reasonable. Like me.
“I think she’s had enough, don’t you?” Nikolai. I wonder how long he’s been watching. I never saw him enter the clearing, but there he stands, hip cocked and arms draped casually over his chest.
I resist the urge to tell him that she started it and simply shrug in reply. I release Jade, and she scrambles to her feet seething with anger.
“You’re going to pay for this!” she promises, pushing her soggy hair back from her face. She’s a hot mess. It kind of makes me smile. Her makeup is running. Her designer sweater is torn and her leather pants are covered in mud. I probably don’t look much better. The difference is that I don’t care. “You’ll be kicked out of school!”
I hesitate briefly before calling her bluff. “I’ll be kicked out of school? You were the one terrorizing human children! If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were about to feed from that girl. I’m sure Professor Lynch would love to hear all about it,” I return sweetly. “Actually, I probably saved her life.”
I’m fairly certain that Jade wouldn’t have bitten the girl, but that isn’t the point. What they were doing was despicable, preying on the weak. The girl probably won’t sleep for days, not without nightmares anyway.
“Alright girls, you’re both pretty,” Nikolai cuts in sarcastically, stepping between us. We both stare daggers at him.
“You will be sorry!” Jade shouts at me as she storms out of the clearing. Lexie and Blaine follow still looking stunned. I’m not worried though. Shaye has a good head start. I decide it’s best to give them a few minutes before following. I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand for one evening.
“Have you learned nothing?” Nikolai asks, looking me over.
“Excuse me?” I answer, shucking a clump of mud from my hair and refastening my ponytail.
“Garcia would be disappointed.” He shakes his head in dismay before continuing. “Hair pulling? You’re better than that.” He’s making fun of me again. He’s got that gleam in his eye, and, from the way his shoulders are shaking, I’m pretty sure he’s suppressing a laugh.
“Shouldn’t you be catching up to your friends?” I ask raising an eyebrow questioningly.
He ignores me and continues down the same antagonistic line of commentary. “Frankly, I think you can do better. You have excellent teachers. And your form is good. Do you know what your problem is? You lack imagination. Your fighting style is predictable.”
“Predictable? That’s one thing I’ve never been called before.”
“Well, I don’t want to split hairs here, but I didn’t say you were predictable.” He smiles impishly, as if he thinks showing his swoon-worthy dimple will soften me up. “I don’t know you well enough to say that... yet. Your fighting style is predictable; the way that you string the moves together,” he clarifies seriously.
“Thanks for the insight,” I reply pushing past him. I don’t need to stand here and listen to this garbage. His whack-job friends are terrorizing humans, and I’m the one who’s getting a lecture? I don’t think so.
“I could help you,” he calls out. “Just say the word.”
Chapter Eight
It’s a bad idea. I know it’s a bad idea. But I can’t stop thinking about it. Tucked away safely in my room, far from the Masquerade, I can’t stop thinking about Nikolai’s offer. I lay on my bed in the dark, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. He’ll drive me crazy. He’ll antagonize me every chance he gets. We’ll be lucky if we don’t kill each other.
But he’s my best option. Garcia is too busy for one-on-one instruction, and Nikolai is good. If he can teach half as good as he fights, I’ll learn a lot. I’ll definitely learn more quickly than I would by relying
solely on classroom instruction. And isn’t that the reason I’m here? To become the best that I can be?
What the hell. It’s worth a shot. I grab my boots with reckless abandon and slip them over my feet before I can change my mind. I head straight for the party. I have no intention of stopping until I find Nikolai, but I’m flabbergasted when I reach the main hall and stop frozen in my tracks. Shaye wasn’t kidding when she said the staff went all out.
