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Chapter Seven
"I am just saying that, logically, it's not
something chicks should be allowed to do." Levi put up his hands
defensively, as if that would do anything to shield him from Stephie
smacking his arm or Gen tossing fries at him.
"That is the most
ridiculous, sexist bullshit I've ever heard!" Stephie said.
"The
only reason guys do it is because they can't get a girl to do it for them.
Girls, on the other hand, will have no such problem finding a guy to help
with such a problem, which is why there's no compelling, rational reason
for a female to masturbate."
"There is if she wants it done
right," Stephie countered with a grin.
"How did we get on this
conversation?" Gen said.
"Well," Stephie started. "I called Levi a
jerk-off, and you decided to question why no one ever calls girls that. So
it's your fault."
"Then I'm deciding that we're dropping the topic
while I'm eating." Gen followed her request with a sigh, then dropped her
half-eaten fries to the ground beside her. Nothing like the mental images
said conversation was conjuring up to completely ruin her appetite.
Thankfully, Hayden arrived—with a reluctant Sage in tow—which
distracted Levi long enough that he forgot what they had been discussing.
Though Hayden sat down, ready to spend the rest of the lunch hour
with those sitting in the stairwell, Sage didn't join him. Instead, her
gaze went to Genevieve.
Gen knew that look. God, the girl was
obsessive; she'd probably end up dropping out of school if she thought she
could get away with it, all in the name of "training." Gen got exhausted
just watching her some days.
"I thought we could skip this
afternoon and head to the library to do some studying," Sage suggested
pointedly.
Genevieve shrugged. Whatever. Like any of their
"studying" was doing her any good. But by not showing up, she'd only give
Michael an excuse to criticize her lack of progress even more, so she
gathered her things.
"I have to drop some things off at my
locker," Sage said, shifting at Levi's notably steady gaze. "I'll meet you
outside." After giving Hayden a quick peck and promising to call him
later, she didn't seem able to get out of the stairwell fast enough.
"You're
studying with Sage?" Levi said immediately,
rightly confused with how absurd the concept sounded. Genevieve herself
wondered on more than one occasion what Sage was thinking coming up with
that one.
"She said she's tutoring you in Chemistry, right?"
Hayden asked.
Goddamn it, Gen wished she could just tell everyone
the truth. Now not only were her own lies making her sound like an idiot,
but Sage's were as well.
"Yeah, Chemistry," she agreed as she
stood and prepared to leave. She waved a goodbye and started for the main
doors, which led to the parking lot.
"Gen..."
She turned
to see Hayden jogging after her. His usual grin was gone, a look of
concern in its place.
"What's up?" Gen asked.
"Did Sage
happen to tell you where that new dojo is?"
Gen hoped she didn't
appear quite as startled as she felt.
"Hmm?"
"I guess she
wouldn't..." Hayden stared off in space for a moment, thinking, though of
what, Gen couldn't tell. "It just sounds like Sensei Michael has her on a
strict schedule or something. I've barely seen her all week."
Shit! Sensei Michael? What the hell had she been telling
Hayden?!
"I haven't heard anything about it."
Please
don't let the words, "I'm a big fat liar!" be written across my forehead
right now...
"Okay then. I just thought...I don't know,
that maybe I could talk to the guy or something, just to let him know she
needs a break now and then."
Because that will go over really well with
Michael, Gen thought.
"If she tells me anything,
I'll let you know," she said instead.
He gave a sad smile, and Gen
felt genuinely bad for him. Under any other circumstances, she wouldn't
want even the slightest involvement in Sage's life outside of what was
required of her, but she liked Hayden; Gen was definitely bringing this up
to Sage later.
"So he thinks something's up?" Sage
said after Gen's long summary of speaking to Hayden earlier. Of course,
trust Sage to throw all of the delicacy and sensitivity of the talk out
the window, and boil it down to something like that.
"He's
concerned," Gen corrected her. "I take it you haven't seen him in awhile?"
"I've had to get spare time to train from somewhere. It's not that
I see him any less, it's just now I'm not even around when he calls."
"He also asked about Michael—what the hell have you been telling
him?"
