Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Dragon ❯ The Duel ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

It occurred to Crowe that she was afraid. This annoyed her immensely. When was the last time she had been afraid to enter a duel? Her extraordinary abilities usual elevated her on a pedestal of unwavering confidence. And yet at this moment…

I have a bad feeling. A very bad feeling…But she refused to let it show. Instead she smirked at Acanthus, hoping to at least jostle his nerves.

It's his damn eyes. I can't see passed them. Usually she could look right through people. Their emotions would stick into her like thorns. This one though…absolutely nothing escaped him. He was a complete and utter enigma.

She gave a growl and charged, hoping to throw him off. He blocked her easily. She swiped again. Once again her blade bounced off of his. She thrust. He parried. She came around. He stepped back. She leapt. He ducked.

Nothing gets passed this guy!

"Aaah!" Crowe let out a cry as he cut across her left shoulder. It was a shallow wound, but it made her eyes water. She noticed her sleeve darkening with blood.

His eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite recognize.

What was that? She swung around at him, ignoring the pain that wracked her body. I think he's struggling with something.

He swiped at her, but it seemed sluggish, as if he were holding back. This time she found an opening and managed to get him. It was a good cut along his right shin.

He cringed, faltered, and she hit him again, this time on his sword arm.

Not much of an opponent. The flat of her sword struck his leg.

He fell foreword; his knees hit the ground.

Without hesitation, Crowe stepped foreword to finish her task. "You must destroy the Prince." Dakarai's words echoed in her mind. "It is the only hope left for our land…"

She lowered her blade onto him without expecting much resistance. But when the blow came, he fought back with surprising ferocity. She grinded her blade downward, and yet he was immobile. Sparks flew and still he maintained his hold. Then he started to rise. Crowe lashed out in frustration. She came down on him with constant blows. She hit and hit and until it felt her arms were on fire. And yet he kept rising.

Then she made the mistake of meeting his eyes again. They had flared to their absolute. Now they blistered with unbridled hostility.

It made her lose her balance.

"Fire melts ice." He said. The words were soft, but they pierced into her skin. They consumed her final ounce of audacity. Smoldering her insides.

Then he struck.

The effect was like hitting a sack with a club. It knocked her off of her feet. The sword slipped from her fingertips. Her back hit the ground. A jolt of pain shot up her spine. Tears leaked from her eyes. Then his shadowed face swam in her vision as he leaned over her. She blinked once. He moved out of focus. She blinked twice. A metallic taste met her tongue.

I can't believe it. I've lost. After all I've worked for…

Time slowed.

Something hummed in her ears. A frightening sound that reminded her of death.

She realized that it was the beating of her own heart.

She swallowed. It hurt.

She saw the flash of metal as the battle continued to rage around them. No…that was wrong. The battle was over. The Gardrothians were retreating.

"Secedo!" One of her soldiers was shouting. "Duxess exitia!"

The leader is dying…Crowe translated to herself. How strange. Isn't that me?

Then the Prince had encompassed her entire view. A sword glinted in his hands. He was preparing to make the fatal blow.

Those eyes. Those horrible burning orbs. Their glow brought terror into her pounding heart. They were all she could see. They were all she could think of. They were all…they were all…

Here it comes.

Crowe blacked out.