Think and stay alive

He touched her hand gently smiling. “Thank you Ash but I’m glad you got to see vampires fighting I think you will be formidable.”

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

Ash smirked and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “Be careful. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate as Baldwin attacked both of them were clashing swords but Baldwin had yet to land a blow on his brother.

Matthew hadn’t lied to her. He was far quicker than Baldwin. No matter what approach Baldwin took, his younger brother easily managed to block or dodge him. It was almost amusing to watch him struggle. For someone who boasted of being a warrior, he didn’t appear all that creative in his tactics.

Matthew was showing the difference between warrior and assassin. He started to slip into rage, using it to fuel his aggression forcing Baldwin back.

When Matthew began to slip into his rage, Ash wondered whether she should intervene. He seemed to be using it as a tool for now, but the way that Philippe described it, there was no guarantee that his control would last. She felt for the knife she had hidden in the back of her bodice to assure herself she had an additional means of protection— should she need it. As expected, it was still there.

Philippe had turned Matthews condition into a weapon and it was out in full flight now. He was cold as he struck at Baldwin using the rage, he prevented Baldwin from being able to come near him constantly forcing him into retreat.

Ash had seen all that she needed to see. Matthew had volunteered to spar with Baldwin, but the fight had gone on long enough. Before it could go too far, she intervened. Snatching a sword from nearby, she quickly sped between the pair, blocking Matthew’s strike at their elder brother. “It’s done, Matthew. You’ve made your point.”

Matthew snarled at her but after a moment he stopped and backed down growling and pacing as he tried to calm himself back down. Baldwin stowed his sword away as he waited cautiously for his brother to calm.

As Matthew settled, Ash briefly turned to Baldwin. “You are more than welcome to leave now, if you’d like. I can manage Matthew from here.”

He eyed her but left as Matthew growled watching his back retreating. “I hate him.” He snarled taking a deep breath again to clear his mind.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

Ash smirked and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “Be careful. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate as Baldwin attacked both of them were clashing swords but Baldwin had yet to land a blow on his brother.

Matthew hadn’t lied to her. He was far quicker than Baldwin. No matter what approach Baldwin took, his younger brother easily managed to block or dodge him. It was almost amusing to watch him struggle. For someone who boasted of being a warrior, he didn’t appear all that creative in his tactics.

Matthew was showing the difference between warrior and assassin. He started to slip into rage, using it to fuel his aggression forcing Baldwin back.

When Matthew began to slip into his rage, Ash wondered whether she should intervene. He seemed to be using it as a tool for now, but the way that Philippe described it, there was no guarantee that his control would last. She felt for the knife she had hidden in the back of her bodice to assure herself she had an additional means of protection— should she need it. As expected, it was still there.

Philippe had turned Matthews condition into a weapon and it was out in full flight now. He was cold as he struck at Baldwin using the rage, he prevented Baldwin from being able to come near him constantly forcing him into retreat.

Ash had seen all that she needed to see. Matthew had volunteered to spar with Baldwin, but the fight had gone on long enough. Before it could go too far, she intervened. Snatching a sword from nearby, she quickly sped between the pair, blocking Matthew’s strike at their elder brother. “It’s done, Matthew. You’ve made your point.”

Matthew snarled at her but after a moment he stopped and backed down growling and pacing as he tried to calm himself back down. Baldwin stowed his sword away as he waited cautiously for his brother to calm.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

Ash smirked and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “Be careful. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate as Baldwin attacked both of them were clashing swords but Baldwin had yet to land a blow on his brother.

Matthew hadn’t lied to her. He was far quicker than Baldwin. No matter what approach Baldwin took, his younger brother easily managed to block or dodge him. It was almost amusing to watch him struggle. For someone who boasted of being a warrior, he didn’t appear all that creative in his tactics.

Matthew was showing the difference between warrior and assassin. He started to slip into rage, using it to fuel his aggression forcing Baldwin back.

When Matthew began to slip into his rage, Ash wondered whether she should intervene. He seemed to be using it as a tool for now, but the way that Philippe described it, there was no guarantee that his control would last. She felt for the knife she had hidden in the back of her bodice to assure herself she had an additional means of protection— should she need it. As expected, it was still there.