"Just that I found a new sensei to teach me sword arts. I
did lie about the kenjutsu part though—I don’t want him looking that up
and getting worried, so if he asks you, tell him it's kendo."
"What's the difference?"
"The one I'm doing is highly
combative. It's the closest to actual warrior training you'll find
anymore."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"It is if your mother
is mine. Aikido and Tai Chi were okay because she thinks they're all
self-defense, and Hayden agrees with her. If either of them learn I'm
doing sword fighting, I'll be in for it."
So, in actuality the
warrior wasn't allowed to be a warrior...pity Gen's parents couldn't
forbid anything on the witch front—at least then she'd have an excuse.
"Well, he seems worried already, and I'm not going to remember
anything you've just told me, so you'd better tell him something
yourself."
Not a word passed between the two of them for the rest
of the trek to Michael's, except for Sage's occasional muttering about Gen
being incapable of jogging, and how they would already be there if she'd
just hurry up.
Next time, either I'll wait and walk with Merri,
or just go alone, Gen thought as at last they reached Michael's
front door. No way was she putting up with another half hour walk with
Mini-Michael.
Once they were inside, Sage went immediately into
the back room to change. During the past week, she followed that routine
without exception: she showed up, changed into her worn, loose-fitting
karate uniform, then did her stretches and waited for Michael's
instruction. She said little to Gen and Merri in that time, and it wasn't
until the end of the evening, when her "class" was over, that she uttered
any word to either of them, though that was something Gen considered to be
her good fortune.
Her luck didn't extend to Michael ignoring her
as well, however.
"You were supposed to be here last night," he
barked just as she set down her messenger bag on the kitchen table.
"Well, I'm here early today to make up for it." Really, that kind
of logical thing would only ever escape him. "And at least I'm here—I
don't see Meredith around anywhere."
"She's meditating in the
other room."
Well then, that should teach me not to try to make
myself look better by bringing down others. Or, rather, it should teach
her not to bother when Michael was concerned. She avoided his gaze—which
she admitted was childish, but he really tended to bring that out in
her—and waited for whatever instructions he had for her.
It was
because she wasn't looking at him that she had no warning as he slammed an
object down on the table in front of her. She flinched, but immediately
regretted it as it gave him another source of amusement at her expense.
On the scratched wooden table, just a foot in front of her, was a
white pillar candle.
Oh God, not again...
Michael lit the wick
then returned his lighter to his pocket. "You will put that out today."
Sure, she could put it out...if he let her use a candle snuffer or
something. But that wasn't what he wanted; he insisted she ought to be
able to magically make the thing extinguish solely using her mind. She'd
been trying to do it since Sunday evening. Now it was Thursday, and she
was no closer than she had been a week ago.
"Maybe I should try
something else instead," she said.
"Like?"
"Like I could
try lighting a candle. Maybe that's easier."
"You think I'm going
to let you learn how to start a fire without knowing how to put it out
first?"
"Well...you could get a fire extinguisher?"
In
response, he turned around and left her in the kitchen to attend to his
star pupil, who seemed to have finished her warm-up stretches.
And so I spend the rest of the day doing
this,
she thought, staring at the stupid candle flame. Michael had to be insane.
There was no way she could do this...
Gen glanced at her watch.
Perhaps she could leave early and be home for dinner, which would mean
only...god, another five hours to go.
"You're not leaving until
you've put that candle out," Michael called from across the room, somehow
knowing her thoughts once again.
You can do this
Gen.
She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, like he told her. Deep
breath in. Lungs filling. Diaphragm expanding. Hold the breath, clear the
mind. Exhale slowly. Let the flame extinguish...
She opened her eyes.
The wick was
still lit.
I really can't do this.
For the next few hours, Gen occasionally
snuck glances at Sage's training, which seemed to be going far better than
her own. She didn't get a sword yet—apparently that came after time.
Instead she got a stick, which she used when she practiced a series of
movements again and again. Michael snapped orders. Corrected her when
needed. Barely offered any praise, but Sage never made a single complaint.
She always did what was asked, always showed him the utmost respect, and
even bowed before and after every session.
No wonder he doesn't like me if
that's the kind of stupid behaviour he's expecting. Gen went back to staring at
her candle.
"Nothing happened yet?"
