Emilia's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor. The flickering torches on the stone walls cast elongated shadows, dancing like restless spirits. Her bodyguards, Marcus and Williams, followed casually behind her watching her every step.
Damon's words rang in her head as her leather boots made a clicking sound on the marble floor.
"You're not an official member of our family as yet" Damon said, his voice low and measured, "But you must train. Attacks can come from anywhere at anytime, we need you to be ready. " but his words we're met with a Fearful silence.
"Rafael will be your coach" he announced. "Learn from him. Survive"
She merely nodded in response, aware that there was no way she could refuse his command.
She walked down the hallway, trying to avoid the gaze of the many vampire at sight. Some glared at her, their fangs barely concealed. They resented their leader's decision to allow a human into their ranks. To them, she was an aberration—a fragile creature who didn't belong. But others smirked, their lips curling with hunger. It had been too long since they'd tasted human blood, and Emilia was a tantalizing prospect.
As they reached the training room, Emilia's two bodyguards stood besides her, preventing any mode of escape. Their cold stares fixed at the large door of the gym, their eyes holding little to no emotion.
The double doors swung open, revealing Rafael. His tank top clung to his sculpted frame, emphasizing every muscle. The black sweatpants completed the ensemble, hinting at an intense workout session. Rafael exuded an air of confidence, as if he owned the room,making Emilia reconsider the choice of not arguing to get a different coach.
His expression was cold and uninviting, sending shivers down Emilia's spine.
"I can't believe I have to train a weak human" He sighed annoyed.
He stared at her coldly before shaking his head once again in annoyance.
"Your outfit is over there. Go get dressed before we begin" he said pointing to the near end of the room, besides the weights.
Emilia dressed in the combat outfit, which consisted of a cropped hoodie, black leggings and white sneakers, and began mentally preparing herself for her first ever training.
"Have you ever trained before? " Rafael asked as soon as Emilia emerged from the changing room. And when Emilia happened to shake her head a smirk curled at his lips. "This is going to be fun"
And so, the training began. Rafael pushed her—lunges, squats, and endless repetitions. Sweat dripped down her forehead, and her legs trembled. But she refused to give in.
The sneakers she was given squeaked against the polished gym floor, and Rafael's crimson eyes bore into her like laser beams. The air smelled of sweat and determination, and the lights flickered in rhythm with her trembling legs. She agreed for strength training, but this? This was a whole new level of torture.
"Push-ups" Rafael commanded, his voice a low, demanding growl.
Emilia's arms wobbled as she lowered herself, chest grazing the floor. His gaze intensified, as if daring her to quit. She wondered if he'd ever heard of personal space.
"Again," he said, and she pushed up, palms slipping on the floor. Her biceps screamed, and she cursed the day she'd agreed to train with a vampire, more especially this vampire.
When spotting her adaption, Rafael cranked up the intensity. Lunges turned into explosive leaps, squats into acrobatic twists. Emilia's legs shook, threatening to collapse. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrored wall—a determined face framed by damp, tangled hair. Rafael's laughter echoed, chilling her to the bone.
"You wanted strength," he murmured, fangs glinting. "Now prove you're worthy of it."
"I never wanted this" she retorted back but at that Rafael released a laugh.
"But it's what you get so move on with it" he retorted back.
Before Rafael could subject Emilia to even more grueling workouts, Damon strolled into the gym. His sharp gaze caught the exhaustion etched on Emilia's face, and he observed how her legs trembled from the strain. Rafael, ever the sadistic trainer, wore a triumphant smirk, relishing the human's suffering.
"That's enough"Damon intervened, making the two both freeze in their tracks.
"Get yourself cleaned up" He said, his gaze directed at Emilia and her trembling form.
Emilia, her breaths ragged, nodded gratefully and stumbled toward the locker room. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting harsh shadows on the tiled floor. As she splashed water on her flushed face, she wondered how much more she could endure. Rafael's training pushed her limits, but she was determined to prove herself.
As she got dressed she could hear the feint conversation from the other side of the door.
"You overworked her," Damon said, his voice edged with frustration.
"That's what training is."Rafael scoffed, adjusting the straps of his gloves.
"I said train her, not try to kill her," Damon retorted. His dark eyes bore into Rafael's own challenging him."You're pushing her too hard "
"She's got potential," Damon said. " She's strong, agile. But she needs to be more than that. She needs to be unstoppable "
Rafael stepped forward, fists clenched. "And what if she breaks? " he asked. "What is she can't handle it? "
Damon's gaze flickered to the gym's bathroom, where Emilia left to change a few minutes back.
"We don't have a choice," Damon said, his voice low. "if the enemy closes in, we need her to be ready. She won't always have us besides her, ready to fight. "
"Isn't that what bodyguards are for " Rafael raised an eyebrow,Damins eyes narrowed Daring him to continue these play of Smart and dumb.
"Not the point. We need her to be ready for anything. She's only human. Without training our enemies could take her down with one blow, we need to make sure she's ready " Damon said.
Rafael's lips curved into a half-smile. "You know ," he said, "There's something exhilarating about pushing someone to their limits. Seeing what they're fully capable of "
Damon raised an eyebrow. "Exhilarating? " he repeated. "You're enjoying this? "
Rafael nodded. "Hell yes," he said. "Who wouldn't find pushing a human to their limits exhilarating " Rafael smirked making Damon face-palm.
Damon sighed, realizing that Rafael wasn't just a hard-ass. He was passionate, too. Perhaps he would be able to create a fine line between training and torture.
"Fine," Damon said. "But let's keep an eye on her. We don't want her burnung out."
Rafael clapped him on the shoulder. "Agreed, " he said. "I am not gonna be responsible for the death of a human."
Emilia decided to then walk out of the bathroom, making both Damon and Rafael turn to face her.
Damon walked up to her, then against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. "You're tougher than you think, " he said softly. "But remember, strength isn't just about physical endurance. It's also abiut resilience and knowing when to rest."
Emilia met his eyes, gratitude welling up. Maybe Damon wasn't as heartless as Rafael. Maybe there was more to this gym than pain and punishment. She dried her face with a scratchy towel, ready to face another day of sweat, sore muscles, and unexpected kindness.