“And any wrong turn I make, she will get them all to go against me. Jackson, I didn’t choose this life, it was chosen for me, and you know as well as I do, I’d rather not be a leader.”
“But you can’t be an underdog either. You are either a lone wolf or head of the pack, so start stepping up. The recruits look up to you and the legend you have created within these halls. Sophia hates that and will never be able to win them over the way you do. I’m just looking out for you, that's all.”
“I know and you always will. I won’t have to speak to or see her until the meeting now and that’s fine by me. I will behave.”
I gave him a teasing wink as we walked down the main steps towards the large open field where many of the recruits had begun to practice with dull swords and blades. The best part of training was always the weapons for me.
Once they master the art of sword play, they eventually move onto guns and semi-automatic weapons alongside their studies. Once I had been spotted, they all stopped what they were doing instantly and stood up tall.
“Don’t stop on my account. Carry on, I am just observing.”
Eric, one of the trainers and captain of our soldiers, was walking around the circle of trainees as he spotted me standing there with my arm still linked in Jackson's. He was an ex-fighter and had been a part of our B team but sadly quit after his entire team were slaughtered by the alpha’s werewolves one night on patrol.
Eric was a tall man around six feet with large muscular arms, he walked like a bulldog and although you wouldn’t think it, he could take you down to the ground in a breath and his marksmanship was impeccable. It’s why he was asked to become a trainer, to show the trainees exactly how it’s done.
“Nice to see you joining us, Miss Helsing. Care to show our new recruits just what it takes to be a great leader and fighter like yourself?”
“I’m afraid I might embarrass one or two of them if I were to win.”
“You’d be going up against me.”
“Well then I would be embarrassing you, wouldn’t I?”
Eric smiled and huffed under his breath. We had both been trained together, grown up together and each taken very similar paths, aside from mine being the one I had to take. I envied him and his freedom to do what he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Growing up in our teens and early twenties, we had a short-lived romance, and I knew Eric wanted more but deep down, I also knew I couldn’t give it to him.
“Is that a challenge then?”
Picking up one of the not so blunt swords from the weapons stand, Eric threw it to the ground in front of me and took his stance while the recruits stepped away to give us space. Leaving Jackson’s side, he rolled his eyes and then proceeded to light a cigarette and watch with amusement. Picking up the sword and feeling its weight balance perfectly in my hand, I felt my second nature kick in as if I had done this for all my life and previous past lives.
Within seconds Eric took a swing and clashed into my steel, his smile disappearing and determination replacing it. My mind stayed clear and void of any unnecessary distractions, the air around me quiet, not even a hum of a bird could disturb my concentration.
Pushing Eric’s sword off and almost flinging him a few feet away he looked at me with anger in his eyes as he ran towards me and swung high. Quickly stepping out of the way and turning on my heel, I swung my sword back and caught him on the back of his left thigh. He was clearly unimpressed and already turning around to come at me again, our swords met with a loud clang and his eyes appeared to become bloodshot while his cheeks started to go red.
“Had enough?”
I asked, toying with him as he again clashed with my blade. Again, again, and again. He was huffing and puffing, whereas I appeared fine and just as I was before this ‘lesson.’ I began to hear the mumbles and questions within the crowd of recruits as they watched us both. Dropping my sword to the ground, I took a bow towards Eric and then drew my attention to everyone else.
“Do you all know the history of our clan and how we are able to fight as we do? Why do we age so slowly and have the abilities we possess?” I asked and of course, I was met with silence. “Hmmm, what are they teaching you here if not one of you can answer me?”
“Is it because of our blood?” A small voice appears from the crowd and a young girl stepped forward, no younger than I was when I began my training.
“Yes, in a way you are correct. Our blood plays a massive part in what we can do. However, there is one huge difference to the Van Helsing bloodline. We are gifted, or cursed if you wish to be more correct, with the blood of a vampire. An alpha, to be exact.”
I waited for the few stunned faces and shock to settle before continuing.
“You see, the very first Van Helsing, back in the fourteenth century, was an accomplished fighter and protected his family and village, but he could not keep the monsters away permanently. He was only human. So, he made a deal with a witch, Lady Elizabeth Grey. You might recognise that name from your British history books, she was the great grandmother of Henry the Eighth’s and a witch by blood. She cursed many men throughout her time, including her own royal line, and yet when Van Helsing arrived at her door, she greeted him like an old friend and pleaded her undying love to him, despite being already married to a King.”
I looked around at everyone as they all stared at me with awe and it dawned on me, no one had been taught any of our true history and it disappointed me.
I made a mental note to speak to Sophia about the history lessons as they clearly are not being taught what they should be.
“Elizabeth Grey performed a ritual to give our clan the powers they have, and Van Helsing became the greatest warrior there has ever been to fight against the darkness and evil. He was ‘blessed’ shall I say, with the blood of a young alpha in exchange for one of his daughters, which he gave willingly.”
“He sacrificed his own daughter for power?” Asked the young girl again.
“Yes, to protect and save the world. A small price to pay for what he managed to do, as his descendants, including myself, have done for humanity.”