I groan and get back up, igniting it again. How the heck is she so fast?!
Kill that woman! I'll help you...
No, I won't, and I don't need you! Now, I clearly hear this other voice in my head, bugging me and crawling like a shadow around my mind. I try to focus on Selena, on her aura and the fight. That aura thing is rather weird. It's not something I clearly see, more like an impression. As if I had an extra layer in front of my eyes that is superimposed with the Luna's image. Maybe I can use that...?
I inhale and get ready for the next attack. As expected, she felt no need to give me room to breathe, and runs at me again. Instead of getting all riled up for the voices to react, I wait, trying to stay calm and focus on that aura of hers.
I feel a gush of wind past my left cheek. I move by mere reflex to avoid the hit, but actually, Selena's fist only arrives one second later. I dodged it! However, I don't have time to celebrate as she throws her elbow in my face right after. Damn it... I feel my nose take the hit, hard, and my own blood is dripping down into my mouth. Oh, gross.
"Holy shit, Mara, you okay?" asks Kelsi from where she stands.
"Yeah..."
"You dodged my move," says Selena, squinting her eyes with interest.
"It doesn't look like it," mutters Ben, looking sorry for me.
"No, my punch. You moved right before I tried to punch you, at the right timing too."
I nod, trying to stop my nosebleed. Seeing that Selena has stopped her attack, Kelsi runs to me, handing me a handkerchief to help with that. It takes a few seconds to slow down the bleeding. It's a bit painful but my self-esteem took the hardest hit.
"Yeah... I think I felt it coming."
"Oh, foreseeing," comments Daniel. "That's interesting..."
"Yeah, let's do that again," says Selena. "Maybe it will come to you again. Moreover, you controlled yourself just fine before, didn't you?"
"But she's bleeding..."
Kelsi’s weak protest is ignored by the werewolves, but I also confirm I'm fine. Strangely, that fight sort of woke me up. I feel... alive. Like something in me opened up again.
"Thank you, Kelsi, but I want to continue. I'm good."
"Are you sure...?"
I nod. I'm really fine, and I want to continue this fight. I glance at Selena, waiting for me on the side with her arms crossed. I don't really care if I get a beating, I'm not looking to win. I need to learn to control myself, or else next time, I might do something I'll regret to someone I care about.
Once I feel better and my nose is clear, I give Kelsi her handkerchief back and get into a fighting position.
"Let's continue. Please."
Selena smiles, and we resume our fight.
Just as I had predicted, it's more of a beating than a fight. I get back up every time I'm sent flying, and my whole body aches, but at least, I'm starting to control the voices. They are like a storm in my head, but I realize once I'm not that angry and accept the fight, it's not nearly as hard to ignore them. I can do this...
The foreseeing doesn't happen more than twice again. I'm not even sure what it is. The second time, I feel the pain in my ribs before it occurs, but I miss the timing to dodge because I didn't realize what it was. The third one is more efficient, I manage to dive down before Selena sends a flying kick my way. When I'm sent to the ground one more time, I struggle to get back up. I hear her chuckle. Damn it... I didn't even get to hit her once!
"Alright, little witch, let's stop here for today," she says.
"No... One more..." I insist, despite the pain spread all over my body.
"No, you're done and you need to rest for today. Also, I don't have all night to train you. My girls are waiting for their mom and my husband will make a fuss if I'm late."
Oh, so she's really a mom like the information said... Kelsi comes to help me sit. I nod. Indeed, I am dead tired... I could use a long break. I can already feel all the bruises I'm going to get by tomorrow. She really didn't feel sorry for me. Selena smiles and goes to the bar to grab herself a drink. Meanwhile, her friend Daniel sighs and walks up to me. He crouches down to my level. Seeing him up close, I do recognize some of his features.
"She likes you," he says.
I can't help but raise an eyebrow.
