Ghost -- Chapters 1-4 (4) “I am known as Ghost, or Taylor not Ma’am and I got the name Ghost for a good reason” she replied “But…how Ma’am, you know, professional curiosity” the man said “I always know when someone is watching me” for the first time she met the mans eyes, he immediately bowed slightly and left through the door, Taylor noticed that his hands were shaking violently, wondering why she fell into a deep sleep. For six days she tried to walk, each time falling flat on her face, then on the seventh day she took her first step for over a year, she didn’t pause and celebrate, she just went for the second painful step…succeeded! Again, she took a step…slowly and steadily, she made step after painful step, till she could touch the opposite wall, then she slowly made her way back to the bed. Gasping she eased herself onto her bed. “Pathetic, isn’t it?” she sighed into the seemingly empty room “I wouldn’t be able to do half of what you just did, Taylor” replied a voice “Funny, you know my name yet I don’t know yours, will you enlighten me?” “Thief name: Wolf, real name: Tommy” replied a bemused Wolf. “Very nice thief name” sighed Taylor falling into a deep pain filled sleep Taylor woke up suddenly, if she had been any other she would have screamed in fright, instead she bit her lip, and eased her bruised body from underneath her beds covers. “Wolf?” she whispered “I am here,” came an uncertain reply “I need clothes, preferably black, now” she said running a hand through her tangled hair “and a washing basin” she added with a grimace “You aren’t planning to leave? Are you?” “Never Wolf” she sighed, as she swung herself to the edge of the bed. Fifteen minutes later, Wolf was walking in through the front door, a washing basin in his large arms, and some black clothes swung over his shoulder. “Here you go Taylor” he said putting the basin on a table and the clothes on the bed. “Thank you Wolf” Taylor eased herself off of the bed onto the floor, and hobbled over to the table, she curse silently at the bruises that made it impossible to walk with her usual grace. When she finally got over to the table and the awaiting Wolf, she calmly stripped off her night-shirt, throwing it at the wide eyed Wolf, and started to wash her hands, body, face, and finally she lovingly washed her hair, scrubbing dirt from her black locks, and massaging her scalp… “I need a towel, Wolf” she said without turning, she knew his eyes were wondering over her slim figure, what must he think of her, scrawny, all skin and bone right now, not a muscle to her! Well that was going to change. While he went and got her a towel, she continued to wash her body, carefully avoiding any bruise that still hurt… “Taylor,” came a whispered voice, Taylor turned her head and saw Wolf with a towel in his hands he was staring at the bruises that raced across her slim body. “Thanks Wolf” Taylor said with a smile, accepting the towel, and slowly drying herself off. When her body was more dry than wet, she wrapped her hair up in the damp towel and walked over to the bed to pick up the clothes that lay there, then slowly and steadily she got herself dressed. Once she finished the once simple task, she un-wrapped her hair. “How long have you had those?” whispered Wolf. “Over a year” Taylor closed her eyes “haven’t you ever seen them? I mean you are always watching” “No, I always knew were you are, but I never have seen your body this close, I always thought you were wearing clothes…” Wolf’s hand was shaking, Taylor could see that, yet pretended she didn’t see she hated sympathy. “Forget about them, I need your help” Taylor said “will you help me?” “Of course Taylor, that’s what I am here for” replied Wolf, an eyebrow raised “Alright, I want ten daggers, a target, a bow with twenty arrows, and two practice swords” Taylor counted the list off of her hand then nodded after a moments thought “Of course…but why?” “I use to practice everyday before I was stolen from home, it is about time I trained my body back into shape,” said Taylor looking down at her body “it may take awhile, but I am not going anywhere till I get back into shape” Wolf smiled slightly and left the room. An hour later Wolf reappeared at the door, following him were two men carrying all the equipment that she had asked for. “Put them there thank you” said Wolf to the two men who obliged then left the room nodding there heads to Taylor. When they were gone Taylor limped over to the daggers that the men had arranged neatly on the ground, she choose five of them walked her