It had been several days since I'd last spoken to Chase or James. Every morning I'd wake up with freshly cooked breakfast on the white table beside me, but nobody was there to see who had brought it. Although I'd had a hunch it was Chase bringing it to me, fulfilling his duties as a "butler." Both men had crossed my path, but anytime they saw me they darted away like a scared mouse. Every day I would go to the training room by myself to hopefully awaken any semblance of my memories, yet none of the attempts were successful. I was stuck. In three days we would be forced on a journey into an area I had no idea existed.
On top of that, I had no idea how to fight properly. Every time I practiced with my blade it felt wrong, anytime I'd fight a dummy it felt wrong. I was at a standstill. I threw the dagger my father had given me across the floor where it skittered into the doorway as I sat defeated and out of breath on the floor. I buried my head in my knees that were covered with the red fabric from the combat uniform I wore. Azura moved her way to me, cooing softly as she stuck her head in between my legs. I pet her head softly, ruffling her feathers.
"Still as aggressive as ever," I turned my head toward the doorway in shock.
"James?" I asked, my eyes wide as he picked up the blade, his scar a stark white against his tanned skin.
"I figured I'd find you here," James turned the blade over and over in his hand before throwing it at one of the practice dummies. It glowed to life, settling centered in the head of a dummy. "Usually those blades only work for their masters, but I assume you haven't made progress, practicing hours by yourself."
"I don't need your help," I stood up quickly, sending Azura flying up to one of the rafters of the ceiling. I stalked over to the dummy, the dagger flaring to life as I pulled it free.
"You may not think you need it, but you do," James spoke coldly, crossing his tanned arms over his chest.
"Why exactly would I need your help? I'm perfectly fine on my own," I glared at him making eye contact as he stalked toward me. He placed his index finger against my forehead.
"You said you don't want us to protect you so use that pretty head of yours and listen. The only way you can accomplish that is if you're strong enough to protect yourself." I grabbed his wrist pulling it down to his side. "Regardless of what you think you know Makayla, we've been there with you since we were children, all of us relied on one another. You saved us more than once, we owe you our lives." I dropped his wrist, staring into his coffee eyes.
"The girl you know is dead, get that through your pretty head," my hand lunged toward the dummy driving the blade into its chest. Before I had the chance to remove the blade James grabbed it, encircling my hand as well.
"Hah," the blade roared to life in our grasp, he forced me to rip it free then placed it against his chest. "Then, so am I." I tried to pull free of his grasp, but he leaned forward looking me in the eyes. His brown ones shone like honey against the overhanging lights, as they seemed to search mine. "You feel nothing?" He pushed my hand forward, the blade still glowing, as it cut through his t-shirt and began to cut flesh.
"James stop," I said, still desperately pulling the blade, trying to get it free.
"Nothing at all. Remember what you said? What was it again? If it comes down to it, you'll save yourself before either of us, right? So, stab me, if you feel nothing stab me," His eyes were sad, desperate, yet so determined.
"I can't, I can't let go," I pulled again, and he released it, causing me to fall onto the floor.
"I know you're just trying to keep us safe, but Makayla there's still so many things to live for, to see. Even if your brother is gone, it doesn't mean you'll lose us too." James held his scarred hand out, the jagged edges blurring together as I grabbed his hand to pull myself up. "We'll train, more than you've ever had to, and we'll bring the warrior deep inside you back to life. I'll help you do it even if it's the last thing I do."
"I just, don't know how," I admitted, releasing my hand from his own, as my gaze scanned his face. He looked troubled, although a small smile grazed the edges of his lips, his eyes betrayed him. The swirls of brown speckled with gold seemed dark, distant. I looked away, wiping some of the sweat off of my brow from my solo training.
James clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, blood dribbled down the cut he now had on his chest as he ran his fingers through the cascade of blonde that went almost past his ears. "Let's start with how to properly use the dagger shall we?" I nodded at him reluctantly. "First show me how you hold it." So, I did.
I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, holding the dagger in front of me, my thumb on the top of the blade. "Like this?"
James chuckled, his dimples lighting up his face. "No, that's how you hold, maybe a steak knife," he held out his hand out for the dagger, which I carefully placed into the palm of his hand. "Now at first it might seem uncomfortable, but," he flipped the blade toward the outside of his wrist, the dull side facing toward his wrist, the sharp side facing outward as he placed his thumb on the underside of the hilt and the rest over the top. "This will give you the most stability to stab, or to slash."
James handed the blade back to me, and I copied what he did to the best of my ability. The blade felt slightly uncomfortable in my hands, but righter then all the previous times I'd held it. "Like this?" I asked, afraid I was holding it wrong once more.
"That's perfect," he smiled genuinely, nodding his head in approval. "Now until you can get two-hundred hits on the dummy with little to no breaks, I won't allow you to practice using that dagger on me," he smirked, waving his right hand passively. "So, get to it."
"What are you? A masochist or something?" I laughed out.
"What's life without a little pain? Now start, I'm getting bored," he yawned as he made his way over to one of the cushioned chairs in the corner. "And don't worry, I'll critique your form. We'll shape you into a better warrior than you ever have been."
I loosed a breath in response as I readied my stance. "I sure hope so."