The Hidden Hybrid Within

Chapter 12: Tryouts Part 4

Xander’s POV

      “Don’t worry babe, I will beat her like the child she is,” Jess was ranting as we walked back toward the ring, since dad had just announced for everyone to return to Ring A.

      “I have no worries.” I pulled her to me and pecked her on the forehead, swallowing the odd lump in my throat. “And then you have to take on Jake and me to secure a training spot.”

      “Oh, don’t give me that wicked smile." She winked as she tried to seductively run her hand up my chest making my skin crawl, I didn't know why, but it was crawling. "You know I don’t want to face either one of you, but I am sure you will let me win.”

       I stepped back just a bit, just blankly staring at her, while my brain went on the fritz. Oh, that is not how this works, I thought as those words bounced around in my head. Girlfriend or not, she will have to earn her place like anyone else, I wanted to say all those things to her, but I didn't feel like arguing, I only wanted to distance her from myself and try and gain control of my body malfunction and fried brain. 

      “Alright babe, go find your place in the ring, I will be waiting for you over there.” I pointed to where my father and Jake were standing.

      “Alright, love you.” She kissed me and took off, while I wiped my lips on the back of my hand, not even realizing why. 

     I joined my father and Jake, “Hey guys, we about ready to start?”

    “We are, but I have something to say,” Jake looked at me and then my father grabbing our attention.

    “What is it Jake?” My dad asked gruffly.

    “If Sin wins this round, either I will submit as soon as we enter the ring, but what I am hoping is you will not make me step in the ring with her.” He was serious about this, and couldn't help but wonder why.

    Dad asked before I could, “And why is that Jake?”

    He smiled at my dad and I could see admiration twinkling in his eyes, “Because she has nothing to prove to me. From what I have saw and what she has told me, the girl has proved herself a thousand times and I would have no objection to her training anyone.” He glanced at me and then back to my dad, “Alpha have you seen the scars and heard the story?” His voice was just barely above a whisper but I heard every word.

     My dad nodded, “Jake, I do know her story but that is not mine or yours to tell,” he looked at me before continuing, “however I have not seen the scars, but I can imagine." He clapped his hands and stepped forward toward the mic on the PA before turning to look at us and giving us a wink. "Alright let’s get this started.”

Sin’s POV

       There we stood squared up face to face in the ring. Mr. Russell had just announced for us to begin, and Jess was staring at me like she could kill me. I really wanted to laugh at her, but I wouldn’t, I was the going to be the bigger person. Eva told me she had been training in secret with Xander and she was good, so I knew I had to keep my guard on high alert.

        I watched as she circled me like I was getting ready to be dinner, she was crouched down in an attack position and I just stood there, from an outsider looking in, it probably looked as if I was fixing to get mauled to death by a raging beast. I wasn't going to make the first move though, I kept telling myself, I was only going to use my skills to protect and defend myself. That was the only way I could do all of this without feeling like I was losing the person my father taught me to be.

       All at once she lunged for my head with her hands spread to the side, I ducked and pushed her as she went by me, she hit the ground with a thud but came back to her feet quickly, she didn’t take time to think twice and came at me throwing punch after punch, I was able to block them fairly easily. Her left foot came up and made contact with my ribs but before she could put it back down, I had it in my arms, causing her to be able to use the momentum and make a swing for my right eye. It stung a little, but she didn’t pack much power behind her punch, so I didn't even blink, I quickly jerked her leg before she could land another one and threw her off balance causing her to fall flat on her back, she scrambled to her feet, once again.

       After taking a deep breath, she came at me again, she punched, kicked, and leaped and each time I blocked her and threw her to the ground. I could clearly see she was getting angrier with each time she failed at hitting me. The final time I threw her to the ground and was fixing to make my move to make her submit; what did she do, she came up with a handful of sand and threw it in my face, instantly blinding me. I heard her evil laugh and then her false, oh I am so sorry.

       Mr. Russell hollered for a time out, but I put my hand up in the direction his voice came from.

      “It’s okay Mr. Russell, it was an accident, and I am fine to continue.” I heard gasps and boos in the crowd, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of thinking she could defeat me by cheating.

      “Very well then, if that is truly how you feel.” Mr. Russell responded, and I could hear Jake protesting, while I nodded my head in the direction of his voice, confirming that was indeed how I felt.

        I aimed my face back toward the direction Jess was when I last saw her before the sand got in my eyes and nodded my head toward her, also letting her know, I wasn't submitting. I almost let a smile creep across my face when I heard her huff in defeat.

      I couldn’t see a thing and it felt like my eyeballs were being scratched out of my sockets. I closed my eyes and refocused my attention on the sounds around me. Dad used to put blindfolds on me and make me punch the bag and do the obstacle courses. He said it would help develop all my other senses and make me better at defending myself, because I wouldn’t always rely on my eyesight.

