One

Cold sweat dripped down my back as I punched the black bag in rapid succession. My hands were used to this treatment, and I was barely aware of the dull ache in my knuckles as I finished a round of ten punches, just as the timer went off. Stopping the timer, I headed straight for the Chin up rack and easily completed another set of ten.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins and I was moving to the rack where the skipping ropes hung, when a flurry of dreadful memories of my ear splitting, shrieking mum flashed through my brain. Anger took over and I ran at full speed to the punching bag, screaming away my frustration in unison to the death metal scream that was blasting through the speakers. Backhanding the punching bag so hard the chains broke, I sighed and looked at the other four that lay on the opposite room. Making a mental list to buy some more chains, I cracked my neck and sighed as the clock on the wall struck twelve. Wiping a stray tear, I looked down, chomping on my lip until I tasted copper.

Fourteen years ago, today, January the eleventh, my mum had been murdered in the country in the bushlands of a state called Victoria, Australia. I didn't remember much about the country, I was only four and the strongest memory I had, that wasn't full of bloodshed, was the warrior who had saved my life. I had an uncle that lived still, not that I ever met him. He'd refused to adopt me because he was dedicated to hunting down the master that killed his brother and sister-in-law.

Hell, I don't think I'd ever met him.

Another wave of aggression hit me so I punched the bag again as the image of my mum resurfaced in my mind, yet again. I hated my PTSD with a passion; it made me feel less than a warrior, not that I was graduated, yet.

Another memory surfaced, and I forced down the sickening feeling growing in my gut, as my mother's shrill scream erupted into my head. Before I could try and think of my happy place, I was transported into another time and space.

Everything was big. Even the rickety table that had seen better days, even the looming, pale faces, of human-like monsters with scary, long claws that would be clean freaks nightmare. Here I was four years, watching my dad transforming into a monster before my very eyes. I was beyond terrified as I silently watched him grab my mum by the throat, squeezing while she screamed, pleading with him to spare us. He only laughed, before biting her. Once he'd drained her, her threw her to the floor and turned to me, his eyes cold, his bloody smile so utterly terrifying, I peed myself. He turned to the man beside him, who was smiling at him almost fondly. Later on, I realised that the monster who had killed my parents was a very old Master who had been in hiding for a very long time and he'd just happened to stumble onto my parents as we went on our annual camping trip.

Half an hour later, I was striking my sixth bag in rapid succession when the door opened. I half-turned, expecting my adopted dad Desmond to be there. Instead, Dominic Frey, a tall, wide-framed god-like warrior walked in. He also happened to be the warrior that had saved my life on that frightful day. Wearing his usual black jeans and black singlet, I noted how his skin had a golden tan to it, but then he'd been in Florida the last time I checked. Not that I had checked up on him, much.

Brushing his damp dark chocolate hair out of his eyes, he flicked his eyes at my hands. His light blue eyes instantly filled with concern as he approached, silent as a cat.

'Hey Belle,' he said quietly, taking my hands in his. Dom, as usual didn't ask what was going on in my head; he always came home around this time to help me deal with the ongoing trauma. I wasn't supposed to know about it but he was still trying to track down the master that had torn my family apart. I believed my dad, who I had learnt was still probably alive, trapped in the vampire's body would me want to track him down too, if anything to ease his suffering, but I wasn't ready. Yet. I could bide my time until I was out of here. Then I was going to make that master regret taking everything away from me.

'When did you get here?' I asked finding my voice.

'Two hours ago.' Dom said apologetically. 'I just finished talking to Tristan and I had a shower.'

'Oh.' I said, not needing to imagine him in the shower as he pulled me into a tight hug. On any other day, I'd be beside myself with happiness if Dom hugged me, but right now I was exhausted not to mention sweaty and a little stinky. Pulling myself away from him, I picked up the towel I discarded on the floor, running it over the back of my neck as I turned away from him.

'Do you want to talk about it?'

'Every time I close my eyes, I saw what those vermin did to my mum and my dad...they turned him into a vampire and Dad fed on mum right in front of me and then he was going to kill me. I don't know why I still have those dreams. I don't know why my soul is fractured. I should be over it by now.' I growled to myself. We'd had this conversation a hundred times before. Talking didn't make it better. Screaming until my throat was raw did sweet fuck all too.

'You're not weak, Belle. We've been over this before. What happened to you was traumatic but you survived.'

'Yeah, I survived because I ran away like a coward.' I spat out the venomous words letting the rage erupt.

'You were a child. Sweetness, you managed to run away from a nest of vampires. Not many people could do that, let alone a kid.'

