《Don't Bite Me!》


 Chapter 1

    I wake like clockwork at the crack of dawn, the result of a lifetime of discipline. My grandfather, or The Grandmaster, as he insists that I call him, has always been big on discipline. But it¡¯s not something I ever resented him for. After all, when you¡¯re the last in a long line of vampire hunters, you have to be strong. I would literally be some monster¡¯s food if I wasn¡¯t ready to go anytime, anywhere. Waking at the crack of dawn just comes with the territory.


    And when I say ¡°the last in the line¡±, I mean that literally. It¡¯s just me and The Grandmaster left, and as much as he hates to admit it, he¡¯s too old for active duty. My parents were killed when I was just a baby; they died fighting the monstrous creatures we are sworn to kill. It happened here, in this ancient house hidden in the Canadian Rockies. A small coven of vampires they had been tracking managed to find them first. My parents fought valiantly and managed to kill the coven, but not without being mortally wounded. They were both bitten, and the first rule any vampire hunter learns is that you never allow yourself to become a monster. And so, they were forced to kill each other. They took a holly stake to the heart together, before the poison had a chance to spread, leaving me with The Grandmaster.


    But one good thing came out of all that; Hiro. He had been following the coven of vampires himself, trying to get revenge after they killed his family. He didn¡¯t catch up to them until after my parents were dead, but The Grandmaster was impressed that he had been able to track them at all. He asked Hiro to stay, telling him that the best revenge he could get on the beasts would be to help train me: Victoria Van Helsing, the last vampire hunter in the world (at least as far as we know).


    There used to be others like us. But with the job being as dangerous as it is, the rest either died off or gave up. We Van Helsings alone stuck it out. Centuries ago, on the very first ship to make land in North America, half the family came here to see if the vampire disease needed to be eradicated here as well. Van Helsings have always been ahead of our time; they already knew what the ship would find before it was found. And sure enough, when they first met the natives, they found monstrous diseases here too. Not just vampires, but werewolves and all sorts of ghastly things. It was even worse here than it was in Europe, at least at the time. Since the people lived such simple lives, they made easier prey for the monsters. And so they stayed and did the only thing we know how to do. They killed every one of the beasts that they could.


    We kept in contact with our European family, having things sent over when we needed them. But about a hundred years before I was born, the last of them disappeared. The Grandmaster insists that they must have died warriors¡¯ deaths, but sometimes I¡¯m not sure. There are days, when I get the rare glimpse at all the distractions the world has to offer, when I think how much better my life would be if I wasn¡¯t a Van Helsing. We live completely isolated from the world; I¡¯ve never set foot in so much as a village. All our supplies arrive in the dead of night by helicopters, their silence paid for by generations of built-up wealth. Europe quickly became too crowded for this type of privacy. And I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if our surviving relatives had changed their names and turned to living normal lives. But I keep these thoughts to myself. The Grandmaster would label me a traitorous fool for uttering such things.


    Anyway, long story short, when Hiro heard that I was the last vampire hunter, he swore that he would do everything in his power to protect me and raise me. And he¡¯s been with us ever since. He¡¯s our ¡°everything guy¡± as I like to call him. No task is too big or too small for him to handle. He cleans the house, cooks, does all the chores that The Grandmaster doesn¡¯t ask me to do, and helps me with my training besides. He¡¯s also my best friend. Probably because he¡¯s my only friend, but I think he¡¯d still hold the title even if I had a hundred other friends. When the training becomes too much for me to bear, he¡¯s always there to listen and helps me whenever he can. He always helps me to see the bright side, and with his help, I¡¯ve been able to do things that I never thought would be possible. And he¡¯s always quick to help me test out my inventions, no matter how crazy they are.


    Inventing isn¡¯t foreign to our family, as we¡¯ve had to be pretty creative to last as long as we have. But there hasn¡¯t been a notable inventing Van Helsing in so long that The Grandmaster has a hard time accepting that what I do is necessary. But he says as long as my inventions help me kill monsters, then he won¡¯t stop me. He doesn¡¯t give me any breaks on my training for it though. I¡¯ve spent many a sleepless night putting the final touches on my latest breakthrough.


    I don¡¯t remember exactly why I started. But I¡¯m pretty sure that it was fear motivated. Because, despite the fact that I¡¯m supposed to be a fearless warrior, I do have one massive fear. I don¡¯t ever want to be bitten by one of the monsters I have to fight. I don¡¯t want to have to kill myself like my parents were forced to. The Grandmaster insists that what they did was the right thing. That while we miss them, if they had¡¯ve survived as vampires, we would have been forced to kill them ourselves. But I can¡¯t stop being afraid of it. And in my fear, I turned to my inventions for help. I want to make myself as deadly as possible, so that a bite isn¡¯t something I should ever have to worry about. In theory, I should be able to kill any monster before they can sink in their teeth.


    Which is much easier said than done. Vampires and werewolves are both insanely strong. Super strength and speed, heightened senses, nearly impervious skin¡­ They have very few weaknesses too. Garlic and holly have a suppressing effect on them, makes them a little closer to human strength. But a stake to the heart only works if the poison hasn¡¯t fully spread yet, like in my parents case. The only thing that can really kill them, other than another of their kind, is weapons made of silver. Silver bullets, silver knives. But good luck ever getting close enough to stab them without getting hurt or killed. As for bullets, at full strength, they can move faster than them. Which is why it¡¯s so important to first weaken them.


    So all my inventions revolve around trying to put me on equal footing. Clothes that help make me invisible by sight and scent, weapons that shoot fast and silent¡­ Those kinds of things. But The Grandmaster only lets me practice with them, or ¡°play with my toys¡± as he calls it, after I¡¯ve shown him that I can do it all the old fashioned way. That¡¯s why Hiro¡¯s help comes in handy. He doesn¡¯t mind helping me test them in between training and chores.


    With thoughts of the work ahead fresh in my mind, I pull myself out of bed and start getting dressed.


    I don¡¯t have any clothes that would be considered common, or blend in with the average crowd. The Grandmaster insists that unless I am undercover, I have to wear traditional vampire hunter garb. Which is very old school. I wear corsets that are custom fit to allow for maximum movement while providing protection for my heart. But instead of skirts, I wear tight fitting pants that are also custom tailored. They¡¯re covered in hidden pouches and straps so that I can always have all my tools at my disposal. I finish it all off with black leather gloves and boots, the type that would hold up against any weather. And if I want to wear a jacket, it¡¯s a long black cloak. I¡¯ve made some of my own custom clothes, but I have to finish the day¡¯s work before I can practice with them.


    When I¡¯m dressed and ready for the day, I make sure to check my reflection in the mirror. I can¡¯t fault my ancestors for their sense of style; I look hot in this. My body is fit and tone from a lifetime of hardship, my chest-length, wavy hair is dark red and matches perfectly with my dark clothes. I tie it up in a tight bun, so that it doesn¡¯t get in my way. I know that these clothes are designed with function in mind, and not fashion, but it¡¯s certainly a confidence boost knowing that I look so good while being so deadly. And having just turned twenty, I¡¯m in my prime.


