Bitten

Chapter Twelve

           Once we get back to Carlys we head straight to the basement. Carly saw how upset I looked and simply didn't say anything.
           "We went over the basics yesterday, but I'm going to teach you how to read body language today." He suddenly shifts into a fight stance and says, "Look at my body, what do you know about how I fight?"
           I shrug, "Um, I know your dominant hand is right but your left hook hits just as hard."
           "Okay so that tells you that either way I swing if it hits you it will do damage."
          Nodding I say, "You're leaning more towards your left so I'm guessing you're going to swing with your left hand?"
         His right fist comes plummeting into my jaw catching me completely off guard I hit the ground with a thud as the pain explodes through my face.
         "What the fuck Damien!"
      "I lean to my left so my right hook can have more momentum when I pull through. One misjudgment like that could cost you your life."
          I stand to my feet and rotate my jaw a couple of times. No doubt a huge bruise would be there by tomorrow. "You couldn't have just told me that? You had to punch me in the face?"
          "You don't learn through speaking you're more of a hands on learner."
          I scoff, "Oh so you're just going to blast me every now and then."
          "Okay, now what about this." His body shifts slightly and one of his feet is out more than the other.
          "I'm guessing you're about to left hook me because you're leaning towards the right side?"
         I was completely expecting a punch to the face, but ducking didn't help at all in the situation as his foot flies at my ribs. He successfully knocks the air out of my lunges with one kick.
          Gasping, I clutch my side in pain. When the air returns to my lungs I say, "I'm going to kill you!"
          "Pay attention, stop assuming! You have to know what my next move is going to be so you know how to block it."
         He was really starting to piss me off. How am I supposed to know anything, I don't get into fights!
           He shifts his body again with his chin tucked down and his fists up.
            "I'm going to hit you twice. I will tell you that right now. You're going to have to figure it out quick."
           My eyes widen and I get into my own stance. How am I supposed to do this? He must really enjoy kicking the shit out of me.
          Without a second to waste Damien flies forward I saw him draw his left hand back and I anticipate this one. I successfully duck away from the left but blinded by my small victory he upper cuts me harshly throwing me a few feet back.
           I hit the ground with a loud bang. "Ahh fuck!" Stars cloud my eyes and I blink harshly trying to get them to go away. My jaw was on fire.
         Once my vision clears I sit up slightly look at Damien who just gave me his usual cold emotionless stare.
         "Damien this isn't working."
             "I know I just wanted to see how you would react."
        I get to my feet and glare at him viciously, "You're an asshole you know that?"
           Shrugging he says, "I've been told that a couple of times. Let me break this all down for you."
     ———
           We had been going at it for a few hours. After he had explained the tells for different kind of attacks, I was a lot more prepared for his onslaught of beatings. We were currently circling each other, I see his eyes dart to my right side and I quickly roll to the left. Just as expected he attacks to the right. "That's better. But if I was tapping in to even the slightest amount of werewolf strength I have you would have gotten knocked out."
              I nod quickly and look at his stature. With Damien his tell was his eyes, he always looked before attacking. When his eyes dart at my chest and two hands shoot out to shove me I catch his wrists and slide in between his legs flipping him into his back.
              He lets out a puff of air as I stand up quickly and step back. "Now that, was genuinely surprising. Thinking that quickly could really help."
              That was the first compliment I had gotten all day. He stands up and smirks, "Now we're going to kick it up a notch." He flicks his wrists and his long claws come out.
  Oh.
  Shit.
           Without giving me time to mentally prepare he rushes forward I watch his eyes and see him lean to the left. I duck to the right but only to duck back to the left when his other hand follows quickly. His knee comes up catching me off guard it hits me right in the chest.
           I don't give him the chance to surprise me by rolling on the ground to the right and standing up.
          Only for him to round house kick me in the side sending me sprawling out on the ground. "You stopped thinking, stop reacting and start thinking tactically."
          My body aches from the brutality that Damien did not spare me from.
          I get onto my feet and say, "Can we do something else for a little while we've been at this for hours. We can come back to it I just need a break." He rolls his eyes then says, "Okay, let's go back over your defense."
           Yesterday we had went over how to get out of pretty much any situation. Knife fighting, disarming a gun, disarming a werewolf claw, avoiding getting bitten, literally everything.
           I caught on pretty quick so this should be a bit easier.
           I thought that until he randomly grabs me slamming me up against a wall, is claws were pressed to my throat. We stare at eachother for a second before he says, "How would you get out of this, Layla?"
