Page 53 of Haunted Hearts

KWIL

Showing off for Death feels good both physically and mentally.

In the training room that Death had designed for us, there are padded mats on the floor, two different rings for sparring, and a wall full of mounted real and fake weapons. There was plenty of space to move and fight. So we showed off a bit. Due to the extensive training that we went through when we joined the Ghost Brotherhood, Theodon, Viktor, and I are proficient with a multitude of weapons. From swords, to bows, to a mace club, the three of us are deadly opponents.

We may be dead, but we’re not down and out.

When my mate’s father deemed us worthy warriors, he’d left in a hurry uttering something about the realm needing him. Being left alone, the four of us have lingered, working on sparring with one another for the past hour.

Currently, I’m watching Viktor’s footwork as we circle one another. Despite his large frame, he’s light on his feet. I feint, draw back, spin, and try to catch his left side with my wooden blade. Viktor deflects it easily. Huh, his left side is usually his weaker one, especially as his sight faded. Now, though, with his new sight, the left side is just as strong as his right.

“Make sure you shift your weight to the balls of your feet. Yes, just like that,” Theodon instructs from nearby.

I can hear Jonah’s huff of annoyance as I duck and spin out of Viktor’s reach as he lunges at me with his fake sword.

“This feels funny,” Jonah complains.

“That’s probably due to having a tail. That’s an extra limb I’ve never had to worry about,” Theodon muses. “Find a position you’re comfortable with and we’ll work from there.”

The two of them are nearby in the secondary ring. Theodon has taken the reins with Jonah’s training, deciding that today is as good as ever to start. Out of the three of us, he’s the best person to work with Jonah. Viktor has zero patience with a newbie and when I tried to spar, instincts that belong to a Tangleling and notmefought for supremacy every time Jonah tried to take a swing at me.

Viktor and I come together, our blades clashing over and over in rapid succession as we try to disarm each other. I’m faster for sure, but Viktor has nearly the strength of a Tangleling and remains sure-footed and braces himself easily whenever I throw some weight behind my attack. I’m not sure how much time has passed when Theodon finally gives the signal to quit for the day, but by then, I’m exhausted. Viktor and I break away, sweating and grinning at one another.

“Not too bad for a blind guy,” I bow mockingly at Viktor, who lets out a breathless laugh.

“Not bad for a monster,” he counters.

I can’t help it, I throw my head back and laugh too. Viktor’s joking around again? We really have died because the last thirty years on Earth, Viktor’s been nothing but a prickly asshole. This feelsgood.When was the last time the three of us had fun? It’s been a while, that’s for sure.

Jonah throws us each a towel, having finished up with Theodon a little while ago. I thank him as I wipe down my face.

“Who’s going to teach Willow how to fight?” he asks as he grabs his shirt off the ground.

No. Fight.The monster shoves up against my mental wall that I keep him behind. It’s been like this for hours with it. Ever since our talk with Death this morning about what Willow’s role would be, I’ve been trying to talk the creature down. The thought of Willow in the midst of any trouble is unsettling, sending heraftertrouble, even more so.

“We’ll take turns with her.” Theo pauses with a frown. “Though, I would like to get all of that power under control first. That will be her first line of defense. We’ll be her second. Nothing should be getting close enough to her to cause her any damage.”

Protect. Her.The monster agrees with a mental nod of agreement. I shake off its attention to the conversation with a roll of my shoulders.

"Speaking of Willow, where do you think she is?” I glance towards the door.

Jonah snorts as he throws his towel over his shoulder, walking towards the exit. “Brock is probably cock deep inside her somewhere.”

Viktor sputters as he puts our weapons away. I grin.

Ours, the contentment in the voice inside my head is unnerving. The monster can practically smell the bond between the reaper and Willow and is wholly ok with it. It’s not like Jonah, where the beast had to dominate, nor is it the same as it had been with Viktor and Theodon, when it was displeased with how they were treating her. Brock is safe from the creature’s wrath.

I look over at Theodon, it’s clear those two have something going on between them. Theodon refuses to tell us what it is that Brock pulled him aside for and I haven’t had a moment alone with the reaper to ask him about it.

“Wonderful.” The lack of infliction in Theodon’s tone pulls my attention to him.

Not happy. The monster notes, despite the neutral expression Theodon wears. I agree with it.

“You ok with that?” I ask him, curiously.

Theodon doesn’t look over at me as he passes by, strolling towards the exit. “They were fated to be together. Why wouldn’t I be ok with that?”

I follow him, as do the others. Jonah trots past me to come up to Theodon’s side. “You two seem to have an issue with one another, that’s why.”

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