"Again."
A boisterous whine came out of my lips when Master Hades wants to do the basics again even if we were executing it all night until daylight.
I clobbered my feet on the ground. "Can we please take a break?" I irritatedly inquired.
The moment Master Hades and I started the basics of handling a weapon, we gotta do it up all night and never had the chance to take a break. Frankly, my ankle and my whole body are ailing already. He wants me to train with him the whole day but I don't want it and couldn't find the best stance to do it!
Slowly, I took a step backward. I was about to take a few more steps when Master Hades didn't let me.
"Take another step and you'll die," he spoke.
"Am I?" I said then whirled my eyes.
Master Hades didn't give me any facial expressions. I sat down on the stairs out of the small house while pouting, feeling depleted all day.
I thought he'll going to hurt me using his ability again. But instead, Master Hades came forward and stood in front.
"You swing your arms the wrong way," he informed, making my forehead groove.
"If you going to keep on doing the wrong swing, there's a chance your enemy will target neither your face nor lower body,"
He's a veteran when it comes to combat skills. The way how Master Hades perfectly performed the basic swings of swords made my jaw drop. Yes. Fuck, I'm amazed.
My eyes twirled around, not minding what he said. I looked at the sword I have in my hand before lifting my eyes again upon him.
"Is it really mandatory for me to train and meet your parents?"
Slowly, Master Hades nodded. "A week from now, I'll be departing on a mission. You're going with me. After that, we'll go back with a report and the King will be the one who will decide if you're eligible to be my slave or not."
"A mission? I'm going with you? What would happen if... the King doesn't approve me to be your slave?"
"You'll be thrown out from the castle."
Does it make any difference? Life outside the castle might be hard. Bearing all day with Master Hades is one of the things I don't want to withstand. He always ambles, goes everywhere, and wants me to follow him and stay by his side like what a butler or a bodyguard does.
"Yes. Life outside the castle is hard. A lot of vipers are lurking around day and night," he explained.
My eyebrows arched. "Really? What should I expect for a vampire realm, then?" I uttered tiredly.
"Our kingdom has been facing casualties lately. Vipers start lurking from different clans as well as normal vampires residing outside the palace. It's not normally like this," he explained.
What he said just piqued my interest. "Vipers like... was it the same as the werewolves?"
"Werewolves are werewolves. Vipers are also vampires, but they were cast out from a clan and in the entire kingdom."
"Rouges?"
"For werewolves, yes. Vipers for vampires. Traitors in the kingdom, it is."
Wow! So rouges are true! I've been reading books since then but I never reckoned even werewolves are existing. I often feel enraged for the alpha of the story and also feel sad for the Luna who always gets rejected by his mates.
My lips pouted. Master Hades' looked at me and I wonder if he could hear or read what am I thinking?
"Yes. I can hear you. Vampires can't fall for a werewolf. Especially an alpha so stop dreaming, Leandra,"
I frowned. "Why not?"
"Werewolves and vampires aren't on good terms."
It has been over fifteen minutes since I had my windfall. Master Hades and I were already setback to our position prematurely and stood up in front of each other.
He's sweaty. His cold sweats drip down from his shoulder to his broad chest and six-pack abs.
"Shall I do a good job for the king to let me stay by your side?" I let out.
Master Hades isn't speaking. All that he does was strike with his sword. The way how he swerve his arms, were all heavy. A heavy swing that could kill me if I won't avoid it with my cutlass.
But instead of answering my question, he provided me with another. "Faster, Leandra."
I turned around and was about to slash him using my sword when the edge of it was already pointing at my neck.
Gasping for air, my whole damn face went cold. If I'll move in just an inch, he'll probably penetrate it on my neck and a hundred percent sure, I'm going to die!
Master Hades put down his sword. Oh my God, this man is insane!
"I'm not insane," he irritatedly distorted.
My eyebrows arched. "Stop reading my mind!" I hissed.
"We should work on that, too. If you wanna survive in a vampire realm, blocking your mind is one of the basics, milady."
"How will I going to do that if you're not teaching me?"
He sneered, "You're not just prideful, weak, and slow. You're impatient as well, milady,"
I don't know where will our conversation going. I took a few steps toward the railing and leaned to rest my exhausted body. We've been training the entire day and my body could no longer withstand it.
"How can I block my mind?" I asked using the softest voice I have.
Master Hades didn't look at me but he spoke. "Close your eyes and imagine you're putting walls on your mind. Soldiers protecting your thoughts..."
In order to accomplish what he just said, I calmed myself down first and shut my eyes. I took a subtle whiff imagining I'm inside a black room while there were huge walls around and protecting me.
I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. Master Hades was the first one whom I saw when I opened my eyes looking at me with his almond stern eyes.
"Can you read what's on my mind now?" I asked.
He didn't speak.
My eyes went to his lips. Master Hades combed his hair as he stung his tongue out, licking his lower lips and making it wet. I bit my inside cheek as my grip on my clothes became rigid.
His reddish wet lips feel so nice. Something inside him starts luring me making me gulp and imagine myself kissing Master Hades.
I looked away. I was about to veer around my back when he was already in front of me in just a blink of an eye. Master Hades held my forearm, he pulled me towards him causing our faces to get close to each other.
"Baby, if you wanna kiss... tell me right away," he huskily mumbled.