Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Raven

Raven’s heart pounded in her throat. She forgot about her drink, her hand gripping the handle of her weapon. The blade was curved, her favorite kind. It felt as light as a feather and shone in the dim light.

With this, a person could attack and defend in one smooth motion, moving as fluidly as water.

Raven sensed his determination, but she had no plans to lose. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks: she had to.

Laro had warned Arenk that if she didn’t play her part, they’d lose interest and move on. She’d been so successful tonight, managing to collect keycards from some of the major players.

Raven couldn’t let her pride ruin her only chance of getting home.

The thought of General Fleu’s smug smile when he won, thinking he was the superior fighter, left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She took a deep breath, trying to appreciate the moment, to savor the feel of the weapon in her hand, to be thankful for this rare opportunity to use it.

“Never seen this before. Women usually scream for jewels and cock, not weapons,” General Fleu said.

“I like to keep my interests varied. Got another one of these to spare?” Raven asked, grabbing another glass from the table and downing it before he could take it.

The fiery liquid set her body on fire. She felt relaxed and loose, but there was a nagging ache. The music sounded muffled, as if she was underwater.

Everything around her was a blur, except for General Fleu, who watched her with his intense gaze.

He handed her a second blade, and she held it in a reverse grip while the other was in a forward grip.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Patience is a virtue,” she replied, twirling the blades by their hilts.

Raven took a few practice swings to get a feel for them. They were so light. It felt so natural, as if she was born with them.

She studied General Fleu. His body language was a warning sign, but it drew her in. He seemed more in control than General Hokji had been. His scent was still absent, though.

General Fleu was tall, and she could use that to her advantage.

She was a smaller target, so his lower half was an easy target for her. Taking out a leg or even threatening his prized possession could end this quickly.

Her choice of clothing limited her leg movements. Raven had hoped to distract Laro from his strike by choosing something more form-fitting.

Great for seduction, but terrible for hand-to-hand combat.

She flipped the blades and, with a quick flick of her wrists, cut the sides of her skirt.

Squatting down was no longer a problem, but she noticed onlookers stopping to watch the unfolding situation. ~One more drink.~ She finished it off. The music became crystal clear.

She could make out the movements of the people around her and General Fleu’s subtle change in grip. The reaper grip, used for pulling and hooking, perfect for close-quarter combat.

“Any more than that, you’ll pass out. I’m getting bored,” General Fleu said.

“Okay, okay. I’m rea—”

The breeze warned her. It brushed past her left side. A clanging sound echoed in her ear. Any slower and she would’ve lost her ear. She dragged her blade along his; the scraping made her shiver.

He was much faster than General Hokji. Hooking her blade with his, Raven tried to disarm him, but he reversed it, forcing her to let go.

He didn’t let up and launched a series of attacks that she blocked and dodged. The crowd moved out of their way but still hovered around. She had to put on a show before she tired out.

Raven noticed that his hook and pull technique was tight, but he left his sides unprotected on the pull.

She couldn’t help but smile. Just like that, everything fell into place for her, and the beat dropped.

As he launched his next attack, she ducked and charged forward. She aimed at his torso, and he took the bait. At the last moment, she spun, making contact with his side.

With a gentle touch, she kept turning, dragging the blade around until she reached the front. Raven was light on her feet as she jumped back out of his reach. She admired her work.

His shirt was torn, but there was no blood.

“You shouldn’t look so satisfied,” General Fleu said.

Before she could respond, one side of her shirt fell. Her palms started to sweat. She hoped that was enough. Maybe he would lose interest.

“This was fun, but a good fighter knows when to admit def—”

He charged at her, and she defended her weak spots. Out of the corner of her eye, he ran past.

General Fleu grabbed Laro by the front of his shirt and held him in a chokehold with a blade pressed to his throat. Everything started to spin.

“Can I at least have a refill? And be careful. You both almost knocked over my skull collection,” Laro said, trying to sip the last of his drink.

“You’re too relaxed, Laro. Don’t think for a second that I won’t do it,” General Fleu said.

~Laro said it himself that they weren’t friends. Why the hell is he not worried?~

“I know you will. I have faith in her as I would Arenk,” Laro said.

“How many drinks have you had?” General Fleu asked.

“You saw the same video as I did.” Laro smiled. “Just like everything else, she toys with it until she’s bored of the challenge. I guess that means she doesn’t see you as a real threat.”

“Maybe. Right now, I have her full attention. Just like any woman, she thinks with her heart instead of her head. I saw it when she went for you instead of running or attacking last night.

“Weakness, one I can exploit for a real fight, or I’ll cut you down.” General Fleu pressed the blade deeper until a drop of black liquid trickled down Laro’s neck.

Raven’s skin started to prickle all over. She tried to take a deep breath, but all she could do was clench her teeth.

It was the only thing stopping her from moving. If she did, only God knew what she would do.

“There it is,” General Fleu murmured, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Looks like I’ve managed to light a fire in your garden. Even your thirst for blood has a sweet scent. So, what’s your decision?”

Raven moved towards the table, her gaze fixed on the last row of glasses. She picked up each one, the liquid inside bringing her closer to the edge. But with every sip, her instincts screamed at her, begging her to stop.

“I won’t be held accountable for any harm or disfigurement. You’re the one who wanted this,” Raven’s words were slurred as she reached for the final glass.

The last sweet drop slid down her throat, and as it did, the room began to fade. The light dimmed until everything was swallowed by darkness.