He kept touching her, but she couldn't pinpoint an instance where it was unwarranted.
"If you turn to the side like this, it reduces the visible area of your body, making you a smaller target."
"Are you going to use your stolen broom handle, or not?"
He raised his brows. "You think you're ready to cross swords? Very well."
When he released her to collect the stick, she nearly swayed and was glad he didn't see.
Facing her again, he said, "I'm going to strike, and I want you to block." Raising the stick, he knocked it against the sword, and they began to spar.
As they circled each other, he continued his instruction. "Never hesitate. Never appear nervous. Elbows at your side. Keep compact."
His hits were slow enough that she could block them each time. "Avoid multiple combatants. Like in hand-to-hand, don't be ashamed to run if you're outnumbered."
As they increased in speed, adrenaline began to pump through her.
"Throughout history most sword fights have been decided with the first blow. Not like on TV. Every movement counts."
He was striking faster and faster, but she was still able to parry.
"No, no, no, you could have evaded that strike," he said, just when she'd thought she'd given a particularly good block. "Never block when you can evade. And remember, your surroundings are key. Always keep them in mind. Anything can be a weapon." He tossed a pillow at her, and she sliced it cleanly in two! Tufts of filler floated in the air -
He smacked her bottom hard with his stick. Which infuriated her.
"Don't like gettin' spanked? Then keep your eyes on your opponent."
Aggression flared, and she struck out with a yell. He shot out of the way, and the sword cleaved through the bed side table and phone.
Holly's eyes went wide. "Cadeon! I could have killed you! I'm sorry!" When he shrugged, she said, "You don't think this is noteworthy?"
"No. Slaying furniture is fun. I'm more concerned about the fact that we're sparring, and you're stopping to apologize. Where's the heart of the killer? Where's your merciless side? You're acting like a skirt."
"A...skirt?" she said in an incredulous tone.
"Hey, here's an idea. If you can draw blood before my premium pay-per-view show comes on in ten minutes, then I'll get you your pills."
She gave him a look that said it's on, then launched an attack. He deflected her next blow, but realized that she'd held back so she could strike a second time even faster. Quick little female. He barely got out of the way, letting a lamp die for him.
She's going to be one of the greats, he thought, but he said, "Is this all you've got?"
Lips thinned, she slashed diagonally upward with stunning speed; he had to block with his stick - she sliced the end off.
"Oh, dear, did I cut off the tip of your gladius?"
Cade winced. She was literally out for blood and was growing increasingly enraged. Again and again, they circled, with her striking and him dodging. Finally, he could say, "Your ten minutes are up, halfling. You lose - "
Her sword whistled down, missing his shoulder by millimeters. "Holly, back the hell down. We're done."
Eyes glowing silver, she said, "I'm just getting started."
He realized that if he couldn't hurt her, he'd have to fight dirty. When she charged once more, he spun around to get behind her. He lightly kicked the back of her knee, sending her off balance.
"Ooh!" Even as she staggered she swung a roundhouse slash. A picture on the wall fell victim.
"Now, are you done - "
Banging on the door sounded. A deep voice outside said, "Open up, this is the police."
Her face went white, her jaw slackening. The sword dipped in her limp hand. "Oh, my God!" she whispered. "What are we going to do?"
Cade himself was about to have a ball with this. "Duuude," he murmured. "You are going-to-jail."
24
"What do you mean?" she cried.
"Jail, the big house, the two-legged zoo - "
"I know that! But why am I going there?"
Cade answered, "Your eyes are silver. And that demon brew gels in your blood for days. As soon as the cops break down the door, and see you amidst this destruction, you're off to roll call, baby."
"Oh, God, oh, God! I've never even had a speeding ticket!" Biting her claws, she said, "This is all your fault! You started it!" Her panicked gaze darted around the room. "Quick! Help me clean up - "
More banging.
"No time, Holly. But you know, I could probably fix this."
"How?"
"You let me worry about that."
He'd lived nine hundred years - surely he'd learned what to do in situations like this. Yes, Cadeon will take care of this. She gave him a grateful look.
"But you have to do something for me as well."
Her face fell. "It figures that you'd put a condition on this. What do you want?"
"You have to watch TV with me, a movie of my choice."
Where was the harm in that? She loved..."Oh! You mean one of those movies!" He'd told her he would get her to watch one before the trip was over. "Never, Cadeon. Not in a million years."
"Even when I can make this all go away?"
From outside, the policeman said, "Open up! We've been getting noise complaints."
"Oh, God!" she whispered. "One scene. I'll watch just one scene. If you can take care of this."
"Deal." He turned for his room, collecting his hat and an envelope from his duffle bag. At the doorway between their rooms, he said, "Try not to break the law again before I get back," then shut the door.
When she heard him exiting from his front door, she realized he was going to act as if he were merely a neighbor. Clever demon...
But what if something went wrong? What if they still demanded to see the room? She surveyed the debris in abject fear.
How can I get rid of the evidence?
Hitting on an idea, she began dismantling the remains of the table, breaking off legs and stuffing the pieces under the bed. Broken lamps and sliced pillows joined the collection.
Thirty nerve-shattering minutes passed before Cadeon returned. "What happened? Tell me!"
"Everything's taken care of."
She frowned. "You smell like beer."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, Holly, like me and the cop were downing a beer together."
Of course, he and the cop had completely been downing a beer together.
They'd sat in a booth in the motel's lounge as Cade spun tales that the man didn't hear because he was too busy staring at the stack of cash Cade offered him. The small town cop seemed an honest enough guy, but he had five kids and Christmas was coming. What was he supposed to do?