Kindling (17 page)

“Oh!” I surprised us both. “Can you do other things? Like, you’re healed from our fight yesterday. Dhampirs can heal??”

“Yeah, I heal real fast,” he said. “I though you wouldn’t notice.”

“You thought I wouldn’t notice how you completely healed within 24 hours? That’s the first thing I noticed when I saw you.” I looked at him quizzically. “But you were too drunk to ask about it and Heike said you would prefer to tell me.”

“Oh,” he mumbled. I think he may have blushed a little, but he looked away before I could tell.

“So, are you the only Dhampir?” I asked after an uncomfortable pause.

“Nah, there’s a few more. You probably won’t meet ‘em, at least not anytime soon. They’re off hunting. It’s what we do best and we usually do it alone. Most of the other dhampirs, they’re not even original to The Coven. It’s just the safest place for us to learn how to manage our powers.” Braith stopped talking when he saw Heike approach.

“We’re almost landed,” Heike said. Braith nodded and Heike sat next to me. “Katja, when we step on that island I have to start being The Leader of the Coven, again. I don’t think I’ll have much time to spend with you. There are some things going on that I have to take care of. It might take up a lot of my time.” I nodded. “And I can’t give you any special treatments just because ... you know, you’re my daughter. It would make things worse all around.”

“That’s okay,” I said. The boat lurched forward as we landed. I noticed Heike and Braith gave each other a wary look.

“I’ll take you to Mrs. Walters and Braith will take you to Ami in the morning,” Heike said. “Just, try to follow orders and try to behave. Don’t ... don’t give Ami attitude. He’ll make your life hell.”

The car was waiting for us when we walked off the boat. The drive drove us around a large round of hills until we found the entrance. It was blocked by a steal door that reminded me of a drawbridge. The driver pushed in a code and the door slowly opened to reveal a very traditional neighborhood with quaint houses, a grocery store, a large park and playground, some shops, and a school. In the center of town there was a large building - I was told it was the community center - and, beyond that, was an overgrown, wooded area at the base of some rocky hills.

“What’s over there?” I pointed to the overgrowth.

“Nothing,” Braith said. “It’s just for coverage from above. No one lives there.”

I nodded. The town was small, which I expected on an island, but it was cute. It was not at all how I expected it to be. The neighbourhood was filled with rows and rows of nearly identical houses and each had a little parcel of green in the front surrounded by a white fence. The houses were so close together that there was hardly any room to walk between them. None of the houses had backyards since a house was built almost directly behind it.

Suddenly, we parked and Heike stepped out of the car. The driver opened my door and helped me out. Braith followed with my bag.

“Oh, there she is!” came a voice. I looked and saw a petite women burst from the front door. I was at least a foot taller than her, but she came up to me and gave me a big hug. “You must be Katja! Oh, I can see the likes of your father in you. I’m Mrs. Walters. Now, come in, come in,” she said. She grabbed my hand and lead me into the house. “You’ll be staying with me and my rowdy bunch for awhile, if that’s okay with you, love. I’ve got a bed all made up for you in Poppy’s room, that’s my eldest daughter. She’s a school teacher during the year, stylist in the summer. She’s great. Not married, yet, but one day I’ll find her a Hunter, you bet. Then I’ve got little Millie, who will be nine come August, and the baby of the family is Oscar. He’s nearing five now. I’ve got two older boys, you’ll probably meet Sully sometime during the training, won’t she Henry? And my oldest boy, Freddie, is out Hunting. My husband is a Master at the school, so he’ll only be stopping by every once and awhile. Usually he is pretty busy round this time of the training, so he might not be back for a few weeks. Can I get you something to eat, dear?”

I knew I was standing there like an idiot, but I couldn’t believe this tiny woman could spit out so much at once. “Uh, no. Thank you. I just ate.”

“You can take your things, then, and get ready for bed. I’m sure you must be exhausted! Hours and hours on an airplane, I can’t believe it! And you have such a big day tomorrow! Poppie’s room is up the stairs, third doorway on the left. You should definitely get rested.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Walters.” I smiled and turned to Heike and Braith. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” Braith nodded and ducked out of the doorway.

