Chapter Four
The morning sun broke through the thick canopy above, casting long, shifting shadows across the clearing where Gabriel and Evie stood. The remnants of the night's chill clung to the air, a reminder of the darkness that always seemed to linger in these woods. Gabriel observed Evie with a measured gaze, his stance calm yet alert.
"You're serious about this?" he asked, his tone carrying a weight that made Evie hesitate. He wasn't asking if she was ready to learn—he was asking if she was ready to fight, to defend herself against threats far darker than anything she'd faced.
Evie nodded, her eyes hardening with determination. "I have no choice, Gabriel. They want me gone, and I won't make it easy for them."
Gabriel's lips curved into a faint smile, an expression that looked almost foreign on his usually stoic face. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear." He moved to the center of the clearing and motioned for her to follow.
"Today, you'll learn to control your instincts," he began, his voice low, steady. "You've got power, Evie, more than you realize. But raw power is useless if it blinds you." He glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Let's see if you're ready to harness it."
Without warning, he lunged forward, his movements swift, barely a blur. Evie barely had time to react, instinctively dodging to the side, but Gabriel was already there, his hand gripping her shoulder, pulling her forward with surprising force. She stumbled, heart racing, her pulse pounding in her ears.
Evie tried to pull free, but Gabriel's hold was firm. She twisted, managing to break his grip, but not before he stepped back, appraising her like a teacher watching his student's first, clumsy steps.
"Faster," he said, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "You'll need to be quicker if you want to survive."
Anger flared in her chest, mingling with her frustration. She wasn't weak. She wasn't the rejected girl they'd thrown out. She was stronger than that, and she'd prove it.
This time, she charged first, catching Gabriel off guard. She feinted to the left, then pivoted right, aiming a strike at his ribs. But Gabriel sidestepped smoothly, his eyes gleaming with approval even as he countered her move with a sweep of his leg. Evie stumbled, barely catching herself before she hit the ground.
"Better," he murmured, a spark of pride in his gaze. "But not enough."
Evie growled, a sound that surprised her as much as it seemed to amuse Gabriel. She lunged again, each move more precise, more calculated, her frustration fueling her drive. Gabriel matched her every step, each counter a reminder that she still had much to learn.
But with every failed attempt, her resolve only strengthened, her strikes sharper, her steps more focused. She wasn't about to give up, not now.
The training wore on, each failed attempt and every small success shaping Evie's resolve. She was bruised, her breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps, but she refused to stop. Gabriel's gaze never wavered, his expression a mix of intensity and subtle encouragement. For a moment, she caught a glimpse of something softer in his eyes, an understanding that went beyond simple training.
"Why do you push yourself so hard?" he asked, his tone curious, almost gentle.
Evie paused, brushing a strand of hair from her face, her fingers trembling slightly. "Because I'm tired of being weak," she admitted, her voice low, raw. "I'm tired of everyone looking at me like I'm… less."
Gabriel studied her, his expression unreadable. "You think strength will change that?" She hesitated, then nodded. "It's all I have left to prove."
For a moment, he was silent, his gaze distant as though he understood that feeling all too well. "Strength is more than just power," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's knowing when to fight… and when to endure."
His words settled into her, a weight she hadn't realized she'd been carrying. She met his gaze, something unspoken passing between them, a silent understanding forged from pain and resilience.
Gabriel took a step back, signaling a break. Evie dropped to the ground, her muscles aching from the intensity of the training. She watched as Gabriel circled her, his gaze contemplative, as though he was weighing something important.
"There's something you need to see," he said finally, his tone more serious than before. "A place where your strength will truly be tested."
Evie looked up, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes. "Where?"
Gabriel nodded toward the dense thicket beyond the clearing. "The old ruins. There's a power there, one that's tied to your bloodline. It's not just about fighting—it's about understanding what you're capable of."
Her pulse quickened, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through her. She wanted to know, to understand whatever it was that made her different. She rose, brushing dirt from her hands, nodding.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Gabriel moved in silence, his presence both reassuring and enigmatic. She could feel the energy shift around her, an electric pulse in the air, thick with the weight of secrets long buried.
Finally, they reached a clearing, where ancient stones stood, worn and weathered, yet exuding an undeniable aura of strength. The air felt heavy, charged, and Evie felt a strange pull in her chest, a connection she couldn't explain.
Gabriel gestured to the stones, his expression solemn. "This is where your ancestors once gathered, where they drew their strength from the earth itself. It's in your blood, Evie, this power. But it comes with a cost."
She swallowed, her gaze locked on the ancient stones, feeling the weight of his words. "What kind of cost?"
He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "The kind that asks for a part of yourself you may never get back. Power doesn't come freely."
Evie stepped closer to the stones, reaching out a trembling hand, feeling the cool surface beneath her fingertips. An intense warmth spread through her palm, traveling up her arm, a rush of energy that left her breathless. She could feel something awakening inside her, something ancient and fierce, pulsing with a life of its own.
Gabriel watched her, his face unreadable, a shadow of concern flickering in his eyes. "Once you start down this path, there's no turning back."
Evie turned to him, her resolve unwavering, her voice steady. "I don't want to turn back."
He nodded, respect mingling with caution in his gaze. But as Evie turned back to the stones, she felt the weight of his warning settle in her chest, the knowledge that her journey was only beginning—and that what lay ahead would demand more of her than she had ever thought possible.