Chapter 16 Sixteen
Danica puffed as a fist slammed against her stomach, causing her to double over, gasping for air.
"AGAIN!" Chris roared from his place on the sidelines.
It had been a week since Danica had arrived at the training grounds, and her life had become an endless cycle of sleep, train, bath, eat, and repeat.
Despite her being new to hand-to-hand combat, they still insisted on putting her up against seasoned fighters, making her training that much more difficult.
Now she faced off with Chris' mate Bella. Bella was one of the strongest female warriors that Mason's pack had, and Chris had insisted that she was the best candidate for Danica's training.
"DON'T GIVE HER ANY OPENINGS!" Chris continued to bellow as Danica lifted her arms to protect her face from any incoming punches.
After the first few days of learning Danica was starting to become acquainted with Bella's fighting style. She could, for the most part, tell what she was about to do based on her stance and movements.
Watching carefully now, she took in Bella stepping forward with her left foot, meaning she was about to strike out with her right hand. Blocking Bella's attempt at attack, she prepared for the next advance.
"GOOD!" Chris called. "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"
As Chris praised her, all Danica could think was that she wanted him to stop talking altogether; his voice was a distraction for her. If she allowed herself to get caught up in what he was saying, there was a good possibility she would end up with a broken jaw or nose.
"Focus on me," Bella said as she moved in for another try at getting through Danica's defenses. "Remember, all outside distractions no longer exist once you're in a battle."
Caught off guard, Danica felt Bella's hand connect with her cheek, sending her crashing to the ground. Gasping, she tried to quickly right herself before Bella could pin her and their match would end.
Rolling, she moved out of the way as Bella tried to pounce on her. All her muscles screamed at her, and her back, where she had hit it, was sore, but she couldn't allow herself to be beaten.
"There ya go, pup," Bella beamed. "But it isn't quite good enough."
In one fluid motion, Bella was on Danica, pushing her face first against the ground while twisting her arm behind her back. Unable to break free, Danica tapped the ground three times.
"That's enough for today," Bella offered, getting up and holding a hand out to Danica.
"Thanks."
Wincing Danica grabbed Bella's hand, allowing her to pull her to a standing position.
As she turned, she found Chris making his way over to them, looking like a proud father.
"That was good, but not good enough, but you're improving quite a bit."
Feeling embarrassed by his praises, Danica tried to control the blush she knew was working its way to her cheeks.
"Thanks," she managed to get out in between deep breaths.
"Now go wash up and get some rest; otherwise, Mason will have my neck," Chris said as he wrapped an arm around Bella's shoulders.
"See you both tomorrow!" Danica waved before making her way back to her room.
She didn't have much time left to get herself washed and changed before she had to meet Mason.
The day had finally come when she would be meeting with Nigel and Ash to see if there was anything that could be done about her curse. Danica was both nervous and hopeful as she brushed her unruly hair before pulling it back in a ponytail atop her head. Satisfied with her look, she hurried off to find Mason at the exit of the barracks.
As she arrived, she found that Mason was already there, waiting. Spotting her, he quickly made his way over.
"How was training?" He asked taking her in to make sure she didn't have any serious injuries.
"It went fine," Danica responded impatiently. "Should we get going?"
Smiling Mason ruffled Danica's hair and said, "Calm down, Nigel and Ash aren't going anywhere."
"I'm calm." Danica lied, fluffing up.
"Sure you are?" Mason asked, chuckling. "Let's get going, you can tell me all about training on the ride there."
Nodding Danica allowed Mason to open her car door for her before climbing in and buckling up. Impatience flaring, she hoped that they would arrive at their destination quickly.
It took twenty minutes to get to the little shack in the middle of the woods where the shaman Nigel resided. Flickering light could be seen through two windows at the front of the building as Danica and Mason got out of Mason's jeep and made their way to the door.
Upon knocking, the door flew open, and they were greeted by a man in his mid-thirties with unruly brown curly hair and a long, gangly build. A pair of round-framed glasses sat haphazardly on his nose, and he squinted down at Danica through them.
"You're finally here!" He exclaimed, wrapping his big hands around Danica's hand. "I've been so excited to meet you!"
His sudden outburst left Danica frozen in shock.
"Ash, please control yourself," Nigel called from behind. "Bring in our guests."
"Oh, how rude of me; please do come in." Ash offered moving aside so Danica and Mason could enter.
Coming to her senses, Danica entered first, followed by Mason. Nigel, who was at his desk, looked up as Ash closed the door behind them.
"Welcome back," Nigel said, getting up from his desk, where he had been busy writing.
Danica could feel her nerves beginning to flutter as Nigel made his way towards her. Although this wasn't her first meeting with him, she still couldn't control how uneasy the man made her feel.
"Now, have you made your decision in regards to your curse?" He asked as he stopped a mere few inches in front of Danica.
"Is Ash truly able to decipher my curse?" Danica forced the question out as her throat began to feel like it was going to close in.
"You'd have to ask him personally," Nigel mused, looking at Ash, who looked near exploding with excitement. "What do you think, Ash?"
Surging forward, Ash once again grabbed Danica's hand, earning himself a growl from Mason.
"I'm not sure if I will, but I am more than willing to check it out and see what I can do."
Feeling her heart clench, Danica began to double-think her choice. Was it the right decision to have someone she didn't even know attempt to break her curse? Would it be a better choice to find the sorcerer who cursed her to begin with? She didn't know, and she didn't want to think about it.
"What needs to be done?" she asked instead, pushing her darkening thoughts away.
"First, I will need to see the curse mark." Ash instructed, pulling his glasses up his nose so he could see out of them better. "Second, I need to examine its magical properties."
"So I need to allow you to see it." Danica confirmed. "Where should I sit, or should I stand?"
Smiling, Ash motioned to the couch.
"You can make yourself comfortable over there. I don't know how long this will take."
"Okay."
Biting her lip, Danica began making her way over to the couch with Mason in tow.
Sitting down first, Mason patted his thigh, offering it as a pillow for Danica as she began to lay down. Placing her head on his lap, she closed her eyes and prepared herself for whatever was to come next from the eccentric Ash.