Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing nor anything associated with it, it is the property of Universal and the brain child of Steven Summers
Chapter 35
"Watch your foot work!" Van Helsing yelled as Jory stumbled beneath the sudden assault of Tony's sword.
Even with all the padding a sword in the chest would not be a very pleasant experience.
Van Helsing and Anna watched proudly as the two boys sparred in the combat area of the training room. In less than a week they had moved beyond the light short swords and were now trying out their new skills on the larger and heavier Japanese Katana's.
In less than a few hours the wooden imitations had been replaced by the real thing adding an element of danger and excitement to the morning's lesson.
As Jory blocked Tony's attack forcing him to jump back a few paces a cheer went up from the sidelines where Marston, Bob and Chris sat atop on of the larger gate vaults.
Hearing the excited taunts and whoops of the boys Sarah and Amie grinned, entering the room in time to see Jory dodge a particularly violent thrust at his right legs. He laughed good-naturedly and went on the offensive following Anna's orders.
"His right legs exposed-block! Thrust forward! Watch your shoulder!!" the princess circled the mat her own sword out and ready in case she needed to come between the two combatants.
Amie and Sarah winced as a particularly wild swing on Tony's part barely missed Jory's exposed midriff.
Amie settled herself on Bob's knee careful not to knock his still tender leg.
"Hi hunskull." She greeted him with a kiss, which he passionately returned.
Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically and settled herself next to Marston who was eagerly watching the training session.
"I'm gone for a few days and Tony turns into the last samurai." She remarked as Tony's sword connected with Jory's in a powerful block at Anna's instruction.
Marston grinned "You think he's good you should see me in action, Dracula wouldn't stand a chance!"
Chris nodded "Yep he'd see this crazy teenager coming towards him, drawing his sword dramatically from its sheath…and then laugh his ass off when it catches on the scabbard and won't come out!" Sarah laughed.
"Oh my God tell me that happened!!" she said gleefully as Marston grinned sheepishly.
"Only once, drawing swords is harder than it looks." He said defensively as Amie and Bob grinned in amusement.
They watched silently as Anna and Van Helsing stopped the sparring match momentarily and began to slowly act out a complicated blocking and twisting motion they wanted Tony to try.
"…Done right you should be able to disarm him." finished Anna, demonstrating once more, on one of the straw filled dummies against the wall.
"And it works on anyone?" asked Jory sceptically. Anna smiled at him
"It worked on my father." She said proudly.
Tony snorted "Bet you couldn't do it on Van Helsing." He challenged much to the hunter's amusement.
Anna raised an eyebrow giving Van Helsing an appreciative look before smirking.
"I think I can handle him." She said confidently grasping the hilt of her own blade tightly in anticipation.
Jory and Tony grinned at each other slipping off the mat to join their friends on the sidelines.
"This is going to be good." muttered Jory eagerly.
Tony smirked at Sarah "a fiver says he beats her."
Sarah looked at him for a moment calculating the odds "Of course he will, he's been using a sword for four hundred years! But I bet you a fiver she pins him at some point"
Tony grinned and turned his attention back to where the hunter had walked in to the centre of the combat area to face the princess.
"You think you can take me huh?" he questioned his eyes glinting with interest.
Anna stood proudly in front of him one hand on her hip.
"I think the great Van Helsing needs to be taught what Valerius steel can do." She challenged grinning.
Van Helsing laughed removing his long coat and hat placing them delicately to one side.
Sarah giggled bending to whisper to Amie "I wonder if his shirts going to come off too." Bob rolled his eyes.
Van Helsing drew a long Katana from the rack testing its weight before falling into a defensive stance eyes alert, as they began to slowly circle each other.
Van Helsing watched Anna's body language carefully trying to anticipate her first move. He spotted the slight discrepancy in weight between her right and left leg, noting that the left was positioned slightly behind the right and her balance seemed to be on the ball of her right foot. Perfectly set for an attack on his left side.
Smirking he set himself ready for the counter even as she brought her sword down in an arch for his left arm.
The hunter grinned bringing his sword up almost before she moved, in a downward move that connected solidly with her blade.
Already she was on another attack heading for his right. Swinging his blade around, he caught the attack at a glance knocking it harmlessly to the side. Anna grinned at him before she was once again in motion.
Again and again their swords clashed, a blur of flashing steel and skin as they parried and thrust, trying to force each other to make a mistake that would end the battle.
The first mistake came on Van Helsing's part.
Between attacks he noted the princess's footwork predicting her next move again: Left side, he thought as her right foot took position.
Moving to counter the attack he was shocked to discover that she began to swing for the left before spinning and sending a jarring blow at his exposed right side.
The teenagers gasped in awe as Van Helsing twisted at the last second, purely on instinct, narrowly avoiding the blade.
He regarded the princess in comical surprise before staring down at the small tear in the fabric of his shirt. Anna held up her blade triumphantly, the small patch of grey material fluttering uselessly on the tip.
"That was cool." whispered Jory.
In one swift movement Van Helsing launched himself back into the fight forcing the princess back against the wall her blade pushing against his own as they went strength for strength.
Anna grunted with effort unwilling to let him gain the upper hand.
"I'm impressed." He said honestly smiling at her over their crossed swords.
Anna smirked "If you like that you'll love this."
With cat like agility the princess dropped to the floor hooking her legs around his and throwing him off balance.
Even as he fell, taken by surprise, she flipped back to her feet sword in hand.
Lying on his back upon the floor, Van Helsing suddenly found himself looking down the business end of her sword.
Sarah grinned at Tony "She pinned him." Tony frowned grumbling.
"So, Mr Van Helsing." Anna panted smiling "Do you yield to the family Valerius?"
Van Helsing smirked "Not just yet."
Anna gasped as she found her own feet swept out from under her, she rolled as she hit the ground landing perfectly back upon her feet, swinging her sword over her shoulder to block Van Helsing's surprise attack.
Metal clashed on metal and she turned to face her nemesis.
Van Helsing clashed blades with her again before, upon seeing his chance, he twisted his sword around catching hers at the hilt.
With one smooth move he had extracted her blade from her grasp and aimed both tips at her throat.
"And that …is how…you take…an opponents sword." He stated panting.
Everyone cheered and applauded laughing as the hunter bowed gracefully to the princess, going down on one knee he offered the hilt of her family sword to her.
"My lady." He said reverently giving her a charming smile.
Anna accepted her sword "Does this mean I owe you another drink?" she asked smiling good naturedly the adrenaline from the fight still fresh in her blood.
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Note: wow you wouldn't believe how much fun I had writing that fight!! Hope you guys had as much fun reading it! R&R!
Ps: If you check out my reviews my friend Marston signed up just to shamelessly advertise his part in my story, which was the incident with the drac brides in the alley (Rolls Eyes) Thanx Marston and Yeh will see you Monday!!!