Tainted Blood [3]

Chapter 16

"Good morning," I kissed Archer on the lips as I pulled on my workout shorts.

"Well it is definitely good now," he pulled me on top of him, it must have looked funny since I was in shorts and a sports bra, I had also wrapped up my knuckles and put my hair in a  ponytail.

"I gotta get up, I'm training Chloe today," I kissed him before jumping up. "We can talk later," I shoved on some converse and ran downstairs.

"Morning Avabear, you want some-" Max stopped short when he saw me. "You have a tattoo?"

"What the hell ? When did you get that ?" Chloe got up from the table coming over to inspect it.

"I am covered in scars and the only thing you notice is the tattoo ?" I laughed.

"Hey Av," Vicky tossed me an apple. "You're wearing your work out clothes again, I haven't seen you like this in a while."

"What do you mean again ?" Raine asked as she poured herself coffee.

"This is what I used to wear when I trained with Stefan," I took a bite from my apple. "So Chlo, you ready to train ?"

"You know it," she got up and followed me to the basement.

"Okay, get into a fighting stance," she did as told, I looked at her before walking over to her and moving her arms closer together and kicking her feet further apart. "You need to keep your body tight, so that if someone does manage to get a hit it won't do much damage."

"Okay like this ?" She moved her body to the side slightly.

"Yeah that looks right," I got into the position opposite her. "Okay, now punch," she went to hit me but I managed to deflect it. "Again," another deflect. "Again."

"I'm trying," she tried again, another dodge.

"Try harder," I stood back. "You need to make your moves less predictable, at least use more force behind your hits anyway, let's work on a punching bag," I held onto the bag and she started to punch.

"How are you able to do this anyway ?" Chloe asked.

"The fighting ? After a few incidents Stefan decided it would be better if I was trained to fight off a few of his men," I replied, holding the bag tighter.

"Not the fighting," I gave her a curious look. "I meant this, you used to be so innocent, always smiling, you felt the most out of all of us and was never this cold," she stood back, looking at me. "How did you turn into this ?"

"You do what you need to do to survive," I  looked away an focused on the punching bag. "You do what you need to do, even if a little part of you dies each time."

"Aval-" I cut her off.

"Don't," I punched harder. "I want them dead Chlo, Stefan, Casey, even Lizze, I want them all dead, and it scares me to think of myself like that but I can't help it," I punched again. "I don't like who I am now, but I wouldn't survive if I was the old me."

"Just promise me you aren't going to get yourself killed," I stopped punching and looked her in the eye.

"I promise I won't let anyone else I care about die because of me," I turned and started to walk up the stairs.

"That isn't what I asked you!" Chloe shouted after me, causing me to pause.

"I can't promise that to you," I left before she could say more.

I sat on the tree branch, looking out into the woods, there were still dark patches on the floor where Skye and Pandora had been, and further over in the woods were the graves marked Damien, Skye and Pandora. It was peaceful up here, I didn't have people looking at my scars, I didn't have the expectations, no impending doom, just me and the woods. Of course this wouldn't last.

"Hey Avabear," I looked down to see Max leaning against the tree trunk opposite.

"Hey Maxxy," I leaned back against the tree trunk, my legs were up on the branch.

"Mind if I come up ?" I shrugged in response, he blinked to the tree branch next to me. "Thanks."

"What's up ?" I pulled my ponytail tighter.

"I could ask you the same thing, you disappeared on us," He smiled.

"Needed a break from the drama of my life," I looked back out to the woods. "Just needed to breath."

"I understand, with power crazy assholes, resurrected best friends and revenge driven leeches all out to get you we would all need a break once in a while," I laughed at his choice in words.

"Thanks for that," I sat up straighter. "How'd you find me anyway ?"

"If I was you, I'd want to be high too," He wiggled his brows at me, I laughed and shoved his shoulder, causing him to fall off the branch.

"Max!" He reappeared next to me, making my heart jump out my chest. "You idiot!" I slapped the back of his head.

"You were the one who pushed me," he smiled.

"Well you didn't have to scare me," I poked my tongue at him. "We're going to get through this right ?" I turned to look at him.

"Yeah we are," He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. "Because of you, you are going to help us get through, don't doubt it."

"Thanks Maxxy," He smiled, the glint in his eye turned into one of mischief, oh no. "Maxxy!"

"Geronimo!" He pulled us back and made us fall out the tree, making me scream and close my eyes, I felt us hid the ground as I landed on top of him. My ears were immediately met with laughter, causing me to look up and find that Max had blinked us into the living room on top of the sofa, I glared at Max and slapped his chest.

"You almost gave me another heartattack!" I got up and glared at him, only to be pulled onto Archer's lap.

"I'm sorry, but it was a lot of fun, don't you agree ?" I rolled my eyes at Max and started to talk to everyone else. Okay, I admit, it was fun, but I am not telling Max that.