Page 96 of A Kiss From Death
“BEGIN!” the Empress screams from the comfort of her throne.
Narrowing my eyes, I start to slowly circle Jade’s small frame, who does the same in return. I’ve watched Jade over the weeks while she trains, taking note of her habits and weaknesses. She’s a fierce competitor around my same age, and her size makes people underestimate her, which is her greatest strength. She’s smart and calculated with her moves. She’s fast and always prepared.
I’ve also noticed how she’s right handed but is currently using her left to hold her hammer, leading me to believe she’s injured on her right. She also has a habit of tapping her left foot before she attacks. It’s so subtle, most competitors would miss the tell, but growing up being a spy has honed my skills for noticing and studying people’s habits.
And just like that, a plan forms in my head with every way I can use her weaknesses to my advantage. Just as the thought settles, a welcoming pressure settles over my shoulders, draping behind my neck like a snake. To the naked eye, it may look like a shadow over me, but to me, it meanseverything.
Hade’s magic rests supportively on my shoulders, creating a connection between us, letting me know he’s here with me. He doesn’t talk to me through it, knowing any distractions could mean sure death.
Jade continues to circle me, her blonde hair bobbing around. Her vicious green eyes zone in on me, the crowd growing louder and louder with each step we take. I spot her subtly rolling her right shoulder back in discomfort, and I smile to myself internally.
Flipping my dagger casually in my hand, I finally draw Jade’s interest enough for her to think she can make a move. She attempts to catch me off guard as my hand goes to swipe my dagger, just like I hoped she would.
Checkmate.
She screams, charging me at full speed, her hammer outstretched. I wait for her to get close, letting her think she’s got mebeat. Using her signature move, she drops to one knee at the last second, swiping her hammer at my ankles.
I jump over her hammer easily, turning around swiftly as her momentum keeps her body falling forward, and slam the hilt of my dagger into her right shoulder. She lets out a muffled cry, caught by surprise, but she jumps up immediately, just as I suspected she would.
Jade is a fighter. Growing up in Vagrant, we learned to grow up and fend for ourselves at a young age. Vagrant toughens the weak and kills the inept. It feasts with an insatiable appetite, cleaning the streets of those who can’t make a life within its belly.
I plan to slowly weaken and slow Jade before I attempt any killing blows. It’s my best bet with an opponent as scrappy as her, who will just get more feisty the angrier she gets. I’m here to play the long game until she can no longer stand to make another move against me.
Then, I will claim my prey.
“That’s all you got,killer?” Jade taunts while smiling through the pain in her shoulder that I know she’s feeling heavily. “Did your small brain forget which end of the weapon you’re supposed to wield?” she spits, full of venom.
I ignore her, tracking each of her movements and readying for another attack. On cue, she lunges forward, swinging her hammer while laughing like a lunatic. Abruptly, she latches her hands on each end of the long wooden handle, putting her arms straight out in front of her, aimed right at my neck, shoving me back towards the fire.
Ducking, I elbow her in the gut and slip under her shoulder at the last minute, making her buckle forward in pain. Her hands fall as she leans forward, letting out a hiss of pain when her knuckles connect with the fire in front of her.
I take the opportunity to rush her from behind while she’s down. The demon inside her seeps out when she turns quickly onher heels, expecting my arrival, and I curse myself for falling into her trap. Before I can stop my momentum, the wind is knocked out of me from my side.
Jade looks at her hammer in confusion, likely wondering why none of the small spikes around the head drew any blood. My suit succeeded in keeping my skin intact, but it definitely didn’t prevent the likely bruised or broken ribs from the impact of her swing.
Gritting my teeth, I hiss through my teeth, trying to catch my breath. Sharp pain explodes from my side each time I inhale. I push it down, forgotten and lost amongst the rest of the pain that brutalizes my body and soul daily. Squaring my stance, I bounce on the balls of my feet, hyped up on adrenaline and a life full of enough heartache to flood an overflowing reserve of burning vengeance.
“Maybe try swinging a little harder next time,” I taunt, attempting to rattle her enough to force her into being sloppy and rushed. “I know you’re used to making Tank do all your heavy lifting.”
A spark ignites behind her eyes, and I watch the bomb explode within her, setting her in motion. I catch her left foot tap the smallest amount, and I ready myself for the incoming blow. A guttural scream rips from her throat, and she charges me with death in her gaze. She swings angrily at my head from the side, but I’m prepared for it.
I duck easily under her arm and quickly swipe my dagger across her stomach, aiming to maim but not kill. It rips through her shirt, creating a shallow incision a few inches across. Her white shirt turns a deep red, soaking up the blood running from her wound.
Swiveling on my heels, I spin in time to see the hatred dripping from her features. She ignores her wound altogether, squaring up against me once again.
I’ll give her points for perseverance.
“You’re a dead woman!” she screams. I smirk in return, tightening my grip on the handle of my dagger, never letting my eyes stray from hers.
“Show me your worst,” I say, my tone low while I circle her again.
Nothing else exists in this moment. The crowd and chants melt away to a blur until all I see are her and the ruining about to take place.
I embrace it with welcome arms today.
Ithrivein it.
Grunting, I lunge forward, launching us back into vicious combat. I swipe my dagger through the air, aimed at her face, but she uses the handle of her hammer to deflect it. I drop immediately, kicking out my foot and connecting with hers. She stumbles sideways, falling to her knees. Throwing my body, I knock her onto her back and jump on top of her. Her hammer is knocked from her hand and falls beside us. Seizing the opportunity, I swing my right fist, connecting with her face with a sickeningcrunch. She screams, wrapping both her hands around my neck, cutting my airways off.
