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“Jade, it takes years of training. I practically started when I could walk, since my uncle knew I would someday replace him. You’ve only recently been at it.”
“That’s not true,” she rushed on. “I learned to fight when I was a kid too. And you can’t tell me that all the training we’ve done lately hasn’t made me good enough to take Walker’s assignment.”
“I won’t dispute that.” He rubbed his temple as though a headache had suddenly set in. “But you still don’t know how to kill demons.”
“Show me.”
He looked ill. “Jade, this isn’t something you just suddenly decide to do. It’s a life choice. Once you’re a slayer, you’re always a slayer. Until you die.”
“I understand that. And it’s not an arbitrary thought, Tanner. I’ve wondered for a long time if this was the path I was meant to take. I believe it is. There’s no one else in our village to rise up and partner with you. I’m your only choice. And I’m a damn good one at that.”
“Holy Christ.” He appeared to need the bucket as well, but held back. “When the king finds out… Jade, he’ll never stand for this. I’ve seen his horse outside your cottage. I know he visits you and that there’s something between you two. He won’t approve of this. Hell, that’s a monumental understatement. He’ll be furious.”
“I take complete responsibility for my actions.” Though she knew Tanner was right. And the fallout would, no doubt, be hellacious. But just thinking of Walker lying in the clinic made her bound and determined. “You’re the only one now who can make me a slayer. Do it, Tanner. You know it’s the right thing for this village.”
He let out a low grunt. “I will never hear the end of it if I do.” Then he grumbled, “I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t. Goddamn it, Jade. You are such a pain in the ass.”
“I’m sure you’re not the first one to notice.”
He harumphed. “It won’t do us any favors to have me on the king’s shit list.”
“I’ll deal with him later. Let’s go.”
She headed toward the town hall with Tanner stomping along beside her, complaining and continuing to shake his head. He found the official registry information and completed the paperwork to record the new addition to the world of slayers. Then she took her oath to sacrifice her own life in order to protect human lives against demon attacks.
Not once did she delude herself into believing Darien would understand the decision she’d made to forego her own safety in lieu of others’. She’d broken her promise to him and had likely violated his trust. And though her heart constricted at the thought, her head told her she was doing what she’d been born to do.
“Now,” she said to her new partner. “Teach me everything you know.”
* * * * *
While Walker fought for his life, Tanner introduced Jade to the very nasty reality of demon slaying. They started small, with the most basic and easiest principles and targets. Though, admittedly, killing vampires turned out to be more complex than she’d anticipated. They didn’t practice on real ones, obviously, but Tanner pinpointed the exact area of entry to the heart that would stake a vampire and she had to work endlessly on her aim.
Tanner hung a burlap-encased dummy from a tree in the forest, and as it blew in the wind, it almost mimicked a body moving during a fight, surging forward or lunging to the left or right. Even retreating at times.
Mostly, Tanner sighed and scowled at her.
“You’re quicker than this, Jade. I’ve seen you move recently. But you’re holding back. You’re not focusing on the red ‘X’ I drew. Keep your eye on it at all times. Go for the kill.”
Perhaps it was thoughts of Sheena that made it difficult to concentrate on slaying a vampire. She forced herself to rise above that notion. She wasn’t taking on Sheena. Her enemies would come from outside of the king’s alliance.
After mastering her task many days later, Tanner taught her to do something similar with the horned demons. They also required a direct hit in a precise location, between their horns.
“It’s a small, soft spot,” Tanner explained.
He pressed a fingertip to her forehead to indicate the precise area.
“Unlike with vampires, there’s no need to drive deep with your sword. The most effective way to kill vamps is to run them through and cut off their heads. With the horned demons, you just need to penetrate the skull an inch or so. It triggers a violent reaction that, for lack of a better descriptor, skews their brain cells and sends them into seizures. They also tend to spew yellow pus from just about every pore and orifice, so don’t stay too close after you’ve made your attack. It’s vile.”
She spent another week learning to satisfactorily achieve her objective. Tanner seemed impressed.
“It takes years to accomplish this,” he said, “but you’re a natural.”
“I told you.”
“Okay, smartass.” Mischief tinged his green eyes. “Let’s see how well you do with shapeshifters.”
The next day, he showed up at the cottage with a crate. Inside was a live chicken.
