"No, Alexandra!" She snapped out of her reverie, slapping her cheeks lightly. "Stop it, Alexandra!" She tried to avert her gaze, but it kept returning to him. All day, she'd been battling the persistent images from her dream, a battle she was losing. Every time she saw him, the dream's vivid scenes flooded back, and she found herself avoiding him, literally running away.
"I could watch him all day," Samantha sighed dreamily, leaning against the veranda railing, her gaze fixed on Walter's broad shoulders as he expertly wielded a training sword. The afternoon sun glinted off the polished steel, highlighting the muscles rippling beneath his tanned skin.
"Sure, but I'm leaving. Bye." Alexandra spun on her heel and headed inside, her movements sharp and abrupt, a stark contrast to Samantha's dreamy state.
"Alexandra? Wait!" Samantha called after her, catching up as Alexandra began packing her bag, tossing items inside with a frantic energy. The leather of her travel bag creaked under the weight of hastily stuffed clothes and toiletries. "Torch, check. Phone, check…"
"Alexandra," Samantha tried again, her voice laced with concern. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you so angry? Calm down. You seem like a jealous girlfriend," Samantha teased, a playful smirk on her face.
"No, I'm not!" Alexandra rolled her eyes. "Forget it. You guys can stay here as long as you want, but I'm leaving. I'm going to see my mother alone." Her eyes scanned the room, settling on a plate of half-eaten pastries. She grabbed them, stuffing them into a pocket of her bag. She planned to leave tonight, to slip away unnoticed. The thought sent a shiver of excitement, mixed with apprehension, down her spine.
"Leaving again? I thought you'd accepted your fate," Samantha said, her gaze shifting to Walter, a silent plea in her eyes. He was now practicing his hand-to-hand combat techniques, his movements fluid and precise, a blur of motion that ended with a sharp, controlled strike.
"Hey, hey, you're not going alone; it's dangerous," Walter intervened, his voice calm but firm. He approached Alexandra slowly, his movements deliberate and reassuring. "Okay, calm down first and listen." He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, guiding her to sit on the bed. The rough texture of his calloused fingers against her skin sent a surprising jolt through her.
"Okay," she nodded, her breath catching in her throat.
"Good." He smiled, then looked at Samantha. "And you, keep an eye on her."
"Hey! I'm not going to run off alone," Alexandra protested, a frown furrowing her brow.
"You might want to," Walter raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Patience isn't exactly your strong suit, your highness."
"I told you, don't call me 'your highness'," she pouted, her cheeks flushed.
"Okay, okay," Walter conceded, a smile playing on his lips. Samantha stifled a giggle.
All day, Alexandra had been meticulously avoiding Walter. Whenever their paths crossed, she'd turn her back, invent excuses, do anything to escape his presence. She was fighting a losing battle against the overwhelming pull she felt towards him, the frantic beating of her heart whenever he was near. The scent of his cologne, a musky blend of sandalwood and something else she couldn't quite place, seemed to follow her, a constant reminder of his presence.
Walter, meanwhile, was utterly bewildered. He'd tried his best to train Alexandra, but he couldn't understand her sudden aversion. He hadn't done anything to deserve this cold shoulder from his headstrong student. Her behavior was infuriating.
"Ouch! Please be gentle," Alexandra winced as Walter's fist, surprisingly light despite its impact, connected with her stomach during their training session. The force knocked the air from her lungs, leaving her gasping for breath. She could feel the heat spreading across her abdomen.
"No more complaining, Alexandra; focus," Walter responded sternly. He was about to deliver another blow when Dimitri suddenly intervened, grabbing Walter by the collar. Dimitri's grip was like iron, his knuckles white with tension.
"What are you doing? You already hurt her," Dimitri said, his jaw clenched. He'd been planning to talk to Alexandra, to understand her avoidance, but seeing her struggling, he'd instinctively stepped in to help. His eyes were filled with concern, a stark contrast to Walter's usual playful demeanor.
"Hey, it's just training, remember!" Walter shouted, snapping back to reality. Dimitri released him.
"Ouch! You almost killed me, man!" Walter rubbed his neck, his voice laced with mock indignation.
Dimitri sighed, his frustration evident.
"Hey, Mighty Hero Commoner Vampire, what are you doing?" Walter snapped his fingers in front of Dimitri's face, trying to distract him.
Dimitri felt her presence and turned, spotting Alexandra. He started towards her, but she spun around and fled in the opposite direction. Again! Her movements were surprisingly agile, a flash of white against the green of the training grounds.
