Message-ID: <44803asstr$1066356605@assm.asstr-mirror.org> From: Gambit367@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <1dd.12a56add.2cbfeac5@aol.com> X-ASSTR-Original-Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 08:36:21 EDT Subject: {ASSM} NEW! Shadow Knight Chronicles 7/? (mf MC mF rom slow) Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:10:05 -0400 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail Approved: Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation X-Story-Submission: X-Moderator-ID: dennyw, hecate <1st attachment, "SKC7.doc" begin> Author's Note: I truly apologize for this chapter being so late; RL has been one annoyingly devious bitch. I hope you like this chapter, and as always, feedback is very welcome. In fact, the more I get, the more I write. Shadow Knight Chronicles By Gambit Chapter Seven Ethan Remfield sat at the desk in the cabin's study completely engrossed in the book he was reading. Not even the soft, feminine snores of Tosh, who was napping on the sofa, could distract him from this particular book. Anyone else in his position would be engrossed in this book as well. He was the Son of Dakrin. This book in his hands was his legacy. It was the Shadow Knight Chronicles. He read the book almost every chance he got in-between training sessions and he was still only half way through it. The young Shadow Knight was just now getting to the part where his father was writing about a race of people that were sort of like the Shadow Knights. Only these people had no need for shades and they all had light, light gray eyes, along with very pale skin. These people were called the Children of the Moon, and they were led by a man named Kalib. Another thing that truly amazed Ethan was how many laws his father made. When Jesse had told him that his people rebelled against his father because they were tired of his laws, Ethan imagined that the man much have made dozens upon dozens of laws. However, that just wasn't the case. In fact, his father had only written ten laws, but they were good enough laws that he didn't need more. As Ethan read, he came to the conclusion that Dakrin was a very thoughtful, meticulous and caring man. All he wanted was for his people to live in peace and harmony with the Normals. That was his dream and he died for it. He died because the Knights in New Mexico became greedy. If Ethan had his way, though, he was going to make them regret that mistake. Ever since he and his party had arrived at the cabin he had been nothing but vigilant when it came to his training. They had only arrived at the cabin about a week earlier and Ethan had already learned most of the social customs concerning his race, the Shadow Knights. His sword skills were progressing nicely and he was already a master at martial arts, in Normal standards at least. He was actually learning at such an accelerated rate that it awed Jesse somewhat; nobody should learn that fast. It was ten o'clock in the morning when Jesse slipped into the study. She was quick to note that Ethan didn't even notice that she had entered the room at all that was unusual in itself he was usually very aware of his surroundings to an almost paranoid degree. It was just one more thing to add to the reason she was going to make Tosh and him take tomorrow off, even if they didn't want to. Tosh already pushed herself to the point that she had to take naps in the daytime, after morning practice. They are no good to the cause if they run themselves down, she thought with a mental frown. However, she knew they would have to learn today's session. That was a must. Jesse gently cleared her throat and watched, with great amusement as Ethan's right hand shot towards the sword that was on his back. "Is that a sword in your hand or are ya just glad to see me?" "Funny, Jess. Really funny," Ethan replied with a semi-sheepish look, letting go of the handle of the sword. "What would you have done if I threw a dagger?" he added with a smirk. Jesse just shrugged. "Caught it," she replied as she walked over and sat in a recliner. "Today's the day you and Tosh learn about Kinetics. I'll teach you and Kait will teach Tosh." Jesse watched as Ethan carefully schooled his features. He didn't want to look like a kid in a candy store. She knew he had been waiting all week for this. He was dying to learn how to move like Kait did in the parking lot of the pizza place. Ethan couldn't hold it any longer; he let a genuine smile cross his face. Jesse had told him that it was because of kinetics that she and Kait were able to move almost faster than human sight could follow. It was because of kinetics that they were able to do things that were almost super-human. With one fluid motion, Ethan stood up and closed the book that was on the desk. "Well, ready when you are, Boss Lady." His eyes twinkled behind his mirror plated shades as he spoke. