Chapter 16

Age 17

Lazarus grunted as he took a brunt of his eldest daughters practicing stick across his back. Before he could recover, she had swung it hard and fast enough that he did not have enough time before it contacted across his stomach.

"Holy crap honey, I think I heard my ribs crack on that one!"

Jerking up, Lazarus cracked his bones in his back, then proceeded to crack his neck at the same time Raja stood off to the side with his practice stick, smirking watching his star pupil beat Lazarus up. 

"Careful Sadiq, she is beating you up."

Once in a great while when Raja got interested in a fight his Arabic starts to show up.

Bryon and Cassius looked at the King asking for permission to go down to the mats and watch them. He nodded in approval and the brothers smiled walking down the dais to watch the two practice. Jezzebelle had been practicing with her father for over an hour and she was learning fast. Zephyr was up on his throne working on paperwork but ever so often would glance up. His eyes was dancing with laughter every time Belle hit her father at a good rate.

Jezzebelle snickered at her father. "What is the matter daddy? Your old bones can't take a beating." Laughing at what she said, she lost her focus and swung in which he ducked. They started to circle each other. Her father had a look on his face that stated she was about to get her butt mulched into the matt. 

Eric snickered on his throne putting a fist to his chin. He had short black hair with electric blue eyes. His hair was the only one amongst the Council that was short. His pointed ears showed with a golden loop at the tip. He was usually quite amongst them all but today his interest was taking by a raven with a death wish. He was usually the one who studies the crowds, always popping into peoples minds to insure no high treason or rule breaking was happening. He also had a crush on Abigail but never told anyone. Ancients never like to admit their weaknesses and his was a certain red hair with green eyes.

"Careful Lazarus, she will put you on bedrest if you let her win."

Looking at Eric with a scorn on his face, he ducked the incoming attack.

"Well if your going to observe and laugh at me for my own daughter kicking my butt then why don't you come down from up there and come get your ass beat!"

He jumped out of the way in time before he took a blow to the head. He countered attacked and hit her behind the back of her knees. Eric put his hands in front and snickered some more. 

"Naw it looks like you are handling it all on your own. I will stay up here."

Just as Eric was saying that, Belle planted her pole on the matt and swung her whole body around using a force her father was not prepared for. She hit him with so much force that he ended up rolling away and ended up with his face planted into the matt. Zephyr along with the entire council sat there stunned at the move she did. Aurelie brought her book that she had been reading up to her face to hide her smile. Raja could not hold in the laughter that he had been holding and roared. Lilabet materialized behind him and punched him in the stomach.

"Ow, sorry Habibi. I cannot help it!"

Lilabet's brown eyes met his real close to his face. 

"Stop laughing at him! Be an adult."

"Oh come on honey. He is getting his butt whooped by a baby, let alone his own daughter."

Lilabet growled holding up a fist. "Your going to be in the dog house if you keep this up."

As the two of them stood there arguing, Bryon and Cassius looked at each other and smiled really evilly then out of no where, Bryon went and grabbed Raja's practicing stick and Cassius went and grabbed Lazarus's that was next to him. The two descended on Jezzebelle like wolves. Belle's eyes widen but then narrowed at the two.

"Ok I see how this is. Well come on, lets see how much energy you two idiots want to waste."

Ancients were always exceptional when it came to hand to hand combat. Many of them had seen so many wars. When vampires were able to start producing Bloodlines the King had put a stop to vampires being made and also made sure they never went to war. Most of lines did not know how to defend with a sword. They depended on their Blood Magic just in case but never not once did they ever pick up a sword. The Head Matriarchs and Elders could but that was about it. Anyone from 150 years or younger would not know what to do. So with Belle being exceptional at her combat skills the Ancients thought to see what she was capable of. 

Jezzebelle was parring each attack that Bryon and Cassius was giving her. Lazarus stepped off the matt observing his daughter. Raja looked at Lazarus with worry.

"Lazarus, she's gaining a lot of ground with just being a year into her Phasing. I am starting to get worried. If her powers and strength get out of hand how much time are you going to give her for this supposedly freedom she wants. A child with that much strength has to be kept in balance and you know this."

Lazarus looked down at his feet, he knew it as well but it was not fair. He promised his daughters he would not rush them into marriages, only if they fallen in love or felt comfortable with the man they chose.

Looking at Raja, Lazarus shook his head. "Trust me, I know I have been keeping tabs on my children. I believe Anna is not as powerful as her sister though. Jezzebelle has a will unlike hers and I think it is to excel beyond those of her years, but what she does not realize is she is excelling up to us. I almost am thinking of seeing if the King is still interested in her. For if this is true he can help control her abilities if need be."

Lazarus looked behind him to notice Zephyr's attention was fully on Belle. Smiling he looked back at his daughter and that's when he made the decision. Knowing his eldest would be protected if she faltered. Taking a deep breath he sent the three words to Zephyr.

"You have it."                    

Zephyr's eyes went straight to Lazarus the moment he received that sentence. Lazarus bowed his head to him and then turned his attention back to his daughter.