limping walk to the opposite side of the room, and she threw one dagger into the dead centre of the target she had been aiming for, but instead of celebrating she threw the other four daggers in quick succession, that made a small circle around the originally thrown dagger. “At least my skill with a dagger isn’t badly damaged” sighed Taylor “but enough, dagger throwing is simple, and what I need to re-learn is how to use the sword, I can imagine what Craig would say” Taylor looked towards the wide eyed Wolf. “I a-am afraid I am not good with the sword Taylor” stammered Wolf “I don’t care, if you haven’t noticed I am not in good shape, I need simple sword fights to strengthen myself up. I need to know what muscles need my utmost attention; I need to know what was most damaged…” As Taylor spoke she slowly felt the presence of Ghost inside her, Ghosts coldness started to seep through Taylor… Not now Ghost, thought Taylor You know how to reach me laughed an ice cold voice inside Taylor’s head Who are you? I am you, you are me, we are one sighed the voice “Taylor?” said Wolf breaking the contact between Taylor and Ghost “Yes…?” replied Taylor “What will I be doing?” Wolf looked confused “Fighting, with the sword” Taylor sighed, painfully walking over to the wooden practice swords and easily picking both up, then throwing one to Wolf who caught it with practiced ease. Taylor pushed her self to the limit when fighting with Wolf, a thing that she only ever had to do with Craig, and the only reason she had to push was because her bruised and battered body wouldn’t obey her, she couldn’t make her legs do all she wanted, she couldn’t flick her wrist without a flare of pain dance through her arm, she couldn’t use half of her skill, but instead of giving up all hope, she pushed herself harder. By the end of the practiced battle (which Wolf won by flicking the sword that had been loosely held from Taylor’s hands), Taylor was covered in sweat, but the battle had given her the knowledge of how far she could push herself. Shaking her head she turned to Wolf. “Thank you” she said with a small smile “I need to be alone, you would get into trouble if you saw what I am about to do” “What do you mean, Taylor?” Wolf replied his eyes narrowing “I mean that what you don’t see, you can’t speak of, therefore you won’t get into trouble,” sighed Taylor, meeting Wolfs eyes “You know what, I think I might go to sleep for two hours, that’s all, don’t get into trouble” Wolf stretched his arms, finally understanding Taylor, when he had left the room Taylor closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then started re-training her body. Two months later, Taylor’s body had got more shape to it, she ate more (because she was always training with Wolf), her muscles were staring to re-appear (also thanks to the training with Wolf), and she was washing herself regularly. She could do most things that she had always taken for granted, she could do more complex stretches that helped to calm her, she could easily beat Wolf without even breaking into a sweat, and she had accomplished all of this inside her room. The old healer regularly visited her, looking at the new bruises that covered different parts of her body, and the old bruises that only seemed to be healing. He always would trace his hands across the newer bruises knowingly clicking his tongue. Today as he did exactly that as he sighed, a heavy sigh “Why is it that you push yourself like this?” he said tracing a bruise along her stomach that had come from over confidence while stretching “I have to, in a way its all I can do” replied Taylor pulling her tunic down, hiding the bruise “You need to get out of this room, you’re as pale as a baby’s bum” The healer smiled “William said not to go away” Taylor felt the slight tingle of Ghost through her blood “That’s where we are going Taylor, to see William” said the old healer “Why?” Taylor said trying to shove Ghosts presence aside without success “He told me to bring you before him, when you were better…” Taylor felt the air grow cooler as Ghost made her presence known. “No-one makes me do anything” said a voice cooler than the coldest piece of ice “N-n-no…h-h-he said…t-t-that you…d-d-didn’t h-h-have…to c-c-come” the healers hands were shaking as violently as his voice, whether from the cold that was coming from Taylor’s body, from fear, or from both. “Next time you should say that instead of commanding” Taylor felt Ghosts dark, cold presence fade away with those words, but the cold in the room remained “Lets go