Chapter 7
1172 Words
oXyla’s mind was still spinning as she made her way down the hall, trying to keep her breathing steady. She wasn’t sure if anyone had seen the altercation at the gates, but the last thing she needed was questions she couldn’t answer. She hurried to her locker, hoping to look as inconspicuous as possible.
"Xyla." Kade's voice was barely a whisper as he appeared beside her.
She jumped, clutching her books tighter. "Kade, don't just sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry," he muttered, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "Are you okay?"
"Am I okay?" She arched an eyebrow. "You just fought off a vampire at my school gates, and you’re asking me if I’m okay?"
Kade sighed. "I told you, I’ll protect you. But you need to take this seriously."
She rolled her eyes, slamming her locker shut. "Trust me, I’m taking it seriously. But what am I supposed to do? Start throwing punches like you?"
"Maybe," he replied, his tone dead serious.
Xyla scoffed. "You’ve got to be kidding."
"I’m not. You need to be able to defend yourself." He paused, his gaze intense. "If something happens, you can’t always rely on me to save you."
She frowned, gripping her books tightly. "So, what, you’re suggesting self-defense classes in between geometry and history?"
Kade shrugged. "Why not? It could be the difference between life and death."
Xyla's expression softened slightly, but she couldn’t resist a hint of sarcasm. "Great. So, while everyone else is worried about exams, I’ll be worried about vampires attacking me between classes."
"Xyla, this isn’t a joke," Kade said, his voice low. "That vampire… he’s not going to stop."
A shiver ran down her spine, and she looked away. "I get it, okay? I just… I need time to wrap my head around all of this."
Kade opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Hey, Xyla!"
She turned to see Amber approaching, her face bright and cheerful. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Xyla forced a smile. "Oh, hey, Amber. I’m fine, just... a little tired, I guess."
Amber’s gaze flickered to Kade. "And you… Are you bothering her again?"
Kade chuckled, his usual calm demeanor returning. "Just giving her some helpful advice, Amber."
Amber scoffed, giving Kade a disapproving look before turning back to Xyla. "Come on, we’re going to be late for class."
Kade nodded. "I’ll catch you later, Xyla." He gave her a lingering look, his eyes full of unspoken warnings, before disappearing down the hall.
Amber shook her head, watching him leave. "Honestly, I don’t know why you hang out with him. He’s so… intense."
Xyla managed a weak laugh. "Yeah… intense."
As they walked to class, Amber chattered on about their latest assignment, but Xyla’s thoughts drifted back to Kade and his warnings. She barely heard a word Amber said.
---
After class, Xyla slipped out into the hall, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. She knew she needed to talk to Kade about some of the things he’d said, about self-defense and her... "destiny." The word alone made her feel ridiculous.
"Xyla."
Her heart skipped a beat as Kade appeared beside her once again, his usual smirk missing.
"We need to talk," she said, her tone urgent.
Kade nodded. "Let’s go somewhere private."
They found an empty corner outside near the school garden. Xyla crossed her arms, fixing him with a determined look. "So, what did you mean when you said I need to be able to defend myself?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Exactly what I said. You’re going to need to learn."
"And how do you propose I do that?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "You don’t just learn to fight vampires overnight."
"True," he said, shrugging. "But I can teach you some basics."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, you’re going to teach me?"
Kade gave a small smile. "Who else? I’m not about to drag you into some martial arts class where they’ll think you're crazy for saying ‘I need to learn to fight vampires.’"
She bit her lip, considering his offer. "And what exactly would you teach me?"
"Self-defense," he replied simply. "Enough so that if you’re ever alone, you stand a chance of getting away."
A sense of dread settled in her stomach, but she forced herself to nod. "Fine. When do we start?"
"After school," he said, his gaze unwavering. "Meet me at the clearing near the park. No one goes there, and it’ll be quiet."
"Alright." She gave him a curt nod, pretending she was far more confident than she felt. "But if I get hurt, I'm blaming you."
He chuckled softly. "I’d expect nothing less."
---
When the final bell rang, Xyla made her way to the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. Kade was already waiting, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets as he leaned against a tree.
"Ready?" he asked, his gaze assessing her with a seriousness that was rare.
"Not really," she admitted, taking a deep breath. "But here I am."
"Good." He gestured for her to stand across from him. "First rule: don’t hesitate. If a vampire attacks, they won’t give you a second to think. You have to be fast, and you have to trust your instincts."
"Trust my instincts," she echoed, trying to hide her skepticism. "Easy enough."
"Okay, let’s start with a basic move." Kade took a step closer, raising his hands in front of him. "If someone grabs you, go for their wrist, twist it back, and pull free. Like this."
He demonstrated, his movements quick and precise. "Now, you try."
Xyla stepped forward, a bit awkwardly, and tried to mimic his movements. She reached for his wrist, but he pulled back before she could get a solid grip.
"Faster," he instructed, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You’re hesitating."
She narrowed her eyes. "Fine."
This time, she lunged forward, managing to grab his wrist and twist it back, though it didn’t quite look as smooth as Kade’s demonstration.
"Not bad," he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Now, if you can do that against a vampire, you’ll have a chance of getting away."
"A small chance," she muttered, feeling the weight of his words.
"Better than none," he replied, his expression serious again. "And remember, vampires are fast, but they’re not invincible. They can be outsmarted."
She nodded, letting his words sink in. "Alright. I’ll keep that in mind."
Kade placed a hand on her shoulder, looking her square in the eyes. "I mean it, Xyla. You’re stronger than you think. You just have to believe it."
For a moment, she felt a spark of hope—a glimmer of strength she hadn’t known she possessed. She gave him a determined nod, her resolve hardening.
"I’ll do my best," she whispered, her voice steadier than before.
Kade’s lips curved into a soft smile. "That’s all I ask."
- Writer