    Still though, I can¡¯t help but wonder when I¡¯ll finally get to see some action. Despite my fears, I can¡¯t wait to go on my first mission. And though I¡¯ll never admit this to The Grandmaster, it¡¯s not just because I want to finally start taking revenge for the deaths of my parents. All I¡¯ve seen of the world is small glimpses here and there; when peeking through the cracks of The Grandmaster¡¯s study door while he watches news on TV, hunting for signs of our quarry. He¡¯s told me basic things of course, given me ideas of what to expect when in the field, but it¡¯s nothing like being able to see it for myself.


    I know that while The Grandmaster might come across as cold and tough, he¡¯s really worried about me. I know he¡¯s afraid to send me out too early and watch me die like my parents. But I hope that he sends me on my first mission soon. I know I¡¯m ready. Well, at least I know that I¡¯m ready to take down one monster. I¡¯ll hold off on whole covens for now. Maybe even forever. The chances of a bite are a little too high for my liking.


    It always takes a while to get from my large attic bedroom down to the dining room for breakfast. The house is massive. It was built not long after the first Van Helsings arrived. They found a place so remote that even with how much the world has changed, no one knows where it is. They learned to speak the native languages much faster than the rest of the explorers, and in trade for knowledge and training to defend themselves better against the monster menace, the natives helped my ancestors build this mansion. It¡¯s built in the style of old victorian houses, with chunks of stone mined from the mountain. The old mines are still here; sometimes we use them for training. I hate those days. The mines are old and dangerous, but The Grandmaster insists that they are ideal for that exact reason.


    By the time I¡¯ve made my way down to the dining room, Hiro is already there waiting for me. But I¡¯m surprised to see him alone. Usually The Grandmaster is already here, glaring at me sternly over a cup of coffee as if he thinks I¡¯m late (even though I never am).


    ¡°Where¡¯s The Grandmaster?¡± I ask Hiro as he sets down a steaming plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of me.


    Giving me a sly smile, Hiro sits down next to me, resting his cheek on his hand before he replies, ¡°The old man is busy in his study, My Lady.¡±


    I take a hasty bite of eggs to try and hide my blush, but almost choke on them because they¡¯re still too hot. When I was younger, Hiro used to call me Little Lady. But in the last couple years, since I¡¯ve started looking more like an adult, he changed the nickname. I won¡¯t lie; I can¡¯t help feeling flustered and awkward every time he says it. I know I said that he¡¯s my best friend, but lately, I¡¯ve been looking at him differently.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I don¡¯t actually know how old Hiro is, but I think he was around sixteen when he first found us. He doesn¡¯t look a day over twenty though. He¡¯s incredibly handsome, even though he always looks a little pale and tired. His eyes are so dark they¡¯re almost black. His skin is a beautiful russet colour, and his spiky hair is a rich black. I swear, the man never does anything to his hair or skin and yet he always looks like a supermodel fresh from a photoshoot. He once told me that his mother was a native, Nakoda to be precise, and his father was from Japan. His parents had raised him on a large farm in the Rockies, farther south than we are now. He said he was homeschooled, so he understands how I feel living here, although of course he didn¡¯t grow up practicing deadly arts.


    But the problem with Hiro is, even though I know him so well, I can never tell what he¡¯s thinking. Sometimes I consider telling him that I think I like him a little more than a friend. But then I¡¯m afraid that he wouldn¡¯t like me the same way, and it would ruin the close friendship that we¡¯ve forged over the years. He probably still just sees me as some little kid that he needs to look after. He watched me grow up after all. It¡¯s so totally not worth the risk.


    So instead, I try desperately to act like nothing has changed. ¡°What¡¯s he doing in his study?¡± I ask after I finish my mouthful of eggs. I ignore the fact that he didn¡¯t use The Grandmaster¡¯s title. Of course when he¡¯s around, Hiro would use the title. But when it¡¯s just the two of us, he likes to tease me by calling him ¡°old man¡±. He knows that I would never dare call him anything but The Grandmaster. I know if I was ever caught I¡¯d be in big trouble. But Hiro¡¯s fearless. It¡¯s another reason why I like him so much.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t say for sure,¡± Hiro replies nonchalantly, stretching his arms back behind his head as if he doesn¡¯t have a care in the world. ¡°There seems to be a lot of signs of vampires in Edmonton lately. I think he¡¯s trying to figure out if it¡¯s one young vampire on the rampage or a larger coven.¡± With a wide grin, he adds. ¡°Hey, maybe you¡¯ll get your first mission soon, My Lady!¡±


    I shrug as if I couldn¡¯t care less, and focus on eating my breakfast. But Hiro knows me too well. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he says, resting his hand on my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve been training for this your whole life. I know you can handle anything out there.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I mumble, ripping a piece of toast up into little pieces. ¡°But Edmonton? That¡¯s so far away!¡± Our house is hidden deep in the northern most reaches of the Canadian Rockies, in British Columbia, near the border to Yukon. Of course, Canada being as big as it is, there are places much farther away than Edmonton. But considering the fact that I¡¯ve never set foot in a city, I had hoped my first mission would be a little closer to home. Just in case something went wrong.


    Hiro smiles and leans in to whisper conspiratorially, ¡°Besides, you know I¡¯d follow you anywhere My Lady. Together you and me will take down any monsters in our path!¡± Jumping up from the table, Hiro picks up a butter knife and starts a sword fight with an invisible foe.


    I can¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You always know just how to cheer me up Hiro.¡± Someday I want to be brave enough to call him My Hero in response to his nickname for me. He really is my hero. But today is not the day. I¡¯m not quite that brave yet.


    Putting down the knife, he sweeps into a deep bow. ¡°Always at your service.¡±


    I can¡¯t help but giggle like an idiot. In an attempt to cover it up, I scarf down the rest of my breakfast. ¡°Well then, since you seem to be in charge today, what¡¯s on the schedule?¡±


    Leaning casually against the side of the table, he brushes his hand against my cheek, his dark eyes twinkling. ¡°Oh, well, we could go for a nice long walk in the woods. Maybe do some hunting. Maybe play tag. The sky¡¯s the limit really.¡±


    I slap his hand away playfully but can¡¯t hide the blush. ¡°Stop teasing me!¡± I protest.


    ¡°Ah, but you¡¯re so cute when you¡¯re flustered,¡± he replies, tapping me on the nose. Why does this man have to be so damn infuriating? He¡¯s always teased me, ever since I was a kid, and now I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s serious. His dark eyes are as mischievous and unreadable as ever.


