Page 43 of Blades of Obsession

Amelia straightens. “If you think I’m going to start kicking ass in this dress, you’re mistaken.”

I smirk. “You’d be surprised what you could do in a dress.”

We move to an open space in the training room, and I guide her through some basic stances. “First, stance. You want to stand firm, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. This gives you balance and mobility.” I demonstrate, feeling the ground beneath me. “You need to be ready to move at all times.”

She mimics my stance, a small frown creasing her forehead as she tries to find her balance. “Like this?”

“Exactly. Now, if someone comes at you, the key is to stay calm and focused. Let’s pretend I’m the attacker, okay?”

“Okay,” she replies, a hint of excitement breaking through her earlier uncertainty.

“Now, if I grab your wrist like this,” I demonstrate by gripping her wrist gently, “you can break free using your body weight and leverage.” I show her how to twist her wrist, using her other hand to push against my arm. “Pull your wrist down and twist away.”

She follows my lead, and I can see her confidence starting to build as she breaks free of my grip with ease. “That’s it. Now, if someone were to get really close, you need to create space.”

“Create space? How?”

“By using your elbow.” I step closer, simulating an attack. “If I were coming at you like this, you can bring your elbow up to hit my jaw.” I demonstrate, my elbow catching the air sharply. “Let’s try it together. I’ll come at you, and you hit me with your elbow, aiming for my jaw.”

“Got it,” she says, determination flashing in her eyes.

I approach her slowly, and just as I reach her, she brings her elbow up with surprising force. It connects with my shoulder instead of my jaw, but it’s enough to make me wince.

“Fuck, you’re strong,” I say, feigning a stagger back. “But remember, aim for the jaw or throat. It’ll disable someone faster.”

“Right,” she replies, biting her lip in concentration. “Let’s try again. I’m liking this. Now I’ll know how to beat Cata—uh, someone I know.”

We practice a few more times, her skills growing with each attempt. “Now, if you ever find yourself in a situation where someone tries to grab you from behind, this is what you do.” I step behind her, loosely wrapping my arms around her waist. “Don’t panic. Take a deep breath.”

She stiffens at first but then remembers my advice and breathes out slowly. “What next?”

“Kick back with your heel into their shin as hard as you can. It’ll cause them to loosen their grip. Then, you can elbow their jaw and run.”

I let her practice, and when she kicks back, I can’t help but admire the ferocity she puts into it. “You’ve got this, Amelia. You’re not just strong, you’re smart, and that’s your biggest asset.”

“Thank you,” she says, her smile lighting up like a thousand stars against the night sky.

“You’re welcome. I’m going to get you a whistle too. Sometimes the noise can deter a guy. And also, if you find yourself losing, you’ll need to start fighting dirty. No matter what it is.”

“Fighting dirty?”

“Yeah, like karate-chopping someone in their throat, stabbing them in the eye with the knife, kicking them in the balls, slamming their head on the concrete, kicking their kneecaps, using any object nearby to knock them over the head, especially those big statues all around the campus. Fightingdirty. Your best asset will be to seduce someone, get them off their guard, and then go in for the attack.”

“I think I’d love to kick someone in the balls,” she laughs, and I instinctively cover mine, wincing as I almost can feel it.

“Okay, one more trick,” I say, stepping back and giving her a moment to gather herself. “It’s called thehip toss. It’s a way to use your body weight and leverage against a bigger opponent.” I position myself beside her, demonstrating how to grip the opponent’s arm while using her hip to throw them off balance.

“Alright, now you try. Grab my arm,” I instruct, and she does. I guide her through the motions, helping her shift her weight and prepare for the toss. “Now, use your hip against mine and pull me down.”

With a swift motion, she yanks my arm and steps into my side, pushing with her hip. The world tilts as I stumble, caught off guard by the sudden force. I lose my balance and feel myself falling.

Time seems to slow as I crash forward, my hands instinctively reaching out to catch myself. But instead of the floor, I land directly on top of her, pinning her against the soft mat. Our faces are inches apart, and I can see the surprise in her eyes, but there’s something else, something electric crackling between us.

“Uh… sorry,” I mumble, trying to regain my composure, but the heat radiating off her body makes it hard to think straight. My heart pounds louder in my ears as I realize how close we are. I can see the tiny flecks of gold in her green eyes, the way they shimmer under the studio lights.

Amelia’s breath catches, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink, and for a moment, we’re suspended in time. It feels like the world outside has faded away, leaving just the two of us in this intimate bubble.

“Aiden,” she breathes.

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