Page 238 of Eternal
Nikolai sent me the address, and I just grabbed my keys. Same sweat I came in with, a t-shirt, and I took the bike straight to the location.
Vesper is a beautiful city. I really want to see the beach soon, because I really miss it.
Getting to the old building, after almost getting lost, already felt like a win, but inside, the Don was already mid-spar withanother guy. He was taking it easy on him, even though the other man could clearly hold his own.
I walk over slowly, looking up at them until they notice me and stop. The other man grins and laughs at Nikolai. “I’ve got my 36-hour shift in a few minutes. I might be my first patient, you stupid fuck.”
Nikolai laughs and pokes the guy’s cheek like they’re two kids messing around. “Benny, Benny. This is training to make you a better doctor.”
Benny,apparently, heads down from the ring, still smiling. “Idiot,” he says to Nikolai, then turns to me and offers a handshake. “Hello, Miss. I’m Bennedito. I’m guessing you’re Voron, right? Are you here to fight this man over here? If yes, please, give him hell.”
I laugh almost shyly. “Hi. Yeah. Okay, no worries, I’ll try.”
He winks, then slumps into a seat in front of the ring with a bottle of water, sweaty and tired, but he’s staying to watch.
“Come on, Azra. Show me how you earned that reputation,” Nikolai says, nodding toward the ring.
I laugh, already stepping forward. “No good morning or anything?”
Nikolai just shakes his head, smiling like he knows I’m almost excited to start this session. “I went easy on Ben. You?” His voice drops, more serious. “You’re going to fight.Reallyfight me. Show me why everyone’s scared of you.”
“If it’s an order from the Don himself…,” I say, shrugging, “I can’t refuse.”
He nods, chuckles quietly like he’s just as excited as I am and then moves. No warning.
Training begins.
The first few hits are light, like he’s just testing, gauging my strength. I can tell he’s strong, controlled, but so am I.
Ben, his friend, sits nearby, still drinking from that water bottle and smiling at the spectacle. “C’mon, Voron!” he calls out to me. “Make him sweat a little!”
Nikolai feints a jab; I dodge…barely. He’s faster than I expected for his size. The man is big and tall, which makes them less agile, but he is.
His knuckles brush my ribs on a near-miss. “You’re holding back,” he says quietly and seriously this time. “Don’t.”
“Another order….” I grit my teeth and step in harder.
The next few minutes are a blur of adrenaline, heavy strikes, quick counters, the sharp sting of blows that land when I slip up or when he does. Benny heckles us like he’s been hired for it. “God, Niko, she’s faster than you!” Or even, “Bastard, don't get old on us now!”
When I catch Nikolai off-balance with a low kick, he even lets out a whoop. “YES! Break his knees! For science!”
Nikolai doesn’t break focus, even if I can tell he wants to laugh. He’s scary calm, super steady even when I land a punch that splits his lip. “Not the face or the eyes, Voron,” he warns with a bloody grin. “They’re too precious.”
And even though I’m aching, even though my arms feel like they’re full of lead, I can’t help but laugh. It’s...weird. Laughing, and enjoying myself with new people like that.
We go again. And again. And again.
Every time I think we’re done, he pushes for one more round. I’m exhausted, dripping sweat, muscles screaming for me to stop, begging, I swear I could hear every part of my body asking me to rest.
But somehow, he looks at me like this is exactly what he wanted, not someone soft, not someone scared.
He wanted a fight, maybe he needed it too today.
Benny hollers from the sidelines, “She’s gonna kill you, Niko!” Then, louder, for my benefit, “It’s fine, Voron! I’m a doctor! I can put him back together!”
I throw a punch just to hide my grin.
Eventually, or more like finally, we both collapse onto the mats, breathing hard.
