CHAPTER TWENTY: XAVIER

Simon swung his sword towards me, but I swiftly stepped back, narrowly avoiding his strike. Still recovering, he attempted to punch me again, but I managed to evade his blow effortlessly.

Realizing he failed to land his punch, Simon leapt backwards, creating distance between us. His overconfident demeanour began to fade as I taunted him, "Come on, Simon, that move was child's play. I know you can do better than that."

"Be quiet!" he snapped, swiping at me again with his sword. I decided to change my strategy this time. Instead of repeating my previous block, I raised the blade of my sword, firmly intercepting his attack and pushing him backwards.

"You're acting like a coward, fight me and stop blocking," Simon snarled as he attempted to rebalance himself after the last block.

"Give me a good reason to attack, pup," I mocked, enjoying the frustration building in his eyes and the scowl forming on his face. The night was still young, and I relished the opportunity to shatter his misguided confidence. How dare he think he could defeat me with such minimal skill?

While Simon searched for an opening, I raised my sword above my head, baiting him into another attack. He fell for the ruse, launching a sloppy attack without thinking. With ease, I countered his strike and then swiftly pressed my foot against his left leg, causing him to topple to the ground.

"Stop blocking and attack!" Simon growled, his anger blinding his judgment. His reckless fighting style could cost him dearly in the future, against opponents stronger than him or even endanger his life.

"Perhaps if you fought with some intelligence, I would take you and this fight seriously," I responded, watching his frown deepen as he glared at me.

"Enough talk, let's get back to the fight and stop trying to psych me out with your words," Simon retorted, assuming his attack position.

"I don't need such methods, pup. My skill alone is enough to take you down," I asserted confidently.

"Then I'll relish the opportunity to prove that skill isn't everything in a fight," Simon replied, slashing his sword against mine, denying me an opening. However, I knew I would find one eventually.

"Is that all you've got, mutt?" I taunted, pushing him backwards. His smile turned into a frown as he launched another attack.

I parried his strikes with precision, dodging and weaving to narrowly avoid his deadly swings. But a momentary miscalculation left me vulnerable, and his blade grazed my shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood.

Grimacing against the pain, I retaliated with renewed determination. I unleashed a rapid series of strikes, aiming for his defences, searching for any weakness that would grant me an opening. Simon fought with anger, his movements becoming wild and unpredictable.

Sweat dripped down my brow as the battle raged on, my muscles burning with exertion. Simon's attacks grew frenzied, devoid of finesse and precision. Sensing an opportunity, I seized the moment, using his uncontrolled assault against him.

With a swift parry, I disarmed him, sending his blade clattering to the ground. Surprise and desperation filled his widened eyes as he realized he had lost the match. He tried to reach for his sword, but I stopped him by pressing my sword to his throat. My gaze focused on him daring him to move an inch.

"Stand down," I ordered firmly, my voice unwavering. "You have lost. If you move, I will put you down here and now."

Simon's body trembled as he slowly sank to his knees, accepting defeat. However, something felt amiss. I could sense my vampire side losing control.

Panic surged through me as I felt a sharp pain in my hand, realizing Simon had cut me with a poisoned blade. Bluish liquid oozed from the wound, the telltale sign of Neiraide, a flower that causes a vampire to lose control of his blood lust.

I had to escape before I succumbed to the poison and turned feral with bloodlust. "I won, so keep your end of the bargain and leave my mother's tomb alone, father," I declared as I pointed my sword at my father, who was seated in the violin section of the courtyard.

Minutes later, I heard a familiar female voice declare, "Prince Xavier is the winner," and I looked up to see Venus with a wide grin on her face. She was the only one pleased with my victory, while my father and brother wore livid expressions.

But I couldn't wait any longer; I could already feel myself losing control, so I dashed out of the courtyard towards my cottage, which housed a few vials of antidote. As I got closer to the cottage, I could feel my control over my vampire side slipping away; I needed to find a safe haven before I completely lost control.