Genevieve started at
the sound of Meredith's voice beside her. Damn, that girl could be quiet
when she wanted to be...
"Nope. I think I officially suck at
this."
Merri pulled up a chair. "So there's not even a flicker?"
"If I shift the table, yeah. Otherwise, it's super flamey as
always. Maybe it's one of those trick candles or something."
"And
he didn't give you anything else to work on? Just—"
"Just the
candle," Gen finished for her.
"Not even a book about stuff to
read?"
"Just the stupid fucking candle. Ideally, I'd like to throw
a fireball or shoot lightning, but he said I can't do that."
"That
would be cool," Merri agreed. "So what are you doing instead?"
Gen
sighed heavily, causing the pathetic candle flame to flicker, but not go
out. "He said I'm supposed to be learning something about controlling the
elements."
"Elements as in fire, water, air, and that?"
"Probably, but I asked if we would be starting with hydrogen, or
if helium might be a bit safer."
Merri stifled a laugh. "What did
he say?"
"He threw a book at me."
"A book?"
"A
book."
"Which one?"
"I didn't bother checking, though it
was a hardcover. I was going to throw it back at him, but he still had
that sword training stick of Sage's, so I decided against attempting
violence."
"Merri," Michael called. "Leave her alone—she's busy."
"Jesus, she's probably exhausted!" Merri shot back. "She needs a
break."
Though "she" can speak for herself, I think I'll
leave this one to Meredith, Gen thought.
"I'm not having this
discussion with you. Leave her alone."
Though Gen hoped Merri
would protest some more, instead she stood and didn't say another word
about it. "Everyone's probably starving," she said instead. "I'm putting
something on for dinner."
Genevieve scanned her watch. It was
almost six—when the hell did that happen?
"I can't stay—I've got
to eat at home at least one day this week." Gen picked up her messenger
bag again, preparing to go.
"First of all, you ate at home
yesterday when you weren't here," Michael informed her matter-of-factly.
"Touché," she replied. "But still—"
"Second of all, you're
not leaving that table until you put that candle out. Merri, dinner can
wait."
Slave driver.
Meredith sent an
apologetic smile Gen's way, then left the kitchen and went to sit on the
couch.
This is so stupid. I can't do this.
Anyone else would see her lack of progress
and admit that Gen wasn't in fact the special person they were looking
for. Anyone but Michael. Instead, the more she disagreed, the more
insistent he had become.
Just make the candle go out, Gen. Piece of cake.
Then maybe you can go home...
She snuck a glance at the others. Sage and
Michael were practising synchronized movements together, while Merri
watched on without comment. No one was looking at Genevieve...
With a swift exhale of breath, she blew out the candle, then sat
back in her chair and pretended to be pleased with herself.
"Okay,
I did it!" she announced. Michael looked to her and she gestured to the
candle. Bad enough I have to lie to everyone I know and
actually like...it's time Michael join that club
too.
"See, it's out. You were right, I just needed to—"
Michael stormed
over to her, green eyes blazing and lips set in a straight line. Gen
shrank back against her chair, as if it could somehow protect her.
"Do us both a favour," he said as he stopped next to the table,
glaring down at her. "And don't lie to me."
"I-I didn't."
There's
no fucking way he can tell! "I was just concentrating and—"
She
jumped as he slammed his hand down suddenly on the table in front of her,
then she stared, eyes fixed on his fingers, as he scratched at the wood
near the candle. Some white flakes were left.
"See that?" he said.
"Splattered wax from when you blew out the candle." He lit the wick again and returned
to Sage, sending a, "I don't want to hear from you until you put that out
for real," over his shoulder.
Gen slumped down in her chair, tears
blurring her eyes. She could try it again, being careful not to get any
wax on the table this time, but what was the point? Obviously, he didn't
believe her. So what the hell was she going to do? Just sit around here
for the next few days, or weeks, or months or whatever, until he finally
realized she didn't know what she was doing?
Arguing won't do any good,
said
her rational mind. And arguing with him wasn't exactly fun either. She
could wait it out, avoiding confrontations for a bit longer, then she'd go
home and not come back here again. Ever. He couldn't force her.
