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Chapter Eight
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Hopeless Warriors Chapter Nine
RPOVSongs: THISKIDSNOTALRIGHT by AWOLNATION, Wednesday Night Melody by BleachedThe first few days of training were...interesting to say the least. After my long, yet necessary, speech I had sent Eddie to go out and look for Guardian Belikov. Granted, I had been late to my fair share of trainings in the past, but there was no way in hell I would let my troops in on that minor detail, or would I tolerate it at camp. I had to establish my authority and if I let them get away with stunts like this on the first day, they would walk all over me.After finding out from a couple of the other men where Belikov was posted up, Eddie made his way over to his tent and brought him up to the training grounds. Walking up, it was hard to believe this was the same man from the night before. Without his hood, I could finally see him clearly and was somewhat surprised by his appearance. His dark hair was shoulder length—not a common fashion amongst warriors—his beard was scruffy and untamed, and his br
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Ten
RPOVSongs: Pagan Polska OMINA, Behind a Wall by Blood Red Shoes,Now, don't get me wrong. I knew better than most the need to let off some steam and unwind, and what better way to do so than at the bottom of a fresh pint of ale. I had willingly turned a blind eye to those sneaking in some booze at camp and would allow the occasional night out, but this was a blatant disregard of the camp rules. Not only were the men out well-passed curfew, but they were completely sloshed with a full schedule of training waiting for them tomorrow. These rules were not only set in place for them, but I knew how rowdy they could get and had standards established to keep drunken Dhampir from wreaking too much havoc on the local businesses at all hours of the morning. Spotting the slightly worried look on the barkeep's face told me that I had been right in doing so.I walked over to the bar, not making my presence known yet to sniff out the situation. A somewhat grateful look appeared on Old John's face
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Eleven
RPOVSongs: Put a Flower in Your Pocket by The Arcs, Stranglehold by Ted NugentI hadn't just decided on one of my least favorite punishments, that would've been too easy. So, I decided to enforce them all. I expected at least one of the men to crack eventually and was in no way surprised to find it be Belikov. I was actually counting on it.So far, he had been too calm, too collected, and I wanted to see him lose control. I couldn't have been happier when he challenged me to a fight; it was a win-win situation. I would not only get to kick his sorry ass for disrespecting me but would also finally get to see what he was made of.However, that excitement quickly morphed into massive disappointment. My first few attacks weren't even up to my full speed or power, and he was having serious trouble keeping up. The stench of stale beer and rank sweat from the afternoon's activities was a sure sign that he was still hungover. I tried another few quick maneuvers to get a feel for his skill, b
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Twelve
RPOVSongs: Youth Knows No Pain by Lykke Li, Saint Claude by Christine and the Queens, Wasted Time by Best CoastOver the next couple of days training continued on as planned, and as far as Belikov I did what any mature adult would do...I ignored him. I had Mason and Eddie rotate early afternoon sessions with him that were basically just running, lifting, and other stamina drills to keep him busy. I made sure to dedicate the majority of my focus on the other recruits and began mentally taking notes since the following week we would be sorting them into even more specialized groups to focus intensely on areas that needed work. So far, no one had the guts to bring up the sparring match but I kept good on my word and let the other men go back to their normal schedule.Inevitably, I would find myself at a training session near Belikov, and our interactions—if any—usually ended brusquely. One of those aggravating instances happened when I caught sight of that enormous beast in the middle o
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Thirteen
DPOVSong: Kiss the Sky by Shawn Lee's Ping Pong, I Need A Forest Fire by James BlakeAs the night carried on I deftly watched her out of the corner of my eye, examining her in what was supposed to be our night off. A few of the men had set up some fires for us to gather around and brought in some barrels of ale and wine. At first, I wondered if Rose even had the ability to be carefree, but as I observed her I quickly noticed a lighter side of her I hadn't expected.She was right, I really knew nothing about her.I had expected her to sit in a corner with Ashford and Castile, glaring at the rest of us as we indulged in our free time. But I was pleased to find my assumptions were completely wrong. She laughed with her friends, toasted with a few camp members, and even blatantly flirted with some of the men. Not that anyone believed it would actually lead to anything. There was no denying that she was an attractive woman and that coupled with her resilient attitude and high rank made he
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fourteen
RPOVSongs: Riverside by Agnes Obel, Tessellate by alt-J, Blue Moon by BeckI dunked the thin garment into the water and swirled it around before bringing it out and letting the droplets fall back into the stream. "And not to mention, his insane mood swings. Dimitri goes from acting like a complete buffoon to a sulking degenerate faster than you can say dryshite." I wrapped the ends of the fabric around my fists and twisted it to ring the remaining water out."Oh, so we're calling him Dimitri now," Lissa indicated.I tried to think of a way to correct my slip up, but knew it was useless after one peek at her cheeky face. "Well, that is his name after all." I laid the damp garment onto a rock nearby and fished out another one from our laundry basket before continuing my rant. "And on top of that, everything he does has to come with strings attached. He can't just agree to something like a normal person. He has to—""You like him," Lissa blurted out so loudly I thought the entire kingdo