'It doesn't change anything. They're still dead, and I don't want to dream about it anymore. I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want to forget. Don't you get it Dom? I CAN'T FUCKING MOVE ON.'

Used to my outbursts, he didn't react. Hell, I wanted Dom to yell at me. I wanted to scream at someone, until my voice broke. And I wanted to hit something. I turned away, punching the bag, only to snap the chain. 'Fuck,' I snarled kicking the bag, sending it towards the pile. I reached for the next bag.

'Sweetness, come here.' Dom gently ordered. Swallowing the urge to scream at him again or punch his beautiful face, I turned and stalked past him, but his hands shot out like lightning pulling me to his chest. God, if he only knew what his touch usually did to me, he'd run for Morocco.

The door opened and Desmond, my adopted dad walked in wearing a light brown bathrobe over his white and blue striped pajamas. He was at my side in moments.

'Come on home honey, it's late and you need rest.'

'I'm not tired.' I grumbled. Ugh, these two were going to gang up on me, again.

'Liar,' Dom said, rubbing my arms gently. Instantly my girly side woke up.

Dad shifted from one foot to the other as he stared at my hot cheeks. 'Dad, please. I can't sleep. You know what will happen if I close my eyes.' I begged him.

'I'll make sure she gets some sleep.' Dom promised. I briefly closed my eyes praying that my dad would put his foot down. When he merely nodded and turned away, I wanted to swear at him. Wriggling out of Dom's arms, he let me go with an exasperated sigh.

'Let's go back to my apartment.'

'And do what?' I didn't want to admit to him that he was the only remedy for the nightmares. Sleeping beside him last year had been the only remedy to my inner turmoil, and he knew it. The worst thing about this whole thing was that I was developing a huge crush on the punk.

Ugh! I really had to stop moping over Dom like some love sick yearling. I didn't want him to find out about my crush on him. I couldn't bear losing him. I'd rather he never find out about it but I also feared that he'd bond with someone else. Well, at least then I'd have no choice in getting over him, I thought bitterly to myself.

'Come on Sweetness, let's go back to my apartment and watch a movie.' He said breaking into my melancholy thoughts.

'I need a shower.' I grumbled while the corner of his lips twitched.

The corner of his mouth twitched. 'I have a shower and I'll find you something to wear.'

Nodding curtly, I let him lead me to his apartment on the second floor in the south wing. Once I was inside, I bit my lip. He turned and touched my hip briefly before he walked to the duffle bag, he'd left on the coco-coloured couch. He sorted through the clothes tossing his favourite grey t-shirt at me. Slipping into his bathroom, I shut the door and sighed.

Ten minutes later, I walked out wearing only his shirt and my panties, feeling awkward as I walked into his living area. I was deciding whether to put it back on but Dom was already sitting in the middle of the couch, his right arm running along the back of the couch, his index finger tapping in impatience. Grabbing at the mink blanket that was beside him, I sat down, draping it over my bare legs and settled down next to him. Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, he pulled me to his chest. I sighed and tried to dive into the movie, letting it lull my thoughts but all I could think about was his scent.

If only he knew.

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Morning arrived too swiftly for my liking but I lay beside my crush, listening to his quiet breathing, who I realised with a start was spooning me with his arm around my waist. Slipping from the bed, I pulled on my tracksuit pants and decided to meet my dad for breakfast.

Okay, okay, I was being a coward and running from Dominic because I couldn't bear it if he found out about my stupid crush.

I hurried back to my own apartment in the east wing. I could live and party it up with the other trainees, but I was already in the senior class. I was going to become a warrior at seventeen instead of eighteen, because I was so far ahead and the other warriors in my class kind of looked down at me, even though I could fight just as well as they could. Hell, I could beat them in sword fighting and still I wasn't given the respect I was due. Only one girl, Allie seemed to like me. I pondered this while I stomped up the stairs.

Dad was already awake drinking his usual Earl Grey tea when I walked in. I went to make myself some raspberry tea and heat up a Pop Tart.

'I was not expecting you for some time. Did you get any sleep?'

'A bit,' I grudgingly admitted.

'Did something happen between you two?'

I shook my head. He made a non-committal sound. I hated that he knew about my infatuation. I don't know why he hadn't put Dom on his ass yet. Weren't dads supposed to keep their daughters away from men? Turning, I faced my dad, eyeing him heatedly, my anger spiking. 'What is that supposed to mean?'

'You know what it means, Sweetness.' He said imitating Dom so perfectly, it was downright creepy.

