Smother - Sire #1 (Thursday Updates)

Chapter 6 - Part 2

His eyes drifted to mine. When they stopped to study me I felt uncomfortable by the way his eyes slid from my head down to my feet like I was an object. I shivered slightly.

Silas stepped in the way, cutting off his view of me. "You know the rules."

Thane smiled, but there was an undercurrent of anger in his posture. "Oh come on Silas. Don't you ever bend the rules."

"No," he replied forcefully. "Leave now and I won't report you."

I frowned as I watched the two Vampires face off. Eve moved to stand beside Silas and crossed her arms.

"Get out of here Thane," she said, backing Silas up.

Thane looked over Silas' shoulder at me. I held my breath.

"Now," Silas said, his tone hard.

Thane held up his hands in surrender. "I'm going." His voice was smug and condescending.

He turned to leave but not before he gave me one last lingering look. He gave me the creeps. There was something cruel in the way he looked at me. I bet nothing Silas had done to me would be anything as bad as what this guy was capable of.

The unexpected intrusion played on my mind as Eve went back to explaining what our training would entail.

I felt Silas watching me as I tried to forget about Thane. I didn't like the guy one bit and I hoped I didn't see him again in hurry.

It was difficult enough trying to navigate the new world I was in without having to worry about Vampires like Thane. Surviving the training should be the only thing I was worried about.

Eve picked out two Sires to fight against each other. We all sat down and watched one female Sire faced a male Sire. The guy was bigger built than the girl. It was unfair. Guys were physically stronger than girls. The guy had an advantage from the start but I was quickly learning there was nothing fair about my new life. It wasn't fair that I had been randomly been bitten.

I flinched when the male Sire hit the girl. It was too disturbing to watch. I averted my eyes. Each sound vibrated through me, shaking me to my core. Every whimper, every crunch, every gasp. I put my hands over my ears unable to cope any longer with what was going on.

I felt a hand on my wrist. Silas pulled my hand from my ears. He knelt beside me. "Watch," he instructed.

I swallowed. I knew what would happen if I disobeyed him but I didn't think I could stand to watch the girl get beaten up. Slowly, I did as he instructed. The girl who was lying on the mat on her back with her arms protectively positioned in front of her face. Her face was bloodied as the male Sire loomed over her. He kicked her and I felt the snap of her bone.

"That's enough," Eve announced, finally ending it. Any relief I felt was superseded by the sympathy for the girl who was lying on the floor in agony.

A doctor arrived and examined the girl. They removed her from the room on a stretcher. My stomach turned.

Once she was gone Eve called up the buzz cut guy and another guy. They circled each other sizing each other up. This was a more even fight but there could only be one winner. They both got a few punches in but it was the buzz cut guy that came out on top when he knocked the other Sire clean off his feet with a sucker punch to his jaw.

I looked away as I heard the thud as his body landed on the mat.

There were only two Sires left who hadn't fought yet. It was me and another guy. He was bigger than me so I knew the chances was I would have my ass kicked.

When Eve called time on the fight she announced I was to fight next. I got to my feet feeling the dread and fear rise up in me. The guy I faced wasn't the enemy. It wasn't the same as the Scav I had fought before. My life wasn't on the line. The instinct and survival that had pushed me to fight back before was missing.

That was until his fist connected with my jaw and my head cracked back with a force of hitting a brick wall. My mind was scrambled by the knock and it took a few moments to clear the fog from my mind as I shook my head and kept my fists up in front. My face throbbed but the thought of getting hit again brought me back to the present situation quickly.

I was kidding myself if I had any chance on beating the Sire I was up against. Not only was he physical bigger and stronger than me but by the way he ducked and hit I knew he had some previous experience in fighting which left me at a greater disadvantage.

Silas watched as I got knocked down twice. There was no empathy from him or anyone else.

I was lying on the mat unable to get back up. My face hurt, the punch to my stomach had winded me and blood dripped from the reopened cut on my face that had taken another blow.

"That's enough," Eve announced.

I swallowed as I closed my eyes tightly wanting to wake up from the nightmare that I couldn't escape.

No one helped me to my feet. I got to my knees wincing when I felt the pain in my stomach before I slowly rose to my feet swaying slightly. I gritted my teeth not wanting to show weakness in front of people who would exploit it for their own gain.

"We're finished for today."

I wanted to cry I was so relieved, I thought as I put my hand to my side that still hurt.

"Get some rest. Tomorrow we will continue."

I wanted to do anything but this again. I even considered this worse than the whipping Silas had given me. Given the choice I would rather be whipped again.

Eve left first and one by one the Sires left. The guy who had been knocked off his feet limped after the others.

Silas remained waiting by the door. I wiped the dripping blood from my brow as I shuffled to the door with renewed determination.

When I reached the door Silas stepped in front of the exit.

"What?" I snapped at him. He blocked my path. I was sore and tired. I just wanted a few moments of peace.

His eyes narrowed as they held mine and I wished I hadn't said anything. He reached to touch my face but I flinched.

"I'll send a doctor to your room so he can check you out," he said.

I frowned. "What's the point in fixing me up when you're going to be break me again?" I let out a shaky breath.

I didn't see the point in any of this. If I wasn't able to fight what would happen then.

"We build you up stronger than before." His eyes serious and I felt hopeless.

There was only their way. Did they break us down so they could mould us into soldiers to do their bidding? Was that what this was?

"The weak won't survive in this world."

"I can't do this..." I mumbled, remembering how I had begged him to end things for me.

"You don't get to choose."

I hated him, really hated him. He pushed me so far that I was ready to snap, irrespective of the consequences.

"I won't do this," I said defiantly, knowing it would entail more punishment.

He moved closer and if it wasn't for my current state I would have stepped back to keep him at bay. "There are other ways to ensure your compliance."

What else could do they do to me other than what they already had? I couldn't think of anything worse. He moved closer, so close I could feel his breath fan against my cheek.

"Physical pain isn't our only option to ensure you do as we say." He drew back to watch me digest his warning.

I frowned as his finger touched my chin. What would they do if I refused to do what they expected? I wanted to ignore him but I needed to know.

"What does mean?" I asked, feeling apprehensive.

"We know everything there is to know about you Avery Grace. We know who is important to you. If you want to keep them safe, you will do as you are told."

My breath hitched like I had been physically punched. My parents.

He watched the horror play across my face.