We Are Monsters 🌕 Book 1 || gxg

Dancing With the Beast

Spongy dead grass burbled with each step across the lawn. The air was cool, but not intolerable in Sam's light layers. Aidan took a long sip from his mug; he stood a handful of steps away, observing her taking her position, critiquing her stance. He seemed pleased to be on the sidelines for once.

Cain joined them a moment later. As he trotted down the steps he was hanging up a call, and a small smile lit his features. He cleared his throat and stopped a few feet ahead of her. Sunshine danced in his hair. The sweet breeze carried the faint scent of eucalyptus that always clung to his skin. He was light on his feet, like he'd gotten some good news. Who had he been talking with? Cain passed his phone to Aidan, who pocketed it.

"Show me what you've learned," Cain said without herald, arms crooked lightly but not rigid before him.

Sam hadn't had much practical experience with combat, just a few reserved scraps with Aidan. She was used to going on the defencive immediately since Aidan usually attacked right away. Cain wasn't moving; his eyes were level, stance relaxed but prepared. So she did the first thing she thought of. Not expecting success, she threw a simple punch aimed for his gut. All at once his hand closed over her own and she was pulled in. He leaned to the side, skirting her with ease, and she stumbled to regain her balance while he danced back. His thin smile incensed her.

Advancing again, she went for his arms just to see how he'd respond. Where Aidan caught her blows, Cain deflected or dodged. When she jabbed an elbow, a simple crescent sweep of his forearm moved her momentum away from target so only the slightest force made contact. Though he was much taller than she was, their weights were somewhat more evenly matched compared to the mountain keeping watch.

At first she had been nervous to accidentally hurt him, but she quickly dropped that notion. Even when she did strike him, she was immediately countered and either knocked back, or bruised. Every failure spurred her on. She kept herself low and curled inward in hopes of preventing another grab. It did help, but it also clearly limited her options. She couldn't swing as wide, and Cain took advantage of this. Rather than redirecting her attacks away from him, he did his best to block and push her arms down or out, exposing her centre. She wasn't used to this tactic. Though she succeeded in making full contact, it was merely for him the cost of breaking her defences. Cain struck a solid punch to her right ribs, forcing air from her lungs.

Skipping back, he asked, "Are you good?"

She didn't bother answering and came at him again. One good punch wasn't going to stop her. That said, she did want to stop; getting punched wasn't fun at all, but a fire burned within and those calculated volleys fuelled it.

This time she tried using her shoulders instead; her right hook ended in his palm, but before he could finish yanking her past, she threw her weight into the momentum, slamming her shoulder into his chest. A gratifying oof made her grin, but only for a second, as Cain recovered before she had even cleared him, and he wrapped her in his arms and then threw her into the muck.

The cold surface shocked her alert. She scrambled to her feet and regained her positioning, trying to ignore the grime on her. Cain flexed his fingers. He lunged for her, and she dove out of the way, doing a graceless tumble through the mud. Not her finest manoeuvre, but it got the job done. Sam was on her feet again before Cain was done correcting his momentum. He smirked. The dance continued, tension mounting the longer their spar was on hold. She lowered her centre of gravity. Cain had reach, and she wanted to be as slippery as possible.

Cain grew tired of playing defencive. Three quick strikes connected with her forearms just hard enough to smart. As much as she wanted to retreat, she knew the opposite was the better decision. Her power was in her elbows, so she stepped close, leading with her left, but immediately he deflected it and took a step back. She tried again, and again as he stepped out of her reach with a coy smile.