chapter 24

Bad a*s Elena

That afternoon I saw my picture in one of the newspapers Becky brought in. I was surprised at how well hidden my face was and felt better that my name wasn't mentioned. It only read that I am the girl that stole the prince's heart. I love that line.
            The next couple of weeks was a blast. I enjoyed the weekends with Lucian swimming at the lake and making out at nights. It almost lead to more a couple of times but we stopped before overstepping the line. I wouldn't mind though. Lucian is the type of guy I would give up my virginity any time.
            Art of war class turned into my favorite. Lucian finally asked Professor Mia about the axes and she told them that they were a donation, so it was save to fight with them. I decided that today is going to be the day Collin is going to crawl on all fours. It was the very last period and I didn't need to be early for the twins. I found them exactly where we had left them on Wednesday.
            "Elena, are you ready to get your a*s kicked" Collin tries to provoke me. A month ago it would have worked but not today. I just pulled on my vest and shake my head softly. I pick up the matching axes and the whole class just stare at me as I juggle with the one in my right, the exact way Lucian did that first time. 
            "Are you ready to get your a*s kicked" I return his question. He just stare at the axes and started to burst out in laughter with rest of the class. Professor Mia was the only one not laughing.
            "Enough" she claps her hands. "This is not a claiming session, it is Art of War so stop with the who's got the bigger weapon and start sparing."
            "I think you better pick up a shield" I whisper to Collin who is still laughing.  When I turn around I heard the coward coming in for an attack. I crouch down and hit him with the blunt side of the axes against the ribs. He was down on the floor immediately crying in pain.
The students close by was just looking at Collin, lying on the floor.
            "What happened" Professor Mia asks and kneels down to check him who was still in a fetus position holding his torso and groaning.
            "I didn't even hit you that hard. You are such a baby."
            I have to admit, it felt great.
            "Enough Elena, take him to Constance and find out if he is okay." She told Peter one of the students nearest to her to take him to the infirmary. "You want to fight dirty, then fine. Let's do it" Professor Mia went to pick up a sword too.
            "I didn't fight dirty, he attack me from behind" I reply, s**t scared that she wanted me to fight her instead. This was not how I see today going down.
            "Oh please Elena. We all saw what you did" Clarissa another red head and freckle girl snaps. I think she got a crush on Collin or something.
            "I didn't do anything?"
            Why don't they believe me, probably because Collin is as scaly as the Night Villain. Love his surprise attacks and when in pain he takes the easy way out.
            The students form a huge ring and professor Mia and I was starting to walk in circles around each other. I took a deep breath and did what Lucian told me to do, to wait. She attack first and her blows were stronger then Lucian's which made me go backwards. I did manage to stand my ground but she didn't give me a chance to send her any blows back. I just had to defend and after a minute it got worse. We were really close to the cupboard and I know where Lucian hides one of the shields he likes to fight with. I found my gab and slide past her to reach his hiding place and  manage to get hold of it just in time. When her next blow came I defend it off easily and gasp as I see a spark. One of the twins fell out of my hand but had to leave it to find a better grip around the shields handle before she swings again at me.
            The class started to cheer, I don't know if it was for me or professor Mia but I bet we gave them a show. I tried to use the shield as a weapon too. Lucian showed me what to do when someone like Professor Mia, didn't want to get out of my personal space and starting to push her blows away with my shield and blocked it at the same time with all my strength. She starts to dagger a bit backwards and see it as opportunity to attack. I didn't see her as my teacher anymore but as one of my opponents.
             I made turns to block her blows, first with the shield then with the one axe I really wish that I had both. It would make my defeat so much easier. Professor Mia hold up her hand just before I wanted to strike for the fifth time. "Stop" she yells and could hear that she was out of breath. " What happened to you" she asks resting on her knees and when she lifts her head to look at me she had the same kind of excitement Lucian had when I pushed him to the floor.
            "I guess Lucian is a really good tutor" I heave back and we both chuckle.
            "Your reflexes are amazing. Not a very save weapon to fight with but I like that you have some balls to learn how to use them. Well done" she said and lifts up my one hand.