I rounded on him so fast he blinked up at me in surprise. 'Dad, Dominic has always called me that. Why are we even having this conversation for?' I turned back around while my cheeks flamed.

'You're almost seventeen. You're going to start dating sooner or later.'

'Yeah, and we've already had that talk. I'm not interested in anyone. You don't have to worry about me dating anyone or dog forbid bonding with someone. If anything, you should be worried about yourself. If you think I've given up on finding you a mate, you are dead wrong. We should go to England again and go to the compounds.'

'Stop changing the subject.'

'Dag nabbit, I tried.'

'You say you're not interested in anyone, but I've seen the way you are with Dom. Honey, he means everything to you even if you don't want to admit it. There are worst things in the world that rejection, trust me.'

'Can we please not have this conversation ever again?' Thankfully, the Pop-Tart popped out of the toaster and the jug boiled. I made my tea as quickly as I could, walked into my bedroom kicking my door shut behind me. 'Great, great, great,' I muttered to myself.

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Later, I was lying on the lawn soaking in the sun, reading The Hobbit, when a shadow fell over me.

'Belle?' Billy asked as he lay down beside me. Dear god, if he was going to try some cheesy pick-up line again, he was going to need facial reconstruction. I resisted the urge to hit my head with the book.

'So, Allie is throwing a party in the arena, you down?'

A night of drinking, and partying and forgetting my internal pain and Dom?

I flashed him a grin. 'Count me in.'

'I'll see you later,' he said hopping up with a grin.

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I was on my fourth vodka with lime flavoured soda water. The music from the boombox was playing some tunes I didn't really listen to but Allie and the girls were dancing to it. Billy and Sam were dancing rather badly on purpose which made the girls giggle before joining in, while I sat on the seats alone drinking. I wasn't much of a dancer, and I was seriously antisocial even after my fourth drink, so I was content to drink in peace. Allie's caramel hair bounced as she drunkenly skipped towards me. Ignoring my complaints, she forced me to the floor and moments later I found myself grudgingly bopping my head to the trashy music. As the alcohol began to take over, I found myself grinning as Allie began showing me sexy moves that made the boys eyes bug out. Mimicking her, we giggled as we girls decided to make a routine up. Well, I could have protested and returned to my drinking but Allie had that mischievous gleam in her eye. We kept playing the song on repeat, driving the boys nuts while we figured out the routine. But finally, we had it down and performed it for them. We were a giggling mess after it and I spilled the vodka as I made myself another drink.

Two-thirty came around and the trainees were finally slowing down. I however was on my tenth or was it fifteenth drink, who knew at that point, but unfortunately, I busting for a pee. I left the arena and struggled into my light jacket before giving up. I didn't feel cold anyway. I felt light headed and happier than I had been in weeks. Making it to the side doors, I jumped and stumbled when the door was roughly yanked open and Dom walked out looked somewhat amused. Or maybe he was surprised. I couldn't tell...he was starting to blur.

'Oh hiiiiiii.' I trilled.

His smile instantly disappeared. 'You're drunk.'

'Wow, you should be a cop,' I replied sarcastically, bouncing on my toes stumbling past him and somehow managed to navigate the steps up to the second floor without tripping over. I was about to head to the east wing when he grabbed me around the waist.

'Nooooope. I'm going home.' I said yanking my hand away.

Dom sighed. 'Belle, come on, stop being difficult.'

'No, I wanna go home.' I complained as he dragged me the last meters to his apartment, which was just as well because I could barely hold the urge to pee. Bursting in, I didn't bother to shut the bathroom door as I hunted for the toilet.

Minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom, to find Dom nowhere in sight.

'Dom?'

'In here.' He called. Walking into his bedroom, I found him bare chested and wearing only grey briefs, leaning against the headboard with one arm behind his head, propping his left foot on the bed, reading a thick novel.

'See ya,' I spluttered trying to erase what I had just witnessed. Oh, dear god, it must be the alcohol because he was even hotter than usual. Was that normal? Damn, I needed to get these hormones in check before I did something stupid. Like jumping onto his bed and kissing his chest...

'Are you going back to that party?' He drawled, turning a page.

'I haven't decided yet.' Anything was better than doing what my body was urging me to do. Even my little mori was egging me on a little.

'Stay with me.'

'Ew, no.' If I looked at his hot bod one more moment, my panties were gonna drop to my ankles.

Suddenly he looked at me, raising an eyebrow as his eyes narrowed at me. 'What did you just say?'

Horror filled me. 'Nothing.' I trilled, turning and running away. I couldn't remember calling him hot out loud, but fuck, if that had really happened, I was going to move to Antarctica.

