Chapter 16

The next morning Aggie was sore, but it was a good sore. The kind of pain that let you know you had muscles, but not enough to be immobile. Breakfast was the usual spread and after their workout the day before as well as the plan to repeat it that day, Aggie planned to load up on calories so she wouldn’t crap out too soon. Piling her plate high with eggs and bacon she threw on a couple pancakes and slathered everything with syrup. As she sat down a cup appeared in front of her, glancing around she saw that no one was anywhere near her. “Who did that?”

No one said a word, but Gryson’s smile slipped on his face. Aggie nodded her head as she took that first sip. It ran through her body like liquid energy. Then it hit her, “Eldon, is it possible that foods and anything that comes right from the ground will affect me differently now?” She didn’t know how to describe it but coffee had always felt like a life-giving brew, but that morning it was literal. She felt renewed.

“I can’t say exactly how it would work on you. What I can say is, I feel a bit more spry after my meals. Since I’ve always been that way it isn’t something I really notice all that often as something of significance. We can watch it and see how you react before and after eating.” Eldon’ scooped up another bite of his breakfast.

Deciding to test this theory, Aggie jumped from her chair and grabbed a second plate of food, this time she chose only from the fruit table. Selecting a piece of cantaloupe Aggie took a bite, the juices ran down her arm and she slurped up what she could to not let it escape. The flavor burst in her mouth as though it were the first time she had ever tasted the delicacy. Sweet and light in flavor and perfect in every way. With eyes wide like a child, Aggie looked around the table, but to her disappointment, none of the guys were paying any attention to her. So she chose to enjoy the rest of her meal, in peace.

Aggie quickly realized, that only the grown food reacted in the magically new way as the cantaloupe. The pancakes, eggs and bacon while good, weren’t explosive on her tongue the same as the fruit. To Aggie’s surprise, she finished everything and wasn’t overly stuffed. If she didn’t want to make headway and get to the gym, she would have gone back for seconds. She was dressed in another set of leathers, but this time created by Liel. He met her at the twin’s door this morning before breakfast and Aggie was grateful. While Eldon had walked her back to the twin’s room, he was kind enough to transform her previous leathers into a beautiful silk nightgown trimmed in lace. Liel’s version of the leathers from the previous day were practical and the same buttery soft and pliable. She never would have realized how functional this material was until she worked out the previous day vigorously with no complications. Liel’s accent coloring were beautiful sweeping greens of different shades waving across her right torso. They ran diagonal and twirling at the ends and twining the individual strands and colors together into one on both ends. Her boots were the perfect size and all black. Aggie felt like she could go on a super-secret mission after dark and fit in perfectly.

Scraping her chair back from the table ready to start the day, “So what is on the agenda today?” While she was leading the conversation, she didn’t want to dictate today.

“I made some headway with my scrying yesterday, but I’m having trouble narrowing it down. I’m hoping with Mathius’s help I can narrow down what I’m seeing. I don’t know the terrain and can’t figure out what the interference might be at this time.” Gryson looked exhausted, but more disappointed than anything. His hair was out of place for the first time since she had met him, as though he had been constantly running his hands through it.

“I think that is a good plan, Mathius do you have any plans today?” Aggie wanted them to cheer up and know they were on track.

“Nothing that can’t be held off for a while. I was just going to do rounds and see if anything had changed.” Mathius moved over beside Gryson and the other two men, Liel decided to pick up his original role in the search, they made their way to what Aggie assumed was the Security room.

“Anyone else have any great and wonderful plans today?” Aggie scanned the room, the remaining men just shrugged noncommittally. Raising one eyebrow, Aggie silently questioned their response.

“Well, Ren and I are going to be picking up your training from where we left of yesterday. I’m planning to incorporate some actual fighting today, but you aren’t going to like it. Chances are you will be on your ass so much today, it’s going to be sore.” Snickering at his own words, Aggie scowled at him.

“Well, since that is our plan and no one has anything else they want to share, then let’s get this ass beating under way.” Aggie didn’t want them to know she has an ace up her sleeve, so she played along and ho-hummed her way through, following the twins out and to the training gym.

