Dark Night

by Stefany Rattles

  “Not everybody. But you are behind and we have to get you caught up. That’s why they chose me to teach you the basics, then next hour you will be even in a more intense training with a certified instructor, now let’s get started.” He wasn’t acting like a person that disliked me, but he wasn’t being kind either.

  “What are we doing?”

  “First, you need to jog a few laps around the gym, normally we would go outside, but it’s a little too hot for that. Then, you need to put that on.” He pointed at a pair of half cut off gloves, wrist bands, elbow, and knee pads.

  “What kind of training are we doing?”

  “Martial Arts,” was all the explanation he gave, “Start your laps.” He ordered.

  I started jogging, but I was too self-conscience to ignore Robert standing by the bleachers staring at me while I jogged. Finally, when I was coming around the last lap, I glanced at Robert who wasn’t standing where I just seen him. I finished my laps and stretched, I looked around for Robert, but no sign of him. I put on the wrist bands, gloves, elbow, and knee pads. I walked over to the center of the gym. Suddenly I felt someone breathing behind me. I turned around.

  “Don’t move.” Robert whispered. I stood very still, my heart started beating about three thousand miles per hour. He was two inches away from me. I could smell his breath, minty and delicious. I tried to clear my head until he looked behind me and then at me. He moved so quickly that I barely saw what he was doing. “They are very small creatures, you should be careful though… one bite from a black widow and it could be fatal.” He held a creepy little thing by its torso, so it wouldn’t bite him. “It escaped from the lab yesterday. I wonder how it got in here?” He held a large glass container. He opened the lid and put the tarantula in it.

  “How did you know it was hanging from there and why do they have black widows in the school lab?” I asked pointing at the spiders’ web above me.

  He sighed. “Well… It’s instinct, something you get better at by training and studying your surroundings, as for the spider being here? Well for dissecting of course." I made a face at that. "Now let’s get started.” He walked ahead of me, I followed. We went into a hall right by the gym and we walked by a weight room, there were all sorts of machines, and weights. Then we went into a room that was big. It was a perfect square. A few punching bags were hanging from the ceiling and a small ring size area was off to the right. Mirrors covered the walls, no windows and there were a few cabinets and a sink.

  “Have you ever punched a bag?” Robert asked taking my hands into his and observing them carefully. Before I could say anything, he answered his own question. “You use to right? But it’s been a while hasn’t it?”

  “It has.” I felt the shock of electricity run through me once again.

  “Do you know how to punch multiple bags at the same time?”

  “Never tried,” I lied, not knowing why.

  “There’s a first time for everything, go stand in the center.” He told me, as he let my hands go. He showed me how to punch one, then two and so on, he was teaching me a few combinations that I already knew, but I watched him do it just as interested anyway. “Very good… Now do a high kick then a roundhouse kick.” He pointed at the bag he wanted me to strike.

  I did as he said and he nodded at each thing he told me to do.

  “You’re going to learn numerous techniques, because not all the creatures you come in contact with are the same, each have a different way of fighting, and you’ll learn different ways of killing them, the bad and the good.” He was very different when we were not in school, of course he had to be professional because it wasn’t just a job to him, it was a way of earning the trust of the King and Queen, I assumed. He continued with the lesson teaching me many things I had never even heard of. I fell a few times, trying to jump kick and punch. I hurt my hand when I hit the bag wrong.

  “Are you alright?” He walked over to examine my hand.

  “I’m fine.” I lied. My hand stung but it wasn’t bad.

  “I’ll get you some ice.” He left the room to get me ice, while I looked around at the different pictures on a bulletin board by the door. There were many pictures of Robert with trophies and medals. In one, there were two people dressed like royalty, each with a crown. They had their sides to the camera, so I couldn’t see their face. “Here.” Robert appeared behind me.

  I took the ice and sat down. “Are they… the king and queen?”

  “Yes.” His reaction was awkward, but I ignored it.