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I managed to stay away from Dom the next day by begging Seamus my honorary big brother to take me to the mall in Boise. Shopping had been fun, we caught a movie, had a very late lunch, did the shopping thing which for me, was quick. I only needed a few pairs of jeans, some colourful leggings, and socks. Before we left the mall, I dragged Seamus into Hot Topic and spent an insane amount of money on band shirts, hair dye and music.

It was growing darker when we finally got to the car. Tearing the plastic off of my CD's I was rocking out before we even left the carpark.

After a while he turned the music down as his phone buzzed. Digging around in his pocket, he pulled the phone out, looked at it for a second, replied and then glanced at me as he tossed the phone into the drink holder. 'You didn't tell anyone where we were going did you?'

'I told dad.' I muttered knowing who had called.

'Dominic was getting worried.'

'Wonderful, he's worse than dad.' I grumbled folding my arms.

'I'm not going to argue with you,' Seamus replied knowingly. He and his twin had worked with him ages ago and they had watched with some amusement at how he coped with a four-year-old following him around the compound for days after he'd brought me here. Only he or Desmond could touch me. If anyone else walked near me, I'd scream until they came running. I don't even know how I'd managed to wrap Desmond around my finger, but I must have made some impression considering the functional mute adopted me while Dom left, leading the hunt for the master.

Ten minutes later, his phone rang and he answered it. I listened to how serious Seamus became and my spider senses tingled.

'I've got Belle with me. Okay, fine, we'll be there. No, I'll make her stay in the car.' He said hanging up. Breaking, he spun the SUV around and headed back to Boise swearing softly to himself. 'Someone just called the police about an intruder; the phone was cut off but Tristan wants me to check it out.' He told me, speeding up. He looked at me and I snorted. 'Please, like they'd let a trainee go on a hunt. Dad's going to kick some serious ass.' I pulled out the blade I kept stashed at my hip and showed him my secondary knife that was shoved in my boot.

'Not to mention Dominic,' Seamus reminded me with a grin.

I sighed shaking my head. 'You just had to mention him.' I muttered to myself.

'Don't worry it's probably not a vampire attack.'

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Ten minutes later, we arrived at the vacant country house. Seamus got out to check the property while I sat in the car. After five minutes, I sensed someone watching me. Through the tinted windows, I saw nothing but a demon could see through the windows and wondered if the vampire was lurking by, if it was a vampire attack. I realised my suspicions were correct when I spied the creep duck behind a tree, watching the house from the woods. Rage blinded me momentarily as I remembered what happened to my parents.

Without realising it, I slipped silently out of the car and asked my little demon buddy to join with me. I felt strong and smiled as I stalked the bastard who was still watching the house.

I only got thirty meters before the freak saw me. He licked his lips before he rushed at me. Only a newborn vampire would be stupid enough to take on a Mohirri warrior. Bursting into a run, I jumped up at the last second, lashing out with a fly kick, sending the creep sprawling onto his back, five feet away. Grabbing my knife, I landed. Hissing, the vampire rushed at me. I dodged to the side, shoving the knife up and under his sternum. Gasping, I wrenched out the blood covered knife realising I had only hit the lung. Elbowing him in the face, I backhanded him sending him to the ground.

'I'm gonna gut you bitch.' It gasped before rushing at me. Throwing us to the ground was his downfall because as he landed on me, my knife came up and I plunged it into the vampire's heart. His eyes dimmed.

'You were saying?' I asked coldly to the dead vampire.

'BELLE.' Seamus yelled fearfully as he raced over. Shoving the vampire off of me, he frantically checked me for injuries before pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

'I'm okay, c'mon Seamus, don't be such a baby,' I looked at the body, 'besides, we have to get rid of that.'

Nodding, he went back into business mode. He made me get out and reverse the car, which was hard because I barely knew how to drive. As soon as I managed to get to Seamus, he piled the body into the back and we drove off. Hopefully the police would never know we'd been here.

'Do you need to talk about it?' He asked shakily while I pulled my bloody hooded sweater off. Finding my top covered in blood, I growled to myself, climbed between the seats, and began rifling for a top. After I had found one, I pulled off my soiled shirt and pulled a clean one on.

'Belle?' I'd never heard Seamus sound worried before. It was a little unnerving but he was playing the big brother part to a T.

'I'm fine, really.' I promised as I climbed back over the seats to get to the front seat. 'It was an easy kill.' I couldn't help but put my butt in his face a little which made him grumble to himself.

'Were you scared?'

