Chapter Two

My head is spinning. It is a struggle to keep my breathing in check and I'm sure as hell that I'm drowning. My chest burns, my body quakes in anxiety. Screaming would shake off the fear rising but I don't make a sound, my throat also burns, and more than anything, I mustn't startle Mark so I go through the excruciating pains in silence. This is what I must get used to, I must ignore all burns, pains, agony...nightmares.

Many times, it is easy to push the gory images blurring my vision by focusing on the bird tattoo etched on my wrist, other times, the bird does nothing but aggravates the demons. Demons fighting for my soul, the only thing I have left. They feed on my fears and tears, leaving me a shaken mess. I would do anything to bury my memories.

This time all I see is fire, an unending, unquenchable one, my skin heats up and the bird seems to be glowing. I know it's the demons but I'm having a hard time suppressing them. The fire burning is a clear depiction of the night I lost everything. Family, friends, life. Who knew a small spark of fire could wreck a whole park? 

I could stop that spark, nothing torments me more than that realization. The demons make sure to remind me every chance they get, they show me the lush green field where it all started, where I could, with just a blow of air stop the spark.

"Hera..."

The timid voice shook me. It's one that I wish I didn't hear.

"Mark, I'm fine."

It's what I say every time he says my name in that fearful way that shakes me.

"You're shaking," he states.

"I am not."

I grip my wrist, and fold my arms to my chest, steadying my voice.

"I'm scared. You're scaring me, you're really shaking you know?" 

He places a hand on mine. This does a better job of easing me. 

"You're not scared, just overexcited."

"What? There's nothing to be excited about. Look, I may be young but I'm not stupid."

Mark's grey eyes shimmer. He gives me a long, hard look. It's difficult to place it but he looks older than I remember. Is it the furrow of his eyebrows or the way his lips are turned down?

"This is a beautiful night can we not spend it talking about scary stuff? I mean, what are we? Losers?" I give a shaky laugh, then I nudge him.

"Big ones."

He shoots a sad smile but still manages to roll his eyes.

We were in one of the numerous cottages the Alpha owned. This one is fully furnished with everything one needed to spend a gruesome with the only family one had. Beds big enough to take two terrified werewolves, a kitchen with necessary hunting materials few food items. 

"Big, big losers."

I smile fully now, watching as he slowly lights up. For now, I could hide the raging fire burning in me but deep down I know one day, it'll be too hot to hide from Mark so I have to do everything and anything to protect him from my demons. It's a tough decision leaving Mark here while on my mission, I don't think I can deal with the heartache. Mark and I are the only children of our parents, we have been inseparable since our mother painfully pushed him out. His cries had filled the whole park, scaring the hell out of me. For someone so tiny, I did not expect that loud is a sound to come out of him.

His grey eyes had searched my equally grey ones, he smiled a toothless one, and right there, I knew that I was to protect him every single day of my life.

"You zoned out."

He waves a hand in my face and I swat it.

"I did not. I was just thinking about my first encounter with you. You were a bloody, crying mess." 

I give a small smile. 

"Always have been a little drama king from day one." This time I give a big one.

"I remember my first encounter with you." 

"No, you don't. You were fee hours old."

I shoot him a playful glare.

"I do remember staring into your eyes and knowing that you were going to be by my side no matter what. I feel safe with you."

His smile lightens me up.

"I will protect to at all cost."

________________

It seems the people around here do not care for the well-being of others. I wake up to the sound of banging on the door and I scold myself for sleeping too deeply in the enemy's camp. Mark and I had a long talk yesterday, I am exhausted but my raging heart is still and peaceful.

"Hera."

Bang. Bang.

It takes a while to shake my off disorientation. The lights are off so I grope my way to the cottage's door, knocking over some items in the way. I cringe hoping the sound doesn't wake Mark.

"Hera."

Bang. Bang.

I don't respond to their shouts until I reach the door.

"What is it?"

"Alpha put me in charge of your training, I have come to fetch you," a gruff voice says.