Venus pov…

Under Michael's intense gaze, I nervously shuffled my feet. The atmosphere was suffocating, brimming with dissatisfaction and anxiety. Xavier's victory, rather than Simon's, had left everyone, including the king and queen, visibly displeased. 

Amidst the disapproval, I found myself the sole bearer of joy. I couldn't bear the thought of Xavier losing, as it would result in the destruction of the late Queen's tomb and it would be nothing short of barbaric if the king actually followed through with his threat.

When the match was over, Xavier reminded the king to keep his word of not destroying his mother's tomb if he won, and then he abruptly departed without saying anything further, but my thoughts were filled with concern as well as joy because he looked sick as he spoke to the king before running out of the courtyard.

As my thoughts went back to Xavier's valiant fight, I couldn't help but rejoice internally in his well-deserved triumph. However, Michael, with an ego the size of a small planet, was seething with anger at Xavier's victory. He couldn't bear the sight of anyone challenging his dominance, so this win must have come as a colossal shock to him. 

His first mistake was choosing the wrong soldier to fight for him. I'm even sure I could defeat Simon in a sword battle! His second mistake was believing Simon had already won the battle before it began.

My announcement must have also pissed him off, so I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the impending confrontation. Memories of the last time I crossed Michael flooded my mind, the humiliation and pain he had inflicted. But this time, things would be different. I wouldn't let him bully me anymore 

"Venus," Michael began, his voice dripping with disdain. "What do you think you're doing, cheering for that freak, Xavier? Have you forgotten who you should be supporting?"

I locked my eyes on him and spoke calmly. "I haven't forgotten anything, Michael. I cheered for Xavier because he fought valiantly and deserved it. I'm not going to blindly support someone just because I'm married to them."

"I'm your husband. You are to do what I say, or do you want a repeat of last time?" Michael said, and I felt bile rise up in my throat, I couldn't help but feel afraid after what he said last. I still had nightmares from that night, but I wasn't going to submit to him even though he just threatened me.

I've come to accept that what happened before is in the past, and I'm determined to move on from it. There was no way I could have avoided it, so I've had to develop a resilient mindset to cope with the possibility of it happening again, despite my efforts to convince myself otherwise.

"I'm a human being, Michael, not your property. You may beat me into submission every time I defy you, but I will never blindly follow someone who is wrong."

A murmur spread through the surrounding crowd as they caught wind of our confrontation. All eyes were on us now, awaiting Michael's response. I refused to back down, my resolve growing stronger with each passing second.

Michael's face contorted with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. "You dare defy me, Venus? Do you have any idea what I can do to you?"

I swallowed the fear that threatened to consume me, standing tall and resolute. "I remember all too well what you did to me last time, Michael. But I won't be a victim anymore. You can't control me with your threats."

Michael's eyes narrowed, his face turning a shade of crimson. He took a step toward me, invading my personal space. But I held my ground, unyielding.

"You think you're so tough, Venus?" he sneered, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "Well, let's see how long that defiant spirit of yours lasts once I'm finished with you."

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "You're mistaken if you believe I'll back down so easily," I retorted, my voice laced with defiance. "I'm not going to be intimidated by your threats any longer. Do your worst."

He chuckled darkly, his tone dripping with disdain. "Oh, my dear, you have no idea what you're up against. You'll soon beg for mercy, but by then, it'll be far too late."

My eyes narrowed, my resolve strengthening. "I don't beg, and I certainly won't start with the likes of you," I replied, my voice steady and resolute. "You underestimate me at your peril."

A flicker of annoyance flashed across his face, his confidence wavering for a moment. "We'll see about that," he sneered, his voice filled with a mixture of arrogance and anger.

I smirked, my expression unyielding. "Indeed we will," I countered, my words laced with a hint of smugness. "I suggest you prepare yourself for a rude awakening, my dear husband, because you will never break me."