Eyes of Amber chapter 10

Chapter 10
Training, day one

Amber woke up late morning with a huge yawn.

“Hay sleepy head, looks like someone had a good night’s sleep,” said Sara as she brought over a cup of tea.

“For a change I did have a good night’s sleep, thanks” said Amber as she took the hot cup of tea. Amber looked at her wrists there was no marks on them or her ankles so she decided it mush have all been a dream.

“Yeah well I’m glad you can sleep on a cold hard floor, but I can’t. I’m going to crash at my, Gran’s, if that’s ok, because no way am I sleeping another night on that” said Sara while pointing to the green sleeping bag on the floor. “Gabriel, says it isn’t safe to go home yet, so we’re best staying at a relatives, and well, Gran, is always happy to have me” laughed Sara “so I’m going to get my things together and head over there now.”

“I’m so sorry for what happened yesterday, Sara, especially to your new shoes.” Laughed Amber trying to lighten the mood.
“Oh well, it just gives me another excuse to go shopping.” joked Sara while collecting her clothes that Michael had packed.
“You ready for your training to begin?” asked Michael as he strode into the hall, he was dressed in black from head to toe, black cotton t shirt, black combat pants and black boots and some sort of black wrapping around his hands.
“Ready as I’m ever going to be,” replied Amber while walking over to the mats that Michael was placing on the floor.

“Ok. Before I begin to show you some moves I’m going to talk you through the basics. One always try and re-direct your opponent, so when they come at you do something that they don’t see coming, works every time. Two take control, they might have a weapon it’s your job to take control of that weapon to make yourself safe. Three defend yourself, once you have control of the weapon or have a good hold on it, hit them with everything you’ve got that might be your only chance. Four remove the weapon from them and use it; this isn’t just for demons but for anyone who threatens you. In your case, your weapons are your fists, head, legs and possibly teeth, we won’t move into blades, daggers, spears or any other kind of hand held weapons yet until you master what natural weapons you already have.” said Michael as he walked around Amber as she stood in the centre of the mat.
“But I’ve already killed some demons with weapons?” challenged Amber as she threw Michael a puzzled look.

“Yes well, in an ideal world you would have been prepared before hand, and since that was yesterday and today is today you’re going to learn how to defend yourself without a weapon. Even if it means you have to retreat!”
“Retreat?” asked Amber again puzzled, “I thought you said I was like some kind of warrior, and you’re teaching me how to retreat as well as not use any weapons.”
“We all must learn the basics and the first and most important rule is to survive to live another day,” replied Michael as he continued to circle Amber,
“Ok why are you walking around me like that? You’re making me uncomfortable and dizzy. It reminds me of something from one of my dreams.”
“Like the one you had last night?” asked Michael as he stopped walking and stared at Amber through her eyes, into her very soul.
“How did you know about last night?” whispered Amber while keeping eye contact with him,
“I was there, Amber. I saved you!” replied Michael as he seemed to stand up a little taller, his muscles flexed, he looked more like a warrior of old, like he was some kind of gladiator ready for battle, like he did in her dream.
“How? What is happening to me, Michael?” asked Amber as she began to feel something, like a flicker of electricity run through her entire body. Amber’s eyes seemed to shift in and out of focus, her vision becoming stronger; better, sharper then all of her senses began to improve. Her sense of smell, touch and her hearing all seemed different. Better. She could hear people outside of the building, having conversations. This was not normal.

“You are changing, Amber into what you were meant to become. You are born of both worlds a Nephilim, half angel, half human you have the power of both species, I do not know what your powers are or what you are meant to do come judgement day, Amber but I can help you prepare for the battles ahead. When you dream, do you always dream of, Lucifer?” Asked Michael as he broke eye contact with Amber and looked away.
“Is that who he is? The one with the blue eyes?”

“Yes, does he come to you often in your dreams?” Michael seemed to ask more forcefully but still in a gentle manner.

“Only recently, I used to just dream of the darkness, then there were creatures in the darkness, I could protect myself in the light, but as I got older the dreams became worse, I would see creatures, then a place that looked like hell and demons, then him.” Amber stopped herself she was becoming fearful for some reason, panicked. Michael touched her arm and brought her back; Amber looked at Michael and felt an instant calm. She felt safe and began to relax.
“Have you ever been harmed in your dreams before?” Michael asked while keeping his hand on Ambers arm,

“Yes. Twice now. Last night and the night before, I woke up with marks only for them to vanish before my eyes.” Amber rubbed her wrists. Michael growled, it sounded like a wild animal as the sound erupted from his chest

“They will come to you no more, Amber. I vow it!” Growled Michael he didn’t know why but he felt protective of Amber, and the fact that these creatures were torturing her in her dreams, so she would be unable to think logically in battle for fear of them was unacceptable. No he would make sure they stayed out of Ambers head, and dreams.

“Let’s try, Tai Chi Chaun,” said Michael as he positioned Amber on the mat, “The idea is to use pushing hands, it will help you in battle to knock away blows whilst increasing your inner power, and it will clear your thoughts as well as strengthen your mind.” Amber stood in the middle of the mat legs bent at the knee, moving her hands in slow motion like Michael had shown her.
“I don’t think I’m doing this right, I don’t feel any stronger or smarter?” said Amber while stepping forward slowly and pushing forward with her hands.

