The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 14 Training Ii

Vladimir stared at Zheira's serene features. He traced the few freckles at the upper region of her cheeks. A small smile curved his lips. Now he understood why she didn't want eye contact. She could read memory. If she hones it to its maximum, it could be her greatest a.s.set. All she need was to learn controlling it, so she wouldn't writhe in pain like earlier. He came to realize that by saving her life, he'd bestow a gift like no other. It made his tension tones down.

When she stirred, he pretended to be asleep in her arms. It didn't take long before a gentle knock on the head. He took it as a cue to look up. He faked a yawn before asking her if there's a problem.

Zheira shook her head and smiled. "T-thank you." She cupped his cheeks. Her soft palms sent a spark to his body.

"For what?" His irises moved uncomfortably, diverting its gaze away from her as his ears became reddish.

"For saving me from the fire, for taking me away to the nurses, and for trying to help me now." She used her fingers to count his help. "I might not trust you fully, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. It's what you deserve."

For the first time, Vladimir smiled genuinely. "You can talk without stuttering now," he remarked, "That's a good sign, mind you."

She shrugged. "After I saw you save me, I guess I could be comfortable with you. After all, I owe you my life."

"Well then, let's not waste time," he paused, "I want you to be honest with me, Zheira. Tell me everything you know." He crossed his arms.

"Everything I know?" Zheira repeated. She looked up and started thinking. "I recently discovered that I'm adopted and that I'm no human-"

"No, Zheira. You are human. Believe me, my blood cursing to your vein is the only thing that made you different from them."

"Why did you do it, then? Why did you make me drink your blood?"

"Patience, Zheira. I'll answer your questions after our training. However, I still have one query. If it won't burden you, may I know the exact year of your ability emergence and how you found out about it."

They looked at each other for a while before clearing her throat. "It was when I was seven years old. Since I am not allowed to go outside, my teachers were the ones who come to me. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but all my teachers were related to my mother. Either they're friends with her or they're her cousin. It was Aunt Maurice who taught me a day after my seventh birthday. When I looked at her straight in the eye, I saw a memory of her abusive husband. I didn't know what it was, but I was told I've been unconscious for days."

He scratched his chin. "Hmm. So, your readings back then were the surface alone. You can't go deeper. But today, you've been able to penetrate a deep memory of mine. That's an improvement."

"How can you say so? You weren't there."

"You see, happy memories fade away easily rather than the bad ones. It lingers in your mind for years. It propels you towards your desired goal. I'm not quite sure, but it's just my hunch."

"Is there a way for us to find out?" she asked, attempting to clench her fist as it was numbed.

"There is, but it's a big risk. Rest a.s.sured we'll do it, but after your training. Are you okay now?"

"A bit." She sighed when she'd been successful in balling her small fist.

Vladimir looked at him from head to toe. "That's good to hear. Come. We must start and create our own path to the ends we both seek." He stretched his hand and offered his palm.

"Last question. Why was I in pain when I read your memories? It was the first time it happened. I've been fine when I read my mom's memories. What makes yours a different case?"

He sighed before relaxing his hand to his back. "Vampires have their protection to those mental attacks. Their eyes have venom that would surely retaliate at any attempt of penetration. You need to master your ability first before you try it to others. For now, you can read vampires who are not mentally ready without feeling pain. The case is different if the mind is aware and active. Not to brag, I've been training myself relentlessly upon enhancing my protection to those that can play with the minds. They're a threat."

"Why?" She scrambled out of the bed and stood straight.

"The mind processes everything in your body. It is the command. Imagine someone other than yourself in control of it, you'll be doomed. It's like you've given your will to them."

"Is that your way of saying I'm a threat as well?" Zheira sn.i.g.g.e.red.

"Zheira," he mumbled. His voice was too deep and low that it made her swallowed hard. "Promise me, you'll never try reading me."

"Why-"

"Just because, okay? That's the only compensation you can give me with this free training." He breathed deeply before ruffling her hair.

"Fine. I'll never be able to read you, anyway."

"Soon you'll be. If ever you break your promise. Just remember that I did not mean things to be that way."

Her brow creased. "You did not mean what?"

"It's time for us to train. Follow me." He turned and walked slowly outside the room. A battle inside her subconscious mind raged and threatened to eat her alive, but she shook it off with a heavy sigh. She really couldn't understand that man. For her, he's a kind of intricate puzzle. The more you tried fitting one part to another, you'll find yourself befuddled. Maybe it's because they just meet. He had given an impression of mysterious inclination, and she hated mystery.

Earlier, she'd manage to give him a trust she usually doesn't give to strangers. However, given the fact that he'd saved her from death, she made an exception. Now she thought it wasn't a good idea. His last words repeat itself dully in her head, breaking the trust she'd build. Was it possible that he somehow had caused that fire? She shook her head. It's not good to blame. Unless she has concrete evidence to accuse such things to him, she'd never do so. He's trying to help her, and all she'll do was doubt him? That's out of place. For now, all she has to do was to trust him, and see where that leads her.

Vladimir had been waiting outside the house for Zheira to go outside. He suspected her to be of doubt with what he said, and she didn't blame her. It's just right.

He tapped his toes, trying to count the seconds Zheira had wasted. It took at least a hundred counts before she arrived, wearing a smile he'd never known she could give. It relaxed the tension building inside him.

"About time," he muttered, the big weight in his heart loosened.

"Sorry, it took so long."

"It matters not. As long as you're here, everything will be just fine."

Zheira's eyes wandered around the wide field extending towards heaven-knows where. Every corner, one or two trees would bend their branches together to create a roof-like style.

"Welcome to my field, Zheira. This is where we will hone you to a better version of yourself."

"How much wide is this?" She pointed the field incredulously.

A grin curved Vladimir's lips. "500 yards. This is actually round and the extension you can see stretching beyond is the connection that would lead you back here."

"What connection?" Her knees were starting to wobble. She felt tired even without doing anything yet. Just by looking at the dull colors in the atmosphere made her bored and sleepy.

"It's hard to explain it's complexity. Unless, you go there and see for yourself, you'll never understand what I'm trying to say."

"That's my training? Sound simple." She gulped. It seemed she'll run for eternity just to get to the connection he's talking about.

"Not quite." He wrapped his hands around my waist. It's as if his skin was an iron. She felt hot to the core. A s.h.i.+ver ran down her spine when his hand caressed her waist. "We'll make you a s.e.xy gal," he whispered, biting the edge of her lips teasingly. Her cheeks flushed red before she decided to move away from him.

"C-can we s-start now?" she stuttered, feeling the heat coursing through her body.

"Of course." He put his hand in his pocket and extracted a round stopwatch. "Let's see how long it'll take you to arrive here. If you won't exceed ten minutes-which I doubt-you'll be free from this training."

She tucked messy strands of her hair to her ears. "That's a deal, then."

Vladimir grinned before blowing his whistle. Then, the training began.