IN ANOTHER LIFE , josie saltzman ✔️

55. Days of Absolution

„So, to clarify," I said and looked up from the ground, „Cassius has left this plane and went to the dark world. For what? Support? Why can't we just find and seal the portal while he's there?" I asked and Sophia groaned as she let her head fall back into her neck. „Because," she said and looked at me, „even if we'd find the portal and then manage to seal it forever, we could already have the wrath of the elders at our hands, like actual physical manifestation. They come here and see that people like Olivia Hale and Rose Carter have entered a slumber and see that the circle is back with that kind of power, they will not go back. We can only hope that he means to stabilize the dark world before the elders notice, okay? I know no one here wants to put their trust in Cassius but we have no other choice."
    I hated every word of this. Trusting Cassius? What the hell happened to putting him back where he came from, tossing whatever we'd use to achieve into a bottomless pit of darkness, agony and pain?
    I sighed loudly and turned away from the others, standing up from the red, velvet rug that once led to the throne of Meridial, I made my way over to the balcony and opened the door wide open.
    „We can't just march up to the elders," Sophia continued after following every of my movement with her distrustful, blue eyes of hers. „We also can't let Amaya go on with this kind of magic anymore." She said and I turned around, having previously summoned a ball of blazing light the size of a golf ball, letting it trail all over my fingers.
    I chuckled and looked at Sophia, „Yeah, so you're gonna do what? Exorcise it out of me? Make me give it up willingly?" Sophia tilted her head and her expression changed. The sternness and the anger vanished.
    The smile on my lips was gone just like that and I felt like I was punched. „The elders may have broken the link between you and Cassius, but as long as you wield ground magic, you're.." She stopped and looked away.
    I let the magic fade into nothingness and stepped forward, „What? Spit it out! You might as well, because there is no way that I'm sacrificing any more!"
    „Amaya." She said and I crossed the distance between us in a matter of a split second. The wind of my incoming speed almost knocked her over but she held herself.
    „Do what you must, but you're not making me lose any more!" I spat through gritted teeth.
    Sophia leveled herself and looked into my eyes, her own reflecting a fierce spirit.
    „I'm gonna go train with John now, hone my strengths further and work on my weaknesses." I told her and already began to move towards the door. „Unless you wanna stop me, which I wouldn't."

I ran down the halls and took a few left and right turns, walking down the steps eagerly to get away as if fire was licking at my heels, but I could only hear John's calm footsteps as he followed me into the training room. When I entered the room, the lights shone brighter than usual and the room seemed stretched father out than it was. John entered the room behind me and locked the room as he typed the protocols into the tablet at the wall next to door and I felt much more relief when the light dimmed and the drawers on the windows closed almost shut, letting as little light in as possible. I sighed and closed my eyes as I took off my jacket and the burgundy red sweater I was wearing. With a flick of my fingers, I had changed the remaining clothes to sweats that could be trained in. John had done the same behind me and put his hand on my bare shoulder as I took a deep breath. „Tell me when you're ready." He spoke, his voice low to my ear and I was thankful for it, feeling a sudden profuseness of senses. I nodded once and felt his hand slip down my arm, but I was already moving and turning away from him, grabbing hold of his arm and twisting it over and pushing it up against his back.
He groaned in pain and doubled over but I let him go as soon as I saw him summoning magic with his other hand. I pushed myself away and found myself in a corner for safety but he only turned and extended his arm, aiming the powerful magic at me. I had time to roll to the side to see that the magic bit itself into the wall and disintegrated fast.
Just when he raised his arms for another attack, I raised my own and with one swift forward motion knocked the wind out of his chest and propelled him into the air. But he held himself steady and quickly enough, I rose up into the air to meet his challenging gaze.
„Oh, come on, 'Maya. Let it out." He smirked and the both of us stepped foot back on the ground again. He held his hands up to shield his face but I knew where to hit. But he wouldn't let me hit him. He dodged me and used his fists to punch me in return.
The hit came in the side of my stomach and actually hurt. But I wasn't mad because as soon as I realized it was hurting, it was gone again.
I linked my foot under his and threw him down on the ground where he propped himself up, looking me up and down. „You're not yourself." He said and caught me off guard. „No," I bit out, „I don't feel like myself." I tilted my hand and extended my hand to him.
„Now, wanna fight about it?" I asked and he smiled again, though there was another emotion hidden in his eyes.
We continued sparring, occasionally one of us landing on our backs with something hurting for a split second.
John kept up the sparring for a while, while I found myself distracted a few times thinking about different things.
After a while, it was muscle memory that kept the training going and I was painfully thankful for it now but I already regretted it because I would be everything but thankful later, when I actually had to fight someone with my fists and legs that wouldn't let me win or slip up.
Hours later, we worked on training with anything that could be used, swords, daggers, knives, magic. But I knew or at least had the feeling that there would be a time where I couldn't rely on my magic. When I only had my wits and charm and the use of my knives and daggers and fighting skills. At the very least, we were all preparing for the time, whether or not if it ever came.
In the end, John kicked and punched and actually his target this time. Earlier in our time together, he would be too shy to hit a woman, even in a practice round.
    Now the both of us gave it our all and we continuously managed to surprise each other, which only made us fight each other harder.
    Suddenly, I didn't see him infront of me anymore and then felt the ground swiped from my feet and I fell.
    Holding myself up with my arms, I groaned and chuckled before standing back up.
    Before I could've put my arms up to punch John, there was a siren blaring in the room and we exchanged a worried look before we ran out into the hall, running into a frantic Henry and Eve.
    „What is that alarm?" I yelled, trying to raise my voice over the blaring sound.
    „Infirmary. It's the protection spell Sophia put up." Eve said and I ran, using my vampire speed to get to the infirmary.