The Iron Dagger (The Vampire Series Book 2)

Chapter 8 - Just Friends

Kit cracked his neck and stretched, bouncing on his feet, waiting downstairs for everyone else to come down to the basement. He'd woken Matt up early and taken him back to his truck journals and coonskin cap in hand so the human could get back to Boulder and he could return to the hideout before anyone began to fuss. Once he was alone again, he was right back to desperately seeking a way to settle the anxious buzz underneath his skin. Nothing else was working, so instead he was working out, doing sprints across the small space and pull ups on the ceiling with a weighted backpack. He had far too many thoughts and not enough space for them, but he didn't want to keep pushing them down so he was trying to work them off. He'd been going at it for hours non-stop, until even his always- cool body felt warm. He was doing one handed pull ups, the other holding a bench press bar, when the others finally began to trickle in. He ignored them, focusing on his reps.

"Guess someone wanted an early start. Don't exhaust yourself," Stefan warned. "And don't tear your back open again," Kit just waved him off. He glanced down and quickly looked away. Persephone looked really good in their training outfit, hair in two braids, and they were wearing grey sweatpants and a blue zip up hoodie, both made out of athletic material.

"Okay Kit, we get it. Your muscles have muscles, can you please come down?" Victoire asked with an annoyed voice. Kit dropped to the ground, putting the barbell back and using the bottom of his shirt to wipe away the small beads of sweat that had formed on his brow as he walked over to the group. Persephone blushed a bit when they smiled at him before walking over next to Daniella. He smiled back, giving them a small wave and trying to ignore the jealousy that reared up when Daniella touched their shoulder.

"Witch hunters," Persephone addressed the coven. "They were fucking insane. I knew they were immune to magic thanks to Daniella but I wasn't prepared for how immune they were. The only things I could affect were the things around them, like burning their weapons, or I was able to push them back with a forceful wind. But anything that attacks the person directly is 100% ineffective and the only thing you'll do is waste your energy," The coven exchanged worried looks with each other. "Daniella was wonderful enough to call a witch she knew to come down and train with us. This person has been against hunters before and knows how best to fight them. In the meantime, I want you all to continue with your hand-to-hand combat."

"You'll be continuing it as well, Persephone. We all need to brush up on our skills. Partner up, experienced fighters with unskilled ones," she said. Kit wanted to go up to Persephone, but was trying to play it cool. Luckily for him, they almost immediately approached.

"Can we train together again?" Persephone asked, rocking on their feet. "I can ask someone else if you're not feeling up to it. Someone else can kick my ass," they snorted. Kit smiled a bit, heart melting, before striking a small pose, putting on his best Western drawl.

"Saddle up, pardner," they chuckled with him. He grinned, gesturing for them to follow him to a training mat that he'd laid down earlier. Persephone had their favorite daggers on them and pulled out both.

"I need to know how to fight double handed in case I get caught by witch hunters. If I have a free hand I'm going to try to cast," they said. Kit nodded.

"Perfect, I need to learn how to get past someone's guard. Ercole was right, I am not fighting to my full capacity. Come at me whenever your ready," Persephone nodded and lunged. It was a hard fight and they were learning fast, Kit only occasionally taking a dagger from them. He was ashamed that within minutes he was flat on his back, a hunters next victim, but he was also so unbelievably proud of Persephone was able to fight the way they could, grinning up at them.

"Again," they said with a grin, and Kit hopped to his feet, charging forward. They were pretty evenly matched, something Kit was still thrown by considering he was the one with decades of combat training. Part of him knew he was still holding back, careful not to hurt Persephone in the fight. Persephone's reflexes and speed were heightened after the ritual, but not their durability, and there were a few times he could've crushed their ribs or broken their wrist if he wasn't careful. Kit knew he'd been beaten when for the fourth time that day he ended up with Persephone on top of him, dagger to his throat. Kit swallowed heavily, and Persephone's eyes widened before they tried to play it off. He'd gotten a bit too excited, and the evidence of it was pressed against their leg.