I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a bizarre cross between a haunted house and an underage rave. The result is… mind-numbing. The entire first floor has been transformed for the party. There are candelabras everywhere. They hang from the ceilings and walls, creating an ominous atmosphere and casting shadows all around. The hallways are filled with fog leaving the floors invisible. The walls, which are draped in gauzy black fabric, appear to breathe with life. I pass coffins, skeletons, and a colony of bats that flap their wings and screech loudly as they fly freely up and down the halls. Outside of the dining hall, there’s an ornate stone fountain spewing blood from the mouth of a naked maiden at its center. The scent of blood is ripe in the air and my mouth begins to water. The whole scene would be disturbing if it weren’t so cliché.
Mockery must be the theme of the night. I’ve passed no less than a half dozen students dressed in some vestige of hokey vampire garb. Capes, powdered faces, blood dripping from their mouths. I’ve counted three Dracula’s, one Count Chocula, an Elvira, Vlad the Impaler, Count von Count, a Nosferatu, two brides of Dracula, and one hellishly ugly beast with a mouthful of fangs that is surely meant to convey the worst myths we’ve fed the humans. I have to admit it is kind of ironic.
It only gets better when I enter the dining hall. It’s been converted into a first-rate club. The room is dark save for the flash of strobe lights and glow sticks. Techno music blares from speakers overhead, and the room is writhing with movement, as the students dance to the rhythm. There are limbs flailing all around me, many of them alight with glow paint. It seems I’m the only one not feeling the spirit tonight. I take in more of the costumes. They run the gamut: werewolves, witches, monsters, politicians.
I push my way into the crowded room. Blaine is spinning at the makeshift DJ booth on the far side. It’s probably my best bet for finding Nikolai. Unfortunately, getting through the sea of dancing vamps is easier said than done. I’m shoved back and forth by the force of their powerful bodies bouncing and twisting all around me. I get more than a few nasty glares as I go. No one likes having their flow interrupted.
I ignore them and keep my eye on the prize. I spot Nikolai quickly. He’s easy to find. Blaine is staring intently at him and Jade dancing a few feet from the DJ booth. They’re totally engrossed in the music. Jade is grinding on Nikolai, rubbing her body against his provocatively. I doubt they’re aware of anything going on around them.
I contemplate retreat. The last thing I need is another run in with Jade, especially with this many witnesses. I know I can catch up with Nikolai later, but determination wins out. Besides, I might wimp out if I don’t do it now.
“Nikolai!” I shout over the music. He doesn’t hear me. I call his name again, this time tapping him on the shoulder a little harder than necessary. He spins around to face me, breaking off the dance with Jade.
“I knew it wouldn’t take you long to decide.” He smiles, looking pleased with himself. Jade on the other hand does not look so happy to see me. Go figure.
“What do you want?” she cuts in angrily, fists clenched and at the ready. She looks to Nikolai and then back to me.
“You clean up well,” I comment looking her over. There’s not a trace of the mud and grime that had been clumped in her hair at the maze. “Showering has done you wonders.” I shouldn’t antagonize her, but it’s just so easy.
“Jade, why don’t you go get yourself a drink? There’s something I need to discuss with Katia,” he tells her diplomatically. Probably he wants to prevent another wrestling match between us. “This will only take a minute,” he assures her.
“Whatever.” She storms off in the direction of the fountain, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see her go. This will be easier without an audience.
“Sorry to interrupt your fun.”
“Fun? Ha!” He laughs, eyes raking over the costumed vamps grinding all around us. “I can think of better ways to spend the night, but I’m making the best of it.”
“Oh? Glow sticks and body paint isn’t your thing? Could’ve fooled me,” I retort, eyeing the trail of glitter that Jade has left on the front of his dark shirt. Perhaps it’s Jade’s way of marking her territory.
He doesn’t bother replying to my ridicule. He just stands there expectantly, eyes locked on mine. He’s not going to make it easy for me. And why should he? I haven’t exactly been easy to get along with or even to like. I don’t know why he’s offered to help, but I guess it’s time to find out. Time to swallow my pride.
“Will you train me?” I ask through clenched teeth. I practically choke on the words. I hate asking for help. I hate asking for anything.
