Read To Kill An Angel for Free Online Page B

saying.
    “Hit me again, but this time, think about moving me.  Think about pushing all your energy through your arm to your fist.”
    “What is this ‘Learning Vampire, Zen Style’?”
    Bo rolled his eyes.  “Just do it.”
    This time, I did as Bo asked and actually felt myself going through the motion of punching him and, this time, it moved him.  Not much, but it did at least move him.
    “Better.  Now again, but really feel it.”
    I repeated the process, concentrating on the feel of the muscles in my hand clenching as I curled my fingers into a fist, on the feel of power rippling from my shoulder, down my arm and out through my knuckles.  And this time when I struck Bo, it staggered him.
    “Good,” he said.  “Of course, that was with me not resisting at all, but still, you get the point.  Now I want you to try to throw me.”
    “What?”
    “Pick me up and throw me.”
    “How?  I mean—”
    “Just imagine I’m really light, light as air, and feel that strength flowing through you.  Then just pick me up and toss me, like it’s no big deal.”
    I found that I wasn’t particularly fond of this exercise.  I knew that Bo was trying to teach me things that I would undoubtedly need to know, but I still didn’t like practicing to fight and hurt people.
    Bo must have sensed my hesitation.
    “Let’s try this.  How about you imagine that Heather is the only thing that’s standing between you and Lilly and you have to move her or Lilly dies.”
    My heart stuttered at the thought. 
    “Bo, that’s not funny.”
    His face was straight and sober.
    “I wasn’t trying to be funny.  Ridley, this is serious.  You have to learn how to protect yourself.  If something happens to me—”
    “Don’t even say that!” I interrupted sharply.
    “Ridley, we have to be realistic about all this.  Sebastian is not some Average Joe that’s holding a grudge.  He’s extremely powerful and extremely deadly.  He obviously thinks he knows something that we don’t, and we have to acknowledge the fact that he just might.  I want to know that if something happens you can get away and, if you can’t, that you can defend yourself.”
    “Bo, if that—”
    “Just humor me.  Please.  Just for a little while.”
    There was something in his voice that gave me pause, something that said this was very important to him, important yet painful, and that I was only exacerbating matters.
    “Okay,” I agreed after a couple more seconds of consideration.  “I’ll try.”
     “Alright, so give it your best shot.”
    Halfheartedly, I approached Bo and grabbed him by his upper arms.  When I bent my knees and lifted as if to throw him, I found that it was like trying to move a boulder or a hundred-foot tree—impossible.
    “I can’t.”
    “Yes, you can.”
    “But you’re resisting.”
    “Yes, but only a little.  You should be able to move me easily.  Now try again, but focus, Ridley.  Focus.”
    Taking a step back, I looked at Bo.  I reminded myself that I was a vampire now.  Strong by nature, strong by will.  I also reminded myself that Bo was very resilient, very difficult to hurt, just like I was now.  He just wanted to know that I could do it.  He was worried and the least I could do was put his mind at ease.  I felt like there was so little I could do to help him, I was willing to latch onto this with both hands.  Plus, showing him that I could do it would probably eliminate the need for any more of these exercises.
    Sucking in a quick breath through my pursed lips, I stepped into Bo and brought my hands to his muscular arms in one smooth motion.  Then, with all the strength I knew I possessed, I pitched him high into the air.  The loud snap of breaking branches pierced the night air, Bo’s body taking out several tree limbs as he passed.
    I couldn’t help but smile.  Although I would never want to hurt Bo, under controlled circumstances throwing him around like a ragdoll was somehow very