Page 77 of House of Darkness
Chapter 39
ESTRELLA
Ileaned over and pressed my lips to Roman’s temple, his soft curls tickling my cheeks. He slept heavily, which was good; I didn’t want him waking up to talk me out of this. He would fear for my safety, insisting it was unnecessary for me to learn how to fight. But I could no longer rely on him to be my strength. I needed to cultivate my own, and I would do so or die trying.
Waking in his arms, my naked body nestled against his, his wings curled around me in a soft, feathered embrace, had been the sweetest temptation. It beckoned me to forget everything else and sink deeper into his touch, to let him take care of me. But I refused to be a useless doll any longer. Roman had shown me that I didn’t have to be a plaything simply because I was raised to be one. I could be a warrior.
With light feet, I crept from what had become our bedroom, scrawling a quick note to Roman letting him know where I went. Enso was exactly where I expected him to be. He was an absolute vision, his caramel muscles glistening in the morning sun. Upside down, he held himself aloft with one flexed arm, small puffs of smoky flames escaping his lips with each breath. Strands of sweat-drenched hair clung to his face.
He smiled without opening his eyes. “Hello, Estrella.”
Surprise flickered through me but vanished instantly. He was a predator, every sense finely tuned to detect my presence, regardless of whether his eyes were open. “Good morning, Enso.”
With a dancer’s grace, he flipped to his feet, shocking for his massive frame. As he planted his left foot, he released a torrent of flames into the sand, the heat binding the grains into a shimmering slate. “Did you need something?”
I created a trench in the sand with my toes, suddenly losing my bravery. But I couldn’t falter now. “I was hoping you would train me.”
His fiery eyes, slitted like a snake, opened and took me in. Enso had always seemed as though he was from a different time. His eyes held a level of wisdom that only came from many more years than I could possibly fathom. But they crinkled at the edges as he smiled in understanding, and it wiped away all that otherness and left only kindness behind. He stood straight.
“You wouldn’t feel better training with Roman?” He winked cheekily.
“You trained him, and I want to be trained by the best.”
He laughed, his abs flexing with the movement and his hair falling back from his face. “Don’t let Roman hear you say that.”
He looked over me once more, scanning me with intense thoughtfulness. “You may be surprised, but I, too, understand feeling powerless. I will train you.” He paused for a moment, his face lightening once more. “By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be able to fight a vampire with a hand tied behind your back.”
My knees felt weak, a breath of relief running through me. I wasn’t sure why—I hadn’t doubted Enso would say yes—but it felt like I had conquered the first hurdle. “Thank you, Enso.”
“Bit by bit, it's horror to live. But no one must give up! The world turns, and times change.” His eyes partially closed as he recited whatmust have been a poem. He reopened his eyes and smiled once more. “Of course.”
His hands came together in a loud clap that resonated through me and made me jolt after his calm voice. “Well! Let’s get started.”
I recoiled as though he had shot flames at me. “I’m not ready! I’m wearing slippers and a dress.”
His eyes sparked with nefarious amusement, and he crossed his arms. “Do you think your enemies will wait for you to be adequately prepared? Come on, Estrella, I thought you were smarter than that.”
He had a point, I must be ready for anything. I kicked off my slippers and tied my skirts at my knees. “I’m doing battle training with the vampire general of war; it’s safe to say I’m not smart.”
He barked a laugh, little sparks releasing from his mouth. “True.”
“You’re going to finish warm-ups with me today. These moves are designed to build your strength, flexibility, and mental resilience. Without those, you have no hope of holding your own in battle.” He moved beside me, planting his foot in a stretch with his hands raised to the sky, watching me expectantly.
My brow creased with determination. I could do this. The alternative was being helpless forever. I mimicked his position and planted my feet one in front of the other. My muscles shuddered and I wobbled, nearly falling. Enso chuckled and stepped in front of me, scanning me with a critical gaze.
“The warrior pose is designed to ground you, drawing strength from the earth beneath. Imagine you’re a conduit, your legs connecting to the earth, bringing that power up through your hands.” Enso’s airy tone made my muscles relax enough to limit my wobbling. That was until he used the flat of his palm to smack my thigh.
His touch wasn’t hard, but it sent me off-balance, and I fell into the sand with a thud. I ground my teeth and wiped the sand frommy cheeks, forcing back my screaming frustration. These were his warmups, and I couldn’t even manage that. My own ineptitude reared its ugly head like it had my whole life.
Enso clicked his tongue. “Your own mind is in your way. You’re putting too much pressure on this, and it’s making you tense.”
He reached out his hand to me, and I took it appreciatively. He lifted me from the ground without so much a flex of his muscles, causing me to feel weightless as I surged upward. I stumbled to my feet and dusted off my skirts. “I can’t even manage this pose. I must be your worst student.”
“My first human student, yes.” He patted my shoulder. “But there is no such thing as a bad student. Only a bad teacher. We’re just getting started, don’t give up on yourself before you’ve given yourself a chance.”
I dipped my head. I could already tell there was no such thing as a bad teacher when it came to Enso. He was patient and kind. I released a breath and got back into position.
“Settle into the pose—relax your body. I shouldn’t be able to tip you over.” I did as I was told, letting my muscles relax as best I could and sinking into the pose. Though every bit of my body was tense, I felt sturdy. He smacked my thigh again with a flat hand, but I didn’t waver. Our eyes met, and I grinned.
