The Demon's Half

Chapter 26

My lungs felt like they'd been set on fire. But I kept moving, feet crunching against the damp grass, circling the makeshift training field with my eyes locked on Jade. Just once, I wanted to win.

"Stop playing, Morgan."

She lunged. I jerked back, fists clenching near my chest.

"Always use your surroundings—to flee or as weapons."
She'd drilled that into me a thousand times.

She struck again—faster.
But this time, I was ready.
Spinning on my heel, I lunged for the thick pull-up branch overhead. My fingers caught the rough bark, and I yanked myself up. My feet slammed into her chest, sending her to the ground.
I hit the grass a second later, already bracing to press the advantage. But Jade (freak of nature that she was) was already on her feet. One second, I was standing. The next, I was tasting the dog's pee off the grass. Puto asco.

"See what happens when you isolate your strength? I've told you: power comes from your whole body, not just one part. Don't just kick with your legs, drive from the ground and use every inch of yourself."

"Get... off... me," I said still tasting pee.

"We should get ready," she said.

I groaned, trying to shift, but she had my arm in a brutal hold. Pinche pulga, I hated when she did that.

"I was winning," I choked out, pain flaring in my arm.

She snorted. "Must've missed that, sweet pie."

"Fine! I yield!"

With a triumphant grin, she let me go, rolling to her feet in one motion.

"Maldito duende," I muttered, still wheezing. "What time is it?"

"Late. Fancy squeezing in some push-ups?"

"You're trying to kill me."

"Not on your birthday. We know how much you love those."

Just when I was about to tell her exactly where she could shove her sarcasm, Alilla appeared beside us, scrunching up her nose. "Ugh, please, go take a shower. You smell like rotten milk."

The dogs came barreling toward us, their tails wagging like we'd been lost at sea for five years.

"Daisy, bonita," I said as her tongue slathered my disgustingly sweaty face.

"By the way, happy birthday." Alilla said, tossing me something. I caught it with both hands, it was a silver ankle bracelet with some weird shape on it. It was beautiful.

"Thanks," I muttered.

"I guess that's better than my cupcake." Jade whispered.

I laughed. Waking up with a cheesy song and a small birthday cupcake from her was a nice surprise. I clicked the bracelet around my ankle and went straight to my room. Daisy trotted after me, every step feeling like my legs might give out.
The second I shut my bedroom door, Daisy flopped onto the floor with a happy huff. My gaze drifted to the bed. There was a neatly wrapped package. Sleek black paper. Red bow.
I unwrapped it, revealing a painting.

Both hands went to my mouth, as the painting fell on the bed. Tears formed behind my eyes.
It wasn't just any painting.
My hands trembled as I lifted it, and suddenly, the room wasn't my room anymore. It was Mia's. Her laughter spilling between brushstrokes, paint smudges on her hands.
This was Mia's self-portrait.

The one that made her fall in love with art. The one she had sold years ago, to someone in Whisperwood. A piece of her I'd long since given up hope of ever seeing again. Tears slipped down my face, as I traced the delicate strokes, the colors...