Page 1 of Visions in Blood
ChapterOne
The gym matraced toward me, or rather, I hurdled toward it.I curled into a ball just in time to miss planting my face into the floor, then sprang to my feet as I came out of the roll.When I turned to face my adversary, I brought my arms up in a defensive posture, waiting for her next move.
Simone prowled the edges of the mat, and if she’d been a shifter, she would have been a panther.Her full-length leotard accentuated her long, lean legs and toned upper arms.Regal and deadly.She never took her eyes from me, and I refused to lower mine.I caught her grim smile.A predator sizing up its prey.Prey who didn’t know it was done for.I never was overly bright.
When her fangs lowered to caress her bottom lip, I sprang.But not in her direction.I wasn’t crazy.
I hit the climbing wall a quarter of the way up and clambered to the top like a spider evading a shoe, crossing as I ascended, heading for the rope.As soon as I grabbed it, I pushed off, allowing my body to undulate and pick up momentum.As I swung toward the multi-colored rings painted on the floor, I took a second to glance back to Simone, who waited to see where I’d land.
Grinning, I prepared to release the rope to drop onto my mark and swallowed a scream when I let go.Sergi, who hadn’t been there a second ago, was six inches from where I landed.When I hit the floor, he swept my feet out from under me and made a stabbing motion toward my neck, signifying he could have ripped my throat out.
“That’s cheating.”I rubbed my knee, which had hit at an odd angle and would probably require an ice pack.
“You never take your eyes off your mark.This isn’t an amusement park.”Sergi shook his head and marched to the only bench in the ballroom-sized gym.He picked up a towel that he threw over his shoulder.“I taught you better than that.Devon taught you better than that.”
“Our little Cressa spent too much time grinning like a young bride after her first plucking.”Simone’s stoic expression was always hard to read.I could usually tell when she was joking, but I wasn’t so sure this time.
“My first plucking?I think you’re showing your age.”I crawled on my hands and knees before getting my legs under me, not confident they’d hold my weight before giving in.Sergi’s knockdown had been harder than necessary.
“My age isn’t the issue.Your focus is.A typical failing of youth.”She picked up a bright red caftan and threw it on.“We’ll review the meditation techniques for the next couple of days, then try this exercise again.”
I groaned but offered no further complaints.I’d just end up with more days of meditation.Something I was already well-versed with after years of working with a previous mentor.As usual, my education wasn’t up to snuff for Simone’s standards.
“You have time for a light lunch before your session with Anna?”
I added an eye roll to the groan as I followed her out.“Why did her sessions get moved to right after lunch?You know that’s a human’s worst time for learning.”
“Exactly.Which is why you must practice remaining alert through all your training sessions.Many assignments will require hours of waiting.You can’t become distracted.”
“I’m a thief.I’m somewhat familiar with that part of the job role.”
“Yet, Anna reports you retain little of what she teaches you.”
“Maybe she should teach me mission-critical information instead of how many forks go with a particular place setting or whether a dress would look better with a belt.”
“Blood Wards are expected to know these things.”
“But I’m only pretending to be a Blood Ward.I need to know enough for light conversations, not some exam.”
“You never know when someone will be watching.Questioning.”
This argument wouldn’t get me out of Anna’s lectures, but I couldn’t stop whining.There had to be a balance somewhere.“I didn’t realize Blood Wards were trained so extensively.How long is the internship before a Blood Ward is ready to be turned?”
“Three years.”
I stopped.“You meant months, right?”
Simone turned and gave me one of her intimidating glares.It would have terrified me a week ago, but between training sessions and periods of friendly chats, I usually only worried when she dropped her fangs.
“I always say what I mean.”Her tone held an edge that, even without fangs, I took seriously.
“Of course.I didn’t mean to doubt you.But if it takes years to train a Blood Ward, why is Anna cramming like I’m taking SATs next week.”
Her glare didn’t waver.“I don’t know what that means, but I see your point.Perhaps you should ask her yourself.”
Then she increased her pace, and I took that as my signal that our conversation was over.After the last mission where I’d fallen out the two-story window, everyone had been given a couple of days off.And they had all returned with improved attitudes—which lasted one day.The tension had increased exponentially since then.That was four days ago.
I hadn’t seen Devon since we’d made a new deal.My debt would be cleared by assisting with his mission to remove his censure from the vampire Council.If we succeeded, I’d earn back half of my debt as a bonus.A sweet deal—assuming I survived.
