Chapter 33
“Allie, I swear, you will get past this aversion to fighting if I have to bloody beat it out of you!” Gregg’s patience with her was obviously slipping.
“She’s perfectly willing to spar with Aidan,” Jin said.
“He’s my equal.” Allie didn’t understand how they couldn’t see the huge difference that made. It was a Saturday, several weeks into the new year, and she was supposed to be training with Jin, but Gregg felt the need to stage an intervention.
“Aye, and I know you feel more comfortable bouting with Aidan, but you hold back with everyone else. It has to stop,” he said. “Sasha isn’t a delicate little flower. I’m her father—I give you permission to wipe the floor with her. She’ll only respect you for it.”
“She’s my friend, Gregg. I just can’t.”
“Two thousand years and I’ve never met anyone so stubborn.” He raked his hands through his hair. “During the games, we saw just how much work we still have ahead of us. Every decision you made was what a mortal would choose when faced with the same challenge. The only time you used your power was when you helped Aidan with the first clue. You should have won the challenge against Erin. She was terrified to face you, but she recognized your hesitation and took advantage of it.”
“How am I supposed to be okay with this? I don’t care if you heal fast, it just isn’t fair when I’m so … whatever.”
“Aye, you’re a powerful girl, Allie. You have something most Immortals would kill for, and make no mistake, they will come for you, sweetheart. Sooner than you might think, and you have to be ready. I need to know you can protect what is rightfully yours. I’ve no doubt you would pull it together to defend those you love, but I’m not so sure you’d defend yourself.”
“I don’t know. I guess I still don’t see this power as mine. If someone wanted to take it from me, I don’t know if I wouldn’t just let them,” she said truthfully.
“Allie, no,” Gregg said. “Your gifts are who you are. It isn’t some luck of the draw. You were meant for this because you have the inner strength to control it. You need to own it. It doesn’t just belong to you, it is you, and no one has the right to take it from you. You and Aidan are so unwilling to own your power. Perhaps it’s your youth, but one day, you’ll take pride in your strength—in what sets you apart—and you’ll fight to protect it.”
“I know your power must confuse you,” Jin said, “but imagine what it could do in the wrong hands.”
“I never really thought about it like that,” she said. “I know I have to do better.”
“Unfortunately, practicing on each other is how we learn, but I’m guessing you just don’t see it that way.”
“This is a problem, Allie,” Gregg said in his best ‘listen-to-me-because-I’m-old’ voice. “Your mental blocks could destroy you if you don’t learn to overcome them.”
“Blocks? I wasn’t aware I had multiple issues.” All things considered, Allie thought she was killing it in her training.
“Aidan showed me how much you struggled through the cave challenge. I’m so sorry we did that to you. It never occurred to any of us that you would react so strongly, like a mortal. I realize now it may take years for you to adjust your way of thinking, but I’m afraid we might need to take more drastic measures to get through that bloody thick skull of yours. I don’t expect you to become a ruthless fighter overnight, but I do expect you to be aware that this is a problem. And there’s something I have to know before I leave.” He paced across the room. It happened so quickly, she barely saw the sword in his hands.
“No!” she screamed in horror as blood spattered across her face, and Jin’s head rolled across the floor. His body slumped forward in a boneless heap.
She fell to her knees beside him, not sure what to do. “There’s so much blood! What have you done? Help him, Gregg, please.” She sobbed.
He carefully returned Jin’s blank, staring head back to his lifeless corpse.
“I’m so sorry, red.” He pulled her into his arms. “You know we cannot die, but you’ve reacted as if you still don’t believe it. You need to see this. Watch and witness the miracle that is your life.”
She stared at Jin’s body for a long time. When the mangled tissues began to knit and fuse before her eyes, she let out a startled gasp. His skin gradually smoothed to a thin angry red line, and she wondered if he was in pain.
“Aidan! He can feel this, Gregg, how could you?”
“Allie, I do not make a move without first considering if it will harm my child. I sent him away with Daniel.”
Admonished, she continued her silent vigil. When Jin stirred and his amethyst eyes flew open, the concept of immortality finally resonated deep in her mind.
“You son of a—” he rasped, trailing into a string of profanities in ancient Chinese. He rose to his feet, grinning like it was all some great prank.
Allie flung herself into his arms, completely overcome. He was fine! But she couldn’t still her sobs. She knew he was Immortal, but to witness it was life altering.
“Hey, kid, I’m fine. Come on, no tears.” He hugged her tightly. “Jeez, Gregg, did you have to be so violent? She’s shaking like a leaf.”
“Aye, I may have overdone it,” he admitted. “But I needed to know how she would react. I don’t know if it will help, but I wanted to leave no doubt in her mind.”
“I know I needed to see that.” She gulped, managing a wry smile. “Maybe a little heads up next time?”
* * *
“Saturday worse than usual?” Aidan eyed her blood-splattered clothes. Allie was making a run for the kitchen between sessions, hoping to avoid him. They didn’t do well one on one these days.
“Your father decided I should witness a beheading,” she snapped.
“That’s why he sent me and Daniel out. That’s an injury I’m in no rush to experience.”
“It’s not funny! And why have you been discussing my progress with Gregg?”
“You need all the help you can get.”
“Here’s a thought: when you’re all sitting around discussing my training, how about you invite me?” She shook her protein drink vigorously. “I know everyone has my best interest at heart,” she relented, “but I will never stop worrying about hurting people. I know some of my reactions have been over the top, but just give me some freaking time! You all may just need to accept that my empathy is who I am and it’s not going to change.”
“No one’s asking you to change who you are, least of all me. I just worry if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you’re going to get hurt.”
“Duly noted. And appreciated,” she added stiffly.
“I know that must have been awful for you.”
“It was an effective exercise.” She left in a huff, relieved to be away from him. She missed Aidan terribly, but everything was just so wrong between them. She wished they could go back to the way it was before they screwed everything up with that damned kiss.
That incredible kiss that can never happen again.