"Shit! Alexandra, you avoided me again!" he muttered under his breath, a smirk playing on his lips.
A knock on her door startled Alexandra. Dimitri stood outside, his expression unreadable, sending a jolt of anxiety through her. Had he figured out she was avoiding him? Had she offended him somehow?
"Hi," he said, his smile hesitant.
"Hi," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"I… I don't know how to say this, but I miss you," he confessed, his lips caught between a smile and a frown. The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion.
"What? Are you serious?" Alexandra's voice was barely audible, her breath catching in her throat.
"I'm serious," he confirmed, his gaze unwavering. "And I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"You need training, and I'll do it. Your friends are… rough on you. It's not good," he explained, his tone softening.
"You'll train me?" she exclaimed, her surprise evident.
"Yes."
They arrived at the expansive training grounds: a running track with hurdles, a simple running track, a football field, a boxing ring—a comprehensive array of facilities bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Alexandra saw her friends, already in their tracksuits, warming up. Samantha was stretching languidly, her movements graceful and fluid. Scott, on the other hand, was doing push-ups with explosive energy, his muscles bunching and flexing. Walter was meticulously cleaning his sword, his movements precise and deliberate. The air hummed with anticipation.
"Whoa! I'm so up for this!" Scott's voice boomed as he completed a set of push-ups.
"Yeah!" Samantha shouted, stretching enthusiastically. Her laughter echoed across the grounds.
"Ah! Brings back painful memories! Those training days!" Walter groaned, clutching his head. "You guys are something, getting excited over this!" He patted their backs good-naturedly.
"Guys? Seriously?" Alexandra approached, Dimitri close behind. He watched her with an intensity that made her heart pound.
"Come on, Alex! It's going to be awesome!" Samantha and Scott shouted in unison.
"Look, I'm not what you think I am; I don't have any powers. This is pointless," Alexandra shrugged, her skepticism evident.
"Even if that were true, it's not pointless. Because you don't have powers, you need this even more. The enemy doesn't share your thoughts; they're coming for you. And that day, we'll all be busy fighting, protecting ourselves, our people. That day, you won't want to be a burden, will you?" Walter's words were firm, his tone serious.
"Burden? So I'm a burden to you guys? Look, it wasn't my decision to be here; I didn't ask you to bring me here and put everyone in danger," Alexandra retorted, her voice rising.
"Yes, but you're one of us, whether you like it or not, whether you accept it or not. We're protecting you for your mother; if something happens to you, we have to answer to her. So if you don't want to be a liability, you better get yourself capable enough to run for your life when you need to," Scott said, his voice sharp. His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken concern.
Alexandra glared at Dimitri. "Enough with the tantrums. Get on the track," he ordered, joining his friends. His voice was firm but laced with a hint of something else – something that made her stomach clench.
"Ouch! That was harsh," Samantha whispered, wincing at Scott's words.
Dimitri rolled his eyes, then narrowed his gaze at Alexandra, gesturing for her to join the others. His eyes held a mixture of impatience and something else – concern, perhaps? It was hard to tell.
Alexandra, furious but subdued, reluctantly complied. She took her place on the starting line, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The track stretched before her, a seemingly endless expanse of hard-packed earth.
"Whoa!" Samantha clapped, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Fifty laps!" Dimitri shouted, as Walter blew the whistle. The shrill sound cut through the air, signaling the start of the grueling exercise.
"What?!" Alexandra stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes blazing. "Fifty?!" Her voice was sharp, laced with disbelief and anger.
"Your friends don't seem to have a problem. Now run, or you'll be left behind," Dimitri said, his gaze shifting to the twins, who had already taken off. Their movements were a blur of motion, their feet barely touching the ground.
"Argh!" Alexandra yelled in frustration, starting to run, trailing behind the others. The initial burst of anger propelled her forward, but soon, her lungs burned, her legs ached, and her muscles screamed in protest. Each breath felt like a searing brand on her throat. She could feel the sting of sweat in her eyes, blurring her vision. Yet, she pushed on, driven by a mixture of anger, determination, and a strange, unfamiliar feeling – a feeling that was both terrifying and exhilarating. It was the feeling of being alive.
"Come on, it's not that bad," Samantha said, trying to encourage her, her voice barely audible above the sound of Alexandra's heavy breathing.
Alexandra let out a defeated sigh, her anger slowly giving way to exhaustion. But amidst the training, far away in the shadows, an unseen eye watched them, a malevolent gaze promising trouble. The setting sun cast long, menacing shadows across the training grounds, adding to the growing sense of unease.