"You don't kill."
"I don't see that as a problem," she grumbled. "I can kill. I just don't."
"When we send you out to face Valon's vamps, you won't have any of us to clean up after you."
Charles. She vaguely recalled hearing the vamp's name. "What're we doing here?" she asked instead. "We already know I can beat you before you raise your knife."
"You can," he agreed, "until someone outsmarts you and you can no longer use your speed to your advantage."
"It hasn't happened yet."
He tossed her two rubber knives. She snorted. Charles set down the Taser and took up a position opposite her, about four feet away.
"Come on, Natural," he said with as much distaste as he treated her breakfast.
"You don't want a weapon?"
"You won't get close."
Piece of cake. Ashley balanced herself on the balls of her feet, positioned her weapons and then launched at him.
Her right leg was yanked out from under her, and she smashed to the ground before she was able to reach him. Startled, she lifted her head and the leg whose chain Charles held.
"Again," he said and motioned her to her feet.
Ashley considered her hobbled leg briefly as she rose, mind racing with other scenarios whereby it wouldn't be in her way.
She tried again, and once more, he knocked her onto her back without touching her.
"Dammit," she muttered. This time, she got up faster. "Is this realistic? I mean what are the chances any of them gets close enough to chain up one leg."
"You're missing the point," the vamp snapped. "You need to think on your feet and not just rely on your gift."
She frowned. She'd never run into a challenge that required her to change what she did.
The third time she charged him, he yanked harder and sent her sprawling onto her stomach. Anger stirred, and Ashley rose, this time pausing to evaluate how to close the short distance between them. She had speed, agility and athletic ability on her side, and the vamp had one hand in his pocket and didn't look at all concerned about routing her.
Think on your feet. She did when scaling a building with no noticeable toe and hand holds, when pure athletic ability required something more than strength to ensure she succeeded. Her gaze from the vamp to those crowding around to watch to the chain separating her from Charles.
After a long pause, she tried again.
This time, instead of diving for him, she dropped her knives, kicked up her right leg and snatched the chain. She yanked to pull him off guard …