"Is the Alpha too scared to train me himself?" I shoot. Asking that is unnecessary but I can't help the urge.

"He has other important businesses to attend to. Meet me at the training square in five minutes."

With that, I hear footsteps retreating.

Rude.

Luckily, there few training wears in the closet I walk into. Tights, training bras, knee, and elbow pads. I put on a pair of rights and a blue training bra, I tie a piece of clothing over my knuckles and attach the pads to my knees and elbows.

I scribble a note telling Mark my destination. 

It's quite easy to find the training square, it is a large space in the middle of the palace. There are few buildings surrounding it and I see soldiers already deep into their training session. It's hard not to be impressed since it's nothing like I have seen before. 

Equipment line up and what seems like hundreds of people work in every one of them. They groan, sweat, and work in unison.

"You're two minutes late, Hera," the gruff voice of earlier manifests into the tallest person I have set my eyes on. His metallic blue eyes bore into me and I almost expect my body to melt into a puddle. As expected, his body is chiseled and I feel my face heat up.

"I couldn't find my way."

With my chin raised high, I steady my voice and I plant my feet on the ground.

"You lie."

"What are we doing first. Planks? Cardio?"

His stare glues me in place and my mouth seems to be the only thing working. He raises his eyebrow as if to mock me.

"What do you know about cardio?"

His eyebrows are still raised. 

I feel genuinely insulted. He clearly does not know who I am.

I roll my eyes. "Is that really a question?"

He doesn't reply but walks away barking commands to everyone he sees around.

"Lucius, ninety degrees above the ground."

The man in question furrows his eyebrows in confusion but does it anyway.

I follow him around but he successfully ignores me. 

"Stephen, go harder. We're not here for mediocre exercise, you might as well leave if this is not for you."

"Look, I get you're a boss around here. What am I doing next?" I shout. 

He stops in his tracks and whirls to face me square in the face. "What?"

"What am I doing here?" I fling my arms in frustration.

He unties and reties his man-bun, his eyes never leaving me. "You know what your problem is? You never know when to shut up."

Now, I am left dumbfounded. He shut me up.

"You don't know when to shut up–"

Yeah, I heard that earlier, you–"

"And observe what's around you. That was your first lesson as a warrior."

Once against my face heats up, not in shame but burning anger. I know I should listen to him since he clearly knows more than I and he is the leader of the boogers soldiers I know but I let my insecurities take over. 

"You should really do something about your face."

"You should stick your face in your behind!" 

There. I said it.

His mouth dancing in what seems to be amusement. Am I a joke to this man?

"That's impossible. But do you know what is possible? You shutting up and listening."

I can't believe I'm going to get into a squabble with him. Hell, I can't believe I am here.

"Stephen!" He barks.

The called man rushes to us and immediately gives a slight bow.

"Hera here wants a little fun. You two, duel."

He leaves Stephen and me in awkward silence.

Wait. Duel? I glance at Stephen's lanky body, his spindly arms are behind him and his face is set I'm a nervous smile. He looks too easy to duel

I clear my throat, "Okay?"

"Right. Follow me please."

Stephen leads me to a space filled with beach sand. The air here seems hotter than usual. Slowly, other soldiers gather around us, and then I know that this is a serious matter. They seem excited, something to entertain them after a long morning of training. Well, I'll entertain them alright. I adjust my knee pads and wait for a command.

The leader strolls into the middle of the space and with two fingers in the air, the chattering stops. 

"This beautiful morning we're witnessing the fight of a lifetime. Warrior Hera and poor spindly Stephen."

I don't know if he's sarcastic since his face is set in a frown. 

"May the best warrior win."

Before I take a step closer to Stephen, he knocks me off my feet. I don't know how that happens but I find myself face-deep in the sand. What the hell?

I stand up to see a raving crowd screaming, "Warrior Hera."

I want to smile but I am still surprised by Stephen's kick.

Wham!

The last thing I see is red-stained sand