Angel's Demon

10. Honing a Weapon

10. Honing a Weapon

In a few short weeks, the fat from Gahan’s soft, fleshy body had been replaced with sculpted muscles and well-defined abs — a result of the vigorous training he had undergone. Gahan walked around bare-chested, so that all could see the physical change that had taken place — there was a constant sheen of sweat covering his body — as well as his scars.

Asmodeus had enlisted Master Rahab to assist with Gahan’s physical training. Together the two of them were schooling him in hand-to-hand combat and fighting with weapons.

“Satan will be joining us today,” Asmodeus told Gahan, as they headed towards the training rooms. It would be the first time Satan had seen him since the conversion, and Gahan was eager to please his father.

“What weapons shall we be practising with?” Gahan asked.

Asmodeus didn’t reply. He didn’t want to give anything away. It is better to be prepared for the unexpected than the expected. Today they would push the boundaries. Gahan had come a long way, for someone who had never raised a hand against another before. He still had a lot to learn. A weapon is of no use unless it is sharp, and Asmodeus intended Gahan to be razor sharp before he was wielded.

Master Rahab waited patiently for Asmodeus and his student to arrive. Rahab had been intrigued by the turn of events during the final conversion, yet after having worked with Gahan these last few weeks he was beginning to wonder. Not about Gahan’s loyalty, though he was unsure who he was more loyal to — Satan or Asmodeus. What Rahab did wonder about was what Asmodeus was up to. He had insisted that Rahab teach Gahan everything the old demon had taught Helena.

When the two finally entered the room, Rahab bowed to each of them in turn. He waited until they had returned his bow before fetching two katanas from his treasured collection of Japanese swords. He allowed Asmodeus to choose first, then handed the remaining blade to Gahan, who grasped the handle — the tsuka — with two hands, the way Master Rahab had shown him. Gahan quickly adjusted his grip, until his knuckles aligned with the diamond pattern formed by the tsukamaki wrapped around the tsuka, and his wrists were in line with the top of the katana.

Both men held their blades out at arm’s length, the tip pointing at their opponent. Master Rahab had insisted that they do this when training, to ensure they were an adequate distance apart for Gahan to learn the necessary moves effectively. In real life there would be precious little time to follow the forms. Often the victor was the person to strike the first blow. Gahan stepped forward two paces, until the tips of their blades met.

“Remember what I told yer about footwork,” Rahab instructed Gahan. “Placement arv ther feet is important not only fer defence en attack, but fer balance. Balance ther body ter balance ther mind.”

Gahan assumed the stance Rahab had shown him. Rahab slowly walked around him and kicked his left foot slightly. Gahan glanced down at his foot and moved it slightly to the right.

“Don’t ferget ter point them in ther right direction,” Rahab chided. “It should be as natural as breathin, not thart yer need ter do thart anymore.”

Gahan furrowed his brows and looked questioningly at the old demon. Wasn’t breathing essential to living?

“If yer anythin like Helena, yer won’t need ter breathe,” Rahab explained. “Yer do it by reflex. Yer mortal life is still fresh in your mind. The body remembers thart breathin was necessary, en ser yer breathe. En remember this, in a fight yer won’t have time ter look et yer feet. Helena mastered footwork in a day, ther use arv staff in half a day en ther use arv ther katana in two days.”

Helena this, Helena that. Gahan was getting tired of Master Rahab’s comparisons to Helena. No two people were the same, and a woman was bound to be physically weaker, no matter what the old demon said.

“Is this the same sword she used?” Gahan asked.

“No,” Rahab replied, returning to the cabinet and retrieving another katana. He turned to face Gahan, gently cradling the sword on his arm. “This is ther sword Helena used. This is the sword she bested me with. Only once, mind yer. We haven’t had ther chance ter spar again. In her condition, it would not have been possible.”

Gahan had heard that Helena had been taken captive while he was undergoing his conversion, and that with the aid of a vampire she had escaped. Satan had been furious to find her gone, and livid when he found out who had helped her. The vampire, Drake, would not set foot here again unless he wanted to be tortured for eternity.

“You would be wise not to mention her name, Rahab,” Asmodeus cautioned. “Satan is coming to watch Gahan train sometime today. He remains in a foul mood and I hope that watching Gahan’s progress will help take his mind off his other concerns.”

“Right yer are, Asmodeus,” Rahab replied. “Well, then, we shall have ter give him somethin ter be pleased about.”

