"Come on Rhiannon, you are not giving me one hundred percent here" Oh how Rhiannon hated that cold drawling voice that plagued her every single hellish day. When would this torment end!

"I am and you'll get no more out of me, Veryn" she snapped, closing misty green eyes as the pain kicked in once more, flaring across her slender shoulders and down her arched back. Oh joy of joys.

"Try harder or you'll feel more pain" the icy monotony responded once more.

"Ok ok" the female gasped as she put her full weight and strength into pushing against the thick steel door riddled with sharp spikes. This was her task for the day; to open this door so she could get out and go home. That was the thing she kept in her mind so she could focus on better things... like the tub of Ben And Jerry's icecream waiting for her.

Rhiannon gave one more push and the door creaked open slightly. Not wide enough, but it was a start. Veryn would keep her there all night if he had to; that was how keen on his task the merciless vampire was. And that was what annoyed the witch the most. She could move that door with a simple thought but oh no, she had to work on her body and mental strength instead of using her powers! Evil gits...

"Very nice, Rhiannon. Now harder or you spend the night in here"

For the love of the darkness... she thought, setting her back against the cold steel and shoving with all of her might. Move, damn you!

Sweat trickled down her flawlessly pale skin, setting a certain heavy quality into the crimson waves that cascaded around her back and shoulders.

"One more and we can both go home"

I cant wait for the day I am free of this training so I can kick your scummy, worthless a-

The door swung open, making Rhiannon lose her balance and stumbled forward a step.

"Good. Tomorrow we will find something that actually requires skill" came the frosty notes of her taskmaster's voice as he walked past her and went off into the darkness

"Snob" she muttered, striding off home so she could study for her test the following morning.

That was Rhiannon Cross for you; Nightworld witch by night, student at Saint Luke's High School by day.

Fighting and fractions all in the space of 24 hours. Joy of bloody joys...