    He¡¯s smiling widely as I brush him aside and get to my feet, trying to hold on to my dignity. ¡°No funny business. We have work to do!¡±


    Hiro snaps his fingers and exclaims, ¡°Aha! You¡¯ve finished another invention, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What gave it away?¡± I answer, trying not to get too upset about the fact that he can read me a million times more easily than I can read him.


    ¡°You¡¯re only in a hurry to get to work when you have something you want to test after. And you know how much I love being your guinea pig, so let¡¯s not waste another second, shall we?¡± Standing up straight, he tidies his crisp black suit (as if he needs to, he looks perfect as always) and leads the way out of the dining room at a brisk step. I hate when he walks like that, because he knows my legs are a lot shorter than his and it¡¯s so much harder for me to keep that pace. But he also knows that I¡¯d never dare complain about it because I wouldn¡¯t want to give him something else to tease me about.


    I follow as closely as I can as he leads the way out of the house. I always find it funny when I go outside. We don¡¯t have a yard like the few houses I¡¯ve seen on TV. Walking down the front steps takes me right into the thick of the forest. There¡¯s no roads, no open spaces that would make us visible from the sky. It¡¯s the kind of place that would be easy to get lost in, if I didn¡¯t know every tree and landmark in a fifty kilometre radius. We make regular expeditions into the wild, in any season and weather. Not just to train my survival skills, but also to make sure that I could always find my way home.


    The nearest road is just under fifty kilometres away. Hidden nearby there we have an underground garage with all sorts of vehicles. The Grandmaster taught me to drive all of them from a young age, and got me a license as soon as I was old enough. I didn¡¯t have to go take a test like you¡¯re supposed to; our family has connections all around the world where we can get just about anything you can imagine.


    While we may not have a yard around our house, it¡¯s not as wild as it first looks. We have fenced areas for our livestock; mountain goats that we¡¯ve domesticated over generations of breeding, deer and elk. We have a small herd of sturdy Icelandic horses which we use when we have to travel long distances in the mountains. We have fields among the trees where we grow edible plants for both us and the livestock. We also keep ducks, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. All and all, we¡¯re self sustaining.


    Past the edge of our pastures is the entrance to the old mines and the rock-faces we use for climbing. It¡¯s towards these that Hiro leads me, and I can¡¯t help but sigh.


    Hiro must hear me, because he glances back over his shoulder. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not really in charge today. The old man gave me a list of things for us to do.¡±


    ¡°Tell me now, is it the mines or the cliffs?¡± Both weren¡¯t my favourite exercises, but I definitely preferred climbing to the dark mines.


    Hiro smiles. ¡°You¡¯re in luck today.¡±


    He doesn¡¯t need to say any more. Knowing me so well, of course Hiro is aware that I prefer the climbing. ¡°Thank God,¡± I mumble.


    I thought I was quiet enough that he wouldn¡¯t be able to hear me, but apparently not. With a soft chuckle, Hiro adds, ¡°Although, facing your fears is important in this line of work. So maybe we should do the mines today instead.¡±


    ¡°Please no!¡± I exclaim, lunging forward to grip his arm. ¡°We did them last week!¡±


    With a laugh, he frees his arm and tousles my hair. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you My Lady. I don¡¯t blame you for disliking the mines. I¡¯m not a fan of them myself. And since they¡¯re not on the list, I see no reason why we should bother with them.¡±


    I want to be angry with him, but I¡¯m so relieved that it makes it hard to be angry. Instead, I slug him on the arm, wincing as my fist connects with his rock-hard muscles. ¡°Hey, watch the suit!¡± he exclaims, brushing off his sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s hard enough keeping myself looking this fine when I¡¯m trudging through the forest with you, I don¡¯t need you making things worse.¡±


    Seeing an opportunity, I tease, ¡°Ah, so the great Hiro does have at least one fear!¡±


    Rolling his eyes, he replies, ¡°Of course I do. Everyone does. In fact, I have several, but you will never convince me to share those secrets.¡±


    Shrugging, I feel a wide smile creep across my face. ¡°Maybe not, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t exploit this one to the fullest.¡± Without giving him any more warning, I lunge.


    Hiro doesn¡¯t even glance at me as he raises his arm to block my attack. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have to be faster than that, My Lady.¡± He turns to face me with a grin, a challenge in his dark eyes.


    ¡°You asked for it.¡± And with that, we launch into a full-blown sparring match.


    I¡¯ve sparred with Hiro more times than I can count. I know exactly how he moves. And yet I¡¯ve never beaten him fair and square. Even when he looks like he¡¯s going all in, I know that he¡¯s holding back. It honestly scares me a little. If I can¡¯t beat Hiro, how can I hope to beat a vampire? But then I remind myself that I don¡¯t attack Hiro with the intent to kill, and I¡¯ve never used my weapons against him. I won¡¯t be taking on vampires and werewolves in hand to hand combat.


    Like usual, Hiro kicks my ass. But when we break apart, I laugh breathlessly. ¡°I win!¡± I crow.


    He raises an eyebrow at me. ¡°And how do you figure that? You never win against me. At least not unless I let you.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to get the winning blow, I just wanted to mess up your suit.¡±


    For the first time, Hiro looks startled as he glances down. He stares in disbelief, apparently too stunned to try and tidy himself. The top button of his jacket has popped open and his collar is ruffled. After a moment, he does the button back up and fixes his collar. When he glares at me with one eyebrow raised, I can¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°You devious vixen! You¡¯re too dangerous for your own good.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous to your almost-perfect composure maybe,¡± I laugh.


    Hiro closes his eyes and shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. Taking a deep breath, he smiles in a formal way, and engages his ¡°butler mode¡± as I call it. ¡°Let¡¯s finish our tasks for the day, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Lead the way good sir,¡± I tease, giving him a mock bow.

 Chapter 2

    We walk in silence the rest of the way. I can¡¯t help but wonder if I got under his skin more than he let on. I feel a little bad if that¡¯s the case. He teases me so much, I just wanted to take a chance to get back at him a little. But the last thing I want is for him to treat me like I¡¯m nothing but an annoying girl. How am I ever going to figure out how much he likes me if I spend my time pissing him off? Oh well, if he doesn¡¯t like it when I tease him the way he teases me, that¡¯s his problem, not mine.


    He¡¯s still being a little too formal when we reach the cliff. He turns to face me with a polite smile and I can¡¯t help but jibe, ¡°Oh come on, I didn¡¯t mess your suit too bad. You¡¯re already back to looking perfect.¡±


    His face softens a bit and he touches his forehead in a frustrated gesture. ¡°Oh Victoria, if only it were as simple as that.¡±


    Chills shoot down my spine at the way he says my name. He almost never uses my name. It just makes me even more confused. ¡°So if you¡¯re not upset about the suit, what are you upset about?¡±


    For a moment, his dark, unreadable eyes stare hard into mine. ¡°Upset is probably the wrong word. It¡¯s¡­ complicated.¡± With a sigh, he shakes his head and straightens up again. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll explain it later. But work first. Get climbing, otherwise I¡¯ll have to tell the old man that you were being difficult.¡±


    ¡°How can one man be so infuriating?¡± I grumble to myself, but from the way he smiles as I stomp past him, I know he heard me. His hearing is so sharp it¡¯s almost scary. If it wasn¡¯t so annoying.


