Chapter 56 The fight
Both women stood across from each other.
Isabella's mind raced as her brain worked overtime. She tried to recall all that Sam had taught her.
Hands blocked, protecting her chest, legs forward, ready to kick.
Across from her, Amelia stood, stretching lazily, an arrogant smile on her face waiting for the command to devour her prey. Her scars were obvious, exposed purposely by her, to show the numerous battles she'd gone through.
Lord Konstatin rose behind the podium. “Ready Ladies?” His voice boomed. In response, the guards cheered.
Isabella let her eyes roam around the crowd, looking for Lucien. She found him, looking intently at her. A calm look on his face, soothing the storms in her heart.
He blew her a kiss from the crowd, and despite the noise around her, Isabella smiled, her heart fluttering. “You can do this.” He whispered.
Painfully, she withdrew her gaze from him and returned it to Konstatin who had been talking.
“...first to draw blood wins. There are no killing strikes.” He said finally, waving his hand for the fight to begin.
Three loud bangs sounded, signalling the start of the fight.
Isabella inhaled deeply, as she took some steps back.
On the opposite, Amelia began pacing. Without warning, she ran, covering the distance between both of them, taking Isabella by surprise.
Isabella, too slow to react, took the hit on her face, staggering as she hit her back on the ground.
“C’mon, pretty face. Scared to dirty your hands?” Amelia mocked. As she spoke, she moved, her legs landing on Isabella's chest.
This time around, she was fast enough to use her hands to block, but she regretted it instantly.
The impact, made her fly landing almost at the end of the ring.
The men cheered, chanting loudly.
“You are actually weak.” Amelia mocked, her stained teeth exposed. “Just a pretty face for a queen.”
Isabella bit her lips. The woman was huge and her strength? Her strength was twice her size.
She could not stay on the defensive for so long. It was only a matter of time before she was caught off guard and lost.
“Why?” The huge woman continued. “Contemplating your next move?”
Isabella jumped, giving her three strikes in succession, but the blows only made the woman stumble a little before regaining her stance.
“Now, that's what I want to see.” She cracked her neck. “But it's useless. You're only a weak little human posing as a vampire because of your political gains.”
Like lightning, she disappeared for a moment and appeared at Isabella's back.
Before Isabella could react, a huge kick landed on her back, sending her to the floor.
She groaned, struggling to stand up, but Amelia was not done. She pushed Isabella back to the ground, landing successive kicks to her thighs, before stopping.
Isabella could taste the blood in her mouth. She grunted, pushing herself up.
“You should give up now.” Amelia snickered. “Just surrender, before I make you.”
Isabella shut her eyes. She could feel the moonlit blood threatening to burst out. She'd been suppressing it from the start of the fight.
She really didn't want to unleash it. She hadn't mastered control.
“What do you say?” Amelia's voice sounded at her back, before grabbing Isabella's arms.
Isabella exhaled, surrendering as she pushed back, a silver line appearing in her eyes.
Amelia's eyes widened, as she realised what was happening.
“You?” She swore under her breath, her arms and legs raised as she flew, delivering what she thought to be her final blow.
“Hmmph.” Isabella sniffed, blocking it, holding Amelia's arm as they both flew out of the ring. She landed on her feet, Amelia landing on her back.
There was silence in the arena for some ten seconds before a loud noise erupted. The men were stunned and satisfied.
Lucien's face held the most satisfying smile as he grinned from ear to ear.
Isabella stretched out her hand to Amelia helping her up.
“You proved me wrong,” Amelia grunted as she sat up. “I really wanted you to stop holding back.”
“I wasn't holding back.” Isabella protested as they walked to the ring.
“Okay, fine. I was.” She agreed when she saw Amelia's narrowed teasing gaze.
“You are good. It gladdens my heart.” She bowed slightly and walked out of the ring, her head held high, leaving Isabella alone, standing.
She moved her gaze to Konstatin whose eyes reflected something she couldn't decipher. There was surprise, and something else.
“Lady Isabella.” He called, nodding in acknowledgement.
Isabella bowed slightly in response.
“You exceeded my expectations.”’