“Remember, Katja,” Heike said. He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Do as your told and work your hardest. It will pay off in the end, I promise.” I nodded. “Prepare yourself for kicking ass,” he added with a wink.

The next morning I woke up at four thirty. I was so tired I could barely move and I struggled to even open my eyes. Sometime during the night, my new roommate came in so I tried not to wake her as I got ready. I pulled on my workout clothes and my shoes and tiptoed down the stairs. When I stepped outside, Braith was waiting.

“Ready?” He asked.

I shrugged. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

Braith handed me a cloth bag and I looked inside. There were two, greyish-brown loaves wrapped in parchment paper. “One is for breakfast, one is for lunch. You eat them when you’re told, okay?” I nodded. He motioned with his head to follow and we jogged quietly in the dark until we made it to the edge of the little down. Then we came to a large, stone wall with a steal door in it. He paused and placed his hand on the door. “Behind here is the training yard and then the dorm. No one is going to be up this early, so you don’t have to worry right now. But, I really don’t want you going through these doors without me, okay?” I nodded. “My friend, Jean-Luc, is going to meet us later on. He’s a good guy, he’ll protect you. The boys will come out around seven. Don’t talk to anyone, hear me? Don’t even react to what they say. They’ll start on you soon enough and if you speak to them you’ll just add fuel to the fire.” I nodded again and he opened the door.

I don’t know what I expected – maybe a huge, gothic castle or something – but the dorm was very modern, like a really nice apartment complex. The grass was well-manicured and huge a track ran along the border of the property. I was impressed.

I followed Braith as he walked around the track. It was so quiet, Braith startled me when he spoke. “You call him The Rabbi or Master. Do not be so informal and call him Ami. I know Heike did, but you do not. He’s a bit old-fashioned like that.” Braith glared at me.

“Okay, fine,” I said.

Braith continued. “He is going to make your life hell. He’s a good man and a wonderful trainer, but it’s going to be the hardest time of your life. No matter what, though, you cannot complain. No matter how much he pushes you just do without whining. Don’t give him that sass you give me. And, for god’s sake, don’t ask questions. Just, do everything he asks.”

God, Braith made The Rabbi sound like a sociopath and made me sound like a toddler with temper tantrums. I wasn’t that bad.

Braith lead me along the track for a little longer and then I saw him, The Rabbi, standing in the middle of the field. I knew him immediately. The Rabbi was thin and tall – at least as tall as Heike, if not more – and wore a long, black coat and black pants. He had a beard and wore an old-fashioned, wide-brimmed hat. I’m not going to lie, he was ominous and terrifying, but I tried not to show my fear.

As we approached, he nodded to Braith but I couldn’t read his expression.

Braith nodded a hello. “Will you let me know when to get her?” he asked.

“She cannot walk herself home?” The Rabbi asked.

“The boys, Ami,” Braith said. It was all he needed to say, apparently, as The Rabbi nodded almost immediately.

“Ah, yes,” The Rabbi said. “I’ve got my phone.”

“Thanks.” He nodded to The Rabbi, then glared at me. “Behave.” Before I could answer, he ran off.

The Rabbi stared at me for quite some time, walking around to examine me fully. “You’re taller than I thought you’d be. And leaner. Do you eat?”

“Yes,” I said. He stared at me. “Yes, master,” I remembered.

He nodded. “I’d like to put some weight on you, although I think your leanness makes you pretty fast. Am I right?”

“Yes, master,” I said.

“You’re a Kindler,” he continued. “Do you see my white glow, too?”

“No, Master,” I said.

He furrowed his brown. “Have you gone through The Coloring?” he asked.

“No, Master.”

“Hm,” he pondered this and then nodded to the track. “Start running.”

I nodded and ran. Even though I wanted to know how many times I should go around, I didn’t pause to ask him as I remembered Braith’s warning. I guess I asked too many questions. The track, I soon realized, was a mile long, but it felt good to be running that early. It reminded me of my morning runs with papá, feet echoing off the pavement, birds just beginning to wake and sing. It was only when I rounded the bend and saw The Rabbi for the twelfth time did he hold up his hand for me to stop.

