I jumped, startled as my eyes landed on Axel. Penum and Lee faced and bowed at him as both seemed caught off guard.
I had assured Axel I had nothing to do with the shadow clan. How was I going to explain my encounter with the shadow clan lord?
I could hear the drumming of my heart ringing in my ears.
Axel dismissed Penum and Lee as they withdrew steps, still bowing at their king. I would calm myself, saying it was dark and my pale face would go unnoticed on him, but Axel was a great dragon. There was nothing he couldn't see. Hehe, my doings tho.
Only the sound of crickets chirping filled the swanky garden.
Axel let his feet amble towards me as I went through all the possibilities as if why could I had been discussing with the Shadow clan lord.
As Axel approached me, I beamed at him with as much innocence as I could summon. I glanced at the clock at the pillar and loosed a breath in relief as it was just twenty past ten. I still had time.
"In a hurry?" Axel's deep voice pulled my eyes to his judging ones. He hated being ignored. He never was though.
"No."
"So, you have no deal with Penum, huh?"
He squinted his left eye, and a playful smirk tugged on his lips. Seconds dragged on as I ordered my palms not to sweat.
"I called him to warn that Femme was scheming something against me, and I didn't want him to get dragged into our conflict."
"I see. Femme is harmless, Rebel. She would never lay a finger on my wife," he claimed. Axel had his pockets stuffed with his hands as he stared into my eyes deeply and then trailed his eyes up to mine again. "What's your decision?"
His blue eyes shimmered along with the fireflies around us that waltzed and floated in the air. I knew what he was implying.
Axel kept a safe distance for me to manage to reason properly.
"I-I want to sleep," I stated and headed to my chamber with shaky legs and a flushed face.
A hearty chuckle followed me, and I inwardly cursed the author of it.
Tomorrow was a semi-final of the trial. I had to go against Femme and break her freaking bones for agitating me that much. Then I would deal with Axel and back down to let Lee win and become my bodyguard.
***
Axel didn't come that night and I felt guilty because he was working his ass off to find Abigor's whereabouts. Axel sweated himself to protect me, a traitor.
Meanwhile, Abigor trained me all night. In reality, he assisted me in reaching my goals, but the reason for that remained in the dark. His crew was missing, and I felt relieved I didn't have to handle any of them, especially Rema.
I exercised emotion and shadow controlling. Abigor amazed me with his skills and knowledge. Of course, he would. He was once a king.
"Now, Rebel," he swaggered to me with a serpent's sways and darkness surrounding us. I was drenched in sweat and in terrible need of a bubbly bath. The sweat drops dripped down my chin and on the ground. "Let's master a deadly slice."
My heavy breathing resonated in a poorly lit, dim hall as I didn't allow myself to relax from the combat stance.
"What's a deadly slice?" I rasped and shocked myself at my hoarse voice. I needed water.
Abigor dashed to me, and I barely turned halfway as his hand slashed down onto the table behind me. I gasped as red energy circled his hand before it came down on the object.
"What the-" My eyebrows furrowed. Abigor just readjusted his shirt and coughed.
"A deadly slice. And you're gonna learn that."
Abigor was getting under my skin, but I needed the skills he possessed, so I was strangely docile with him. On the other hand, he kept being respectful towards me with only mocking here and there. I had a feeling a hint of sadness crept into his void eyes that seemed unusually sorrowful tonight.
Time flew by without my notice as I was dead concentrated on every task Abigor gave me.
"Good job, sweetheart," at last, he voiced a compliment I noted in his eyes from time to time.
I smiled as I balanced myself on my knees. Both of us had difficulty in breathing, but a smile still managed to sneak on our faces.
"Really," he repeated and sauntered to me, "Try to collect yourself. I will send you straight to the arena."
"What? No! I need to rest-"
"I'll organize you. Bye, princess." Blue hair illuminated as a most humane smile came to grace his scarred face. I would mock him about him developing fatherly care towards me, but I didn't consider that necessary as probably I would never see that simper again.
