Page 92 of Cages and Crowns
“There could be five men up against you at any point, Elaenor.” Enzo says from under me, his leg sliding off of me. I take Erik’s outstretched hand and stand.
“You two are so worried about hurting her, that you aren’t training her properly.” A deep male voice pipes up from the side and the three of us all turn to look at Nithe.
“Fine. You do it then.” Enzo snaps as he steps aside. Nithe snorts as he jumps onto the platform, shrugging off his leather jacket. Enzo and Erik walk to the edge of the mat as Nithe gestures for me to move.
I look over at Scar and Laenie, their faces stuck between nervousness and amusement. I step further onto the mat and raise my arms. Nithe smiles and sticks his hands in his pockets. I glare at him and run forward, throwing my arm towards his face. He slaps my hand away and spins around, shoving his elbow up and into my face.
My nose instantly burns and my eyes water. I fall to the ground, my hand coming up to touch my nose. It comes away bloody, and I look up at Nithe, anger fueling my glare.
“Hey! Too rough!” Erik snaps, running over. I hold my hand up, gesturing for him to stay back.
“It’s not my fault you ran into my elbow.” Nithe laughs, tucking hishands back into his pockets. Gone again is the man who pledged his life to me. He promised to make sure no harm came to me, and the man who uses humor as a front returns. I find myself questioning which version of him is the true Nithe?
I rise, wiping my bloody hand off on my leggings.
“More?” He sneers as he takes a few steps to his left. I don’t give him a chance. I run for his left and he moves to his right, but I sidestep, sending my fist flying through the air and hitting him in the cheek. My knuckles pop and instant pain radiates to my elbow, but I don’t stop.
His eyes darken as he spins around, reaching for my arm. He grabs my wrist and yanks me over to him. I kick out, hitting his knee as he moves to avoid a foot to the crotch. He stumbles a little before kicking out and sweeping my legs out from under me. I fall back just as his hand tangles itself in my braid and he flips me before bringing me to the ground. I slam my eyes shut, expecting the mat to collide with my face, but it doesn’t.
I open my eyes to the mat inches from my nose as I dangle above it. Nithe still has a hold of my hair, my hands wrapped around his wrist. I bend my knee, letting it rest on the mat to loosen the strain on my scalp. He releases me with a shove and my hands catch me before I hit the mat.
“You give your moves away. You don’t have any way to surprise someone.” He stalks around me slowly. Blood drips from my nose onto the mat. “You are weak, and you won’t survive out there.”
“Ni,” Enzo warns.
“No, she needs to hear this. You think you are all high and mighty. You think nothing can touch you.” He continues.
“I know fear.” I whisper. He knows what I am afraid of. He knows. So why is he saying this?
“What?”
“I know fear!” I yell, rising to my knees.
“Thenuseit!” He yells even louder. I scream, throwing myself to my feet and rushing towards him. His eyes widen as my peripherals turn white. My handslams into his chest, sending him flying off the platform. He lands hard on his back, a strained gasp escaping his lips.
My eyes widen and my hands cover my mouth as I stare at his still body.
“Oh my gods.” I whisper. Nobody moves, and at once, Enzo and Erik turn towards me. Nithe coughs and the panic slowly subsides.
“You good, brother?” Enzo says. Nithe lifts a hand, giving us a vulgar gesture. Tension dissipates as we all collectively take a deep breath.
He coughs as he stands, his shirt singed where my hand hit him.
“I’m sorry.” I say softly.
“Don’t be.” He brushes his hands off on his pants before stretching his neck and standing. “No matter how much you train, you will not be strong enough to fight. We can do everything we can to make you as strong as possible, but your strength lies in your aether. Use it. Don’t be afraid of it. Use the fear, the anger, the resentment to your advantage. It will make you stronger. It will keep youalive.” He reaches the platform and holds his hands out.
I walk to the edge, and he grasps my hips before lifting me and setting me on the ground. My hands rest on his shoulders as I look up at him.
“Are you hurt?” I ask. He shakes his head, lifting one of his hands to wipe my nose.
“You need to channel your anger, little witch. You have a lot of it, and out there, in the real world, you won’t have do overs. You have to use everything you have at your disposal.”
I should feel anger at my throbbing nose. I should feel irritated and weak, but I don’t.
I feel powerful.
He made me feelpowerful.
