Eternal Fire

Chapter 6

The parent visitation week seemed to be going by slowly. It's Wednesday and it feels like the longest day ever. Monday morning I woke up to two bouquets of flowers, one from Reggie the other from Kylen, apologizing. Of course, I had accepted it. I've been somewhat avoiding them though because I don't want to be a downer. So I spend my free time in the training room or on the training field.

Today I was in the weight room when Vix arrived. "I've come to give you, your allowance, " He told me and held it out. I snatched it and stuffed it into my pocket, "How about for once you train me?" "You're not worth my time, " He said with a wave of his hand. I clenched my fists, "So you'd rather me not learn how to master my gift and have it kill me?" He shrugged, "Such is life." I went to launch myself at him but I was grabbed from around the waist. "Cool yer jets lass, " Batair told me. "Ye will get in trouble if ye attack him." "Like I give a shit. He won't train me, " I snapped. "Hey, Vix, let me handle the lass's trainin', " Batair offered. Vix shrugged, "Fine with me. Have fun wasting your time."

When he was out of the training room Batair let me go. "Prepare to be in a world of pain lass. I won't be goin' easy on you, " He told me. "I'd be insulted if you did, " I told him. "We're gonna start by measuring your strength, " He told me. "You killed a Wyrm with one punch the other day. We need to see just how much damage you can do with one punch." I smiled excitedly, feeling ready to get started.

I take that back. I'm not so excited. I am standing beneath an arm full of hundred-pound weights. Batair was taking them up a ladder one by one, to stack it at the top. "You feel like dropping them yet, " He asked me. "Only because of fatigue, " I told him honestly. It felt like I was holding a small child, not who knows how many weights, but holding my arms like this for so long is making me tired.

"I'm out of weights, " He said looking around. Then it was like a light bulb went off, "I'll be right back." He left and soon he was back with someone else. "This is Danny. He is going to make those weights heavier, " Batair explained to me. "Go for it, Danny. Let's see how strong she is."

As we began slowly more and more students came in with their mentors ready to train, but they stopped to watch us. "You give in yet Cleo, " Batair asked me after an hour. "Nope, " I said. "What the hell is going on here, " Captain Roark asked when he came in.

"Testing to see how strong she is, " Batair told him. "The girl took down a Wyrm in a single hit. Vix refuses to train her and he said I could." "We could actually win the strength challenges this year, " One of the warriors said. Captain Roark studied me with a tilt of his head. "Move aside Danny, " he instructed suddenly. He then touched the weights and it felt like gravity was trying to flatten me like a pancake. The floor beneath my feet cracked, but I held firm. I even made a show of moving the weights upward.

My stomach grumbled, wanting to eat some dinner. Captain Roark let up the gravity, putting it back to normal. Danny then fixed the weights back to their normal weight. I placed the weights down with a smile. Gods I'm starving. "We'll pick up again tomorrow lass, " Batair told me. I gave him a small salute, before leaving the training room.

I sat down at the table with a generous helping of spaghetti, garlic bread, and a Sprite. Daisy and her mother sat down and I prayed I didn't lose my appetite. "Are you sure you're human, " Daisy asked me. "The girl just went through some major strength training, " Reggie said as he sat down with his parents. "I would be surprised if she didn't go back for seconds."

"I didn't know how long I was going to hold those weights. My arms were starting to fall asleep from staying that way for so long, " I told him as I wiped my mouth. Kylen laughed as he sat down, "Everyone thought Danny was in trouble when Batair came and got him like that." "We had run out of weights so Batair improvised, " I told him. "Many were betting against you, " Reggie told me. "Anyone bet for me, " I asked him. "Sorry, but it wasn't us. We thought you were going to drop them for sure. Azazel was the only one who bet you'd hold them. He won a little over a grand on the bet, " He answered looking a little sheepish.

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. At least one of my friends has faith in me." "When Daisy said you were friends with that half breed I thought she was joking, " Her mother said with a scoff. "As were we, " Reggie's father said. "They're dangerous. You should steer clear."

I stood up, "Look if I wanted parents to judge who I call my friend, I'll redirect my mother. Until then, keep your noses out of this." I took my food with me over to Azazel's table where he sat with only his parents. "Hey Az, mind if I sit with you, " I asked him. He gave me a small smile, "Not at all." He then looked at his parents, "Mom, Dad, this is my friend Cleo." His mother was as beautiful as an Egyptian Goddess. He got his hair from her but Azazel got his skin from his father who was like a blonde vampire king. His mother teared up, "I'm so happy our son finally has a friend." "Excuse my mate, she tears up over everything lately due to the pregnancy, " his father said with a kind and loving smile. I smiled, "It's okay."

"So what did they say to piss you off, " Az asked me. "Their parents wanted to give me a lecture about who I should and shouldn't be friends with. Of course, I snapped at them and came over here. Plus if I kept sitting over there, Daisy and her mom may pass out from shock over my eating habits."

"Hey, Cleo, " Jocelyn said as she came up with her Grams. "Can we join you guys?" I looked at Az and his mother overruled. "The more the merrier, " She said while gesturing to the empty chairs. "This is my friend Jocelyn and her grandmother, " I introduced. Az's mom shook her grandmother's hand, "It's been so long since I've met a Gypsy witch." Her grandmother smiled, "We are few but we are strong."

"So how come you're with us, " I asked her. "Daisy is a vile bitch, " She told me. "I found out she's been hanging out with Bella Cordova, telling Bella everything she has learned about you before Bella comes and introduces herself. I overheard her this morning laughing about how they think you lack fashion sense and eat like a pig." I rolled my eyes with a shrug, "Oh well. Let them say and think what they want. I don't care." Jocelyn looked over her shoulder at Reggie and Kylen who were laughing with her. "Don't expect those two, to be very faithful, " She warned me. "They get very defensive over Daisy, blind to her lies and backstabbing ways because it's like she brainwashed them or something." She looked back at me. "At least you, I know won't lie and purposely hurt people." "Waste of time if you asked me, " I told her. "How do you spend your free time, " Az's mother asked me curiously. "Well, I haven't been at the school long so I haven't figured anything out really, " I answered. "She spent it holding more weight than anyone should be able to hold today, " Az told them. "I thought Vix was your mentor?" "Batair asked if he could train me, " I told him. "I damn near attacked Vix today because he doesn't find me worth his time to train." "You gonna sign up for the games, " He asked me curiously. I shrugged, "I haven't decided yet. Are you?" He shrugged, "I haven't decided." I smirked, "I will if you do." He sighed, "Fine. I'll do the archery and the hand to hand combat." I shrugged, "Awesome. I'll figure out what I'm gonna do." "There is a multitude of strength tests in the games you could easily win at, " he told me.

"When are the Games, " Jocelyn asked him curiously. "Two months from now, " he replied. Jocelyn smiled at me, "Looks like you've got a lot of work ahead of you." If today was any sign, I'm going to be lucky if I'm going to be able to even walk by the time the Games get here.