Chapter 97: Driving Fear

“In as much as I hate to admit it, your sister is strong Garland, blessed with an exceptional ability, but she's still a kid and lacks experience” the captain said, breaking the silence suddenly.

Zeibar didn't even blink, he just stared with that dull expression on his face.

I wanted to scream at him, to get a reaction, did he not care about his sister at all?

“In due time, she'll learn you can't always use brute force to accomplish everything” the captain said, and began walking away.

I couldn't help but smile, although, I wanted Alia to win, but if she had, the captain wouldn't have survived. Since the reverse was the case, the man didn't peg me like the kind of person to kill needlessly, hence him walking away.

“Where do you think you're going to?” Zeibar asked, head cocked to the side, staring at the captain in contempt, his eyes still held that bored expression of his, but his tone… it sounded deadly.

“The fight is over” the captain replied.

“Says who?”

Silence ensued.

I could imagine a clock ticking, agonizingly slow inside my head.

“You would rather I kill your sister for the sake of your entertainment?” The captain asked, appalled.

“The deal was a fight to the death,” Zeibar deadpanned. “And besides… this match is far from over.”

The captain frowned, “what do you mean?”

Zeibar sighed heavily. “How long do you plan to lie there Alia?” He asked, staring at Alia.

We all stared at her slumped figure in shock, she groaned lightly and stood up slowly.

She rolled her head from side to side, then touched her nose gently. “Ahh.. it's broken Zee,” she whined.

“You'll fix it later,” Zeibar said, waving his hand, dismissively. “Finish this up quickly will you, your nuances almost let some wannabe captain leave with the mindset that he actually won against you”

He tsked lightly, “do you know how that looks for us if we let some nobody go around running his mouth about such a feat?

Seriously… The disrespect was getting on my nerves.

She scoffed lightly, “I've heard you, jeez… Brother of the year indeed,” she grumbled.

“You” she pointed at the captain. I looked to see him staring at her in shock, just like the rest of us. “You've taught me something important and I have to thank you for your earlier speech”

She parted her legs, stance ready for an attack. The captain immediately did the same.

“So what if I can't always use brute force to accomplish everything…”

She bunched her fists tighty, voice rising an octave

“I'll just keep on using brute force, till I accomplish everything,” she screamed and lunged for the captain.

Fists bunched tightly and aimed for his face, the captain held his stance, ready to defend but she moved instead… It was almost as though she materialize behind him.

The captain's eyes widened in shock, he twisted around immediately but it was too late, she merged her left and right fingers together forming a single punch and aimed it right for the back of his neck.

The immense pressure sent the captain to the ground in an instant. He wheezed and gasped for air, spit dropping out of his mouth without restraint.

He tried to stand but he just kept on falling back down, after countless tries… he gave up and rolled on his back, staring at the ceiling in defeat.

Alia walked towards him and stood beside his limp body, “and who says brute force can't always win against experience… I've fought people with fifty years more experience than you and I'd won” she crouched low, “you wanna know what age, I did all that?” She paused staring at him dead in the eye.

“Fifteen, with no experience… just brute force” she finished and stood up walking away.

I suddenly felt this pang of sadness.

Now that I actually thought about it, every single person in this room had gone through one shit or the other and yet… we were still fighting.

“Where do you think you're going?” Zeibar asked, stopping Alia in her tracks.

“It's enough Zee…he lost”

“He's not dead Ali” Zeibar said, tone oddly calm.

“His spirit's already broken” she argued.

“Do I look like I give a flying fuck about spirits?”

The room fell into a cold silence.

God knows, I really wanted to say something but I held back. After all Ronan was here, if he choose to hold back, then I'd be stupid to undermine his authority.

“These people would have killed us without a moments thought , they invaded our home, trampled on our pride, we already did too much by letting those two go. We are not… adding this to the mix” he seethed.

“We already killed a lot of their people, is that not enough?” She asked, voice breaking.

He walked up to her, staring at her in annoyance. “Do you think I care about these childish honor of yours?” He asked, Alia lowered her head slowly. “Go and finish your fight Ali”

She shook her head. “No”

His fingers wrapped around her arm tightly. “Don't make me repeat myself Ali,”

She pulled her arm from his grip harshly. “Do whatever you want with him, I don't care…” she drew, chest heaving in anger. “Not like you ever consider my feelings anyway” she mumbled. “So do what you like, but these hands, are not hurting a man who'd already lost anymore”

She walked away, willing her feet to carry her father from him. Her hands wiped at her face aggressively and I could only guess she was crying.

Zeibar walked back to the captain, mumbling profanities all the way.

He pulled his gun from its holster and pointed it at the captain.

“You do know, you have no obligation to end his life right?” Ronan said, suddenly.

“I don't need to hear your thoughts Ronan Zeibar shit back, angrily.

“You can choose to listen and choose no-”

“Will you just shut the fuck up,” Zeibar screamed, “it's my fucking house remember, I get to do what the hell I want.” His chest heaved with pent up rage. “I have to…” he murmured, sadness evident in his voice. “That's the only way to drive the fear of the Black Dias into them” he cocked the gun.

Everyone here had demons we were actively fighting.

“I think they already fear you plenty,” Ronan replied.

Zeibar scoffed lightly, “like Golden boy Ronan would know anything about that.” he said, quietly and pulled the trigger.

I flinched, tearing my eyes away, tears gathered at the back of my eyes, waiting for the slightest push to gush out.

He didn't have to… but for some reason, he'd grown up believing he had to.

Believing it was the only way.

They both had.

Alia and Zeibar.