then” said Taylor getting off of her bed and standing tall. Wordlessly the old healer, (his hands still shaking) led Taylor out of the room that had been her refuge since William had saved her from that dark prison. Taylor felt odd as the old healer opened the door, and instead of getting back to building her muscles, she followed the man. Outside of her large room was a huge corridor, which many were wondering around, they all walked with the same yet different grace of thieves. “I have been living at the academy of thieves?” sighed Taylor “Yes, yes you have Taylor” the old healer was watching Taylor carefully, as if waiting… “Well let’s go see William” Taylor smiled slightly as the old healer hurried along leading her to William. Chapter Three Learning William put his head in his hands. He was so tired of thinking; he was tired of the headaches that came upon him at the worst times, he was tired of living. “William, that old healer is here” said his best friend Roger “Show him in would you Roger?” replied William looking up “Sure, Will” smiled Roger turning and exiting from the room, five minutes later he re-appeared with an old man, and a woman. She had magnificent blue eyes, whose colour looked like it belonged in the sky, she had midnight black hair which fell slightly over her pale face, she was wearing a baggy tunic, which had a belt over it showing a dagger hilt and a sword hilt, and slim fitted leggings, all were black and all looked perfect, she stood tall and proudly, and walked with the graces of a million thieves. “William, I am un-sure if you recognize her, but this is Taylor, also known as Ghost” said the old healer standing near her “T-Taylor?” “One in the same” her voice didn’t crackle like it had when she had first spoken to him, instead it sounded like…like nothing no one could ever describe, a perfect voice that you could listen to no matter what it was talking about. “You look different” sighed William Taylor knew what was flashing in his mind, in a way she was proud that she still had that effect on men, but in another way it angered her, still William had saved her life. “Did you expect me to turn up as dirty as you left me?” said Taylor “I mean you can actually walk now, you can actually move…” stuttered William “Not as well as I use to but I am getting there” Taylor smiled slightly “part of the reason I wished to talk to you about, I want to learn here, I want to see if this school can teach me” “What do you wish to learn?” William sat back slightly in his chair, his face a mask “I wish to re-learn the art of weaponry to help build my muscles back up, I wish to re-learn acrobatics” Taylor met William’s green eyes, challenging him to say no. “Certainly, Taylor, I will make sure the teachers know that there will be a new student, when would you like to begin?” “Now” replied Taylor without any hesitation “Ok, I suppose Wolf can show you were everything is, he can also vouch for you, should you need it” William nodded his head, and Wolf appeared from the shadows, to stand next to Taylor. “Thank you” Taylor bowed slightly and exiting the room, leaving the old healer standing before William. *What would you like to learn first?* gestured Wolf *The sword* Taylor’s hands moved swiftly in the language of the thieves, so fast that even a thief would think that Taylor just moved her hands slightly, a simple twitch. “I suppose you will be starting at the top level, you being trained by Craig” sighed Wolf out loud “No, I will start at the beginning and work my way up” Taylor replied, following the startled Wolf out-side. Lucky I have been slowly opening the curtains my room, otherwise I would be half blind thought Taylor, looking around and seeing many students, some hurrying to a class, others lazing about in the warm sun “Just this way Taylor” Wolfs said guiding her across a wide lawn to a small stadium “Why cant anyone find this place? It is so huge” sighed Taylor “A long time ago, the original Lord of Thieves was a magician, it is said that he built this place with his magic then cast a spell upon it so that only a true thief could find it, or those who knew where it was.” “Do you believe that?” Taylor knew the story, she knew everything about this place, and she remembered how she had always asked questions to Craig about it. “Yes, because on the outside this place is just a small house that no one would ever venture into, but when you enter you come here” Wolf sighed, Taylor smiled “You wonder how that happens, don’t you Wolf?” she said “I do…but oh well…come on” Wolf led