    The Grandmaster insists that training in life-threatening situations is much better for my overall safety, so I don¡¯t use any ropes or fail-safe systems as I begin to climb the sheer cliff. On one hand, I understand where he¡¯s coming from. Knowing that I could fall to my death any second certainly keeps my senses sharp. And I have to admit that I might be a little bit of an adrenaline junkie. The adrenaline rush I get from scaling a mountain with nothing but my years of training always leaves me feeling high when my feet touch safely back down again. But on the other hand, I can¡¯t help but wonder if The Grandmaster is losing it. How the hell am I supposed to fight vampires if I die in my training?


    I have to stay focused when I¡¯m climbing, and I soon lose myself in the steady rhythm of moving upwards. Before I realize it, I¡¯m pulling myself onto the ¡°stopping ledge¡± as we call it. Turning around so I can sit with my legs dangling over the edge, I look out over the amazing view while I catch my breath. The training cliff is near the peak of one of the mountains, and on a clear day like today, you can see all the way to the horizon. Rolling seas of forest as far as the eye can see, chopped up here and there by the wide rivers that cut through the landscape. It¡¯s late summer, and the trees are just starting to lose some of their vibrant green.


    I¡¯ve had to scale this cliff in all kinds of weather. Somedays, I have to pass through a bank of clouds before I reach the stopping ledge. And then when I look out, it¡¯s nothing but a bed of white that looks soft enough to sleep on.


    It¡¯s moments like these that really make me wonder why anyone would want to live in a city. All I know about them is that they¡¯re crowded and dirty, the exact opposite of this place. The only sound is my breath, my heartbeat, the wind in the trees and the soft murmuring of the animals going about their lives. There¡¯s definitely something magical to it all.


    One day, I want to be able to give up monster hunting and just spend every day living in the beauty of nature. Maybe not always here, in these mountains, but I want to see all the wildest places this world has to offer.


    The thing is, I know I couldn¡¯t ever give up on my purpose unless I somehow managed to kill every last monster out there. I¡¯m too much like The Grandmaster that way. I¡¯m still here because monster hunting is in my blood. No amount of fear for my quarry could change who I am at heart. But I suppose I could take vacations in the wilderness here and there. The Grandmaster won¡¯t be around forever. And as much as I love him, and the thought of losing him pains me, I know I¡¯ll have more freedom when I don¡¯t have to live under his shadow anymore.


    It used to make me dizzy to look down from the ledge, but I don¡¯t fear the height anymore. I know that only I could let myself fall, and I wouldn¡¯t let that happen. Hiro is nothing but a speck by now, his face turned towards me. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join me?¡± I call out, for once glad for his freaky hearing. At least I know he can hear me.


    He calls something back, but I can¡¯t make it out. But I do notice that he doesn¡¯t move any closer to the wall, so whatever he said must not have been positive. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you scared of heights or something?¡± I tease, swinging my dangling feet like a little kid despite the huge drop beneath me.


    For a moment, he drops his head, and I guess he¡¯s probably grumbling to himself. But then he walks towards the wall, and I feel a little smug. At least his stubbornness can work in my favour sometimes. He hates to do anything that makes him look weak.


    I¡¯ve seen him climb a few times before, mostly when I was just starting out myself, but his fluid grace never ceases to amaze me. There¡¯s something almost inhuman about the way that he moves. He moves up at a steady pace, faster than I¡¯ve ever dared to go and never slips or misses a step. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to have him in my life. With his looks and skills, he could do just about anything in the world if he wanted to, and yet he chooses to stay and take care of The Grandmaster and I. Sometimes I can¡¯t help but wonder why. But I¡¯m too much of a coward to ask, just in case my forwardness drives him away. I¡¯d rather have him in my life as nothing more than a friend than lose him because I assumed too much.


    He doesn¡¯t even bother keeping his eyes on the cliff as he climbs, and I wonder if he comes out here and practices when I¡¯m not looking. He stares right at me, making me feel a little like a deer caught in the gaze of a mountain lion. I have the strangest instinct to run when he looks at me with such intensity, but at the same time it makes me want to move closer. Sometimes I feel like the curiosity will kill me, not knowing what¡¯s going on behind those beautiful eyes. I grip the edge of the cliff a little tighter to keep myself from leaning towards him. I can¡¯t afford to forget about things like gravity when I¡¯m so high up.


    Hiro reaches me in half the time it took me to climb and sighs as he sits down beside me. ¡°You are so irritating, you know that?¡± he says, only half teasing. His eyes are still just as unreadable as ever, but there¡¯s a smile playing on his lips.


    ¡°Well, I learned from the best,¡± I reply cheekily.


    Rolling his eyes, he leans back against the rock behind us. I freeze as his hand brushes mine, doing my best to act like I didn¡¯t notice. But after a moment, I realize that his hand feels as cold as the rocks we¡¯re sitting on, and I can¡¯t help but cover his hand with mine and ask, ¡°Are you okay? Your hands are freezing.¡±


    He smiles, but it doesn¡¯t quite reach his eyes as he pulls his hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, My Lady. I¡¯ve always been a little cold blooded. I¡¯ll warm up when we¡¯re inside again.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for dragging you all the way up here,¡± I mumble, feeling guilty.


    ¡°Like I said before, you know I¡¯d follow you anywhere.¡± The words are quiet and serious when he says them this time, and I look up to see him staring at me, all traces of humour gone from his face. He stares into my eyes again, but this time I get the feeling he¡¯s trying to read something there. He frowns, as if he can¡¯t find what he¡¯s looking for. Then he sighs and looks out over the sea of trees.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    We sit in silence for a while, and I have to fight the urge to slide closer to him. But then after a moment, his voice breaks the silence. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about,¡± he begins hesitantly, picking a lose bit of stone off the cliff and rolling it around in his fingers. I¡¯m shocked to realize that he looks embarrassed. That¡¯s one emotion I never thought I¡¯d see from fearless, confident Hiro. It only makes me even more curious to know what he¡¯s thinking.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I ask, unable to wait patiently for him to continue.


    He infuriates me further by playing with the stone in silence for a moment before he sighs and continues, ¡°Okay, I need you to have an open mind here. Can you do that for me?¡±


    I¡¯m so confused and caught off guard by this that I don¡¯t know how to respond. His face is still serious as he looks up to meet my eyes again. I mentally shake myself and put on my most serious expression. ¡°You have my full attention,¡± I say in a dire tone of voice, which causes him to smile a little.


