SYNERGY

Playing with fire 14.

"I want to show you how to take someone down here run at me like you're going to attack."

"That shouldn't be a problem," I said smirking while I ran to pounce on him.

He put his foot between my legs, his right arm behind my neck and his left hand grabbed right leg. In one flawless swoop I was on the ground flipped onto my back. His hand wrapping lightly around my throat.

My eyes widened. "How did you do that?"

He helped me up and showed me step by step, letting me practice on him as much as I needed. It was a lot harder to lift him off the ground.

"Focus your energy on what you're doing. Unless who you're fighting has a dominate energy over you, you can use yours to take them down."

I concentrated hard this time pushing everything forward and with one solid swoop he was on his back my hand on his jugular.

"Yes!" I shouted in triumph.

"Astrid...let go." He wheezed.

"Oh! I'm sorry."

He sat up rubbing his neck laughing, "It's okay, you're stronger then you look," he teased.

"I didn't realize I could use my energy while attacking that's pretty awesome!"

"Yeah, but remember there may be enemies out there that this wouldn't have any effect on. You'll have to disarm their energy shields before attacking. You will learn more about that in Mr. Endwell's he will teach you how to see people's energy and recognize if they have powers or not. I haven't met too many people who have unlocked their powers outside of these walls. If there's anyone out there, they haven't discovered it yet it's for a good reason and you have to be cautious."

"You mean there's people out there with powers that Mr. Walston hasn't discovered?"

"Yes exactly, remember those men who kidnapped you?"

"I try not to, but yes."

"They're called slugs and they used to be people like you and me with powers. This place is a prison, he will either use you for his benefit then kill you or change you into one of them."

My face paled.

"Don't worry, he won't change you anytime soon, you're incredibly useful. You have plenty of time, okay?"

I didn't quite understand what he meant by that but something inside gave me the feeling that he meant I had plenty of time to escape.

I smoothed my face. "Yes sir," I teased saluting him. "So, what other powers do people have in here?" I had to ask while the conversation was flowing.

"There's many different types. Mainly psychic abilities, healers, seers, cloaking, telekinesis, that sort of thing. There are more powerful abilities like being able to control fire, frost, wind, water, time, and earth elements. These are called elemental abilities. Everyone here is something different, so you never know what you're going to get. If you ask me everyone is a little mental," he laughed, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. I could tell he had an adornment for this place.

"Why don't you want to leave?"

His body contracted; this was an uncomfortable subject.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No, it's okay," he took a breath before he spoke. "When I was five Mr. Walston found me on the streets of London begging. He took me in, clothed me, fed me, educated me, and taught me how to fight. He did everything for me. I also don't want to leave because I have no other place to go."

"Your parents?" I asked.

"They died in a fire," he said matter of fact.

I remembered the flash of flames I saw when he was grabbing my arms earlier, the amount of grief that was in his eyes. He lifted his shirt up and began wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Look I know you don't trust me, but I haven't told anyone this before." His tone was uncertain.

"I won't tell anyone, I promise!"

He stood up extending his hands to me. I put my hands in his letting me help me, hot heat radiating where we touched.

As we stood holding hands he considered them. I had a sudden urge to kiss him. What the hell is wrong with me? He gets all sentimental and I'm supposed to fall head over heels for him? I need to get it together before I do something stupid.

My mind scrabbled as I tried to think of an excuse to get away. "I'm going to be late meeting Violet."

He lifted my right hand and brushed his lips softly against it, "I'll see you tomorrow then." His voice was silky making me shiver.

My heart skipped a beat. Just that little interaction made me slick between my thighs. I was trying not to imagine that mouth other places. Everything about him was beautiful from the bow of his lips to the tiny speck of gray in his brown eyes.

I quickly pulled my hand out of his and released my breath. "Okay, um sounds good," I started awkwardly and backed towards the bench to feel for my gym bag.

He smiled at me, and I cursed under my breath. I wasn't supposed to feel this way anymore, especially after my last relationship.

The minute I was behind the locker room door I grimaced. What was wrong with me? I jumped into the shower and let the cool water wash over me. Shuddering I wrapped my arms around myself. Stupid, I know better than this. I know for a fact that he's doing this purposely. From now on it's just going to be strictly professional training sessions and that's it, I lied to myself.