The Black God

Two days later, Ashley fought with ferocity born of fury and frustration. Charles had her blindfolded, chained and occasionally Tasered as usual, and she found herself grateful for the impediments that prevented her from lopping off the heads of every vamp around her. She felt good, healed, refreshed - and it pissed her off knowing her brother was suffering somewhere else when she could've spent the past couple of days rescuing him instead of sleeping.

Charles dropped her with a Taser for the fourth time and this time, she stayed on her back and panted.

"You have energy but no sense today," Charles told her.

Ashley lifted her hands to her face and pushed off the blindfold. Several vamps had stopped to watch the lesson. "Just send me out on a raid by myself," she snapped.

"It's not my call to make."

"What?" She pushed herself to sit. "You know what I can do."

"I know you're also likely to cause a great deal of collateral damage."

She rolled her eyes. He was right. She was fighting with emotion this day, oblivious to how many times she'd been knocked on her ass. The two hour opening session was enough to take the edge off, and she sighed.

"You ready to use a little control this time?" Charles asked.

"Yeeeeeees!"

"Then you can show ikir you're ready to go out on a raid." He lifted his chin to indicate something behind her.

Ashley twisted. Jonny was present, arms across his chest and dressed as if he, too, were present to spar. Her emotions surged once more at the sight of him. She didn't entirely understand why not all of what she experienced was anger. He deserved to receive the full force of her fury and vengeance.

Instead, she found herself admiring the shape of his tall, muscular frame, his wide shoulders and chest, flat abs and long, lean thighs, and hated herself more for being attracted to the person who hurt her more than once.

Charles tossed her the key to her chain. Ashley unlocked it.

"Ikir, you're up," Charles said. "No rules."

"So he can use his Travel ability?" Ashley asked and rose.

"And you can use your speed. It's a fair fight."

There's no such thing with Jonny. Ashley tossed the key and blindfold back to Charles and turned to Jonny. Whenever they faced off, her heart began to race and warmth bloomed inside her. "If I win, I'll go on a raid."

"Whether you win or not, I'll decide later," Jonny replied, stoic. He shook his arms out, his athletic form clad in black workout pants and a loose t-shirt. His intent gaze was on her as usual, his frame poised.