章 15: Chapter Fifteen
The two continued to spar while Atlas and Eli fought next to them. Venus showed a form and Serena would mimic and was critiqued on her replication.
"No. You need a wider stance. No. Your arms need to be up more. No. Don't hunch." Venus repeated.
"Like this?"
"Yes. Perfect. Now. Again." Venus clapped as Serena took the ready position consistently for the next few minutes. "Alright. Now, let's move on. I'm approaching you, what do you do?"
"Dodge?" She shrugged.
"Yes... but how?" She waved her hand. "You were watching Atlas. How did he do it?"
Serena looked sheepishly at the ground and kicked a loose stone. Venus sighed and shook her head.
"You weren't even paying attention, were you?" She smacked her palm against her head gently. "He read Eli's movements and flowed with his opponent. That is how you beat them. Work with their force. Not against it. You are not strong in the same aspects as Atlas. You can't force your opponent into submission just with pure strength. If someone is punching you," She stretched out a fist toward Serena. "which would be better for your strengths, punching against the fist or pushing the punch away from the body?"
"Um... pushing the punch?" Serena held up her arms in confusion.
"Yes." Venus chuckled and sighed. "Let's practice that." She moved closer to Serena and slowly punched the air in front. "Counter the punch by taking your guard and pushing it against my forearm, away from your body." She tapped her arm, and Serena pushed slightly. "Yes, perfect. Again."
The two groups sparred until the sun was high in the sky. It scorched the exposed skin and warmed the dirt around their feet. Baking the already tough soil into a brick.
"Time for a break," Eli called to the two women. The four exited the training grounds and slugged their way toward the packhouse. As they crawled through the front door, a blast of cool air hit them like a wall. Each one of them let out a heavy sigh, basking in the cool air and the break from the heat.
"That was worth the horrible morning of exercise." Serena sighed, eyes closed and a blissful look on her face.
"You could say that again..." Eli sighed. The small group continued to stand in the doorway for a few moments until Eli broke the silence. "Venus? Let's go get some food ready in the kitchen." He eyed Atlas closely and gave a quick glance toward Serena who continued to stand there basking in the break from the summer heat. Her were eyes closed and a small smile on her face.
He firmly placed his hands on his wife's shoulders and pushed her forward, as she squirmed, threw fists, and protested toward the kitchen. Just as he was out of sight, he poked his head through the doorway and winked at Atlas who stood there, hands in his pockets, a confused look on his face.
Atlas looked up at the ceiling and said a quiet prayer to the moon goddess before turning toward the small woman beside him. Her hair was a sweaty mess piled on her head, and the bruises from yesterday were mostly faded. A dark smear of dirt was smudged beneath an eye and across her cheek. He licked the tip of his thumb and reached for her face. Serena flinched back and held a hand up. The two stood frozen, awkwardly holding their hands up and staring at each other, shocked at the other's sudden movements.
"Sorry..."Atlas muttered, putting his hand back down at his side. "You have dirt on your face."
"Oh god." She spun away from Atlas and wiped her sweaty face frantically. Turning back, she gave him a weak and awkward smile. The dirt had smeared even more.
"Did I get it?"
Atlas gave a low chuckle as he reached for her chin and grasped it firmly.
"No, not even close." He licked his thumb again and slowly wiped the dirt from her face. The wet touch of his thumb sent shivers down Serena's spine and her face flushed pink. She shifted slightly and directed her eyes toward the floor. Away from Atlas's close face. Atlas smiled softly and the soft heat from her face warmed his fingertips. He continued wiping her face gently even though the dirt was gone. Savoring every contact of her sun-kissed skin and a moment alone. Heat rose further onto Serena's face and her eyes widened.
"Okay. I think you got it?" Serena pulled away and spun away from Atlas, placing her hands on her cheeks in an attempt to hide her color.
Atlas chuckled again and turned back toward the kitchen entrance.
"Yes, I did." A slight flush crept onto his face and melted into the tips of his ears. The corners of his lips refused to budge from their childish grin.
The two stood in awkward silence for a brief moment before Venus came running up, her arms full of water bottles, and Eli in tow behind her, his hands full of sandwiches.
"Let's eat, lovebirds.' Venus said as she shoved water bottles into Atlas' and Serena's hands and pulled them, stunned, toward the couch. Atlas shot a questioning glance at Eli who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"I can't control her." He muttered into Atlas' ear.
The sun cast an orange glow across the dirt training field. The glow set the entirety of the ground and grass on fire.
