Self Defense Class

The police academy on campus was hosting self defense classes once a week through the month of November. As Max was one of the students teaching the class, Holden had begged his friends to attend to help Max out. Cassandra, Magdalene and even Rose, agreed to attend the class even though they didn't really need it. Cassandra and Rose had spent a great deal of their time the last five years training to hunt and kill vampires. They were physically fit and very capable of defending themselves to the average human who may attack them. Magdalene however had never had formal training. She had gotten lucky when she killed her father—he had been weak from lack of feeding, and drunk. If Marius Markus had been at his full vampiric strength Magdalene wasn't sure if she'd be able to kill him.

"I'm surprised you two are going," Magdalene said as Cassandra pulled open the main door to the athletic center on campus.

"Why?" Cassandra asked.

"You two already know how to defend yourselves."

"It never hurts to practice," Rose responded smartly. "Besides, we could learn something new."

Cassandra shrugged. "Max gets credit for teaching the class, but only if there are people to teach."

"It's possible we'll be the only ones in the class?" Magdalene asked.

Cassandra nodded.

"That will be awkward," Rose said as they walked down the hall towards the gym.

Inside the gym there were mats laid out on half the basketball court. Magdalene looked around and saw Max and Holden standing by the bleachers talking to each other quickly. Max was wearing his police academy tee shirt and navy blue athletic shorts. Holden was dressed in black sweatpants and a white men's tank top. Magdalene bit her bottom lip when she caught sight of him. His skin was well tanned and his large muscular arms were flexed because his arms were folded over his chest. His white tank top clung to his muscular torso. Magdalene thought he might as well have his shirt off because it was so tight across his chest and abs. She noticed on his upper right arm she saw a tattoo of some kind of bird. As the girls grew closer to the two men, she saw that it was a sparrow. She thought it was an interesting choice for a tattoo. She wondered what it represented to him.

Holden caught her staring at him and smirked. His stunning steel blue eyes met hers and caused her to catch her breath for a moment.

"Hey," he said still smiling as if he knew what she was thinking about.

"Is it just us tonight?" Cassandra asked as she sat down on the bleachers.

"No," Max said looking at the clipboard he had in his hand. "There are a total of ten on the sign-up sheet."

"It's good it's an even number," Rose sat down next to Cassandra as she spoke. "You'll be able to partner us up."

Max nodded and wrote a quick note on his clipboard. Magdalene smiled as she sat down next to her friends. Max appeared a little nervous to be teaching the self defense class. Magdalene imagined it was like giving a presentation—she'd be nervous too.

Holden sat down next to the girls.

"Thanks for coming," he said. "Max is really nervous."

"Is this the first session he's teaching?" Magdalene asked.

Holden nodded. "A different student teaches it each week. It's part of their mid-term score."

"How does the teacher score them?"

"By how many people actually attend," Holden said. "And Max has to record himself teaching." Holden motioned to the camera that was set up across the gym a bit.

"I don't know how crazy I am about there being video evidence of me making a fool of myself," Magdalene joked. She felt Holden's emotions overwhelm her suddenly. He liked that she was joking. It warmed his heart, making it beat quickly with pleasure. He was happy that she was happy…

Holden gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll do great."

Magdalene returned his smile and felt butterflies in her stomach. She brushed her hair out of her face and looked away from Holden for a moment. If he liked her, why hadn't he asked her out? She bit her bottom lip. Why hadn't she asked him out? She liked him. He gave her butterflies in a way that was unfamiliar and new.

Demetrius was the only other man she had ever been in a relationship with, and his attraction to her was purely physical and animalistic (so he said). He had always been someone she could talk to and he seemed to care more than he would admit, but after leaving her at Palazzo il Bicchiere, Magdalene was starting to wonder if he ever really cared for her at all or did she make it up somehow.

She glanced at Holden who had gotten up and was talking to Max again. Thinking about her relationship with Demetrius suddenly made her doubt herself. If she believed Demetrius had feelings for her (more than lustful feelings), and he didn't, was she misguided about Holden as well? Was it possible that her empathic abilities were failing her?

"You okay?" Cassandra asked pinching Magdalene's arm.

