Adelade

Determined to provide a way for both Lula and I to obtain security for ourselves, my mind searched every option to procure it. As soon as I entered the house, I searched for Lula, and found her just waking for the day.

She frowned when she saw me. “Are you okay?”

“Lula, how much longer before you are expected below?”

“They won’t be up for another few hours. At least, that has been my experience.”

I moved to the water in her basin and splashed my face and arms, then I stared into the mirror, determined. I turned to Lula who was watching me carefully.

I took her hand. “Lula, I cannot live like this, being moved like a pawn on a chess board.”

She nodded her head, and ran her other hand through her hair. “But what can we do?”

I leaned in, and she followed suit until we were only inches from each other. “I intend to change my circumstances. To become the hunter, instead of the prey. Will you join me?”

She hesitated for a moment. Her youth had been different then mine. She’d grown up with more luxuries and had certainly expected to become betrothed to someone of much higher standing. But we were the same in that we didn’t control our destinies. And even though she was a princess in the house of the strigoi, she was still under their control. They could get bored with her and decide that she wasn’t worth the time it took to look at her, and take her life. Her thoughts churned through her mind as she decided what to do. What I was proposing could be very dangerous if we were ever discovered. Women did not determine their fate, or attempt to control their own lives. To even attempt to speak to Detrand regarding my grievances could mean certain death.

Slowly, she nodded her head and, staring at me in the eyes, she spoke. “I will.”

I grinned and eyed her clothing. “Get dressed, we’re going out.”

* * *

We sat against the brick wall in the dark alley, watching people walk by on the main street. The moon rose in the sky and Lula began to fidget, afraid that Rowan had woken and was looking for her. I took her hand, stilling her, and she calmed under my touch.

After a time, I heard his voice and squeezed her hand. He was coming.

And then I saw him, and both Lula and I stared at him like he was a god walking among man. His shoulders were gloriously wide, with muscles that pressed out from his shirt. His arms were tan, his fingers nimble, as he reached down to a widow and pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders. They spoke in quiet tones and I imagined the twinkle in his eye as he spoke to her. They laughed and after a while, he straightened. He made to move towards us and I shifted, ready to approach him.

His eyes, still filled with laughter, connected with mine and the amusement in them vanished. He turned and began to run.

Pausing for a moment to stare at Lula in wonder, we bolted from our position and took after him.

“Landon!” My voice called up the street, but he didn’t stop. He ran through a dark alleyway behind the theater and I followed him. Lula fell behind me and even though I was out of breath, I still continued my pursuit relentlessly. The road emptied into another street and as I turned, a hand grabbed me and pulled me into the darkness.

He held a knife to my neck. “What do you want?”

I gripped his hand, trying to push the knife away, but he was too strong. He dug it in deeper, and it pricked my skin.

His voice turned deadly. “I said, what do you want?”

Showing him that I had no harmful intent, I put my hands out, and that’s when Lula finally rounded the corner.

He held the knife out towards her, pulling me tighter to his chest. “Why are you chasing me?”

She held her arms towards him, trying to calm him. “We just want to talk, that’s all.”

He pressed his knife to my throat again. “I don’t believe you.”

I gripped his wrist; it was slick with his sweat. “We mean you no harm.”

He laughed. “I know that you live with the strigoi now, and I will not be caught in their snare.”

I clicked my tongue. “I know you’re already caught. You’re in their world as much as we are.”

Lula stepped forward. “We just want to learn how to fight, in case we are ever attacked.”

He studied her and after a while he dropped his hand, releasing me. “You could never fight the strigoi. They are too strong, too fast, and too powerful. It would be better to give in to their demands.” He put his hand to his neck and rubbed it softly. “Even if it is painful. Although many times it is not.”

I eyed him carefully and he dropped his hand.

Lula pulled me closer to her, and I turned so that we were facing him. “Please, Landon.”

Lula nodded. “We know that we are weak. But you could train us, and that would make us stronger.” She slipped closer to face him, stared into his eyes and touched his hand. “You could give us a fighting chance.”

He looked at her, really looked at her, and I knew that he was entranced by her beauty. After a moment of thought, he nodded his head, and a soft affirmation escaped his lips. Lula turned to me, and I grinned at her.

* * *

I mimicked Landon’s steps, stepping in then out. Lula was behind me. Her steps were more clumsy and she had managed to trip both Landon and I at once several times. I wiped at the sweat running down my forehead and tried again.

This time my legs seemed to move on their own as I leaped across the warehouse. A second later, Lula landed beside me and we turned towards each other, a grin on our face.

Landon frowned. “The strigoi are ruthless, they will not wait. If your feet stumble, they will be on you. Halt your smiles and keep pushing.”

He sat to the side of the warehouse that Stefano allowed him to use, while he studied the papers in Stefano’s office.

Landon was smart, he made himself aware of Stefano’s business in order to protect his family. His father had died several years ago due to a rampaging strigoi, and Landon was always sure to be aware of any situation that may bleed out into the human population.

Turning my back to him, I made a face, and Lula stifled her laugh, then we moved again, determined to get the steps down.

“No, no, no.” Dropping the ledger, he went to Lula and took her face into his hands. “You must hold your head steady, like this.” He touched her chin. “Loosen your mouth. Any strength your body offers must be to your feet and your arms; this is the only way to maintain any advantage over the strigoi.”

She looked into his serious eyes and a pink blush rose to her face. I studied her curiously and noticed the way his hands lingered just a little at her face.

He put his hand on her back. “Keep your back in a neutral position so that you can adjust at a second’s moment.” He stood back. “Try again.”

She closed her eyes, and flowed across the room. I was entranced by her movements. She wove like a ballerina and I longed to be as graceful as she.

He smiled. “Good.” He turned to me and, noting my careful gaze, he strode to his seat. “Now do it a hundred times, and then you’ll be done for the night. When you return, we will work on the movements of our arms.”

I took in a deep breath and even though the blisters on my feet called for a rest, I began to move.