Read Online Unveiled: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Novel (The Dark Skies Trilogy Book One) by Lysa Daley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lysa Daley
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him let that go before.
"I don't have a weapon," Jax shrugs.
My uncle points to a nearby corner of the studio where a barrel sits filled with extra weapons.
Jax selects the longest and most difficult staff to use. Rookie mistake. Not a smart choice.
But then, he examines it briefly and spins it, lightening fast, around his head. He's handling the unfamiliar weapon like an expert. Uh oh. My stomach drops. Perhaps I underestimated this guy.
"Ready to rock and roll, princess?" he grins.
"I was born ready," I reply, annoyed. “And don’t call me princess.” Only my uncle can call me that.
"Fight!" my uncle yells.
Before I can attack, Jax juts forward in fighting stance with his bow staff aimed at my head. I struggle to thrust my staff up parallel to the ground and block his strike.
"Excellent block, Astrid," Uncle calls out, circling the perimeter of the sparring ring. "But remember to follow up with an attack. Find that inner calm. Draw on the essence of the inner warrior."
I swing my left hand down, pulling my bow staff toward Jax's head.
He wants fierce. I'll give him fierce.
A strike to the chest or the head counts as a point. Unexpectedly, I connect with his helmet.
Point!
However, I hit him possibly a wee bit harder than I meant to. Jax stumbles back, shaking his head.
"No point! Too hard." I turn to Uncle, who is frowning. "Control, Astrid."
I swear the man is never happy. There is no denying my uncle is ten times harder on me than the other kids.
Any other student at this studio would have gotten that point. Any other kid wouldn't have to take karate five days a week. Any other kid would have gotten their weapons black belt years ago. Not me.
Jax gets back into fighting stance. He looks pissed.
"Begin!" Uncle starts the round again.
We circle each other, and I realize I'm taking too many flat-footed steps.
"Find the grace of the deer." My uncle sees my awkward movement too.
I slow my footwork down and move on the balls of my feet. We go back and forth. Parry, strike, block.
Jax is surprisingly fast. He's clearly been trained by someone who knows what they're doing.
He attacks from the left, forcing me to lean back. He misses and for a split second loses his balance.
I see my opportunity and advance striking out. This is the kill shot. With this strike, I will have won.
But somehow I miss.
He's fast and rolls away avoiding my bow. I whiff, my bow slicing through the air, causing me to stumble forward.
"Use the agility of the monkey and the balance of the crane to focus your strikes," my uncle calls to me. "Stop being so wild and clunky.”
I take half a step back, breathing in through my nose to gather myself. He's right. I have to align my energy and control my attack.
Through his mask, I can see Jax smirking. He thinks this is funny, that I'm not a real challenge.
Gathering my strength, I lunge forward, my staff striking swift and strong.
"Good!" my uncle calls out. "Very nice, Astrid."
I've got Jax on the defensive. I circle my staff low, forcing him to block it. This allows me to kick him firmly in the head.
He rocks back, and I counter attack with two more strikes - one to the chest and the other to his head.
I can see the headshot has rocked him; he wobbles unsteadily, and I'm worried I'm about to get another warning about hitting too hard.
Instead, my uncle claps. "Excellent combination. This is how you should always spar."
I feel a small surge of pride. I've finally made him proud. I nod, let my eyes flick over to my uncle.
Wham!
I'm struck in the head. The wooden stick cracks me on the helmet just above my left ear before I ever see it coming.
My head rockets to the side and stars float in front of my eyes. Blood pounds in my ears as I fall hard on the mat.
I was dumb enough to take my eyes off my opponent, and he has taken me down. When I look up, my uncle is moving toward me. "Astrid, are you okay? How many fingers am I holding up?"
For just an instant, my eyes go
"I don't have a weapon," Jax shrugs.
My uncle points to a nearby corner of the studio where a barrel sits filled with extra weapons.
Jax selects the longest and most difficult staff to use. Rookie mistake. Not a smart choice.
But then, he examines it briefly and spins it, lightening fast, around his head. He's handling the unfamiliar weapon like an expert. Uh oh. My stomach drops. Perhaps I underestimated this guy.
"Ready to rock and roll, princess?" he grins.
"I was born ready," I reply, annoyed. “And don’t call me princess.” Only my uncle can call me that.
"Fight!" my uncle yells.
Before I can attack, Jax juts forward in fighting stance with his bow staff aimed at my head. I struggle to thrust my staff up parallel to the ground and block his strike.
"Excellent block, Astrid," Uncle calls out, circling the perimeter of the sparring ring. "But remember to follow up with an attack. Find that inner calm. Draw on the essence of the inner warrior."
I swing my left hand down, pulling my bow staff toward Jax's head.
He wants fierce. I'll give him fierce.
A strike to the chest or the head counts as a point. Unexpectedly, I connect with his helmet.
Point!
However, I hit him possibly a wee bit harder than I meant to. Jax stumbles back, shaking his head.
"No point! Too hard." I turn to Uncle, who is frowning. "Control, Astrid."
I swear the man is never happy. There is no denying my uncle is ten times harder on me than the other kids.
Any other student at this studio would have gotten that point. Any other kid wouldn't have to take karate five days a week. Any other kid would have gotten their weapons black belt years ago. Not me.
Jax gets back into fighting stance. He looks pissed.
"Begin!" Uncle starts the round again.
We circle each other, and I realize I'm taking too many flat-footed steps.
"Find the grace of the deer." My uncle sees my awkward movement too.
I slow my footwork down and move on the balls of my feet. We go back and forth. Parry, strike, block.
Jax is surprisingly fast. He's clearly been trained by someone who knows what they're doing.
He attacks from the left, forcing me to lean back. He misses and for a split second loses his balance.
I see my opportunity and advance striking out. This is the kill shot. With this strike, I will have won.
But somehow I miss.
He's fast and rolls away avoiding my bow. I whiff, my bow slicing through the air, causing me to stumble forward.
"Use the agility of the monkey and the balance of the crane to focus your strikes," my uncle calls to me. "Stop being so wild and clunky.”
I take half a step back, breathing in through my nose to gather myself. He's right. I have to align my energy and control my attack.
Through his mask, I can see Jax smirking. He thinks this is funny, that I'm not a real challenge.
Gathering my strength, I lunge forward, my staff striking swift and strong.
"Good!" my uncle calls out. "Very nice, Astrid."
I've got Jax on the defensive. I circle my staff low, forcing him to block it. This allows me to kick him firmly in the head.
He rocks back, and I counter attack with two more strikes - one to the chest and the other to his head.
I can see the headshot has rocked him; he wobbles unsteadily, and I'm worried I'm about to get another warning about hitting too hard.
Instead, my uncle claps. "Excellent combination. This is how you should always spar."
I feel a small surge of pride. I've finally made him proud. I nod, let my eyes flick over to my uncle.
Wham!
I'm struck in the head. The wooden stick cracks me on the helmet just above my left ear before I ever see it coming.
My head rockets to the side and stars float in front of my eyes. Blood pounds in my ears as I fall hard on the mat.
I was dumb enough to take my eyes off my opponent, and he has taken me down. When I look up, my uncle is moving toward me. "Astrid, are you okay? How many fingers am I holding up?"
For just an instant, my eyes go
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