by Mary Abshire
Emily ambled in the gym while waiting for Andrew. The stiffness in her muscles seemed less since she’d stretched in the bathroom. The cool water and air conditioning refreshed her as well. She wasn’t in peak condition to stand up against military men, but she’d give her best to try and put them down before they could do the same to her.
“Have a seat near the mats, but not on them,” Matt said as others trickled into the room.
Emily stood off to the side while the men claimed their spots. Many strained and clenched their jaws on their way to the floor. She turned away, smiling. Tense back and legs made for good targets.
She leaned against the wall near the windows and drank more water. Andrew came out behind two men. He held a paper towel between his hands as he strode toward her. She capped her drink and set it on the windowsill.
“I’m trying to get the bleeding to stop,” he said softly as he squeezed the towel between his hands.
“How bad is it?” she asked.
“Not bad.”
“Are we ready to get this over with?” Matt asked.
The chatter quieted. The last of the men exited the locker room. They sat behind the others.
“I will call out two names. Put on the gloves, but keep in mind, this is not a fight. You want to put your opponent down, but not knock him or her out. We will be watching to see how you defend yourselves,” Matt said. “Got it?”
“I think the men are tired and sore too. Try to kick out their feet or aim for their back,” she said in a near whisper.
He gave her a single nod before she reclaimed her water. They moved closer to the mats, but she remained standing on the side near one of the machines. Andrew stood next to her.
Matt called out two names. Each man rose and headed for a pair of gloves. Within minutes the game began.
The two men circled each other with their arms up. Several shots were thrown. The larger man aimed for the other guy’s ribs and hit them repeatedly.
“Stop. Stop!” Matt called out as he stepped on the cushioned floor. He waited for the two to face him. “This isn’t a fight to the end. Find a way to put your opponent on the ground without beating him. Understand?”
After they nodded, he strode back to his spot. The two men resumed their quest. The large man struck the other in the gut, then back kicked his knees. The smaller of the two men went down.
“Next,” Don yelled.
Matt looked at his clipboard. “Carrie and Brad.”
Andrew shot his gaze to her.
She handed his bottle to him. “Wish me luck.”
“Be careful.”
Her pulse began to race as she stepped onto the mat. The big guy handed her the gloves while Brad got his from the other man. After she slid her hand inside one, she tightened the Velcro. She slipped her hand into the other and fastened it as best she could.
Brad hit his gloves together as he faced her. With a deep breath, she lifted her arms. He was only a few inches taller than her, so she had little doubt she could bring him down. She estimated he’d aim for her face first. Most men did.
He shot his right glove at her head. She blocked it with her left arm. Before he could swing again, she struck at his face. His head jerked back. He shook off the blow and brought his gloves in front of his face. He aimed for her face again with his other hand. She blocked it and then hit his gut. He stepped back, holding his arms up. She suspected he wanted to hit her hard the next time. They stared at each other as they circled on the mat. Tension in his face gave him a more serious, threatening appearance. She knew what she had to do.
She sent a weak blow to his face, knowing he’d block it with plenty of force. He did and then aimed fast and furiously for her face. She spun away from his strike, putting her back to him. She bent a few inches as she quickly grabbed his arm above her shoulder. The gloves made it difficult to get a good grip and they slipped a little. Clenching her teeth, she strained as she lugged him over her body, but she did it. He smacked face-up on the mat. Men in the crowd groaned.
“Next,” Don yelled.
Brad looked up at her with wide eyes.
“No hard feelings,” she said as she took the gloves off.
Matt called two more names. She handed the gloves to the first one who stepped on the cushioned flooring. Back aching from the strain, she headed toward Andrew.
He beamed with happiness. “I am so turned on by watching you.” He gave the water back to her.
She grinned. “I knew what he planned to do. It was typical.”
“You’re hot.”
“Later, lover.”
The tryouts continued. Emily shifted her balance between her feet while she stood and watched. She wanted to stretch her back, but she would give away her weak spot if she did. When Matt called Spencer, her heart jumped.
“Good luck,” she said as Andrew walked away.
Andrew put on the gloves and faced Trent on the mats. Andrew had a slightly larger build. Trent had a few inches height over Andrew. He could take Trent down if he remembered her tips.
Trent made the first move, thrusting his right glove toward Andrew’s ribs. Andrew shoved it down and fired at Trent’s gut. The blow forced Trent back a step. Trent came forward swinging high and low. Andrew blocked each attempt, but he couldn’t get a shot in. When Trent swung his leg out, Andrew jumped. He saw his chance to get a hit in and swung at Trent’s face. Trent’s head jerked back. Andrew punched him in the side of his ribs and then kicked the back of Trent’s legs. The tall man fell to his knees.
Emily’s heart pumped rapidly with pride and love. Her man succeeded in putting his opponent down.
“Carrie and Jon,” Matt called out.
Emily set her bottle on the ground near the machine. Trepidation began to rise within her. She had to face the large man who’d won the first round of their self-defense tryouts.
Andrew handed his gloves to her. “You can do this.”
“We’ll see.”