            It felt awesome to win at something and be able to do this pain free. The whole class applaud with shock or surprised written all over their faces - I wasn't sure which one. Lucian was right and I need to thank him for this big transformation.
            The bell rings for the second part of class and Professor Mia called us all together to the wooden bleachers stack against the wall. She didn't want to fight any more so for the first time she teach us the history of the two axes.
            "It was a donation from the queen. These axes were her first weapons. When Hidalgo's made her a brand new pair�" it is the ones that is displayed in the museum�" she donated these to the school when it opened up. They are known as Frankish Throwing axes, but these are called Fransisca throwing axes. As you can see the blade tilts forward so that the point of the blade will strike an opponent when the axe is thrown. The blade is made from high carbon steel with a hardened edge. Not once did a student fight with it until now. The queen was one of a few that put all her faith in these two babies. Like I said before, it is not one of the most favorable weapons to fight with because they are so small and the attacks have to be close range. But it is one of the most exiting weapons that you can learn with." She told us how the queen wanted the exact same engravings on her new ones and that the only thing the blacksmith change was the steel. These babies were never been used in a war like the ones in the museum but they were surely a big favorite of the queen.
            I felt different when class finished. Maybe it is the reason I am dreaming about her. It is the only thing we do have in common. Collin didn't come back to class and I was worried about him, sort off. What if I broke one of his ribs. But then again, Constance would be able to heal it because she is a Swallow annex. I quickly run up to the infirmary and found Julia taking a smoke break outside.
            "You smoke" I ask and she told me to keep quiet.
            "Constance will kill me if she knows that I am still smoking" she whispers frantic. I just giggle.
            "Is Collin okay?"
            "What the boy with the broken ego" she rolls her eyes and flick her cigarette bud away. "He is fine." I went in to say hi to Constance.
            "Elena" her British accent echoes off the walls in the empty infirmary.
            "Hi Constance, I just wanted to check up on my injured sparring partner but Julia told me the only thing that is wrong with him was his ego" and she laughs.
            "He is fine. I guess Lucian's classes has been paying off. "
            "Yeah, he is really awesome when it comes to weapons and using them" I reply.
            "That boy is awesome just by breathing. I wouldn't mind if he tried to claim me" Julia sings which makes me blush. I left after a couple of minutes and went back to my dorm.
            "Elena, that was freaking amazing" she hugs me as I walk in.
            "What was?"
            "The way you fought with Professor Mia."
            "You were there" I shriek.
            "All of us where, I wanted to see what progress you have been making and Lucian wanted to see how Collin is going to see his a*s. We didn't think it was going to last that long"  she boast.
            "Why didn't I see you."
            "Because of Professor Mia, if she saw us she will slid our throats for hooking class. Lucian said that you are the third person to succeed by showing her a thing or two" she replies.
            "Serious" and she nods her head. "Who were the others?"
            "Blake and himself" she replies as if I am about to know that by now.
            "She sparred with Blake?"
            "Elena, she is a Fire-tail."
            "Professor Mia is a dragon!"
            "You didn't know that" and I shake my head, thinking that I fought against a dragon. "Don't start to freak out again please, you are finally a Paegeian. Fighting dragons and throwing axes is a sign that you are getting there" she jokes in a serious tone and I burst out laughing. "We definitely should drink on that."  Lucian gave me a break during Art of War because I beat Professor Mia and was making out with me the entire hour. He was out of breath when we finally called it a day. I think his hormones were starting to get the better of him again and had to stop before it really got out of hand. On Thursday I had another lesson with Blake.
            Lucian told me to give just take it as it comes. He was the best and apart from he's perfection when it comes to pronunciation of the words, he wasn't that bad. He was in a terrible mood though.  Probably had a fight with Tabitha and was taking it out on our Latin lesson. I didn't understand one word as he rambles and started to wonder if he was speaking Latin at all.
            I didn't bother to stop him or anything. I was still in such a happy mood that even Blake Leaf won't be able to change. I rolled my eyes and decide he should just get it off his chest  whatever it is that make him feels like that.
            Then the most horrible sound ring into my ears.