Hey all,
I hope things are going well for you in your neck of the woods. We've got less than two more weeks here in Argentina. I'll miss this beautiful country, but I've got so many ideas for stories I don't know which to choose for my latest series. One thing about being on tour is I never run out of inspiration.
I hope things are going well for you in your neck of the woods. We've got less than two more weeks here in Argentina. I'll miss this beautiful country, but I've got so many ideas for stories I don't know which to choose for my latest series. One thing about being on tour is I never run out of inspiration.
And speaking of inspiration, I wonder what Amaris and Eran will be inspired to do in today's installment. Let's see, shall we? Enjoy!!!
The Watcher's Guild: Sweet Nephilim
~~~~***~~~~
Chapter Fifteen
Training
“No, no
little angel. Slash, parry and then
block.”
Amaris
muttered under her breath as she followed her guardian’s instructions. Narrowing her eyes, she hefted her sword and
twisted her body away before slashing downwards with all her strength. Eran easily blocked it and shook his head
again.
“You are
still telegraphing your movements. I
know what you are doing before you do it.
Try it again.”
Pushing
back her long hair, she remembered when she had looked forward to learning how
to fight. But her benevolent teacher had
become a dictator, pushing her harder and harder each day. She was ready to run him through just to have
some time to rest.
If she
could get past his guard.
“I am not,”
she objected, flexing her sore hand. The
constant clash of weapons had her muscles cramping. “I’m doing just what you told me. I don’t look at you. I don’t look at my weapon. I just feel the moves and then do them.”
Eran
sighed. “That may be so, but when you
twist or turn, you’re still leading with your elbow. Every time.
And every time I know which way you are going. You must never do the same thing. It will lead to disaster when you fight for
real.”
“I’ll give
you a real fight,” Amaris grumbled as she stepped backwards and took up the now
familiar fighting stance. She’d been
practicing these same moves for almost a month now and no matter what she
tried, she couldn’t get it right. Or
maybe her instructor was just too damn picky.
Whatever the case, all she wanted to do was toss her sword on the ground
and go get a beer. Training was hard
work.
But instead
she took a deep breath and then leaped at Eran.
Their swords sang as they met.
Metal to metal, the shock of it raced down her arms, but she didn’t
falter. Instead she let her fury flow
through her as she parried his blows, waiting for the right moment to make her
own move. Sweat dotted her forehead and
burned her eyes, but she didn’t take the time to wipe it away. She was determined to do it right this
time. To show her teacher she did know
what she was doing.
Then there
is was…a slight opening. Without
hesitating, Amaris dipped and twisted, pulling her sword down and then up to
the right. But instead of finding its place
against Eran’s breastbone, it came up against cold steel and was torn from her
hand, spinning away as if it was a feather.
A second later, her feet were swept out from under her and she went down
hard on her back.
The fall
knocked the breath out of her so she just lay there…fuming, her mouth opening
and closing like a stranded fish. Eran
stormed over and glared down at her.
“Do you not
listen?” he shouted. “I told you not to
show me what you were going to do! A
demon all the way in Hell could see that move coming. You must not let your anger lead you. Do as I say, Amaris. You know the consequences.”
His
reprimand was the last straw. If she’d
been holding her sword she would have thrown it at him. “That’s it,” she gasped out, struggling to
sit up. She matched his glare with one
of her own. “I’m done. Obviously there has been a mistake, and I
don’t belong here! You go find another
Nephilim to use and abuse. I’m so finished
with this! And with you!”
Eran saw
immediately he’d finally pushed her too hard.
Her blue eyes were filled with tears, and there was such despair on her
face he knew yelling at her would do no more good. He throttled back his temper and tried to
calm himself.
He knew
he’d been pressing faster and training her more intensely than he would be
another Nephilim. But the fact was she was different. And he had to make sure she was ready for
whatever came at her. Asmodeous hadn’t
been heard from since he’d lost the second temptation on the rooftop, but the
Watcher knew it was just a matter of time.
The demon would be back and Amaris had to be ready for him.
But for
some reason, his little angel couldn’t seem to grasp the basics of
fighting. Oh, she understood what was
required—she was an intelligent woman after all. She just wasn’t able to transfer the things
he’d taught her into actual fighting. It
was frustrating…for both of them. And
that frustration was driving a wedge between them.
At first it
hadn’t mattered. What went on during the
training period didn’t leak over into their aerie home. Once the swords were put down, they lived and
loved and enjoyed each other. He learned
she liked really hot showers, and she discovered he was ticklish. He loved spicy foods, while her eyes lit up
when he brought home a plate of chocolate covered brownies. They talked long into the night about their
pasts, and Amaris was enthralled over the many places he’d seen and battles
he’d fought. He was just as curious
about her life growing up as an only child of two very loving parents.
After only
a few weeks, Eran knew the question her mother had asked during the good-bye
tea could now be answered.
He did love
Amaris.
Not just as
a student or a fellow angel, but as a man loves the one woman who completes
him. He wasn’t sure it was normal—but
then nothing about his little angel was like any other Nephilim, so he’d given
up worrying about what was customary.
All he knew was she was the most important thing in his life, and he
prayed daily Jehovah would not separate them.
But it
looked as if the Lord wasn’t going to be the one responsible for that. Eran was doing a great job of alienating Amaris
all by himself. And even though he knew
it was for her own good, he couldn’t seem to stop. Yet it destroyed him to see anger and
distrust growing between them. For the last week it was as though they were
enemies not lovers.
“I mean it,
Eran,” she snarled, breaking into his thoughts.
“I don’t care any more. Nothing I
do is good enough for you. I can’t do
this. You’ve made a mistake.” Her eyes darkened. “I’ve made a mistake.”
His gut twisted
at her meaning. “You don’t mean that, Amaris. You are angry and tired and frustrated. It will get better. This I swear.” But even as he said it, he wondered. By this time most Nephilim were well on their
way to learning the warrior craft.
She must
have seen the doubt in his eyes. “That’s
bull and you know it.” Clambering to her
feet, she stalked across their training arena at the top of one of the Blue
Mountains and picked up her sword. She
sighed as she wiped dirt off the glistening blade. “I was so proud when you gave this to
me. It fit my hand perfectly. I knew I’d do great things with it. But I can’t.”
Eran
remembered that day, too. He’d left her
sleeping and flown up into Heaven to get her sword from the angelic armorer. The burly angel was full of questions about
the female Nephilim, but Eran had been too much in a hurry to answer any of
them. He couldn’t wait to get back to Amaris
and see the look on her face when he gave her this most important gift. And the awe and pride in her eyes when he
handed it to her hadn’t disappointed him.
Neither had her kiss of thanks that wound up putting them a full hour
behind on their training.
Where had
it all gone so wrong?
~~~~***~~~~
Oh no! I never thought Amaris would have this kind of trouble. I wonder what's going on? Check back next Sunday to find out!
Until then!!!
Hugs,
CJ England
Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/luckbealady/luckbealady.htm
1 comment:
Thanks CJ! Looking forward to next Sunday!
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