?My shoulders drop before I remember what she did and I steel myself again. I really shouldn’t piss her off, but I’m already pissed off. I have questions and despite wanting to keep my head down and get through these damn years at this fucking school, it seems like fate wants to be a constant bitch.
?And I will deal with fate and the things I will need to since I am here now and I won’t be leaving, but I didn’thaveto be here to do it.
?Uncontrollable.
?That is what I’m really upset about. What I’m furious about.
?“I am curious, Nana. . . would you have been able to fight Kolasi?”
?She bares her teeth at me. “I am Esmirra of Ebony,” she exaggerates, “Bone Witch of Legend and the one from my race to help create the Willow of Lore. I have battled through the War of Gods and watched the end of death while entering an era of peace after a millennium. Watch your tone, child.”
?“That’s a bit ironic, isn’t it.”
?She snaps at me and her scent deepens as she pushes more aura out. “You will fight first, Mavyllora, and you will fight first with me.”
?If only Percius was here now. Maybe then he would realize why I referred to his bone witch as a child. Five hundred years compared to nearly ten thousandisa child.
?I roll out my shoulders as Varian and a few others approach. Begin to stretch out my arms and back. I did not do so, nor did I work out this morning. The last time was Sunday morning with that creepy shifter. Said creepy shifter is standing with Callahan, Thorne, Darian, the angel – Scorn – Mr. Kyros who I grin and nod my head at, Mr. Arcturus, Mr. Armani, and a few others I only know the faces of.
?The angel, vampyr, and demigod council members.
?That doesn’t include the other professors and trainers behind them. One of them I can distinctly tell is a stone witch.
?I return my focus back to Varian trying to politely tell Nana that she is merely a guest and these trainings are supposed to be led by him and Castiel. The demigod who is currently missing.
?“Wrong,” Nana snaps. “You may oversee the rest, but Mavyllora fights against me. Unless you did have someone she may go against you think would match the skill you have already seen?”
?Nana hits that nail right in the coffin as Varian’s jaw clenches.
?“I don’t mind,” I interject. Varian narrows his eyes at me and traces my exposed body just as Nana does. I never told her or Ms. Elaycia about the curse on my scars, but I highly doubt either of them missed it. There’s a reason Ms. Elaycia always wears gloves around me and Nana only got near me when I was fully covered.
?“Good,” she exaggerates. “We’ll begin now.”
?Then she spins on her heel and begins walking towards a sectioned of slightly patted flooring. I start following her when Varian grabs my upper arm and looks down at me with concern.
?I look pointedly at his hand. “Taking a chance there, devil.”
?“I can get you different clothes.”
?I’m equal parts appreciative and irritated. I know he only means a different change of clothes so Nana won’t touch my scars, but covering up only means hiding my scars and them aching from the constraints.
?Stepping away, he lets go immediately. “I’ve been training with Kyno. I’ll be fine.”
?When I face forward again Nana is peering at me. Her eyebrows twitch, but then she unclips the chain around her neck and lets the raggedy dress fall. Revealing fitted leather pants and a black long sleeve. Both of which stretch over her curves and extremely muscled body as she uncurls her shoulders and back to stand straight at nearly six feet.
?People tend to think Nana is a short fireball with an even shorter fuse and only fluff under her dresses, but physical appearances mean nothing to bone witches.
?Varian booms around the room, “Everyone quiet! Over the course of this next week we trainers will evaluate your fighting skills and power before we deduct a tier you will be in. Each tier will encompass a different level of ability. In order to make it into the training program for higher combat you must pass the last tier and fight against one of the trainers. We will begin with Ms. Mavyn Tsuki.”
?Before stepping onto the mat, I ask, “What are the rules of this fight?”
?“No killing.” And that voice has me stamping down a shiver that wants to work up my spine. I don’t look at my demigod as he continues. “This fight is about seeing and testing what your skill level is. There is no winning or losing. So you cannot kill each other and your magic can only extend as far as the mat. This will also test how much control you have over your magic, seeing how well you use it within a confined space.”
?“And if she breaks every bone in my body?”
?Nana chuffs. “We are testing you, not me, Mavyllora. But a few broken bones might snap that attitude you’ve always had a problem with out of you.”
?Castiel mutters something that sounds like a prayer before tapping his fingers to my shoulder and demanding that I don’t get hurt.