    ¡°Good. Because this is super awkward for me, and not a conversation I ever thought I¡¯d have to have.¡± He has to take a deep breath before he plunges on, ¡°Okay, so I¡¯m pretty sure that you¡¯re going on your first mission soon. I¡¯m not supposed to say anything to you, but I want to make sure you¡¯re as prepared for the world as possible, no matter what. And since your parents aren¡¯t around to tell you about these things, and the old man would never dare talk to you about things like this, it¡¯s left to me.¡±


    I have absolutely no idea where he¡¯s going with all this and I¡¯m sure the utter confusion I feel is clear on my face when he studies me carefully. But I don¡¯t interrupt and wait for him to get to the point.


    With a growl of frustration, he throws the pebble off the cliff and uses his hand to ruffle his hair. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m just going to say what I need to say. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed by now that you¡¯re a very beautiful young woman.¡±


    He pauses as if waiting for me to respond, or maybe catch on. But all I can say is, ¡°Uh, I guess so? I mean I haven¡¯t met any other women so I don¡¯t really have any standards to go by.¡±


    I have to laugh at his expression as I finish speaking. He looks on the verge of panic. ¡°Just spit it out, Hiro.¡±


    ¡°Well okay, you asked for it. I have met other women before coming to live with you and the old man. And I can honestly say that you¡¯re the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever seen. And this is coming from someone who¡¯s watched you grow up, even through those awkward ages. So you know, that means that I¡¯m not joking about that or biased or whatever. And that¡¯s great and all, but being beautiful can be dangerous, especially if you find yourself out in the world and I can¡¯t be there to protect you.¡±


    I open my mouth to protest, but before I can, he cuts me off. ¡°Not that I think you aren¡¯t capable of taking care of yourself. But I¡­ ugh this is so hard.¡± He taps his forehead with his fist as if hoping that will knock loose what he wants to say. ¡°Well, there is no other way around it. Please tell me that in your studies about the world you¡¯ve at least read about how babies are made?¡±


    My cheeks go hot as I suddenly catch on to exactly what he wants to talk about. ¡°Oh God, I¡¯m so sorry you had to do this, but yes, I am aware of that whole process.¡±


    ¡°Okay well that makes this a little easier, if not any less awkward,¡± Hiro sighs, unable to look at me. ¡°Okay well what it probably didn¡¯t mention in those books is that there are really terrible people out there who want nothing more than to use beautiful women like you. If I¡¯m with you, then there¡¯s less chance of that, since we can just pretend to be a married couple or something as our cover. But if you find yourself alone in the world, be prepared for a lot of flirting and never put yourself in a dangerous position, like trusting that someone is a good person just because they¡¯re being nice. All I¡¯m trying to really say is, that humans can be monsters too.¡±


    There¡¯s so much to think about in what he just said that it makes my head spin. At first I can¡¯t get the image of us as a couple out of my head, cover or not. But then something else he said pulls me up short. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®if¡¯ you¡¯re with me?¡±


    I¡¯ve never seen him look so frustrated when he meets my eyes. ¡°You know that if it¡¯s up to me, I would never leave your side. But I have a horrible feeling that The Grandmaster is not going to let me go with you.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± I exclaim, nearly forgetting that I¡¯m sitting on the edge of a cliff. ¡°Why on Earth would he not let you go with me?¡±


    Sighing heavily, Hiro once again can¡¯t meet my eyes as he says, ¡°Well, partly because he wants you to prove that you can do it yourself. But also partly because of some of the things we¡¯ve just talked about. Look, Victoria, this is the most honesty you are ever going to hear from me. I have more self control than the average guy, but you still drive me crazy. And not in the way that you annoy me. But you¡¯re beautiful through and through. Not just beautiful to look at, but I know you better than anyone, and you¡¯re the most pure soul I¡¯ve seen. I can¡¯t sit here and lie to you and say that I never think about you that way, or that I¡¯m not attracted to you. And I have to agree with the old man that the temptation might be too great, even for me, if it was just the two of us.¡±


    My heart is racing so fast I feel that it might jump right out of my chest. I grit my teeth in determination and pull from my deepest reserves of courage. Even still, my voice is no louder than a whisper when I say, ¡°And what if I feel the same way about you? You have looked in a mirror, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Hiro flinches slightly at my words, and I¡¯m not sure why, but when he looks at me, his eyes are burning. I can¡¯t help but feel like the deer again, with my back against the wall. ¡°Well that would hardly be fair of me to take you at your word for that. You haven¡¯t met anyone else. Besides, you¡¯re missing the point. You¡¯re not going on a field trip, or a vacation. You¡¯re going to kill a vampire. You need to be focused one hundred percent on that, or you¡¯re going to get yourself killed. I didn¡¯t bring this up to talk about us, I did it to warn you to be careful out there.¡±


    For a moment, we sit in silence, and I have the oddest urge to start crying. But I manage to hold myself together. I can¡¯t deny the truth in what he says.


    After a little while, Hiro smiles and glances at me out of the corner of his eye. ¡°But just out of curiosity, did you mean it when you said you find me attractive?¡±


    I would have thought that it would be hard to admit to him, but I find myself smiling back as I reply, ¡°You have no idea.¡±


    He turns to face me again, and I have to stop myself from leaning closer. I find myself staring at his lips, which look so soft and inviting, but then I catch myself and blush as I look away. Hiro laughs, but the sound isn¡¯t quite right. He sounds torn, like part of him had wanted to lean closer and the other part is angry at himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Like I said, no distractions.¡± I can¡¯t help but feel like that last part was aimed just as much at himself as at me. ¡°But after you¡¯ve spent some time in the world on this mission, if you still feel the same way about me, maybe we can talk about it again?¡±


    ¡°To be perfectly honest Hiro, I¡¯ve been head over heels in love with you for a while now, and I really don¡¯t think this mission is going to change anything.¡± I can¡¯t believe my bravery as the words spill from me, and he looks at me in surprise. But his eyes are still as impossible to interpret as ever.


    His expression turns pained as he brushes my cheek with his thumb. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to wait and see. But I¡¯ll be here waiting for you. So hurry home, okay?¡±


    I sigh, unable to tear my eyes away from his. ¡°Maybe the old man will let you come with me.¡± I feel my heart start racing again at that idea; me and Hiro, the two of us together against the world. With no Grandmaster breathing down our necks.