Magdalene blinked and nodded her head quickly. Cassandra glanced across the gym to Holden and looked back at Magdalene as if she knew exactly the internal debate she was having.

"Holden is a flirt but he's pretty genuine when he likes someone."

"How do you know that's what I was thinking about?"

"You're staring a little too much," Cassandra laughed.

Magdalene smirked in an attempt to not blush. "He's pretty nice to stare at."

"I'm sure he'd say the same thing about you…"

The two girls laughed as Holden came back to the bleachers and sat down next to them. More people had entered the gym and were starting to collect nearby. Max stepped forward, clapping his hands together, to get everyone's attention.

"Hi everyone! Welcome to the self defense class. My name is Max, I'm a senior at the police academy and I will be teaching this course tonight. We're going to work on some basic self defense skills. I'll show and demonstrate some things, then we'll break into partners so you can all practice. Holden, would you join me please?"

Holden stood up with a large grin. Magdalene swore she heard some of the other girls who were sitting behind her on the bleachers giggle as he walked up to join Max on the mats. She rolled her eyes as he turned back and gave them a stunning, half-cocked smile. Cassandra was right, he was a flirt.

Max explained the maneuver he was about to demonstrate as Holden pretended to attack him. Holden stood for a few moments, waiting for Max to stop talking, before they demonstrated. Magdalene was so busy staring at Holden and his muscular arms that she didn't listen very much to what Max was saying or doing. Like most of the other girls there, she was too busy staring at Holden to learn any self defense skills.

The sudden movement of people on the bleachers brought Magdalene back to reality. Everyone seemed to be breaking off into pairs. Rose and Cassandra were already moving onto the mats and taking a sparing stance. Magdalene frowned slightly as she looked around for a partner—but she didn't know anyone else in the gym.

"I'll be your partner," Holden said coming up to her as she was still sitting. She looked up at him surprised.

"What?"

"You need a partner, come on," he motioned for her to get out on the gym floor. The pairs were already starting to practice some of the blocking moves that Holden and Max had demonstrated.

Magdalene stood up and followed Holden onto the mats.

"I'm sure you have some kind of training," Holden said with a smile. His steel blue eyes were staring at Magdalene with a teasing expression. "Come on, give me your best shot."

Magdalene frowned. "I have no training."

Holden stood up straight, dropping his hands by his side. "What? Not many witches have no training. Come on, take a swing at me. You won't hurt me…after this I'll take you out for food."

Magdalene rolled her eyes because he was being so charming. Did he just ask her out on a date? She couldn't help but smile. She balled her first and swung a right hook at Holden. He grabbed her wrist, blocking the punch and twisted her arm behind her back. Magdalene didn't hesitate, she let her body fold into Holden's arms, but before he could restrain her, she dropped down to her knee. Her move caught him off guard and he released her arm. She reached up behind her, grabbed Holden's tight white shirt and pulled him quickly over her shoulder, throwing him down onto the ground on his back. Holden looked up at her with smiling eyes.

Magdalene stared at him in shock—she had never done anything like that in her life. It was just instinct. Her body responded before her mind had time to think.

"No training my ass," Holden laughed as he stood up.

"I swear I've never done anything like that before."

Holden nodded. "Uh huh, sure."

Magdalene stood up straight and crossed her arms over her chest as he beamed at her. Without warning, he lunged at her, tackling her to the ground around the waist. Magdalene fell back under him. He straddled her as her arms swung at him in an unskilled attempt to block him or push him off. He grabbed her wrist and pressed them down onto the mat. Magdalene felt adrenaline rush through her system and her mind began to panic—her father had held her down like this multiple times before he bit her—

Suddenly, Holden released her and sat back staring at Magdalene with surprised eyes. Magdalene sat up, looking away from him.

"Maggie," he said quickly there was a touch of fear in his voice. She looked up at him with a glare. Holden stood up quickly off the ground. Then, Magdalene felt it. Her eyes were dilated and she was sure, judging by Holden's reaction, that they had faded to gray. She was agitated and hungry. She looked away from Holden to the clock on the wall across the gym. It was almost nine thirty.

Magdalene jumped up. "I've gotta go."

She tore away from Holden, grabbed her bag off the bleachers, and headed for the gym doors.

