Perfection (JL Spelbring) by JL Spelbring

Author:JL Spelbring [Spelbring, JL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Perfection
ISBN: 9781937053352
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: 2013-07-15T23:00:00+00:00

24

Sweat dripped down Ellyssa’s face. Her body remained in perfect balance while she strengthened her arms and legs. First, an extended knife strike to the throat of her invisible enemy, then she spun around into a roundhouse kick, taking out her enemy’s knees. Much like a dancer, she moved fluidly, as she practiced the sequence of katas she’d been performing daily since she had turned three.

The discipline had developed her, mind, body, and spirit, into the warrior she was bred to be. It helped keep her muscles strong and flexible even without the ability to run or use weights. She felt them pull under her skin, tightening, flexing, and stretching. Even after her accident, her body was ready, if need called for action. And, eventually, the call would come. Right now, though, the exercise kept her focus off Rein.

She swept her foot from Hachi-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi and snapped her arms out into a series of tsukis, yelling kias to accompany the movements. Performed perfectly, as always. If she had on her gi, instead of the black shirt and camo pants, the material would snap with the strength and form of her attack.

The kata completed, she brought her hands up and around, ending with her feet together and her arms at her sides. She bowed. Clapping erupted behind her. Unsurprised, Ellyssa turned around and bowed to Trista, who’d been watching her for the last five minutes.

“That was wonderful. I’ve never seen anyone do anything like that.” Trista bounded from the entrance toward Ellyssa, her blue eyes sparkling in excitement and her ponytail bouncing in blond waves. “Can you teach me sometime?”

“I’d be happy to,” Ellyssa said, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her hand froze in mid-swipe. She’d spoken like a normal person without even thinking about it. Mathew was right, practicing brought it about like second nature.

Trista’s face lit and exhilaration oozed from every pore. “Great!”

Half-afraid the female was going to hug her, Ellyssa stepped back and began wiping down her arms. Even with Jordan and his daylong visits, she still didn’t feel comfortable with everyone. Saddened over her inability to completely trust Trista, she turned from her visitor and washed her face in the basin.

Trista didn’t seem to notice her discomfort. She went over to Ellyssa’s cot and sat down. “I’d like that,” she said, crossing her legs. “By the way, Jordan wants to see you.”

Ellyssa’s gaze flashed toward the door leading into the tunnel. “What about the guard?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I sent him away. Your days of being guarded are over.” She picked up the novel Ellyssa had been reading and wrinkled her nose. “You like this book?”

Her eyes fell to the book Trista was thumbing through. To have a family, people who loved her, wasn’t that the true reason for existence? It definitely wasn’t to live in loneliness.

“I do.”

“I’m not much into reading. I know I should be, but…” She shrugged.

“All I have ever read were text books. Never any fiction. Just facts and more facts.”

The arch in Trista’s eyebrows and the pull of her mouth told Ellyssa how much she thought she’d missed.

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