Philippe had turned Matthews condition into a weapon and it was out in full flight now. He was cold as he struck at Baldwin using the rage, he prevented Baldwin from being able to come near him constantly forcing him into retreat.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

Ash smirked and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “Be careful. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate as Baldwin attacked both of them were clashing swords but Baldwin had yet to land a blow on his brother.

Matthew hadn’t lied to her. He was far quicker than Baldwin. No matter what approach Baldwin took, his younger brother easily managed to block or dodge him. It was almost amusing to watch him struggle. For someone who boasted of being a warrior, he didn’t appear all that creative in his tactics.

Matthew was showing the difference between warrior and assassin. He started to slip into rage, using it to fuel his aggression forcing Baldwin back.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

Ash smirked and squeezed Matthew’s shoulder. “Be careful. I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate as Baldwin attacked both of them were clashing swords but Baldwin had yet to land a blow on his brother.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“I want to see Matthew make a fool out of you,” Ash grinned, intentionally trying to rile Baldwin up. “I don’t think you can beat him.”

Baldwin grabbed his sword and led them out to where they liked to spar. “I will show you both who is the true warrior!”

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

Ash followed Matthew in his search for Baldwin. When they returned to the chateau, she spotted their elder brother barking at a servant near the stables— not an atypical occurrence for him, sadly. Ash squeezed Matthew’s hand and gestured her head in Baldwin’s direction. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Matthew grinned as Baldwin spied them. “What do you want whelp?” He snarled at Matthew who laughed. “Fancy a spar? Ash wants to see what it looks like.”

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“In that case, I see no reason for us to hesitate,” she grinned. “Let’s go put Baldwin in his place.”

Matthew took her hand and went to find his brother. Baldwin could never resist bashing him with a sword.

“Yes…maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

“It would be helpful to watch you two with new eyes, though you shouldn’t feel pressured. I know how rough he is on you.”

“Only when he can actually get hold of me.” Matthew said grinning, “he is not the most dangerous vampire here.”

“Yes...maybe I should challenge Baldwin so you can watch it might help show you.”

Matthew saw her coming and quickly had Ash pinned to the ground. “Clever but you need more speed. You will win by being clever.”

Aislin growled in frustration under Matthew’s grip. “But that’s what I’ve been trying to do! What am I doing wrong?”

“You are relying too much on instinct you must start using your mind.”

“Matthew, I have never trained in close combat before,” Aislin sighed. “Instinct is all I have right now. Can you not just show me what to do?”

Matthew nodded and had Ash face him. “Alright I’m going to show you what I mean.” He said quietly. He was quickly behind Ash and swept her legs out from under her his hands restraining her arms.

Aislin stood still, waiting for Matthew’s demonstration. However, she was not entirely prepared for the delivery of it. When her legs lost their footing, she hit the ground and felt the air knocked from her lungs. She looked up at Matthew as she recovered, wincing slightly. “You made that seem terribly easy.”

He laughed. “I’ve been a killer for a very long time. But you have speed so we need to work on the element of surprise. Maybe we need to improve your stamina?”

“I certainly don’t believe it could hurt.” She blinked and tilted her head at him. “How would we go about it?”

Matthew grinned and readied himself. “You’ll like it, you’re going to hunt and catch me. I am the fastest in the family if you catch me then Baldwin has no chance of keeping up with you.”

“Hunting? I can manage that.” Aislin’s face lit up with a grin of her own. “Shall I allow you a head start so I can track you down? I could use the practice.”

Matthew nodded. “Closed your eyes for five minutes then hunt me.” He waited then bolted running into the wild forest.

Matthew doubled back and threw red herrings. If Ash could find and catch him, she would be formidable against Baldwin. He wasn’t the assassin for nothing.

Matthew laughed as she chased him, he didn’t slow down though, this was more fun than he’d had in a very long time. He looked back at her briefly as he ran before running through the trees once more.

Matthew wasn’t taking Aislin’s bait, so her only choice was to catch him, no matter what. Before long, the young vampire was running parallel to him, a column of trees in between them. When she felt the time was right, she cut across and made her attempt to pin him to the ground.