Besides, she was only here because he'd scared her into it. Who's
to say any of his stories were true? Sure, she had Levi's word that he'd
seen the event with Sage. But what other evidence had there been?
Meredith? What the hell had she actually done, that Gen had seen?
And even if it all was true, so what if some supposed assassins
thought she was this magical person? They had Sage and Meredith now too.
They'd be too distracted to pay any attention to her, and Michael seemed
more than capable of taking care of them. If they ever did come near her,
she'd just call the cops or something...
"Close your eyes and
focus," Michael called to her. She glanced at him, but he wasn't even
looking her way; he was busy with Sage.
Of course. Perfect Sage.
Christ, why the hell did she have to be so annoying?
"Focus!" he
barked again.
Her anger building, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Don't
get mad, don't get mad... She took a deep breath, but it didn't help her.
Let my mind rest... No thoughts. No emotions. Focus
on the breathing. Breath in. Breath out. Relax the muscles...
But
nothing was happening. Nothing would ever happen, because this was a
complete waste of time.
"You know what...this is fucking useless!"
Gen shouted, surprising even herself with the outburst. She stood up
suddenly, her chair scraping on the hardwood. Michael, probably sensing
she was seriously nearing the end of what she would take, stopped what he
was doing with Sage and turned to face her. Meredith stood and walked
towards Gen, preparing once again to attempt to calm her down
"Actually, you are fucking useless," Michael said. "There's a
difference."
"When are you going to get it through your head that
I can't do this?! You keep telling me that I need to learn, because some
people are coming to kill me, but what good is blowing out a candle with
my mind going to do to stop them? Hmm? Nothing!"
"She's right,"
Sage spoke up. "None of that is going to help her, at least not short
term."
I can't believe Sage, of all people, is actually
defending me...
"Merri too," Sage continued. "I mean,
let's face it, if anyone—even your everyday mugger—comes after them,
they're both dead. Just look at them; they're weak."
"Okay Sage,
you can stop helping me now," Gen said.
"I assume you have a
suggestion, then?" Michael directed to Sage.
"Yeah. I teach them
to defend themselves. Just basic stuff, for maybe an hour a day."
"And you think that's going to help them? How exactly?"
Merri had inched a bit closer to Genevieve and the two of them
watched Michael and Sage's rather insulting discussion of them.
"I
liked it better when she wasn't trying to help us," Gen whispered.
"Think of it this way; at least we might get swords." Merri
grinned.
"Awesome."
"At the very least, they'll have
confidence," Sage continued.
"Yeah—false confidence, which is
incredibly dangerous," Michael pointed out.
"But confidence is
also encouraging, and maybe you'll get more out of Gen if she's feeling
more secure."
"Excuse me, but I'm perfectly secure," Gen cut in.
"I'm just...incredibly incompetent."
"Or maybe you're not
incompetent, you're just too insecure to see that," Meredith suggested.
"Hey, he doesn't need any help, so don't start backing them up,"
Gen said. "And I don't see how any of this is going to make a difference
either—I can't even hope to match these other people's skills, like ever."
Whether it was because he agreed with Sage's idea, or he just
didn’t like Gen agreeing with him anymore, Genevieve couldn't be sure. But
Michael relented, and nodded his consent.
"They're all yours."
Any relief Gen might have felt in the fact that
Sage would be working with them rather than Michael was short lived; Sage
wasn't any fun either. She also decided the best idea would be to work
with Merri herself, and pair Gen with Michael for demonstrations.
"First, I'm going to tell you the most important thing about self
defense," Sage began.
"Oh, I know this one," Gen spoke up. "It's
'SING.'"
"Excuse me?"
"You know...solar plexus, instep, nose,
and
groin. Hit those, and it's all good. S.I.N.G."
A look of abject disgust crossed Sage's face, which immediately
made Gen wish she could go back to staring at the candle.
"That's
the most absurd thing I've ever heard," Sage said. "Where the hell did you
get that from?"
"Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and
Fabulous."
"My first piece of advice is to stop
watching lame Sandra Bullock movies then."
"Excuse me, but
While
You Were Sleeping was a really good movie—"
"And next, I'd
advise you to stop interrupting me."
Genevieve went silent while
she waited for Sage to continue.