  “They look familiar, I just don’t know from where.” I stared up at the picture and thought hard.

  “Maybe you saw other pictures… do you feel better?”

  “I told you, I was fine.” I glared at him as I gave him back the ice bag. “What’s next?” I stood up.

  “Have you ever done fencing?” He walked over to a cabinet, where he took out some equipment.

  “Not really.” I admitted “I used to do Karate, what seems like ages ago but I don’t do swords.” I admitted.

  “Really? Karate, you seem like the cheerleader type… no offense.” He raised his eyebrows.

  I raised mine and gave him a slight smile. “None taken, I did some cheerleading as well but like I said ages ago.”

  He looked at me, for what seemed like an eternity maybe waiting for me to continue but reminiscing at the time didn’t seem right. Then he stepped forward taking a sword looking thing. “Okay, this is a foil.” He pointed out the long skinny sword that looked harmless to me. “And you’ll be wearing a mask, just for safety and I don’t think we’ll need any body armor.” He winked at me, I rolled my eyes. I took the mask and put it on. My hair was sort of in the way, since it was so long. I took the foil and kept it at a distance. “Show me how would you use it?” He asked. And I showed him with two quick steps how I would defend myself using a “foil“. “Incorrect. You never hold it like that. Here…” He took my hands and I felt the warmth in them that made me tingle I pulled away immediately.

  “I got it.” I held it up and he winced and shrugged it off.

  “Now, attack me.” I took a step and he was gone. “Again,” I heard him call from behind, I turned and he was gone. “Again,” This time I stood very still and tried to sense him. I felt something behind me again, and without thinking twice about it, I swung it to my right side. “Very good,” He said. “That’s how you do it. I thought you would never figure it out. Now, we’ll try strategy, for every time you fight with a sword, a foil you need a plan. Obviously you’re just beginning to understand how it works but it’s going to get harder, don’t be surprised if we take months to learn one thing.” He smiled sarcastically, as if to say he knew more, and he was better than me.

  “How long did it take you to learn?” I said taking the mask off.

  His smile grew. “Three weeks.” He simply said.

  “Then that’s my deadline.” I grinned back.

  This class seemed to last forever, he taught me different things. He showed me how to punch harder, and kick harder, he didn’t teach me martial arts, yet. He said it would be best if my next teacher taught me that, while he was showing me the rest. And she did.

  CHAPTER 13

  Instructor Elder Abi was a genius! She was the one that organized the Ball, the speaker and also an instructor. She said I was first going to learn Karate, and then go up to the next level, from easiest to hardest. She made Karate look easy, and to me it was I was a blue belt I never got higher than that and Abi was surprised to hear that I made this easier on her. She told me that if I graduated from Karate I’d be done with that phase, well the first part. Everyone was required to know at least one form of martial arts and then some MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).

  “You’re doing great, the fact that you get up and try again shows a lot from you.” She told me. “I like students that try their best and you are one of them, from what I can tell. Don’t get frustrated, when I first started it was hard for me because my instructor didn’t hav
e any patience with me, he would show me how to do a combo and move on to the next, didn’t even bother to see if I had it right, so what I did was memorize what he showed me and practiced it on my own, otherwise there wouldn’t have been any way of me learning how to do half of what I know now. It’s just a matter of confidence and discipline. Mia, I’m not going to do that to you, because it was my instructor who didn’t know what he was doing, he got fired after a few complaints, turns out I wasn’t the only one. Then again, I know how complicated it is to teach multiple students. But I’m trying to explain to you to be strong. There is no one here that will help you but yourself. Remember that. I’m not going to be easy on you, that would be cheating, I am going to be strict, somewhat.” She was a very nice teacher, I liked her already. She showed wisdom, and knowledge. I had already appreciated the tip of advice she had given me, and I was sure going to show her that.

  “Thanks a lot. I appreciate it, can we continue?” I asked as she smiled and nodded. She helped me with anything I didn’t understand. By the time the class was over I felt super energized. It had been a long day.