Ash was suddenly grabbing at him trying to pin him, he grinned at her trying to outrun her, he had to keep an eye on her constantly and avoiding the trees.

Matthew could not have his eyes everywhere at once. It took a minute, but soon, Aislin spotted her chance. There was a thicket of trees ahead. If she could distract Matthew with another attempt to pin him, she could steer him back towards it and into the dead end. She executed her plan perfectly, lunging at him so that he would naturally move left to escape her, but in doing so, he was driven into a trap. The moment he ceased running, his sister pounced.

Matthew was forced forward and landed in a heap on the ground with Ash above him. He laughed as she pinned him to the ground. “Well done!”

Aislin was beaming, all grins and laughter as she looked down at her brother. “I did it! I really did it!” After holding him there a moment, she sat back onto the forest floor and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the peace around them. “You are wickedly fast, you know. For a minute, I thought I would never catch up with you.”

“It has come in handy believe me. Usually on the battlefield or running away from Baldwin.” He laughed looking at her.

She smiled and sighed. “It’s a shame you have to run from him at all… but at least now I know I have a chance of escaping him too.”

“Now we know you have speed we can start m tailoring your fighting to use it. Baldwin has brute strength nothing more.”

“He is aggravating, too. I need to learn to keep my cool with him, otherwise I’ll never win.”

“Baldwin is a soldier he only thinks like a soldier so use your mind to outwit him.”

“I haven’t met very many soldiers. You will have to enlighten me.”

“They see good at doing what they are told.”

“So we need to throw him off his game?”

Matthew nodded grinning. “Baldwin is a strategist he will attempt to foresee your actions, you have to keep moving your speed means he won’t be able to predict your moves.”

“I can keep running him in circles. Make him dizzy. Taunt him.”

“Exactly frustrate him force him to make a mistake then pounce before he realises.”

“I think I can manage that. He’s certainly stubborn enough.”

“He knows he cannot catch me in a fight but he doesn’t know that about you.”

Matthew saw her coming and quickly had Ash pinned to the ground. “Clever but you need more speed. You will win by being clever.”

Aislin growled in frustration under Matthew’s grip. “But that’s what I’ve been trying to do! What am I doing wrong?”

“You are relying too much on instinct you must start using your mind.”

“Matthew, I have never trained in close combat before,” Aislin sighed. “Instinct is all I have right now. Can you not just show me what to do?”

Matthew nodded and had Ash face him. “Alright I’m going to show you what I mean.” He said quietly. He was quickly behind Ash and swept her legs out from under her his hands restraining her arms.

Aislin stood still, waiting for Matthew’s demonstration. However, she was not entirely prepared for the delivery of it. When her legs lost their footing, she hit the ground and felt the air knocked from her lungs. She looked up at Matthew as she recovered, wincing slightly. “You made that seem terribly easy.”

He laughed. “I’ve been a killer for a very long time. But you have speed so we need to work on the element of surprise. Maybe we need to improve your stamina?”

“I certainly don’t believe it could hurt.” She blinked and tilted her head at him. “How would we go about it?”

Matthew grinned and readied himself. “You’ll like it, you’re going to hunt and catch me. I am the fastest in the family if you catch me then Baldwin has no chance of keeping up with you.”

“Hunting? I can manage that.” Aislin’s face lit up with a grin of her own. “Shall I allow you a head start so I can track you down? I could use the practice.”

Matthew nodded. “Closed your eyes for five minutes then hunt me.” He waited then bolted running into the wild forest.

Matthew doubled back and threw red herrings. If Ash could find and catch him, she would be formidable against Baldwin. He wasn’t the assassin for nothing.

Matthew laughed as she chased him, he didn’t slow down though, this was more fun than he’d had in a very long time. He looked back at her briefly as he ran before running through the trees once more.

Matthew wasn’t taking Aislin’s bait, so her only choice was to catch him, no matter what. Before long, the young vampire was running parallel to him, a column of trees in between them. When she felt the time was right, she cut across and made her attempt to pin him to the ground.

Ash was suddenly grabbing at him trying to pin him, he grinned at her trying to outrun her, he had to keep an eye on her constantly and avoiding the trees.

