A few uneventful weeks had passed since the situation in the cafeteria happened. Graduation was fast approaching and because of that Dimitri had upped the power on our training sessions; he was challenging me a lot more and putting me in more difficult situations.

Like today, after running a few laps he led me outside into the more wooded part of the Academy's grounds, so I could see the dark silhouettes of looming trees as we approached. Dimitri told me he had specifically timed our session today so it would be pitch black outside; he had also taken my stake away from me when I walked into the gym earlier that day.

He explained what we would be doing on our walk to the woods. 'Today I'm going to make you spar against me without two of your main advantages, your stake and your ability to actually see what's going on.' He was damn right about that, I wouldn't even know he was next to me if it weren't for the light thud his feet made as they hit the ground while he walked by my side.

'Now, when we get into the woods, it's going to be even harder to see, so you're going to have to use everything you can to your advantage. Give me some examples of what you could use in a situation like this.'

I thought about the question for just a moment until I answered. 'I'll use the trees, hiding behind them.' I listened to his feet hitting the ground and thought of another thing I could use against him. 'I'll be able to hear you move as well. But you'll be able to hear me too, even more so if you're a strigoi.'

I could very slightly see his head nodding along with what I was saying; the bright moon above us in the sky gave us a fraction of light. 'Very good, so you are going to have to use sound to your advantage, and my disadvantage.'

We were deep in the woods by now; I could only occasionally see the moon through the branches coming off the trees. When he stopped walking I turned to face him. 'I'll give you 30 seconds to go and prepare yourself, and then I'm coming after you as if I'm a Strigoi. Go.'

I didn't wait around for him to say more. I walked straight past him so I would be starting off behind him. I caught a whiff of his aftershave as I passed him, it made me want to melt on the spot but I knew I could use that to my advantage.

I ran as quickly and as quietly as I could. I stumbled on a large log at some point, but picked it up after I corrected myself, I could use it as a weapon.

I was trying to count to thirty so I would know when he was coming after me, but I forgot to keep counting after I tripped. And so once I had my 'weapon' I picked a tree at random and stood behind it. He'd only be able to see me if he was at the right angle and the moon was shining down on me.

I could hear absolutely nothing but the sound of my own heartbeat thudding away, a lot quicker than normal might I add. It felt like I was stood there for hours, but in reality I'm sure it was only a moment.

I was losing faith in this whole thing, and then I heard a twig snap. I stopped breathing altogether. It sounded close, just to my right. I heard a whoosh of air and instinct made me duck my head, which I was definitely right to do, I heard Dimitri's fist connect with the tree where my head had been seconds ago.

I managed to take a few steps before he roughly gripped my arm and turned me to face him. He too had found a weapon as I saw a thick branch come towards my head; I managed to lift my own branch just in time to block it.

He wasn't holding back, but neither was I. We were using our branches as if we were in a sword fight. I received one blow so hard it snapped my branch in half, so I had two smaller ones now; this allowed me to move quicker, which wasn't bad at all.

I could hear his foot hit the ground each time before he went to hit me, so I used that to my advantage. He we going for a big hit, he raised his arm up high, ready to aim right for me, when I ducked and sprinted round behind him, where I swung a kick right at his back. He wasn't expecting that at all and he went crashing to the ground. I couldn't 'kill' him from there. So I used the first lesson he ever taught me, I ran. He was making quite a lot of noise when he fell and got back up again, so that gave me a few seconds to sprint away.

I ran as quietly as I could again, and hid behind a tree once more. I found a position where there was a small break in the trees; the moon was shining down on the space to my left. I still had both branches in my hands; I could feel the splinters digging in to the skin of my palm.

Dimitri appeared to my left, he couldn't see me. His back was facing towards me. He was stood still now, listening for any movement.

I slowly raised the branch in my right hand above my head, and threw it as far as I could, over Dimitri's head. It made a loud thud quite a distance in front of him. He stalked towards it, thinking it was me. I came out of hiding from behind my tree, I matched my footsteps to his perfectly so I was walking right behind him and he had no idea.

He stopped once more, listening for me again. I stood as still as a statue just a foot away from him, I didn't even breathe. I took my chance and pounced right onto his back, pushing him to the ground. He twisted as he fell so he landed on his back with me on top of him.

My remaining branch happened to have a slight point at the end. I grabbed his weapon and threw it to the side. I held each of his hands down with my legs which were either side of his body, and brought my branch down over where his heart was beating. If he were actually a strigoi, it wouldn't kill him but it would incapacitate him for long enough for me to run a good distance away from him.

I was breathing heavily now, as was he. The moon was shining down on his face, making him look pale and ghostly, it made his features stand out sharply, and he was breathtaking. The smile that lit up his face made my breath catch in my throat.

I dropped the branch to the side and slid my hands up his chest. I wasn't holding his hands down any more so one rested on my leg and the other he lifted to my face where he pushed a few stray hairs behind my ear. I leant into his touch.

He brought his thumb down and traced my lower lip with it. I couldn't hold myself back anymore, I leant down so our faces were inches apart, and lowered my lips to his.

The kiss was slow to start with; he was pouring his heart into that kiss. I brought my hands lower and slipped them under his shirt so they rested on his abs, a low growl came from his chest and he nipped my bottom lip, making me gasp. He slipped his heavenly tongue into my mouth and I more than happily returned the gesture.

He ran his hands down my body until they rested on my thighs which were on either side of his waist. He rubbed his thumbs against my thighs, the feeling made me jerk my hips, they moved without me even telling them to.

When my hips ground into his another growl emitted from him, much deeper this time. He pulled his lips away from mine and looked at me once more.

He managed to stand himself up with me still wrapped around him. He kissed me once more then put me down. He took my hand into his and kissed it. Then led me out of the woods and out into the open. I clung onto his hand for dear life, I didn't want to ruin the moment by asking where we were going. I'm glad I didn't ask. A few minutes later I saw where he was leading me. We were headed towards the cabin.

There we have Chapter 26! I kind of fear this story is coming to an end now, I am planning on doing one or two more chapters at some point, but would quite like to focus on my new story now, but I can't leave this one without an ending! I just wanted to thank every single one of you for reading; I will happily continue this story if you really want and if someone can give me some inspiration!

A guest recently left a review saying I kept spelling 'organize' wrong, which was perfectly fine it's just that I'm from England, where we spell it with organise! No harm done, just wanted to justify myself, thanks for reviewing anyway!

Thanks again for all your support, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I really enjoyed writing it!