Free Jude Stephens by Touch of a VAmpire Page A

wasn’t in the Navy. Not with your
lack of swimming ability.”
    I stared at him with my mouth open. “Did you just
make a joke Mark?”
    A small smile tugged at his mouth before he got all
serious again. “Cheve and I talked this morning. He is a decent
sort, Olivia. He asked me to help with your self defense training.
He only wants to train you so you can survive the threat that being
a Sensay carries.”
    We both were silent for a moment, thinking about the
arrow that narrowly missed me only the day before.
    “ Your right, Mark. I will be more
receptive. It’s just that Cheve annoys me for some reason. But then
again, all the men I’ve recently met are assholes.” I quickly
added, “Present company excluded.”
    Mark nodded at me. He was back to his usual non
talkative self. When he left I went in to shower and change before
Cheve took it upon him self to come get me. When I was finished
dressing in jeans and a t-shirt, I made my way to Onatah’s
longhouse. Cheve was already there but stood when I entered.
    “ Good morning,” I greeted Onatah.
I ignored Cheve.
    “ Good morning, Orenda. Did you
sleep well?”
    “ Yes, up until Cheve woke me up at
an ungodly hour.”
    Onatah laughed. “You will get used to that, Orenda,
and you will get used to the rigorous schedule we set for you. I
know its difficult now but you will see the benefits soon.”
    I sighed. I really didn’t want to be difficult. I
know everything they were doing was for my own good. “I truly
understand, Onatah, and I apologize if it sounded like I was
complaining.”
    Onatah smiled at me and Cheve just made a rude
noise. That man was an ass. I decided I would work hard and show
him that I could do this. With no complaining!
    After breakfast we met Mark and began my self
defense training. It was more advanced than the previous training
Mark and Andy gave me. Not only did we practice martial arts but I
was given self defense manuals to study. They looked to be military
but I didn’t question how they were acquired.
    Then my strength training began. This consisted
mostly of upper body workouts. I thought he would have me lifting
weights, but instead I found myself moving large rocks.
    I was actually happy to do this instead as I learned
that this area was going to be cultivated to grow some crops next
spring. After a few hours of the grueling work, Cheve came over to
tell me it was lunch time. I thought we would be heading back to
the village, but Cheve produced a sack lunch for the both of us. We
ate in silence. When we were done Cheve stood and said “Let’s go
walk by the water.”
    “ Okay, maybe I can wash a bit of
this grime off of me.”
    Cheve looked at me and said, “You are a bit dirty. I
apologize. I should have allowed you to wash up a bit before we
ate.”
    I accepted his apology with a nod since I felt
awkward.
    We walked to the edge of the river and I knelt down,
scooped up the cool water and splashed it on my face. It felt like
heaven and I let out a long sigh.
    “ That is the perfect place to
start with your next set of lessons.” Cheve said as he knelt beside
me.
    “ Excuse me?”
    “ With your delight in the touch of
the cool water. I want you to do it again, though this time;
picture each and every cell in your body as the water touches it.
As you picture the cells, picture those cells reacting differently.
Not being pleasured by the cool water. Picture those cells being
burned by the water.”
    I looked at him with skepticism but decided to
follow his instruction. I closed my eyes and instinctively began a
slow in and out pattern of deep breaths. I went inside myself and
saw cells moving along my blood stream alive and vital. I followed
the cells that were moving towards my face. There they caused my
face to flush with signs of good health. I reached into the cool
water, still concentrating on the millions of cells traveling
through my body. As I brought my cupped hands full of the cool
water slowly to my face, I