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifteen
DPOVSongs: It's Hard to Get Around the Wind by Alex Turner, What's in My Head by Fuzz"See you for demonstrations tomorrow, Coimheach." Her wild hair seemed to roll through the air as the wind cascaded along her dark waves. It appeared to have a mind of its own much of the time, but as I watched her jog away I felt somewhat entranced by it as the moonlight danced across those deep brown strands.I had finally become curious enough to ask what that term meant that she had deemed me as on more than one occasion. I discovered from a local troop member that it was often used to describe a stranger or foreigner—not all that clever if you really thought about it. Normally, she used it as a derogatory comment or an insult that admittedly stung a little, but tonight there was a hint of playfulness behind it that I hadn't heard before. Seeing that small, devilish grin that accompanied it made me think that maybe I didn't mind it so much anymore.I turned back towards my tent to see Daisy star
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Sixteen
RPOVSongs: Ride this Out by Imaginary CitiesThe realization of what I had gotten myself into last night was enough to clear away any of the haze brought on by the whiskey, sobering me up faster than falling into a frozen pond. Which is why I was surprised by the sickening feeling overcoming me the next day. It must have been some kind of emotional hangover rather than physical. I guess that's what I deserved for acting like a complete idiot—not to mention desperate hussy.I had sent one of the castle Guardians over to camp to let Belikov know he could sleep in as I would not be at one-on-one training this morning. I could get by a few hours under the pretense that something else came up, but I wouldn't be able to hide from him, or my responsibilities, forever. After talking to Victor about the almost Viking attack, which had been only mildly unpleasant thanks to my quick action with the extra guards, I stopped by Lissa's room and had her pull my hair up in tight braids and wore some
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Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Nine
APOVSong: All These Things That I've Done by The Killers"You can't be serious?!" I stared at Pavel wide-eyed, as we walked down the crowded corridor."Completely. I heard with my own ears," he deadpanned.I shook my head and let out a low whistle. "That perverted old bastard. And you're sure it was the Voda prince?"Pavel nodded, becoming irritated now having to repeat himself again.I trusted the Dhampir, but hearing one of our society's renowned monarchs was rumored to be conducting some very unseemly acts involving livestock—well it was a lot to take in.The gossip around the palace had been at an all-time high now that the majority of the families had arrived for the ball. Rose was right about the extra foot traffic being a nightmare, but in some instances, it was beneficial to us. All the whispers across courts were now consolidated into one place, allowing us in on secrets that would've taken weeks to reach us before. Not all the information was helpful to our mission, but at
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Eight
RPOVSongs: Calling the Shots by Jamie B, Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth by Glass Animals, Faster by Orlean, Like Real People Do by HozierI bit down on an apple as I shoved my arm into the sleeve of my dress. The fruit was unseasonably large and barely fit in my mouth as I finished getting dressed. I could only assume the influx of Earth users had been using the orchard as an outlet this week rather than the gardens. When my hands were free again I took a chunk out of it and shuffled down the corridor. A few disturbed glances shot my way as I passed a group of Moroi and took another large bite.I wiped some juice off my chin with the edge of my sleeve before pushing through a small crowd. When I reached his door I knocked a few times and shoved through the opening after hearing his soft grunt in greeting. I closed the door behind me and plopped down on a stool by the window, propping my feet up on the other.Adrian's tawny hair was disheveled, his white tunic in a similar state. He
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Seven
APOVSongs: Sinnerman by Nina Simone, When I'm Small by Phantogram, Dream Lover by Bobby DarinA starling trilled from the rooftop.Its chattering was accompanied by flitting footsteps. The warm temperature no doubt bringing more of them in. I inhaled a deep breath, the air was clearer now.I looked down at my feet and groaned. Not only were the borrowed boots horrendous, but they were also two sizes too big. I looked ridiculous, but the men were starting to complain about the smell. I kicked a heel against the leg of my chair, the jostling feeling of the shoe around my foot foreign to me.The other chair beside me creaked as Abe sat down. "She was still a little edgy but hopefully she will relax enough to rest soon." I nodded, already aware that she was still awake. We'd been waiting for hours already, but luckily her night was our day and she was bound to tire out eventually.When Abe had brought me to the young woman she was too panicked, unable to concentrate long enough to gather
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Six