"And… Femme is a dangerous opponent."
"So, you know."
"Before you go, I must teach you a banned technique."
"Banned?"
"Steady yourself."
That was our last conversation before I refilled my energy and transformed into a male version: black hair, blue eyes, and everything nice.
Okay, that was cringe.
Abigor's form started getting blurry as I felt being pushed down a cliff.
"Femme!"
"We love you!"
"Get that bastard!"
"Show him what you can!"
I shot my eyes open as my surroundings burst into the hubbub. Fuck!
A great wave of people cheered and shouted for Femme as they stood on the higher tiers of the arena.
I was already here.
I wandered my gaze to Axel, who clenched my clone's hand and sweetly smiled at her. Or him. She was s Lee I hoped. My heart warmed at sight. Danu was joking beside my duplicate and rambling on something as Harley on Axel's other side rolled his eyes but silently pursed his lips to suppress a laugh.
I had to stop this nonsense! Fuck, I knew very well what the hell could my mother go through, but scheming dirty plans against Axel was abominable. It was… It was just not right!
I couldn't bear looking at him, so I started examining people around me. Ash was standing at the arena entrance under the first level tier with his arms crossed on his broad shoulders. I had forgotten how charming he could be. Even when seriously inspecting participants. Oh, he was staring at me. I flashed my eyes to the opposite direction and wrinkled my nose when my eyes fixed on Silver sitting on her throne. She was smirking at someone, and I followed her eyes.
I came across Femme's bloodthirsty face. She was a priestess, so what would she come up with?
I searched the crowd for Penum, and when I found him, I shook my head, signaling him to express any emotion. I needed to know about my chances against Femme. He just nodded his head.
I heard a howl and snapped my head to the blonde. She pulled out a knife and cut her wrist. My eyes widened as they zoomed in on the blood that oozed beneath her hand. Femme was savagely grinning before she let out a dreadful laugh.
"Wha-"
The ground started shaking as screams and loud gasps were heard from the audience. A hand shot out from beneath me and made me jump to my side. I was searching in Femme's eyes for an explanation. What the hell was her power?
A huge beast started emerging from the dirt. My eyes widened, and my breath caught in my throat as a gruesome beast stood in front of me. It had its eyes and mouth stitched. He had lifeless grey skin and a long braid. The beast had human limbs.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Penum stepping in front in aghast. I turned around as an enormous ax harshly came down on me. Swiftly I jumped and rolled to the side before it crushed me. My eyes snapped from one to another beast.
The second one had only one eye that madly skipped from right to left. He had one arm with which he wielded a deadly ax.
"Take that, bitch!" Femme screamed in a frenzy.
Now I understood! She could summon monsters by her pain. They were going to chase me before she died in that form. The thing was, priestesses knew many curses. When that cut drained her from the blood, she could do any imaginable thing to keep on living.
I quickly dodged an ax the monster had aimed at me and dashed for Femme. The stitched dude stomped on the ground, which immediately creaked and suspended my movements. I was caged between them and panicked at their size.
My breath hitched in my throat when they both bolted for me with a roar. One couldn't see, and the other didn't have both arms. I slid between stitched guy's legs before I jumped on his back and crawled on his neck.
It thrashed and writhed while I sliced my hand down on his head. I cut it open like a watermelon.
Everyone around us inhaled sharply and started murmuring instead of Femme's encouragement. Looked like a deadly slice wasn't that famous among them. The beast dropped to his knees with a thud, and I landed with a roll.
I caught a glimpse of Penum, who raised his fist to cheer me up.
Then I glanced at the one-eyes beast to keep him in check. But he had gone. I turned around and yelped as he slashed his ax down on me. Femme's contended face reflected on his, before my eyes. I was too late.
Blood erupted. I had never seen so much blood. I was… dying. Was I really dying?