Chapter 8
Every mat time since Scarlen’s first, Kylar had kicked her ass, and it was starting to get embarrassing, but Scarlen was determined to turn things around this time, as she now knew all of her opponent’s moves and how anger drove her.
Bear was waiting for her at the door to the gymnasium. ‘Word is Ky’s paid Goolan again to spar with you. Quick lesson with me. Here.’
Scarlen was sure that wasn’t allowed but followed him to a corner close to Amber side. ‘We can’t spar,’ she whispered.
‘No, we can’t, but I can show you this.’ He pointed towards two lads grappling on a mat, both around Scarlen’s build. ‘Watch the smaller one.’
She did, noticing straight away how he used his elbow to land blows rather than his fists. ‘I use my elbows,’ she told Bear.
‘Kylar likes to come at you from behind, attacking your knees, right?’ He nodded at her, and she mimicked his action. ‘So, use your elbow to catch her in the solar plexus, then turn, she’ll be bent, and that’s when you strike with your elbow again, straight in the jaw.’
The smaller lad on the mat demonstrated as Bear finished explaining.
‘This kid makes good use of his elbows.’ Bear tapped hers. ‘Strong part. Fingers not so much. So stop with the flying fists to her face and start taking her air.’
Zana had taught her how to throw a punch, and how to wriggle free of certain holds, but she was yet to spar using so much of her elbows. Worth a go.
Scarlen bobbed her head, then made her way to her mat in time for Goolan to call out her name along with Kylar’s.
‘Oh, come on!’ complained Dionne. ‘Every week?’
Miss Goolan ignored her and started the match.
Kylar had her usual gnarled expression in place, but Scarlen was no longer wary of her. She pitied the woman more, but not enough to be kind.
‘Always so tightly wound, Ky,’ Scarlen mocked. ‘Judd not giving you enough dick time?’ Kylar paused. ‘Or are you still pissed off you can’t have Bear?’
‘Why would I want some northerner?’ Kylar spat, her nostrils flaring as her cheeks burned, and Scarlen knew she had hit a nerve.
‘Because he’s so good in bed.’ Don’t laugh.
Don’t laugh. Scarlen caught Bear watching out of her peripheral vision, his brow raised in amusement, and she felt heat creeping up her neck.
It was best if she shut down that line of thought, but before she could think of something else to add to wind up Kylar, she hit the mat with a thud from Kylar’s aggressive charge, the battle cry still vibrating through the air.
The two women wrestled angrily, Kylar growling, Scarlen hissing, saliva upon both faces, then Kylar got in her signature move, hooking Scarlen from behind, and Scarlen slammed her elbow backwards, hitting the solar plexus.
Kylar was on her knees, gasping, so Scarlen took the opportunity to smash backwards once more, catching Kylar’s jaw, knocking her sideways.
‘Hold her. Hold her,’ yelled Dionne, and a few others around the mat started clapping.
Scarlen quickly pinned her rival by the throat, but Kylar wouldn’t tap out, and it was obvious to the spectators it was from pure stubbornness.
Kylar was losing consciousness, her eyes closing, her mouth gaping, and it was only her hand drooping to the mat that had Goolan class that as a yield and called time.
‘Yes!’ Dionne cheered before explaining to Elbar what had happened.
Elbar raised her stick triumphantly as Temple frowned over at Scarlen.
‘What’s with him?’ Scarlen asked Dionne, limping her way.
Dionne laughed. ‘He’s been placing wagers on your matches with Ky. Looks like he just lost more than he won this time.’
Scarlen turned to Temple and gave him a thumbs-up while grinning to herself. ‘Thanks for believing in me,’ she muttered.
‘Temple only believes in money.’ Dionne’s smile was wide. ‘I just won some chocolate from him. See, I believe in you. We’ll have that later.’
They both watched Kylar hobble away to the water stand, then Scarlen caught a wink from Bear before he stepped onto a mat for his own fight. With Judd.
‘Oh shit, Dee. Bear’s fighting Judd.’
Dionne grabbed her arm, tugging her to Amber side to get a good view, but more inmates had gathered than usual, and none of the guards seemed bothered.
