The Not So Lonely Lone Wanderer Book 1

Chapter 10 - Paranoia

Something in the atrium was blooming. The rich sweetness ran in intervals in time with the fans, the cloying scent in short bursts almost unpleasant as Arianna, Hunter and Chris went thru a series of nerve slides, Ari in the lead, the other two doing their best to imitate her lithe flexibility. Without her father there, two of the three had been subtly playing, a touch here, smothered snicker there while Hunter just sighed in disgust and chastised occasionally.

James' arrival killed that vibe quickly and the three were all business as they started to roll through both left and right forms. Speed and accuracy was a thousand times better than when the men had started, something their lead instructor noticed with a small nod of approval. "You both have come a long way since the beginning. I'm impressed Arianna."

He gave all three a weather eye then pulled his daughter back out of harm's way. "You two, best of three." Hunter and Chris moved into position and began to spar. Well matched, neither did much damage but there was a drive to come out on top, a push to win that made the struggle impressive. Hunter got the first knockdown, but Chris dominated the rest, doing a victory fist pump that made his partner snort in laughter.

"Don't celebrate too much. Winner gets her..." Hunter jerked a thumb at the slender female now sitting on one of the planter walls, kicking her feet with a grin on her face at his choice of words.

Chris gave Hunter a withering stare. "Really?" The sotto voice comment was below where James could hear but both understood why the petite girl was on the verge of giggles.

Shaking his head, James approached and gave both males tips on how to avoid the mistakes he'd seen then asked Arianna for her input, which was basically the same. That done, he waved her into the area they'd claimed for practice. "You against both of them." All three turned and stared in surprise. This was a first for sparring, uneven odds and something none had done up till now, even the nubile daughter but she moved into position with a shrug.

It started slow, almost lighthearted as the three danced and parried, speed coming with comfort but it still looked more like a frolic and less like a fight. James started in from the sidelines like a coach, shouting either encouragement or pushing the men into a more aggressive stance. "Dammit, just hit her."

Hunter took it to heart and got bolder, blows beginning to make a difference in her defence. Chris though, he still went in for a clinch, feelings perhaps making him unwilling to cause much damage. Arianna for the moment was holding her own against them, challenge a touch less than going up against the man watching. Growling, James stepped into the fray with an odd look in his eyes.

Ari caught her father in the peripheral and turned to block a blow but missed the kick, sending her back on her ass with a stunned glance before flipping to her feet. Jaw set with determination, brown eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to ready for the next flurry. Both men had stepped back, just as confused and slightly alarmed.

"No, you're thinking too much. React and allow instinct to guide you." Slate blue eyes pinned both men in turn. "You two, quit messing around and take her down." With that, the assault began. She was having to move fast to keep up, trying to dodge a trio of timed blows instead of two and Arianna struggled till limbs found a rhythm.

James knew the moment his daughter slipped into the zone, her control still there but the males began to struggle to keep her from connecting. Repulse monkey , Chris' sidearm attack pushed back till he staggered, using his lack of balance to send him careening into her father. Hunter came from behind, locking her arms up but Arianna just smashed her skull back in reverse, the only thing stopping her noggin from hitting his nose was the quick jerk back of his own head. Chris staggered up for a frontal attack and legs came up to chest height, every bit of strength in the thrust that bounced her almost lover into the padded wal, sending him down to one knee. A twist of her body, forearms snapping the painful embrace with a grunt. She collapsed with a roll, grabbing Hunter's wrists while placing her foot in his crotch to send him sailing overhead, narrowly missing his buddy in the process. Arianna then rounded on her father, the two exchanging punch and parry in a blur as sheer tenacity pushed her onward till James landed a blow to the ribcage, sending her down but not before she foot swept him onto his back and moved in for needle at sea bottom.