The Queen of Hell

Chapter 21

*

Joseph gave me 2 weeks before I started teaching the Juniors. I was instructed to get back my stamina, strength, speed and everything else I lost in the 13 days.

I trained with Nathan most of the time. It was really nice not just because I was working with him but because he understood I wasn't up to my usual standard without putting me down or staring at me with sympathy. He still treated me like an equal which I was extremely grateful for.

***

It was a slow and gruelling process. I pushed myself more than Nathan thought I should but I had to get back. There was no way I was going to embarrass myself in front of the Juniors.

We trained every day of the week, and as Uriah and I slowly became friends he helped too. The training was constant, we breaked only for meals or if I pushed myself too far and passed out.

After a week and a half I had made decent progress. My speed was at the same as Nathan's which isn't quite the same but getting there, albeit slower than I'd like. Strength, I was slowly getting back. My body was slowly, slowly rejuvenating and with it my strength was returning.

My stamina was a whole other story though. The saying 'Use it or you'll lose it' is unfortunately very true. 2 weeks in capture meant I lost so much but 2 weeks to build it back - losing it was so much easier and quicker.

Nathan and I were sparring and I saw Joseph enter his balcony out of the corner of my eye. He came 2 minutes into our fight; we weren't properly fighting, just testing my endurance and stamina.

I started getting tired and sloppy at 9 minutes so I flipped Nathan onto the floor to finish the fight. 9 minutes was nowhere near what I wanted but it was better than the 5 I had gotten a week and a half ago.

But I usually got 15 minutes before getting tired so there was still a long way to go. And I only had a few days before I started teaching the Juniors.

I had some water before sitting on a bench, my head in my hands. I sensed more than saw Nathan sit next to me. "Getting better. We'll get there, don't worry Ray" Ever the optimistic.

"We only have a few days left, Nathan. I'm just going to embarrass myself"

"Hey, I said we'd get there. It might take a little bit longer than you want but we have to work with what we've got. Don't forget that less than 2 weeks ago you were basically a cripple. Give yourself a chance" I crossed my arms with a huff to hide the small butterflies in my stomach.

***

The next few days were spent the same as the rest but we focused a bit more on my stamina.

The day before I had to start with the Juniors I had my own class and we sparred there and I reached 11 minutes. Not what I wanted but better than it was.

I went back to my room afterwards quite sore and dreading waking up to teach the Juniors.

***

I woke up and after the grogginess left my head I groaned realising that it was Monday. I reluctantly got up and put my training suit on, tiredly sliding multiple daggers into place. The class started at 1 so I had some time to kill before then. I grabbed some food before going to find Nathan.

He was in the first place I looked; the training room with Uriah.

I dragged him out, apologising to Uriah as I did and forced him to go into town with me. I took him to the weapons shop and told him to close his eyes which he reluctantly agreed to after making me swear not to murder him.