Matthew could not have his eyes everywhere at once. It took a minute, but soon, Aislin spotted her chance. There was a thicket of trees ahead. If she could distract Matthew with another attempt to pin him, she could steer him back towards it and into the dead end. She executed her plan perfectly, lunging at him so that he would naturally move left to escape her, but in doing so, he was driven into a trap. The moment he ceased running, his sister pounced.

Matthew was forced forward and landed in a heap on the ground with Ash above him. He laughed as she pinned him to the ground. “Well done!”

Aislin was beaming, all grins and laughter as she looked down at her brother. “I did it! I really did it!” After holding him there a moment, she sat back onto the forest floor and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the peace around them. “You are wickedly fast, you know. For a minute, I thought I would never catch up with you.”

“It has come in handy believe me. Usually on the battlefield or running away from Baldwin.” He laughed looking at her.

She smiled and sighed. “It’s a shame you have to run from him at all… but at least now I know I have a chance of escaping him too.”

“Now we know you have speed we can start m tailoring your fighting to use it. Baldwin has brute strength nothing more.”

“He is aggravating, too. I need to learn to keep my cool with him, otherwise I’ll never win.”

“Baldwin is a soldier he only thinks like a soldier so use your mind to outwit him.”

“I haven’t met very many soldiers. You will have to enlighten me.”

“They see good at doing what they are told.”

“So we need to throw him off his game?”

Matthew nodded grinning. “Baldwin is a strategist he will attempt to foresee your actions, you have to keep moving your speed means he won’t be able to predict your moves.”

“I can keep running him in circles. Make him dizzy. Taunt him.”

“Exactly frustrate him force him to make a mistake then pounce before he realises.”

Matthew saw her coming and quickly had Ash pinned to the ground. “Clever but you need more speed. You will win by being clever.”

Aislin growled in frustration under Matthew’s grip. “But that’s what I’ve been trying to do! What am I doing wrong?”

“You are relying too much on instinct you must start using your mind.”

“Matthew, I have never trained in close combat before,” Aislin sighed. “Instinct is all I have right now. Can you not just show me what to do?”

Matthew nodded and had Ash face him. “Alright I’m going to show you what I mean.” He said quietly. He was quickly behind Ash and swept her legs out from under her his hands restraining her arms.

Aislin stood still, waiting for Matthew’s demonstration. However, she was not entirely prepared for the delivery of it. When her legs lost their footing, she hit the ground and felt the air knocked from her lungs. She looked up at Matthew as she recovered, wincing slightly. “You made that seem terribly easy.”

He laughed. “I’ve been a killer for a very long time. But you have speed so we need to work on the element of surprise. Maybe we need to improve your stamina?”

“I certainly don’t believe it could hurt.” She blinked and tilted her head at him. “How would we go about it?”

Matthew grinned and readied himself. “You’ll like it, you’re going to hunt and catch me. I am the fastest in the family if you catch me then Baldwin has no chance of keeping up with you.”

“Hunting? I can manage that.” Aislin’s face lit up with a grin of her own. “Shall I allow you a head start so I can track you down? I could use the practice.”

Matthew nodded. “Closed your eyes for five minutes then hunt me.” He waited then bolted running into the wild forest.

Matthew doubled back and threw red herrings. If Ash could find and catch him, she would be formidable against Baldwin. He wasn’t the assassin for nothing.

Matthew laughed as she chased him, he didn’t slow down though, this was more fun than he’d had in a very long time. He looked back at her briefly as he ran before running through the trees once more.

Matthew wasn’t taking Aislin’s bait, so her only choice was to catch him, no matter what. Before long, the young vampire was running parallel to him, a column of trees in between them. When she felt the time was right, she cut across and made her attempt to pin him to the ground.

Ash was suddenly grabbing at him trying to pin him, he grinned at her trying to outrun her, he had to keep an eye on her constantly and avoiding the trees.

Matthew could not have his eyes everywhere at once. It took a minute, but soon, Aislin spotted her chance. There was a thicket of trees ahead. If she could distract Matthew with another attempt to pin him, she could steer him back towards it and into the dead end. She executed her plan perfectly, lunging at him so that he would naturally move left to escape her, but in doing so, he was driven into a trap. The moment he ceased running, his sister pounced.

