Punishment

I never bothered putting my hood back up. I was too ashamed of myself. James tried talking but my silence was soon reciprocated. We made the long walk to the training grounds on the outskirts of town. It's just outside the protective boarder but has safe walls to keep any unwanted rogue supernatural beings out. That way everyone can be safe while practicing with their mana. 

"Before we head in. You know Sally makes those ears and tails reactive to the wearer right?" James asks.

"What?" I ask back. "How would..." never mind I don't want the answer.

"Here." He a tries touching my tail.

I slap his hand away.

"Uh ah." I wagged my finger at him.

"Just move it down a touch by your tail bone. Now if you imagine muscles moving to pull on the tail or ears they will react."

We were standing by some glass so I can see my reflection. I retraced my fingers over the headband. Was this little button always here? I push it. I felt and saw the illusion spell take over. My real ears disappeared and the cat ears looked seamless as I begin being able to flick them around like a cat. Before I knew it the tail was twitching in a life like way. It was both creepy and cool at the same time.

"There's a happier face." James smiles towards me.

I pin my ears back and scowl.

"Feisty kitty." He tries mumbling under his breath.

"Creep."

"Now. Now. Let's get to training, for tonight... I'm your master." He winks as he opens the door to the training grounds.

"Don't put your weird fetishist on me." I say following him into the field.

It's the middle of the night. There are glowing orbs to light the dark field surrounded with tall concrete walls. The walls do have scorch marks and some chunks need repairs like other spots have been. The field is mostly dirt from the heavy traffic with some patches of short grass.

One day I walked in to find a field of flowers because witches were working on some restoration spells.

Tonight there are a few vampires working on their swordsmanship. And it looks like a young one recognizes James here because he is coming this way.

"Hey James! You here to train?" Says the vampire with short blonde hair with a tall stature.

I don't want to be recognized. I flip my hood up. 

I could hear the vampire whisper "you sure brought yourself a cutey tonight."

"Be nice she is here for a refresher course. Paisley heard of my hand to hand combat skills and came to this town just for them." James wraps his arm around the boy and walks him a little ways toward his group. Whispering something that the vampires could apparently hear and I'm glad I didn't. 

He jogs back giving me a thumbs up. So he did his best to hide my identity it appears. I pull the cloak off revealing my leather pants and boots and loose fitting white top that hangs off the shoulders.

"Should we keep you moving to keep you warm? Paisley?" He chuckles. He gets into a stance to take me on "Show me something better this time."

"With pleasure." I tell him. Getting into a stance.

I'm not best with the attack because of my size. So I stand for a bit.

"We are working on your attacks. Come on." He waves me at him.

Fine. I don't have much weight but with enough speed. I begin running and launch a flying kick at him. 

He side steps and I try catching my balance. He is on me though and has me in an arm lock. Damn.

He releases me. I could hear the vamps chuckling and one "geez you're a meany James!" 

"Alright. Let's try this since you are smaller than me." He stands in front of me guiding my hands and arms along with his. "I'm going to for a right punch. You redirect with this left hand so my hand goes to the right of your face and you step in close with a right hook to the jaw. Then you have to keep moving with the momentum. It can go many ways. But this one we will use your left hand to pull back so my balance is off and you throw your right elbow into my chest knocking the air out of me." He steps back.

"Let's do that a few times moving slow than we will pick up the speed."

He goes for the punch and do as he had directed me to do. We end with my elbow to his chest. This happens several times.

"Let's see what you got Paisley." James goes for a fast punch.

I react with the motions that are now ingrained into my body and he goes down.

He lands on his back out of breath.

"I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to use full force! I'm sorry!" I say standing over him.

"That's fine. Your tail and ears say it all." He tries chuckling and the vamps give me an applause. Sure enough my ears and tail are down.

James springs back up.

"I think you got that one." He rubs his chin. "This next ending you can not use full force on anyone until it's the real deal. Now get in the you just punched me stage."

I get up close to him. He continues to teach me over the next hour different counters and basic arm locks. I may have picked him up and threw him to the ground once.

"Alright I'm done." James coughs as the dust settles around him laying on the ground with his arm in a lock by me.

By this time the vamps had gathered to cheer "Paisley" on.

"You taught her well James! Be proud and hold your head high!" Arnold the vamp that knows James shouts.

"Right." James says getting up and dusting himself off.

"You'll be back right? Watching you two train is fun." One of the vamps chuckles.

"Oh Shush! That's because I'm teaching her how to take someone down. I'm not fighting back for real!" James is a bit hoarse. He takes a seat.

I throw my water canteen at him and he catches it.

"Let's see you really fight. I got my basics back." I smile with my tail and ears high.

"You think you can take me?" He asks before drinking greedily. 

"Yea I do!" My hands on my hips.

"Alright then." He says getting up. Leaving my canteen behind.

I'm ready pouncing on my toes. He waits for me to move. I go in with a faint.

He sees through it and I'm pinned on the ground with him on top.

"And you lost." He gets by my cat ears and whispers "I told you I was the master tonight you naughty kitty."

My ears are pinned back and my face is hot. My heart is racing. Do I really enjoy this? What is wrong with me!

"Alright you're scaring her." A few vamps grab James by the arms and lift him off me.

"Thank you." I tell them catching my breath.

"You're welcome dear." One of the older vampires bows.

I get up and brush myself off. 

"One of us will walk you home if you feel uncomfortable..." starts one of the younger ones but I cut him off.

"No I'm good with him.... He is a lot of bark but no real bite." I reassure the group.

I pick my water canteen up. 

"It was real nice meeting all of you tonight! Thank you all for you encouraging words." I give my best vampiric cultured curtesy. 

"The pleasure is ours." All the gentleman give a bow.

"Now who's the one smooth talking? Ya bunch of traitors." James has my cloak and bag. Which I throw my canteen in the bag and throw everything on my back.

"No traitors only opportunists." One chuckles.

"Uh huh. Well Paisley is keeping a friend waiting so shall we go?" He holds out his arm for me to take like he was some noble man. 

He really isn't bad now that I know him a little better.

"Sure." I take his arm. He flinches a little shocked that I took it.

"You alright?" I chuckle.

"Yea I think I am." He smiles. On the way out he sticks his tongue out at the rest. Oh such a child.

Once we are in town a bit I take my arm out of his and reach for some candy in my bag. I pulled out a piece of chocolate. Yes!

"Oh do you want some?" I ask reaching for more. 

"No I'm good. I watched you drop a hefty coin for all of that." Said James.

"How long have you been following me?" I ask mildly terrified.

"Just before you got to the candy shop is when I spotted you. Please don't tell me that's all for you." He tips his head to the side.

"Oh no. It's for the goblins." I tell him.

"You give candy to goblins?" His head tips more.

"Oh! No! Kids! You see... I call kids, goblins because you know they tend to run around with some form of a club screaming with the snot hanging from their nose." I explain.

"Well that's an explanation that actually makes sense." James says straightening his neck.

We make small talk til we get to my house. A bell tolls 3 times.

"Shoot when did it get this late?" I ask running up my steps.

"Will I see you tomorrow night, Paisley?" James asks at the base of my stairs with his honey voice. I turn to look at him.

"Perhaps." I said walking a little bit toward him and gave him a sour candy that ends on a sweet note. "Good night!"

I dash into my house to watch his face on the crystal ball.

Ha! His face is so puckered but now he is enjoying it.

"Good night I will see you tomorrow." He says walking away.

"Sweet dreams." I whisper.