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" "What?" he asked innocently. "I think you make a great boss lady... You're just missing the whip and you'd be dead sexy." She was mortified when she felt a blush rise to her cheeks, but she rallied quite well. "I never knew you had fantasies like that." "I... Bu... You..." "Shut up while you're ahead, honey." Jesse's jaw snapped shut when she heard the endearment leave her mouth. Now the little bastard is smirking at me! "Oh shut up and let's go to the training yard," she barked out as she blushed. "Whatever you say," he replied with mock seriousness and a nod. Then, motioning towards the slumbering Tosh, "Should we wake up sleeping beauty?" "Nah. Kait said she really put her through the ringer this morning with endurance training. We'll let her sleep another hour and then I'll have Kait wake her up. Your sister definitely won't want to miss today's lesson." "No kiddin'. She'd skin both of us alive if we let her sleep through a kinetics lesson," Ethan replied as the two of them walked out of the study, into the living room and out the front door. They did so in a quiet manner so as not to awake Tosh. ************************* The training yard was called "training yard" as sort of a joke between Shadow Knights. In all reality it was just a big back yard that had various items in it to help train new shadow knights, or for older Shadow Knights to brush up on their skills. Some of the items in the yard included a bucket of acorns, rocks that were anywhere from boulder size to hand held; wooden and steel dummies to practice blocks and strikes on and two target boards to practice knife throwing on. It was nothing fancy, but it suited Jesse's training purposes quite well. Kait was going to use a completely different area and method (Blade Runner Training) to train Tosh; her and Jesse had decided that when Kait agreed to train the girl. Ethan looked at the girl in front of him like she was losing her mind. The female Shadow Knight was just standing there with a bucket of acorns by her feet and one held loosely in her hand. "Let me get this straight. You're gonna throw that at me, and all I have to do is stop it. This is supposed to be hard, how?" Jesse just gave him a patient look. "You're not allowed to use your hands, only you mind. Specifically your kinetics." She could tell this wasn't what he had in mind. She also couldn't help the smirk on her lips. "Alright. I'll bite. How am I supposed to do that?" Jesse let out a sigh. This was always hard to explain. That's why she really wasn't a professional instructor in the Art of Shadow. "Look, just imagine that you have a third arm. You have to focus all your mental energy on that arm and the acorn. Then just stop it," she replied simply. "Just like that? Easy as pie?" "Just like that," she confirmed. I can't believe I'm standing out in the middle of nowhere, letting a pretty blond Shadow Knight chuck acorns at me. Who else can say this about their life? he thought humorously. "Ready when you are, Master Yoda." The female Shadow Knight smirked at the Star Wars comment and then proceeded to get even by throwing the acorn at her student's head, knowing full well she should have started out with a lighter throw. She was very pleased with the sound it made. However, Ethan wasn't. "Ow." The sound came out of Ethan's mouth before he could stop it. "I thought you said you were gonna start out easy?" he added, fully aware that he was starting to sound like a little kid. That comment elicited a chuckle from the beautiful blonde. "What's the matter, young Skywalker? Is the pace to quick?" "Yeah, yeah. I get the point no more smartass comments." This was said as he continued to rub the sore spot. I can't believe she actually did that. Then he proceeded to collect himself and become serious. "Ok, give me another shot. Same speed." Jesse gave him a nod and then proceeded to use her Kinetics to make another acorn float up from the bucket, landing it gently in her palm. "You ready?" At his nod she threw the small nut as fast as the last one. The small acorn flew threw the air at a fairly decent speed and Jesse was prepared to wince in sympathy, except... Except for the fact that she didn't have to. When the small acorn was no more than two inches away from Ethan's forehead, it just stopped and hovered, like it was a sentient being awaiting command. "Ok. That's great! Now I want you to float it slowly towards me, until it lands in my hand." Jesse's voice was full of pride. She had figured that it would have taken at least to dozen tries to learn this. Although, she should have known better, considering how fast the younger Knight was taking to martial arts. With very rapt concentration, Ethan did as he was told. "Can you tell me why we're doing this with acorns, Darlin'?" He was concentrating so hard on the acorn that he didn't even notice the endearment. Jesse's face flushed at the word 'Darlin'. "Since they're so small it'll help teach you how to be very precise with your kinetics," she stated as she held out her hand for the acorn to land. "I guess that would help with 'precise' aspect of it," he agreed as the small nut landed in Jesse's hand gently. "I'm so glad you