Isabella could feel her heart flutter, but she straightened her gaze, her expression neutral as she walked back to the crowd.
Her legs were wounded, her thighs hurt, but she walked straight, her expression set only on one person's.
Lucien's.
“Your Majesty, your turn” Konstatin said, calling on Lucien, his voice higher because of the happy noise coming from the men around.
As they passed each other, their fingers grazed slightly, their eyes locked in each other's, before separating. Isabella looked away first.
Konstatin was on the ring, his regalia off, leaving him bare-chested with only trousers on his waist.
Isabella had taken Lucien's spot, and she could feel Konstatin smirking at her. She willed herself not to stare at his exposed body.
His scars decorated his chest, hair on his chest and below his waist, just before his trousers.
She guided her gaze back to Lucien who was handing his own shirt to Sam.
“Quite the lady you have there, your Majesty.” Konstatin mocked as she pressed his knuckles.
Lucien's eyes twitched. “I see you looking at her. I don't share.” He warned.
Konstatin laughed as he lunged. “I don't either. This fight will determine who has her.” His kick landed on Lucien's waist who staggered.
Lucien returned his immediately, landing on his chest, but Konstatin blocked it.
“A little rusty on the skills your Majesty?” He chuckled, flying. “No wonder, your kingdom's at stake.”
Lucien grunted, attacking his legs, making both men roll on the floor. “She's worth it.” He muttered, delivering the first blow.
But Konstatin dodged, rolling on the side as Lucien's hands landed on the ground, creating a huge dent.
“Fatal,” Konstatin muttered.
Behind them, the crowd surged, cheering, happy to witness a good fight.
“That would have created a huge hole in my head.” He mocked as he lunged.
Lucien dodged, holding the General's arm in the process as he twisted and landed the blow on his jaw.
Konstatin staggered, spluttering blood. The first blood had been drawn, but the men were far from over. This was personal.
“This is not a fight of ownership, Konstatin. She belongs to me.” Lucien continued, curling his hands, ready to deliver another blow.
“Why?” Konstatin asked, his legs in the air, as he kicked down at Lucien.
Lucien flew, dragging the General with him, both of them far away from the ring, now in the sky.
“You could have anyone? Why choose her?”
Lucien grunted, blocking a kick. “That's where you're wrong, my old friend. I didn't choose her. The bond did that for us.”
“I'm not a fool, Lucien. Don't go all poetic on me. You chose her.” Konstatin argued angrily, as he threw another punch.
Lucien smiled despite the severity of the situation. “Here’s what I mean.” A silver line appeared in his head, as he moved.
Konstatin widened his eyes, surprised at the flash of speed that Lucien had just exhibited.
“You're using the moonlit blood?” The words were barely out of his mouth as she staggered, receiving a kick on his back as he flew off into the sky.
He found his balance mid-air and landed on his feet on the floor.
Lucien landed just behind him. “I'm not using the moonlit blood. She's in total possession of it and can share it.”
Konstatin nodded, his hand raised in surrender. “She's worth it. I accept.”
Lucien snickered. “Good to know you agree.”
“Still doesn't mean I'm going to let it go.” He fired back.
Both men shook hands as they faced the crowd.
“She needs to know that there are better options for her.” He said through gritted teeth to Lucien as the men cheered.
They'd definitely witnessed a good fight.
Lucien shrugged. “You could try it. I can't promise that you would come out alive though.” He snickered.
Konstatin threw his head out and smiled. “Watch me.”
He turned back to the crowd. “As promised, we will offer our support to His Majesty Lucien Blackthorn and his Lady Isabella.”
Isabella could feel her tears dropping. She was unconcerned about what they thought of her crying in public. She'd earned this.
She'd fought Amelia and had come out victorious. And now, they had the support of the Red Walls.
“We will throw our weight behind them when the threat arises.” Konstatin continued.
He waved his hands to calm the shouting, before glancing at Isabella, a devious smile playing on his lips.
“There is one more thing, however.”
Isabella's heart thumped.
“Lady Isabella Thorne will stay in the Red Walls with us for a week.”