"Magdalene!" He called after her. She didn't look back as she raced down the hall. She had to get to the clinic. She needed to see Nathan immediately.

"Leave her alone, Holden," called Rose down the hall.

Magdalene glanced over her shoulder and saw Rose following her. Holden was standing back with Cassandra and they were arguing. Rose caught up to Magdalene. She gasped slightly when she made eye contact with her.

"You're going to the clinic?" she asked. Magdalene nodded but didn't say anything. She was growing more annoyed the longer she was in the athletic center. She could fell everyone's fear and uneasiness around her now. It just irritated her more.

"I should go with you."

"No," Magdalene responded sharply. Rose frowned at her with a harsh expression. "I'll be fine. Thank you. I'll see you later, once I've calmed down."

Rose nodded in understanding. "Alright."

Magdalene turned on her heel and left the center. She made her way across campus quickly to the clinic. Nathan was sitting behind the front desk talking to another student who was also wearing scrubs.

"Hey Magdalene," he said standing up with a smile. His face fell when he saw her expression and glaring eyes. He glanced at the other student and came around the desk quickly. "You okay? You don't look too well…"

Magdalene shook her head as she closed her eyes tight. She could feel his caution. He approached her and wrapped his arm around her waist, taking her arm in his hand. It took every ounce of her being to let him touch her. Her skin was crawling with aggravation and she was sure if she was a full vampire, her fangs would have slid forward in aggression.

The other student was standing up behind the front desk. Magdalene could feel his fear and curiosity as Nathan led her back to one of the exam rooms. She didn't look at the student though, she didn't want him to see her gray eyes.

"You okay?" Nathan asked once they were alone.

Magdalene broke free of him and began to pace around the exam room. She rubbed her hands through her hair as Nathan set up the transfusion.

"Yea," she said. "I'll be fine. I should have come earlier. I was at Max's self defense class. I shouldn't have been training with someone when I needed blood."

Nathan nodded. "I'll go get a blood bag. Sit down."

Magdalene didn't say anything as he left the exam room. She didn't sit down either. She was upset with herself for losing control of her emotions that way so quickly. She knew that she was going to be sparing with someone—that was the point of the self defense class—she didn't expect the fight to trigger a flashback to her father's abuse. She didn't anticipate being pushed into an aggressive vampiric state.

The door to the exam room opened. Magdalene looked up surprised to see Holden standing in front of her. He closed the door sharply before glaring at her with his arms crossed over his chest. She looked away from him, still pacing, hoping that by not looking at him her blood pressure and temper would not rise.

"You followed me here?"

"It's ten at night," he retorted. "I didn't need to follow you. You're always here at that time."

Magdalene glared at him. "So?"

"You're a vampire!" he practically shouted. "You come here to get blood!"

Magdalene stopped pacing and crossed her arms over her chest as she glared wildly at Holden.

"So?" she said again.

Her short response seemed to annoy him greatly. She could feel his rage, but she didn't understand it. Why was he so angry that she was a vampire? She frowned and stood up straight. He was angry with himself for being attracted to her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I don't think that's really any of your business," she retorted.

Holden stepped closer to her, grabbed her upper arms and held her firmly in front of him. "There are very few reasons why a vampire would be here at Harper's and none of them are good—"

"—I'm only half vampire," Magdalene said pushing him off of her.

"Cassandra told me that but that doesn't answer my question—"

"I don't answer to you, Holden."

"If you're threatening my friends, then you do."

Magdalene's eyes flashed dangerously at him.

"You don't think I'd hurt anyone," Magdalene said quickly. "You're upset that I didn't tell you—"

"—no, don't tell me how I feel, Maggie."

"I can feel your emotions!" she shouted. "I know exactly what you're feeling. You're upset that you have a crush on a vampire and that you seem to be the last to know. I don't have to tell you anything, Holden."

"Friends don't keep things from each other," he said crossly.

Magdalene turned away and paced around the room again. What was taking Nathan so long with the blood bag?

"Can you just leave me alone, please?" she finally asked. Her temper was still rising and she didn't want to say anything that she'd regret. If Holden didn't leave her alone it was completely possible that she'd physically attack him in her rage. She didn't want that to happen. She needed him to leave her alone. She needed blood.

