Beloved

Chapter 15

I rolled my shoulders as I made my way towards the Arena, looking forward to a release from all of the tension that has built up around me lately. I stopped outside the doors as I saw Spencer walking towards my spot; I let a smile grace my lips as she approached. I had never really had friends when I was a child, I wasn't allowed, my mother said that I was a danger, I guess now I know why. Spencer's voice brought me back to reality as she spoke, asking me if I was ready. My previous smile returning to my face, "Ha, the question is are you?" I replied giving her a daring grin as she opened the doors, banishing any thoughts of my mother from my mind.

I made my way to one of the benches on the outside of the arena. Taking off my jacket, I observed the way the vampires fought and trained. I stretched my legs in my quarter length tights, the fabric fitting me like a second skin as I tied my hair back into a tight ponytail. Hearing a snort beside me I turned to see Spencer biting back a laugh, "what?" I queried, looking around for the source of her amusement.

"Don't look now" she started in a hushed tone, "but you have quite a few greedy eyes on your right now". I bit the inside of my cheek standing straighter than before, not liking my new found attention. I turned to face the hoard, mostly males stood in place, their eyes glued to me. I coughed quietly snapping the men out of their stupors and back to their chosen exercises, some of the men being reprimanded by their partners as they did. I shook my head, Men; they are all the same a mocking thought creeping into my mind.

"Alright, that's enough" I heard Spencer say from behind me scoffing at the men and then turning back to me. "There's something different about you Lex, these vampires don't stop for just anybody around here" she stated giving me a wirily grin, I let out an embarrassed grunt beginning to laugh over the comment paying no attention to the rapidly growing group around us. Caught up in the moment I did not notice the man that had come to stand behind me, Spencer stopped laughing abruptly and looked up losing her previous smile. I froze in my spot watching a menacing shadow rise behind me. I slowly turned in my spot being careful not let even the slightest noise leave my lips.

"You must be Alexandria," he stated in a gruff voice, looking me up and down examining my stance. "You have arrived late in the training program, just because Finnick has granted you access to my program does not mean you will receive any special treatment" He rose his fingers in quotation marks as he said the last two words. He walked away from me briskly beginning to explain the days training regime. I cracked my knuckles and stretched my arms while he continued. Lexi Turner does not need special treatment I sneered in my thoughts.

"This morning we are sparring" I heard the trainer's voice say from the back of the group. "Pair up" he yelled as the group began to pick partners. I looked around trying to find Spence in the sea of vampires, only to find her with another girl. She gave me a sympathetic look; I waved her off with a small smile. I can handle myself just fine against a few boys. I've been needing punching bag to let out all of this pent up anger lately. The trainer walked up to me folding his arms in front of his chest, "looks like it's you and me today newbie, try and keep up" he teased walking away to check on the rest of the group.

After all of the pairs had taken their turn in the ring, it was my turn to face off with our trainer, Anton as I had come to know as the students had called him. I stepped into the ring shaking my tense muscles. He walked in opposite me, his stance relaxed and eyes focused on my movements, obviously not considering me any threat. Big mistake my friend. I let a smirk slide across my face as I stared him down deciding to play the innocent card.

He ran towards me going for a full body tackle; jumping to the side in a quick movement, I dodged his advancements. He was quick on his feet as he turned around and regained composure turning quickly to face me again. Oh, you want to play hardball? I'll give you hardball I thought deviously in as he sized me up once again, now paying closer attention to my movements.

I took a running start feeling the rest of the world fall away from me, I moved with lethal grace, punching him in the throat quickly before moving behind him. I could tell he was getting increasingly frustrated as the spar continued.

He spun around to face me again, anger clouding his features, come at me b*tch I thought to myself as he lunged towards me delivering a quick punch to my side, sending me backwards a little. I gasped as I moved, not expecting him to be so rough. I looked up at him again brushing hair away from my face that had stubbornly come down.

I crouched down close to the floor of the arena, my eyes holding a silent challenge. He grunted again obviously annoyed at my composure. I watched as he stood up taller rolling his shoulders before cracking his knuckles and then neck, trying to intimidate me. I sighed rolling my eyes before cracking, enough stalling. I lunged toward him, delivering a quick punch to his ribs, as he doubled over awkwardly not expecting my attack I slapped my hands over his ears stunning him momentarily. I took my opportunity to finish him, jumping in the air while extending my leg I delivered a round house kick to his left ear sending him backwards, he stumbled and collapsed on the other side of the ring with a frustrated grunt. You call yourself a trainer? Do me a favour and take care of yourself in the real world and see how you go.

I ran my hands over my tights wiping the sweat off, breathing heavily I looked around to the crowd that had gathered to watch our fight. As I scanned their faces looking for Spencer shocked expressions stared back at me, some brandishing smirks, others with looks of fear and some standing dumbfounded in their spots not quite registering what had just happened.

I let out a small laugh walking away from the ring. Thinking I was finished with the fight, I let my guard down bad decision. I felt a rough pain in my side as I was tossed to the ground. I let out a small groan not expecting his advancements, before an evil smirk could grace his features he was tackled off of me, an enraged Knox on top, beating his fists into him as if he was a piece of meat.

Crap. I ran over to Knox and the now unconscious Anton. Running to the two men as Knox stood up I punched his frame, he leaned back slightly looking at where i had hit him and then slowly back to me. His stunned expression quickly turning dark he faced me again, sending a warning glare my way. "I think it's time I took over this lesson mia amore" he stated, a rough growl lacing his tone while throwing me a devilish smile. I could not tell if he was serious or was undermining me.

I blew out a breath, biting my lip slightly. You asked for it. I cracked sending a punch his way, but was blocked as he sent his arm up, sending mine backwards. I let out a small growl seeing a smirk flash across his features, crouching slightly ready for any other attacks I had planned.

He lunged toward me, successfully tackling us to the ground, he position we were in brought a defiant blush to my cheeks, sending my body into a small frenzy I tried to clear my clouded thoughts. I ducked under his body atop of mine and brought my legs up around his neck, swapping our positions his eyes now leaking a crimson red. He struggled a little not knowing how to shake me without hurting me. I smirked slightly watching the internal battle commence. In a second his arms were around my legs tearing me off of him and backwards between his legs. "Rule one Angel, never get distracted" he whispered lowly, I blinked a few times being thrown off by his act. I narrowed my eyes I rolled backwards putting some distance between us. He kicked himself off the ground raking his eyes over my now sweaty body, his heated stare boring into me. The room around us began to rumble as I felt the familiar tingle of power surge through my hands.

I stood up, a defiant look in my eyes "I'm not your little china doll Knox" I yelled across to him over the shaking of the arena around us, the vampires in the room had scattered to the edges of the room seeing the metal beams start to shake.

Knox let out a frustrated breath licking his lips while raising his hand to his head, he too saw my struggle as the room began to shake more violently by the second. "Leave" he boomed, all of the other vampires shuffled out of the room earning ungrateful glares. Knox let out a sigh as soon as the room had cleared staring intently at me. He lifted his hands around him, stopping the trembling of the earth around us. I let out a shaky breath feeling the electricity retract from my hands and the power radiating from his. How strong is he? I thought watching to room settle once again. The tension in the had settled to a stiff standoff between Knox and I. Now myself only feeling the ultimate danger between us.