Night Marks (18 page)

“Ow. That hurts,” she whines.

“I imagine it does. I am being gentle about it. You can imagine what it would feel like if an attacker was trying to really hurt you.” On a personal level, I am kind of enjoying the fact that I am actually able to put the move on another person. Usually, my stature limits my being able to use any full body holds.

“So, here is what I want you to do. We are going to switch positions now that you have felt and know this hold and I will show you how to get out of it. Then you will try.” I release her and move in front of her.

She doesn’t immediately take her place behind me and I look over to question her resistance.

“Is it going to hurt? Do you have to hit me to get out? Do you think maybe you should show me with one of the guys?” The scared girl I met last night emerges. I figured I would see her eventually.

“I am going to pull up so I don’t actually make contact with you, just show you the basic ideas.”

She nods and takes her place and I turn around. She wraps me up and I wiggle around to show her that she has me locked in.

“First, use a couple of logical moves to see if you cannot get them to loosen up the hold. If your feet aren’t too far from theirs, try to raise your right foot and stomp as hard as you can on their instep,” I instruct while demonstrating the move, but just stomping on the floor. “While they are distracted with that pain, bend either leg back and try for a good old kick to the groin. Chances are, if you connect with most guys, that will drop them pretty quickly.”

She holds on through the demonstration. I expected her to loosen the hold, even though I don’t actually hit her, but it is still strong.

“However, versus a strong paranorm, you just irritated them a whole lot and have nothing to show for your efforts. Now, you need to change speed a little. You will step out wide with your right leg, like this. Then bring your left leg out towards the right and swing it back behind your opponent.

“From here you should have the assailant off balance and you will see there is nothing impeding you from taking your frustrations out on his man bits until you can wiggle free. If you get some more strength in those arms of yours, I don’t imagine it will take long to win that freedom. From there, I suggest running.”

I have worked my way loose of the hold. As soon as I stepped behind, she lost her grip.

“Got it?” I ask. She quickly nods her head. “Then show me.”

I stand behind her and we proceed to run through it a couple times. She doesn’t hold back on her stomping and kicking. She is young so I wasn’t expecting her to. I am going to have to put her on a strength training routine because her not holding back is like a butterfly landing on my skin. Any guys she tries to kick in the balls will think she is tickling them.

Once I feel she has, more or less, mastered that move, we move on to some choke holds. She lacks a lot physically, but she makes up for it with her efforts. If enthusiasm could win her a fight, she would be a champion in the ring.

“I think that is a good start. I am told tomorrow you should be able to come to my gym so we can work on building some muscles. Do you have any weapons training at all? As you may have figured out, hanging around me can be hazardous to your health. I have at least two guards with me at all times, but they are mostly just there to make my mates feel better. I can take on most challenges I am faced with and it is something you are going to have to learn. Hand-to-hand with another paranorm at our size doesn’t usually end well for us. I currently have five blades on me that I am one hundred percent lethal with.”

“I have always been more of a girlie girl, so no I don't have any experience with weapons at all, other than my steak knife.”

“Fine. Why don’t we go get you properly outfitted and we can find some things that will work for you. You have to promise, though, that you will not treat them as toys. Until you get my approval, you will not be using any of the knives we get today outside of my presence.”

“Not even to practice at home?” she asks obviously saddened by the thought. I can just picture her cutting off a finger, so I have to stand firm.

“No. No, practicing without me there,” I assert.

“Yes, master,” she says impertinently. “Let’s go shopping.”

I don’t like that crazy gleam in her eye. Being excited about learning to fight is one thing, but to feel that way about shopping is just wrong.

Chapter 23

Things that piss me off…shopping

I imagine no one would mistake me for a shopaholic. After spending five seconds with me, you would have to be completely daft to even consider the notion. In fact, I really hate to shop.

Why then, you ask, am I currently walking into a clothing store with a bubbly teenager getting ready to outfit her with a new wardrobe?

Because I am a total sap. I don't think that word has ever been used in the same sentence as anything to describe me, but it is true. For some reason, this young girl brings out my older sister instincts. It kind of sucks.

I feel really bad for Jonas and Marcus who have gotten suckered into this whole ordeal. If they weren't so loyal, I bet their resignations would be on their respective master's desk the second we return home.

The only marginally sane thing about this little adventure is that we are not in some frilly dress shop, but my favorite military thrift store, Tango Charlie. It is the only store, other than the butcher, that I will be caught dead in. Usually, though, I just place a phone order and they deliver it.

“Okay, so we will start with clothing first and then move to the weapons,” I instruct Phee.

“Lead the way, oh great one,” she says back cheekily.

Seriously, were we separated at birth or something? If I didn't know I was my father's only child, I would be having a serious talk with him because she has started to pick up on my attitudes and with our similar looks, this may be dangerous. If she turns herself into a fighter more than a little girl, we are in even more trouble

“This way, short stuff,” I reply weaving through the racks of clothing. I have about half an inch on her, so I get to be the giant in our relationship. Totally a first for me.

I find a rack of petite black cargo pants and start pulling out a few pairs of the smallest size.

“But I thought I was getting some of the pants like yours,” Phee says with a pout.

“Sorry, special order only. It might take a couple of days for them to arrive. You can borrow some of mine until then. For now, we can alter these pants to allow for your knife sheaths. You need some more practicing before I say it is okay for you to wear the sheaths, however. If you don't know how to use them properly, they can both injure you and become a liability in a fight.” I try to reiterate that I don’t want her actually using the weapons she gets without my approval.

“Fine,” she exhales. I move her over to the shirts and pick out a few different styles to see what she likes, all in black. “So, you aren't going to add any color at all to these new outfits?”

“Unless I am undercover, I am always in black. Most of the time, I need to become invisible and bright pink doesn't blend well into the background.”

