10. Tavia
Chapter 10
Tavia
I didn’t wait in the apartment for long, but nearly paced a hole in the floor by the time Cyan arrived. He came through the door looking grim, his eyes still alight with rage, all the angles of his face sharp and tense.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to brief Thorne on what happened.” He looked around the living room and made a broad, sweeping gesture with his hand. “Let me move the furniture out of the way, then we can get started.”
“Get started?” I turned, watching as he shoved the couch, coffee table, end tables, and lamps to the far corners of the room, creating a large, empty space.
It was impossible to read his mood. I’d never seen him so pissed off like he was in that restaurant and I still couldn’t fully reconcile what happened. Cyan had always been so relaxed and easygoing until then. The confrontation was a stark reminder that I truly didn’t know him at all.
The vampire who’d come up to us had been pushy, but after watching Cyan deal with him, I almost felt bad for the guy. He was scared out of his mind. Now, Cyan’s anger was no longer explosive, but this quieter rage was almost more unsettling. He didn’t say a word as he stepped into the center of the newly- cleared living room, just put his hands on his hips and gave a small, satisfied nod as he looked around.
“This should work,” he muttered.
“Work for what?” I demanded, only then realizing I was inching toward the door. “What are you going to do?”
He met my eyes, his hard expression softening ever so slightly. “Relax, Tavi. Take a few deep breaths.”
“Tell me what you’re going to do.” My fists clenched at my sides, every muscle bracing for the unknown.
Was he pissed at me for some reason? Bea gave no indication that I’d be in danger when we returned to the compound, just that he might want to lecture me.
Cyan gave a crooked smile, flashing one fang. “I’m going to show you how to defend yourself, silly human. Here.” With an open palm, he reached down into the side of his boot and withdrew a silver dagger, the same one he used to carve his vow into his skin. Careful to avoid touching the blade, he held the handle out toward me. “I’m going to show you how to attack me using this. It’s your best defense against any vampire, regardless if they’re sober or on drae. Take it.”
I hesitated for a moment, feeling exactly like a silly human, before tentatively accepting the weapon. “Was that guy really dangerous?”
Cyan’s expression darkened. “He could have been. Drae addicts are unpredictable, and like with alcohol, their inhibitions are lowered. They may try things that they wouldn’t normally do while sober.”
“And they can go out in the sun while on it?” The dagger felt heavy and awkward in my hand, so I examined the intricately carved handle.
Cyan sucked in a harsh breath when I touched the flat side of the blade, then looked relieved when he remembered that silver didn’t burn me like it did him.
“Yeah, that’s the whole point of taking it,” he said blandly. “The draw of feeling sunlight for the first time is all it takes to entice any curious vampire. Brusang fall for it too when they get nostalgic about their human lives. No one gives warnings about the side effects and addictive qualities until it’s too late. And that filth,” Cyan snarled, pointing toward the door, “doesn’t care about the lives ruined, the vampires burned to a crisp because they miscalculated a dose, the dependency that makes them sell everything for another fix, as long as he’s getting paid. Him, his supplier, and all the others like them, are what’s gonna be the downfall of vampires. Not the clans, not the werewolves, but the scum of our own kind taking advantage of people.”
Cyan took a deep breath, shoulders sagging like the explanation exhausted him. Like this whole quiet war on the streets was a constant, unwinnable churn.
“I’m sorry,” I said after some silence. “I can see why Blood ‘til Dawn outlawed the drug.”
He let out a dry laugh. “If only that were enough.” Straightening, his gaze returned to the silver dagger in my hand. “Now, to learn how to use that thing. Getting out of any confrontation alive is more mental than physical. Remember that vampires can sense your heartbeat. Work on breathing deeply so your pulse isn’t going too fast. If you’re mentally calm and in control, your body will follow.”
“Is an aggressive vampire going to give me time to do breathing exercises?”
“No, but just something to keep in mind.” He smirked. “I know you’re being cheeky, but if your pulse is steady, it’s going to throw your attacker off his game. He’s going to want a spiked pulse, a fearful response. Don’t give him that, and you’re already ahead.” Cyan curled his fingers at me in a beckoning motion. “Come at me with the dagger, try to stab me.”
“What if I hit you?”
“You won’t.” His smirk became a full-on grin. “Let’s see what you got, brave little human.”
I was no stranger to physical confrontations, even fist fights, but my body felt encased in cement. I was a defensive brawler, always standing over or in front of Amy. I couldn’t just rush Cyan unprovoked, even if there was no risk of me hurting him. Running to attack someone unarmed or undefended was just not in my DNA.
“No,” I said, and the vampire arched a brow. “I’m defending myself. So you need to come at me.”
“Fair enough.”
Cyan’s shrug barely registered in my vision before he was on me. I felt a sharp pain in my scalp as he jerked my head back by my hair. His fangs hovered just above me and I reacted on instinct, slashing upward with the dagger.
He closed a hand around my wrist to halt the attack. The blade didn’t even touch him.