    He smiles at my choice of words, and shakes his head. ¡°Unfortunately, the chances of that are really low. Besides, I¡¯m clearly a bad influence on you.¡± He takes a deep breath, and leans in to rest his forehead against mine. I wonder if he can hear my heart racing away from me. ¡°You¡¯re my only weakness, you know that?¡±


    My breath catches in my throat, and feeling braver than I ever have, I tilt my face so that my lips are only a breath away from his. But with a quiet growl, he pulls away. ¡°And now do you see how you¡¯re dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± I reply, feeling rebellious. ¡°You can¡¯t blame a girl for trying.¡±


    Hiro sits up straighter, tidying his suit as usual, and I know that the moment of openness is over. His expression is carefully controlled again as he returns to butler mode. ¡°Now, I refuse to talk about this again until you¡¯re home safe and sound. And if you try to bring it up again in any way, I¡¯m going to pretend that we never had this conversation.¡± He closes his eyes and takes another deep breath. When he opens them again, he says formally, ¡°We have other tasks left on my list, My Lady. Shall we return to the house and finish them?¡±


    I frown at his perfect composure. ¡°I¡¯m warning you now, the cat¡¯s out of the bag and you can¡¯t put it back. So you can try all you want to pretend that this never happened, but I¡¯m going to try my hardest to make sure you remember.¡±


    Hiro raises one eyebrow, ¡°I assure you, I am much more stubborn than you.¡± And without another word, he spins around and scales back down the cliff dangerously fast.


    For a moment, I¡¯m tempted to do the same, just to show him I¡¯m as fearless as he is. But I know how stupid that would be. A vampire hunter never lets their emotions influence their actions in dangerous situations, not unless they want to die.


    When I touch back down on solid earth, I smile as I turn to Hiro, but he must have been anticipating some devious plan on my part, because he¡¯s already walking away. ¡°Come along. If we don¡¯t get a move on, we won¡¯t be able to test your latest gadget.

 Chapter 3

    Hiro keeps up a speedy pace as he leads the way back to the house, and it¡¯s all I can do to keep up. I follow along in his wake feeling mutinous. Unfortunately, he was right when he said he was more stubborn. Not to imply that I¡¯m not stubborn, but like everything else about him, his stubbornness is perfect. He¡¯s going to do everything in his power to make sure that I don¡¯t get the opportunity to bring up the conversation we just had. And he does have a point. I probably shouldn¡¯t be so focused on this when my first mission is likely right around the corner. But knowing that he does feel something for me, even if he didn¡¯t straight up say that he loved me, is something I¡¯ve been dreaming about for years now. How on Earth am I supposed to just let that go?


    Well, the obvious solution is to kill this bloody vampire in record time and hurry home like he said. Then he¡¯ll have to keep his word and we can talk about it again.


    Hiro leads the way to the supply shed that¡¯s tucked beside the house, and he can¡¯t hide his surprise when he turns to me and sees the determined look on my face. But his surprise only lasts for a moment as he quickly returns to butler mode. ¡°Time to feed the animals. And it¡¯s deworming day for the horses.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± I say in my most innocent voice. He eyes me suspiciously as I casually brush past him to grab the pitch fork.


    I¡¯m on my best behaviour as we both start tossing hay over the fences. The various animals wander slowly over to the hay. Since there¡¯s also lots of wild grasses in each pasture, the hay is really just a supplement, so they all take their time with it. Lastly we grab the deworming medicine for the horses and I tuck a brush into my pocket. After I give them all the apple flavoured medicine, I give them each a good grooming with the brush while Hiro checks their feet.


    It takes a while to get everything done, but finally we finish and I turn to Hiro. ¡°Well, anything else need doing?¡±


    He studies me for a moment, as if waiting for a surprise attack. When none comes, he just shakes his head. ¡°That¡¯s it for the day. Go grab your new toy and let¡¯s give it a test before I prepare dinner.¡±


    I race off to my room, eager to give this one a go. The timing is perfect; if this latest invention works the way I intend it to, it¡¯ll be a huge help on my mission.


    The invention in question is an enhancement suit. I made it to look similar to my traditional vampire hunting garb, but instead of being black, it¡¯s a dark red to match my hair. Also so that I can tell it apart from my other suits.


    The fit is even more snug than my other clothes as well. The purpose is to make it more effective, but it also happens to look extremely sexy. I can¡¯t help but smile. Let¡¯s see Hiro ignore me in this.


    The last piece of the ensemble is a custom hooded cape that I also made. I fix it to the shoulders of the suit and check myself one more time in the mirror. Everything looks perfect. But I knew that already. The real question is, will it work when I activate it? That¡¯s what we need to find out.


    I race through the house, all the way down to the training dojo in the basement. Like I knew he would be, Hiro is waiting for me. He¡¯s standing in the middle of the room, with his eyes closed. His breathing is slow and controlled, as if he¡¯s meditating. His suit jacket is hung on one of the hooks by the door, and I take a moment to appreciate the way his crisp white shirt stretches over his perfectly chiseled muscles. Yep, absolute perfection.


    There¡¯s no way he didn¡¯t hear me enter, but he pretends not to notice me until I announce, ¡°Prepare to be amazed!¡±


    He smiles, still not opening his eyes. ¡°I am amazed by you daily, and so I¡¯m always prepared for it.¡± But when he finally opens his eyes and catches sight of me, he goes absolutely still in momentary shock. Clearly attempting to regain his composure, he clears his throat and says in a carefully calm tone of voice, ¡°So, what is the purpose of this one?¡±


    Tossing my hair casually over my shoulder, I give a slow twirl. ¡°Besides making me look like a goddess of death you mean?¡± I ask nonchalantly.


    He clears his throat again and I feel like crowing in triumph as I see just how hard it is for him to hold his composure together. ¡°Yes, besides that.¡±


    ¡°Well, it has many purposes. The already mentioned one I made with you in mind though.¡± I give him a wink.


    To his credit, he doesn¡¯t respond, but his eyes are burning again, like that had for a brief moment on the cliff. When I don¡¯t continue, too absorbed in watching him silently squirm, he frowns at me and asks, ¡°Are you done trying to torture me? Because like I told you before, I¡¯m way more stubborn than you.¡±


    I watch him for a moment longer, then sigh as he keeps his expression carefully under control. ¡°Well damn, it was worth a try.¡±


    The corners of his mouth twitch ever so slightly, and he says, ¡°Thank you for the fantastic display, My Lady. I¡¯ll be sure to keep this image of you in my mind all the long hours we are apart.¡±


    My cheeks burn for the millionth time today. But I ignore him and take a deep breath as I prepare for the real test. Both The Grandmaster and Hiro forbade me long ago from testing anything new by myself, just in case something were to go wrong, so I¡¯ve yet to see if this suit works. There¡¯s a slight chance that it will kill me the moment I activate it. But according to my calculations, the margins of error are so small that it should be fine. Probably.


    ¡°First, we¡¯ll test the cloak,¡± I say aloud, and right on cue, Hiro pulls out the notebook he uses to record the results from each experiment. That way I can always review things later. I have just as many notes written by Hiro¡¯s hand, if not more, than I have written by mine.


    Pulling the hood over my head, I press the small button hidden at the neck line and crouch low to the ground in the same moment. I watch Hiro¡¯s eyes widen in shock, and he stares hard at the place where I had just been only moments before. Moving extremely slowly so as not to make a sound, I start to creep around him. With triumph, I notice that his eyes don¡¯t leave the spot where I had been.


