Chapter 22 ∣  Dematerialize

-Maverick

Five Years Later

Maverick: 14 years old

Tamsin: 12 years old

"Ha-ha!" Tamsin appears behind me, punching her right fist in between my shoulder blades. Hooking my arm around, I spin on my heels, ready to slam my fist into her stomach when right before my eyes, she vanishes, hiding within the shadows and away from harm. It is amazing, her speed and agility have increased exponentially, able to disappear at a moment's notice.

Waiting for her to make her move, I see Killian out of the corner of my eye, leaning against the wall, Kenzie smirking as she too, waits to see what her daughter is planning. There is barely any sound made when Tamsin appears before me, bringing her left leg up and aiming her knee for my stomach.

Quickly sidestepping out of her reach, I grab her foot with both my hands, throwing her off balance and letting her crash onto the floor. Lunging for her, she rolls away, but not before I manage to wrap my hand around her wrist, pulling her back to me. Rolling forward and onto her arm, she wraps her legs around my arm, flipping her body over mine until she is sitting on my shoulders.

Pulling hard and turning slightly, I hear my arm snap. I yell, the pain searing through my body, my grip completely lost on her. Continuing to roll off me, she kicks me in the back with both her feet. When I try to break my fall, I roll into the ground with my good shoulder and onto my knees.

"No, Maverick," Killian warns, seeing the shift in my eyes, my black rose ones meeting his emerald ones. In a split-second decision, I let go of the anger with the way she had outmaneuvered me. Breathing in steadily and then out calmly, I focus on using my blood magic to align with my natural vampiric healing and quickly let the bones fuse together.

Kenzie lets out a sigh of relief, my anger slightly improving. It seems to just wash away when I snap my eyes back in front of me, Tamsin crouching down, her arms crossing her knees as her chin rests on her bare arms. Her blue eyes gaze into mine, kneeling just a foot away from each other, her eyelashes blinking slowly. Her beautiful hair is braided and gently falls over her right shoulder, her breathing is steady.

"You want a turn?" She asks, watching me as I glance back at Killian. Apparently, she is done using me as target practice and wants to give me the chance to home in on the power that Killian has slowly been teaching me. With my blood magic aiding me, he wasn't sure I'd be able to learn as connecting with the shadows is an inherited gift, a gene passed down through an assassin's family lineage.

I did something he hadn't expected.

I surprised him, and my training was going very well. He was much calmer, the years spent in this safe house and the way Killian had slowly begun to see who I really am, is more than I could have asked for.

Killian shrugs and states, "I don't see why not, just don't overdo it," he shoots me a warning look. Something I have grown to notice, he is far more protective of Tamsin then even my father was of Lucette. It is odd, and I am not sure why. He at least has come to trust me with 'touching' his daughter as he had so boldly threatened me before when I almost hurt Tamsin if you can call fighting, 'touching'.

Tamsin stands to her feet, relaxing when I also rise to my full height. She remains still in front of me, watching with curiosity as I attempt to do what comes so naturally to her.

Exhaling slowly, I close my eyes, trying to feel the connection that has become another part of me, taking up residence right next to my blood magic. It is a dark feeling, but at the same time, power overwhelms me, taking hold of my chest and thrusting me into the darkness of this plane of existence in between life and death. The fine line and balance between the two are so transparent, it is hard to see just how far you are crossing over until you lay eyes on the ones living, connected to the Earth.

There are just two things I will never be able to learn.

One, assassins can see each other, even when they are dematerialized. Tamsin and Killian can watch every move I make, but the smile that comes to my lips is unexpected when he claps.

Two, when assassins are grasping the shadows, melding with them, they can read the minds of anyone they wish. It is scary because you never know who might be stalking you...and they can see what you are planning before you even execute the well thought out tactic. They are the perfect killers and I can see why covens value having at least one. Nothing gets past them, everyone is see-through in their eyes, understanding the truth which resides in each individual person.

It is one thing to meld with the shadows, but it is entirely different when you are using them to fight. Tamsin will evade my attacks, as I still can't fully fight with either her or Killian while trying to control this.

Clenching my fists, I draw my right arm back and punch for her chest. Tamsin takes one step back and out of my way, the next attack coming from overhead. She drops to her knees and dives between the opening in my legs. Whirling around to try and kick her, she leans back, my leg sailing over her chest. Dropping my foot to the ground and shifting my weight to the other, I snap kick at her knees.

Gracefully, she backflips away from me, standing with her eyes still locked onto me. My breathing is uneven, panting as I try to keep this connection alive. Slowly, the shadows dissolve around me, bringing me back to the world and dropping me to my knees. The palms of my hands welcome the coolness of the ground as I gasp, trying to regain my composure.