The atmosphere in the gymnasium was way more serious, even Oxley had lost his characteristic smile.
Judd made the first move, Pirates on one side of the mat, cheering him on, Flames on the other, jeering at their enemies, but Bear went nowhere but straight into him, his solid chest taking a blow, then his head returning the gesture, smacking down onto Judd’s nose.
None of the moves were part of sparring, but the guards were too interested in the brawl to break it up.
Judd bounced back on one foot, his tongue pressed firmly into his cheek, blood trickling into his mouth, but he showed he wasn’t fazed, just ready for round two.
Bear ducked the flying fist, then straightened to assess his opponent’s rage levels.
Judd always failed himself when too angry, and that was an advantage for anyone, but this time he was more unhinged, almost enjoying the pain inflicted, and that meant Bear needed to take him out of the game fast, because when Judd snapped, a weapon normally followed, and Bear wasn’t about to make friends with a shank.
The noise was deafening until Mr Lackly waved his clipboard in the air, trying to regain some control, but Bear took that moment to run at Judd, lift him by the legs, and slam him straight into the unsuspecting guard, bringing all three of them crashing down.
The handmade knife in Judd’s waistband slid across the floor, where Varklee snatched it up, hiding it in his pocket, then Mr Kane pulled Bear up as the pips went for clean-up time.
The crowd dispersed, leaving Lackly groaning, Judd moaning, and Temple organising wagers on his way out.
Bear shot Scarlen a small smile as he made way for her to walk out the door ahead of him. ‘See you later,’ he whispered, acting as though nothing major had just happened.
Scarlen entered the shower chamber, only needing to wash her face, as this time Kylar hadn’t caused much damage. ‘I’m starting to feel fed up with this place.’
Dionne scoffed, splashing her face at a sink.
‘That’s what happens at the end of your first month here.
By the end of your second month, you’ll be suffering too much with heartsickness to think about being fed up.
’ She nodded as she patted her face with a towel.
‘Each month, you change. And by the end of your sentence, you can’t wait to rejoin your family. ’
I doubt that. It was strange to think the king was sitting in the palace, knowing she was in prison, and not doing a thing about it to free her.
She wondered if her brother knew where she was or had been lied to.
She liked to think Milon didn’t know, otherwise it hurt more knowing he hadn’t done anything to help her.
‘I’m not sure where to go when I leave here, Dee.’
‘Come live in my village if you want. I’ll help you find work.’ Dionne sighed heavily. ‘I’ll need to find something for myself as well, as I can’t keep stealing and coming in here. My brother needs me.’
I’m not sure anyone needs me. Scarlen’s thoughts went to Bear.
She wouldn’t be around to watch his execution, but if she went home, might she be able to stop it?
Her father wasn’t one to change his mind once set, and he had made it quite clear how much he hated shapeshifters, but still.
If she told him how much Bear had looked after her in prison, maybe he might feel the need to reward him somehow.
She didn’t want to go back to the palace, to face her father, but for Bear, she might.
It was quieter than usual out in the yard, and Scarlen blamed it on the bitter cold and the boredom.
It had been a strange month, getting used to life in prison with so many people she had never seen before.
Back home, she knew the faces that came and went from her confined space.
She wasn’t sure which was lonelier. Looking around, there were many a small group clustered here and there, but the emotion of loneliness was strong enough for all to notice.
‘Smithson,’ called Bear.
She approached the divide to see what he wanted.
He was holding a tiny stone he’d picked from the edging of the fence. ‘Want to play a game?’
‘What kind of game?’
‘I see if I can throw this through the fencing, and you have to catch it.’
She blew out a laugh as she laced her fingers through the holes in the barrier. ‘How do you win at this game?’
‘You don’t. It just passes time.’
There were many games inmates played for that reason, someone was always coming up with something new for yard time, as each yard only had one basketball court, and they were often occupied by gang members.
Neither of the gangs liked her much, so Scarlen had never bothered trying to join a ball game.
‘Go on then. Let’s see if you can get the stone over here.’ Scarlen watched Bear concentrate on his aim. He never smiled much, and when he did, quite often it was slight, as though something pulled back on his happiness each time it tried to break through.
