"Eye contact: how souls catch fire"
~Yahia Lababidi
Annabeth's POV
"Come on Anna, prove me wrong.", Felix taunted, gazing at my heaving chest. We have been training for two hours straight since the bleak dawn of 5:00 a.m. Felix being third in command, is assigned to be my trainer. He made me do warm-ups and running before heading straight to combat lessons, saying I needed to build my endurance if I wanted to survive in their world.
I gritted my teeth, planning my next move carefully. He seems to undermine my capabilities, and I'm determined to show him my strength.
Just when he advanced again, I smoothly dodged his attack and went behind as I pulled him down. Not giving him any time to recoil, I straddled his form. The three-month Krav Maga classes I took during my graduation, finally come to use now.
"How about this?", I sneered as I threw a punch straight to his jaw. He might be huge and strong but I am flexible and fast.
"Fuck!", he groaned holding his chin. I got up and stepped back, failing miserably as I tried to control my laugh.
"Oops. Did I hurt the big boy?", I smiled. He pulled me down to him as I extended my right hand for him to get up which caused me to yelp.
"Sit down", he pressed down on my legs when I tried to stand up.
"Ugh. Aren't we done for today? I'm drained up!", I breathed.
"Here", he passed me a bottle of water and I drank them as my life depended on it. He was looking at me, lost in his thoughts, so I asked, "What?"
"I didn't underestimate you earlier Anna. I can tell you got some fight in you just by looking at your stance and....", he paused.
"And?", I smirked.
"And I had to see the extent of your skill", he smiled genuinely.
"Oh. Or maybe you truly got defeated by a- um what did you say that night? Ah yes, a civilian.", I arched a brow.
"Whatever", he stood up along with me, dusting off the non-existent dust from his tracks. A large area, surrounded by the tall coast redwoods can be seen through the huge pane in front of us.
"Don't worry, you can smile. I won't tell that boss of yours.", I teased as he is trying to hide his smile, turning to the other side. Just then, we heard a sound of someone clearing their throat behind us. Well, speak of the man and he shall appear.
Mariano stood tall, no longer wearing that suit which I started to believe he's born with. Now he is wearing grey t-shirt and pants, similar to Felix. He stared at me for a few seconds and I at him.
"Mariano", Felix voiced his name with hesitation.
"How's she?", he questioned regarding my fighting skills, still not wavering his gaze from me.
"She slagged in the beginning and is poor in defence. But I believe she can be polished well as she's already aware of few basics, maybe from those classes she took.", I looked at him at the mention of classes, he just winked at me. It isn't a surprise that they've done a background check on me, but this information is so trivial that it made me wonder what else these people are aware about me.
"The thing is, at last, she managed to throw a punch.", he beamed pointing at his bruised jaw. Mariano nodded his head slowly, looking at him and I felt like a kid getting praised for their good grades.
"All right. You're dismissed.", he turned to look at Felix.
"Aye captain!", Felix mock saluted and uttered a "see you" to me before leaving me alone with this man.
YOU ARE READING
The Devil's Trumpet
Adventure"All of this, it's unnecessary. My testimony against you won't pose any danger, and even if it did, you could handle it, couldn't you?", I briefed out the obvious. "No. Not if the danger is posed by you, Anna", he murmured huskily close to my ear. I...