“I said it will strengthen your mind not make you smarter,” said Michael with a small smile on his face while he stood behind Amber, “You need to move a little slower, and bring your arm up a little higher.” He helped put Amber into the correct position.

“I don’t see how this is going to help me to defend myself?” said Amber while Michael was moving her arm higher up.

“Really, well it’s called supreme ultimate fist for a reason, and Kung Fu and Wushu is another branch of Tai Chi, so my guess is that it will help you.” Michael turned around with a smile on one side of his mouth wanting to laugh at Amber, but kept his composure turning back
around, “Again” said Michael “Just relax your mind and push the energy slowly, like your holding a big ball.” Amber tried again, moving slowly, focusing her mind, and then she heard something it was fuzzy at first then it began to clear, nice and slowly that’s right, push out nicely done,

“Thanks.”
“Thanks for what?” asked Michael,

“You just told me I’m doing a good job,” replied Amber confused.

“No I didn’t, Amber. I thought it.” Michael was astonished Amber seemed to be picking up his thoughts and easily too, he would have to guard against that in the future, “Try again, focus,” encouraged Michael. Her angel side seemed to becoming more dominant in these few days. She was changing, adapting quicker than he expected, she was a very fast learner and on her journey was teaching him a few new tricks.
“No, nothing. I think I’ve lost it,” said Amber as she tried again to focus.

“It is a very special gift. Not many Angels possess it, and I have never heard of a Halfling have it before. You must be very special indeed Amber to have such a gift, I’m sure it will come to you in time.”
Michael walked over to the bench and picked up two bottles of water, throwing one over to Amber as she walked towards him.
“I thought Angels were suppose to have wings anyway!” said Amber in a joking manner while studying Michael from where he stood.
“We’re also suppose to have halos, play harps and float around shooting human’s with our tiny bow and arrows making them all fall in love.” joked Michael as he looked up at Amber and began pulling out the large manikin into the centre of the room, as well as moving the mats out of the way.

“Well I already know you have a bow and arrow. I saw it on the wall when I first came in,” laughed Amber while taking a sip of her bottle of water.
“There for shooting something alright but not humans,” grunted Michael as he pulled the manikin around, making sure the mats were in the correct position for the exercise.

“How come in all the pictures you guys have wings?” asked Amber while leaning back on the bench, Michael walked over and sat down next to Amber picking up his water and taking a sip.
“Well each Angel is different, we were created individually by God, so I guess some have wings. Others could have halos and maybe some have harps, but as a warrior Archangel I was given my sword and shield. No wings, halos or harps,” he laughed. Amber sat in silence wondering what her father was like, if he was given wings, if he was a warrior Angel like, Michael what had happened to him?.

Michael couldn’t help but hear Amber’s thoughts as she was thinking about her father, all the answers to these questions she deserved to know, but was it his place to answer them? How did he end up in this mess in the first place? Like a tangled web of past, present, and future. He didn’t know what would become of them all, but perhaps it would help Amber on her journey to know that she was loved when she was born and that she was from a line of warrior’s. Maybe it would help her to understand herself? He thought.
“Your father didn’t have wings,” Said Michael as he looked at the floor, while trying to find the best way to answer her questions. Wanting to give her closure about her past. “He was a warrior Angel much like me; he was brave in battle, honourable, and true. I told you that he was a fire Angel. His name meant the light of God; he could wield fire, use it at his will and had a blade much like mine. It proved very useful in the first battle against, Lucifer, and his rebel army, especially when, Xaphan, tried to set fire to heaven. Only, Uriel forged his sword by his own hands, the blade was gold in colour, fierce and beautiful. And when in battle was ablaze, unfortunately when your father fell his blade was lost. To whose hands I do not know. You are more like your father than you would know. Like your father it seems that you can hear other’s thoughts. It is a trait only Warrior Angels poses, and his eyes,” said Michael as he turned to look at Amber. Touching her cheek, gazing into her fire like eyes, “Beautiful,” he whispered his own violet eyes aglow. Michael quickly realised he was doing. Removing his hand quickly he released Ambers cheek and turned abruptly. Luckily he had caught himself before he moved to close to Amber for her own good, and too close for his own comfort. Distance though Michael I must put some distance between us, why was it whenever he was with this woman he felt like he needed to touch her and be close, protect her. Michael stood up awkwardly and coughed, “We’d better continue your training.” He said in an almost strained voice.

Amber felt like she had been hypnotised by Michael’s eyes, they was so beautiful, and his touch, her face still burned from it. Why did she feel like this whenever she was around him? She felt safe and protected something she had never felt in her entire life. Here was Michael telling her the story of her father, that he was brave and had helped to beat back the forces of darkness at his side, and that she was like him. Amber had thought her whole life that she was unwanted by her birth parents, and when she was eighteen and had learned that she was left at a bus stop she convinced herself that she was right. She was unloved. But Michael had this tale of how her parents died for her, protected her the best they could, and that even Michael and Gabriel had played there part in keeping her alive, and still were. Even if Michael didn’t know how he got himself tangled up in this mess, Amber was glad that he did. Amber sat silent for a little while longer and looked up to find Michael stood up staring down at her.
“You’re listening to my thoughts aren’t you?”
Michael looked almost bashful. “Sometimes it’s hard not to,” he said shyly “You can be very loud.”
“Really, well just remember I can also read thoughts, Michael and am going to focus on shutting some ex Angels out!” she joked as she pulled herself to her feet and joined him on the mat ready to learn how to kill a dummy.