Killian and Kenzie both walk over to me, kneeling and placing a hand each on my back.

"You did really well," Kenzie smiles, her eyes lifting as Tamsin walks closer to me, plopping herself down on the floor.

Killian agrees, "You're working hard, Maverick. It's paying off. Once you can fight while dematerialized, you'll be able to hold onto the shadows without a fight for a good amount of time. It might just save you one of these days."

I lift my head up, Tamsin grinning at me, "Now if only you could teach me about blood magic." She giggles, and I just laugh with her, my breathing evening out.

"Too bad," I reply, and she winks at me.

My power is only growing, and I can see it does put them all off at times, knowing that even at such a young age, I can kill someone if I want to. I have yet to end a life and I want to keep it that way. If no one comes after me, there is no point going after them. Feeding isn't really an issue, as Killian and Kenzie hunt, prying on humans to regenerate themselves and then offering me their blood in return. They don't have to, but they don't want a death on my conscience.

Killian and Kenzie back away, allowing me to finally stand up, Tamsin still sitting on the ground, her hands resting on her knees.

"Why don't the both of you get some extra rest?" Kenzie urges us, "It's still a good four hours before sunrise, maybe you can get some extra sleep.

She is right...I am spent.

This is becoming easier, but it is still hard, and I am thankful they are being so kind to me, unlike when we first arrived here. This isn't how Killian and Kenzie imagined raising Tamsin, and I understand that on multiple occasions when they take turns drawing closer to the coven, sparking their connection with the other members. It is mostly, my mom and I've lost all connection like Killian had said, shutting everything off and away like he had told me before. I hadn't believed him, until one day I woke, and I couldn't communicate with Tamsin any longer.

It broke me, losing that last part of what I used to be a part of, falling away from me in the blink of an eye. She still tries to include me and began writing secret notes to pretend we are being sneaky and sly. Tamsin attempts to communicate with me this way, to make me feel that connection I once had, but it won't ever happen for real again.

Tamsin rises to her feet and walks away from us, heading toward the door and out of sight.

"What's wrong with her?" I ask, unsure of why she is acting distant suddenly.

Kenzie says cautiously, "She's fine. Just misses home."

It's my fault she must be here...

Guilt washing over me, I nod and reply quietly, "Thank you...for everything you've sacrificed to watch over me. I'll never be able to repay you, but I hope I can prove to you all that I'm not that bad...I just have moments."

Kenzie giggles and replies, "Oh, we know sweetie. Just, try not to have those 'moments' too often and you should be okay. Hopefully...everyone will forget, and you'll fade away from their memories. It's hard...but it will honestly be better, then people won't come after you."

It hurts, but she is right. I am learning that I can't get attached to people or places anymore. It only makes me weak and I will need every bit of strength and knowledge I have in order to survive. At least they are giving me the skills I will need, the tools I thought I'd never learn.

I leave the training room, finding my way up the wooden stairs and to my room, sighing as I grasp the handle and push it inward. Closing the door and locking it behind me, I flop on my back, staring up at the ceiling and letting my thoughts consume me. When I had all but relaxed, my heart almost leaps from my chest as I panic in bewilderment.

"Maverick!" Tamsin hisses quietly and cups her right hand over my mouth, appearing above me, her eyes locking with mine. Her knees are on either side of my chest, her eyes narrowing when I finally calm down from being startled.

Letting her hand slide away, she smirks at me. "Want to go have some fun?"

"Bu-But I always end up in trouble..." I grumble, knocking her off me as she catches her balance on the floor, turning to tilt her head down at me.

"Oh, come on...it'll be fun! You wanted to feed on someone other than my parents," her voice trails off as though she is debating some grand decision.

"Yea..." my own voice lingers, sitting up on the bed, "...where are you going with this? I can't bite humans...you know that and I'm not biting you. Your dad has made that perfectly clear and I'm not going to disobey him."

She rolls her eyes and asks, "How about we go find some rogue vampires?"

That...that sounds like an interesting idea.

"You'll have to feed on them sooner or later," she taunts me, walking around the bed and pulling back the curtains, the sun still very much down behind the horizon, "why not live a little?"

"Tamsin...your parents worry about you," I am uneasy, but her offer is too compelling. Glancing over at the window as she opens it, I stand to my feet, walking up behind her, "Okay...if it's just quick..."

Published on Amazon as an ebook and paperback.

The Rogue Pureblood Vampire by K. A. Young.

If you don't have a Kindle and can't purchase the book off Amazon, you are more than welcome to join my Patreon page and receive downloadable PDFs under the Pack Tracker Tier.

Please click on the link on my bio.

https://www.patreon.com/SerenityR0se