Taylor into the small stadium, which was empty apart from a tall man with a black beard and a few young students. As soon as Taylor saw the man she felt Ghost’s cool presence. He was obviously a man to full of himself to realize he was teaching inexperienced students, he sneered when one dropped a practice sword, belting the clumsy child across the head. “Qinitaer!” bellowed Wolf “Ah…hello Wolf,” sneered the man looking at Taylor obvious greed in his eyes “What you got there” “Taylor, are you sure you want to learn from him” Wolf said to Taylor completely ignoring Qinitaer. “Yes” said the cold voice of Ghost “Oh, another student” Qinitaer said, the greed showing more so in his eyes “Don’t worry, I will be fine Wolf” Taylor said pushing Ghost aside with effort “Yes, she will be fine Wolf” Qinitaer went to put his hand on Taylor’s shoulder, and got the surprise of his life. Taylor had never tolerated people touching her when she had worked as a bar maid, and she wouldn’t tolerate it as a student. She flipped Qinitaer over her shoulder, twisting his arm as she did so, he landed with his face in the dirt, Taylor’s foot across his neck, and his arm twisted painfully behind his back. “I win” she whispered in his ear “you lose” Qinitaer’s students were standing near by, there mouths open slightly. “Let…me…go…!” huffed Qinitaer “Or you’ll what? Fight me again, and lose? Run for someone to help you? I don’t think so” Taylor laughed. “Taylor, as much as I am enjoying this, I think you should let him go” Wolf stood watching Taylor, amusement shining in his eyes. “I suppose” Taylor twisted Qinitaer’s arm slightly before letting go and jumping out of reaching distance “If I ever hear that you hurt your students again…lets just say there are a million ways to die, one is torture, and I know how to torture” Ghosts chilling voice echoed through the small stadium, as she spoke a black crow came out of no-where and landed on her shoulder. “Watch” Ghost’s voice whispered, obediently the crow took to the air, and landed a beam at the top of the stadium watching the wide eyed Qinitaer. Ghost’s ice cold eyes met Qinitaer’s terrified ones, then shaking her head Ghost led the way out of the stadium, the slightly terrified Wolf followed her, leaving Qinitaer and his students alone. “Taylor? Or Ghost?” questioned Wolf coming up behind the beautiful woman “Taylor” sighed a warm voice, Wolfs shoulders slightly sagged with relief “Looks like you’re up to level two” “Why is that?” questioned Taylor “Every time you beat a teacher at his or her own skill, you move up a level” answered Wolf “besides I don’t think that we could get Qinitaer to teach you” Taylor laughed “Let’s go to level two then” sighed Taylor getting off of the ground “Personally I think you should go to top level” Wolf said rubbing his eyes “I don’t, work your way up, that is what I have been taught to do therefore I will do it that way” Taylor shook her head then met Wolfs eyes “Well?” sighing Wolf prepared himself for a long day. The grounds of the thieving school were seemingly endless, and over time the school had expanded making sure that any thief could get a good education. Normally Wolf was proud of that fact, but not when he discovered that each sword level was basically opposite the previous level, and when Taylor was determined to go to level after level. By the time the day was done, and classes were no longer running, Taylor was up to level 26, which in Wolf’s opinion should have been the level she should have started at. “Are you alright Taylor?” questioned Wolf as they started to head towards her room “I am fine, I am not use to walking that’s all” Taylor sighed “Wolf, don’t be afraid, I am going to have to get Ghost to walk for me. It isn’t your fault that she is coming, ok?” “Of course Taylor, Ghost wont hurt me, will she?” Wolf couldn’t help to keep the slight squeak of fear out of his voice. “No, I wont bite” said a voice colder than ice, Wolf felt a shiver make its way down his spine as Ghosts laughter rang through the air. “How is it that you have the strength to walk, and Taylor doesn’t?” Wolf forced the words from his mouth. “She has been fighting all day, aggravating these bruises that litter her body, she has pushed herself to hard using all of her energies, I have basically been sleeping, while she has been fighting” Wolf felt as if he had just walked through a blizzard, Ghost voice seemed to grow colder as she spoke, so he just nodded, and walked her back to her room.
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