            I gulp, he was too close to me for me to think.
            "Um... I don't... I don't remember."
               "Well I'd figure it out fast because I'm not sparing you this time." My eyes widen, he wouldn't really cut my throat would he? The look in his eyes told me yes.
              I instantly throw my arms through the middle of his, and then slam my elbows down into his wrists. Then I shove my hands at his chest putting one palm over the other.
             Damien goes flying back completely taken off guard. "Glad to know yesterday didn't completely go in one ear and out the other."
              Smiling at him slightly I say, "I'm taking this seriously Damien. Whether you choose to believe it or not. I'm tired of not having control over anything that happens to me." His eyes seem to soften at my words.
            Sighing I say, "Hey Damien... Can you please tell me what's so special about me? Because I really don't see anything. I'm always the victim, And I don't even know why."
            He steps closer to me, and on instinct I back into the wall. He stands closer almost completely closing the gap between us.
            Gently he tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, "You're stronger than you know Layla. I really wish I could tell you, but it's not the right time yet. I don't ever want you to feel like a victim again because you're not a victim, love. You're a surviver."
              I felt a tear fall slowly from my eye and I quickly wipe it away embarrassed. "Sorry... I um... I've just always been told I was a victim of a horrible situation with my parents. No ones ever said anything like that to me before." He then gently touches my jaw and I flinch away when he touches the part where he cold cocked me.
            "We're done for today, put some ice on that. I should have never bruised such a beautiful face." My eyes widen at his words and he quickly turns around calling for Carly to come let him out.
           Carly has explained to me that it was called Mountain Ashe. You could trap any supernatural being just by covering the exits with it. She hustles down the stars and breaks the line. Damien doesn't say another word as he trudges up the steps.
             "Damn girly, he got you good." She examines my face.
             I laugh a little and say, "Yeah he likes to randomly punch people in the face I guess." I was kind of staring off into the distance.
            If he was going to eventually try to kill me, why was he being so nice to me? He called me beautiful. He made sure I didn't feel bad about myself. What kind of evil villain does that?
           "Hello? Are you even listening to me?" Carly snaps her fingers in front of my face and I come out of my daze. "No sorry I was thinking."
   ———
            I walk up to a burning house, it felt like I wasn't in control of my own body. I was drawn to the house. I hear screams coming from inside.
           There is people in there.
           Someone screams behind me, "What are you doing? Get away from there!"
            Completely ignoring them I found myself walking into the flames. I kick the door open not caring about the flames that were licking my skin. I walk in monotone.
           I hear the screams from the other room and I turn on my heel. The smoke didn't seem to effect me at all. The door was engulfed with flames.
          Reaching out I grab the handle, but when the flames touched my skin my veins glow the same crimson red as the flame. Ignoring that, I walk in to find a woman and a child hiding in a corner.
          I reach my hand out to the, "Come." My voice sounded different, unlike my own.
         The woman starts coughing like crazy. I sigh rolling my eyes at the puny human.
         I reach to her side and throw her over my shoulder then I pick up the young boy. He cries into my chest as I turn on my heel. The fire separated as I walked through. I walk out to the front of the house just as a fire truck and ambulance arrived.
             Once I am safely away from the house people start rushing towards us. I drop them on the ground, and turn away from them. "You saves their lives!"
            Someone grabs my arm trying to stop me, "You can't just leave we have to take your statement!" I grumble under my breath and turn throwing the police officer to the ground.
      ———
         I gasp sitting up straight on the couch. "Jesus Christ you almost gave me a heart attack!" I look around quickly then at my hands. Everything looks normal. That dream felt so realistic. "Sorry I had a weird dream."
        "Well who's Katjá?"
I look at her like she has four heads, "What?"
          "You kept saying the name Katjá, I was just curious if that name meant something to you." That name felt so familiar to me for some reason.
          I shake my head, "No, I have no clue who that is." She laughs at me and says, "Weirdo."
          I shrug brushing it all off and say, "So about yesterday."
         "Oh you want to tell me why you got suspended from your last day of school now?" I roll my eyes at her and say, "I got into a fight. It was stupid. I think I might have broken her fingers." She puts a cup of coffee on the table for me and says, "Damn girl. Never thought I'd see the day."
            "Me either honestly."
             She motions towards the coffee and says, "Well, it works out anyway we have a free coffee sale all morning at the diner. Get ready and meet me down there."