Let The Training Commence!

When I reached the Meditation hall, I checked my watch. Seven-oh-two. I was late. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked into the room. I saw Chase standing in the middle of the floor, hands behind his back, obviously waiting for me.

"You're late." He said bluntly.

I flinched slightly. "I'm sorry," I said, looking at the ground, "I-"

"There is no time for excuses, young one." Chase interrupted briskly, "We have much work to do."

I nodded, but felt slightly dejected. Last night he had been so nice, but now… he was treating me like he had been several nights ago.

"What we are going to start your training with is meditation." Chase started, dimming the lights with a snap.

I looked up. "Uh, Chase? I already know how to meditate." I said softly.

He raised an eyebrow. "All right then. Show me."

I was caught a little off guard by his command, but I quickly got over that fact and asked, "May I sit down?" He nodded wordlessly. I carefully sat on the rock floor and crossed my legs Indian style. I closed my eyes, despite the fact that I felt stupid.

Concentrate, Adrienne. Let your inner mind take hold…

I let out a gasp of surprise and opened my eyes. "What was that?" I asked, looking around nervously.

"What was what, Adrienne?" Chase asked calmly.

"That voice…didn't you hear it?" I instantly regretted asking that. I knew that the voice was in my head, but it seemed I couldn't pass up the chance to make myself look insane.

Chase's face was cryptic as usual. "I heard no voice." He said. For a moment, I could have sworn that his eye had glinted, but, in my current condition, I couldn't trust anything.

I reluctantly closed my eyes again.

Let all thoughts disappear. Only let my voice in. I can help you master this… I tried to shake the voice out of my head, but that only made it more insistent. Don't try to block me out, Adrienne. It will only make it harder. There was a slight pause. That other voice was bad for you, you know.

"What makes you say that, Chase?" I murmured, not bothering to open my eyes. I hoped that it wasn't his voice I was hearing, but it was almost as if I already knew that it was him.

"It only impaired your learning." He answered from beyond the darkness. "And you just proved it."

This comment made me open my eyes. "How so?" I asked, slightly frightened by the fact that Chase was indeed going into my thoughts.

He smirked. "You would still be baffled as to who the voice was. But you caught on in record time."

I slowly stood up. "Why is it that I can't have a normal thought anymore?" I asked, the question not really directed at him. "Now it's either you or some crazy thing bent on world domination."

"What makes you think that I'm not bent on world domination?" Chase asked, moving closer to me.

"I don't doubt it," I answered, "But the other thing wanted world domination for me, not you. In fact, it's probably disgusted with me right now."

Chase chuckled softly. "Oh, how naïve you are young one. Do you think that I would leave you with that abomination?"

"I was actually hoping so." I said softly, looking away from Chase. "At least that way I would have a little control."

"Don't worry, young one. I'm sure that you will grow accustomed to having my voice there. You still have your free will." Chase almost seemed to care as he said the words, and that really made me concerned. It wasn't like him to do that… But, I really had no idea what was like him, having only met him a short while ago. I pushed my anxiety out of my mind.

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It was all going according to plan. Adrienne was just innocent enough that she hardly even protested Chase's sudden intrusion into her mind. She still had no idea of what was in store for her. And that was just what Chase wanted. As soon as she was trained, he would unleash her on the Monks and leave her to take them out of the picture. He would particularly enjoy watching Raimundo's face screw up into shock when Adrienne stood over him, ready to deliver the final blow to the young warrior. Chase could almost hear him scream in agony as the girl he couldn't have destroyed him, leaving him last in the line of three Monks who would receive their deaths early. One Monk would remain standing, and no one needed to guess who.

The Heylin Prince would give Omi the chance to join he and Adrienne, and if he refused, then he too would crumple to the ground, unable to deny Chase anymore, unable to hear the terrified squeals that, if he had joined Chase, would have pained him so. And Adrienne would enjoy tearing the Monks, young and old, into tiny pieces. Oh how she would love to murder. She would love to do Chase's bidding and live for the screams of agony that she produced from people. So soon… His dream was becoming a reality in a short time. Adrienne was catching on to meditation quickly; it was almost like she was made for the soul purpose of listening to him. The days whizzed by as they spent many hours meditating, and then later in the evening they would share dinner.

Adrienne was becoming attached to Chase. She always sought his opinion in everything she did. Chase gave it to her, just so he could see her carry it out, for every time she did, the dream came closer. He would give her the attention she had come to love in the evening; he found that when he made her feel important she was more inclined to listen. He hardly ever showed this compassion in the day light hours, however. He didn't want to mix work and play together as to avoid the catastrophic results.

As horrible as it may sound, he did think of the evenings as play. His only purpose for giving the girl that kind of attention was for his own selfish reasons, reasons better left unsaid. That, my friends, shall be revealed in good time, but for now, I shall leave you to wallow in your thoughts, to muddle this all over. I bid you all a good day.

End Chapter 14.