Practice with Citron's men, finally. I finally got to practice with them. Yesterday I practiced with Peri, which was fine. We hung out in the gym and watched the guys practice, and let them get used to me in the same room.

Citron and his men were waiting for us in the practice room. It was noon so I was up early. I yawned a number of times.

I stood beside Peri as Citron introduced me. I mean they all knew who I was so that was pointless. I guess it was polite.

I watched them practice for a while from the side. Peri turned to me...finally. "Fifty, could you hold my sword?" He handed it to me with a straight face. I stared at him, bewildered.

"I'm kidding!" Peri laughed his ass off at me. "Come on!" He pulled me to him and took the sword and put it away, still chuckling and it was music to my ears. I love his laugh.

We practiced hand to hand combat for a while. He showed me some great moves. We fought as the guys watched and I learned that knives with diamond blades were useful against vampires. I got cut three times and not on purpose.

"You owe me dinner!" I growled as my third wound healed. It still hurt when it was made even though it healed fast.

Peri chuckled. "Deal. Hungry?"

"I am." I nodded.

"Good. Come on." Peri was pulling me out of the room.

"That's it, boys, for today. Dinner time!" Citron ordered and they all marched out to the cafeteria.

Peri and I had lost focus and left before practice was actually over. Oops. Hell, I forgot we were at practice, I was with Peri and that was all I knew. I'm pathetic.

Everyone chatted as they ate. I was quiet as I drank my pouch of... diet food, let's call it. A man turned to me, me!

"Are you joining us tomorrow, Viper? For more practice?" His name was Basil. I learned that he was a nature faerie and I wasn't sure what that was so don't ask.

I smiled in shock. "Really?"

Basil nodded. "Hell yes. You're part of our team now whether you like it or not! We learned a lot today."

I smiled and looked at Peri. He smiled his genuine 'kill me dead' smile. "Yes! I would love to!"

Peri chuckled. "Finish eating so we can check on Dr. Comet. He's been left unsupervised all day!"

I finished my food and saw Citron smile. I was wondering if there was something between him and Dr. Comet. They always seemed to be together.

Basil rambled on about the practice and everyone was joining in. There were twenty warriors in all, counting Peri and Citron. Basil just smiled and talked to me like I was a regular person.

"So, it doesn't bother you that I'm a vampire?" I hadn't really said it yet. The word vampire...I hadn't said it outloud until now.

Basil smiled brighter. "That is one of the best reasons to like you. You're nothing like the others!" He paused. "Uh, Viper, what are you doing... later? I thought maybe we could go to the tower and..."

Peri pulled a very large knife that I didn't know he had, he stabbed the table close to Basil. "I don't think so!" He glared.

I chuckled and cleared my throat. My man was defending my honor. I looked at the floor.

Citron laughed out loud. "Holy shit, Peri! He's not the enemy."

Basil just stared at Peri like he lost his mind.

"Well, Viper isn't available. Clear?" Peri tilted his head and glared at poor Basil.

"Got it!" Basil backed off.

"Sorry about that monster, Basil." I watched Peri smirk as he removed the knife from the table. "I'm seeing someone already. But I'm flattered."

Peri glared at me. "You're flattered?"

I chuckled. "I am. And you're jealous because no one hits on you!"

Peri laughed. "I don't want them to!"

"Me either!" I smirked at him.

Peri glared at me again and I loved it. "And they wouldn't. No one has the balls to hit on me except you, Viper."

Basil nodded in agreement. "That's true." He paused. "Wait, are you two...a thing?" He was starting to get there.

Peri made a noise. "As if!" He stood and pulled me to his side and walked off. He slid his hand into mine, laced our fingers together as we walked from the cafeteria.

My brain kept laughing like the Joker in Batman Comics that I've been reading and saying 'Mine!'."

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I had been reading a lot of Comics! That cell is lonely and those keep my mine busy. 

Thanks for reading!