Morning comes in a hurry. I wake up, and I already know I'm late for my training session with Graham. Mason had returned to Northenhay a few days ago, and I returned to the same torturous routine that Graham likes to call basic training. I like to call it ' A-day in hell'. But that's just me. He seems to enjoy it.
Apart from us, the ghosts, and the spiders, there is no one else in Zareen. Mason had taken the morning to show me around, and I was right the damn thing is indeed built like a maze. The overall shape of the underground sanctuary is a circle, with a series of corridors that pass from one to another and others are just a dead end. The training hall is dead right in the middle of it. A central point.
I call for Shay before I even finish dressing and he appears in a blink, and we both reappear in the hall, where Graham awaits with usual the coffee and a side of torture. I'm almost through the first week, and I haven't seen daylight since Monday.
" Mornin' sunshine, " He says with a toothy smile, handing me the coffee.
" Sorry, I'm late. I overslept," I take the coffee from him and watch Shay settle in his usual corner. He spends most of his time watching us. He whines occasionally and licks his chops but the creature spends most of his days sleeping. There must be some cat genes in there, somewhere.
We both down the coffee and begin with the usual laps around the training hall. We settled into a routine that Graham takes a little too seriously and in his opinion I'm not taking seriously enough. I fail to see the gravity of the situation. His words. Not mine.
I disagree.
Graham adds one extra lap every day to build my stamina, which according to him, I severely lack. No argument there.
" Right," Graham claps his hands when I finish my laps and settles in the middle of the hall, " We add something new to your training today," He stops speaking when I whine.
" It's just one thing. Don't get your panties in a bunch. Which by the way, reminds me. Are you wearing any? Because if you're not, " He huffs a breath and laughs when I throw my shoe at him. I know he is only trying to get me worked up but he is hella annoying.
" Easy now," He raises his hands, defensively when takes my other shoe to throw at him. As expected the first one missed its mark.
" Can we get on with it," I grumble and toss the shoe aside, for future use. Knowing, Graham I'm sure I'll get plenty of excuses to throw it at him.
" We are starting with a move of self-defense. The most used one is, " He draws a circle with his finger, telling me to turn around. I'm a little unsure whether to turn my back to him or not.
" Come on. We are wasting daylight," He claps his hands again urging me to move. I haven't seen daylight in almost a week. There seems to be a new motif shaping my life. Living as a moroi has its perks but God, how I miss fresh air.
" Can we go outside, if I turn around," I bargain. Graham quirks up a brow, musing on my request.
" Yes," He finally answers, and I make my move," Ah, Ah, " He tuts and I stop. That is not good. It's never good.
" Only to the grounds of the academy. Outside could mean anywhere, " He clarifies and I nod.
" I'm not going to run away," I say under my breath, but he hears me and chuckles.
" You, women are volatile. You change your mind every five seconds. And half the time can't even decide what to fucking eat. So, " He laughs when I stick my tongue out, " It better to have the ground rules covered. We'll go outside, after this training session for an hour. Now turn around," He gestures with his hand one more time, a little on the edge. He finds me difficult. He's said so, more times than I can count.
Turning my back to him, he locks his arm around my throat and pulls me flush to his chest, putting some pressure but not enough to cut my air supply.
" This is a tricky one. It's a tight lock. It restricts your movement. But being this close, is also an advantage. At this stage, you can't inflict any real damage, because you don't have it in you but later on, you will," So encouraging.
" Depending on who you are fighting with, " He pauses for a second," Size does matter, believe it or not, " My mind strays to entirely different things but I carry on listening," If your opponent is about the same size as you. Then you follow this sequence; foot, elbow, and head," He instructs and I go for it without any prior notice. I've been waiting to land a punch on him for a week. I see my chance but he will expect to be hit, so he will be prepared.
Putting everything that I have, I elbow him in the stomach but it fails to get the desired effect proving his point. We are far too close, and he barely moves when I elbow him in the stomach.
" Stick to the order, Lily," He says in mirth, " But thank you for tickling me. That was sweet. No one has ever played tickle with me," He chuckles and I'm livid.
Stomping his foot, with all the strength I can muster after running twenty-five laps, followed by an elbow in the stomach and a head butt he finally staggers a step back loosening his grip on my throat. I turn around and kick him in the stomach. I may not have a lot of upper body strength but my legs are doing just great. He falls flat on his ass and laughs.
" Good. Element of surprise. I like that, "He pushes himself up," Again. This time try a different element of surprise," I nod and we begin anew.
Each time, I add something new, usually involving one of my legs. I'm not strong enough to lift him and mop the floor with him, but that day will come. And that thought spurs me to put everything I have into making progress.
We go at it for hours.
Drained, I take a ragged breath and brace myself on my knees, " Can we take a break, " I rasp, out of breath.
" Perfection takes time and a lot of practice. When the day comes, I want you to walk out of here knowing you can take anyone and anything that comes at you," It's comforting that he cares so much for someone that he had known for so little.
I nod and stand, ready to begin anew.