I slowed down and stopped in front of him, panting and sweaty. He handed me a water bottle and I guzzled it down. It was still early but it was already incredibly warm. I would hate to run when the sun was high.

When I finished my water, The Rabbi handed me my cloth lunch bag. “You should eat now,” The Rabbi said. As I pulled out a loaf and began to eat, he looked into the bag. “Is that all they gave you?” I nodded. The bread was weird, not good and not bad, just a strange mixture of ground meat and legumes and grains, almost like a meatloaf but breadier. “I told them you needed more fat. I’ll get you more fat tomorrow, Katherine. Don’t be bothered by it.”

I nodded and waited until I swallowed before I said, “Thank you, Master.” I wasn’t positive why I needed more fat, but it seemed like he was going out of his way to get it for me and I should, at least, be appreciative.

I finished the cake in a few minutes and, when I was ready, The Rabbi said, “What can you do?” I hesitated because I really didn’t understand him or what he was asking. “Can you fight?” He asked.

“Yes, Master. I have been trained in Krav Maga and mixed martial arts ... sir,” I said.

“Krav Maga?” The Rabbi asked. I nodded. “That’s an Israeli fighting style, you know.” I nodded again, too nervous to speak. “Let’s see what you can do. Follow me.”

I followed The Rabbi past the track and into a lower level of the dorm. He led me down a passageway and, at the third door, stopped and shoved it open. “I wanted you away from the other students so I could train you in peace. This room isn’t really used, but I’ve got it ready for us.” I looked around and saw he had set up a make-shift gym, with some weights and a wrestling mat and a foam, peach-colored sparring dummy on one side, kind of like the ones jocks use for football practice except this one was just a muscular torso supported by a black base. “Water first,” he said. He handed me a large bottle and I drank it in a few gulps. He waited until I was finished and led me onto the mat. He handed me a foam helmet and chest protector. “Put these on,” he said. I obeyed.

After we were both dressed in sparring gear, The Rabbi stood in a fighting stance and motioned me forward. “Begin,” he said. I paused. I never liked being the attacker when I sparred. I was trained in defensive moves, so being on the offensive felt so unnatural for me. I wasn’t going to tell The Rabbi that, though.

I inhaled before I lunged at him with right arm aiming for his chest. Usually that could throw a man off, because I was thin and didn’t look as powerful as I was, but I didn’t even get my hand to connect. The Rabbi deflected me and I flew past him. I didn’t let that slow me, though. I used that propulsion and bounced off my one leg to use my other leg to swing around and trip him. He fell, but rose as soon as his palms hit the floor. He used his outstretched fingers to stab my chest – holy shit, that hurt! – and I propelled my arms to hit his stomach and chest. Without letting him rest I twirled and planted my feet three times in his side and then flipped away and gave him a left hook. With each hit I made, he deflected me three more times and landed two of his own moves. Suddenly, he caught my elbow and twisted my arm around my back. I couldn’t move.

“You are impressive,” he said through panting. He still held my elbow.

I gritted my teeth. “Thank you, Master,” I said.

“But I have beaten you,” he said.

“Yes, master,” I panted. He released me and walked to the dummy. I rubbed the ache away in my arm.

“There are five spots on a vampyre that will wound them, giving you time to get away or regain footing. Remember JUSTS,” he said, pointing to the dummy. “J.U.S.T.S,” he spelled it out. “Jaw, upper chest, stomach, throat, and shins.” The Rabbi motioned to the dummy’s areas as he spoke about them and then stood in a fighting stance. “The first spot is the jaw. You could use a hook punch,” he landed a right hook into the dummy’s face. The foam quivered and rocked under the force. “But the more effective punch is an elbow hook. Move your right arm into a ‘V’ shape, your fist nearly touching your chest, and strike the opponent between the jaw and the throat. Do not over extend the punch or you will have a shoulder injury. Let your hip and leg do the work to propel you around. Watch me.” The Rabbi quickly threw an elbow hook at the dummy and then slowed it down so I could observe what he was doing. “A quick snap of your elbow, that’s all. Understand?” I nodded. “Show me,” he said.