21. Lesson Plan #2
“On, the, mat.” Master Storme spoke slowly, his deep tone amplifying the thinly veiled threat of what would happen if she didn’t comply.
“You can spar with Sawyer first. The rest of you, stay in line and do not break rank, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
Aeden’s heart sank. Sawyer was twice the size of Serene. This wasn’t a fair fight.
“Sir, this isn’t right.”
Master Storme crossed the room at alarming speed and slammed a fist into Harrison’s stomach.
The gurgling noise that Harrison made only served to infuriate Aeden even more.
“That includes answering back,” Master Storme warned through gritted teeth.
Harrison took in large gasps of air as he tried to gather his breath, clutching onto his front.
“Anyone else need a reminder?” Master Storme asked, looking at Aeden and Vivienne. He was challenging them, baiting them, and as much as Aeden wanted to step forward, it wouldn’t achieve anything.
This was the true face of the academy. They were just numbers to the superiors. That was all. A commodity. Aeden needed to remember that Aviara Academy was not a good place. It was a place where young men and women came to die or become Aer-Kin riders.
Master Storme grinned at them before returning his attention to Serene, who looked completely out of her comfort zone. Her shoulders were slouched and she had her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to draw whatever comfort she could before fighting Sawyer.
Sawyer, on the other hand, was seemingly savouring the moment.
He grinned like a madman as he stepped onto the mat, shadow punching the space in front of him before standing in the centre of the room.
He clicked his neck and stretched his shoulders while he waited for Serene, only adding to her visible anxiety.
“On the MAT!” Master Storme demanded again. His raised voice startled Serene, and she hesitantly walked towards the mat to stand opposite Sawyer.
“You can do this, Serene,” Aeden said, his eyes not moving from Kael, who stood opposite them alongside the other students, his arms folded against his chest. Aeden was counting the seconds until he was on the mat with him. Then he would show him not to fuck with him.
He waited for Master Storme to strike him for calling out, but that didn’t happen, so he made the assumption that they were allowed to offer verbal support.
“He’s bigger than you, and he’s a fat fucker compared to the others. That means he’s going to be slower. Whatever you do, don’t let him grapple you,” he said, quickly weighing up her options while simultaneously seeing just how far he could push his communication.
Master Storme didn’t move, his own focus on the fight that was about to start .
“Serene, use your speed against him as best you can. And if he does grab you?—”
“Don’t worry, I won’t give him the satisfaction.” Serene’s fear was replaced with a determination that Aeden could only admire.
Sawyer didn’t take any time doing exactly what Aeden had anticipated. He lunged forward to grapple with Serene, but she jumped backwards, avoiding the attack. Sawyer swung his right hand out with a solid fist, Serene ducking under it just in time.
“Fuck,” Aeden said under his breath. They must have been briefed not to pull their punches.
Had that connected, Sawyer would have taken Serene’s head clean off.
Serene pushed forward, throwing her shoulders into Sawyer’s legs.
Aeden understood what she was trying to do – if she could get him to the ground, he would be in a weaker position than his large frame afforded him while standing.
Aeden winced as she barely caused him to flinch. Why hadn’t she just moved back to keep the distance between them?
Growing up, Aeden had taught himself how to fight. He had learned from a young age how cruel other children could be. Unfortunately for Serene, she clearly hadn’t.
Sawyer raised both arms into the air and slammed his hands down onto Serene’s back with a sickening thud. She slammed into the mat, her body pressed tightly to the floor by Sawyer. He reached down, grabbed the scruff of her leathers, and dragged her back into the air before slamming her down again.
Harrison shot forward to help her, but Aeden reached across and grabbed his wrist to stop him .
“They’re baiting us. They want us to respond so that they can punish us further. Don’t fall into the trap,” he said through gritted teeth.
“We can’t just stand here and do nothing,” Harrison said. His eyes were filled with dread, fear, and everything in between.
“Trust me, we won’t do her any favours by stepping in.”
“Aeden is right,” Vivienne said. Judging by how tense her shoulders were, she was just as eager for a fight as Aeden was, her fists also clenched into tight balls, her knuckles white.
Serene was gasping for air as she lay on the floor, writhing around in pain.
Sawyer was throwing her around like a rag doll, which was to be expected given their vast difference in size.
Serene’s lower lip was bleeding, and as she groaned in pain, Aeden saw a glint of fierce determination which filled him with hope.
She pushed up from the mat, trembling but determined to get back to her feet.
Sawyer, however, wasted no time in dragging her up by her hair before slapping an open hand across her face, not once, not twice, but three times.
The asshole was toying with her.
“Tell him you yield,” Aeden said, his voice elevated. “She yields,” Aeden said, looking at Master Storme desperately to stop the fight.
“Turner can speak for herself,” he said.
Sawyer slapped her across the face again. This time the top of her cheek split open, and blood started to streak down her face.
“I yield,” she said.
But Sawyer went to strike again .
Master Storme grabbed hold of his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. “Did you not hear her, Sawyer?”
Aeden baulked. This was where he drew the line? He had set up this whole situation.
Sawyer let go of Serene, and she crumpled onto the floor.
“Fuck,” Harrison said.
“You two.” Master Storme pointed at Harrison and Vivienne. “Drag her off the mat and get yourselves ready. You’re next.”