Captive: Hopeless

Chapter 15 - Perseverance

Kay connected with the blue practice mat for what seemed like the fiftieth time and remained still, taking a breath and allowing her body to sort through her aches while her mind absorbed the lesson she had learned.

Although nothing like what Azera inflicted, this pain angered her, leading to rashness and resulting in futility. Forcing herself upright, she popped easily to her feet as she saw the other fighters do earlier.

Fatigue tugged at her, she had not fed since her arrival, and the weakness from her ordeal at Azera's hands still plagued her.

Talia was not torturing or trying to humiliate her, using the same training method she applied to all her students. She always began with an explanation, followed by an illustration, and then the expectation that Kay should copy what she taught so she could apply the technique.

Even though easy at first, as she progressed, Talia increased the scope of what she taught, and applying her new knowledge took a shift in mindset that didn't come naturally.

"You must fight back, Kay, and stop being a victim that accepts what her abuser does. I promise there will be no punishment if you apply what you learn, and you are months away from being able to hurt me. Pretend I'm one of those who hurt you and make me pay," the vampire challenged, and a frown creased Kay's brow.

Was that it? Was she so used to being a victim and accepting her punishment that she didn't know how to be anything else? Had her captors done their work so well? That anger stirred again, but the fear did too. Azera had ingrained it into her soul and made it part of her, yet this response only amplified her irritation.

Talia casually slapped her face like her mistress had done so often, and her resentment boiled to the surface.

The vampire smirked when she noticed her response, but Kay did not rush forward as she did so many times in the last hour.

"Mold that emotion into a weapon and let it flow through your body, but don't let it fill your mind. Use it as a tool, but don't let it own you. Fight with your heart, but attack with your brain," Talia coached, and Kay responded, letting go of her stranglehold over the fire burning in her chest.

Without losing focus, she reshaped that hatred and anguish into a sense of purpose, pushing the rest of the world out of her head and instinctively narrowing her existence to the two of them.

Kay almost landed a blow, and although she did not know much, she applied it well.

Why did it seem like her body recognized the feel and nature of combat? Her heart rate settled, her mind cleared, and she was comfortable in her new role, still hitting the mat with frustrating consistency yet learning from each defeat.

"Enough," Talia ended the session, and they were both panting.

"Feed her," Talia suggested, and Cat nodded.

"You have earned your spot and may return in the morning. Lauren and Charles will teach you basic fighting skills with the toddlers, and you will exercise with the guards after lunch every day. Every third day, I will assess what you have learned.

"Only the master's wishes and needs supersede what you do here. Never arrive late. Keep up or groom your nails in your room all day. Do you understand?" Talia demanded, and Kay swallowed dryly, nodding. Had she earned the vampire's respect?

"Now go. I have things to do. Cat, a moment, please."

Cat nodded at Kay.

"Go wait outside, and I'll be with you in a second," Cat said, her expression less bored and disinterested.

The two women's eyes rested on her as she left, and they did not speak until the doors closed behind her. Even though she was uncomfortable with being discussed, she had not expected the vampires to absorb her into this world as if she belonged.

This was the first time she didn't feel like a prisoner, even though she was still technically one. There was no option to leave this place and seek out a life of her own, but within these walls, she could seemingly come and go as she pleased.

No guards led her from room to room or locked her in when her presence was not required. No one curbed her movements around the house or told her what to do with every waking moment. They did not leave her in the dungeon's darkness and treated her like a person.

These were all things she never thought to experience again, and now they were willing to teach her something she showed interest in, despite their obvious opinion that it might make her dangerous to have around.

Did they have any idea how much they had changed her life in a few short days? There were still moments she thought this was a trick, but another part of her clung to it, fearing it would be ripped away at any moment.

And, despite her future as a concubine, they didn't treat her as if she were below their dignity. A frown settled on her brow as she took stock of the last few days, and she couldn't help feeling grateful. This was a better future than she dared to even dream she could have. Thane may have forced her presence upon them, but he did her a favor.

These vampires did not need to doubt her loyalty. Marcus gave her a new life by bringing her here and even by marking her, and she owed him a debt of gratitude words could not express.

***

"So, what do you think?" Cat asked, and Talia frowned.

"One day soon, she will be a dangerous enemy to have. If Marcus had not marked her, thus securing her loyalty to him, I would have deemed her too dangerous to train," Talia said as if testing the weight of her words.

"Has one session convinced you of that?" Cat almost scoffed, and Talia's glance assessed her half-sister.

"And you doubt it after what you just witnessed?" she challenged, and her sister froze. "Kay's a natural, but that is not what makes her dangerous. Ferocity and control sit comfortably side by side with an incredible intelligence. Right now, the only things standing in her way are her human upbringing and the damage done by years of torture.

"Getting that out of her head or convincing her to use it to her advantage will be the challenge," she said firmly, and their gazes strayed to the door.

"Azera tamed her, but she did not manage to break her," Cat murmured, and Talia shrugged.

"Kay is a dog beaten too many times and will be unpredictable. We do not need her to fold or go berserk but to be stable and trustworthy," she said, and Cat nodded.

"Either way, this will keep her occupied. Out from under your feet, in a controlled environment, and under scrutiny." She dried off her arms, and Cat grimaced.

"Alas, you know me too well," Cat said quietly, and Talia glanced at her.

"Marcus has been your lifelong friend. You love him like a brother, and maybe, somewhere inside, you want more, but he has a mistress and soon-to-be wife.

"It's only natural to be a little territorial, but men like him have their fates decided by other rules than the ones we live by," her words brought Cat's world to a standstill, and neither noticed the door settling back into place from the half an inch it had been ajar.

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