KNIGHT'S POINT OF VIEW

"Put more weight on your right foot...no your other right!" Knight shouted frustrated. He quickly withdrew his sword before it could make contact with Amber. "If you put more weight on your right foot, you'll be more balanced making it a bit easier to attack or block."

"Don't you think I should be practicing with my dominant hand? It's hard enough as it is with my dominant, and now you're forcing me to use my left hand... you make no sense!" She responded, using the same tone and hand gestures to illustrate her point. He swiftly backs away from her hand that's waving the sword in the air.

She noticed the gesture and stops moving her arms. He moved in front of the direction her gaze was at so she would hear and focus on what he has to say. That he feels she's at least pretending to listen to him.

"Hey, just be happy I was generous enough to let you use your dominant hand last night." He responded on the defensive side.

Doesn't she see I'm trying to help her?

"Generous?" She responded venomously. "It was my first time even holding a sword! And generous would be letting me practice with real swords from the beginning, not using weightless wooden swords!"

"Hey, you don't see me criticizing your training, so why are you going through such great lengths to criticize mines?" He acknowledged voice on edge. He could think of numerous ways this training could have been better, he literally counted twenty scenarios in his head.

But no, she just has to give me a hard time along with a headache!

Sometimes I question why we ever became partners...or why she even agreed to it.

Why I suggested it.

"Sorry, I'm just not use to...ugh, never mind. I'll try to listen more." She replied expressionless, but for a split second he detected something, just doesn't know what.

Shaking her head as if trying to stop herself from saying anything more, she walked back to her side of the room leaving Knight there confused. "I'm sorry." She mumbled sincerely, going into a battle stance, confusing him even more.

But what was she going to say?

They continued their training in silence. Amber showed slight improvements, but he still finds it hard to stop himself from striking when she isn't ready to block. That's how he normally goes by it, to catch his opponent off guard, but he has to constantly remind himself that she's not the enemy, therefore don't "actually" strike.

He doesn't see her as a threat, but he is ever more cautious ever since he had that nightmare of that vampire explaining that she would be the one to kill him...so he's a bit on the defense.

Though, he tries not to show it.

This is ridiculous, I mean sure she hates me, but she wouldn't kill me...she even said so herself.

Yes, but maybe that's not what he meant. What if she doesn't kill me literally...I know she has a secret, what if that would be the death...

A secret being the death of you?

Yeah, doesn't sound too convincing, but what if it's such a big secret that if I were ever to find out, vampires will come after me, torture me to tell them, then kill me?

Wow, put a lot of thought into this?

Is it bad I still want to know? Is there a way for me to know without being killed?

Of course the secret might not even be a big one, for all I know it could be her owning a mutant kitten that loves eating other kittens.

Really, that's what you go with?

I think I established my point that it could be anything.

Still, I know it's a big part of her or she wouldn't go through great lengths to keep it hidden.

We all have secrets and keeping them a secret isn't even the hard part. The hard part is finding someone you can trust it with.

I just need to be that someone for her if I ever want to find out the truth.

"Earth to Knight. Am I suppose to stand in front of you all day?" He snapped out of it, noticing her sword extended towards his chest. Her stance expresses boredom, but the look in her eye and that small, amused smile says otherwise. "What were you thinking about? Usually, I'm the one that zones out."

"I was thinking about...about kittens!"

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Kittens?"

"Ugh, attitude! Yes kittens! I was just thinking about...um...how much I want one!"

I'm the stupidest person on the planet. This is the worst improvising I've ever heard of in my life.

"You want one?" She asked, her amuse smile only growing wider as she put her sword down and leaned against the wall.

"Why act so surprise? Of course I want a kitten! A baby cat is like...the cutest thing ever."

"Aww, would you want the kitten that's all black fur except the paws which are white?" She asked dreamily.

"The whitest of whites."

"Aww, or even one with brown fur with a black spot over its eye?"

Okay, she's enjoying this way too much.

"I would take any kitten, but I bet you hate cats so that's out of the question." He answered satisfied, thinking he got himself out of that sticky situation.

