20. Ivy #2
I press my lips into a thin line as I heave a heavy exhale through my nose. Ignoring Teddy, I turn to the rest of the group, only to find the girl still glaring at me with murder in her eyes.
It’s uncomfortable. To the point I can acknowledge it’s uncomfortable, and I’ve grown used to people glaring at me since I arrived. She’s on another level.
Opting to ignore her, I remind myself why I’m here and drag myself off to the closest corner to prepare.
It’s therapeutic to go through the rhythm of getting ready. It’s the first piece of familiarity I’ve felt since arriving, and it has a tranquil way of grounding me. It’s a kit and a damn mask, but it’s everything.
My moment of calmness and clarity is quickly diminished when I turn around, mask in hand, to find Teddy suited and waiting on a nearby mat. His gaze is fixed on me, that usual lilt to the corner of his mouth in place. I glare at him, but it only makes his grin grow.
Exhaling, I grab my sabre, fix my mask in place, and trudge toward him.
He takes careful note of every step I take as I eliminate the distance between us. “Are you ready to show me what you’ve got, Princess?”
I don’t bother with an answer, my racing heart won’t allow it. Instead, I step into en garde position without hesitation, blade steady, posture clean, and ready to begin. Another exhale, and I’m locked in, focused on nothing but him.
He winks, aware I can see him through the mesh of my mask, before he slips his into place. He walks a lap of the mat first, sending my focus into hyperdrive as I remain in position, refusing to break my stance as he finally stands across from me.
As if summoned from my opponent’s thoughts, Professor Finnigan stands to our left, hand raised as he speaks. “Allez.”
The clanging of metal vibrates through me as our swords connect.
He advances with ease, testing my boundaries, but I deflect every flick of his blade, keeping my distance as he dances me around the mat.
When he feints high, I don’t bite, controlling the twist of my wrist as I catch his blade in a neat parry, sending it off line.
Fast.
Clean.
Trained.
He flicks his mask up just enough for me to see the grin on his face, but it’s the shimmer in his eyes that holds me captive.
“Interesting,” he breathes, before fixing his mask back into place.
“Keep your fucking helmet on, Lupus. Allez,” Finnigan calls, and he takes off again, faster this time as he pushes two quick advances before attempting to lunge.
The kiss of steel vibrates through the room as I deflect his attack, and immediately respond with a riposte, taking advantage of the split second Teddy takes in an attempt to recover from his failed pass.
The tip of my blade makes it dangerously close to his shoulder, but he manages to slip the move at the last second.
The close call doesn’t deflate me; it spurs me on.
Wordlessly, we reset our position, circling in shallow steps, and this time, I don’t leave it open to him; I move first.
A smooth advance, a sudden lunge, I don’t hesitate. It’s fast enough to catch most off guard, but not him. He doesn’t miss a beat, but it forces him back a step.
Sweat beads at my temples as I grin, shielding my excitement behind my mask as I force him to react.
Our blades meet again, a sharp clash as he parries, but I don’t stop. I press forward, chaining my movement; advance, pressure, strike.
It’s like taking a breath. Controlled and intentional.
This time, I get to drive him, set the pace, and bring him under my spell.
It’s intoxicating, except for the fact that it’s clear he’s letting me. He’s offering me the ground, letting me think I’m in control, but I see the measured steps, the space to let me display what I can do. I’ve seen it before in Hugo.
Frustration gets the better of me as my blade shoots forward, only this time, he’s ready. He shifts at the last second, turning my attack aside with a precise parry. There’s no rush to his movement, only concise expectation.
With my balance tipped forward, he wastes no time stepping in.
Fast.
He’s closer than I expect, my blade still recovering when his comes up, smooth and controlled, sliding past my guard to stop a breath away from my throat.
Silence.
We’re close enough that our breaths mingle. Steady, but sharper than before.
For a moment, neither of us moves, our chests heaving as we stare at one another. Even with our masks in place, it’s as if he’s peering into my soul.
Sensing my thought, his mask disappears, revealing that too-handsome face, but the smug grin that usually curls his lips is gone.
“You’re good.” I don’t breathe. “But you commit too cleanly,” he adds, and I gulp. “Easy to read if someone knows where to look. I’m surprised Hugo didn’t tell you that.”
At the mention of my brother, I jolt back a step, slipping my mask off before brushing my damp hair back off my face. “He did. I’m more surprised he didn’t tell you my cues,” I grumble, and he winks.
“Maybe he did.”
I freeze, gaping at him, but he simply fixes his mask in place, retakes his stance, and nods. “Again.”
It seems I’m a sucker for punishment, because I slip my mask back on and fall into position.
Time passes like a vortex as I lose myself to the rhythm, focus, and step of my favorite pastime. So when Finnigan calls time, I’m flooded with disappointment.
Teddy is the first to concede, revealing his face as he drops his blade, offering me his hand. I blink at it for a moment, considering my options, but I know better than to leave the mat disrespectfully.
Against my better judgment, I press my palm against his. My breath lodges in my throat as my gaze collides with his. Heat sizzles at our point of contact, and as he gently shakes my hand, I stand frozen in place.
“I can’t wait to do this again, Princess,” he breathes, offering me a wink before he releases his hold on me.
Darting to the other side of the room, I make quick work of changing, ready to get out of here as fast as I can. I keep my back to the room until I’m done, turning when I’m absolutely ready to leave, only to find the space mostly empty.
There’s no Teddy, no glaring girl, no Finnigan.
Relieved, I grab the handle on my bag and head for the door. I exhale the second I step outside, feeling the warmth from the sun on my skin. I tilt my head back, letting my face feel it as I take a few calming breaths. The smile on my face is real, stretching from ear to ear as I soak up the rays.
One last inhale, and I frown, my eyebrows knitting together as darkness sweeps over me. Prying my eyes open, I startle, a scream on the tip of my tongue, but it never reaches the surface as something covers my face, tightening around my throat and shielding me from the light.
“You may have been The Angel back home, but here, you’re nothing more than a waste of space, and I’ll be damned if you take what’s mine.”