You Will Only Be Mine

"Welcome back," Ethan said, sitting before me, and I instantly got in a defensive stance. "You're picking up quick, I like that."

"Anyone with the most basic sense of self-preservation will react how I do," I commented, not letting my guard down. The memories from that last beat-up were still fresh in my head.

He didn't move for some time, but I didn't let my guard down. I don't know what he has planned for today, so it is wise to stay on guard constantly around him right now. Can't even get some proper rest in my sleep. At least my body does get that, so I'll count that as a half-win. I stayed in my position while Ethan slowly sipped on his wine, not moving in any form of offensive way. Come and get me, I will for sure avoid you for longer.

"How long do you plan on staying in that weird pose?" he said, and my shoulders relaxed for a bit. "Do you have any idea how awkward you look? Is this how you plan on staying all the time with a strong opponent? You have my blood, trust it."

"I don't know how much your blood will help, especially against you," I said, and he chuckled.

"You do have a point there," he said and got off his chair. "At least you got the motive down, though you look like a scared duck in that position. Be more aware and on guard of everything, even when not in a defensive stance."

"Why do I need to when I know what will come next?" I said, and he shook his head. At that moment, he stepped forward before appearing right before me. Surprised and terrified, I stumbled, and my footing got uneven. Right then, he aimed a kick at my shin, and the overwhelming pain took over my body. "Argh!" I grunted, holding my leg, only to see that my lower leg wasn't there anymore. As the realization hit, a bigger wave of pain went through my body.

I grabbed my leg trying to stop the bleeding, but fell on the side, losing my balance. It wasn't as bad as getting my eye stabbed or heart ripped out, but still, the pain was immense. I tried everything in my power not to scream in pain. It would only distract me from keeping my focus on him. I bit down on my tongue, holding back a scream.

"I'll commend you for being on guard the moment you saw me, but you have to make sure not to make it too obvious," he said, standing over me. "Be aware of your surroundings, get ready to be pounced at any moment, but don't show it physically. Standing like that will just make you an easier target; you will never know when something will happen."

"What…about when…I do?" I somehow mustered some words under the grunts due to the pain. The next moment, all the pain was gone, and my leg was back in its place. Convenient, but terrifying.

"Even then, don't act like that. Getting in that position only gives the enemy a sense of superiority. Don't let them know just how much stronger or weaker you are to them unless the altercation starts. The more vampires know they will be easily able to overpower their opponent, the more they will toy with them," he explained, and I slowly got up.

"Won't that open them up to making mistakes?" I asked him and he nodded.

"But I don't want them to think they can just beat someone having my blood that easily. It is an insult to me," he said, and I looked at him with a deadpanned look.

"You have serious ego problems," I said, and he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Happens when you are that strong, take your aunt for example. Isn't she similar to me in that aspect?" he asked me, and I thought about it a little. Does Natsumi-san have an ego problem? I don't think so. I can say she may have hints of anger issues and is quite physical, but can I even pin that as an ego issue? "When was the last time she ever looked or felt weak before you?"

"Maybe when she was worried to death about me. However, I won't call her weak in that situation. More…soft, I guess," I said, and Ethan's hand made its way across my face, easily breaking my cheekbone and bouncing my brain in my skull. My body flew across the place, and I fell a good distance.

My vision was dancing all over the place, and three Ethan leaped at me, not slowing down in the slightest. I need to get out of here, or I know for a fact he will break through my ribs yet again. Right as he was able to land, I rolled out of the position as a loud cracking sound echoed in the place.

"Is the floor here made of concrete?" I asked myself as I quickly got up.

"It is made of whatever you think it is made of. This is how your mindscape works," he said, walking over to me, and I got in a defensive stance. "Don't. Lower your hands, and stand facing me straight. Get that drilled in your mind, you will never be able to pick up those instincts unless you don't learn how to immediately defend yourself at the drop of a dime."

I lowered my hands and stood normally before me as he walked over to me. With each step, my heart was beating faster and faster. I know he is going to attack me. How? With what? Does he plan to just injure me like before does he plan to straight up kill me? I have no idea. My body was screaming at me to get into a defensive pose, and I instinctively slowly moved.

"STOP," he spoke in a more commanding tone, and my body froze. He stood inches away from me, looking down from his giant frame. "Don't make me use command on you. Have control over your body rather than the other way around. Command it how you want to command it. Overcome your unconscious."

"You know that sounds counterproductive when the goal is for my mind to remember how to instinctively protect myself," I said and placed his hands on my shoulder.

"Your body instinctively defending itself and knowing when to do it are two different things. Don't do it out of fear, but knowing full well an attack is coming. Fear will make you trip, it will form gaps in your movement, and make you sloppier in a battle. Defend fully knowing what you are doing before your brain can tell your body what to do."

"Right now, my body is screaming at me to get your hands off of me," I said somewhat calmly, completely trying to hide just how much I was panicking. I don't know what he was going to do next, but I can only guess, and every possibility was more painful than before.

"Ahaha, I like what your body is thinking," he said with a big smile.

CRACK

The next moment, a sharp pain ran through my body from my collar. I looked down to see that both my collar bones had cracked and were poking out of my skin. "ARGHHHH!" I couldn't hold back my scream as I was let go by Ethan. I stumbled back, trying to lift my arm to do something, but even the slightest movement made it hurt even more. Why does this have to be his way of training? I will never complain about training with Natsumi-san or any of the hunters. I take back every complaint back till this moment.

"That's better, learn how it feels to have every single bone of your body broken. Even worse pain is waiting for you in the future, so you get accustomed to this life," he said, laughing heartily as I writhed in pain. I bit down on my tongue to stop the scream and bear the pain, closing my eyes, but that turned out to be a bad move.

SHUNK

"Fuuuuuuck!" I swore and wanted to lift my arms to cover my eyes, which were stabbed with two sharp objects, but I couldn't.

"Don't close your eyes, that's how you die in a battle. Even if you are in pain, keep your eyes open. Closing them is how you lose your life," he said, but I couldn't fully comprehend him as I was too busy screaming in pain. Soon, my collar bones healed, and I covered my eyes as warm liquid fell smeared against my hands.

"You're insane!" I shouted, and Ethan laughed.

"No, I am manic. Don't forget that moving forward. I will not hold back because you will be fixed no matter what I do to you," he said as I could hear his footsteps getting closer, and I jumped back. "Locating me from just sound alone? Good, use every single one of your senses to its fullest. Hear everything you can: my footsteps, my heartbeat, my breathing pattern, and even the lightest sound of my clothes brushing against themselves. Healing in real battle for you will be less instant, and the pain will still persist. Learn like this for now."

"For now?!" I shouted, and my eyes stopped hurting. I quickly opened them as I saw Ethan standing right before me with a big smile on his face.

"We are going to have a long training session today. I won't go easy anymore," he said.

Someone save me from this man.

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