Chapter 3
Walking the corridors of the west side of the mansion, the building was beautiful but darkness was always bestowed on it. I looked around trying to understand Kieran intentions as well the Red Queen intentions with me.
Was the queen really willing lose everything just to be not under the power a of goddesses? And it was obvious what the queen wanted Kieran? but he didn’t seem interest in her. Considering his interest in me.
I have been having this thought process while walking, since today I was allowed to go outside my room with Kieran’s permission.
He was smart, I give him that but I feel there are loopholes he is not aware of, I just need to find them myself.
“Well, you seem lost in thought,” Kieran voice said behind me.
I spun around facing, with the verge on wanting attack him.
Kieran laughed at me.
“Relax, I just come to talk” Kieran said laughing.
I eyed him.
“What?” He asked in a playful way, cocking his head to the side. As if this was a game for him.
“Nothing,” I spat at him. “Just walking around minding my own business” I replied and turned around and started walking away from him wanting to least try get some distance.
Kieran laughed again, but was becoming more of a distance laugh, till I heard something and he stood in-front of me.
I almost gasp and went backwards.
“So, shall I teach you again today?” Kieran offered arching his eyebrow like he was amused by me.
“No, I rather not duel today” I said and turning around again.
“Hmm funny, cause I thought you wanted to go out?” he said.
I stopped in my tracks and faced him.
“Bribing me again? Fine, if I win I get to go outside, and if you win?…” I trailed off.
He smiled like he succeeded in his evil plan.
“When I win, I get to throw a grand ball for you” he said. Smirking at me.
I looked him confused, “Wouldn’t that be a win for me as well” I asked. Thinking Kieran may have lost his mind on what was a succes for me or him.
“No…because this ball is filled with Red Immortals, and I know now exactly how you feel about their kind, plus I get to choose what you wear” he answered, smiling while he came towards me.
A tinge of uneasiness came over my body about the event. Kieran in front of me I wanted to back away but couldn’t, that pull from him where I my body refuses move and I was not able to think about Kadea and the eternal power because it was blocked somehow.
Kieran cupped my left cheek with his hand and looked down onto me.
“I can even feel that energy you have about the Grand Ball, it radiates from you.” he smirked, “Meet me in the training room in about ten minutes” then planted a kiss onto my forehead. I shivered thinking of the training. Something I was not comfortable with.
I was never comfortable with what he was teaching me or better to say forcing me to learn. It was matter of evil forces and showing no mercy. It was more about killing straight from the fight.
Though with his ways of explaining, fighting, there are no rules when comes to battle. This way Kieran got the opportunity to teach me the ’right’ skills.
Back when I was attending Sky High, I was training with Wolf and he taught me what I believed were the true senses of what a warrior should be.
After changing in into work out pants and stretch tank top, I arrived at the doors of the battle room and entered.
Trailing down the stairs where I saw Kieran doing some dance then plunk sound came after. I realized he was throwing knives at a target at the far corner of the battle room. I paused and analyzed him though.
He wore black stretch pants, shirt and combat boots. He must have sensed me and turned with eyes traveling up my body.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded my head slowly, fully making my way down the stairs. I really wanted to beat him and go outside and see if there was anyway for me to get out of this mess.
He turned gesturing me to follow him to the weapons cabinet that was locked. Punching in the passcode, part of the wall shaped like a rectangle detached itself carrying four levels of weaponry. Kieran knew to hide the weapons from my recent attack on him.
He gesture towards it. “Take your pick ” his words too smooth.
I walked past him and looked at the weapons that hung or laid down on the shelves. I took a long sword that lightly glowed blue, it was much bigger than the one I used before. I picked it up and turned to Kieran who was watching me carefully. He cautious enough to think I would attack him with a weapon.
He stood guard. I went forward to the battle circle and waited on Kieran to pick his weapon. Except he kept watching me intently probably to make sure that if he turned his back, I wouldn’t attack him (he was right) though I couldn’t risk it not now.
I watched him closely seeing which weapon he would take, and well it was funny enough but looks like he chose a long dagger. I wondered why he chose that. Did he want to trick me with something that was up his sleeve or did he want me to win so he would not have to waste money on a Grand Ball. I laughed in my head at the last thought.
He came forward and we faced each other in the circle , while getting ready in our fighting positions.
“Remember, don’t just fight me, fight for the freedom you may receive.” he ordered.
I frowned at him, I had no idea what game he was playing but I prepared myself. I was going to say something to that but instead I lunged at him with my blade above my head and pounded it down at his head.