Immediately he released me and took several long backwards strides until he was against the far wall. “Not bad, but keep your arm tight to your body, don’t swing wide with it. Protect your vital organs and your throat. You also need to have the dagger up before I reach you.”
The next thing I knew he was on me again, his fist gripping the hair at the base of my skull, teeth pulled back and fangs hovering over my neck. My slash at him was just as slow and uncoordinated as my first attempt. He’d moved so fast, his advice hadn’t even registered before I reacted again. He didn’t even grab my wrist this time, but simply deflected my strike with a lift of his elbow.
“I wasn’t ready,” I panted when he released me again. His arm had wrapped around my waist this time, and I swore his fingers lingered there before he walked across the room again.
No, I had to be reading into it.
“You’ll never be ready when a real attack comes,” was his only reply.
Cyan came at me again. And again. And again.
By roughly the 8th time, I started anticipating his strikes and incorporating his advice into my defense. He didn’t do the exact same thing every time, but I quickly figured out that he would always go for my neck. When I started catching on to one technique, Cyan would switch it up and rush me another way. We practiced over and over so many times, I started to see the similarities and differences for each situation.
Cyan didn’t talk much except for brief pointers. “Tuck your chin. Keep a slight bend in your knees, let gravity help you. If I come from the side, cross your arm over your body and slash downward.”
Mostly, he allowed me to figure it out on my own, which I appreciated. I wasn’t used to fighting with a weapon, but I knew how to target weak spots and break holds when being grabbed. After he encouraged me not to hold back, I had to admit it was satisfying jabbing my elbow in Cyan’s stomach.
“I’ll heal in minutes,” he said against my ear while capturing me in a hold from behind. “Only silver can permanently damage me, remember?”
I made sure to kick the inside of his knee, but stopped myself from shoving the heel of my hand into his nose. Broken noses could heal badly, on top of being painful as hell.
The dagger felt unnatural at first, but after so many repetitive rounds it began to feel like an extension of my arm. I held the blade outward when I slashed up to protect my neck, kept it facing my attacker as I rotated my body away from him.
We went through pretend attacks so many times that my arms and legs ached with exhaustion, but I also felt like a well-oiled machine. I could sense Cyan’s movements and even anticipate his fake-outs. He was always faster than me, but I knew he was doing me a favor by not taking it slow and easy. He wanted me to be prepared for anything, and I appreciated that from him.
I liked that he respected me enough to not coddle me.
“You’re doing well.” After hours of drilling, he didn’t even breathe hard. I, on the other hand, was fighting for air and dripping with sweat. “Let’s take a breather, go through it a few more times, then call it a night. Dawn’s approaching.”
I nodded, lacing my fingers behind my head as I sucked in mouthfuls of air. Across the room, as far away from me as possible, Cyan made a face. It looked something like a grimace, but he looked away and smoothed his expression in the next instant.
“Do I smell bad or something?” I ask through my panting breaths.
“What?” He stared at me, facial muscles tense like he was trying to not make that grimace again. “No, you smell…fine.”
“It’s okay, Cy, you won’t hurt my feelings.” I gave him a knowing smile. “I’m a big girl. And I’ve been sweating for the past hour. I badly need a shower.”
“No, seriously. Your scent is…it really doesn’t bother me.”
“Cy.” I shot him a withering look. “You’ve been standing as far away from me as possible every moment you’re not attacking me. I’m sweaty and ripe, I get it.”
“No.” The word came out more forceful, tinged with a growl. “Nothing’s wrong with your scent. You know what it is? It—” He cut himself off abruptly, rubbing his jaw. “Nevermind.”
“No, tell me.” I took a few steps toward him and immediately noted how he flattened against the wall. “If it’s not how I smell, then what?”
“Don’t come any closer,” he snarled. “I can only handle it up close in small doses.”
“Handle what?”
“Your pulse,” he snapped. “Your heart’s been hammering like a drum the whole time we’ve been training and it’s,” he inhaled a harsh breath and forced it out, “it’s fucking distracting.”
“Oh.” While I pondered on that, I took a few steps away from him.
“What was the first thing I told you?” Cyan groused. “Breathe deeply. It will slow your heart rate and lessen your fear response. Not only will you be able to defend yourself without panicking, your blood won’t be so…alluring.”
“I get that, but,” I laughed softly, “we’ve been training for over an hour, Cyan. This is the most exercise I’ve had in a while. You do realize my heart is going to be beating fast as a result.”
“Learn to control it.”
“I can’t just slow my heartbeat at will.”
“Well, find a way how,” he snapped.
“I don’t know if that’s a vampire thing, but for humans it’s pretty much impossible?—”
“Figure it the fuck out!” he bellowed.
I startled at the sudden raised volume of his voice. I wasn’t afraid, but never expected that reaction from him. He hadn’t even yelled at the dealer at the restaurant like this.
Cyan pushed off the wall with a muttered curse, heading for his room. With a slam of the door, I found myself alone and wondering what the hell just happened.