Chapter 23

A month. A damn whole month of pain is what its brought me.

Overall its bee a month since Laith agreed to take me on as his student.

A 5am start in the training rooms, way before anyone else is up.

Laith first had me doing simple body weight workouts to see my human strength which is not 'half bad' quoting him. Then it followed with Interval training which included over working my heart to increase fitness and speed however I was not allowed to turn. This proved me to an immense challenge my body kept changing random limbs and parts into fur.

Varian found it damn hilarious whilst poking his head in,to see me with half my limbs with paws and it wasnt until he had called over Will to have laugh that Laith sent them off. Bastards.

After a full three hours of that shit it was changing form time. Laith made me change into fox form which was easy enough then hawk form which is still weird as hell. But then he made me change into tiger form which went down like petrol on a bonfire. I mean not only did I flop the first attempt but the second attempt I lost control and slashes Laith's side.

Mara was so pissed she refused to heal me and made me wait for my own wounds to heal, which took a good week or so. But when I was finally back it was the same shit again and again until Laith finally allowed me to try tiger form.

Laith changed into his lion spirit mode then beckoned me to change into tiger form to which shocked me by not going to shit. The tiger instincts seemed placated by Laith's presence and allowed me to change back without too much damage other than a few muscle strains. Laith determined the size of the tiger is why my muscles got strained which then lead to some disgusting yoga sessions.

Listen I am not the most prejudice of person but when Laith is doing a downward dog in front of me and all I can see is his ass its not fun.

On the other hand Laylas interaction with Laith were less strained since she joined us for yoga sessions and her frustration with yoga helped make the sessions bearable.

At Laiths demand I was to up my eating to four meals a day to help gain some muscle, this being pretty easy considering the kitchen team he sorted for us.

The kitchen staff were a jolly bunch all had heightened senses in one or another, I met the chef who grows vegetables who to my surprise had the longest nose I had seen. He apparently smells every plant ensuring its growing in prosperity, I dont know much about his past before here but you wouldnt guess he was a fighter put it this way.

The kitchen prepared big stews and bloody baked beans which me and Layla chuckle about every Tuesday. But the best thing they do by far is a nice roast duck that they steal plenty of from the Thames river, yes I know it sounds gross but food is food here.

Yet the biggest change from our month's stay here is me and Layla. We are closer than ever but have other friends now. I mean Layla and Lin's daughter Katie are two peas in a pod, whenever Laith tries to get them in some class of some sort they sneak off. Poor Laith. He recently started some classes for the kids here but half of them sneak off.

The classes were Lin's idea she wants her daughter to learn some things in case this whole plight of ours works out. I get it Lin as always is the badass optimist but I do think she is looking way too far ahead into a future we dont know about.

The classes are history and English right now, as Laith says as long as they can count lets not push it. But Im not involved right now so dont ask me.

After me and Will's art talk shall we call it, we bonded over Art weekly. He never mentioned the talk again and I didnt probe him, but I would call him a friend now.

Me and Will take pleasure in pissing Varian off about his endless love affairs, but dont be deceived Varian and me clash like anything. Varian spends all his time in the experiment lab pushing his power and analysing the properties probably to see what else it can do.

As for me when I am not training with Laith, I am trying my new forms.

Yes I know I shouldnt be pushing myself but I have to get stronger. Laith stated I could not be a flighter without progressing my power.

So here I am stood on that patch of grass me and Varian conversed on a while back. I am visualising the cheetah in my mind. The shape of its head. The slim build of its body.

The last few times I attempted this form I looked like a spotty fox with big paws. So now I am starting from scratch. I visualise the head again then the body and finally the paws.

I clench my fists in apprehension. Here goes nothing. I call forth my power.

Heat sears underneath my skin and the snap of bones signals the change. Agony rips through me but I continue.

Before I have my front legs changed and my hind legs on the way. I focus on the tail and feel my tail bone crack as a tail is gone using bones of my spine. Shit this hurts. Tears stream down my face as my bones shake in their new make up. I hold it. I can feel my body willing my bones to return to what was but I must hold it. My body eventually stops shaking so I focus on the head. The worst bit. My jaw snaps as my shifts into the shape I will it too. My eyes are snapped back causing me to heave as they grow and morph in size. In the space of 15 minutes sweat is cascading down every cell of skin. But I am not done. I feel the familiar pinch as fur threads through every cell and claws are snapped from bone to then protrude through my paw. After 30 mins of agony new form has settled and my power has stilled. Have I done it?

Lifting my head I look at the ground analysing the distance I am from it now, so I have definitely shifted but into what? I engage my hind legs which shakily but surely lift me up. I shudder and my breath comes out in gasps before I launch into a sprint.

The only way to know if this attempt worked is to run as thats what cheetahs do best.

But what I didnt expect was within four seconds of running at a steady pace I shoot forward. I am sprinting down the quiet street feel like I could fly.

At a glance in the reflection of the car a purple cheetah in all her glory stares back at me. Heck yes. I did it.

I swing left and run back towards the warehouse, a car speeds by but with a smirk I push on faster leaving the driver agape.

I can tell what he is thinking already.

1)What the hell is that a cheetah? 2) Why the hell is it purple? 3)How the hell is it in London?

I feel cocky so I bare my fangs in a smile and continue to the warehouse.

I bolt through the warehouse doors earning a nod from Aibek and fling myself into the doors to go to Laith's office.

What normally takes me 20-25 minutes going up these damn stairs takes me 5 in this form. I am loving it.

I reach the third floor and put my bum and hind legs on the floor to stop skidding across the slippy floor but to my dismay it doesnt work.

Not only do I go sliding into the training room but I bring down Layla, Laith and Varian with me.

Oops.

