Atomic Redwood Revamped

Chapter 5: “Learning how to fight”

“Julian can you bring out some non-moving targets?” Jacques asked.

“Yeah sure.” Julian answered, pushing a button, making some dummies come out from the far wall, full in length dummies.

“To start you out Tempest, I’ll teach you how to use the throwing stars, then the sword. The last thing will be using gun since I believe it will be the easiest. Now don’t worry right now where you hit them, that can come later. Right now just hit them.” Jacques said, taking one of the throwing stars, putting a tip of it between his middle and index fingers. With a fast moving of his wrist, the throwing star left his fingers and hit one of the dummies between the eyes.

Tempest faced the dummies and took a deep breath, taking a star between her fingers like Jacques did. The throwing star went flying towards one of the dummies and hit it in the head, but all it did was fall back down to the ground.

“That’s okay, you just need to put more power behind it. You’re a good shot though.” Julian spoke.

“Tell me Tempest, have you ever played sports?” Jacques asked.

Tempest turned to look at them. “Basket ball. I’m pretty good at it.”

“Think about basketball when throwing them, but picture the basket far away.” Jacques suggested.

Tempest turned back to the dummies with another throwing star in her hand.

This time instead of doing as Jacques said to, she asked her father for help within herself.

With that done, she opened her eye which she didn’t remember closing and took another deep breath. She threw the throwing star again and this time half of it was buried into the dummies forehead.

“That was extremely good! You most really be good at basketball.” Julian said with happiness.

“Well actually I wasn’t thinking about basketball.” Tempest announced.

“If you wasn’t thinking about that, then what were you?” Jacques asked.

“Well I was asked for help really. Help from, my father.” Tempest answered.

Julian walked up to Tempest and hugged her, which weirded her out. “You are your father inside and out.” Julian said, releasing her with a smile on his face and water in his eyes.

At the sight, Tempest couldn’t help but smile back. ‘Julian and my father must have been like brothers, just like me and Krystal.’ Tempest thought to herself.

“Darius always believed that spirits were with him and helping him.” Julian explained.

“Well now that I know that such things as vampires and Lycons exist, why not spirits?” Tempest said with a smile.

“Well now that you have the throwing stars figured out a little, it’s time to learn the art of swords. Later dodging. Jacques will show you the basic moves first.” Julian said handing Tempest her father’s sword and smiling again.

‘Why does he always smile? He always seems to be happy. That’s fine… I have decided that I like you Julian and that you are a good guy.’ Tempest thought to herself.

Tempest was too involved into her own thoughts that she didn’t see Jacques grab his own sword, or heard his talking to her…

“…Are you listening Tempest? Tempest?…” Jacques asked as he walked up to her.

What brought her back to reality was Jacques’s hand on her shoulder. She blinked and blushed when she saw him starring down at her with what looked like worry in his deep red eyes.

“Sorry… I was… never mind.” Tempest said, bowing her head, being to embarrassed to look into those deep red eyes of his…

“Tempest, I promise I’ll let you and Julian talk about Darius for as long as you want but right now it’s very important that you at least learn the basics.” Jacques said with his hand still on her shoulder.

“Oh that’s not what I was think about. I just decided to myself that I like Julian, he’s nice.” Tempest whispered. Jacques smiled at her.

“Well then that’s good.” Julian responded from across the room. Tempest blushed and turned to look at him. “…Vampires have very good hearing. I wasn’t trying to listen in, its just hard not to.”

“ Well with all that out of the way, can I please teach her the basics of sword fighting?” Jacques asked no-one in particular.

“ha ha. Okay Jac.” Julian laughed, shaking his head.

“Julian don’t call me Jac, I hat that.” Jacques demanded.

“Oops, sorry Jac, old habit die hard.” Julian said, smiling the whole time.

“Sure you are… Just don’t do it anymore okay.” Jacques said, not believing him in the least. :Okay Tempest, hold your sword like this in front of you. This is called a protecting stance. You use this to protect yourself from on coming attacks, but it no use without it, you could die.” Jacques explained, getting into the position.

It went on like that for about three hours with some attacks to see how she could handle them…

“Very good, so we’ll call it quits for today.” Jacques told her as he put up his sword on a table in the room. Tempest also put her sword on the table next to his.

“If you want to talk, we can do it later. Right now you should eat and get some sleep.” Julian said in the doorway of the training room after they already walked out of it.

“You mean you’ll really tell me about my father?” Tempest asked.

Julian leaned her right shoulder on the door from and smiled. “Of course I will Tempest.”

Jacques placed his hand on her shoulder, which got her to look at him. “Come I’ll show you where the kitchen is so we can get you some food.”

“Okay.” Tempest responded.

They went upstairs and turned to the right, that was the kitchen. Now this wasn’t any normal kitchen. This kitchen looked like a chefs kitchen, an Italian chefs kitchen. “Wow…” was the only thing Tempest could think to say.

“Julian is originally from Italy. Even though he doesn’t need to eat, he still does cause he loves to cook.” Jacques explained.

“Yeah I can’t help it, force of habit you know.” Julian responded from behind. Tempest jumped not knowing Julian was around. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I forgot you can’t since me like Jac here can.”

“That’s okay.” Tempest answered.

“Well how about I make you something? What do you like to eat? Name it and I bet I can make it.” Julian asked.

“Well how about something fast?” Tempest asked.

“Okay lets see…” Julian said looking around to see what he had. “Well I can make some chicken rice and hamburger pies.”

“I love chicken rice! But what’s hamburger pie?” Tempest asked.

“It’s hamburgers wrapped in pie crust. It’s really good.” Julian answered.

“Okay then.” Tempest decided.

“Good. It was your father’s favorite… And your aunts.” Julian spoke, grabbing the ingredients.

Tempest didn’t know what to do, Julian was making way too much for her.

“It’s done! Go on, sit down. I’ll fix your plate.” Julian said, pointing towards the kitchen table.

Tempest sat down when Julian brought the food over. He put one plate in front of her and then two others side of her. Julian took the seat to her left. “Jacques sit and eat or I’ll tell embarrassing stories.” Julian commanded with a smile.

Tempest looked at Jacques in amazement as he sat down and took a spoonful of rice in his mouth. Without a word or even looking at the others. She looked over to Julian, who smiled a ‘I can get him to do anything’ smile. She smiled back and took a bit of hamburger pie…

“Oh my GOD this is good!” Tempest said, loving the taste.

“Thank you. I was hoping that I didn’t lose my touch.” Julian thanked her for her approver.

Jacques didn’t eat much but it was enough to satisfy Julian. Tempest on the other hand pigged herself out! Julian had ate his fair share as well.

After they were all done, Julian grabbed the dishes and started cleaning them. “Here I’ll help you with those, you’ve already did a lot for me.” Tempest said walking to the sink.

“No, no Tempest. You are my guess and a prin-. You are Darius’s child, let me do the dishes okay. Here just go back to Jacques, he’ll show you to one of the guess rooms so you can sleep.” Julian said, showing her out of the kitchen.

Tempest stared at him. “what was you gonna say? What am I?”

“Might as well tell her, she’s going to find out one way or the other.” Jacques said from the table.

“Fine. Tempest you are a princess. Darius was the future king so that makes you first in line for the thrown.” Julian answered.

“Wow…” Tempest responded.

“Come on Tempest, you need your rest.” Jacques said getting up from the table and walking to her.

Tempest looked at Julian. “Go on, you need to sleep. We will talk later.” Julian reassured her.

Tempest smiled at him and nodded. She was tired, that was for sure… and a good sleep on a nice comfy bed is just what she needed…