approve." This was said with playful sarcasm. "Now, if you can do that again, two more times in a row, we'll move onto something else." She repeated the throw again and got the same results. "Ok, one more time. This one will be at full speed. Ya ready?" This time however, Ethan had something else he wanted to try. I'll have to make a different extension, though. Maybe...When the acorn was no more than a foot from Jesse's hand, it just exploded into nothing more than dust. "Jesus!" was Jesse's exclamation when she witnessed that. Novices are not supposed to do that! She thought wildly. "Um." "How was that, boss lady?" Ethan asked with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get too cocky on me you still got a lot to learn." She ran her fingers through her errant blond hair as she tried to shake off how easily he caught on. "For the next lesson all you have to do is sit on the porch." "Just sit?" he asked in a confused voice. "Yep. It involves meditation. So you better clear you mind," she replied as she led him to the porch of the cabin. Ethan sat down on the porch with an explosive sigh, looking up at Jesse as she continued to stand. "Aren't you gonna have a seat?" "Nope. You're on your own for this one, kiddo. I'm going to go inside and have a cold soda while I start dinner. Now listen up, young Skywalker, this is what I want you to do," she started with a grin. "The kinetics you use is all around you. They flow through everything and anything. What you have to do is focus on the Kinetics the best you can. I know this next part sounds corny but it's the truth you have to become one with the Kinetics. There really isn't a much better way to explain it. Just imagine the kinetics flowing through you. You are going to have to find your own method to do this. All rookie Knights do." "Become one with the Kinetics?" His voice was a little skeptical. "Pretty much. You basically bind yourself to them. You can do it. Just try your best and you'll do fine. And remember, nobody gets it on their first try." Ethan watched as the beautiful Shadow Knight walked away from him and back into the cabin. "Do your best. You'll do fine." Easy for her to say, he grumbled a bit. He then shook his head a little in an attempt to clear his head. "Ok, Ethan, you can do this. Just focus," he told himself as he crossed his legs, leaned back on the palm of his hands and took a deep breath then another. The young Shadow Knight lost track of how many times he repeated the breathing exercise, and was starting to get frustrated. But then... But then it finally happened. If he were to be asked what it was like, he would have been hard pressed to explain the feeling. It was close to the adrenalin rush you get right before a vicious fight and the afterglow of sex combined. It was almost an indescribable euphoria. He could feel the trees all around him. Oh, and his senses it felt like his senses were on fire. He could smell everything within a hundred yards of him. His hearing; well, that was almost uncomfortable. He could here a squirrel chewing on a nut about forty yards from him. It was like being bound to Kinetics intensified everything tenfold. Ethan knew for a fact that if he took off his shades that he would be blinded. Even though it was close to euphoria, the teenager didn't know if he liked it. It was like a blind man being suddenly able to see. Or a deaf man being suddenly able to hear, but isn't for sure if he likes all the high pitched sound maybe he's even a little frightened of it. It was a lot to take in at once. Ethan suddenly couldn't take sitting anymore; he had to stand. His heart felt like it was racing at about one hundred and twenty beats a minute and he had more energy than he knew what to do with. Ok, let's see what you can do with this, his thoughts told him. Let's see how fast I can move. When his foot stepped from the porch to the ground, the boy hardly even felt it. It was so hard to describe the energy that flowed threw his muscles at that moment. Ok, let's try speed first. With a glance to the mustang that was parked about thirty yards away, he decided to see how quickly he could get there. One. Two. Three. No sooner than the breath was released from his lips after three, he was just there, standing right before the mustang. Now, with most teenagers, they would be thrilled at this kind of power. He wasn't thrilled, but he wasn't scared, either. At the moment, anyway. The best possible word that a person could use to describe what Ethan felt like was... Leery. He was very leery of this power. He knew he would need it in the coming days, however. Furthermore, since he knew that it was his power, no matter what, he just accepted it for the edge it would give him in the coming battle. Although, he would be lying if he said that he didn't take a little bit of pride in the power he now possessed. Ethan looked down at his clothes and his eyebrows rode up into his hairline. His shirt and jeans were ripped in various places because of the speed he had traveled. Ethan just shook his head