Chapter 36
Chapter 36
A chorus of greetings echoed back, but I caught the looks that passed between some of the women. Skeptical looks. Doubtful looks.
The kind of looks that said they’d seen plenty of newcomers who thought they were tougher than they actually were.
“Athena,” Leah continued, let me introduce you to your trainer. She gestured toward Kiara, the human who had just successfully kicked
the her opponents ass.
I noticed she had a scar, thin white lines across her knuckles, a longer one along her jaw that suggested the d learned her skills the hard
way.
“She’s been training women to defend themselves for over ten years. If anyone can help you find your strength, it’s her.” My jaw dropped,
ten years.
Then when did she start training, for her to be a trainer for ten years now.
“Kiara” Leah called the lady’s attention. “Can you come over here quickly.” She took little steps towards us, that you would never had
believed she was the one that kicked her opponents ass a while ago.
When she got to where I and Leah were standing, she looked me up and down with calculating eyes. You ever been in a real fight?” she
asked bluntly.
Images flashed through my mind, Daxon’s fists, the taste of blood, the feeling of helplessness as he held me down. “Yes,” I said quietly.
“But I lost p>
Something shifted in her expression. Not pity, I would have hated pity. But understanding. Recognition.
“Good,” she said. “Then you know what it feels like to be powerless. Now let’s teach you what it feels like to be dangerous p>
I wanted to start immediately, but she held up a hand. “First, you watch. You need to understand what you’re getting yourself into p>
She led me to a bench along the wall where I could observe the other women training. What I saw over the next hour changed everything
I thought I knew about human capability.
A redhead named Sophie was working with weighted ropes, creating undulating waves that required incredible core strength and
coordination.
The muscles in her arms and shoulders stood out like carved stone as she maintained the rhythm without faltering.
Two women were sparring with what looked like padded sticks, moving in a dance of attack and defense that was beautiful and brutal at
the same time.
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Each strike was blocked or deflected, each counter–attack met with another defense. They moved like they could read each other’s minds.
“That’s Filipino stick fighting, Kiara explained, noticing my fascination. “Useful for understanding distance and timing. Plus, most
attackers don’t expect a woman to know how to use everyday objects as weapons p>
In another comer, a woman was practicing with throwing knives, hitting small targets painted on a wooden board with disturbing
accuracy,
The knives weren’t large or flashy, they looked like the kind of small, sharp tools you might carry in a purse or pocket.
“The goal isn’t to become an assassin,” Kiara said, reading my expression. “It’s to understand that anything can be a weapon if you know
how to use it properly. A pen, a set of keys, a high–heeled shoe, they’re all potentially lethal in the right hands p>
But what impressed me most was the atmosphere. These women weren’t trying to impress each other or prove anything. They were focused, serious, pushing themselves to their limits because they understood that their lives might one day depend on these skills.
“Why do you all train like this?” I asked Kiara during a break in the activity.
Her smile was grim. “Because we’ve all learned the hard way that no one else is coming to save us. Police response time, best case scenario, is what – five minutes? A lot can happen in five minutes. So we decided to save ourselves p>
“But you’re all women,” I said, still struggling to reconcile what I was seeing with what I thought I knew about women limitations, that was why Dazon was able to hit me countless times because I felt I couldn’t stand up to him. Too scared to even try.
“Being a lady doesn’t mean you’re weak,” Kiara replied firmly. “It just means we have to be smarter, faster, more precise than our opponents. We don’t have the luxury of overwhelming strength, so we develop overwhelming skill p>
After an hour of observation, Kiara finally stood. “Ready for your assessment p>
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I was ready for anything.
“Leah tells me you want her to train you personally,” Kiara continued. “That’s not how things work here. Leah doesn’t train beginners p>
I felt heat rise in my cheeks. I’m not exactly a beginner at p>
“At getting beat up?” Kiara interrupted. “That doesn’t make you a fighter. That makes you a victim. There’s a difference p>
The words stung, but I forced myself to meet her gaze. “Then teach me to be a fighter p>
She studied me for a long moment. “Leah said if you can take down Mirah, she’ll consider training you personally. You still want to try p>
I looked around the room until I spotted Leah near the weight stations. Even from across the room, I could see her watching me with
interest.
18:36 Fri, Jan 2 d.
Chapter 36
“Deal, I called out to her.
46
She paused in her conversation with another woman and turned back to me with a laugh that suggested I’d just told the world’s funniest joke.
“If you can take down Mirah, then I’ll think about it,” she called back.
“Deal?” I asked again, louder this time.
She nodded, grinning like she was already planning my funeral, and disappeared into the crowd of training women.
Kiara was shaking her head. “You have no idea what you just agreed to, do you p>
“Probably not,” I admitted. “But I’m tired of being underestimated. By everyone p>
For the first time since we’d met, Kiara smiled really smiled. Her face lite up so brightly that I had to pause and stare at her, she looked so beautiful. “Good. That anger? Hold onto it. You’re going to need it p>
As she led me toward the mat area where apparently my fate would be decided, I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart skip.
Through a small, high window that probably looked out onto the alley behind the restaurant, I could see the distinctive headlight of a
motorcycle.
Tristan was still out there, still watching over me even when I’d specifically told him I didn’t need protection.
But tonight wasn’t about what I needed from others. Tonight was about discovering what I could give to myself.
Tonight, I was going to learn if I had what it took to be more than just a survivor.
Tonight, I was going to find out if I could become a fighter.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.