"I'll take that bet. It just so happens that I love cats." She smirked, her eyes challenging him. He mentally slaps himself. "In fact, don't let me keep you from getting a kitten. I would love to see you bring one home."

Man, she's good, I'll give her that.

Ugh and those eyes, those light orange eyes that I learned to loathe in situations like these, are staring right at me!

"Okay Sherlock Holmes, you win. I dislike cats, and would much rather have a dog."

"Ha, do you count yourself as one?" She laughed leaning on her sword for support.

"It's not that funny when you're one too you know."

"Please, this whole situation you put yourself in is hilarious." She laughed, gripping her stomach for support. When the laughter finally died down, she continued, her eyes slightly more serious. "Now, are you going to tell me what you were actually thinking?"

"No."

"Alright, then could we drop all this silliness and get back to work? I need the practice." She offered, surprising him a bit. He could have sworn she would've tried to pry.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." He smiled, getting back into battle stance.

Right then she raised her brow at him and what she said came back to him. "I'm not saying that you need the practice...well, you do, but I was talking about getting back to work and..."

"Okay okay, don't hurt yourself." She rolled her eyes, getting into her battle stance. "Let's go."

Could today get any worse?

AMBER'S POINT OF VIEW

Today's off to a great start! I swear sometimes he's just too much.

Yeah, too irritating.

I was going along the lines of hilarious...Though it does make me ever more curious as to what he was thinking about. Did it involve me? Vampires? His family? Does he know what actually happened four weeks ago?

No, I don't even think he's smart enough to figure out what actually happened...though, I did tell you that you should just come clean.

Please, you only want me to come clean so I can be out on the run again and far away from Knight.

Is that so bad to ask for? Honestly though, he deserves to know, you're just putting him in even more danger than necessary.

Don't act like it's for his welfare, you hate him.

As should you! Just because he's one of you doesn't mean you have to like him. He's the most irritating, annoying person you'll ever come across, how could you not hate him? Let alone tolerate him?

I don't want to be out on the run again. I'm sick and tired of it. Always having to watch my back, never once enjoying a day without encountering or worrying about it. I've haven't had an encounter in four weeks! Even before that it was about a month...I'm finally free!

And doesn't that worry you? Why do you think they're suddenly leaving you alone? Because they have something else much worst in store...unless you get ahead of them and escape this place. Go into the forest where it's harder to find you, do something!

I'm not taking advice from a vampire who only ever cares about what she benefits from the situation. Who only ever cares about herself!!!

Hey, don't you shout at me!

Well, you're not hearing me so I thought if I say it louder it would get into that thick head of yours.

Don't think you're giving me any favors, by putting yourself at risk, you're putting me at risk too!

Please, they wouldn't dare hurt their precious vampire.

Do you want to tell Tyler that?! He's gone rogue and is now trying to kill you! Who knows how many followers he has who's behind him on this.

I think we can both agree that he's dead. The Headmaster wouldn't have a disloyal servant alive and defying him.

Ugh, you're missing my point!

"AMBER!" Knight voice broke through, shaking her back into reality. Before she could think of what to say next, her mind registered the pain coming from her right shoulder as she sees blood drip to the floor.

"You know what, I'm starting to see why we started with harmless swords." She responded suddenly feeling dizzy. She started swaying, but before she fell, strong arms caught her.

"I'm sorry I thought you were going to block..."

"Knight...I'm fine." She took a deep breath, her head slightly feeling better. "It's my fault."

Knight gently makes her sit down, the concern on his face making her uncomfortable.

She tries standing up, but Knight gently keeps her down. Her head starts pounding more as she tries to push Knight off, but with no avail. "Hey, take it easy. If you want to heal fast than the best way to do it is stay put. You don't actually want to open the wound up more."

Can I still be mad at Knight for doing this too me? Is that no longer an option?

It's an option for me.

No it's not his fault, next time we just got to focus and have our conversations NOT during practice.

"Fine." She grumbled. Fear flashed across his eyes suddenly making her both grumpy and alert. "What is it now?"