"Okay," Sage said, "the most
important thing you can remember is to always run. Not fighting should be
your top priority."
"Rightly so," Gen agreed.
"Also, know
your environment and use it to your advantage, but we'll get to that
later. Now, if fighting is unavoidable, and you're going to go for one
place in particular when attacked, and you're stuck with close range, I'd
go with the eyes."
"The eyes?" Gen was already horrified at the
thought.
"While poking them will work, it's far more effective to
drive the thumbs under the eye then hook them—"
"Oh, God, I'm
going to be sick..."
Though Genevieve didn't
actually throw up, fifteen minutes later—after hearing a thorough
explanation of the eyes and the best way to blind a person—she hadn't yet
ruled out the possibility.
"Besides blinding people, what do we
need to remember then?" Merri asked.
"Use the stronger parts of
your body against the weaker parts of your opponent's. For example..." She
grabbed Merri's arm, and gestured for Michael to do the same with Gen.
"I don't trust him," Gen immediately announced as Michael took a
too-tight grip on her arm.
"And you shouldn't," he replied. "I'm
your attacker in this scenario."
"Shut up and watch, Gen," Sage
cut in.
Genevieve bit her tongue after that.
"So, someone
grabs your arm. Pretty common. Try pulling away and see how tough it is."
Neither Merri nor Gen could break loose, though given their
"attackers" it was to be expected.
"Your own arm is incredibly
strong, however—you just need to use it against something of your
opponent's that is weak. Instead of trying to pull free against your
attackers four fingers, which grouped together put up a lot of resistance,
bring it against their thumb..."
Sage had Meredith demonstrate,
yanking her arm against Sage's thumb, and freeing herself immediately.
Gen tried the same thing. Michael seemed to tighten his grip
instead of letting go.
"He's cheating," Gen declared. She wasn't
sure precisely how he might have been cheating, but she was certain he
must have been since this simple task couldn't be merely chalked up to her
incompetence.
"I'm not cheating."
"He's cheating—I can't
get loose."
"Maybe you're just weak?"
"This isn't fair—I
should have the element of surprise or something, right?"
"You
think if you just point out that fact, a mugger is going to apologize and
be sure not to grab you so hard?"
"Can I gouge out his eyes yet?"
"Okay, both of you shut the hell up!" Sage snapped. She caught
Michael's eye then, and bowed her head. "Sorry, Sensei Michael. Genevieve,
you shut the hell up."
"That's better," Michael agreed.
"You know, Miss Congeniality was so much more fun than this," Gen
muttered stubbornly.
By the time eight o'clock
rolled around, Gen knew for sure she, once again, wouldn't be home for
dinner. First she phoned her parents to say she was at the library, then
she ordered take out because, in her opinion, Michael's refrigerator was
seriously lacking. That didn't actually mean they would be taking a break,
however—Sage, though frustrated, insisted they continue, and Michael was
far too amused to tell her otherwise.
"You know, I don't actually
object to you going home to eat," Michael revealed as they practiced to
get out of a neck hold. "This isn't a social gathering; if you're not
working, you shouldn't be here."
"So I'm not expected to get
dinner until I go home at what, ten o'clock? You're insane, and you're so
paying when the food gets here."
"How about I pay if you can get
me to let go before dinner is delivered?" he suggested. At that, Michael
held his arm tighter, and Gen was certain he was close to crushing her
windpipe.
"Sage," she gasped. "Help."
A glance of her dark
eyes their way, and Sage shook her head. "Help yourself."
Bitch.
Rationally, Genevieve knew it was only a
simple practice session, but as her airway was constricted even more, she
began to panic. He was exceptionally strong—his grip was like an iron vice
and he didn't seem to have a sense of what was appropriate for this sort
of informal training session, nor did he have any consideration for his
opponent.
Gen's mind blanked on everything that Sage had been
talking about for the past two hours and her next actions were based on
instinct; she twisted and struggled, which just made her dizzy. Though she
elbowed him hard in the ribs, it was like hitting a brick wall, and he
didn't flinch. She tried to hit the solar plexus, but with him located
behind her, she didn't have a clue precisely where that spot was.
Sensing her distress, Sage left Merri and calmly looked Genevieve
in the eye. "Stop panicking and give yourself a moment to think."
