Read Online The Enchantress (Wicked Book 1) by Blaire Hammond - Free Book Online Page A

Grace to drop the pile onto the bed. Grace opened the draws to the
dresser and the two of them began folding the clothes and putting them away.
  ‘Thank you for these, I really appreciate you lending them to me,’ Laura said.
  Grace waved it off with a smile, ‘oh, don’t mention it! You can keep them.
They don’t fit any me more anyway.’
  They fell into a comfortable silence as they finished putting the clothes
away, leaving the training gear on the bed.
  ‘I’ll leave you to get changed. My brother will work you hard, so be
prepared.’
  ‘So Drew is your brother! I thought I could see some resemblance between you
two.’
  Grace looked grim, ‘yes we are quite alike in looks and actions, but personality-wise,
we are very different,’ she frowned as she shook her head, ‘he is
incredibly…distant these days.’
  Laura’s eyes flickered up to Grace’s face, ‘whys that?’
  ‘Drew was in a pretty dark place when we first came to the manor. He blamed
himself for a lot of things. Part of him still does, I think,’ she headed for
the door, ‘a word of advice,’ Laura looked back at Grace, registering her kind
tone, ‘don’t challenge him. Trust me, you’ll regret it the next day. I sure
did.’
  She allowed a smile to creep onto her face, ‘I will remember that, thanks.’
  Grace laughed lightly, closing the door and leaving Laura to change into the
training gear.
  They were typically black. A long-sleeve top, padding in the elbows and along
the forearms, a strong leather vest that fastened tightly at the front and plain
army-like pants with thick padding in the knees and calves, completed the
ensemble. The clothes fit well, and along with the black boots Grace had also
dropped off, Laura felt ready for training.
  She took her leave, wandering down the hall, searching for someone who could
point her in the direction of the weapons room. She found Leo reading by the
fireplace in the Library, and knocked lightly on the door so not to startle
him.
  He glanced up with a smile, ‘I see the training gear fits well.’
  Laura glanced down, ‘yes, it’s surprisingly comfortable.’
  ‘It suits you. Are you sure you’re up for this, though?’ He asked kindly.
  Laura gave him a reassuring nod, ‘I am. I need to be. If I want to find my
mother then I need to be able to fight. I doubt that these Wicked will go down
without one.’
  Leo’s eyes flickered to hers and he gave a short nod of agreement, ‘all right
then.’
  ‘I was wondering if you could show me where the weapons room is?’
  ‘Of course!’ He stood, placing the book on the mantel piece and hurried past
her, ‘follow me.’
    Leo led her back down the hall and out into the main
entrance. To her right was a huge double doorway. Opposite that, was a flight
of stairs and beside the stairs was a small corridor that lead to yet another
door.
  ‘In here is the weapons room,’ Leo said, leading her to the door and opening
it for her.
  Drew was already in there, dressed in the same uniform as herself. He was
sharpening a blade that was a good meter long. Laura was horrified.
  ‘Ace! You made it,’ Drew said grinning.
  ‘Take it easy on her Drew,’ Leo said sternly. He turned to Laura, ‘good
luck.’ He honestly looked afraid for her.
  She gave him a assuring smile, then, he left, closing the door behind him.
  ‘So, where should we start?’ Laura asked, eyes sweeping across the rows of weapons.
  Daggers and knives of all kinds, swords of every size, throwing stars,
chains, whips, bow’s and arrows, shields, and the most frightening of all,
guns, covered every inch of space.
  ‘Keen are we?’ Drew was still grinning as he leaned against the bench.
  ‘You’re enjoying this aren’t you?’
  ‘More than you know.’
  ‘All right get on with it then,’ Laura said.
  ‘We will actually be spending the morning in the training room. I just wanted
to see your face once you saw