*****

“I said keep your hands up, you are going to ruin that pretty face if you don’t protect it. The entire point is to block yourself from attack. That means any attack, try it again.” Mitchell’s gruff words made Aggie mad. They had been working for over an hour and she was growing exhausted. Her arms felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each. “You also need to keep moving, an opponent could get the jump on you at anytime and you need to be on guard at all times even if that is just staying in motion. Becoming stagnant for even just a moment, could cost you your life. You also have to remember there will be magic in play, as well. Let me show you what I mean. Ren care to help in this demonstration? We’re going to show you how much quicker the reflexes can be from still and from already in motion. Even though he has no magic, with or without, just consider the consequences of one or the other if someone threw magic at you.” Mitchell took up the stance he had taught her, legs spread shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent for mobility. Bouncing on the balls of his feet, foot to foot shifting his weight back and forth he brought his hands up in a light fist, right hand slightly in front of the left. Aggie understood the purpose of this motion, but her will to keep going was wavering. She wished she possessed the stamina to keep this up as long as Mitchell and Ren.

Then without warning Ren barreled down and attacked his brother yelling and raising his leg in a side kick to try and take him down. Mitchell was ready for him and quickly dodged, able to step out of the way and never had to raise a fist or arm to block him.

“Reset.” Mitchell yelled out. He didn’t address Aggie between sets, but just spoke to his brother, who rounded back across the room to begin again. Mitchell reset his stance. Only this time, she noticed he didn’t bounce on the balls of his feet. For a moment, he swayed back and forth just shifting his weight from hip to hip. This time he looked more like an impatient husband waiting for his wife to finish shopping. His hands were on his hips and not in a protective stance.

Ren’s smile looked more like a malicious leer as he prepared to attack. This time instead a loud war cry, he approached stealthier, and without warning. When he got to Mitchell, he was scanning the room with his back to him and Ren didn’t hold back this time. With a quick strong jab, Ren punched Mitchell directly into his right kidney. While Aggie probably would have dropped to the floor writhing in pain, Mitchell’s face gave the slightest tensing. If Aggie didn’t know better she would have thought he was wincing. Though Aggie knew that Ren hadn’t pulled his punch, Mitchell was too much of an Alpha to show how much it actually hurt, he instead dropped to one knee to carry on with Aggie for the next few minutes. Not fooled one bit, Aggie knew he was regrouping because the punch wasn’t a tame one.

“As you can see I was better prepared and had a better reaction time when I was in proper form. When I was relaxed and just waiting for the next shoe to drop, that was when he got the better of me. Even though I knew he was coming, I couldn’t react as quickly when I would have had to turn completely around and then still put my hands up to react. This is why always being ready in most situations, but especially the ones you expect a fight to break out, is best. Are you ready to go again?” While she completely understood the reasoning behind the mechanics, what she couldn’t change was the sheer exhaustion that she felt in every inch of her body. If it weren’t for those poor kids and the need to rush in there and save them, just as soon as they knew where they were, she would much rather go and take a nap.

“Actually, can I please get a break? I’d be happy with a fifteen-minute water and sit break. Nothing crazy I promise, I just need to rest, we have been at this for over an hour now.” Aggie saw Ren glance up at the clock and cringe.

“I’m sorry Aggie, yes by all means, go take a rest. That will give Mitchell and I time to talk through your next set. Just think about the punches and kicks we have taught you. This will be a review session, when you get back from your break.” It was a wonder to Aggie, how the twins worked seamlessly together, sharing the leading responsibitlies, while magically not stepping on each other’s toes.

Sitting on the mat, she silently observed the guys as they discussed in the distance. While she couldn’t hear their words, it was fun to watch them in silence. In her mind, she ad libbed an entire conversation they were having about china dolls becoming a trend in Madagascar.

“No serious, they are having them imported via drones because they don’t want the pilots to feel ultimately responsible for the dolls in the event of a crash.” Aggie imagined Ren telling Mitchell.

As the conversation continued, Aggie fought a snicker at her own antics. “What do mean, couldn’t the drones crash just as easily?” Mitchell, ever the realist countered his brother with a furrowed brow and a confused look on his face.

“No, with the drones they can fly lower and drop faster in the event of an emergency and not worry about any loss of pressure or risk to human lives. That allows them to set the drone and the load down faster and there is less possibility of damages.” Aggie lost it and couldn’t hold back her mirth any longer, falling back on the mat rolling with a huge burst of laughter. She had forgotten about doing that when she was younger with her Gran. They used to mute the TV and make up their own dialogue that they deemed more suited to the images on the screen.

