Heartless Soul Book 2 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 18 - Emotions and Games

Carmela's POV

The best thing about being able to come back to New York was the fact that I could finally go home, back to my apartment. My own personal space and sanctuary, the only downside was that I had to have someone with me at all times just in case, as Romeo liked to put it. I know it annoyed him that he couldn't be with me, but I needed some space. Him fussing over me all the time was getting annoying. I'm glad Timo and Enzo managed to convince him to let me come back to my apartment. My escorts came in the forms of Amy and Mel. As they threw themselves on the sofa and were talking far too loudly for me to bask in my solitude, I left the room. I wanted peace and quiet, was that too much to ask for. I escaped into my training room, just so I could be alone. Memories flooded my mind as I looked at the targets still hanging in position when me and Romeo shot at them, this whole apartment had memories, not just my own but ones I shared with Romeo, and I suppose Amy.

I stepped up onto the beam, being tentative with the extra load that I were carrying these days and walked my way across it. As I made it too the end the doors opened, Amy gasped as she caught me on the beam. "Get down from there before you fall." She demanded. Training had become a real drag for me, as I wasn't allowed to do anything. This reminder made my anger flare and I threw a dagger at her feet, Amy jumped back and looked angrily at me. I threw another at her other foot, and she repeated her earlier movements. "Camy, what's come over you?" Mel questioned looking at me from where the daggers stuck into the floor. I didn't answer her but sent a dagger her way too, only she didn't step back. Interesting. "Do you think you can beat me?" I looked at both of them and neither one made any sort of answer. I jumped down from the beam and walked over to them and pulled my daggers from the floor, before walking over to the control system. "If you beat me, I'll stop training. Don't beat me and you can get off my back." I laid down the challenge.

Targets appeared from the walls, even a moving target from the ceiling. "You get 5 daggers each. Amy can go first." Amy sighed. "Fine I'll accept your challenge, but you have to hit the handles of our daggers or knock them off the target to win." I smirked at her sass. "Fine." I accepted her counteroffer and Amy stepped up to the mark on the floor. Her first target was the closest, I figured that was to boost her confidence as she got bullseye. Her next three was at the targets on the back wall, 2 in the outer rings, 1 more in bullseye and one in the wall. Mel wasn't much better, only scoring 1 bullseye, 3 on the outer rings but I was slightly impressed as she at least hit the moving target as it swayed from side to side, like the pendulum of a clock.

I selected my daggers and sent them in quick succession towards the back wall, hitting every dagger handle as I went. My eyes followed the sway of the moving target, after only a moment I released my dagger, only to hear it hit its mark seconds later. "Now that's settled. Shall we?" I motioned towards the beam. "I want you both to fight each other while keeping your balance." They didn't argue with me as they both went to their respective sides and mounted the beam. "Jesus, this is impossible." Mel complained as she struggled to stay upright. "Balance is a perfect skill for an assassin to learn, you never know when u will need it." Amy shrieked as she fell onto the mat below her. After about 10 minutes each of them had finally got their balance but didn't last longer than one punch throw before one or the other fell off. "Fine, you made your point. Show us how it's done." Mel conceded. I walked over to the beam and mounted it. I quickly got to my feet and adjusted myself, I walked to the middle and jumped, twisted and crouched all while keeping balance. I dismounted onto the mat and both Amy and Mel applauded me. "Even pregnant you make that look to easy." I smiled at them. "My grandfather made me do that every day, 12 hours straight for a month, to perfect my balance. As well as shooting practice, throwing practice and fighting practice before I could get anything to eat." Amy threw an arm over my shoulder in comfort, while Mel just stared at the floor. "Have you heard from him about your pregnancy?" she finally asked bringing herself out of whatever thought she were in. I shook my head. "Not yet, but I can sense its coming."