"No, I won't leave you alone, not until you answer my questions—"

"I DON'T ANSWER TO YOU!" she screamed.

Holden glared at her. "You have to answer to someone—"

The door to the exam room opened sharply and Nathan entered.

"Holden, what the hell are you doing here?"

"She's a vampire—"

"I'm fully aware," Nathan said crossly. "Magdalene, sit down." He hung the blood bag and hooked up the transfusion tubes. He didn't wait for Magdalene to get comfortable. He stuck the needle in her arm almost immediately. She growled in pain, glaring at him with her silver gray eyes.

"Keep glaring," he said to her.

Magdalene relaxed as soon as the blood entered her veins. She sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall behind the exam table. It was amazing how quickly the blood fed her vampiric hunger as it entered her system. She immediately felt less agitated. Her eyes returned to their normal navy blue shade. She looked up at Nathan who was smiling at her.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry for my behavior."

"It's alright," he replied. "We'll just have to remember not to let you around Holden until after you've had some blood. Obviously, he triggers your rage."

"He does that for a lot of people," Magdalene said glaring at Holden who was standing quietly near the door.

Nathan moved forward to Holden. "Leave her be. She's half witch, half vampire. The council is aware of her situation and I'm helping her. She's not a threat to any of us."

Holden glared at him, but nodded.

"Do you want to be alone?" Nathan asked looking at Magdalene.

She shook her head. "I owe an apology to Holden."

Holden stood up straight at her comment and looked at her with surprise. Nathan shrugged and exited the room easily. Magdalene was sure he'd be back in fifteen minutes.

"You owe an apology to me too," Magdalene said quickly. "I'm sorry for how I behaved, but I didn't have much control over it. I didn't expect sparing to trigger a response in me. I should have come for blood before the class."

Holden frowned.

"I'm sorry for coming at you so hard just now. I just…well, I guess I panicked like any witch would if they knew that their friend, someone they have feelings for, was a vampire."

He stood in front of her, inching closer with every word he spoke. Magdalene shifted uncomfortably on the table. She didn't think that was much of an apology, but she also didn't think she'd get anymore from Holden.

"You do have feelings for me?"

"Yes," he said in a husky whisper as he pushed her knees apart to standing directly in front of her at the edge of the table. Magdalene smirked as he leaned down slowly. "I'm sorry if you feel like I overreacted. I didn't have all the facts, and I should have tried to talk to you in a more calm matter."

"Your overreaction is understandable," she replied as she stared up at his dark blue eyes. There was a longing in them; he wanted to touch her, kiss her.

Holden brushed her hair behind her ear. "You'll be okay?"

Magdalene looked down. "Yes," she whispered.

Holden brushed his fingers into her hair. Gripping a fistful gently he pulled her head back so that she was looking up at him again. She smiled at his teasing expression as he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers gently. Magdalene was so overcome with lustful desire, she almost forgot she was connected to an IV of blood. Holden kissed her deeply, pressing his tongue gently into her mouth. He kissed her with such desire that her stomach clenched with anticipation of what he might do next. His kiss was seductive and lustful. Magdalene couldn't help but wonder if he was a vampire too. Were humans and witches capable of being that seductive?

He pulled away from her slowly, standing up straight and smiled at her. He brushed her hair behind her ear again as her eyes stared up into his. She could feel his passionate lust for her. She ran her fingers gently over his muscular chest. His desires sparked her own. She wanted him to keep kissing her.

"Want to grab a bite to eat?"

Magdalene laughed. The man was such a tease. "Sure," she replied. "But only if you kiss me again."

Holden smiled but shook his head. "I think you can wait a little longer for another kiss. That was my way of apologizing."

Magdalene rolled her eyes. "You already apologized."

"And I'm not doing it again," Holden said smartly. "I'll wait for you in the lobby."

He turned and left the exam room without another word. Magdalene's fingers jumped to her lips. They still tingled from Holden's kiss. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about his body close to hers. A heat perked in the center of her body between her legs as she thought about Holden. She shook her head with a smile to clear the dirty thoughts of her and Holden together from her brain.