      The sudden sound of  Jess’ steps coming at me overwhelmed my senses and I moved to the side to get away from the punch I felt she was fixing to throw. The next few minutes I managed to block her kicks and punches, it was getting easier to feel the vibrations from her charges and the changes to the weight in her steps as she tried to shift her body to get a hit. As amusing as it all was, I was getting tired of her toying with me, so I waited for the next punch and quickly reached out and grabbed her arm flipping her around with it bent behind her. I grabbed the pressure point on her wrist with one hand and the other I wrapped around her neck grabbing the other pressure point just below her ear and jawline. The way I had her pinned against me and the hold I had she couldn’t get free nor could she get a hit on me, I stood still applying more pressure. She cried and screamed obscenities at me while thrashing and wiggling trying to get free. I took my leg and with one swift sweep she was on her knees with even more pressure applied, from the angle of me standing above her. A few more minutes and she started screaming submission, and I was cheating, at then I let the smile spread from ear to ear, and turned loose.

       I heard footsteps quickly approaching and I shoved my hand up at the chest of someone to stop them from coming any closer. “Hey chill, I brought you some water to wash your eyes out.” I was relieved it was Jake and put my hand down.

     I sat down and leaned my head back, “Here pour it in.” He poured the water in my eyes and massaged the skin around the socket area to help the water work the sand out.

     “Have I told you how amazing you are? And you know she cheated that was clear grounds for immediate disqualification?” He asked, I knew he was serious, and I knew that it would have disqualified her, but somewhere during that battle I learned I had a point to prove, or she would always be coming at me and trying to stab me in the back, so to speak.

     “Yea and like I said it was an accident. And besides, I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of getting out of it that easy. When will people learn that I am stronger than I look, and no one is my boss!”

     He literally laughed at me, “Well you keep telling yourself that it was an accident, but we both know it wasn’t. And unfortunately, because you refuse to submit and you are so small and young, people will always believe you are weak and that they just have to beat you to make you submit.”

     I knew he was right, nothing new but I still didn’t want to hear it, “Always?” I asked, hoping he would stroke my ego just a little bit, so maybe I wouldn't believe it myself.

    “Well maybe not always but for a while. Hopefully being on the team will get people off your back a little.” He chuckled.

     “Yea about that, I don’t necessarily think I need a training position, so do I have to face you and Xander?” After the battle with Jess, I was afraid the battle between Xander and I would be even more gruesome than I had originally thought.

      “Unfortunately, kiddo you do, but you deserve that training spot, more than anyone I have ever seen. You have a great future ahead of you and this will help you pursue it.” He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Now don’t worry about it, me I won’t put up much of a fight, you have nothing to prove to me, however Xander might be a different story.”

     “Jacob why does he hate me so much?” I really wanted to know, I hadn't done anything to him, I had managed to stay clear of him and his girlfriend, but yet he hasn’t done anything but give me a hard time.

      Jacob took a big breath before answering me, “He doesn’t hate you, you are a challenge, and Xander has never had a challenge he couldn’t win. So just between me and you, don’t let him. It’s kind of fun watching him struggle.” He turned to me, “Alright, you ready to finish today?”

      “I am, let’s get this over with.” I stated loudly, more for my own mind than his, as I made my way to the side of the ring till Mr. Russell announced it was time to start. My eyes still felt scratchy, but I couldn't back down, not now, and I could see again, painfully, but I could see, so there was always that.

      “Sidney Lane is our newest recruit to the Warrior Training Club," Mr. Russell boasted through the mic, "as you all know we are also competing today for a training position and third in command. I have spoken to the other club members and none of them are interested in the position, so seeing as how Sidney is the newest member and has been made aware of today’s stipulations, she will be trying out for the spot. So up next she will have to fight with Jake, second in command."

       Jake and I stepped to the center of the ring and faced each other, he crouched down and gave me a mischievous smile, putting me on alert, I couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.

      He then stood straight and turned to Mr. Russell and announced, “With all due respect, I submit. Sin here has nothing to prove to me, and I would be more than happy having her train our recruits, hell I would even train under her.” He turned back to me with that same smile, raised his hands and walked away, leaving me standing there like an i***t.

     “Well as you all saw with your own two eyes and heard with your own ears, Jake has submitted making Sidney the clear winner of this round, so it is now Sidney and Xander.” Again Mr. Russell announced on the PA.

     Xander stepped to the center of the ring facing me, the crowd hooted and hollered. He had his exercise slacks on and a black tank top. His muscles glistened with perspiration in the summer sun., his hair perfect as ever, and his eyes just mesmerized me, to a normal person he would probably be intimidating, standing there looking like a Greek god.

      I blinked a few times trying to regain control of my thoughts,What is wrong with me, I am completely not thinking like myself. Okay Sin keep your guard up, this isn’t going to be an easy one, and judging by the look he was giving me, I was going to have to put up a fight, he didn't want to just win, he wanted me to submit, and that I wasn't willing to do that, ever.