Gen's eyes got huge. She was supposed to think? To calm down?
Christ, she wouldn't be able to breathe in a second—
"Genevieve,
stop struggling," Sage continued, prepared to talk her through it. "Think.
What of his is weak right now?"
Gen tried to drive her heel into
his groin, but he was prepared for that and she missed. She swung her fist
back towards his nose, though she missed as her hand went straight through
the air. Stomping on his instep didn't seem to help either.
Sage
shook her head. "Jesus, forget Sandra Bullock already!"
"But
she's..." Gen sucked in a short breath of air. "...cute."
"C'mon,
something you can see, Gen—something easy to reach. Just think."
By now Gen was positive her face was bright red and she no doubt
looked ridiculous, but Michael wasn't letting her go and breathing wasn't
getting any easier. Her hands flew to his arm, where she clawed and tore
at his skin, but still he didn't release her.
Weakness, weakness...
Her hands slid along
his arms to his hands to where she felt his calloused fingers.
Weakness.
She grabbed his pinky
finger and yanked it backward until he let out a yelp and loosened his
hold on her. Next, she dropped to her knees and slipped out of his grip,
then scampered across the floor away from him.
Adrenaline rushed
through her veins and her heart pounded as she grinned. "Ha! How was
that?"
"Great," Michael said without smiling then he pointed to
the kitchen. "Now get over there and put out the candle."
"Oh, you
are such a sore loser—"
Someone knocked on the door.
"—which is why I think you should go pay for dinner now."
Michael rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. At least he was honest
about a deal being a deal. He pulled out his wallet and stalked towards
the door.
"Oh my god, did you see that?" Gen turned her grin
toward Sage and Meredith, neither of whom looked anywhere near as
impressed as she herself felt. "I'm awesome."
"You would have
blacked out in that time if he'd actually tried to hurt you," Sage said
doubtfully. "You have to think faster."
"Whatever. Meredith was
impressed, weren't you Mer?"
Merri didn't answer, and Gen was
about to prompt her again when she caught the strange look on the girl's
face. She stared at the floor, auburn brows pulled into a frown, and
shoulders turned inward, as if she was tensing for a hit.
"Merri?"
Gen said again.
After a few seconds, her hazel gaze drifted upward
to meet Gen's. Her eyes glimmered in the light strangely. "Sorry,
I...it's...I don't know..."
Just as Michael opened the front door,
Meredith's eyes got wide in understanding, and she turned his way.
"Michael!"
Two quiet "pops" sounded, and at the front door Gen
caught sight of Michael hitting the wall by the door and slumping to the
ground. With two bullet wounds in his chest and blood drenching his shirt,
he didn't seem conscious and she wasn't sure if he ever would be again.
Her gaze instantly travelled to the familiar man at the door, who
fired another bullet into Michael, then turned his gun in the girls'
direction. Heart pounding, Gen couldn't think to move, and it was only
Sage's tug on her arm that drew her to the floor behind the couch and kept
her from being shot. Three more bullets struck the far wall behind them,
and another drove the punching bag, spilling sand across the hardwood.
The events seemed to register in Gen's brain long after they
actually occurred, and she took a moment to breathe and try to think.
Maybe the police would come—someone had to have heard the gunfire...no,
wait, he had a silencer. So no police. Maybe they could get to a phone?
Gen remembered her own mobile was still in her bag, which rested
on the kitchen table about thirty feet away. Michael's phone was also in
the kitchen. She didn’t know if Sage or Merri had a cell phone, but—
Her eyes scanned everywhere she could see from her vantage point,
but there was only Sage crouched beside her, lost in thought. Meredith was
nowhere in sight, but Gen hadn't seen her go anywhere. What if she had
been shot?
It would be okay, though. Michael...he could do
something...
No...Michael was dead. Dead. At this point, he was the
only real hope they had, and now the three of them were alone, and...
Slow, deliberate footfalls struck the bare hardwood floor and Gen
squeezed her eyes shut, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
Oh
God...
© 2006 Skyla Dawn Cameron
Reader discretion advised.
At some point there will be sex, violence, coarse language, and mature themes (if there hasn't been already).
Not for readers under 18.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
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