Instinctively, I move away, putting my back against the tree trunk. Within seconds, Simon is leaping into the air, landing on top of Cyrus. I watch as the two of them take turns holding the other down. Theirmovements resemble a well-choreographed dance where death is the desired outcome.
The speed at which they move is difficult to follow. Watching reminds me of a motion picture that’s been sped up. Without warning, Cyrus is standing next to me. His face is covered in scratches, and his clothes are torn.
“Are you watching?” he asks me.
“Yes…” I answer. How can I not watch? Simon is breathing heavily, glaring at the vampire next to me.
“Good. Your turn,” Cyrus announces.
I look at my buyer. “My turn? I…I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s easy. Win.”
I don’t know whether to be pissed off or terrified. Cyrus is training me by sending me into a fight with a lycanthrope. The only thing I’ve ever fought was zipping a dress that was tighter than it should be.
“I…” I begin.
“Simon,” Cyrus interrupts. “Attack her.”
The wolf is on me a heartbeat later. I’m on the ground with no memory of getting here. Two large paws are holding my shoulders to the grass underneath me.
“Fight him,” Cyrus says from the background. I struggle to get up, but even with my newfound strength, a giant wolf weighs more than I can move.
“I can’t!” I yell over the growls.
“Yes, you can.” He moves closer to my head. “Give her some incentive, Simon.”
On cue, the wolf snaps at my face. He’s so close, the heat of his breath blows the hair that has escaped my hair tie. Without warning, Simon bites down on my arm, sending shockwaves of pain through my entire body. I scream louder than the growl.
“Fight him, Violet,” Cyrus demands. “You’re stronger than he is.” How the hell am I stronger than a ten-foot wolf? “Let your instincts take over. You’re acting like a human.”
“I am human,” I retort.
“No, Violet. You are a powerful vampire. Use the strength Harrison gave you.”
The mention of Harrison’s name fills me with rage. If it weren’t for him, I’d be preparing to go to New York to begin my career. I’d be the maid of honor for my best friend’s wedding, not in Florida, being mauled by a werewolf and trained to be sold to a bitchy vampire.
“Good,” Cyrus says close to my ear. “I can feel your anger. Harness that power, and use it.”
I close my eyes, concentrating on bringing the anger from my emotions to my body. Without much thought, I imagine the anger congregating in my core. I open my eyes and push, knocking the large wolf off and onto the grass next to me. He’s not injured, but he’s not on me either.
“Good,” Cyrus says with a smile. “Remember what you did.”
“Remember? I don’t have a clue.” I jump to my feet, still angry.
“You harnessed the power within you. Vampires are born with immeasurable power. It grows as we age and learn how to control it. I sensed strength in you the first moment we met. It’s what’s helped you gain control so quickly.”
“Are you complimenting me?” I ask.
Cyrus smiles. “Don’t let it go to your head, little one. We have much work to do.”
The three of us spend the better part of the day in the garden. Each time Simon attacks, I’m a little faster at fighting him off. In a true fight, I wouldn’t stand a chance. But in the garden of Cyrus’s home, I’m holding my own.
My stomach growls, echoing off the stone wall. “You need to eat,” Cyrus says, interrupting Simon’s attempt to pin me to the ground for the hundredth time. My stomach growls in response.
“That sounds like a great idea,” I answer.
I watch as Cyrus disappears into the house, and Simon moves behind one of the large trees, carrying what remains of his clothes in his mouth. Choosing one of the many benches throughout the garden, I pick one close to a large rose bush. The sweet smell reminds me of my mother. Out of all of her perfumes, her favorite smelled like a garden of fresh poppies.