"Oh, it's nothing..."

"You're such a horrible liar. It's quite annoying." She answered.

"It was just your eyes..."

"What?! What about my eyes!?" She demanded, gripping his arm, ignoring the pain that followed it.

"Calm down it was nothing. It just darkened. Almost looked like a red, but I know it's just a dark orange. There's no way in a million years it would be red." Knight answered trying to lighten the mood a bit. Her heart stopped beating and she mentally tells herself to snap out of it before she makes things worst.

"Great, I was hoping you wouldn't see what my eyes looked when it was angry."

"Angry? Here I thought I already saw those." He teased, but Amber was in no mood for games.

His eyes grew serious. "If you don't mind me asking, why were you so angry? You didn't seem mad when I...striked you."

Well, there goes that option. I guess I have to tell him the truth...

Idiot don't tell him! That would ruin everything!

I'm not going to tell him that! Honestly, I'm not an idiot. We're just lucky it looked light enough to be classified as a dark orange.

"I was arguing with myself. I just get angry...with myself." She said rather bluntly. Hearing her say it, actually made her laugh. "Man, I know how crazy that sounds, but it's honestly the truth." She said sincerely, hoping he believes her.

"Not at all, I argue with myself all the time. It's a normal thing I guess." Knight responded, shocking her a bit.

"Normal?" She half-joked making him smile.

"I'm just glad you do it too. For a while I thought I was crazy that I..."

"Second guess yourself, beat yourself up for stupid things, argue constantly, have a inner debate that even you can't win because it's against yourself." She finished for him, his mouth slightly ajar.

"Wow, you really do know how it feels."

"What can I say, I was practically born with it."

Amber!

What, I didn't say anything alright.

Yeah, but that could make him suspicious.

The room filled his laughter and she allowed herself to breathe again. "I feel that way sometimes too, it must be a werewolf thing."

"Nah, I bet some humans have it too. Everyone second guesses themselves, and everyone beats themselves up for stupid mistakes, it's learning from those mistakes that's the trick." She answered, almost instantly questioning him. "What?"

"Nothing..."

"No tell me." She said knowing his look of astonishment when she sees it.

"I just, out of all people, I wouldn't have expected you to be...to be...understanding?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Wow Knight and here I thought we were having a moment..."

"We are having a moment!" He responded, rushed. She raised her brow at him as his cheeks reddened. "What I meant to say is sorry, that came off a bit rough."

"You think?" She questioned, her gaze softening a bit. "I don't blame you, I'm not the easiest or nicest person to work with. I honestly don't know why you chose to work with me let alone be partners with. I wouldn't have even chosen me."

Silence filled the room making her slightly uncomfortable. Her mind starts wandering over to her shoulder, which has stopped bleeding and barely hurts anymore.

You're welcome.

What?

Thanks to me, your shoulder is healing faster.

Are you insane!? My eyes are red right now?

Please, you know I'm not surfaced so you can open your eyes. Your eyes are same as ever, an ugly dull orange. Earlier, when you were angry I didn't surface, but I had more control, which explains why Knight saw red eyes, even if he doesn't want to admit that it's red. For that split second of having more control it gave you the healing powers you needed.

If it was going to show Knight my red eyes than I would have preferred healing the long way even if it took a couple days.

Hey, it wasn't my fault you let your guard down! Besides I would have surfaced if you let me, which you didn't. You gained control before I could even take it from you.

She came back to reality when Knight hand gently gripped hers. "Yeah, but you're there when it counts, and that's what matters." He smiled before letting go of her hand, getting up, and walking out of the room, leaving her there speechless.

Does he trust me? Does he feel he can rely on me?

He's stupid if he does.

Author's Note

Sorry it took so long to update, fell behind on homework, you know how that goes.

I just want to say thank you for sticking with me. I'm so excited for what comes next so please stay tuned because it's something you don't want to miss!

I'm truly grateful for you guys giving me and this book a chance. I had this story inside of me for a long time, and I'm happy I'm finally letting it out.

Thank you for reading my book and enjoy what awaits. ;-)