"After five days, one would think Kay would run out of anger at some point," Talia murmured, leaning with her shoulder against a padded column, watching Kay beat the life out of yet another punching bag as Cat came to a standstill beside her.

The things were mostly vampire-proof, but Kay killed three since making her way down to the gym after two days of locking herself in her room.

Denise's had the bright idea to direct Kay's silent, volatile anger in a harmless direction, hoping it would expend some of her boiling frustration and resentment. Instead, it became her single-minded purpose. She came at dawn and left only when her body refused to obey her any further.

Kay did not mindlessly punch the bag, either. What little instruction Denise had given her had sunk in deep, and even though the succubus seemed to ignore everybody else, she was not unaware of them, just not in the mood for company. She watched and learned as people came and went, her technique changing, evolving, and streamlining itself.

The succubus' transformation fascinated Talia. Never had she met anybody who could learn like that, and she had taught many people. Not even Marcus, a prodigy, had this much natural talent or ability to absorb knowledge.

"That does not look like someone who first started kickboxing and mixed martial arts a week ago," Cat admitted, watching the fluidity and the efficiency with which Kay struck that bag with precision, purpose, and intent. "and I'm glad I'm not whoever that sack represents to her." Her slight disdain for the seedling no longer colored her tone.

"Doubt if it is just one person. Kay's mad at whoever was responsible for her mother's seeding, changing her, and bringing her into this life before dumping her on Azera's tender mercies. What would you wager that her father and sister feature heavily on that list?" Talia reasoned, and a Cat's frown turned to a scowl.

"If I were her, I'd be pissed too," she admitted with dark emotions clouding her eyes, feelings Talia recognized and understood—their past was not pretty either.

***

"Perhaps it's time we redirected that anger somewhere more useful," Marcus's voice startled them both. He almost smirked, aware that he was the only person who could sneak up on them and that they still found it disconcerting, even after so many years.

Passing them with his eyes trained on Kay with predatory awareness, he agreed with Cat. Kay did not look like a newbie.

How much had she learned?

He took in her sweat-soaked clothes, clammy skin, blazing eyes, and purity of focus.

The succubus had become aware of him when he stepped into the lighted area from the dark part of the gym, but she did not falter or stop.

"Why don't we determine where you're at, my little succubus?" He kept his voice gentle and pleasant, but she watched him warily as she caught the punching bag, her breathing slightly labored and dark circles lining her eyes.

The way she filled those gym clothes and even the flowing ponytail appealed to his vampire.

***

"Come, let's find out what you've got." Marcus motioned her closer with his hands taped as hers were, warning her that it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Something about the way he moved reminded her of Talia, but he was more predatory. Kay suspected he was the type of fighter who never met the word defeat and would die at the hands of a far superior enemy the day he did.

Trepidation filled her as she obeyed him and made her way to the black fighting mats. He started circling her, and she followed him with her eyes.

Only instinct prevented her from taking a punch in the gut when he attacked. He nicked her jaw, and even that light tap hurt.

The vampire came at her again and again, just grazing her, taunting her, making her feel like a child, and something inside her altered as her anger shifted to him.

Marcus was just like them, her life was in his hands, but all he did was injure and taunt her.

***

He watched the anger build and fueled the emotion. It did not surprise him that it took little to ignite the powder keg that had been simmering for years.

Kay came at him relentlessly, absorbing his punches, learning from her mistakes and every move he made. The succubus was fast, graceful, well balanced, and although a little green, it would not take much to transform her into a lethal fighter.

A strange feral pride settled in his chest as he watched her evolve. It was awe-inspiring, and he had a feeling that her father had no idea what he had sired, and he wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.

The succubus belonged to him now, and no one else had a claim to her. Unlike them, he did not fear what would happen when he unlocked her full potential.

He knew Kay and saw himself in her. She was no monster in the making and no childish, selfish, spoiled brat of an immortal whose only purpose was to mock and torture lesser creatures.

This woman was born for one thing, and he would ensure she became just that. No matter what he had to do or how it needed to happen. Kay would become a champion, a defender, and a light to chase away the darkness of this existence.

The succubus would fit perfectly into their world, but to achieve that, they would have to hide her skills and teach her to fit into their glittering empire of lies and deceit without falling for it herself. They would have to bide their time for her sake.

Kay landed a solid blow to his face, and blood exploded from his nose. Marcus barely blinked, smirking as he nodded in approval.

***

She frowned at him, dodging his attack, but Marcus still scraped her chin with his fist.

Why did he seem proud of her?

Something warm and reassuring hid beneath that wary warrior's gaze, and the anger slowly drained from her. Kay became more careful, getting in a few full-contact blows, and even though she paid for her little victories, pride filled her chest.

Not even Talia would match him, and no one else here could; she was sure of that.

Fatigue slowly claimed her. Even "immortals" had limits, and she had reached hers. One moment they were trading punches, and then Marcus caught her with her arms trapped against her sides.

Their eyes met, and the monster in her blood reacted to the heat in his, taking the fight from her.

Tired of being angry, resisting an invisible enemy, and being pissed at the fates, she let go of everything. The stolen years, pain, anger, resentment, trauma, and every other dark thing that wanted to drag her down into the abyss she'd been warring against for days. It will take no more from her.

When she first arrived, she'd been unsure of her future and had avoided thinking of the past, but that moment when she saw her sister forced her to face it. She had avoided anything that would tell her how much time she had spent in captivity, afraid of what it would mean for her, but confronted with the truth, she had no choice but to acknowledge that there was no going back.

Daniella died the day she was captured, and Kay was born. Although, in truth, she had never been that young woman. The human girl had been a construct and a fabrication since the moment that first cell split.

Drained of emotion and physically tired, the succubus rose unopposed to the surface for the first time.

Their eyes measured each other and searched curiously, and before Kay could wrestle back control, she pressed her lips against his.

***

Surprised for only a second, he remembered what was truly in his arms, and taking control of the kiss, he led them over the abyss.

Marcus did not see the surprised expression of their two remaining spectators, never noticed them leave or lock the door behind them, nor heard them chuckle as they walked away.

***

"Now that I did not expect," Talia said quietly, saddened as the fragile dream in her sister's eyes died its final death—reality was what it was, and Marcus was never meant for Cat.

"Did you not notice the electricity between them? I did, and if you didn't see that coming, you don't know our master very well. This outcome might not have been his conscious intention, but his vampire had designs on Kay's body from the moment Marcus entered the room, and then she made the first move. Our master likes feisty girls and turns them almost meek in his arms," Cat joked with shadows in her eyes.

"I don't think that particular succubus understands the word meek," Talia played the game to keep Cat from falling into the abyss of her own thoughts.

"Would Kay be different tomorrow? Like when a seedling turns into a vampire, altered in every way?'

They stopped walking, and it was a legitimate question.

"Don't know. Perhaps, but I hope Kay doesn't change too drastically... I like her," Talia murmured, and her sibling frowned.

"Although I was determined not to, I do too. As long as she doesn't turn into Azera..." The joke fell flat as the mere thought turned unease into fear.

Now that is another worry. Newest Version ©2014-2023 All rights reserved. If you find this on any other platform but Wattpad under @CSDreamer, please report it. No part of this book may be copied or reposted without the author's permission.