She was still laughing when the guys approached her. “What are you laughing at?” Mitchell’s scowl stopped her dead, but she still had to catch her breath so she wasn’t as somber as his face eluded that she should be. Taking two large breaths, she attempted to rein it in and settle herself.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you in that good of a mood. Whatever caused that, we are so going to repeat it later. Care to share whatever it was?” Ren always in good humor, but Mitchell didn’t seem amused.

“I think if she is feeling that good, then we should be getting back to work. We still have a long way to go.” Aggie knew he was right, but that didn’t sit well with her. As they walked back to the training area, Aggie formulated her plan.

“Okay, Princess, let’s go over what we have learned. I want to see what you have retained. Ren and I will alternate attacking you from different directions to help keep you moving. You either block us or dodge us. We won’t throw a punch. This is just for you to practice staying on your guard, but if you have to hit or kick to get around us do so. I don’t expect you to do anything that will cause lasting damage at this point.” Mitchell’s confidence in his words only revved Aggie up and had her more set in stone that she would be carrying out her plan.

Getting into her starting position, Aggie motioned with the first two fingers on her right hand, “Bring it boys. I think I’m in the mood for a challenge.”

“That’s what I like to hear. You are in it to win it, let’s do this.” Ren and Mitchell moved to their starting point, giving no inclination as to which one would move first and when. Aggie got up on the balls of her feet and started bouncing around back and forth every second. This gave her prime view of both men with only a second or two delay. While they were fast, she should at least see them move.

Ren came at her first from the right, she dodged him easily rolling to the left and out of his reach. Mitchell came next and very quickly, but she rolled back through her right shoulder. The entire time never losing her bounce in her step. Mitchell doubled back and she didn’t have enough time to spin away, instead she connected with his jaw using a right uppercut. She didn’t do too much damage, as he shook it off and glared at her. Staying in motion, Ren sped up and ran straight forward, but with Mitchell still to her left she locked in and nailed Ren in the abdomen with a double jab, right then left.

Ren doubled over at the impact, making Aggie feel justified for the force she was packing. The only let down was Ren’s beaming grin shining back at her instead of a pain laced grimace. Shrugging it off, she was thankful that she at least got part of a reaction.

“Is that all you got?” Now Ren was taunting her and she wasn’t going to let that slide. Deciding to take the game to them, Aggie kept her bounce in her step, but flexed her fingers and arms loosely by her side. It looked a bit silly, she knew, but it was more a distraction. Her shoulders twisted slightly, adding to the rubbery look of her arms.

The distraction was just what she needed, as she reached for her powers quickly hoping to achieve the final goal before they realized her eyes were glowing. Looking up slightly and closing her eyes, like she was just shaking out her muscles.

Without warning, Ren yelled and Mitchell bellowed as only he could, the sound carrying across the room. Not releasing the magic, Aggie opened her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips smiling confidently. What she saw was just what she had designed. Both men were suspended from the air from a thick vine, that twisted and turned through the space. It almost resembled a briar without thorns. She didn’t have any plans to hurt them but just remind them she wasn’t relying solely on her ability to fight with her physical strength.

“Now boys I think you should have a bit more awareness of what I’m capable of, I can do this anywhere. I just created this inside and not just outside. There is a limited list of places where my powers would be completely useless.” Choosing to hold them both there a bit longer, Aggie just waited them out. When they were able to acknowledge her as more than just a simple girl, then she would let them down.

Just then a movement caught her eye, it was Eldon. She turned with a smile on her face, but quickly realized he wasn’t there on a social call. He was moving a rapid speed and with the concentrated look it was obvious he was attacking. Her hackles rose instantly, and she nearly missed the chance to get her hands up. She rolled to the left, but not before he clipped her with his elbow propelling her a bit farther than she had intended.

“What was that?” Aggie screeched at him, but she realized that in the loss of concentration she had lost her hold on the vines. They weren’t gone, but the twins were working their ways loose. So she quickly twisted them a few more times for good measure to limit their process. It was a good thought too, because just then Kyrel dusted in front of her face and shoved her back.

While they weren’t using full force, she was getting pissed because this was four to one and those odds weren’t right. Letting out a frustrated yell, Aggie got herself into position. If they were going to gang up on her, she was going to put up a good fight. Her timing couldn’t have been better because a swirl of wind was coming her way and while she couldn’t identify the source, she assumed it was Eldon using his magic to create some sort of cover. Throwing her hand out, she imagined an rock hard shield and braced herself against it. If nothing else, she hoped it would end up splitting the air and causing it to go around her.