RPOVSongs: Burning Desire by Lana Del Rey, I'm on Fire by The Staves, Bad Vibes byThe halls were dark, even the windows were black. I must have slept in. I could barely feel the floor beneath my feet as I walked down them. My head was foggy. I wasn't sure when I'd gotten out of bed or how I'd gotten here. Most likely the alcohol's fault. Then a small light captured my attention. I moved towards it, drawn to the subtle glow.As I grew closer I realized it was coming from someone's room. The door was cracked allowing a few golden beams to escape into the blackness—a budding dawn splitting open a long dark night.It was a familiar room, one I'd intruded on before.A noise escaped into the hall. Was he having a nightmare again? Did he need me to wake him?I pushed open the door, not wanting him to suffer alone.Dimitri was lying on his bed with his eyes closed, but all other signs of sleep were nowhere to be found. His brow pulled together in a tight scrunch, his mouth slightly parted w
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Five
FDPOVSongs: Blue Monday by New Order"Have fun you two."Her back turned to me as her hand lifted towards Ivashkov's shoulder. Those fingers that had just been nervously fidgeting with a stone gently curled into a loving squeeze. His face lit up, and I was suddenly aware of the bruise forming on my chest where Rose's stake had been pressed.The past several weeks I'd conditioned myself. I'd used every situation with Rose as an opportunity to fortify my Guardian training. I wasn't necessarily detached, but I was far less emotionally invested. She was my pupil in the training ring and the Princess of St. Vladimir's outside of it. That idea played in my mind over and over like a mantra keeping me in check.But seeing them together was the ultimate test of my control. Especially when the voice in the back of my mind was clawing its way towards the surface, combatting my composure and begging to break out."...there are constantly two people battling inside me and I'm afraid what will ha
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Four
APOVSongs: Every Single Night by Fionna Apple, Lola by The RaincoatsTap Tap TapThere must have been a leak somewhere in the room. Either that or it was in my head. Hard to tell.Tap TapMy hand against the table joined the rhythmic water droplets.ThudA propped book flattened onto its shelf. Funny thing. I wondered how long it had been sitting like that. Barely clinging to stand until finally the weight of it just gave in and laid it to rest. A feeling I knew well.I fixated on that thought. Curious what the title of my book would be. Would it be thick, or thin? Would it be leather-bound, or frail material with tattered thread only just keeping the pages entwined? Regardless, the images inside would be spectacular.Tap Tap TapMy fingers sped up. I felt eyes on me. Eyes that weren't there.I wanted a drink. Something to calm my thoughts. But a sip wouldn't be enough. Not anymore.Honestly, I don't mind the drinking so much when it knocks you out and keeps you quiet. Then we're spa
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Three
EPOVSongs: Leave Before the Lights Come On by Arctic Monkeys, Humility by GorillazI starred my opponent down, unblinking until I thought my eyes would turn to prunes. He starred back, neither of us refusing to back off. I could smell tiny beads of sweat beginning to form along his forehead and knew I almost had him. I clenched my teeth, flexing the muscles around my jaw as he started gnawing on his bottom lip.My fingers were itching to move, but I kept them gripped tightly. A clicking sound came out of his mouth, one of his many tells and it was clear what I had to do next."Call," I shouted as I slammed down another stack of wooden chips.Dougal huffed and shook his head from across the table, "Big mistake Castile. I'm about to take you for all you've got."I flicked my cards between my fingers, letting them finally relax. "I like my odds.""Oh yeah," Healy laughed as he scratched his ginger beard. "That's what ye said three hands ago and even though ya slipped those cards back in
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty Two
RPOVSongs: Brain Damage by Pink Floyd, White Teeth Teens by Lorde, Answer by Phantogram, Present Tense by RadioheadSleep came surprisingly easy. I was sure I was in for hours of restlessness after the events that had unfolded that day but after unleashing all of that rage built up inside me, I crashed. Hard.I fell into a deep sleep. The kind that throws you into nothing but blackness, yet somehow it isn't terrifying. That was until the dark scene around me began to take a new shape.It was our old meeting place, the garden from the Western Isles. We'd met there about a dozen times before, but that time...something was off.Vines crawled up the walls in unnatural directions, starting one way and sharply jeering to another. Light was softly pouring in through the surrounding windows, but above us, the sky was pitch black with storm clouds hovering close by. Every once in awhile I'd feel a low vibration hum through the room. It caused the leaves to fervently shake before jolting to a
Hopeless Warriors Chapter Fifty One
DPOVSongs: While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles, One More Cup of Coffee by The White Stripes, Breathe (In the Air) by Pink FloydWe picked training back up the next day, neither of us bringing up the hot springs. I thought about asking her why she lied, but instead, devoted all my energy to something else.Adrian.In between routines over the next few days, I asked her questions about him. Most of them harmless but opened the door for more inquisition. Usually, she was the chatty one and I remained quiet, responding to her with a grunt or curt reply, so naturally, the change in my attitude pleased her. She answered every question with excitement and in great detail, which was hard to hear a lot of the time but helped me piece together the puzzle that was Adrian Ivashkov.If he was hiding something, I wasn't stupid enough to think he'd share it with Rose, so on top of gaining information from her, I ordered a few of my men to discreetly tail him and report back to me. There was