She appraised her opponent as she put the gloves on. Jon was three times her size. With her back still tense, she didn’t dare try to pull him over her shoulder. The only way she could take him down would be to knock him off his feet and even that would take some doing.
Jon faced her with a smirk on his face. She suspected he thought she would be easy to bring down. He didn’t know her well.
He shot at the side of her ribs first. She spun, missing the hit, and fired at the side of his ribs. The blow had little effect on him. The man had hard-as-steel muscles. He aimed for her face and she blocked each blow. He snuck in a punch to her gut and she stepped back, gasping for air.
Jon’s lips curled on one side. Emily shook off the anger boiling within her. Emotion would get her into trouble.
She returned to the center, arms up in front of her. The man’s ego needed to drop several notches. He swung at her face and she ducked. While she was low, she thrust her glove at his groin. He grunted as he stepped back. Face tightening, he came toward her. He aimed for her ribs first and then her face. Each block sent a wave of agony up and down her arms. She started punching at his gloves to throw him off. Her battle wasn’t going to last. He had more strength than she did. In order for her to get a shot at him, she’d have to take a hit. A smack to the face would be better than one to the ribs.
His swings slowed and she took to jumping on the mat while they circled. When he took a step to the side and threw his glove at her, she thrust her leg up. The blow to her face came mere seconds before she kicked his balls. He groaned and she stumbled back. The men watching made painful sounds too. She almost lost her balance. Ears ringing and nose aching, she saw her chance to bring him down while he bent, clutching at his crotch. She ran for him and swung her leg at his. He went down on his back with a thud and a grunt.
Don clapped his hands. “Nice job.”
“Is that fair?” one of the men asked.
“I defended myself. I think it’s fair,” Emily spat.
“Roy and Brian, you�
��re up next,” Matt said.
She hurried to remove her gloves before anyone else questioned her.
Roy, the red-headed man, came up to her. “Good job.”
She handed the gloves to him. “Thanks.”
Brows pinched, Andrew stared as she approached him. “How’s your nose?”
“It hurts.” She picked up her bottle and drank the last bit of water.
“Why did you let him hit you?” he asked quietly.
“Sometimes you have to take a hit to make your move.”
“You almost fell.”
“But I didn’t.”
He shook his head. “We better get these positions.”
Emily watched Roy beat Brian. Matt called two more winners up to face each other. After they finished, Andrew had to meet Mark on the mats. Mark put up a good fight and managed to get several hits on Andrew, but the angel won by tossing Mark over his shoulder. Another two men danced around until one fell. When Matt called Carrie’s name again, she wasn’t surprised.
Emily faced Roy on the mats. He didn’t come out swinging his gloves like Jon had. Roy took his time and kept her moving. She used her gloves to block his shots since her arms were sore. He tried to sweep her off her feet. She jumped and landed a smack to his face, earning a few remarks from the crowd. When he tried to throw several low punches, she hit them with her gloves. He took a step back and she thrust her foot at his gut. He stumbled and she shot at his face with each arm. Seeing he was dazed, she made her final move. She elbowed his ribs before she kicked at the back of his legs.
Don clapped his hands. “Good job to everyone today. Be proud of yourselves.”
Matt stepped closer as Roy rose. “I can see everyone is well trained. My client thanks each of you for giving your best efforts over the last two days. Go clean up and check with me before you leave.”
Emily dropped the gloves on the mat while the men headed for the locker room. Andrew waited for her near the coolers.
“Are you showering here?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m going to take a quick one. I need to.”
“I’ll change, but I’m not showering. I’ll wait for you here.” He pointed at the ground.
“See you in a few,” she said before she left him.
Her muscles and bones ached fiercely. She wanted to lie in bed and do nothing for several days, but the clothes and dirt sticking to her skin reminded her she had to clean herself first. After she grabbed her belongings from the locker, she headed for one of the showers.
As quick as she could, she scrubbed the filth off her body. She didn’t bother washing her hair since she didn’t bring any supplies. Refreshed and clean, she stepped out of the small shower. She dabbed on deodorant and then donned a clean pair of clothes. Rings back on her finger and bag in hand, she walked out of the locker room.
Don stood near the heavy weights, talking to a tall man with light-brown hair. The stranger had a big gold watch on his wrist and wore crisp shorts and a yellow polo shirt. Several men were talking to Matt near the door. From her left side, Andrew grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“I don’t know who he is, but he spoke to Roy earlier,” Andrew whispered. “Roy left with a big smile on his face.”
“Shit. You don’t think…”
“Why else would he leave in a good mood?”
Emily shook her head. “Fuck.” She’d beaten the bastard. Why would he have been picked for the job over her?
“There’s something else you should know.”
“What?”
“The man with Don has a black aura.”
Emily swallowed hard. “Another demon?”
The one nod he gave sent her pulse racing. They hadn’t encountered multiple demons before. What were they supposed to do? Only one demon had been inked on Andrew’s arm.
“He’s coming this way,” Andrew whispered.
Emily swung her bag on her shoulder as she twisted. Don and the stranger approached them, both smiling. Her heart rate accelerated. Whoever the demon was, it seemed they were about to meet him.
