Serena

Chapter 2 Watching Swordsman

January 15th 1737

Serena

I awoke to three French women screaming at us to get up at the crack of dawn. My sheets were torn from me and I pushed my knotted bed hair out my face. I ducked to avoid a whipping and hurried to lace up my boots and pull on my skirt. A brush was passed around and I pulled my hair back as tight as I could manage.

"Hey, are you alright?" Alexandra sat down on the bed opposite me.

I didn't reply as I smoothed back my hair.

"I tried to help you."

I met her luminescent blue eyes. "Trying isn't doing." I stood, kind of surprised by the ice lacing my tone. I guess I didn't like it when people failed me.

I joined a single filed line to receive porridge for breakfast and blood that was definitely not human. I personally found animal blood vile. It was cheap and disease ridden compared to human blood. Depending on the human.

I sat down at an empty table; I was not a sociable person. I grimaced as I tried to stop the horrible meal from coming back up. I looked up and froze as the man I had met last night entered the room. He wore a green jacket with gold buttons and an expression handsome and imposing. Looking around the room it was clear that he was the only man in this entire establishment. Judging by the stares from the girls and instructors, it couldn't have been too horrible for him. He met my gaze and his expression hardened.

I looked back down at my poor excuse for a meal and sighed.

After breakfast we traded our skirts for trousers, trousers of all things. I couldn't help but stare at my legs. I looked absurd. I didn't even notice whom our instructor for the day was when I stepped outside.

"Good Morning girls, my name is Xavier Bloodstone, and I will be your fitness and weapons instructor."

At first I didn't recognise his voice speaking French as I wiggled my visible legs. It dawned on me a second before I raised my head.

"I will be teaching you how to become a master at all weapons." He lifted a sword and twirled it in his hand expertly.

For a moment everyone was too busy drooling to be terrified.

"It is necessary for your survival." His warm blue eyes fell on me and I squirmed. I wasn't expecting special treatment for the girl caught out of bed.

"Pick a partner."

I looked around and realised with a start that I was actually looking for Alexandra. When I finally found the back of her black bun she had paired with someone else.

I was left to go with a girl whose face I had seen before but I had never spoken to before. She looked African in appearance.

Xavier then handed out swords to everyone.

I stared at the sword in my grip. It felt too heavy in my Vampiric hand.

"Do as I do towards your partner." Xavier cut his sword to the right. His stance indicated that he was incredibly skilled and with practice. It related to the way he walked. He could destroy every one of us and he knew it.

He paused and I lifted my sword to follow as he did. The African girl noticed my weak grip. Her dark, scarred arms held the sword with practice. I swallowed audibly.

Xavier then cut his sword to the right before lunging forward to deliver the kill blow. "Practice this with your partner. Try not to kill them, if you can." His grin sent shivers down my spine.

I swear it was his extra words that caused someone to thrust their sword through their partner's chest. The girl wailed in pain and blood flooded from her mouth.

Bile rose up in my throat, but before I could vomit my partner thrust her sword at me. I deflected it and she made a savage sound in the back of her throat. I suddenly realised that this is what Xavier meant by survival. This exercise was supposed to cut back the number of girls so only the strongest bodied and willed remained, literally.

My partner cut her sword through the air with lightning speed and I sidestepped. Surprised that I could still move with speed after my arrival yesterday. Her sword nicked my leg and I yelped in pain, dropping my sword in the process. I froze as my partner lunged forward; I raised my arms up to protect myself. But I knew I wouldn't survive this. I was weak. I should've drowned when I was supposed to.

There was a sharp clang of metal against metal before a muffled cry.

I opened my eyes to see Alexandra standing between me, and my partner; who was now lying motionless on the ground.

"Well done Miss Grey." Xavier approached with an English lilt to his tone. "As much as I admire chivalry." He turned his attention towards me. "I don't admire cowardice." His eyes shone gold. "Pick up your sword."

I didn't dare look away from him as I bent down, curling my fingers around the cool handle.

"No mercy." He held out his sword and I did the same. Knowing that I'd never be prepared for his attack.

He cut to the right and swung my sword up to block his. His strength was phenomenal as I was pushed back. He cut to the left and this time I just jumped out of the way, his sword nicking my shoulder.

His eyes burned. Clearly getting out of the way was not what people did in a sword fight. He spun with unnatural speed as he slashed my right thigh, both my arms and tripped me over in a matter of three seconds. He kicked me in my newly healed back and I groaned.

"What's your name?" Xavier held the point of his sword against my throat.

"Serena." I tasted blood in my mouth as I answered.

"Serena." He smiled cruelly. "You will stay after this lesson and polish every single sword that was used today, then you polish my boots." With one last glare that said, "I have my eye on you." He left and commanded everyone to continue.

Alexandra offered me a hand and this time I accepted her help. "Thank you."

"Anything for a wounded pup." Her smile was kind.

I could tell now that she was only being kind because she pitied me, believing I didn't have a chance in hell here.

She may have been right, and I may not like her pity but that didn't mean I was going to reject her help either. I needed it, now that I had a skilled swordsman watching my every move.

True to his word I had to polish swords after the lesson. It took at least ten minutes for each sword, and there were hundreds. My hands were dry and red raw as the sun started to set. I had missed lunch and my stomach rumbled in complaint.

Xavier finally returned, the sun just a small orange line on the horizon. To my surprise he tossed me a small vile of blood. "Take a bath."

I waited until he had retreated inside before smelling under my arms. I did need a bath.

I headed inside and stripped down before climbing slowly into the pool. As long as my head was above water, I'd be fine. Again I was struck by how cleansing and reviving the water was. I could feel my hands healing faster than usual. I splashed my face with water and smoothed back my hair. I made a mental note to come here more often.

Wrapping a towel around myself I padded to the "barracks" and changed into my long white nightgown.

"Serena." Alexandra whispered from her bunk opposite mine.

In pitch black I could perfectly fine and caught the thrown bottle with ease. I could also smell the human blood through the glass. My eyes swam black like a sharks'.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Xavier gave it to me." She smiled as she flopped back onto her mattress. "He's a sweetheart."

"Yeah." I tapped the glass with my nails. "If pricks were sweethearts." I muttered. I downed the bottle in one generous gulp before settled in bed. The blood settled my uneasy stomach and my nerves.