When they got to the training hall, they realized there were about 20 people in this special class. Both extra classes had put together all those who showed talent. Lana was shocked at the number but she was happy they were not using weapons.
Blaine decided to lean against the back wall and watch her while she learned. She wasn't affected by the other students. When the teacher paired them off to spar, she was visibly holding back but still hurt a couple of them. Blaine realized none of these students were in her league. At the same time, this was a demonstration that she was certainly not weak like the rumors were portraying.
Blaine watched her body move with each punch, kick and block and couldn't believe there was a woman who could move like his family without being part of his family.
Kyle: She fits in with us physically.
Blaine: But not mentally.
Kyle: honestly, that may be an outward thing. Out of preservation.
Blane: It's risky. Castration is bad enough.
Kyle: that won't happen to us.
Blaine: It will I we go back. If she finds out how special this girl is becoming to us both.
Kyle: Let's just see how things play out. Take care of Lana.
Blaine sighed.
Lana didn't break out in a sweat in the class and it ended a bit close to curfew so they needed to rush back.
"Thank you for coming with me, Blaine. Did you notice any way for me to improve?"
He thought for a moment, "your hip movement was getting sloppy. I don't know why but you tend to drop that right hip when you twist your upper body."
Lana nodded, "that makes sense. I'll need to practice not doing that with when not called for, though."
Blaine nodded. "That's the problem with mixed styles."
"You have mixed styles, don't you?"
"Well, yes but they are both opposites of each other. Knowing both fills in your weak spots. Not everything I know is suited for you, though. Honestly, it might even slow you down. And we are now at your door."
Lana smiled, "did you want to come in or go study?"
Blaine chuckled, "want to go in but I need to go study. I'll see you at breakfast." He waited until she was inside and the door closed before heading upstairs. He was wary. He still didn't know who this Pucket was and he was taking no chances with her safety. She just didn't know that.
The next day, since there were no commitments after school, the friends decided to all take a walk in the park. Blaine said he needed to study and went back to his room. While there, he asked Chekof to follow her.
They started walking along a path that went along the wall that surrounded the school then ventured into a more dense area of the park. Lana was having trouble concentrating because it felt like the trees were yelling at her and her ears hurt. She leaned on the nearest one for support while her friends showed concern and looked around for the threat but could see none. Suddenly, she heard evil laughter in the trees. "Is that Pucket?"
"The one and only," as he appeared in front of her. She noticed his watch. It gleamed a nice bright 7.
"How are you a level 7? You had no ability at the orphanage."
"For good behavior, they gave me one. To get the one that got away…" He teleported one more time and had his hands around her throat.
The others were frozen. If they moved, he could kill her. In the next moment, they were both gone. All they heard was his laughter.
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Lana felt pain as he pressed against the base of her neck. Then he simply let go. "You like protecting people. Protect yourself."
He threw a kick straight into her stomach before she even had time to realize what he was doing. She was having trouble getting air from him choking her and now the wind was knocked out of her even more. She wasn't near a tree she had an alliance with and that would take uninterrupted time to create. There were trees everywhere but could she use them to her advantage?
She saw him move in for a punch but he kept teleporting away. She threw out a whip-vine and hit nothing but air. She screamed as her back got slammed with a fist she never saw coming. How did he get so strong? Her scream became a moan with the intense pain. She couldn't think. He grabbed her hair and pulled her upright then raked his nails across her face and blood instantly started to flow.
Lana screamed again and the second stage of armor she had been working on started to form just as he went for a blow to her chest. Climbing roses intertwined just like her regular armor. This time she had roses and thorns also covering her body. He broke two ribs in one hit while the thorns from the roses did their own damage but nowhere near as much then teleported away.
Her combat was based on speed and flexibility but with the injuries she had sustained, it was impossible for her to gather either. She had no idea how far from her friends they teleported. She thought she saw where he was teleporting to and threw out a vine and it was around his neck when he appeared.
To her surprise, it wasn't her normal vine but she had thrown out a rose vine with huge thorns on it. She saw he was bleeding but not very badly. He laughed his evil laugh again then was gone. She collapsed to the ground in pain.
She lay there gasping for air and let out another scream hoping Dobin would find her. She then closed her eyes and tried to breathe deeply. It hurts so bad. Focus Lana. Breathe! She finally got it and was able to grow the plant she tried so hard to learn. She wanted this to help her team. She never thought she would need to use this on herself, much less it being the first time using it.
She heard footsteps running toward her. The trees showed her what they looked like and it was her team. She wanted to smile but the pain. She decided focusing on healing was the ideal thing right now.
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The team went into a panic when Lana was taken away. They heard screams and Dobin could feel pain that wasn't his. He started running in the direction of the scream but the pain had him doubled over after a moment. He forced himself to go on and now understood what his sister felt. This was his first time being on the other side of the fence.
Kattie has Sven in the air but the trees were so dense here, she didn't know if it would help. The pain finally dulled down and he was able to find her laying on the ground with a bloody face and blood on her clothing. He ran to her side and dropped to his knees. She was holding a plant to her throat and her eyes were closed.
"Lana, can you hear me?"
She nodded.
"Can you move?"
She hesitated. There was a difference between can and should. She knew she could move but doing so with her ribs broken could make it worse, not better. She decided to shake her head just to be safe while she concentrated on this new plant. She could feel it working and was willing to move once her ribs were better. Eventually she could breathe without pain and she sat up. She still hurt all over.
"He's being backed by the monsters," she looked at Dobin, "we are in trouble."
He nodded with a frown and helped his sister to her feet. "We need a way to counter his ability."
She nodded.
--------------------------------
Chekof heard the request. Blaine didn't want Lana to think he was watching her or that he thought she was weak so he wanted another to just happen to be in the park at the same time. They had already gone out by the time he came down. He didn't see them out the front door but his eyes spotted something flying. It looked to have recently taken off since it was still gaining height.
He used Sven to help locate them but before he got close, he heard screaming. It took him a bit to find her.
Chekof ran into the area, to her side, "what happened?"
"Not here."
Lana wanted to go to her room. Chekof waited outside her door. Lana lay on her bed and finished her healing then took a very long hot shower.
Lana still ached but there was nothing more to heal. She'd treat herself for pain but right now she needed answers, if they could be found.
Lana went to the second floor to room 2215 with Chekof. He opened the door and she winced as she walked toward Blaine. "Do you have a minute? I was wondering if you could tell me how to counter a teleport ability."
Blaine's eye twitched. She went to sit and did so slowly. Maybe she should have waited to do this tomorrow when the pain would be gone…
Blaine sat opposite her, "who wants his ass kicked?"
Lana smirked when she heard the words but didn't say anything. She leaned back again wincing.
Blaine looked in her eyes, "why are you in pain? You know how to fix it. Why are you suffering?"
"I already treated myself."
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