Gauntlet Rite of Ascension (17 page)

“I bet you are wondering why I am here.” She said to me.

“Okay.” I managed to say.

She smiled knowingly at the reaction she caused and enjoying it.

“Dear Abaddon has told me that you needed a more in-depth and challenging lesson in the workings of Pack politics. I am your new teacher.” She said.

“I will be moving in, this place needs a woman’s touch.” She looked around with disapproval. “I will help you learn how to protect yourself from the different tactics those in the Pack will use against you. Some will be outright offensive, while others will use much more subtle ways.”

She took another piece of my food and brought it to her mouth, casually parting her lips and slipping a small piece of food into her mouth. I couldn’t help it. I stared like a fool.

“I will also be tutoring Max on becoming proficient in using a firearm, we Ascended cannot be killed by a bullet, but they hurt like hell and can be a good persuader.”

She reached over and ate some more of my food as she stared at Max, he sat there like a deer in headlights, his mouth hung open and I had an urge to throw something in there to see if he would notice. I was betting he wouldn’t, not as long as Katrina was here.

“Let this be my first lesson, Eric. Do not let the allures of something you can never have distract you from your endeavors, be it having your will known in the Pack or even eating a delicious dinner.” She brought another handful of food to her mouth and ate it, all the while staring directly at me.

She finished and licked her lips, shifting her weight in an excruciatingly pleasurable way she rose and walked to the door, grabbing her coat she left, leaving Max and myself staring at the closed door.

I shook my head, clearing it only to see Abaddon almost done with his food. Apparently, Katrina’s appearance didn’t have any effect on him.

Max smiled at me and started to eat. I decided to ask Abaddon more about her after dinner and went to start eating myself only to find that Katrina had eaten the whole thing. There was nothing left; she had even eaten the guacamole and other fixings.

My stomach growled as I looked over at the oven hoping there was more.

“There is no more food. Max you are not to give Eric any of yours either. Let the pangs of hunger drive home the lesson Katrina has taught you this night. Max, you are to meet me in the arena tonight. It is time we took the forms I taught you and see if you can use them.” Abaddon said.

Dawning understanding of what just happened flooded over me. She had tricked me! She had come in here as a distraction and ate all my food. I had been so stupefied by her allure that I had watched as she ate my dinner right in front of me.

I had no doubt later tonight when my hunger doubled I would be pissed at what she had done, but for now I hid a smile that threatened to split my face. She had taken my meal and left me hungry. My body still ached from the effects her actions caused and for now I felt that the trade off was totally worth it.

Chapter 19

The year moved on and the winter took control of the weather. I wasn’t as affected by the differing temperatures the change in seasons brought. My newfound abilities allowed me to handle the more extreme weather easily.

As the year progressed so did my fighting ability. Max also became more adept at defending himself as Abaddon began beating on each of us equally. Although when Max and Abaddon fought they used bamboo weapons so that Max wasn’t killed. His fights left him covered in bruises and I was at least slightly joyed at knowing someone else was sharing in my pain.

Katrina moved in like she said. She usually kept to herself and only came around when it was time for her lessons or to take Max to the range.

Her lessons were always confusing and enjoyable. She would wear revealing clothes or use kindness to cause me to drop my guard so that she could prove some point or take things from me that I would miss. Sometimes it was my music collection, other times it was my food money. Other times she would act aggressively and intimidate me. Each encounter came with a lesson in different manipulation techniques that I fell for every time.

Max always seemed frightened when she was near, as if he was scared to say or do anything that would make her notice him. His infatuation may have been kind of cute if it wasn’t so painfully obvious.

Max constantly badgered Abaddon about the Pack and being a werewolf, he also kept asking him about vampires and wanted to know everything. Abaddon answered most of Max’s questions but refused to talk about vampires, saying the less he knew the better.

My college classes were not to terribly challenging after the grueling punishment I had been getting from Abaddon and his swords.

I enjoyed my time in class, but found myself longing for the few times we would go to the woods.

Abaddon would take us camping every few weeks. He would have us make camp and practice different skills needed to survive in the wild. It was unnecessary, I felt, seeing as how I was a werewolf and could take care of myself. Abaddon thought it was necessary and so we did it.

It was during these times that Abaddon encouraged me to shift into Beast form. He and I would leave and go hunting together or just run freely through the woods, letting go of the restraints of the city. It was liberating and cleansing to feel the power of the Beast. At times we would also spar while in Beast form, but Abaddon feared for my control and didn’t allow it to go to far, afraid I would get too aggressive.

Max and Katrina would stay behind where they would practice shooting. Sometimes with pistols or rifles, other times with bow and arrow.

At first Max would hardly say a word, but over time his curiosity got the better of him and before long he and Katrina would have long conversations about everything from gas prices to the current theories on the origins of man.

It was early spring. The nights were cold, but the days began seeing warmer weather. The trees and bushes were showing the first signs of budding as they sensed the change in the sun’s position and prepared for summer.

“No more wood on the fire.” Abaddon said again.

Max loved making a fire and whenever we camped he always tried to load it up with wood, Abaddon always chided him.

Max sat back down and poked at the flames with a stick he had. Katrina stayed home this time; she said she needed some time away from all of the testosterone, whatever that meant.

I looked up and saw the moons fullness. I could feel the Beasts energy building as the moon reached its apex. I looked over to Abaddon and could see a slight gleam in his eyes. They flashed yellow for a second before resuming their normal shade.

“Come Eric, it is time.” Abaddon said as he stood up, he took off his shirt and pants, I did the same. It’s cheaper than buying new clothes all the time.

Max looked from me to Abaddon and pleaded,

“C’mon, let me go with you guys just this once. I want to watch you guys spare in Beast form.”

“One day, perhaps.” Abaddon said.

“Fine, but I’m going to burn all the wood while you’re gone.” Max said.

“What else is new?” I said.

“Whatever, you get to run around as an awesome werewolf while sit here and poke at the fire.” He complained.

“Look it’s not my fault, there’s union rules against someone as nerdy as you becoming a werewolf. We have an image to protect.” I said.

“I hope you choke on a hairball, shitbag.” He answered.

Abaddon turned and entered the tree line, I gave Max a big smile and he threw a stick at me as I turned and followed.

I followed Abaddon as he sped off into the woods. I reached into myself and willed my body to change. Sweet pain swept through me as my limbs and torso grew and elongated. I assumed the form of the Beast and my senses expanded in conjunction with my power.

I saw Abaddon in front of me as he too underwent the shift. His form grew and his body became covered in lighter fur, not white, but more of a blonde shade.

His speed increased as his new shape allowed him greater agility. I raced to keep up.

I always loved this part. Abaddon would fly through the woods and I would take chase. At first, he would easily outpace me, but lately I had grown more and more confident in my skin and I could now keep up.

Abaddon made quick changes of direction, trying to shake me but this night I was having none of it. I pushed myself faster, willed my Beast to provide the needed power. As I dipped into the well of energy the Beast provided my thinking became more and more primal and less and less complex.

Run.

Turn.

Jump.

Faster, faster I went. Abaddons form slowly got larger as I gradually closed the distance between us.

I saw ahead of him and spotted a tree that had fallen into his path. My instincts screamed at me and I listened. Ten feet from the tree, I used the power of the Beast and leapt. My jump took me twenty feet into the air in a long and straight line. Abaddon took a second to prepare for the tree and it was this slight hesitation that I had anticipated. My leap brought me down onto Abaddon as he passed over the tree and we fell together in a tumble of limbs, teeth and claws.

He reached out as we rolled and brought his claws across my chest, leaving four deep gouges that stung. I drew my feet up and brought them between us and with a powerful kick, sent Abaddon into a nearby tree. The impact shook the leaves and pine needles fell around him as his body slid to the ground.

Abaddon wanted to teach me the more brutal and devastating hand to hand fighting. He was afraid of doing it around Max and used these times in the woods to train.

As he landed he came up in a crouch keeping me in front of him. I wasn’t there.

After kicking him, I immediately used the distraction my blow caused to allow me to circle around Abaddon. I came up behind him, not ten feet away. I forced my movements to be quiet, willing myself to move with the stealth of the ultimate predator.

Abaddon continued to stand at the ready, using his senses to find me. I came at him with the breeze at my face, making sure he wouldn’t smell me until I was too close.

I closed the distance to five feet and in my eagerness I tensed for another leap. In doing so, I pushed down too hard and a twig snapped under my foot. Knowing I would be heard I sprang. Abaddon was faster.

He twisted as I came for him and grabbed onto my outstretched arm, using my own momentum to throw me thirty feet into the base of a tree. The impact was not near as hurtful as the realization that I had revealed myself.

I quickly sprang upright, bending at the knees I leaned forward, placing both long powerful claws on the ground I prepared to use all four limbs to hurl myself at Abaddon like a cannon.

Abaddon had seemingly forgotten about me.

He stood with his head cocked to the side, listening. The change in posture made me immediately weary and I too focused my senses outward. Seeking with the tools of the Beast for what had gotten Abaddon’s attention.

Once I willed my awareness out and into the surrounding woods, I instantly heard what Abaddon was listening to.

I didn’t have the long years of experience my teacher did, but even I could tell something big was coming at us and it was fast, not only that but it seemed uninterested in trying to go undetected.

It barreled through the woods and crushed anything in its path. If my sensitive hearing was accurate it sounded like more than one was heading our way. It sounded like a lot of them were coming and coming fast.

“Prepare yourself Eric, I know not what heads our way, but it is not of nature.” Abaddon said through his muzzle.

He faced the oncoming threat and waited patiently.

I wore my bracelets. I always wore them. They easily clasped to my wrists and adjusted their fit even when I shifted into Beast form. I thought about activating them, but didn’t want to risk using silver on something that silver might be fatal to until I was sure it was dangerous.

Abaddon had left his weapons at the camp, he was not worried about leaving them behind, his skill at fighting was unmatched and his claws and teeth were as deadly as any sharpened blade.

I nervously anticipated what was coming. I wasn’t as statuesque in my waiting as Abaddon. I bounced from foot to foot and tried to focus my hearing and smell to see if I could discern anything else.

I used the Beasts power to push my senses to a higher level when I felt something radiate out from me. It wasn’t an increase in my sight, smell or hearing. It was more of a combination of all three. I sent an almost invisible probe out into the night to investigate without really understanding how or what I was doing.

My awareness expanded and I was conscience of my surroundings at a piercing level. I heard the cricket as it jumped from one leaf to the next. I felt the slight breeze as it glided through the trees. I saw the dew as it collected on the newly formed buds. As my awareness grew, I also understood that I was unable to react to my immediate surroundings. It was a trade-off. Either I could be in the here and now with my body, or I could tap into a Zen-like state that allowed me to be almost one with my environment.