Vel 1

Jab, jab, right hook, and repeat. Jab, jab, right hook, and repeat. The punching bag barely moved so I punched harder and harder adding more moves along the way. Jab, jab, right hook, elbow, elbow, and knee. Until eventually, I was in a rhythm. Jab, jab, right hook, elbow, elbow, knee, knee, kick, and spinning kick. The spinning kick was what I needed to work on. I could not quite kick with enough power without losing my balance. I had the correct form just not enough power. Every time, I worked out, memories flowed through my mind like water spilling from a cup. There was no way to stop it, I could only watch. Memories of running to the top of the hill that overlooked my family home and seeing it ablaze. Figures in black vans swarmed around the house as the Russian State Fire Service attempted to put out the fire. I felt a presence behind me and did not bother to look back as I had a good guess as to who it was.

"I arrived a little before you to see the same thing. Are you alright Vel?" A man with a Russian accent spoke.

I struggled to breathe and keep the tears from falling from my eyes. Being unable to, I turned and buried my face in his chest. Warm arms wrapped around me despite the cold, night air and provided me a sense of comfort that allowed for my tears to flow unchecked. I saw my mother, father, and sister. I cried until I could not anymore. The black vans and fire service left. We made our way towards what remained of the house. It was and still is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Sorting through the remains of the house. After that I had made the promise that will change my life forever: I will find my family's murderer no matter the cost.

After the incident, I stayed with Makar and his wife Klara. Under a new name, Kay Volkov but no matter how much those two did to make my life comfortable, I was missing something.

I blinked away the memory, unwrapped my gloves then headed to the shower. The water felt amazing against my hot skin helping to erase the tears that threatened to come out. After the shower, I tied my hair into a ponytail, changed, gathered my things then left. I had just left the gym when a black-haired, brown-eyed, tan-skinned man stood in front of me. He was not threatening but deep down inside, I knew that he was different. It made me on edge.

"My name is Ace Volkov. I and my friends wish to have a little fun."

"What is it you want?" I growled, immediately widening my stance, ready to fight.

He chuckled. "We-" he gestured towards a beautiful brown-eyed, red haired woman to his left and a brown-haired, brown-eyed man to his right. "Want to challenge you to a fight?"

"What are your terms?" I did not know what came over me. Maybe it was my pride, keeping me from being unable to turn down a challenge or maybe I was interested in what the man had planned.

"You can leave anytime you want. We just want to see test your skills. That's all. Just a friendly fight."

I knew that this man had more up his sleeve but I also wasn't sure that I could confidently take on three people without knowing their skills if they decided to stop me. But I was curious and gave into my interest. I looked at both of his "friends".

The woman was glaring at me and the man was looking at me with boredom.

I concluded that this was the man called Ace's idea and that they were following along with it because Ace was somewhat of a leader. "Fine."

"Great! Now if you will follow me." Ace smiled but his eyes watched me testing before he turned around and I followed him. His "friends" followed behind me. We walked for many minutes before we arrived at a mansion. I wondered why he made us walk and not drive. Did he not have the money or was he just testing me? Seeing if I would lose interest in the challenge before it began? I took in the house like a sponge to water. There was nothing outstanding about the mansion. It was just one of the many mansions lined along with the river. Ace stood at the entrance of the visit and motioned for me inside.

I immediately felt a chill run down my spine. Ace looked at me and I could have sworn that he knew that he was making me uneasy. "Why are we going inside here for a fight? Isn't there a gym somewhere we can fight instead?" I quickly smiled to cover it up and walked inside.

"I think this place would be the best?" He said and I was left to wonder why? He walked in front of me and I followed him down the stairs into a basement.

My eyes widened at the ring that was set up. It was just like the gym I had come from. I walked to the ring and ran my hand along the wire that ran along the ring. My mind still couldn't believe that this was real.

"You like it?" Ace leaned up against the ring.

I looked at him.

He was smiling, gently.

"What is this challenge?"

"I just want to see you fight? How about you fight with Anton?" He motioned towards the brown-haired man who had followed us here.

"I would be able to beat her blindfolded, Ace."

"I will do it." I without thought answered. I could feel something in my throat when people underestimated me. Whenever I answered that challenge, that feeling went away. I felt free and excited. "How are we fighting? Boxing, Martial Arts-"

"Any way you want? There are no rules."

I looked at him. I did not know how to feel about this man. He made me uneasy but at the same time, intrigued. I dropped my duffel bag. I shook my head, ducked under the wire, and entered the ring. "Well, what are we waiting for?" I couldn't disappoint him, could I? If I played into his hands, he may let his guard down so when he does try something, I can escape. If it comes to that.

Anton ducked under the wire and entered the ring, grinning from ear to ear. He easily had me in height. I guess he was some inches above my 165.1cm (5ft 5 inches). He was broad and I could tell he was powerful but I had fought powerful men before. He charged trying to surprise me and take me off guard. The person who starts the fight usually owns the fight as the other opponent almost always has to be defensive. He swung powerful punch after another not holding back. I blocked and dodged each one. He was getting frustrated and kicked. I did what I was trained, caught the kick, twisted it, heard his sharp yelp of pain then pushed making him fall off his right foot. Twisting it even more I waited until he yelled in pain. "Is this fight over?"

"Yes." He snapped.

"Promise."

"Yes!" He yelled. Letting go of his foot, I left the ring to let him nurse his ankle before I walked to the exit.

Ace blocked my path. "Where are you going the challenge is not done yet?"

