Unrequited

Chapter Eleven: Illusion Of Trust

Song: Illusion - Zedd ft. Echosmith

"You got rid of the mark?" Noah asked me incredulously.

I had met him at his house, seeing as us two being out anywhere together would be a magnet for the creatures of the night. I had already shared with him how I had moved in with my siblings and then been kidnapped by Josh and taken back to an apartment I owned. I even told him I had been taken to England, but I told him Josh was still there.

"I fought it from the start, and finally I managed to break free of his control," I said, showing off my unmarked neck as proof.

"You're even more powerful than I thought you were," he said in awe, his jaw dropping.

"I've been training," I added. "I want to join you." He grinned.

"We could always use a new recruit."

"I have one condition," I added. "No more of this guardian nonsense. You can help me improve, sure, but we are equals. Got it? Everything that happens, you tell me."

He pondered for a moment.

"Fine. I'll tell you everything. Do you need to stay at my place again?"

"I don't want Josh to find me," I lied. "My old apartment just isn't safe anymore."

"Okay. Shall we see how well you've been trained?" I nodded eagerly. I was truly interested to see how I could hold up against Noah.

He stood up, and I did the same, facing him.

Step one: analyse his height and build.

I noted that he was not much taller than me, but he had a lot of muscle, which meant that he would be focusing more on strength than speed. It also meant I had to be fast, because one or two hits from him could take me down.

Step two: keep your distance.

As I was much smaller than him, if we grew to very close quarters, it would have to be on my terms, or I would have no hope or holding him off.

Step three: find an opening.

I studied his defence, noting that it was almost impenetrable. In fact, had I not been trained by Josh - who had already beaten Noah once - I likely wouldn't have recognised his one weak point. Before I could commence step four, which was to strike, Noah struck first. I ducked a fairly sloppy punch he aimed at my head, and I finally realised how slow he was compared to Josh. As Josh had ensured I was just as fast as him, I too was faster than Noah. I flitted around behind him - to his weak point - and jabbed him in the left kidney. He spun around, pulling back only a little before continuing his onslaught. He kicked towards my hip to put me off balance, but I use my flexibility and strength training to bridge over his leg at lightning speed, flipping onto my hands in a handstand behind his leg and then back onto my feet. Noah - who had been expecting to make contact - lost his balance when he kicked through the empty air, and he stumbled. I moved in close and struck his throat with the palm of my hand, choking him for a moment. He doubled over and I kicked at his stomach, sending him to the floor. Finally, I punched him hard in the face and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Fuck, Meridian," he coughed, rubbing at his neck where I had hit him. He lifted himself into a sitting position, and I grinned in triumph.

"So how am I?" I asked, winking at him.

"Josh trained you, didn't he?" Noah asked with a grimace as he pulled himself to his feet. "You fight like him. And you're just as fast as he is now."

"Faster than you," I teased. He gave me a quick, humourless glance. "Yes, he trained me, because he wanted me to join him. But Noah, I fought it, and I won. I'm here now, with you." I took his hand. "I need you to trust me," I begged, feeling only the slightest twinge of guilt for lying to him. "You're all I have left," I added, thinking that would probably sway him.