The Initiate Page 5

  Unable to find her voice in the presence of such greatness, Biffy found herself staring.

  “You may have learned how to defeat the assault course in less than a day, but the skills we will try and teach you here will possibly take a lifetime to fully learn,” Mary Beth began. “If you truly wish to become a nun within our fighting academy, you will need to train with complete focus and dedication for many days. And if you truly wish to survive in this dark world, you will need to dedicate yourself to this task. Is that clear?”

  Biffy nodded.

  “Right, then let us see what you’re capable of. Pick the weapon you think you handle best.”

  Frowning, Biffy went over to the nearest rack. Swords of all sorts of different types lined it, resting in grooves or held up by their handles. She picked out a short sword that was the closest match to one she’d trained with briefly. It wasn’t a perfect similarity, but it would suffice.

  Holding it the way her mother had shown her, Biffy returned to Mary Beth. The woman nodded.

  “Interesting choice, but as you wish. Come, let us see what you can do with it.”

  Biffy swallowed, picking up on the hint of disdain in the nun’s voice. Was it obvious she had less experience with a weapon than without? If it was, there was nothing she could do now. She’d chosen it. No doubt she’d have fared worse had she picked a different sword.

  Mary Beth moved to stand opposite her, pulling the rapier she carried from its sheath and holding it up to the ceiling for a moment in a sort of salute. While Biffy was trying to mimic the action with her own blade, Mary Beth struck outwards. Although she did so slowly, Biffy failed at blocking it in any way, almost dropping her sword and coming to a halt with the rapier pointed at her heart.

  “Again,” the nun said. Nodding, Biffy tried to concentrate. This was either going to be a really long lesson where she was put through her paces and taught, or a short one where she was sent home in disgrace. She didn’t expect any kind of middle ground.

  Over the next few minutes Mary Beth attacked her again and again, moving far slower than both she and the punk vampire she’d fought had done the night before. It meant that Biffy could block most of the moves, but Mary Beth seemed to delight in getting through.

  “Enough,” the nun said eventually. Biffy was panting, exhausted already. She’d not managed to land a single blow on Mary Beth or her familiar. Admittedly, she was far better with ranged weaponry and hand-to-hand. This sword-fighting thing was far too close for comfort, and it distracted her from keeping herself safe.

  “Let’s move on, shall we?” Mary Beth gave nothing away, ushering her back to the edge of the room. There Breanna stood giving her a double thumbs-up as she grinned. The enthusiasm helped calm her a little. She had just tried to sword-fight against what was possibly the best fighting nun in existence. She shouldn’t be hoping to win. That’s exactly what the training was meant to get her closer to.

  Next she was led to the rack of ranged weapons. Before Mary Beth had even finished suggesting she choose a ranged weapon, Biffy had the crossbow in her hands.

  Instead of fighting the same nun again, Mary Barry stepped forward, also picking up a crossbow. Before she had come to stand beside her, another nun Biffy didn’t recognise had placed two targets at the other end of the room. It had descending circles on it, much the same as ones she had practised with at home.

  Her stomach settled as she took a step forward and placed her foot by the same line as Mary Barry. The nun nodded at her for doing the right thing, looked to her target and prepared to fire. Not needing to be instructed to copy, Biffy did the same, firing her bolt only a fraction of a second later. Mary Barry hit the bullseye, although not perfectly central. Biffy hit the ring two out. The first of the next colour.

  “Not bad for the first shot,” Mary Barry said. “Keep going until you’ve fired ten times.”

  Biffy picked up a small pack of bolts, the one she’d already used missing, and clipped them to the cord around her waist so they hung down by her right hand. One by one she fired them, the first couple going wide still until she worked out this particular crossbow’s quirks. The next few were much closer to the centre, helping settle Biffy’s nerves even further.

  When Mary Barry stepped back into place and rapidly fired off more shots, going at a speed Biffy could barely hope to replicate, it put her off a bit. The next few were back in the next set of coloured circles down. As Mary Barry once more finished, Biffy inhaled and exhaled deeply, calming herself once more, hoping to make the final shot count.