Kieran blocked it with his blade over top of his head and twisted and pulling me down beside him hitting the ground hard.I let out a small breath, controlled. I should have been better with my balance otherwise I would have stayed up, unsteadiness already laid in my bones.
I shook my head at myself for being stupid in that area. Now my side was little bit hurting but I wouldn’t let that stop me. I looked up from where I was laying Kieran was already rising up lunging at me and I needed a split second to block myself.
I brought up my weapon and hit his dagger with a big swift knock, causing him to go off balance. The weapons vibrated between the hit and went up my arm creating a fuzzy feeling for a moment.
I realized I had to cut his cheek or least something that would throw him off guard.
Kieran was off balance so I took the opening and I swung at his face. My blade came at down him, he realized what was going to happen and in a split second he moved. Rolling away from me and my blade landing hard into the concrete ground. With blunt clank noise that hurt, leaving a pain throbbing my arms to it, as well they started to feel weak since this was a bigger blade than usual.
Before I could recover, I heard him behind me, and instantly I twirled around landing hard on my back with the cool concert slamming against my skin. Pounding my feet into Kierans stomach, that staggered his dagger away. He struggled back clutching his stomach in pain.
He then looked up at me. “Since we been fighting, you still fight like a merciful fighter,” he half breathed.
And before I could react, he lunged at me with no time to react and landed on me creating a painful throb through my body as he pounded me against the hard concrete.
I screamed in pain. While my blade was thrown from my hand. Kieran was too fast, he had both hands on mine and over top my head they went with his face inches against mine.
“Wow” he said in pitiful way. “You let you guard down for a second and you already fail this challenge,” he mocked me.
I looked at him in hatred, I despised him so much.
“I didn’t let my guard down” I snapped and kneed him in the crotch. Making Kieran fall forward putting more of his body weight on me.
That was not a smart move, I struggled against Kieran trying to get him off of me while he was trying to get a hold of me but struggling in the pain in the groin. He was crushing me and I was gasping for air. I brought my knee up again this time he rolled away and I was free while the air filled my lungs again.
I rolled onto my front and saw where my blade landed. Little far than I thought, near the stairs. I got up struggling a bit and reached for my blade. Turning around again enough to time see Kieran regain his strength and come after me with another blade almost the same size to mine.
He took a swing at me but I had enough to time to block and beat him away from me.
We kept beating our swords and taking swings at each other and blocking every blow.
Every time Kieran swung at me it was like he was being playful yet me mocking me, was as if he knew that he may win.
Though when I got the chance to swing at him it was through hatred and anger every throw was pounded by anger.
My body was aching from handling the blade and the hard throbbing that was against my arms. My breathing was becoming sharper by the minute. It was tiring, fighting was tiring but I pushed through with my limits, all I wanted was to win. I just needed to finish him.
I got my opening, for a split second Kieran let down his blade for split second to regain air. I charged, and he didn’t have time to block it and I swung at his neck. Leaving behind a red line on his neck.
“Hey! that was un-called for” Kieran spat me.
“No mercy is what you are teaching me” I spat back.
I swung again but this his blade was up to protect him, our blades hit each other again creating a vibration that was utterly painful.
I moaned from it, I wanted to recover but I was too weak. Leaving Kieran to somehow gain control of my blade lifting it in the air with my arms above my head. I watched the blade twirl into air and landing in Kieran’s hand. I stared at him in shock.
“What? Can’t handle defeat?” Kieran smirked at me.
I looked at him with frustration.
“You know every time we battle you somehow find the energy to overcome my tactics” I barked. “It’s like I have the energy and you struggle but then somehow you overpower me and just not fair” I screamed.
Kieran laughed strolling slowly towards me.
“Who said battles were supposed to be fair?” He took our blades and threw them towards the open storage area.
I watched them land with loud clunk on the floor. If I was not good at myself control, I would have lunged for them and charged at Kieran. Problem was I knew better than to do that, trying anything spontaneous and would be a dangerous thing.
Kieran in front on me looking down at me like I was a curious thing he never seen before.
“What?” I growled, “you won the damn fight, so now you get your pathetic Grand Ball, all because you only have the red immortals as friends while all the black immortals are out to kill you” I spoke words hoping they would be a sharp dagger.
He tilted his head a little bit. And shook it slight.
“Asema…Asema… you still have not learned to hold your tongue even though you been here for awhile now,” he stated something that caused a slight pain my chest.
Before I could reply, my back was up against a wall and Kieran hand was wrapped around my neck but he wasn’t choking me. His hand was just placed there enough for me to feel paralyzed.
Bringing his lips towards my ear and whispered.