  I didn’t change back to my clothes, because I needed a shower. Instead I had discovered that I had a locker in the gym, and there were a few gym clothes folded neatly. So I wore what I had until I got to my room and showered. I wore something less dressy. I found a summer dress that was very cute. It was a lavender lilac mixed with black and it also had my zodiac sign. It was strapless but I also found a black cardigan to go with it and a pair of flat Chanel shoes that had different little colored diamonds, it looked precious. I blow dried my hair and left it loose.

  Then the doorbell rang so I went to it and opened it slowly.

  “Mia Dawney?” A short lady asked.

  “Yes, it’s me.” I said, staring at the two big boxes she had in a large cart.

  “This is yours.” I moved out of the way so she pulled the cart in and boy was she strong. She took a box down and then the other I could tell they were heavy, because she used her whole body to lift them, I tried to help her but she waved me not to. “Thank you”

  “You are very welcome.” She said closing the door behind her. I went to the boxes and opened one, I got more clothes. Different brands of shirts and tank tops, the more casual type. I hurried over the other box and found jeans, shorts, caprice, I was excited. I guess they had just delivered the boxes. I took them out and hung everything in my closet, where I was running out of room. I liked all the jeans and shirts I had got, I was watching the time, because I had to meet with Isabelle soon. I heard a door closing and I went to check who had entered my room. It was Robert, now that I had him in front of me I wanted to ask him something.

  “Robert.” I called him. He was already showered, and changed to something casual, jeans and a button up dark purple shirt. He was watching the news when he turned to look at me. “I just have a question…” I said, as I noticed him staring at me. “Would you stop staring at me like I’m a freak?” I snapped at him, and he blinked.

  “I wasn’t staring, just thinking.” He turned his gaze back to the television. And I walked over to sit by him,

  “Sure. Look, I just want to know why everyone acts like they know me… Like they’ve known me, without knowing me?” Even though it was confusing, he knew exactly what I meant. “Why does everybody know who I am?” I asked him. He didn’t reply right away.

  “They met you last night, why else? Besides, before a new student arrives here or to any school, they tell the students so they know ahead of time.” He answered, still not looking at me. I wasn’t sure if I should believe him, but it was a reasonable explanation, for the most part.

  “It’s weird though, I don’t like how they know me like that, and it’s just…. Strange.” I said staring at the TV, without paying attention. I looked at Robert and he was staring at me again, the same way he had before. “Why do you do that?” I had to ask him.

  “Do what?” He asked innocently.

  “Stare, like you’re looking at someone‘s soul.”

  “I do that?” He asked as if he didn’t know, and switched his attention back to the news, grinning.

  “Yes, so why?” My voice was soft and almost a whisper, but he heard.

  “Well… I don’t look at everyone that way, you know?” He looked at me still grinning.

  “Only me?” I asked surprised.

  “Only you,” He continued. “I don’t want to, but I do. My blood calls for you, it’s getting worse. I can’t help it, I hate it.” I saw hurt in his eyes, and saw how tormented he was becoming by this.

  “Robert, you don’t have to hide it, if you cant. I don’t know what we could do, but we’ll figure it out. I don’t like to think about it because things get weird.” I admitted.

  “I can’t make it stop.” He confessed.

  I didn’t know what to say to that, I suddenly felt a need for him, something I had never felt before. “I… don’t know what to say… I’m worried, is it really as bad as we think?”

  “I read through some books, and according to most of them, the bond is stronger than what we thought. It’s not just our blood, it’s us. It becomes stronger each day, unbreakable. The only way that it would fade, would be if one person was at a long distance, but it would only fade, never brake.” He told me what I was afraid of. He sighed and he was only two inches away from me. “I don’t know how to stay away from you, I’m trying but… when I was making out with Genevieve last night I was thinking about you the whole time, god knows how hard I was trying to keep you out, but you didn’t want to leave me.”

  “What do you mean?” I whispered.