  It hit the centre of the target, her best shot yet.

  Breanna broke into delighted clapping and whooping, Boo’s squeaking coming from somewhere else in the room. Even Mary Barry gave her a brief nod.

  Counting up her score, Biffy realised she’d managed to get eighty-five points out of a hundred. She’d done better before, but not with a new target and new weapon. It was a performance she could feel proud of.

  “Right, next we have the skill of unarmed combat.” Mary Sue gave Mary Barry back her chicken and walked to the centre of the room. With a clatter, Biffy hurriedly returned her crossbow, almost forgetting to unclip the empty bolt holder still attached to her. Once she’d discarded all that, she hurried closer.

  Mary Sue raised her fists and Biffy readied herself in a similar manner. Not doubting she’d be beaten, Biffy tried not to show her fear.

  For a moment Mary Sue merely looked at her, waiting. It was drawn out for so long, Biffy started to wonder if she’d missed something or was meant to be doing something else.

  Eventually the nun bowed. Biffy copied and then the two of them were bouncing back and forth on their feet, fully on guard. For a moment they bounced around each other, neither willing to take the first strike, but then Mary Sue lunged. Biffy easily dodged it, but she could barely think about some kind of responding move when the nun threw out another punch towards Biffy’s face.

  She managed to block it, just, the blow still hard enough against her arm to cause pain and make her expect to see a bruise in the morning.

  Back and forth they went for the next few minutes. Every time Biffy tried to get in a shot, Mary Sue would easily deflect it back on her. Growing frustrated, she overstepped. The sister caught her wrist and with a twist and spin, Biffy found herself on her back, her arm pinned up by her shoulder.

  Making a stabbing motion towards her heart, Mary Sue made it clear that if she’d been a vampire she’d have just become dust.

  “Not bad,” she said as she helped Biffy back to her feet. “Wait here.”

  Biffy nodded and gave a small bow, her lesson over. The three Marys came together in a huddle, whispering among themselves. Not sure what else to do, and not daring to move when she’d been instructed to wait there, she beckoned Hairwig closer.

  The annoying owl flapped closer but instead of landing and becoming her usual comforting presence on one shoulder, Hairwig hooted and flew overhead in circles. Why did her familiar have to act up now, when the three Marys were nearby? She didn’t want to appear like Breanna and have a familiar who kept causing mayhem.

  Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the Marys to reach some kind of conclusion.

  “It’s clear you’ve fought vampires before and have had enough training to survive against weaker members of the undead,” Mary Beth said. “However, there is still much you must learn before you would be ready to fight the kind of menace which seek us out here in Sunnyvale. We feel it best to continue instruction on weapons-based fighting and hand-to-hand combat every afternoon.”

  Biffy nodded before she realised they had left one of the three main disciplines off. As Mary Beth was walking away, Biffy hurried forward.

  “What about ranged?”

  The nun stopped and looked thoughtful. “Do you enjoy the practice?”

  She bounced her head up and down eagerly. It was one of her favourite past times.

  “Then continue to use the ranged equipment as you would wish to
. Once a week, one of us will check in with you and see if we can give you any further advice to improve. But you are already good enough to past your initiate test.”

  Biffy felt her insides grow, her chest swelling almost responsively. A happy sigh escaped her as the three Marys left. She’d managed to impress them in one field at least. But she suspected she still had a lot of work ahead of her.

  Chapter 7

  A couple of days later, Biffy relaxed in the courtyard, the sun beating down on her head. Hairwig had taken shelter underneath the eaves of the stable. Almost every inch of Biffy’s body was covered in bruises from the different lessons she’d had and she ached from head to foot. Tired didn’t even begin to describe how Biffy felt. But at the same time, she was the happiest she’d ever been. Getting to train and learn from the best at the academy was an honour, and it was a privilege she didn’t expect to forget in a hurry.