Yeah I need to learn how to stop. Seriously.

'Jesus Erza some warning next time?' Laith says mumbled as his face buried under Varians body.

'Hey E!' Layla laughs gleefully as she strokes my ears.

'Useless as always.' Varian pushes Laylas feet out of his face as he states this.

Once everyone stands up Laith and Varian jump back shocked at my form.

I finally find my voice.

'What'd you think?' I lick my paw on instinct waiting for their responses.

Laith still stunned by the image of a purple cheetah stays abundantly quiet, whereas Varian opens his mouth as usual.

'I reckon it would be cooler if you learnt how to stop once at full speed moron.' Varian smirks the usual smirk.

As usual I retort back.

'Tell me Varian who is it today; Maddie, Nicki or Tasha your confessing your love too?'

Varian bristles immediately as if love offends him. Jackass.

'I dont love Erza I just lust. Oh i forget you dont know what that means do you? Well Erza when a boy finds you attractive even in your case with the scars you have..they want to put their thing in_' Water slams into Varian sending him flying.

I turn to look at Laith who is wearing a face of panic right now with electric blue eyes. His hands are covering Layla's ears much to her annoyance and is shooting daggers at a soaking Varian.

'One more word in front of my daughter on that topic I will drown you.' His voice sounds feral.

Varian nods with a smirk in my direction and I just laugh poor Laith.

Laith now decided we wont ruin his daughters childhood removes his hands and withdraws his power.

'Good work Erza. Once you have mastered that form in under 10 mins you will go on missions with Varian and Will as flighters.'

I am pretty sure my mouth hit the floor. No fucking way.

I look over at Varian who has the same expression.

'Wait Laith you cant be serious I cant work with her!'

'Laith I am not working with him.'

Laith's triumph has faded into abdication.

'Yes you will work each other and Will is the mediator between you too. AH no buts.'

Me and Varian sigh as he stopped our next sentences coming out.

'You guys can benefit each others growth. Varian you gather intel as a flighter that means you have two jobs with Erza around you wont have the burden. On the other hand Erza you want to get stronger in the field so Will and Varian who have more experience will benefit you.'

Ugh he has a damn point. Fine. I will work Mr. Player over there.

'If he flirts with me he is dead.'

Varian looks aghast. 'Me flirt with you? fuck off.'

Laith chooses then to shout. 'LANGUAGE.'

Resigned I will my body to change back. My bones crack back and my muscles reposition themselves within minutes I am human again. Why is it easier to change back then into I wonder.

Varian looks pale after my display and gags before stating 'Your disgusting you know.'

I narrow my eyes and spit out a 'shut up.'

Laith clears his throat before turning back to Layla who has been watching our entire reaction.

'Okay Lay try again. As Varian showed you release your water like popping a balloon, all at once.'

Layla nods and winces as gushes of water fly out and splash to the floor. Laith smiles proudly and Varian nods.

I look at Varian who looks cheerful and he watches Layla. This must be his way for atoning for her getting hurt. He is helping her train.

I turn my gaze back to Layla who is sweating as she forces more liquid from her body...her limit has increased but her strength has not grown yet.

'Now Layla visualise with your mind the shape you want. Come on now you can do it.'

Layla nods but looks to me for reassurance...she looks scared, so I stand in front of her and nod letting her know I will catch her if she feels woozy.

Layla smiles and continues.

The water around her shifts and she spreads her arms like a bird so the water shapes into a sphere like shape. Ahh its the defense barrier we practised before we came here.

Layla's breathes deeply and closes her eyes. The water around his a sphere but small points start to emerge looking like spikes and they keep growing. They grow so much in fact that I take a step back in fear of getting spiked.

Laith steps forward. Pride planted on his face as permanent as a tattoo.

Layla holds the sphere with spikes for as long as a minute until it loses shape and flops to the floor.

Laith catches Layla as she faints from exhaustion and I smile broadly. Layla did it. Despite her injury from the entity she is still here and growing so fast in strength.

Pride glosses over me and I cant help but yell in excitement. 'Lay you did it!'

Layla squints her eyes and whistles a tune of celebration as Laith cradles her in his arms.

From where he was a month ago Laith is becoming a good dad in my eyes.

The sound of applause from the door frame has us all turning to the sound.

Will and Lin stand there whooping and clapping at Layla's progress and I cant help but agree. This is the life Layla should be having...people around her proud of every move and in the folds of security.

The one person not shouting or exclaiming is Varian. His eyes are fixed on someone else, so i follow his gaze to the door frame.

But all I see is Lin and Will. I turn to look at Varian's gaze again full of adoration and dare I say love?

Surely Varian cannot be looking at Lin wait so does that mean he is looking at Will.

A feeling of stupor smothers me.

The tenseness in Varian's behaviour when love is mentioned.

The oncoming flood of girls but no relationship.

Even his comment on loving a girl.

All makes sense now.

Varian is in love with Will.

I turn my gaze to Varian whose emerald eyes sparkle as Will walks over to slap him on the back in greeting.

An ache shakes from within me.

Varian. No wonder he feels so alone.

I cant say anything right now and I wont.

But by the gods I know how it feels to love someone but have them out of reach.

The anguish Varian must feel daily. I pull my eyes away from the scene; I feel I have uncovered something to raw, to indescribable and too private for my eyes.

So instead I walk to Layla and pull her into a hug.

Some things are better left unsaid in my mind.

But other things need to be said.

'Layla?' I say looking down at her.

'Ahhuh' Layla responds.

'I am so proud of you.' I hug her tighter.

Layla responds the same before whispering 'Lets get stronger together E.'

I reply back with a confirmation and a promise. 'Yes we shall Lay.'

We bloody well shall.