    ¡°Victoria?¡± he asks, sounding shaken. ¡°Are you there, or should I record the test as a failure?¡± He tries to sound joking on the last part, but I can hear how forced it sounds.


    Not wanting him to worry too much, I lunge at him from behind. He hears my movement, but doesn¡¯t turn in time as I lock my arms around his neck and hang from his shoulders. ¡°Miss me?¡± I tease, leaning in to give him a swift kiss. He turns his head at the last second and the kiss lands just below his jaw. ¡°Damn, I thought I¡¯d have you with that surprise attack.¡±


    He reaches carefully over his shoulder to pull me around and set me on my feet in front of him. I imagine that it¡¯s a strange experience for him, considering that the cloak is still active so he shouldn¡¯t be able to see me. Feeling his way up my arm, he carefully pulls the hood down so that my face is revealed. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I was surprised,¡± he says, smiling. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that my reflexes are faster.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± I reply, a huge grin breaking out on my face. I take a step back, flipping my hood back up as I go so that I disappear again. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to testing the rest of the suit.¡±


    ¡°Uhh, My Lady, would you mind being visible for that test?¡± Hiro asks, a note of worry in his voice. ¡°If something goes horribly wrong, I would like to be able to see you.¡±


    ¡°You have a point,¡± I concede and press the button by my collar again. Hiro relaxes visibly as I reappear, but I think he¡¯s trying to hide just how unnerved he had been. ¡°Mark down test number one as a success then.¡±


    He takes a brief moment to write in the notebook, then looks up at me with his pen held at the ready. I notice that while he¡¯s trying hard to remain composed, his eyes can¡¯t help but wander in appreciation. A smirk is playing on my lips. It¡¯s certainly impressive how he¡¯s still holding it together, but I¡¯ve definitely never gotten under his skin quite this much before.


    ¡°Commencing test number two, physical enhancement bodysuit.¡± Hiro quirks an eyebrow and watches as I reach to my right bicep and snap open a hidden switch.


    I had been expecting to feel something, but I can¡¯t stop from wincing and gritting my teeth in pain as the suit powers up. It had all sounded good on paper, but now I realize that of course having thousands of tiny needles puncturing my skin won¡¯t feel very pleasant.


    Seeing my expression, Hiro takes a step forward. ¡°Are you okay? Do you need help?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± I say, closing my eyes. ¡°Just mark down that powering up is surprisingly painful.¡±


    I hear the pen scratch busily and open my eyes with a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s just going to take some getting used to,¡± I assure him, forcing my muscles to relax. As I do, I feel power surge through my veins. ¡°There, it¡¯s getting better already. Next time I should be able to adjust faster.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure that this is working as intended and not slowly killing you?¡± Hiro asks, only half joking.


    ¡°Yes I¡¯m sure. I¡¯ll explain how it works after I¡¯ve tested it a bit.¡±


    Despite my reassurances, Hiro watches me carefully as if waiting for me to burst out in flames. Which I can hardly blame him for that, considering that was one of the possible outcomes. But like I said, the chances of that are extremely low. All the same, I know I should ease myself into the tests slowly.


    I start with bending my arms and legs. It hurts more when I do that, making the stabbing sensation stronger, but after moving a little, I hold my arm up to my face to examine it closely. There¡¯s no sign of blood soaking through the fabric, which means that it¡¯s working as intended. At least in the department which keeps most the blood inside my body.


    Glancing up at Hiro, I notice that his expression has turned pained, and his eyes look a little darker than usual. ¡°Are you quite sure that it¡¯s not killing you?¡± he asks, taking a deep breath through his nose.


    I roll my eyes, though I¡¯m really kinda touched by his concern. ¡°Yes, Hiro, I am positive. This is going much better than some of my tests. You remember all my failed attempts at flying devices?¡±


    He shudders dramatically. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me. They¡¯re the reason I always have a fire extinguisher nearby whenever we test something.¡±


    ¡°A wise idea, really,¡± I say, nodding sagely. Truth be told, I also don¡¯t like thinking about those near-death experiences. But it is good to remember that things could always be worse whenever my tests grow uncomfortable.


    Running through one last limb check, I take a deep breath and nod. ¡°The pain has become completely manageable. I rate it a two out of ten at the moment.¡±


    Hiro writes that down but shakes his head. ¡°If the test is so successful, then I¡¯m not sure why pain needs to be involved at all.¡±


    ¡°No pain, no gain, right?¡±


    ¡°Not sure that they had the tests of a mad scientist in mind when they made up that phrase, but if you say so My Lady.¡±


    Ignoring his sarcasm, I continue, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s move on to the real tests. Test number one, speed enhancement. You might want to step aside, assistant.¡±


    Looking wary, Hiro moves to stand against the wall, giving me the whole rest of the dojo to work with. I take a deep breath and whisper, ¡°Here goes nothing.¡±


    I seem to do nothing more than lift my foot, but then I have to throw my weight backwards to stop myself from crashing headfirst into the far wall. The tip of my boot stops a hair away from the stonework. ¡°Holy shit! I can¡¯t believe that actually worked!¡±


    Taking my time to turn around and face Hiro, just in case I lose control of myself, I find that he¡¯s watching me with open mouthed shock. ¡°Ha!¡± I crow, ¡°Mark it as a ten for success. And make sure you add that it left you speechless in awe. That says a lot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie, it really does,¡± he says in disbelief, finally remembering how to close his mouth. He takes the notes then looks up at me with a wild light in his eyes. ¡°I was not expecting anything like this. You moved almost as fast as a vampire!¡±


    Giving him a smug look, I reply, ¡°Well that¡¯s the idea. If I want to fight vampires, it will be much easier if I¡¯m at their level. And since that test was so successful, now it¡¯s time to pull all the stops.¡±


    Pulling some more gadgets from my hidden pockets, I fit them into place. A watch with a touch screen that allows me to control the settings for everything. A pair of goggles that not only enhance my vision but make it easier to see things clearly while moving at high speed. Small devices that clip onto my ears to enhance my hearing. At least, in theory that¡¯s how all this stuff works. Since it¡¯s all untested, I won¡¯t know until I try them.


    I turn on all the gadgets, unable to stand the suspense of activating them one at a time. If any of them are going to fail fantastically, I¡¯d rather know about it sooner than later. When nothing extreme happens, I focus on adjusting them all.


    The hearing enhancers work a little too well at first, making my heartbeat sound like an explosion. ¡°Jeez, do vampires really have such good hearing?¡± I mumble, fiddling with the settings on my watch so that they filter out the sound of a heartbeat. When I can no longer hear my own, I look up at Hiro, my breath catching in my throat as I see him through the vision enhancing goggles. He really is flawless, even more so than I ever realized looking at him normally.