  It had taken a long time for her to settle into her lessons each time, her body not used to anyone else trying to direct her, or of sparring with anyone so much better than herself. Breanna had been strangely absent the last few days as well. Biffy was alone, lonely, and bored.

  Only twenty minutes earlier, the vampire lurking in the under-croft had popped back into her head. She’d never had a satisfactory explanation of why he was there. Admittedly she’d not asked outright. Breanna had made it clear she wasn’t meant to have gone anywhere near him. Or, at least, that she wasn’t meant to be going to parts of the academy that weren’t necessary.

  Somehow, every time Biffy had got close to bringing up the subject of Spoke, she’d got the distinct impression that no one wanted to talk about him. He was a mystery, and on days like today, when she was alone and worried that she’d never be good enough to become a fully fledged fighting nun, it was almost all her mind could think about. She had so many questions.

  How long had he been there? What was he doing for food? Was he a prisoner as punishment? How much damage had he done? Would he really have not eaten her if she’d been easy prey? Why did he think she should have heard of him? And most importantly, why had no one mentioned him at all? It was all very confusing.

  Not long after thinking this, the heavens appeared to smile on her. She saw Sister Breanna coming up from the basement, what appeared to be an empty cup clutched in one hand, and a razor in the other. She was deep in thought, Boo perched on her shoulder, not chattering or scurrying around.

  Had she just been to visit Spoke? Who else could the cup and razor be for? Not sure, Biffy hurried over to Breanna, deciding to return the mildly overenthusiastic greeting she normally gave everyone.

  “Oh, Biffy, how goes your day?” Breanna asked, but her eyes didn’t stay focused on her, instead darting to the sides and back the way they’d come. Biffy could tell something had her spooked.

  “It goes well. I wondered if you wanted to have dinner together later,” she said, trying to think of something to explain her actions. Breanna’s face lit up, and Biffy knew there was no way she could back out of the suggestion now, no matter what had led to her asking.

  They arranged dinner plans and then Biffy let Breanna leave. Not far away was the door towards the under-croft, but Biffy didn’t head straight for it. Instead she carried on walking, waiting until there was no one around.

  “Stay here and keep an eye out,” she told Hairwig. For a moment her familiar didn’t move, merely letting out a disapproving hoot. “I know. But how else am I going to figure out what’s going on? Just stay here like you did last time. He’s chained up and I’ll be careful.”

  Hairwig flapped over to a small post and sat there, body still while her head rotated back and forth. After checking herself one more time, Biffy went through the barrier again, noticing the sound change once more. They clearly didn’t want anyone to hear him, not that he’d been making noise on her previous visit, or now.

  This time as she crept down, she held her cross out, no longer hiding it up her sleeve. She wouldn’t let him get the better of her if she could help it. Just like the first time she had come down there, she couldn’t see where he was, instead reduced to creeping forward, staring at shadows to see if she could finally spot him.

  “Well, well. Look who came back,” Spoke said, coming out from behind a small pillar. As soon as she spotted him she stopped, lifting the cross and making it clear she wouldn’t let him get any closer. He stared at it, grinning, more amused than put off by her attempts to defend herself.

  “Another sister was down here,” Biffy said, the words sounding pathetic as soon as she’d said them. What was this monster going to actually tell her? She wouldn’t be able to trust it, so why had she come?

  “So what if she was? Isn’t a fella allowed visitors when he’s a prisoner? I might be chained up, but that doesn’t mean I’m all bad, pet.”

  Biffy blinked. He was a vampire. That did mean he was completely bad. Vampires didn’t respect or care for anything. They just wanted to satisfy their many lusts.

  “You going to just stare at me or did you come down here to bother me for a reason?” he asked when she still didn’t speak. Had she gone down for a reason? If so, what was it?

  “I don’t understand why you’re here.”

  “You and me both, pet, but sadly I don’t have a get-out-of-jail-free card.

  A frown crossed Biffy’s face as the pair studied each other.