“Asema, do you want me to have fun with you? Do want to live in hell every night? Because if you do than you are doing a pretty good job at succeeding” he whispered brushing his lips against my ear. “I find it funny that there are some things in your mind that you wanna do… but it will cost you.” he kissed my cheek and let go of me, letting me fall to the ground on my hands in knees hitting the floor. It wasn’t painful but it didn’t feel well either hitting the concrete.
I felt like gasping of air but there was no need. I guess it just felt like a reflex.
Kieran was laughing and I wanted to shove his face for it. He came down and picked me up by the arms, his grip tight and not nice. Placing me on my feet and smiling at me.
“Okay, now go get ready for tonight,” he ordered.
I looked at him in shock.
“Wait, you already planned for a stupid ball?” I sneered. My eyes were wide and I gritted my teeth together.
“Of course, I knew I would win, but you did surprise me there with the nick on my neck” he said tracing his throat. I looked at his neck and it was already healed. It wasn’t fair.
“So, you knew that you would win?” I questioned.
“Mhmm” he said smiling and then let me go. “Now go, your dress is waiting” he backed away and wiped off some more sweat off his eyebrow. I too felt the sweat roll and drip down my temples. My breathing was more steady so I backed away and started for the stairs as I was instructed.
~ * ~
Sitting in front of the dresser mirror while the maid was fixing my hair into half up and down style. My blonde hair was hanging down passed my shoulders with the natural curls. I looked up at myself and saw those sad red eyes staring back at me.
This was not fair, he cheated knowing already that he would win the fight and make me struggle for it.
I looked down back my hands they were bit shaky considering though I fought with Kieran an hour ago but yet I was still tired. I suppose it was more from weakness since my strength seemed to be failing me more often now these days.
I sighed when will this nightmare be over?
“Finished” the maid said.
I looked up again to see the process of my hair. The maid then picked up a mirror to show the back end of it and I could tell it sort of looked like she braided the hair while twisting it and letting the loosed blonde curls rest on my back and shoulders. I smiled faintly, least my hair was able to look good.
The maid said something but I didn’t listen.
I just blocked things out..
She rolled her eyes and walked into my closet, I turned around and stood up, walked to the big window and looked outside the sun had almost set and it was becoming darker in the room.
“Ta da” the maid exclaimed entering back into the room.
I turned around to see this dress that she was dragging on the floor, I almost gasped at it. It was a long blush gown laced with some jewels.
The maid hung it on one of the bed post so it could flow more out and showen in simpler way.
It was little bit beaded in the front but it was backless with fabric on the shoulders being loose. I went towards it and lifted the skirt with my hands, I hate to say it, but this dress was beautiful the feeling was extradorinary. The maid took it off the hanger waiting on me to start putting it on.
The fabric felt amazing, as my roamed my hands over it. Finishing I roamed over to the long mirror and saw that it looked elegant on me. For a second I felt like I was a princess for moment, I was not a prisoner and not a toy to a monster.
But that second left and I was in a beautiful dress looking at myself in the mirror again and saw an unhappy girl who just wanted to be free. I really hope this party is not bad. I really don’t want to be in a room full of red immortals that only feed on humans.
A knock sounded at the door and my stomach dropped, Kieran was here to take me and all I wanted to do was hide. I just knew after this ballwhat would happen to me, multiple times tonight. So, it’s either I hide or see how long I can hold out enough to tire him out. The chances were odd but I knew I had to try.
The door opened and there stood Kieran in fine black suit with a white shirt that was loose at the collar. He saw me, smiled slightly probably thinking about how much fun he would have with me tonight.
He stepped forward and beckon the maid away. She obeyed and left up, leaving us alone in the room together. I don’t know why but with the maid gone I did not feel secure. Guess it was nice to have her here between Kieran and I.
Kieran closed the door and my heart started to beat fast. Within a second Kieran was standing right in front of me but there was a bit of space between us.
“Okay,” he said starting off. Then looked at me straight in the eyes, and I wanted to looked away his gaze held me there.
“Tonight, is a good night for me, I have my woman by my side” Those words caused me to snarl at him but stopped myself short. “and in my finest suit as well the Red Immortals and the Red Queen with them. Tonight we are in enjoying the life, so be on your best behaviour or--”
“I will have my punishment” I cut him off.
He stared at me with amusement, he placed his hands on my waist and his lips found my neck and trace them down to my collarbone. I went rigid, it only caused him to smiled against my skin
Kieran snickering under his breathe, stood up straight swung to my side and offered his arm to me. I had no other choice but to take it. I breathed. This was going to be a long night of distractions.