Matthew was forced forward and landed in a heap on the ground with Ash above him. He laughed as she pinned him to the ground. “Well done!”

Aislin was beaming, all grins and laughter as she looked down at her brother. “I did it! I really did it!” After holding him there a moment, she sat back onto the forest floor and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the peace around them. “You are wickedly fast, you know. For a minute, I thought I would never catch up with you.”

“It has come in handy believe me. Usually on the battlefield or running away from Baldwin.” He laughed looking at her.

She smiled and sighed. “It’s a shame you have to run from him at all… but at least now I know I have a chance of escaping him too.”

“Now we know you have speed we can start m tailoring your fighting to use it. Baldwin has brute strength nothing more.”

“He is aggravating, too. I need to learn to keep my cool with him, otherwise I’ll never win.”

“Baldwin is a soldier he only thinks like a soldier so use your mind to outwit him.”

“I haven’t met very many soldiers. You will have to enlighten me.”

“They see good at doing what they are told.”

“So we need to throw him off his game?”

Matthew nodded grinning. “Baldwin is a strategist he will attempt to foresee your actions, you have to keep moving your speed means he won’t be able to predict your moves.”

Matthew saw her coming and quickly had Ash pinned to the ground. “Clever but you need more speed. You will win by being clever.”

Aislin growled in frustration under Matthew’s grip. “But that’s what I’ve been trying to do! What am I doing wrong?”

“You are relying too much on instinct you must start using your mind.”

“Matthew, I have never trained in close combat before,” Aislin sighed. “Instinct is all I have right now. Can you not just show me what to do?”

Matthew nodded and had Ash face him. “Alright I’m going to show you what I mean.” He said quietly. He was quickly behind Ash and swept her legs out from under her his hands restraining her arms.

Aislin stood still, waiting for Matthew’s demonstration. However, she was not entirely prepared for the delivery of it. When her legs lost their footing, she hit the ground and felt the air knocked from her lungs. She looked up at Matthew as she recovered, wincing slightly. “You made that seem terribly easy.”

He laughed. “I’ve been a killer for a very long time. But you have speed so we need to work on the element of surprise. Maybe we need to improve your stamina?”

“I certainly don’t believe it could hurt.” She blinked and tilted her head at him. “How would we go about it?”

Matthew grinned and readied himself. “You’ll like it, you’re going to hunt and catch me. I am the fastest in the family if you catch me then Baldwin has no chance of keeping up with you.”

“Hunting? I can manage that.” Aislin’s face lit up with a grin of her own. “Shall I allow you a head start so I can track you down? I could use the practice.”

Matthew nodded. “Closed your eyes for five minutes then hunt me.” He waited then bolted running into the wild forest.

Matthew doubled back and threw red herrings. If Ash could find and catch him, she would be formidable against Baldwin. He wasn’t the assassin for nothing.

Matthew laughed as she chased him, he didn’t slow down though, this was more fun than he’d had in a very long time. He looked back at her briefly as he ran before running through the trees once more.

Matthew wasn’t taking Aislin’s bait, so her only choice was to catch him, no matter what. Before long, the young vampire was running parallel to him, a column of trees in between them. When she felt the time was right, she cut across and made her attempt to pin him to the ground.

Ash was suddenly grabbing at him trying to pin him, he grinned at her trying to outrun her, he had to keep an eye on her constantly and avoiding the trees.

Matthew could not have his eyes everywhere at once. It took a minute, but soon, Aislin spotted her chance. There was a thicket of trees ahead. If she could distract Matthew with another attempt to pin him, she could steer him back towards it and into the dead end. She executed her plan perfectly, lunging at him so that he would naturally move left to escape her, but in doing so, he was driven into a trap. The moment he ceased running, his sister pounced.

Matthew was forced forward and landed in a heap on the ground with Ash above him. He laughed as she pinned him to the ground. “Well done!”

Aislin was beaming, all grins and laughter as she looked down at her brother. “I did it! I really did it!” After holding him there a moment, she sat back onto the forest floor and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the peace around them. “You are wickedly fast, you know. For a minute, I thought I would never catch up with you.”

