Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) by Fionn Jameson Page B

hell of a metaphysical hangover. I’m not that much of a sadist.
    The sparring session was fierce but short. It almost always is, between creatures of the underworld.
    Droplets of blood sprayed in a wide arc and next to me, Marcus cursed softly.
    Reiko took a step back, licking the crimson from her fingertips. “Too slow, Jason. Much too slow.”
    Jason swayed, and I watched as the flesh from his right shoulder to the middle of his chest begin to mend, the skin coming together right before my eyes. But no matter how fast he was healing, the tightness in his lips, the way his brows furrowed, the hand on his collarbone…he was in pain, a great deal of pain.
    “I’m sorry,” he said quietly and fell on the mat as his legs refused to keep him upright anymore. “I will work on this.”
    She let out a contemptuous little laugh. “Will you? I certainly hope so. After all, I highly doubt any enemy of yours would back away having already struck you like I have. Had I gone through with the blow, you would be dead.”
    I very rarely entered into any argument not my own, but this time, I felt the need to interject. “Yes, but you are older. He’s only been undead for two, three nights. Surely, you can see the folly in such brutal training?”
    The look in her dark eyes stopped me from saying anything more. One more word and she could not be held responsible for my safety. I fought the urge to run back upstairs.
    “You know nothing of our ways. The weak do not last. If Jason truly wants retribution, then he must learn to discard everything but his will to survive.”
    I wasn’t going to argue. Not with that look on her face.
    “I’m fine.” Jason levered himself up to his feet, wiping the bloody sweat from his temple. He swayed on his feet, clearly the opposite of his words. “Ran, I appreciate your kind words, but this is something that must happen. Before Reiko introduces me to Noir, before we are admitted to his court, there’s a chance there will be a battle. Noir will not allow anyone weak. I need to make sure I survive long enough to reap the benefits of being within his fortress. It’s the only way we’ll get what we need. I can petition for the bastard who took Shannon. Once that happens, you can do what you wish with Noir.”
    This was a dangerous game, perhaps too perilous. “I still don’t understand why I have to be the one who exacts Reiko’s revenge for her. She’s strong enough to do it herself.”
    Said vampire snorted. “Be that as it may, I am a vampire. A Domina. Were I to be discovered, my entire House would be in danger. I am not so foolish as to exact such punishment on those under the protection of my name. However, if you were to do it…”
    It made sense. I suppose. “If I do it and I’m discovered…what’s to stop Noir from tearing my head off?”
    She shrugged. “That is not my problem.”
    Said like a true Domina . “Right. Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
    Jason shook his head slowly, almost as though he’d been hit too many times in the forehead. Then again, who knew if he had? I certainly couldn’t follow Reiko’s movements fast enough, not with my human eyes. “Reiko, we’re not finished yet.”
    “No?” With one fluid, almost elegant flick of her small hand, she touched his shoulder and he flew into the wall, the plaster raining down as he fell with a jolting thud on the stone floor. “I think we are, my son.”
    My son. This was just too strange, even for me. “Was that necessary?”
    One day, my mouth was going to get me killed.
    “He must learn,” she said slowly, watching her son push himself up to his feet and then fall down again, a stream of blood dripping from his hairline. “He’s an idealistic fool who’ll get us all killed if he does not learn. We are, I must admit, nothing more than creatures with no remorse, no soul.”
    This was said with no expression, no emotion in her bleak eyes and I resisted the urge to pat her on the head.