Chapter 16

"Wake up Sleeping Beauty!" Sophia was gently shaking me.

"Mmmmm...no" I pulled the covers over my head.

"Come on Marina, it's time to get up! We got class!" she giggled.

"Class? What time is it?" I blinked a few times.

"Yes, so you can defend yourself and kick butt. It's 9pm. You slept through the day and no nightmares. Or at least you weren't screaming."

"You are way too perky for just waking up. Did you say 9 pm? Wow, I passed out before the group got back" I said sitting up.

"Yes you did. They got in around 4 this morning. I got some work out clothes for you. Gotta warm up before you do anything"

"Thank you. Be down in a few"

She had her hair pulled up in a ponytail, a skin tight tank top, yoga pants and some tennis shoes. She looked cute.

"Okay. Hurry though" she bounced out.

I got up, pulled my hair into a ponytail and looked thought the clothes she brought up. I put on a tank top that hugged my skin, then t-shirt over it, yoga pants and tennis shoes. I looked at myself in the mirror.

"I look like a zombie" I went downstairs but couldn't find Sophia the the best smell hit my nose. Coffee. I went into the kitchen and it was Sophia.

"Thought you might need this" she poured me a cup and I put in some creamer and sugar.

"You are amazing, SO why do you guys have food in here?" I asked as she poured me some cereal.

"So we can practice eating and for when we have company" She smiled.

"Do you have a lot of human company?" I asked as I drank the heavenly coffee.

"No, not really"

"Oh, so what's the plan for today?"

"You'll see" she smiled at me.

After I finished my coffee and cereal she lead me outside into the woods. She kept close to me so I wouldn't trip. Not too long later there was a small building. We walked inside and she turned on the lights to reveal a large open area. Half the walls were covered in mirrors and the other half was covered with mats. Another section was walled in and floor to ceiling was covered in weapons. From swords, knifes, bow and arrows, axes and so many more that I didn't know what they were. All I knew is that they were sharp and deadly.

She turned on some music and we started stretching. She showed me good breathing techniques and ways to channel my emotions, to stay calm in the face of chaos.

"You're the master here, so why is breathing and channeling so important?" I asked.

"So you have control over yourself, your body and the situation. Yo have to know your limits and what you are capable of" she sounded like Yoda or something.

Sophia was teaching me to be fluid and stretch my body. I felt like the Karate Kid. I mirrored everything she did, well at least I tried the best I could. After a few hours of controlling my body and being fluid I was sweating so bad my over shirt was soaked, so we took a quick break. I took off my overskirt and drank some water.

"I didn't know anyone could sweat this much" I said as I flopped on the mat.

"Once you get used to it you won't sweat much" she laughed.

"Do you sweat?" looking at her dry skin and being jealous.

"Yes, but not often. Since we are vampires it's difficult to make us sweat"

"Well that makes me feel even more gross" we laughed.

"You are doing really good. Would you like to move on?" she asked.

"If you think I'm ready"

"I do. So let's step it up to defense"

"This sounds potentially painful" I laughed a little.

"I'll go easy on you"

She began to show me the ways to get away from an attacker and deflect any blow that comes my way. I stumbled a few times also got hit but I got right back up and continued. Learning from my mistakes, remembering about control. Sophia and I were going at it when Erik walked in but we didn't notice him. He snuck up behind me, I felt a presence and I ducked. With Sophia in front of me and Erik behind I put what she had been teaching me to use. Control of my body, be fluid and defense. I went under Sophia so both of them were in front of me then Sophia came at me and I was blocking her. She was fast but slowing down for me. Then Erik came at me.

"Concentrate. Defense. Control." Sophia said in between punches and kicks. I took a deep breath to concentrate, blocked every time I could and I managed to trip her. Erik was quick but I anticipated him and dove out of the way. Keeping an eye on both of them. He came at me again but he was bigger and stronger. He got two hits on me.

"Adapt. Everyone is different" She added.

"Really? I didn't know" I laughed. My moment of broken concentration let Erik have his chance, he grabbed my wrists, spun me around until my back was against his chest Andy arms were criss crossed.

"Even a moment of distraction is fatal" he breathed in my ear.

"I'll remember that" I felt his heart beating faster. He showed me ho wot get free of a hold like that.

After some contact training and fighting, we stopped. Erik said he had something to show us, So we went outside and around the building. There was monkey bars, ropes to climb, obstacles and things to help gain muscle. We were shocked. Erik made all of it while we were inside.

"Go try it out" he said. So I did and it was a challenge.