Aiden took several steps out to the center of the circle, and slowly looked around, surveying them all.
“My fellow beings,” Aiden began formally, “it brings me great honor to introduce a new member of our coven. You will do your best to make her feel at home here. She is one of us now.
Everyone, meet Caitlin Paine.”
Caitlin never did well in the spotlight, and she was embarrassed by all the attention. She was even more embarrassed to see all of the vampires slowly and formally bow their heads towards her.
Suddenly, Caitlin felt something brush up against her leg, and she looked down and was embarrassed to see Rose interrupting, stepping into the circle, and yelping.
Aiden smiled. “And, of course, how could we forget. Rose. It appears that she would like to be acknowledged, too.”
Rose yelped, and the coven laughed.
“OK then,” Aiden said, “it seems that we now have all 24 ½ members present.”
Rose exited the circle, lying down faithfully behind Caitlin’s feet, watching and waiting.
“Before we begin,” Aiden continued, “there is someone here who wants to apologize for his past actions.”
Cain, standing on the opposite side of the circle, slowly walked into the center. He looked right at Caitlin, remorse and fear in his eyes as he stood there. He seemed very nervous.
“I’m sorry, Caitlin,” he said. “My actions were inexcusable. I hope that you will forgive me.”
“I do,” Caitlin said, and meant it. As she looked at him now, from this distance, he just seemed like a pathetic figure, and seemed genuinely remorseful. She saw no point in harboring a grudge. The past was the past. Besides, he got the worst of it.
Cain retreated back to his place in the circle.
Aiden stepped forward, “All right, let’s begin,” he yelled, and everyone suddenly broke into action.
Caitlin was disoriented and felt out of place, as the other vampires all broke into perfect order and positions, each teaming up with a partner, and hurrying off to a different section of the courtyard. They each grabbed various weapons off of the racks, and without hesitating, began sparring. Caitlin stood there, watching the frenzy of activity, unsure what to do. She realized she didn’t have a partner.
“I’ve been assigned to you,” came a perky voice.
Caitlin turned, and standing there, just a few feet behind her, was a tall, thin, redheaded boy covered in freckles, with cropped hair, large ears and a huge smile. She had never seen anyone look so happy. He almost looked like a cartoon character.
“Assigned?” Caitlin asked.
“I’m your training partner,” he said, and reached out a hand. “Patrick,” he said.
Caitlin shook his hand—it was long and thin, and very cold. Caitlin couldn’t understand how this person could be a fighter.
“Oh, but I can,” he said, answering her thoughts, “I can fight very well indeed. But that’s for you to find out,” he said with a smile and a wink, as he turned and strode off towards a corner of the courtyard.
Caitlin’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Of course, Caitlin thought. Everyone here can read my thoughts. So stupid. I need to learn how to guard them.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, “you’ll get used to it. Just follow me. You’re wasting time.
Aiden hates it when people waste time,” he said, bouncing off.
Caitlin hurried to catch up to him.
“We begin with swords,” he said, as he reached the far wall, grabbed two long bamboo swords, and threw one to her. He threw it quick and hard, and Caitlin was surprised at her own reflexes, at how quickly she reacted, grabbing it midair effortlessly. She was a lot quicker now than even she realized.
“We always begin the day with swords,” he added. “Later, we’ll switch to spears.”
Caitlin heard the click-clack all around her, and looked and saw the other vampires all sparring with the bamboo swords, fighting and parrying faster than she had ever seen. They were leaping over each other’s heads, flying, rolling, jumping, landing, tackling….They were well-matched, going blow for blow in many cases. When the blows got through, there was the distinctive sound of the whack of bamboo on skin. It looked like it hurt.
Caitlin was about to find out for herself.
“OW!” she screamed, as she felt the sudden sting of bamboo on her hip.
She turned and saw Patrick standing there, smiling, having just whacked her hard in the side.
Her cheeks flushed with anger. “What was that?”
He didn’t answer, but slashed at her again. At the last second, she raised her sword and blocked the blow, with a loud bamboo clack, right before it hit her shoulder. He was so fast. She realized he could fight after all.
“Time for talking is over,” Patrick said. “Now we fight!”
Caitlin faced him, grabbing her hilt with both hands, and fully focused on the moment. She was filled with rage, and charged right at him, swinging as hard as she could, right for his shoulder.
He ably sidestepped it, and whacked her hard on the but as he did.
Caitlin felt the pain. She spun, now was twice as mad.
Annoyingly, he only continued to smile back. Nothing seemed to faze this kid.
“You telegraph everything you do,” he said. “I saw that strike coming a mile away.”
Caitlin charged like a bull, slashing every which way. But he blocked her blow for blow, then leapt over her with a somersault, and whacked her on her back.
That one really hurt, and Caitlin wheeled, furious.
“Just because you’re angry, doesn’t mean you’re good,” he said. “You need to learn to control your emotions. They won’t serve you on the battlefield.”
Caitlin had been about to attack again, but something about his words struck her. He was right.
She was coursing with rage, and she was not thinking clearly.
“Harness your anger. Make it work for you. Don’t work for it. Don’t let it go. Just control it.
Fight with it.”
Caitlin came at him again, swinging blow for blow, he blocking each one. She was starting to feel what he meant. Her anger was still there, but it was not so out of control. She brought it down a notch. And she began to feel much more clearheaded, more focused.
She came in with one particular blow, and he blocked it and locked her sword, holding it there.
They stood there, deadlocked, only inches from each other’s faces.