The Beautiful Monster

Chapter 272  Practice

"I can help you practice. I should learn some moves anyway. They might come in handy," Melina replied with a wry smile. She had no idea when the next threat was going to come her way, but she always felt like it was lurking around the corner. If she wanted to survive the rest of her last year at boarding school, she had to be prepared in some way.

Tyler looked wary, but he nodded and led her out to a grassy part of the courtyard.

"We'll take it easy and slow," he told her before facing her away from him. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her arms against her sides. "Now, you have to figure out a way out."

"Without magic?" Melina asked him. She was used to being able to use magic. It was her biggest line of defense and attack.

"Try it without magic," Tyler suggested.

Melina could tell that he wasn't using his full vampiric strength. Vampires could crush bones with ease, and she hoped that she never had to fight one. It was already bad enough fighting against wishes. What if she had to fight that demon one day? She would surely die.

"Any suggestions?" Melina asked as she tried to wiggle around in his arms. "I could headbutt you."

"Let's not do that," Tyler chuckled, giving her a playful squeeze. "Push your hands up beneath my arms and force your elbows out. Quickly."

Melina shoved her hands between her body and his arms before shoving her arms outward, knocking his arms away from her so that she could spring away from him. She whipped around to face him with a smile.

"How was that?" she asked him, feeling a surge of adrenaline. That was kind of fun. Witches had some physical classes, but they weren't solely fixated on fighting. They revolved around magic and magical endurance.

"That was good! I bet there's a fighter in you," Tyler said with an encouraging grin.

"Really?" she asked him with a warm look on her face. She wanted to be brave like him, to fight off threats and protect people.

Maybe she wasn't as strong physically because witches weren't born with supernatural strength, but she did have magic on her side to make up for the difference.

"You might like what I do. I certainly wouldn't mind some company," Tyler pointed out as he took a step closer to her.

"So, you're a bodyguard or something?" Melina asked him, interested in knowing exactly what he did for a living.

 She was surprised that he went through the whole length of getting into school to be near her. That must've taken a good connection or some bribing.

Tyler shrugged.

"You could say that. People hire me from all over to watch over others. Supernatural beings face a lot of threats. I make sure they're not carried out," he explained to her.

"That sounds really cool," Melina said, her eyebrows lifting out of interest. He got to help people on a personal level, looking out for them and ensuring their safety.

She did want to help people, and she wouldn't mind him taking her under his wing and showing her the ropes. She didn't have plans but to disappear after graduation anyway. She could travel around with him.

"It would help to have a witch with me. I have to face a lot of witches," Tyler replied, giving her a hopeful look.

Melina laughed softly, realizing that he was really nudging her to join him. She figured that she could give it a shot. It would be nice to spend time with him.

She couldn't imagine her life without him, and he was giving her the opportunity to put her magic to good use. It seemed like a win-win. If she wanted to get her life back on track, she had to plan for it.

"I'd love to help you," she told him with a nod.

"Really?" Tyler asked her as his eyes widened. When she nodded, he wrapped his arms around her and playfully twirled her around, hugging her tightly out of glee. Once he set her down, he pressed a happy kiss against her lips. "It'll be amazing. I promise."

"Can we go after graduation? Benjamin said I should probably disappear for a while to get the demon off my trail," Melina asked him, hoping that she wasn't going to mess up his plans.

She didn't want to put him in any danger either, but he had already signed himself up for that by agreeing to watch over her.

"Yeah, I think that lines up perfectly. We'll be going all over the country to work jobs," Tyler replied as he rubbed her back.

"Is there anything else that you want to do after graduation before we leave? Once we start a job, we're locked in until it's over. Some jobs last one night. Some of them last months."

Melina nodded her understanding, not finding a problem with that. Honestly, she wanted to be kept busy for a while.

She wanted to travel the world if possible and experience as many things as possible. It would probably be a while before it was safe enough for her to settle down.

"I'll want to see Benjamin before we leave," Melina told him before sighing softly, feeling a bit nervous about the next thought that entered her mind.

She had thought about it a lot, but she had been afraid to say it out loud. Now seemed as good of a time as any. "I think I should meet my real parents too."

Tyler gave her a small smile as he nodded.

"They're really nice people. They were very insistent that I take special care of you because they were so worried," he told her.

Melina felt her heart ache slightly as she listened to him. That was nice to hear. She hoped that her first meeting with them went well.

 After so many years of being apart, she didn't want things to become sour between them. If they were as nice and caring as people said they were, she wouldn't mind developing a relationship with them.

However, that would take time and multiple visits. She wasn't going to welcome them as her parents immediately.

Even if they were bound by blood, she didn't know them, but she wanted to. She wanted them to get to know her directly instead of hearing about her through other people. It would be a surreal experience, but she believed that it should happen.

Besides, meeting them might take the edge off of not being able to see her brother. She wanted to meet at least someone from her blood family.

If it couldn't be her twin, it had to be her real parents. However, she would never not see Benjamin as her dad. He had raised her as his daughter, and she still felt like that deep down.

"I'd like you to be with me when I meet them," she told him. She felt like she would be more comfortable if he was there by her side. He was her ultimate source of comfort.

"Of course. Anything you need," Tyler assured her as he gently caressed her cheek.

Melina leaned into his touch, letting her eyes flutter shut for a few moments. She was glad that they were together and remaining strong. Without him, she was sure that he would fall apart.

After the truth shattered her, he helped her put together her broken pieces.

 She was barely whole, but she was ready to be standing again. The future wasn't going to wait for her, and she was ready to take it by storm before anyone could take it away from her.

"Alright, show me another move."