There weren’t many stones to play with, as most had been gathered up at one point or another for other games, so Bear had the advantage of using such small pebbles.
The first two bounced off his own fencing, which brought a smile to her face.
The third hit the pathway between them, then the fourth caught her fence.
Scarlen bent to pick her own stone. ‘Let me try.’ Biting her lip and narrowing her eyes, she darted the object towards him, aiming for his chest. A hushed rumble of a laugh came from him as the stone shot through both fences and into his palm.
It was nice to hear the sound come from him, but it hadn’t lasted long.
Bear held up his hand. ‘Caught it.’
Some stares came their way, and Scarlen stepped closer to the fence, her hands splayed against the wire. ‘People are watching.’
‘It’s because of the divide.’
She gazed at the fence.
‘Not that one. The north-south divide,’ he added.
‘It never used to be a thing.’
‘Is now. And getting worse.’
‘My closest friends in here are from the north, and they don’t care I’m from the south. So not everyone thinks about the divide.’
‘It’s more the king that we hate, but it still causes problems for southerners.’
She eyed him suspiciously. ‘Seems odd you claimed me.’
‘Told you why.’
‘I know, but—’
‘There are no buts. Did what I did, that’s it.’ He moved closer to his own fence. ‘You still don’t trust me, do you?’
What was there to trust in life, knowing her father had left her in prison? Trust wasn’t something she was friends with.
‘Why should I trust you?’
Bear remained staring at her for a long moment. ‘Even in our darkest moments, we all need a friend, and sometimes that friend appears from the most unlikely place.’
‘You calling yourself my friend?’
He gave a small shrug. ‘Whatever we are, we’re not enemies.’
Yes, we are. ‘You’re interesting, I’ll give you that.’
The side of his mouth twitched. ‘Same might be said of you.’
‘I’m quite boring.’ The princess life she led had no events to attend, no trips to meet and greet her people, no tea with friends, nothing but shelter, restriction, and a promise things would be different when she turned twenty and was unveiled to the kingdom.
Was it any wonder she spent time finding escape routes?
Why should she wait for that birthday for life to begin?
And what life had her father in mind for her?
Marriage to some stranger he deemed good enough?
The best thing about running away was how free she felt.
Even at Horstal, she had air in her lungs.
‘I’m not sure what to make of you, Scars, but one thing’s certain, you’re not boring.’
She quirked her brow. ‘Hmm, took me on to amuse yourself, did you?’ She noticed his chest steadily rise and fall.
‘Whatever your true agenda, you’ve helped me, so thank you.
’ Would she have been so polite had he kidnapped her?
Would she have figured out each meaning in the slight changes in his facial expressions all within a month then?
‘Perhaps under different circumstances, we’d have …
’ She trailed off, not knowing how to end her sentence.
‘We’d probably never have met.’
‘Why did you choose to live your life so dangerously?’ More questions whirled. ‘Why try to kidnap the princess? You could have had a peaceful life.’
He scoffed, brows knitting. ‘You think I chose all this shit?’
‘It’s your crime.’
‘No, Smithson, it’s my punishment.’ And with that, he walked away.
Scarlen watched him join Oxley and Raven, their heads bowed, their words too far away to hear.
So much of her wanted to tell him who she was and ask more questions.
Let him explain to her face what his intentions had been, as she wanted so badly to know.
She wanted desperately to let him know she wasn’t a bad person, that he didn’t need to hold hate for the princess, and she had to question why.
Why did she care so much what he truly thought of her?
‘He would have killed you,’ rang out her father’s voice. ‘Taken you north and tortured you first. Shapeshifters are the least trustworthy to walk the land. They’re cunning and cold, vicious, and hungry for royal blood. I saved you from them, Adoria. You’re safe now.’
The two most confusing things were her father leaving her so close to them, and Bear not seeming cunning and cold at all.
Something didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t place what it was.
For too long her father had messed with her mind, and even away from him, he still had the ability to settle within her head and make her decisions.
Well, not this time. She was going to find out more about the Rebels herself.
Because just like she was learning new things about the kingdom each day she was locked away, she would discover exactly what the Rebels stood for and if it truly was her blood they craved.