without humor at the sight. I should have thought about that. Basically, he was doing fine right up until the time he figured out that he couldn't turn it off. That scared the hell out of him. ************************* Jesse was chopping up vegetables for the stew that she was making for dinner when she brought her Kinetics up for the soul reason that she wanted to know when Ethan finally figured out how to bring his own up. He finally achieved his goal; she couldn't help but smile and feel a little awed. Never in her life had she ever felt Kinetics that was as powerful as Ethan's was. Not in New Mexico, or her brother's base. However, her brother's kinetics did come close. The female Shadow Knight idly looked around the kitchen and her view into the living room. The place was absolutely spotless and she hadn't cleaned one bit. Neither had Tosh or Kait, who where currently somewhere in the middle of the woods. No, it was all Kasey, who was currently upstairs dusting the bedrooms. Ethan hadn't wanted to make the girl do manual labor, at first. However, Ethan found out that for some reason, Kasey was happiest when she was performing for her "her Lord". Whether it was sexually or doing chores, it didn't matter. So, he gave her a list of chores to perform everyday and he "thanked" her every night. Jesse sometimes wished that half the Knights in The Zone in New Mexico would treat there Followers with half the respect that Ethan does his without even much effort. Then again, I don't think there are many people that are like Ethan, her amused thoughts said. Then, in the blink of an eye, she was jerked out of her thoughts by a door slamming so hard that it broke off its hinges. When her head snapped around to look into the living room, she saw Ethan looking at the door that was currently lying on the ground with an astonished look on his face. He would look at the door, then at his hand, then at the door again. He had such a shocked look on his face that Jesse couldn't help it she busted up laughing. "It ain't funny," he barked out. However, he soon noticed that the harsh voice did nothing to sway the lovely Shadow Knight's humor. After he thought about it, he decided he probably did look like an idiot standing there, so he cracked a strained smile. He really wasn't in the mood to smile. "Alright, maybe it was a little funny." "Heh. You looked like a kid that just broke one of his toys." "Ha-ha," he replied with sarcasm as he walked into the kitchen and sat down at the dinner table with an explosive sigh. "So how do you turn this kinetics thing off?" "What do you mean? You just quit concentrating on it and it goes away." Ethan scowled at her, but there was also confusion in his eyes. "I've tried that. Hell, I've tried concentrating on making it go away, even. I've tried everything I could think of and nothing works! Why the hell won't it go away?" Jesse was shocked for her part. She had never heard of anything like that. Kinetics always went away on their own once the person wanted them to, at least to her knowledge. Hell, most Shadow Knights have problems keeping there Kinetics up for more than three hours. "Have you tried thinking of something entirely different and pushing the Kinetics completely out of your thought pattern?" Ethan gave her a murderous look. The look shocked and scared her for a moment. However, when she looked behind it, she saw something that she didn't like at all. Fear and sadness. Since his shades were lowered just the slightest bit, she could see those emotions stand out starkly. For the first time, she finally realized just how young Ethan Remfield was, no matter how many terrible experiences he had to learn from. Even though he was giving her a flat out dangerous look, she knew that he would never willingly try to do her harm. So, with that knowledge, she walked over and sat in his lap, pulling his head to her chest and hugging him with gentle care while she stroked his hair. "It'll be ok. You're not alone, Ethan. I'll always be here," she whispered softly. It was in those loving arms that Ethan Remfield, the Son of Dakrin, wept. _____________________________________ Author's Note: After this chapter all new chapters will be in one place for two days time before they are posted anywhere else. So, if you want to see them before they hit the newsgroup you better go to ewp.org. And it's not just my stories that are there. There are many great authors, such as Net Wolf, Ice Phoenix and Night Wolf. :) <1st attachment end> ----- ASSM Moderation System Notice------ Notice: This post has been modified from its original format. The post was sent as an email attachment and has been converted by ASSTR ASSM moderation software. ----- ASSM Moderation System Notice------ -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ------ send stories to: | | FAQ: Moderators: | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |ASSM Archive at Hosted by | |Discuss this story and others in alt.sex.stories.d; look for subject {ASSD}| +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+