Cinders [Completed]

Chapter 44: Aim And

I take a focusing breath. I center my attention on the target, pretending that I don't feel the two pairs of eyes on me.

The knife is heavy in my hand. It feels strange and awkward. I swing my arm back, but my grip loosens too quickly, sailing not at the target in front of me but spinning in the opposite direction.

I gasp in horror, turning to Beta Cooper just in time to watch the knife spiral towards him.

Cooper catches the knife handle-first before it can sink into his shoulder. "Now," he says, unconcerned, "we're not going for kill hits right this moment, Princess."

The blood rushes from my face.

I've been doing this for days, and I've almost gotten worse. At least I'm not spraining my ankle just by walking, but I've almost killed Cooper at least six times so far.

"I am so sorry," I say weakly. He holds the knife out to me, and it takes a moment before I can take it from him. I hold it like it's an infectious disease.

"Let's try it again," Cooper proposes with a dazzling smile.

I tighten my grip on the knife reluctantly.

"Are you sure I should?"

"Don't worry, I'll use Orion as a shield."

I laugh semi-hysterically.

Orion's standing, passive, only a few feet farther back. Every day, I give Orion the option of not coming to my practice with Cooper. Every day, he asks if he can come.

"You're improving so much," he had said this morning, "how can I miss out on that?"

I wince just thinking about it.

Orion casts a glare in Cooper's direction. Then his eyes fall on me, softening.

"You can do this, Lee. Just start slow."

Start slow. I can do that. I get into the position I've practiced for so many hours. I try to envision my stance from an outside perspective. Arm higher, left leg further back.

At least this time, I don't come near stabbing anyone. Or come near anything, really. The knife falls about three feet short of the target.

"Goddess, Princess, what're you gonna do when facing the big baddies? Charm them to death?"

Orion bristles.

"That's not going to happen," he says.

"It might."

Orion's jaw ticks. "It won't."

"Okay," I interrupt, tired, "maybe that's enough practice for today."

Cooper sighs. As he packs up the knives, I help him. Orion is marking something on his phone. As I grab the last knife, I speak quietly to Cooper.

"He's too soft on me," I say.

Cooper nods like this is a given.

"I'm doing really poorly."

He winces sympathetically, "You're the worst shot I've ever seen."

"Is there any point?"

"I think it makes Orion feel better."

I sigh.

I stand next to Orion, waving at Cooper half-heartedly as he goes.

We've been practicing in a more private area. Our guards aren't far away. The range - including the entirely unmarked dummy that's been my goal for the past few days - quiets slightly as Cooper's footsteps fade.