Chapter 37: A Night At The Palace

"Are you ready to go, Sharon?" Victoria yelled from the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Sharon to come down.

"I am," Sharon said and was in view.

She was clad in a sleeveless blouse, tight trousers that hugged her hips, and a pair of boots.

"You look perfect, Sharon," Victoria said with a glow in her eyes.

"I don't, Vic. I've never worn trousers before," Sharon said, pulling at the trousers in discomfort.

"You can't be throwing axes and knives in a long dress. It's not the appropriate attire; this is," Victoria said, gesturing at Sharon's outfit.

"Well, I guess you're right. Let's go then."

They left the building and we're off to El Palacio. On their way there, they ran into some of Victoria's friends; Pedro, Juanita, and Julio.

"Hey, guys! Are you guys heading to El Palacio?" Victoria asked.

"Si, we are. And who's this?" Julio asked.

"Yeah, guys. This is Sharon. She's from America and she's staying with Hector and I. Sharon, these are my friends, Juanita, Pedro, and Julio."

These were Victoria's best friends in the entire world. They went everywhere together and were practically inseparable.

**Pedro was the oldest of them all. He was the only one of them all to be from a different neighbourhood. The rest of them were from Barrio Escalante, including Victoria, but Pedro was fromSabana but he stayed with his uncle who lived there in Barrio. Pedro was a skater. He was the best at it and he never went anywhere without his board with him. He was the responsible one though. He didn't have a good relationship with his parents and he was a bit of a rebel but decent and responsible.

**Julio and Juanita were twins. Julio was the first out during birth and he always used that fact to tease his sister, Juanita every time. They lived on the south side of Barrio Escalante. They were both dancers and they were partners in their duo dance crew. They participated in some street competitions and had a reputation for being the best dancers in the neighbourhood. But, their parents weren't supportive of their choice to dance and always tried to prevent them from dancing but they would not be denied. They would sneak out and do what they loved against their parents' wishes. They were also rebels in a way.

They all went to El Palacio together and Sharon got to see a different side of Victoria. She had always thought that Victoria was a responsible and mature young woman despite her young age.

But, Victoria wasn't always sweet and decent. She was also a rebel. No wonder she was able to stand up to those two men that had attempted to rape Sharon when they first met. She had some experience with knives and it turned out she learned it by regularly coming to El Palacio to practice.

"Welcome Sharon...To El Palacio!" Victoria announced when they arrived and knocked on the door in a particular pattern, probably a secret knock that only members of the 'club' would know.

The door was opened and they all went in. The place wasn't completely packed but they were a lot of people inside. In every corner of the place, people were throwing knives and axes, shooting arrows into targets, drinking, and talking.

It seemed safe enough and everyone seemed organized.

"So, what do you think about El Palacio?" Victoria asked Sharon with a telling smile, expecting a good review from her.

"It is really nice. I think I'm going to like coming here." Sharon said.

"I knew you'd love it. Come, let's go get some drinks and then...throw some knives to get this birthday party started!"

.

.

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Sharon was having a blast at EI Palacio. She had drinks with Victoria and her friends, they watched people throw knives into targets and toasted to more things to come.

"Hey, Sharon. Check this out!" Victoria called out and headed straight for the throwing platform.

She picked up a knife with a pointy tip and stood in a tight pose. She threw the blade and it landed straight into the bullseye. Sharon couldn't help but applaud Victoria's skill and precision.

Julio and Juanita were up next and they also landed on the axes they threw at the target.

It was Pedro's turn to throw and he walked up to the platform.

"Come on, Pedro. Show these putas exactly what you got," Victoria yelled out, willing him on.

Pedro picked up three knives and threw them one after the other in quick succession. They all stuck on the board side by side, revealing his skill as an amazing knife thrower.

"Well done, Pedro," Julio said to him and they all exchanged high-fives and looks of approval.

"Well, I guess you're up, Muchacha. Let's see what you got," Victoria said to Sharon and handed her a knife.

"No, Vic. I don't think I can do this," she said in doubt.

"There's no pressure at all, Sharon. Just walk over to the platform and throw the knife. If it doesn't stick, then you throw it again until it does. No one will judge you," Victoria said to her, trying to convince her to try.

"That's not what I meant, Victoria. What I meant was that I'd actually prefer to use the bow and arrow rather than the knives or axes."

"You want to use the arrow? Are you any good?" Pedro asked.

Sharon stood up with a smug look on her face and walked towards the bows and arrows.

"I guess we're about to find out," Juanita replied to Pedro's question.

Sharon picked up the weapon and walked up to the platform. She wore the pouch of arrows on her back and held out the bow. She nocked the string of the bow and took a deep breath. She drew and released the arrow, which flew straight into the bullseye of the target.

She was cheered and applauded by Victoria and her friends who were shocked that she was so good with an arrow. Sharon, on the other hand, was now stuck inside her head. She stared at the target and her mind's eye could see Addicus' face right where the target should be. She was overcome with rage and pulled out another arrow and shot again, right in the eye of her imaginary Addicus.

She took out more arrows and fired over and over, splitting the arrows with her perfect aim at the target. It was intense for Victoria and her friends to watch Sharon shoot like this. In all the times they had been at El Palacio, nobody had ever been this good with a bow and arrow.

They were absolutely loving it and so was Sharon, though for a completely different reason.

"Girl, that was loco. How did you learn to shoot like that?" Victoria asked Sharon when she returned to sit with them.

"I told you I was adopted by a rich man, didn't I? He had so many activities available in his mansion. There was tennis, golf, shooting, and of course, archery. I tried it one time after I moved in with him and I loved it. I loved it so much that I even entered an official archery tournament in the girls' boarding school," she told.

"Did you win the tournament?" Pedro asked.

"What do you think?" Sharon returned while sipping her drink with a telling look in her eyes.

"I take that as a yes."

"How did you get to become so good?" Juanita asked in admiration.

"You just have to practice. You guys should know, you're axe and knife-throwing prodigies."

"Yes, but throwing knives is much easier than shooting arrows," Julio said.

"I do have a trick to help you focus and get better quicker. Just imagine that the target is the thing you hate the most, and then, shoot it in the face!"