“I guess that makes sense. Can my practice clothes at least have some color to them?”

I don't think the poor girl has any idea what she signed up for. “If you want. Most of the time I wear a tank top and tight yoga style pants. You can wear any color you want, but if you look around this store, you will notice that black or camo is kind of the theme here. You will need to pick up your colors at another store. One, I most likely wouldn't be caught dead in,” I add just in case she thinks this shopping trip will be extended to another store.

“I think you would look great with some color. Nothing too bright, of course, but you know, something different.”

I hear Jonas and Marcus both chuckle from across the room. I am glad my annoyance amuses them. I will have to figure out a way to turn the joke around on them later.

“It isn't like I don't ever wear color. I just don't like to. I have red, purple, and blue shirts in my closet. I also have jeans, I just don't wear any of those more than maybe once a month. I have my own personal style and you have yours. They don't have to mesh, just if you ever go out with me at night on a mission, know now that you will be wearing all black. It is for your safety as well as mine.”

“I guess you are the expert here. I am going to go try these on. I think I need a pair of boots like yours. Do they have those here as well?” she asks while heading towards the fitting room.

“Yes, I will find you a pair. What are you, a size 5?”

“Correct.” she says disappearing behind a door.

I wander over to the shoe section and try to figure out why I thought it would be a good idea to become a mentor. I really don't think I have the patience for this kind of thing.

I know I can teach her to fight that is something I am great at. It is the nurturing part of this relationship that I don't see having a happy ending. For now, I am resigned to do my best to try to not totally screw the kid up.

I grab some boots that are pretty much replicas of mine and head to the cutlery part of the store. I am admiring a black pearl handle Bowie knife. It is too much for Phee to handle, but I think I have the perfect place for it in my armory.

“Oh, that one is pretty,” Phee says as she sets her pile of clothes on the counter. “It's shiny, but all black that is good, right? Can I get it?” She is pointing at the knife I want, which I hope means great minds think alike.

“No, it is too big for you,” I say as I tap twice on the counter to let Paul, my usual sales clerk, know I will be taking it home with me. While he takes care of grabbing it and its box, I lead Phee down to the knives that are better suited for novices and someone as small as her.

“These knives are more your speed. You will need a boot knife, a pair of throwing, and maybe a stiletto. You should be able to find the latter in a black pearl handle like the Bowie. Why don't you pick some out of this case and I will let you know if they are acceptable.”

While she is engrossed with her task, I check out the firepower section. I can never have enough bullets.

“Anything in particular you need tonight, Slaughter?” Paul asks having followed me over.

“I could use a case of those special 45s I get for the Colt. I am also in the market for a few of those phosphorus grenades you showed me a while back.”

“Of course. Those are both back room items so I will run and get them and then meet you back at the register.”

“Thanks, Paul.” I tell him as he runs off. I have been coming to see Paul for a few years now. He was the first vampire that Sebastian put on his list of vamps approved to share air with me. Since I make a lot of big purchases, even if they are mostly phone orders, I think Paul has always been grateful to be on the list.

I rejoin Phee and see her eyes are twinkling with delight. “Okay, I think I have everything picked out. They didn't have a lot of choices for boot knives, so I picked that one right there,” she says pointing to a suitable knife. I nod my agreement and she continues.

“For the throwers I was hoping I could get two sets. I really like the Technicolor looking ones there, but I know black is all the rage for you, so I also wouldn't mind that set of SOGs.” The colorful ones are “pretty”, but not very practical. Because she also picked a set that were, I let it slide. She can use them on the practice field.

“For the stiletto, I wanted one pretty flat that had a foolproof switch mechanism. I think after looking over all the options this flat black one here is the one for me.” She indicates a sensible and durable looking knife.

“Your choices meet my approval. Paul, I take it you heard everything and can get it all wrapped up for us.”

“Right away, Slaughter. I will just put it on the card on file, if that meets your approval,” he says as he starts grabbing the knives.

“That's fine.”

A few minutes later, loaded down with shopping bags, we exit the store. If my luck holds, this will be my last shopping trip for at least a year. I am not sure what luck I am talking about, but maybe it will hold.

We load the bags into the Continental. It looks like we will be giving Phee a ride home. “Can we get something to eat?” Phee asks.

“Sure, there is a decent Quick Steak a couple blocks away. We can walk over to it.”

“If you guys are going to eat, do you mind if I do as well?” Marcus asks. “I had a bite earlier tonight, but one of my favorite donors is in the area and I could use some dessert.”

“Things have been quiet and Jonas is here, so I see no problem. We will probably still be waiting on our order by the time you get back.”

“I shouldn't be more than ten minutes,” he says and then rushes off.

“Shall we?” I ask. Phee interlocks our arms at the elbows and tries to skip off with me. The area must be familiar to her since she is heading in the right direction.

Jonas tags along behind us on watch, as always. I don't think he was thrilled when I let Marcus take off. Oh well.

“Fortunes. Who wants to have their future mapped out for them,” a woman yells from a building we are closing in on.

“Let's have ours read,” Phee suggests heading more determinedly towards the woman.

“Oh no. My future is not something I want to see,” I insist as I try to hurry past.

“A demon mark,” the witch hisses, as we get close. “And it is a powerful demon to boot.”

That makes me pause. My mark isn’t showing, but somehow she is sensing it. I wonder what she can tell me about it and if there is a way, other than another demon, to have it removed.

“You know something about marks?” I ask as we stop in front of her.

“Aye, I be knowing about marks. Had one of them meselfs once.”

I eye the woman, studying her features for deceit. I don’t believe for a second the front she is showing us, long, silky blonde hair, ice blue eyes, perfect Nordic features, is her true appearance. I haven’t met a witch that didn’t hide what she really looked like. It must be something ingrained in them from birth.