  “I can sense it from you… you don’t even know it yourself.” He slightly smiled. Then I felt him tense up, and then he froze, he didn’t breathe for a second.

  “Robert! What’s wrong?” I tried shaking him, but he was as hard as a rock. I grabbed my cell phone and called Isabelle.

  “He’s not moving, and he looks like he’s sleeping but he’s stiff and I can’t move him, he’s on the couch.” I was seriously panicking.

  “I’m coming up the stairs. I’ll be there in a sec.” She said.

  I ran to the bathroom and got some alcohol, I saw it on movies all the time so I grabbed it and went back to the couch where I found Robert still lying there looking lifeless, he lost his color and turned almost snow white. I touched him, and he felt harder, steel almost. Goddess Isabelle burst through the door with a wide smile she held a black bottle.

  “Is he alright?” I looked at her like she was crazy, for not worrying.

  “He’s perfect. Mia, he’s turned into a full vampire.” The words hit me hard. I guess I had not thought about the big step I would take soon too. I now, knew why she was smiling. This was good news to them. “I have called your god, and goddess Robert.” She said to him but he still didn’t move and laid there motionless. She opened his mouth and poured some liquid from the black bottle into his mouth. I had a clear view of what it was, red and thick. It was blood.

  Two people came through the door, first it was Illyanne, and then a man I hadn't met.

  “Frederick, would you mind helping me?” Isabelle called the man.

  “Mia dear, you don’t need to see this yet. Could you go to your friend’s dorm for an hour or two?” Illyanne asked me as politely as ever, I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t argue with them either.

  “Yes, I can do that.” I said instead. “He’ll be alright?” I wanted to make sure.

  “Of course,” Isabelle said. I grabbed my school bag and purse and left my room. I went to see Mereily, I wanted to tell her what had just happened, but no one opened the door. I paced outside her door, waiting for her.

  “Mia, I’ve been looking for you.” Mereily said coming from the stairs, accompanied by Sophie and Delilah. I walked over to them. She stared at me for a minute. “What’s wrong?” All the girls stopped walking.

  “Robert has just turned into a full vampire.” I blurted out, their mouths
fell open.

  “Is he okay?” Delilah asked.

  “He’s fine. I think. That’s what they said.” I told them. We went in their room and talked for a while but to me it seemed like an eternity. The subject of Robert wasn’t a big deal. They told me how royals tend to turn into full vampires before the other students, because of the bloodline from the king and queen, lords and whatnot. Finally, two hours went by and I had to check out my room. “Well, I have to go now. I have to start on my homework or I’ll never finish, I’ll see you at dinner.” I said to them.

  “Bye.” They said in unison. I walked fast to my room, I was anxious and curious, when I opened my door and saw nothing, I knew they were all gone.

  I went to check the bathroom, took a second look on the couch, but nothing. Robert wasn’t in the room anymore. I sat down on my bed and wondered what had happened. What’s it to me anyway? I thought.

  I took my homework out and started working on it. I kept glancing at the clock it was almost six, dinner time. Turning the TV on I listened to music, MTV was playing the same music videos. I was finishing up my homework and trying to clear my head, when the door opened. Robert walked in looking like a true god, his hair was lighter, his skin was so white. He just had a different look. He looked like a vampire, because he was one.

  “Hi.” He said as he sat on his bed facing mine. “I’m saying good bye… they found a solution for our problem… they’re sending me away, but it’s a good thing…. I’m going to finish my training as a vampire, and I‘ll be graduating in a few months when I come back. They won’t replace me exactly but they want Abi to do two hours of training with you. By the time I come back the queen and king should be here, then they’ll decide what will happen. They won’t bother you about this, I told them not to that I would tell you, you should be fine…. It is for the best, take care okay?” He stood up and I barely had time to set my homework aside. “You also need to understand that I can’t give you the V2 anymore, Anna Denali will help you with the injections…her room is right at the corner of the hall. You can’t receive V2 from someone else, it’s been marked by me….” He trailed off.