47)

I exhaled as I entered Bullet Mode.

The scrolls I was allowed to examine called it, “The Dance between the Raindrops" but Uncle Dave renamed it to something easier for my generation to visualize.

Really it was more like my parent's generation, but when I pointed that out he showed me just how much faster he was than me by flicking my forehead. Then he claimed that was level one.

My Chi flowed around me and was pushed along with my breath. And I could see by the way the men stood that they were definitely here for me as the first two lunged forward with cracking tasers in their hands.

The technique to carry an electric charge across the skin, and to slow it down until you made contact with an enemy and let them take the hit was not something I had been trained in yet. First I had to learn how to carry a blow against me without crossing my heart before I would be taught how to do the same with lightning.

Instead, I brushed my left hand over the right to block the light from the ceiling above in order to pull the dagger form of my Naginata from out of the shadows and into my hand, then swept my left hand out to knock one taser aside while reaching out to drag the tip of the dagger over the back of the other man’s hand.

The tip of it slit open both his black leather glove and the flesh below so deep that I could feel it bounce over his finger bones.

Then I kicked the guy next to him’s knee in the side and saw his leg begin to buckle as the joint bent inwards with a snap. Then I followed that kick with a spin around and jumped high enough to put my knee into the face of the man dropping his taser from his bleeding hand. Smashing him up against the side of the elevator doors.

I inhaled.

The two men behind them pulled the first two men back and I faced off against them for a moment.

Flipping Goryu over the dagger landed point first and vanished into the darkness within my cupped hand before I crossed my arms and leaned against the back of the elevator until the door shut between us.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“I wonder what the hell that was about? Oh, hey. Free taser.”

Which had a few drops of blood on it, and that was a good thing since the dagger was completely clean of all blood. I stared at it. “No. No drinking blood and then trying to mentally influence me to stab more people. Behave.”

I wasn't sure if that was a real danger, but I thought it was best to set ground rules now just in case.

Examining the black metal of the knife, I realized I really needed to name it to make it my own.

“Void? No, it has a history.” The metal, and the magic, each came from three branches of my family tree, all coming together. What did you call it when two rivers merged?

I checked on my phone. Convergence. Or something pronounced like Goryu in Japanese, which sounded appropriately violent in English. “Gore You. Nice”

At the door to the family suite, I pressed my hands against the door and pushed my magic out beyond my skin. Grandma answered the door with a smile, which fell as she grasped my arms and lifted them up while looking me up and down. Before spinning me in place, then pulling me in tight with my face pressed into her shoulder.

Why am I shaking?

Aunt Rose’s magic filled the room as she linked herself more strongly to the room’s wards. “Blood has been spilled. It’s not hers, right Brie? Brianna? Talk to me.”

Grandma pulled me into the room, the door slamming shut behind me with a glance from Grandma.

Suka began to circle the room, growling with a sound that shouldn't be that loud or deep from a puppy. While Aunt Rose pulled the taser from my hand, regarding the smear of blood on it with a grin. "Oh, I have you now. You son of a… Shoot I guess I can't say that anymore. The Bitches on our side.”

Grandma reached out to place her hand over the taser and lifted it away to gaze down at the wet red stain on her hand. "I have them." She looked her younger sister in the eye. "My Granddaughter. My bloodline. I claim vengeance by my hand."

She walked me over to sit on the couch. “They don’t fear our family enough, not all of us. It’s time to remind them that nice is not weak.” My Grandmother looked at her sister. “Call my son, guard the children.”

Then she walked over to the windows which opened before her as her peasant blouse, shawl, and long blue skirt turned into some things darker and older looking as she lifted free of the floor with one hand gripping an ancient looking broomstick as she drifted out into the air.

Holding up her blood stained hand, she regarded it, then the air shimmered around her as she vanished away.

Aunt Rose closed the window and pulled out her phone.

“Idiots. Never anger the healers, they know the worst ways you can be hurt.”

I learned a new word that evening. Fugue.

Ami and Aran were sitting beside me, arms wrapped around me. I don't remember them joining me on the couch.

Then Mom had Aran on her lap as she pulled me in close as I cried and babbled about how it felt, cutting skin and breaking bones. The way the bones in the man’s face shattered under my knee.

My Dad and Aunt Rose arguing about him going out looking. "She cut one, there should be a blood trail. My Dad can follow them anywhere."

I laughed at the idea of my silly old grandpa, all hairy in his Warform with blood all over his hands and teeth. The laughter just wouldn't stop. “No Dad, don’t take Grandpa, he won’t hold back. He won’t be him anymore.”

Then Aunt Rose was giving me a scared look as she pressed two fingertips against my forehead. "Sleep without dreams, Sara."