  “How’s initiation going?” he asked a moment later, leaning back against the nearest pillar.

  “Okay,” she replied warily. “It won’t be long until I’m officially a member of the same order.”

  “Bravo, pet. That must be a comfort. Have you done that assault course thing they like to set up in the courtyard yet?

  A moment later she nodded.

  “That is one of the best ideas I’ve ever seen. So many skills to be tested while using that. And good for beginners still.

  “It wasn’t easy to beat,” she conceded.

  Another silence filled the void, her brain desperate to think of something while he stared at her.

  “How do you know about the tests?” she asked a few minutes later. He let out a chuckle.

  “Now you’re asking the right questions, pet. It’s quite simple, though. I’ve eaten more than one initiate in my time. And more than one nun who’d just passed.”

  Biffy shuddered at the thought. He was so confident.

  “Mind you, a lot of that was many years ago now. Before the three Marys.”

  “They’ve given us hope.”

  “And they’ve given my kind a run for our money. Made us turn on each other. Not enough food. We go hungry. Unless nuns like your sister Breanna take pity on us.”

  “Is that why she was here?”

  Again he grinned, looking smug, like he knew something she didn’t, but he didn’t answer the question, instead moving off to one side, pretending a pile of boxes was suddenly very interesting.

  “So, since you’re here again, pet. Do you want to take a seat? Have a chat. Why don’t you tell me why you wanted to be a famed nun of St Maggie’s Fighting Academy? Did a vamp drink someone you cared about?”

  At first Biffy didn’t answer. It still confused her that a vampire even wanted to talk. They’d all seemed so mindless in their pursuit of a victim before. This one seemed entirely different. He wanted to know things. Already knew stuff.

  “Let me guess,” he carried on, studying her reaction. “Your mother?”

  She shook her head.

  “Father,” they said in unison.

  “Oh, pet. Hard to lose a father, isn’t it?”

  She nodded.

  “I lost mine when I was only seven. Typhoid fever. His own fault. Was a doctor. Thought his responsibility to his patients outweighed the need to take care of his own health.”

  Biffy’s mouth fell open. “You retain all your memories?”

  “You bet we do, pet. Everything. All our previous meals, likes, dislikes and preferences. Just imparted into a stronger, faste
r, more immortal body.”

  “What about morals? Your soul?”

  He chuckled. “If I had a soul still, it would be going straight to hell for everything I’ve done.”

  Picking up some of the chain slack beside his collar, he lifted it, letting it clank. “I do deserve these for some of my worst moments, and I was no saint before I was turned.”

  “How did you get turned?” she asked, sensing how open he was and desperate to find out.

  “I was having a bad day,” he replied, his grin getting even wider. “It got decidedly better.”

  There was silence again as he walked back and forth, his chain mostly in his hands. He was a strange character, sometimes so thoughtful and other times so full of gloating and amusement at everything. It was a strange combination, and Biffy didn’t know what to make of it.

  “But to answer your earlier question, Breanna brought me some water and a razor to shave with. I was getting far too hairy a face for my liking. One of the downsides of being trapped. I gave my hair a trim too,” he said. “What do you think?”

  Going to stand by the mirror, he pointed to a section of the image, making it clear he wanted her to look. Frowning, she took a step closer and gazed at his head. He had peroxide hair, so perfect it looked like it had been styled by the world’s best stylist moments before.

  “Not bad, don’t you think?” he asked, already turning to inspect another part of himself even closer in the mirror. “I would have missed something had it not been for the other sister.”

  She nodded, not sure how enthusiastic you should be when a vampire was discussing haircuts with you. He pointed to a patch of his chin she couldn’t see very well. In the gloom it was too difficult compared to normal life, but she edged a little closer again.

  Suddenly, he dropped a section of the chain that he’d been collecting up. He then stood and launched himself at her. Biffy frowned, yet again, and hurried back. Fear pulled her heart into her throat as he laughed and laughed at her shock.