"I beat the man you picked. Is that not what the challenge was?"

"You need to finish it."

"I did-" I looked at him. Ace's dark eyes shown and his smile curled in a way that made me shiver. He wanted me to break Anton. Break his spirit make him never want to fight me again. For as long as I could remember. Ever since I took up fighting many doubted me. I hesitated. I fought the opponent until he admitted defeat then left but others wanted me to "finish it". Break a leg or make the man fear me. That was not me. I could not do that. "I cannot do that. Anton is your man. You may need him in the future-"

"I have no need of a man who has been beaten. He has failed me so must be punished." Ace said simply.

"This is a friendly challenge. You said there were no terms to this fight."

He bent down and whispered in my ear, "Velveteen Snow, you of all people should know that it's a be killed or kill world out there. I thought Makar had taught you better than that."

Fear raced through me as he mentioned my name and Makar. I knew he could possibly be bluffing and that I could fake that I had never heard that name but the way he said it. With no doubt. Made me doubt that he was bluffing. "How do you know about that?"

He smiled as he neared me. I fought the urge to step away from him and run. He reached for my hair and ran a hand through it. "Do you know how many people are after you? You are the last of your family. To kill you would gain me much but I believe you need me?"

I pulled away, "What makes you think I would ever need you?"

"If you want to find your family's killer that is."

I froze and looked at him. Did he know who killed them or was he just saying that to get a rise out of me?

He grinned and stepped even closer before bending down to whisper in my ear, "Stay with me and I can help you get your revenge. I will never hurt you, you can leave anytime but you must always do what I say?"

How could I stay with him? I barely knew him. Let alone trust him. If Makar found out, he would do whatever he could to get me away from Ace. I could not involve Makar. This was my only lead and I knew that it would itch away at me until I gave in. "You will leave Makar and his wife out of it."

"Anything for you."

I shivered at that statement. "I will need to go back-"

"You don't need to. I have all you need here. We do not want to involve him now do we?"

I felt trapped and Ace standing near to me intimidated me. I had never felt fear towards anyone but Ace was something entirely. "You will let me leave whenever?"

He nodded. "Do we have to go over the terms of our agreement again?" He threw his hands in the air bored. This was a man who was used to getting what he wanted. Every cell in my body screamed for me to say no but the promise I had made to myself to find my family's murderer overcame common sense.

"I agree to your terms." I felt as if I had torn out a piece of me. A piece of me that I would never be able to get back.

"Wonderful." He said obviously pleased before turning to the red-head. "Rose, take her to the room next to mine, make sure she has everything, and make sure that everyone knows that nothing is to endanger her."

"Ace-"

I could not see his face as he was looking at Rose but I saw the blood drain from her face and knew that whatever look Ace had given her, he was not someone to defy.

"Yes, Ace." She breathed out.

"Wonderful, Breakfast starts at 6. No one is to be late." With that, he left the room.

Rose stared at the ground for a moment longer before she looked at me. Noticing that I had been watching her she whipped around, her hair swinging over her shoulder before she climbed the steps to the first floor. I followed her after grabbing my duffel bag. As soon as she walked down the hall-way, back the way we came from. I noticed that there were a lot of people also walking the hall-way. They gave me cursory glances but nothing more. I wondered how I had not noticed them before or if maybe Ace had them clear out while we were walking towards the mansion? Either way, I guessed that this was his plan along. To get me to agree to stay with him but for what reason, I had no idea. Rose climbed up another flight of stairs and this time I took in the white walls and bright windows that lined the hall-way that the stairs led up to. Many doors also lined the walls but what took my breath away was the courtyard that the windows looked into. Even though it was February, and it was still cold in Russia. The statues, frozen water fountain, and snow-covered trees made the courtyard look like something out of a fairytale.

"This will be your room." Rose stopped at the room next to the last one.

I had just opened the door when I was slammed against it.

"Do not disobey or dissatisfy him or I will make your life miserable." With that Rose released me and walked away. I watched her leave wondering why someone who just a moment ago, was pure white when Ace talked to her was threatening me. Waiting until she disappeared entirely, I opened the door to my room, walked in then closed it. Dropping my duffel bag, I took in the light blue walls, dark blue flooring, and pristine white master bed pushed up against the wall to my left. Dark brown stained wooden nightstands were set on either side with a lamp sitting on top. A matching dresser was to the right. A door was next to the dresser. I opened it to a white tiled bathroom with matching countertops and sinks. A full-length mirror sat above the sinks and a glass shower was to the right. I closed the door to the bathroom and took in the rest of the room. Window walls lined the end of the room. Two built-in bookcases lined the wall from there. Two white loveseats and a matching coffee table sat in the middle. I walked back to the dresser only to notice a second door. Seeing that I had a dresser I doubted it was a closet.

Ace's words rang in my ear, ""Rose, take her to the room next to mine, make sure she has everything, and make sure that everyone knows that nothing is to endanger her." What if the room was connected to his. Not wanting to test that theory in case he was in the room, I left the door closed and flopped down on the bed. "Why did I agree to this?"

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my pocket to look at it. Two missed calls and a text from Makar. "Where are you? I called you twice. We are getting worried." My finger lingered over the button. I wanted to so badly to respond but I could not have him involved. I just hoped that he wouldn't track me down to here. He had done it before when I went to the gym for the first time without telling him. I had asked him how he knew and he never gave me an answer. I yawned, the aches from working out, and the fight came back to me all at once. Not wanting to change into pajamas, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

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