Off With His Head

12. Always be ready

I'm still sitting in the viewing room when Caleb finds me a while later. Partly because I am fascinated watching the two men still fighting below, but mainly because I am not actually sure where to go and I know I will get lost down here.

He pulls the chair out next to me, its legs squeaking noisily on the floor, and takes a seat. "So you have a week, huh?"

I don't question how he already knows. I'm assuming Lideri had informed Caleb and Zach of our deal. I wonder what Zach had to say about it.

"Yeah, a week," I answer, not taking my eyes off the two men below. I doubt I will ever be able to fight like they do, but I have to at least try. I turn to face Caleb, ignoring the worried look in his eyes. "Will you help me train, please?"

"Jennings," he sighs, "it's not possible. There is no way you will be ready to take on a vampire in a week. Lideri has set you up for failure."

I know.

I had been thinking about it since Lideri walked out. Of course he wants me to fail; he made it very clear that he didn't want me to be a part of the organisation from the first time I asked. It's the only reason he relented at all. He's confident that by this time next week I will be back at home where he thinks I belong.

But what Lideri doesn't realise, is just how stubborn I can be when I want something.

"Well then," I counter, "I have to prove him wrong, don't I?"

"You'll die." Caleb's brow creases with concern as he looks at me. His harsh words make me flinch, even though they were spoken in a soft tone. He reaches a hand out and places it on my shoulder, allowing it to linger there for a few moments before he drops it back down and onto his lap. "I'm sorry."

Nerves erupt in my stomach and my heart clenches. I swallow what feels like a lump of cotton wool that's been caught in my throat. "At least I'll die trying."

And though the thought scares the living hell out of me, I actually mean it.

Caleb looks at me for a long moment, his green eyes searching my face. He leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest before he finally speaks. "You're something else, Jennings. I'm not sure what to make of you."

"So, does that mean you'll train me?" I probe, noticing that he still hadn't answered my question.

"Yes, I will." He nods once, a determined look on his face. "But we have to cram years-worth of training into one single week. I'm not going to lie to you Jennings, it will be really tough."

"Well then, we better get started," I decide, standing up from my chair. "What's first?"

"I have to take you home." He gets to his feet as well and starts heading towards the door with me following close behind him. "You need to pack a bag and think of something to say to Naomi to explain your week long absence. You'll have to stay here while you train."

The answer to that seems simple enough. "I can tell her I'm going to see my parents. I can say that they bought me a surprise plane ticket."

"Does she ever communicate with them?" He asks as we tread through the seemingly endless hallways.

"No."

"That should be okay." He runs a hand through his already messy hair and glances over his shoulder. "Zach is discussing some things with Lideri, so we'll have to go without him. I just need to go get the car keys from him first."

"And then? What happens when we've got my stuff?"

"Then we will come back here and get some sleep, seeing as it is," he checks his watch, "almost two o'clock in the morning. When we wake up, we can begin."