Page 30 of Cloak of the Vampire
Afterward, Logan led us through a series of stretches, push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups. He circled us and moved between us to admonish or encourage or outright belittle us for our performance in each task. And only when we were pushed to the edge of our capabilities did he say, “Now, it’s time for the hard part.”
“So that was theeasypart of the class?” Zoey asked, wiping sweat from her face. Her eyes, with eyeliner and mascara smeared all around them, reminded me of a panda bear’s.
Logan’s lips twitched. “Since you have something to say,youget to spar withme first.”
“Sparwithyou?” Gus asked, eyes wide. “That hardly seems fair. Surely, you’re stronger and faster than all of us?”
“You think Muhammad Ali got to be the greatest by sparring with people who were slower than him? Weaker than him? You get better by working with people who have skills you need. You watch them, take punches from them, and learn to anticipate their next move.That’show you get better,” Logan replied.
“Oh,” Gus said in a defeated voice. “And what happens if we’re not any good?”
Logan didn’t respond directly and instead said, “I need to evaluate your starting strength and agility to see if any of you have potential to be selected to join the Troop. Can anyone tell me what the Troop is?”
There were some rumblings from around the room as Logan paced back and forth in front of us, sizing us up before his eyes settled briefly on me.
“The Troop is like our military,” Zoey said as Logan turned his gaze in her direction.
“That’s correct. You just got yourself out of having to spar with me first.” Logan turned his attention back to the rest of us. “Not all Leagues have a Troop, but out of those who do, Rayne League’s is the best, consisting of the finest martial artists and many Gifted individuals whose Gift resides in their physicality, much like mine.” He seemed proud as he continued, “Because the Rayne Troop is top tier, the Rayne League is considered the safest, most secure League out of them all.”
One of the girls raised a hand. Once Logan nodded toward her, she asked, “What do we need to be safe from?”
Logan’s face became somber. “Vampires have many enemies out there. Which is why all vampires, not just members of the Troop, need to be strong enough to defend themselves against any and all dangers.” He gave us a meaningful look before he said, “Once I assess you here, I will create individualized training programs for each and every one of you. I recommend complying with the programs unless you want your eternal life to end far too early.”
I looked around. Gus and Jakob looked worried. Zoey looked elated. The others seemed simply nervous. I wanted the class to be over with.
“Contos, you’re first,” Logan said.
Tansy stepped forward slowly, her long hair pulled into a high ponytail that still reached past her waist. Logan studied her up and down, probably noting her waifish form, before nodding and taking a few steps back from her. “Attack,” he instructed, arms at his sides.
Tansy walked timidly toward him and punched him lightly in the chest. Logan blinked as if waiting for her to actually punch him. “That doesn’t count as an attack,” he informed her. He hit himself in the center of his chest two times quickly as if to show where and how hard to hit him before saying, “Again. Attack.”
Some of the others snickered at the pitiful attempt, and Tansy started trembling. Her eyes, as innocent and large as they were, grew bigger, something passing through her blue irises. I knew that look, though, and I recognized the trembling. This was a deer caught in headlights, wishing with every fiber of its being to be in the shadows.
Logan frowned, shaking his head and waving her away. “Come back when you’re ready to actually attack,” he told her.
Tansy nodded, looking grateful for the break. She was not the same Tansy I’d seen for the last few days. Here, in this room, faced with having to fight Logan, she was a frail, dull version of herself.
Stay away from her,my conscience whispered as if it knew something I didn’t.
After Tansy took a seat in the back, she wrapped her arms around herself. Then Logan turned his attention to the class. “Martin,” he called.
Gus approached him, and Logan gave him the same instruction he had given Tansy. Gus merely nodded before going at Logan full force. Logan evaded every punch and kick as Gus worked up a sweat. Logan had a bored look on his face, as though he would’ve been more interested in playing chess.
After a few minutes, Logan told him to stop and thanked him. Then it continued on in the same manner, with only Zoey managing to land a punch to his shoulder, gaining her an approving nod from Logan. She was almost preening when they finished, as though she’d just won the lottery.
“Henderson,” Logan then called. His turquoise eyes latched on to me and were far less warm than before.
I walked toward him, then stopped when I was within sparring distance.
“Attack,” he instructed, never taking his piercing eyes from mine.
At that moment, I had to make a decision. My instincts told me to ignore my training. To go easy on him. He was not a threat. I was not in any real danger right then. I should pretend to be weak, feeble even.
But Logan would know. He would know I was holding back because heknewme. Logan knewexactlywhat I was capable of.
It wasn’t just that, though. If I wanted to get my revenge on Ragnor Rayne, I wouldn’t be able to do that from the kitchen or if I moved to another League. I had to show I was good at something, and while I knew I wasn’t physically any better than Gus or the others, I knew something they didn’t.
Everything inside me rebelled against this decision. I was many things, but a sadist wasn’t one of them. Besides, we were vampires now. He obviously wasn’t the same needy seventeen-year-old boy.