Chapter Eight
The demon walked with a confident stride toward him and Emily. He looked as if he’d come from a golf course with his wrinkle-free shorts and polo shirt. His light-brown locks were straighter and longer than Andrew’s. He’d parted his hair on the side with short bangs hanging above his forehead. He had a fit physique, but lacked muscle definition. Don stayed by his side as they came to a halt in front of them.
“I want to thank you for coming to the tryouts,” the demon said. “You two did very well. So much so, I’d like to invite you for lunch tomorrow.”
Andrew turned to Emily. He wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I’m sorry,” the demon said before he offered his hand. “I’m Christopher.”
Emily shook his hand briefly and then Christopher greeted Andrew in kind. Andrew recalled Emily’s research on the property. It belonged to a Christopher Butler, Annabelle’s father.
“I’d like you to come back and meet with a few more associates of mine. Your skills are quite impressive,” Christopher said. “Can I ask where you learned them?”
“I grew up with a very talented man. He taught me everything,” Emily said.
“I don’t suppose you can share his name,” Christopher said.
“No, I’d never do that,” she said.
He pointed his finger from her to Andrew. “And I suppose you shared your skills with your husband?”
“Of course,” she said.
“You found an impressive woman,” Christopher said.
“Yes, and she’s all mine,” Andrew said.
“Would these associates you want us to meet be part of an interview process?” Emily asked.
Don chuckled as Christopher glanced at him. “You didn’t tell me she was smart too,” Christopher said.
“What exactly did he tell you?” Emily asked.
“Only good things,” Christopher said, smiling. “I think you two might be a good fit for our team.”
“Are you the client?” Andrew asked.
“I am indeed, which is why I’d like you to meet a few other associates. Of course, it would’ve helped if you could’ve provided references or your past work experience,” Christopher said.
“Our previous clients requested their names be kept private,” Andrew said.
“Yes, Matt told me,” Christopher said.
Several more men walked out of the locker room. Don leaned toward Christopher. “The one with the ghost tat on his arm is Jon.”
“Make sure Matt talks to him,” Christopher said.
Don nodded before he walked away, following the men toward the exit.
“I’m sorry about that. The fact is I haven’t quite made up my mind. I think you two are very talented. Roy and Jon are equally skilled. I know about their past work experience and service records, but I know nothing about you two. This is why I’d like you to return and have lunch with me and my colleagues.” Christopher said.
“Would you be asking all four of us questions?” Emily asked. “Like some kind of group interview?”
“No. Each one of us would take turns talking with you. It will be very informal. You don’t have to dress up. Just be yourselves. And you don’t have to bring anything. Food and drinks will be provided,” he said.
“After all the work we put into these tryouts, a free lunch would be nice,” Andrew said.
Christopher chuckled. “That’s one way of looking at it. Climbing those walls couldn’t have been easy.”
Andrew’s sore muscles agreed with the demon.
“What time should we arrive?” Emily asked.
“Is one too late?”
“One is perfect,” Andrew said.
“Great. I look forward to talking to you again tomorrow,” he said before he took a step back.
“Thank you,” Emily said.
“Take care.” Christopher spun and headed for Don and Jon.
“Let’s get out
of here,” Andrew said.
Side by side, they headed for the exit. Matt stood near the door with his phone in his hand. He lowered it as they reached him.
“So we’ll see you two tomorrow?” Matt asked.
“Yes, you will,” Andrew said.
“Good, get some good rest. I’m sure you two need it,” Matt said.
“Thanks,” Emily said.
Andrew pushed open the door and held it for Emily. She led the way out the next one. The bright sun sent a spike of pain through his skull, yet he still felt a small sense of relief as they headed for the Jeep. They’d made the final cut. All they had left to do was impress Christopher and his buddies.
After loading their bags in the back seat, they settled in the front. Emily cranked up the air conditioner before she backed out of the parking spot.
“What did you think?” she asked as she steered onto the path leading toward the main gate.
“About Christopher?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t have a clue. We know he’s Annabelle’s father and owns the property.”
“Do you think she is a demon because of him?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it could be possible, but upstairs never told me anything about demons other than they have black auras.”
Andrew frowned as he looked away from her. The guard in heaven hadn’t shared much information before sending him back to Earth. They’d injected him with holy water and some other chemical so they could monitor and communicate with him. Then the guard told him about human auras. Minutes later, he’d lost consciousness. He woke up naked in the middle of a country road and Emily had found him. The process of returning people to Earth for mission was in serious need of revamping.
“Do you think it’s strange they put her name on your arm instead of his name?” she asked.
He lifted a shoulder. “Again, I don’t know. But now that we know he is a demon, my task just became more difficult.”
“How so?”
“Once I kill her and destroy the demon, he’s going to want to know how she died.”
“Oh, yeah. There is that. But we have a bottle of poison left. It’s untraceable.”
“As of now, that vial is the means I’ll have to use to kill her. I don’t see any other way of getting rid of her since she’s such a high-profile figure and lives at home with her dad.”
