Blood, Ink and Memories.
1090 Words
"Up! You’ve got ten minutes to be on the training grounds!"
I jolted awake at the loud command echoing through the hallway. Even just a few hours of peaceful sleep were better than none. With a sigh, I began getting dressed.
Although the frost had already left its trace outside, we were werewolves hot blooded by nature. Wearing just leggings and a T-shirt, I headed across the courtyard toward the arena.
“Savanah! Hey, wait up! Savanah!”
“Jeez, Mira, I thought you were already there.”
“Ugh, I really thought you were gonna let me be the last one in!”
With one hand over my chest, I pretended to be shocked. Then I turned and ran toward the arena.
“Mira, catch me! Come on, don’t be so slow!”
Laughing, we dashed into the training grounds. As if on cue, 48 heads turned to face us. Some wore bored expressions, but most… were filled with pure hatred.
Our smiles froze instantly.
But there was no time for weakness. Heads held high, we slid into line, just in time for the arrival of Trainer Rosi.
He was tall, built like a wall. A man in his mid-forties. No one really knew anything about him. Did he have a family? Could he smile? Could he even speak?
But those were questions we didn’t need answers to.
Rosi studied us slowly, critically. His discontent was written in the stiffness of his stance, in his clenched jaw. I could already tell this day wasn’t going to be easy.
I only wished I was wrong.
“Anyone got something they wanna confess?”
Silence.
“I’m giving you one last chance. Either the culprit steps forward, or all of you pay the price.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Did he catch us sneaking into the baths after curfew? Or was this about something else?
Rosi’s face was now red with rage. If no one confessed, we’d all be in for it.
“You made your choice. Fifty laps around the yard!”
Mira and I exchanged horrified glances. The guys, of course, couldn’t care less.
What felt like an eternity later, Mira and I collapsed on the ground. We were gasping for air, while the guys looked down at us with smug expressions.
That twisted sense of triumph, the only kind they were capable of.
Pathetic.
But the truth was, Mira and I were the best fighters this academy had to offer. And they knew it.
“Line up!” Rosi barked. “Pair off. Mira and Savanah, you’re with Ren and Adam.”
“Well, princesses—ready to bleed?”
“Oh, come on, Adam. That’s the best line you’ve got?”
Mira chuckled as she stepped beside me.
“But Savanah, you know he only has two working brain cells—and they both just tried their best.”
“I said pair off! Not rehearse a comedy sketch.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
Rosi rolled his eyes.
“This won’t save you. You think anyone’s gonna go easy on you just because you’re women?”
“Ren, even my pet goldfish has bigger balls than you,” I muttered. “Empty threats are the only thing you’re good at.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt your little lovefest,” Mira chimed in sweetly, “but we should probably do what’s expected of us. Unless we want more problems with Trainer Rosi.”
She knew how to play these blockheads. Like flipping a switch.
The second words like “duty” or “rules” came up, these guys stopped thinking and slipped into autopilot mode.
That’s why we were better.
Mira and I had fire in our veins, the will to fight—but none of the ancient, inherited obedience that held the rest of them back.
Adam spat into his hands and grinned like an i***t.
“Let’s go, princesses.”
I scanned the arena. No sand. Just hard-packed gravel and stone-lined edges. This was a place built for pain. Exactly what Rosi wanted.
“The rules are simple,” he grunted. “You fight until exhaustion or surrender. No fangs, no claws, no shifting. This is about control. Not killing.”
I raised an eyebrow. Someone must’ve lost it here before.
Rosi gave the signal.
“Begin!”
Adam was faster than I expected. He charged with full force, no strategy, just brute aggression. I dodged, barely, but his shoulder still slammed into my side and knocked me to one knee.
It hurt. But not enough to stop me.
I pushed off the ground and, just as he turned, kicked his shin. He stumbled. He hadn’t expected resistance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mira dancing around Ren precise, fluid, unshakable. She didn’t need me.
“This all you got, sweetheart?” Adam growled.
“Shut up.”
I lunged elbow to chest, full body weight behind it. His breath whooshed out. He spun and tried to hit me, but I ducked low and flipped him over my shoulder.
His face slammed into the dirt.
As he gasped for air, I pinned him down and yanked one arm behind his back.
“Had enough?”
“Go to hell!”
“Already tried. Didn’t take me.”
Across the yard, Ren screamed Mira had swept his legs right out from under him.
“Enough!” Rosi barked.
“See? Maybe if you spent less time talking, you might’ve had a shot,” Mira said, flashing a dazzling smile as she flipped her hair.
Before we could savor the victory, someone slammed into me from behind.
I hit the ground hard, and before I could get up, a sharp kick landed square in my ribs.
The air rushed out of my lungs. My mind roared.
I gasped, trying to breathe. Nothing.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard Mira shouting. Maybe Kaden, too. I couldn’t be sure.
Rosi was taking his sweet time stopping this.
Someone stomped on my hand.
A blinding bolt of pain shot through my arm—sharp, hot, nearly unbearable.
“You won’t get away with it, b***h,” a familiar voice hissed in my ear.
Idiot number one.
Before I could react, I saw another kick coming.
And then… the world slowed.
Sounds faded.
Voices blurred.
The arena became still.
Instead of panic, I felt a strange calm.
Cold.
Resolve.
Something inside me stirred.
Something old.
Something dark.
And untamed.
- Writer