'I trusted my training, really I'm fine.' I assured him while he shot me a disbelieving look and took out his phone. I figured he was talking to Tristan because after we had dumped and burnt the body which reeked like you would not believe; I'm not ashamed to admit I puked a little. Once we were done with that tedious task we went straight home.

It was hard to tell who was more worried once I managed to scramble halfway out of the SUV; my dad or Dom. Dom won since his usual tanned face was ice white and he rushed to me before I'd managed to get out of the car, pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

'You'd think I took on a master or something.' I muttered to no one in particular. Seamus nodded and stared up at the man holding me, who was shaking. Before I could say anything, I was yanked out of his grip. Dad was holding onto me and I thought I heard a growl exit Dom's mouth but before I could turn to check, Dad was already pulling me inside.

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My alarm clock went off bursting into ABBA's Dancing Queen. I lay there listening to the music before I started air drumming. Once the song was finished, I got up, headed for the bathroom and turned the shower on. Knowing dad wouldn't be up for a little bit, I took my sweet time. Once I was sparkly clean and smelling like lavender from head to toe, I turned the warm water off and grabbed a fluffy green towel.

After thirty minutes of pampering myself, I emerged with damp hair that I'd pulled up into two buns at the top of my head. Searching for my old clothes which had become my training clothes, I pulled the matching tracksuit outfit on, meditated for thirty minutes, not that I really needed it. I had control over my mori.

With that done, hunger gnawed at my belly and I decided to walk to the dining room. Hell, maybe I'd spend the day in the kitchens. I'd found this risotto recipe online I wanted to try. Callum would probably let my training slide today. He knew what I was like when my PTSD spiked. But this morning, I wasn't feeling anxious or angry. I felt...nothing. I pondered this for a while as I headed down the hallway.

Maybe what happened to my last night wasn't traumatic. I decided it wasn't and smiled. At least I wasn't going to be emo today.

The first person I saw in the dining room was Dom, and after last night, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to see him or not. He glanced my way; his eyes were still angry and I knew he hadn't forgiven me for scaring the hell out of him last night. Too bad. I wasn't put on this earth to please him or anyone else.

I grabbed a couple of yogurts and some fruit salad before snagging a table. The trainees trickled in one by one and one by one they decided to sit with me. I was almost finished eating when Dom approached the table. I almost glowered at Allie and Triss when they openly gawked at him. I hoped I didn't gaze at him like that. If I did, I was so busted.

'So. are you ready?'

I speared a strawberry refusing to look at him. 'Ready for what?'

'Didn't Desmond tell you? I'm training you from now on.'

'Uh no, I'm training with Callum as always.' I said as I spied the burly Scottish hunk walking through the doors. Hell, maybe I'd flirt with him to piss Dom off as payback for his attitude.

Dom sighed. 'Even before last night, you showed how much more advanced you are. So now you're going to train with someone who can actually challenge you.'

'Callum challenges me.' I couldn't help but feel loyal to my instructor, but if I had to be honest, I'd been able to best Callum in hand to hand or weapons training, even though he had been tapping his demon's strength for the past three months. Whenever I fought someone, there was a feral need in me to win and it didn't matter how many hits I took, I always got up for more and I did anything to win.

'Belle, stop fighting me on this. I came back to train you. Now come on. I want to see what you can do.'

Allie nudged me sharply while winking at Dom. 'I'll take you up on that if Belle won't.' I knew she wasn't thinking about training with him and I glowered at her lack of tact and the fact that she thought reverse psychology would work on me.

'So, you've got nothing better to do than train me?' I asked trying to keep my voice even while my mind churned.

'No.'

'I'll let the master know you've given up and he can come out of hiding.' I replied standing up. Last night, I'd done my job and this is how I was being treated? I was not a bomb that was going to blow up, not yet anyway. I wasn't about to leave the compound and go hunting this freak that had been in hiding for fourteen years. I wasn't that fucking stupid. It hurt that he actually thought I was going to do something that idiotic. His lack of trust hurt me in ways I couldn't begin to describe.

Dom looked away. 'How do you know about that?'

'A master turned your friend into a vampire after letting his lackies torture his wife in front of his family. You've spent the last fourteen years tracking that bastard down and now you're giving up to keep a better eye on me? Please,' I snapped stalking away.

'Oh god,' Allie whispered stricken, her knife clattered onto her plate making me cringe a little. I hated when people made noise behind me.

Dom's eyes went hard. 'Belle, do you know what you did last night?'

'I killed a fucking vampire. It's my job. Deal with it.' I snapped whirling around on my heel and stalking away.

'Belle, I'm not finished.'

'Bite me.'