“Sorry. I didn’t catch that?” he returns, raising his voice to be heard over the roar of the music. “It’s so loud in here, you know?” I’m certain he’s messing with me. He knows damn well what I said. Arrogant jerk! I turn to leave.
“Katia, wait!” He grabs my arm preventing retreat. “I offered, didn’t I?”
“What do you want in return?” It’s hard to keep the edge of suspicion from my voice. I know the lessons won’t come without a price.
“What makes you think I want something from you?” he asks crossing his arms over his chest. He’s clearly amused.
“The fact that I wasn’t born yesterday,” I retort. “So? What is it you want? Name your price.”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to get to know you.” He’s got that mischievous look in his eye again. “You intrigue me. After all, there’s never a dull moment when you’re around.”
Right. I’m sure it’s that innocent. Probably he wants to get closer to me because of Aldo. It doesn’t matter though. Not as long as I get what I want.
“When do we start?”
“Tomorrow. Meet me in the training center at 11 o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
I nearly escape the dining hall without incident. Jade intercepts me at the door, grabbing my arm and digging her blood red nails into my skin like talons. If it weren’t for the baleful look on her face she might actually be able to pull off the white wings affixed to her back. As it is, there’s nothing angelic about her right now. “What do you want with Nikolai?”
“It’s a private matter,” I return, biting my tongue to keep from saying anything inflammatory. What is up with this crazy possessiveness of hers? Maybe she hasn’t heard the old adage about freeing that which you love the most. Then again, maybe she knows there isn’t creature in its right mind that would voluntarily come back for more of her bitchiness.
“Stay away from him,” she warns, her brown eyes flashing angrily. “Nikolai is mine.”
So much for playing nice. I can’t help but smirk at the tawdry threat as I wipe her glittery handprint off my forearm. “Jade, I have only one interest in Nik and I can assure you it’s purely physical.”
**********
Our first session is getting off to a rough start. There are other students practicing in the training center this morning, but it still feels different from our regular classes. I’m very aware of Nikolai’s presence; more so than usual. And then there’s Blaine. Apparently he’s decided to babysit us. Maybe he thinks we can’t be trusted alone. Maybe Jade put him up to it. Or maybe, like me, he thinks we might kill each other.
Whatever the reason, he’s here. And even though it’s weird to have him monitoring us I don’t say anything. I don’t want my trainer to bail on me. Blaine’s a creep, but Nikolai seems to think he’s got some redeeming qualities. I’ll just have to ignore him. It can’t be that hard.
“So wh
at’s the plan?” I ask, anxious to get started.
“We’ll start simple. I’ll show you a series of moves and you repeat them. Watch carefully.” He performs the moves slowly, stringing together some very simple punches with more complex kicks. I realize he’s blended together several different martial arts techniques. While I don’t know all of the moves, I do my best to replicate the pattern. The sequence is awkward, and it shows in my performance.
“Again.”
I repeat the pattern, taking greater pains this time to ensure my moves are sharp and clean. My arms and legs cut through the air like a knife through warm butter. The whistle of displaced air is music to my ears and a testament to the improvement of my form. It’s not as good as Nik, but it’s definitely better this time.
“Again,” he tells me.
So much for positive reinforcement. As I begin the sequence for the third time, Nikolai steps in front of me throwing out counter moves to block my attack. He catches me off guard, but I find the challenge interesting. Given one more attempt, I feel confident that I could perform the pattern adequately and land a couple of blows.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” he tells me stepping back. “As I said before, your problem isn’t lack of skill. You’ve got good form and you’re a quick study. The problem is your textbook approach.”
“I do not have a textbook approach!” I reply indignantly. Do I?
He continues, ignoring my protests. “It’s fine if you’re satisfied with adequate. If you want to be elite, you’ve got to feel it. You’re too controlled. There’s no imagination. No real passion.”
I stare at him dubiously, wondering if he’s right and if it’s something I can overcome with practice. I sigh resignedly accepting his assessment. I am here to learn after all. “So what am I supposed to do?”