Asmodeus and Gahan were twenty minutes into their dance of swords when Satan arrived. He had appeared within the room quietly and leaned up against a wall behind several onlookers. The two men had been so engrossed in their sword play that they had not noticed him arrive. Rahab noticed everything though, and sidled up to Satan to see for himself if the dark one was still bristling at the event that had soured an otherwise monumental day. Only those closest to Satan could tell. On the outside he appeared a mask of calm, yet certain gestures or words revealed much.

“Has he used the katana before?” Satan asked.

“He had his first fight two days ago,” Rahab replied. “He is a good student, quick ter learn —”

“But not as quick as Helena,” Satan interjected.

“We have time, do we not?” Rahab asked, surprised that Satan had mentioned her name so casually in their conversation. Perhaps he was no longer as angry as everyone supposed. “He will be a formidable fighter, considerin he had never raised his fists before.”

Satan nodded. “Presumably he has been instructed in the use of a staff.”

Rahab chuckled. Satan didn’t miss a thing. Asmodeus had focused on the weapons Helena had shown an interest in.

“Arv course,” Rahab replied.

“What other weapons has Asmodeus chosen for him to learn?”

“All manner arv swords, daggers en guns.”

“Guns?”

“Yes.” Rahab paused for a moment, thinking about what Asmodeus had told him, which he was sure was not the whole truth. “Asmodeus thought Gahan would make an excellent sniper. He could kill key mortals, usin methods thart they would not think twice about.”

“There is that,” Satan agreed. “And what of unarmed combat?”

“Kickboxin, glima, taekwondo, karate, coreeda —”

“Ancient or modern?”

“Ancient, arv course, combat only.”

“Asmodeus seeks to sharpen his reflexes, grow his endurance and build his strength, as well as teaching him how to develop strategies.” Satan nodded in the direction of the two men who were training. “Gahan seems to be able to hold his own against Asmodeus, or is Asmodeus holding back?”

Rahab snorted. “Since when have yer known Asmodeus ter hold back?”

Satan laughed, and those who had been watching the fight suddenly became aware of his presence.

“Perhaps you would care to show me how he fares against you?”

Rahab bowed slightly, then pushed his way to the front of the small crowd. He caught Asmodeus’s eye and winked twice, indicating that he would step in and take over. Gahan showed no signs of exhaustion. Less than a week ago, he was struggling to remain upright after fifteen minutes of gruelling training. Stamina was needed when fighting immortals. Mortals, on the other hand, were like swatting flies — little effort was required.

Asmodeus took two steps backwards, allowing Rahab the opening he required to take over. Asmodeus handed his katana to the nearest demon to hold until the fight was over, and glanced in Satan’s direction.

Satan pointed to a spot on the floor beside him. Asmodeus had been summoned. He walked the short distance and bowed to his lord before taking up his position.

“I know what you’re up to,” Satan said, his eyes fixed on the two men who were fighting.

“And what would that be?” Asmodeus asked. He wasn’t going to give anything away unnecessarily.

“Staff, katana … you think he’ll be a match for her?”

Asmodeus had prepared himself for this line of questioning. “I think that ... one day he will come up against her. Gahan needs to know her strengths and weaknesses, just as he would any other foe.”

“She has a name, Asmodeus. Helena’s escape has galled me, I admit it, yet I covet her deeply. Were she to come back here willingly again, I would forgive much. Can you imagine what we could accomplish if she and Gahan were both our allies? Look at what she achieved when she thought the angel was dead. Even if I were stuck here for another century, together they could change the face of the earth.”

Asmodeus automatically started analysing what had been said. It was interesting that Satan used the word century instead of millennium. Did that mean their end goal was closer than most thought?

“And what of Gahan’s other abilities?” Satan asked. “How do they compare to Helena’s?”

“We’re still finding out what he’s capable of. I had heard that much of what she can do is a result of her killing the angel,” Asmodeus replied. If Gahan did not exhibit the same gifts as Helena, he wanted it known that it was not due to lack of trying. A gift cannot be opened if it never existed.

A muffled cry reached their ears, and both men looked up, to see what had happened. Gahan had lost the same hand Satan had made him cut off during his conversion. It could have been a coincidence, or it could be a weakness.

“You will need to watch that left hand. If it keeps coming off like that something will need to be done.”

“Yes, my lord,” Asmodeus replied, furious that Satan had witnessed the event. This was now the third time Gahan’s hand had been severed.

“He seems to be doing well though,” Satan nodded in Gahan’s direction. “He’s already reattached the hand and is flexing the fingers. Perhaps in a few weeks we shall send him out. I have something I’d like him to do.”