The Demon Within

Angel Magic

Angel Magic

I concentrated on the pebble laying in front of me, trying to make it move like I had done with the rock over a week ago. It stubbornly stayed motionless.

"Concentrate," murmured Nathaniel who sat crossed legged across from me. We were sitting on the porch of the tree house, the morning sun shining bright through the canopy.

"I am concentrating," I hissed through gritted teeth, eyes fixed on the small round pebble.

After five minutes of trying to get the pebble to move, I gave up, throwing my hands into the air as a sign of defeat.

"I can't do it!"

"You can," he said, "You just aren't trying hard enough. You give up too easily."

I felt my temper flare at his words, "I do not!"

"You do. How do you expect to fight Alexander and his demons as a useless human?"

"I am NOT useless!" I yelled and the pebble shot from its spot on the ground to smack Nathaniel in the chest.

"Better!" he said with his strange twitching half-smile, "I knew you could do it."

I glared at him, "You knew making me angry would work didn't you?" He nodded and I thumped him on the chest with my hand, "Then why didn't you do that days ago when we started training!"

He raised his hands as if I were a wild animal in need of soothing, "I wasn't entirely sure."

With a groan I dropped my head into my hands. I had been training everyday for a full week after the angel poison had left my system and Nathaniel had fully healed my side without a scar to be seen. I felt as if I was getting nowhere with my magic as I couldn't even conjure water for my bath yet.

"This is taking forever," I complained, peeking through my fingers at Nathaniel who was studying me like I was an animal in the zoo.

"Well, it was never going to be easy. Your demon half will fight against the use of angel magic. Unfortunately I can't teach you demon spells," he said nonchalantly, "We can continue with your combat training if you wish."

I jumped to my feet because any excuse to hit Nathaniel was a good one. He really grated my nerves. Nathaniel stood and without a second thought, rushed me. I ducked beneath his arm, planting a firm kick to his back before he could spin around.

"Good, your getting quicker," he commented, trying to circle me. I kept facing him, not wanting to give him any windows of opportunity.

Getting bored with waiting I lashed out at him but I was instantly caught by my wrist and flung away from him, skidding across the wooden porch. I jumped back to my feet just in time to get a kick to my side and I let out a cry of pain. He sure wasn't going easy on me today. He landed another blow to my back as I doubled over, clutching my side. I fell face first to the floor and managed to escape his next blow with a well timed roll. I jack-knifed to my feet, a trick Nathaniel had shown me on our first day of training. I feinted to his left then roundhouse kicked his right side, catching him of guard. He stumbled back and I followed my kick with a right hook to his head. He toppled over, stunned and I planted my booted foot on his chest.

Nathaniel looked up at me, surprise written all over his face, "You put me down."

I smirked, "Not so useless now am I?"

He grabbed my ankle and counteracted my balance, causing me to fall backwards. Before I could move he had me pinned with his knee on my stomach and his arm on my throat.

"Don't get overconfident," he said with a smug look on his face, "It always goes wrong."

I sighed and nodded, knowing he had me. He released me and pulled me to my feet.