    Shaking myself mentally, I force myself to focus. Maybe it really would be a bad idea to have him with me on my first mission. The distractions would be extreme. ¡°Can you drop your pen?¡± I ask, wincing as my voice blares in my ears. A little tweaking later and I add, ¡°Testing, testing¡­ There, my voice is manageable.¡±


    Hiro holds the pen out then lets it fall. I hear the sound of it hitting the ground loud and clear, as if it were dropped right next to my ear. ¡°Test successful. Now pick it up and try to put it down soundlessly.¡±


    He follows my instructions, and even though he tries his best not to make a sound, I still hear the subtle noise of it touching the floor. ¡°Test successful!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve really outdone yourself this time, My Lady,¡± Hiro congratulates me, standing up to record the notes.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see if these goggles work.¡± Smiling at Hiro innocently, I add, ¡°You can mark down that they make you look even more handsome, and that¡¯s something I didn¡¯t think was possible.¡±


    Hiro shrugs, but he can¡¯t keep the smile from his face. ¡°Your words, not mine.¡±


    I take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. ¡°Goggles and movement test.¡±


    I¡¯m more prepared this time for the suddenness of my movement. And the goggles do their job well, allowing me to keep my motion under strict control. I run five laps around the dojo in the blink of an eye. Unable to resist the temptation, I come to a screeching stop in front of Hiro, lifting the googles and darting in, attempting to kiss him. I thought with my speed enhancements I would be able to manage it this time, but somehow he manages to place his finger on my lips to stop me.


    ¡°You¡¯re too predictable,¡± he says, one eyebrow raised.


    I sigh in frustration and take a step back. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why you bother trying to stop me when you probably want to kiss me as badly as I want to kiss you.¡±


    Again, his expression turns sad and he murmurs, ¡°What I want is irrelevant. I refuse to put my own selfish desires ahead of what¡¯s best for you.¡±


    A slow, slightly wicked smile spreads across my face. ¡°So much for you being more stubborn. I just made you talk about the forbidden subject.¡±


    His eyes narrow dangerously and he clenches his jaw. I take an involuntary step back, unable to stop a shiver of fear from trembling down my spine. ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll drop it Victoria. I refuse to talk any further about this until you¡¯ve had a chance to see the world and meet some people. I¡¯m way too old for you. If you choose to be with me, I don¡¯t want it to be because you never met any other guys.¡±


    The deadly serious expression on his face tells me he means it. I sigh, defeated. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t be surprised when no one out there catches my eye.¡±


    ¡°I will be surprised if that¡¯s the case, but pleasantly so,¡± he replies, his expression softening a bit again.


    ¡°How old are you anyway?¡± I ask, hoping the sudden question would catch him off guard and give me an honest answer.


    But Hiro just smiles politely, butler mode in full swing. ¡°Please, let us continue with the tests. It¡¯s almost time I prepared dinner.¡±


    Knowing that the battle is lost, I resolve to focus all my energy on the tests. I run all my gear through rigorous examinations, finishing with a strength test for the bodysuit.


    I lead the way from the dojo to the gym that¡¯s connected to it. But I pull up short in surprise so fast that Hiro almost bumps into me.


    The Grandmaster is there, doing his daily exercises. Currently, he¡¯s shirtless, doing pull-ups with a huge weight hanging from a belt around his waist. The Grandmaster is an imposing figure at the best of times, his stern face scarred from a lifetime of battle. The suits he usually wears around the house do little to soften his appearance, but seeing him like this is always shocking. He¡¯s in his eighties, but despite that, his body is still as fit and strong as that of a much younger man. I¡¯m a little ashamed to admit it, but I¡¯ve always been afraid of him when I see him in the gym. Without his shirt, the scars on his chest make him look absolutely terrifying.


    ¡°I hear your latest tests have been going well,¡± he says in his deep, steady voice, not pausing in his pull-ups.


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± I reply, standing a little straighter. The Grandmaster always taught me that it doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m afraid, as long as I remember never to show that fear. I put that training to good use now. If he knew that I was still afraid of him after all these years, he would be furious with me.


    He¡¯s loving in his own way of course. But his own way is never to show it. He¡¯s stern and strict, and that¡¯s how he shows love. When I was a child, just old enough to begin training, we began hard. He never struck me or hurt me, but if I was doing something wrong, his voice would shake the foundations of the house. Before I ever learned to fear the bite of a monster, I learned to fear the wrath of The Grandmaster. I should be long past that stage according to him, but it¡¯s a fear I never could grow out of.


    He does one last pull-up, then lets himself drop to the ground, landing lightly on his toes despite the huge added weight. ¡°It¡¯s an enhancement suit.¡± He says it as a statement, not a question, and my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I wonder what else he overheard. Probably all of it, but considering he isn¡¯t glaring daggers at Hiro, he must have approved of Hiro¡¯s controlled responses to my teenish impulsiveness.


    ¡°Yes sir, it is,¡± I reply carefully. ¡°It works better than calculated.¡±


    ¡°Explain it to me, in layman''s terms,¡± he orders, hanging the belt with the weight back in its place and crossing his arms.


    ¡°It uses electrical currents through thousands of tiny needles to stimulate my muscles and make me capable of inhuman feats of strength and agility,¡± I recite, making sure to meet his eyes. The Grandmaster is big on solid eye contact while speaking.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± he grunts, then nods to the heaviest bench press in the room. ¡°Show me.¡±


    I don¡¯t bother protesting that we haven¡¯t tested the brute strength portion of the suit yet, and that we should start with something lighter. As far as I know, neither The Grandmaster or Hiro can lift that weight. At least, I¡¯ve never seen it used, although Hiro never works out when I¡¯m around.


    Swallowing my fears, I walk with purpose over to the bench press. Hiro moves to spot for me, a worried frown on his face. ¡°Let me know if you need help,¡± he whispers, too quiet for The Grandmaster to hear. With his policy of trial by fire, I know that he would disapprove of Hiro¡¯s intervention.


    ¡°Take notes. Extreme weight lifting,¡± I tell him, placing my hands at the correct position on the bar. I brace myself, trying to ignore The Grandmaster¡¯s gaze boring into me. Very slowly, I push against the bar, not sure what to expect.


    The bar moves as if it weighs nothing.


    I feel a smile break out on my face as I let it come down to my chest then extend my arms to their full length. It takes no effort.


    ¡°Test successful! I think I could easily lift something even heavier.¡±


    ¡°Better not over do it for a test run,¡± Hiro cautions. ¡°Put the bar back for now. We also have to test if there are any lingering side effects once you¡¯ve had a night of sleep.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good point. I hadn¡¯t really thought of that,¡± I admit, carefully resting the bar back on its stand. I sit up and stretch my arms. ¡°For now, I feel perfectly fine.¡±


    The Grandmaster stares at me hard for a moment. ¡°For the first time, something you¡¯ve made doesn¡¯t look like a complete waste of time,¡± he rumbles, and coming from him, it¡¯s high praise. ¡°Go get changed for dinner. We have something we need to discuss.¡±


    He turns and walks for the door before I even have a chance to finish saying, ¡°Yes sir.¡±