Since the shield was invisible, the force didn’t know what she had done. To Aggie’s surprise, it impacted her with the force of a man made of stone himself. Xavier slammed into her knocking her flat on her ass, hard. For her lack of awareness and preparation she paid for it with the loss of all air she had in her lungs. Gasping for air she fought to regain control. When the twins mentioned Xavier was fast, this wasn’t anything like what she had imagined. She literally couldn’t see him at the speed he was moving. It was as though he traveled through time. Had she not noticed the wind, it would have been worse without her shield in place.

Getting to her feet, Aggie knew they weren’t going easy on her. While they weren’t throwing punches and all out hitting her, this was a fight and if she couldn’t win she was damn well going to try. Putting her fists back up to protect herself, she bounced back on her feet spinning around quickly so as not to miss her next attack. Kyrel dusted in again and she felt the air shift around her just before he reappeared. Hoping she wasn’t wrong she recalled his approximate height and reached where his head should be appearing. Using his own momentum, gripping the back of his scalp and latching onto his hair, she pulled him down quickly and brought her right knee up and slammed it into his nose. While she didn’t cause any bloodshed, it was enough to slow him down.

Without missing a beat, Eldon was back in the game coming at her from left, she met him with a right cross, twice to the face. She was finished dodging and was ready to bring the fight to them. They wanted to now gang up on her five to one they would feel the pain of it all. She wasn’t going to back down and let them win. This was her fight and she was planning to own it.

Xavier, who was the one she had to watch, was missing. She didn’t know yet how to combat his speed, but she was still working it out. Then from above he first twin fell to the ground and landed in a roll. Aggie was a bit disoriented because she had been twisted and dropped and twirled around. She didn’t realize which one it was until he popped up and the furious grey eyes of Mitchell were piercing and he was pummeling towards her. Raising her hands to the ready and still bouncing on the balls of her feet, for fear one of the other guys would attack at the same time. Mitchell got close and Aggie feigned to the right and he went with her, but she recoiled quickly twirling back around and got him with a left hook to the jaw. It all happened so fast, Aggie was impressed herself at her fast planning.

“HA! Take that you overgrown dog!” Aggie was so excited her skin was practically vibrating. The ideas were flowing through her head and then from behind she felt a set of arms encircle her. Not knowing what else to do she didn’t fight she used her magic. Turning the ground beneath her attacker to ice. The unexpected change of texture caused him to waiver, giving Aggie enough room to break free and spin around. Her attacker was none other than her favorite twin, Ren. His eyes were huge, but more in awe of her process.

Xavier was still unaccounted for but she didn’t underestimate his plan. He was likely lurking in the shadows in wait. She was ready for him, nothing was going to stop her from dropping them all properly. Bouncing back into her ready stance, Aggie twirled what felt like forever. None of the others attacked and she didn’t know why, other than they were also waiting to see what the elusive vampire was waiting to do. Instead of waiting for him, she decided to reach out for her other senses. She closed her eyes and called on her magic. It was a dangerous move, to give up her primary defense and cut off her line of vision, but Aggie assumed he was going to sneak up on her with his speed anyway, so what the hell.

The air moved around her and as she bounced around she noticed the slight differences. After a moment, she felt it shift and she followed it. It changed and grew and the pressure was full Aggie knew this had to be Xavier. She followed with her eyes still closed, allowing her magic to lead her. Aggie only took three steps before she smelled the metallic tang, similar to what was in the goblet that fateful morning when she was introduced to his nature. Turning slightly, the air shifted and Aggie just knew. Opening her eyes, she saw him directly in front of her.

“Do you want to try this magically or on the level?” Aggie proposed since they both knew she could attack him with her magic with relative ease. That and he could run on her and disappear. They each had their own advantage.

“I’d be happy to go toe-to-toe with you, wee one. I’ll even let you use whatever you need to and I’ll stick to basic hand-to-hand combat, but I won’t hurt you.” Motioning for her to approach him, which was smart, given if he took one step toward her she was going to unleash a tornado and swoop him up to the clouds.

“On the count of three, you’re welcome to attack me.” Aggie figured it was the best approach.

Sounding off her count, Xavier reached for her with both hands. That was an interesting plan given Aggie’s propensity for dodging, but this wasn’t her plan. As soon as Xavier moved, Aggie summoned energy from her magic into her right leg. With every bit of force, she could manage, Aggie kicked straight out, and forced Xavier from her. Only what she didn’t expect was for him to fly back at least eight feet from her, landing on his ass.