“It has come in handy believe me. Usually on the battlefield or running away from Baldwin.” He laughed looking at her.

She smiled and sighed. “It’s a shame you have to run from him at all… but at least now I know I have a chance of escaping him too.”

“Now we know you have speed we can start m tailoring your fighting to use it. Baldwin has brute strength nothing more.”

“He is aggravating, too. I need to learn to keep my cool with him, otherwise I’ll never win.”

“Baldwin is a soldier he only thinks like a soldier so use your mind to outwit him.”

“I haven’t met very many soldiers. You will have to enlighten me.”

“They see good at doing what they are told.”

Matthew saw her coming and quickly had Ash pinned to the ground. “Clever but you need more speed. You will win by being clever.”

Aislin growled in frustration under Matthew’s grip. “But that’s what I’ve been trying to do! What am I doing wrong?”

“You are relying too much on instinct you must start using your mind.”

“Matthew, I have never trained in close combat before,” Aislin sighed. “Instinct is all I have right now. Can you not just show me what to do?”

Matthew nodded and had Ash face him. “Alright I’m going to show you what I mean.” He said quietly. He was quickly behind Ash and swept her legs out from under her his hands restraining her arms.

Aislin stood still, waiting for Matthew’s demonstration. However, she was not entirely prepared for the delivery of it. When her legs lost their footing, she hit the ground and felt the air knocked from her lungs. She looked up at Matthew as she recovered, wincing slightly. “You made that seem terribly easy.”

He laughed. “I’ve been a killer for a very long time. But you have speed so we need to work on the element of surprise. Maybe we need to improve your stamina?”

“I certainly don’t believe it could hurt.” She blinked and tilted her head at him. “How would we go about it?”

Matthew grinned and readied himself. “You’ll like it, you’re going to hunt and catch me. I am the fastest in the family if you catch me then Baldwin has no chance of keeping up with you.”

“Hunting? I can manage that.” Aislin’s face lit up with a grin of her own. “Shall I allow you a head start so I can track you down? I could use the practice.”

Matthew nodded. “Closed your eyes for five minutes then hunt me.” He waited then bolted running into the wild forest.

Matthew doubled back and threw red herrings. If Ash could find and catch him, she would be formidable against Baldwin. He wasn’t the assassin for nothing.

Matthew laughed as she chased him, he didn’t slow down though, this was more fun than he’d had in a very long time. He looked back at her briefly as he ran before running through the trees once more.

Matthew wasn’t taking Aislin’s bait, so her only choice was to catch him, no matter what. Before long, the young vampire was running parallel to him, a column of trees in between them. When she felt the time was right, she cut across and made her attempt to pin him to the ground.

Ash was suddenly grabbing at him trying to pin him, he grinned at her trying to outrun her, he had to keep an eye on her constantly and avoiding the trees.

Matthew could not have his eyes everywhere at once. It took a minute, but soon, Aislin spotted her chance. There was a thicket of trees ahead. If she could distract Matthew with another attempt to pin him, she could steer him back towards it and into the dead end. She executed her plan perfectly, lunging at him so that he would naturally move left to escape her, but in doing so, he was driven into a trap. The moment he ceased running, his sister pounced.

Matthew was forced forward and landed in a heap on the ground with Ash above him. He laughed as she pinned him to the ground. “Well done!”

Aislin was beaming, all grins and laughter as she looked down at her brother. “I did it! I really did it!” After holding him there a moment, she sat back onto the forest floor and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and the peace around them. “You are wickedly fast, you know. For a minute, I thought I would never catch up with you.”

“It has come in handy believe me. Usually on the battlefield or running away from Baldwin.” He laughed looking at her.

She smiled and sighed. “It’s a shame you have to run from him at all… but at least now I know I have a chance of escaping him too.”

“Now we know you have speed we can start m tailoring your fighting to use it. Baldwin has brute strength nothing more.”

“He is aggravating, too. I need to learn to keep my cool with him, otherwise I’ll never win.”

“Baldwin is a soldier he only thinks like a soldier so use your mind to outwit him.”