"It's time for your spar." Eli tapped Serena's shoulder gently.
She gulped down the last remaining water from her bottle and set it firmly on the bench.
"Alright. Any advice?" She sighed, wiping her wet face with her hand.
"Don't make him mad?" He shrugged and sat on the wooden bench.
"Thanks... Real helpful." She sighed and walked toward the ring, meeting Atlas on the edge. He was turned toward the sunset. His sweat glistened like small gemstones in the sunlight. It seeped into the soft fabric of his T-shirt and stained it a darker grey. He clenched his fists and wriggled his fingers. His presence was demanding and threatening. Perhaps it was due to his size. Or perhaps it was due to his scarred body and face. He demanded attention and respect by merely being there. Serena gulped and quietly took her place beside him.
"Ready?" He asked, turning to face her. Sweat dripped down one of his stray hairs and plopped softly into the dirt.
"Not really, no." She replied, "But better start now while there's still light."
He smiled and entered the ring, taking the opposing side.
"Any time you're ready." He opened his arms slightly and set his jaw.
Serena took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and entered the circle. As she opened them, she hopped into the ready position and set her guard up. Atlas mimicked her stance and started to shuffle toward her slowly.
She let out a heavy breath and moved in closer. Soon, they were just out of reach from each other, dancing in a circle, eyeing each other closely. Atlas thrust his fist forward and Serena ducked and thrust her arm upward. Her forearm knocked his arm off course and his eyes widened in surprise. She gave a small smirk, stepped back, and continued to circle.
Venus gave an encouraging cry from her place on the bench and Serena smiled. Atlas shot a quick glare toward his sister but returned to the woman in front of him, half his size, and fighting against the Alpha with all her newfound knowledge.
She punched toward his chest but with a low kick, he knocked her shoulder toward the ground. As she fell, another hard kick landed smack against her ribs. A sharp crack sounded in the still evening air.
Serena gasped and clutched her side. Atlas stood frozen in the dirt as he watched Serena clutch her side. The bruises from the week before resurfaced in a vibrant shade of purple and blue. She winced at the pressure of her hand on her side.
"Are you okay?" Eli came running to the edge of the ring, but Atlas held up a hand and gave a sharp glare at Eli. He stopped and snapped his mouth shut.
Serena coughed and spit into the dirt. She unsteadily rose to her feet, hand on her ribs. With a fierce look in her eyes, she began to walk along the edge of the ring. The burning and aching in her ribs stirred a fire in her heart. Her fingertips tingled, itching for a chance to take revenge.
Atlas closed the gap between them and thrust a fist toward her face, but that too was dodged with a low duck. Her fist met his stomach with a loud smack. Serena let out a gasp and shook her hand. It was as though she had just punched a rock. He smirked down at her pain.
"Sorry…" He muttered softly, a teasing glint in his fiery red eyes.
She grimaced, sunk into a low crouch, and set her guard up. Slowly making her way toward him, she observed every movement and counter approach.
Atlas took a small jump and kicked toward her face. She hopped back just in time as his foot whizzed by her nose. Her heart pounded loudly and irregularly in her chest.
"The hell..." She muttered, landing hard on her feet. She wiped the sweat from her eyes with a quick sweep of her hand. She glared at Atlas. He dropped his hands to his sides and leaned his head back, soaking in the last of the evening glow.
She shot forward and sent punch after flailing punch at his unprotected body. Each punch was quick but desperate. But each one was deflected by a swift, but painful, kick to each forearm. The kicks hit effortlessly and exactly where he wanted them. He gave a swift and precise kick to her knee and she fell to the ground. Dirt covered her face and blinded her eyes. The gritty texture filled her mouth and made her gag. He stood above her, fist directed toward her sprawling figure and a blank expression on his face. Sweat dripped from her chin and down her neck. It glistened in the evening sun as it dropped into the dirt.
"We're finished." He turned his back on her and slowly made his way off the training grounds. His fists clenched and unclenched a few times before resting still at his side.
Venus ran toward Serena and helped her up from the hard ground.
"What was his problem?" She asked Eli who shrugged and followed Atlas out. "Are you okay?" Venus searched every inch of Serena for any new cuts and bruises like an overprotective mother, taking special note of the bruising forming on Serena's ribcage.
"I'm fine." Serena shrugged out of Venus's grip. "I'm heading back to the house. I need a shower." Serena left with a huff and followed Eli's footsteps toward the house.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット