CHAPTER 13

EMMA

Sweat trickling down my neck and I wiped the moisture off my forehead with my shoulder. I was facing Anik, who was in a fighting stance, his expression emotionless. Suddenly he pivoted on his foot, sweeping the other leg up high in a turning kick, aiming for the side of my head. I ducked at the last possible second, before countering with a kick of my own, directed at his stomach. The blow never landed, because Anik just stepped casually out of the way, smirking. Pursing my lips, I retaliated with all I had, side-kicks, turning kicks, front kicks, hook kicks, crescent kicks, but Anik either dodged or blocked each one of them.

'What are you, some kind of ninja?' I exclaimed as he grabbed my foot, catching me off balance and I ungracefully tumbled to the floor.

'You know I've learnt martial arts as a kid.'

'Yeah, yeah I know. Your dad taught you. It would be nice if you could go easy on me though,' I groaned. 'I'm so sore in places I didn't know existed.' Anik's smile softened and was replaced by a frown.

'If I'm hurting you, just tell me to stop and I'll - '

From my position on the floor I immediately swept my legs in an arc, knocking his feet out from under him, causing him to fall to the floor with a thud.

'Haha! Got you, ninja!' I leapt on top of him, pinning his arms to the floor. 'I win!' Anik just smiled at me, his golden eyes sparkling and for a second I was out of breath.

'Ahem,' a voice cleared his throat from behind me. 'I think it is my turn now.' I turned to see Edison glaring at Anik from his position on the floor. 'You're no good if you can be distracted that easily.'

Anik scowled and stood up, folding his arms and stalked off to join his parents who were examining the row of weapons.

I can never get over the fact that Kelsey and Ren had been so prepared for this. I had never seen their attic, which was where we were now. I didn't even know it existed. Neither did Anik. Kelsey and Ren kept it a secret, as it was cleverly hidden away, the entrance a small trapdoor near the fireplace. They had also said it was a hiding place encase they were ever attacked. 'Not that that will ever happen,' Kelsey assured me when she saw my stricken face. The attic was massive and was stored with many weapons that included varied swords, daggers, armour, and shields. But for now Ren had us learning hand-to-hand combat.

Edison and Anik circled each other, and I chewed on my lip nervously. I anxiously glanced at Kelsey and Ren, who were oblivious to the tension in the room. Suddenly Edison lashed out with a flying kick that caught Anik by surprise, and he stumbled backwards. Growling, Anik did a series of complex kicks too fast for my eye to see. Some of the blows landed, but Edison was unaffected. He retaliated with kicks of his own, most of which Anik managed to dodge. They both seemed very equal, and one could not get the better of the other, until Edison forgot about kicks and settled for a punch to Anik's nose.

'Now we are even,' Edison said coolly as Anik wiped the trickle of blood from his nose. I gasped at the sight of his blood and I stepped forward, opening my mouth to object but a warm hand clasped on my shoulder, stopping me. Ren stood beside me, watching his son and nephew continue to fight each other with a grim face.

'Don't,' he warned me. 'Let them do what they have to do.'

I didn't see the point in this, and already my chest was tightening with fear. What if one of them got severely hurt?

As I watched both boys became frustrated, as none of them were winning. Sweat was streaming down both their faces, determination evidently displayed in their expressions.

Then Edison did something completely unexpected. He changed into a white, growling tiger.

ANIK

I didn't have time for surprise. I swiftly changed into a tiger myself. I heard my mother's sharp intake of breath and Emma's scream as we launched at each other, clawing and biting. Edison seemed awkward in his new tiger form, unsure on how to use each limb and run on four paws. When he knew that I was winning, he gave up, turning back into a man.

'You win,' he spat, cradling his arm where I had clawed a large gash. The blood was seeping through the wound, staining his white shirt. I morphed back into a human too, wincing at a sharp pain in my leg. Edison ignored Emma's outstretched hand that held a damp cloth for his injury and stormed out of the attic. Emma gave me an anxious look, which I too ignored as I followed Edison out, heading towards the solitude of my room. I knew what she would say, and I didn't need to hear it. I didn't want to see her expression of disappointment, or her scolding words. She needed to know that Edison and I weren't ever going to be friends or act civilly around each other. We were both fighting for the same thing, and that meant conflict and rivalry.

Later that night I planned to fake a headache so I could remain in my room and skip dinner. I was not going to sit at the same table as Edison, and eat the same food as him and ask him politely to pass the pepper. But then I though of Emma sitting down with him, he laughing at some joke my mother made, complimenting on her cooking and I knew that I couldn't be the one kicked out. This was my house, and he would have to deal with it.

I seated myself next to Emma at the table, opposite Edison, avoiding his gaze. I helped myself to large portions of everything, smiling slightly at Emma when she cast me a concerned glance. We all ate in a semi-awkward silence, making polite remarks about whatever came to head. When everyone was finished, Emma and I rose to clear the table, entering the kitchen together.

'Why do you let him get to you?' Emma asked quietly as we washed the dishes together.

'I don't know,' I answered stiffly. 'He's… so arrogant and ignorant and thinks he can get whatever he wants.'

'Mmm,' she replied, stacking the last plate in the cupboard. I felt a tremor shudder through my arm and I winced as I was forced to change form. I had used all 24 minutes today. I growled in annoyance, and I heard Emma sigh before scratching me behind the ears.

'We'll sort this out. We'll finish the quests and you won't have to live like this anymore. I promise.'