Indignation Page 13

  “Alyssa, we have to leave.” Miranda tugs on her arm, but she shoves her away. She takes a step forward even if her mind is telling her to do otherwise. The ache in her heart is what is now driving her. She looks directly at Julian. His black eyes bore into hers with no emotion. He doesn’t step away from the woman he was kissing not too long ago. The woman grins mischievously at her. The woman has a beauty of a goddess. Her dress is gold that looks like a million of diamonds were placed upon it. Her gold blonde hair is loose on her side complementing the pale tone of her skin. Her lips are an unnatural red.

  “Well, I see the rat has come back from the dead.” The beautiful woman stares straight at her with no remorse. “You never mentioned that Julian.” She turns to him and runs her perfectly polished finger nails graze upon the skin on his neck.

  Julian’s eyes leaves Alyssa’s and cups the chin of the woman in front of him. “I was… distracted.” He smirks.

  “Who are you?” She asks the woman.

  “My name is Caillech, the destroyer goddess of the Underworld.”

  Miranda lays her hand on her shoulder. “Alyssa, let’s go now.”

  “Alyssa? Oh, I think you are mistaken.” The woman says. “That is Annalisa. She’s the one who took Julian away from me.” She raises her eyebrow up at him. “Julian, you will not leave me again for her. Right?”

  “Of course not.” Alyssa’s heart stops for that second at his answer. She thought him wanting to kill her was cruel, but she didn’t know cruelty until now.

  “Alyssa, please.” Miranda begs beside her.

  “No.” She shakes her head. Her eyes connect with the Elim’s eyes to show her how serious she is. “I’m done running.” She turns to Julian. “I’m done feeling guilty. I done mourning over the life I lost. I’m done with everything. I came here to fight. We end this now, Julian.”

  “You want to fight me?” Julian smirks, not taking her seriously.

  “That deserves a clap.” Caillech says with a taunting smile. “You fight against Julian? He will win before you pick up a sword.”

  “Yes. I want to fight you.” She ignores the goddess. “If I win, you leave me and my friends alone.”

  “And when I win? What do I get?”

  “My death.”

  “No!” Miranda gasps. “Julian you can’t agree to that. You love her.”

  “Miranda it’s fine.” Alyssa says. “If Julian wants me dead then he can kill me… if he wins of course.”

  Julian clearly shows his amusement by the smirk that won’t leave his face. “Deal.”

  “Julian when she dies can I have her blood?”

  “What do you have in mind Caledonia?”

  “Soup.” There’s a sinister glint in her gold eyes.

  Caledonia, Caledonia. Alyssa remembers the time in history class where they were going over the minor gods and goddess and what their names meant. Caledonia was another name for Scota which means in Scotland- “Caledonia. Doesn’t it mean old hag?”

  Caillech’s eyes flames with rage. If fire could blaze in someone’s eyes, it will be her golden ones. “You vile woman! How dare you speak to me that way? I am a goddess, you will respect me.”

  “I respect myself and those who deserve it.”

  “Calm down Caledonia. The fun has just begun.” Julian turns to Alyssa. “What will your weapon of choice be?”

  “The Katana of Selene, my mother.”

  “It’s such an expected choice. I choose my Longsword.”

  Alyssa takes off her jacket and tucks the bottom of her purple tank top in her black sweat pants. She ties her light brown hair up into a high ponytail. Julian walks to the weaponry board to get their weapons.

  “Alyssa, this is mad. You can’t fight him.” Miranda moves to stand in front of her.

  She just shrugs her shoulders like it’s nothing. She knows it’s crazy to fight him for her life, but if that’s the only way to end all of this then why not? Apparently she’s live a long life, dying shouldn’t be her biggest fear. Then she thinks about Jim and Brandon. They were so disappointed in her. She drove them away from her when she needed them the most. She loves them both so much. “I have to tell my friends’ goodbye before it’s too late.” She tells the Elim. Alyssa moves far to the side and scrolls down her speed dial to find Jim’s number first. She quickly presses it before she changes her mind.

  “Alyssa?” Jim answers on the first ring.

  “Jim-Jam.” She smiles, but he can’t see her. “I wanted to say sorry for earlier today. I know I was being a bitch and you didn’t deserve that.”

  “It’s okay. Will you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “I can’t.”

  He sighs through the phone. “Where are you? I don’t see your car.” He states suspiciously.

  “You’re in my house?” She frowns.

  “No, I just parked outside your house.”

  “Oh, I just went out for a walk.”

  “When will you be back?”

  She turns to face Miranda. She knows the Elim can hear her conversation by the way she lowers her eyes. “I don’t know.” She takes a deep breath to calm down her emotions. “Jim, I just wanted to apologize and tell you that you’ve been such a great friend to me. And I love you for it. I’m going to miss you.” Her eyes widen at her outburst. “I mean when you go back to the military. I’m going to miss you.”

  “You know I love you too as a friend, but I have to confess that I was always hoping to be more than friends.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s nice to know, Jim-Jam. I have to go, but I’ll talk to you later?”

  “Sure.”

  She closes her eyes when she hears the line die. “Now Brandon.”

  “Now I’m more worried. You’re saying your goodbyes which mean you know you’re going to lose.” Miranda searches her eyes to find confirmation. Alyssa reluctantly gives it to her without much hassle. She knows that Julian is strong and he can strike worse than a cobra. She won’t pretend that he’s not like that. She has been training though, and that helps her a little, but she has a feeling that he has been fighting for centuries compared to her.

  “I’ll be fine after I call Brandon.” She begins to scroll down her speed dial contacts and sees Brandon’s name.

  “You don’t have to say goodbye to anyone. You can stop this before it’s too late. Think about everything you’re losing. I say it from experience, don’t do this.” She hesitates pressing the call button.

  “The people I care about can move on, but I never will. What I’m gaining is so much more than what I’m losing. I’m gaining my peace of mind whether I live or die. I can’t hide from everything anymore. I needed to make my choice, now I am.”

  “You’re stronger than I thought.”

  “I wish I can think the same.” She presses the call button and listening to the chime of the dial tone.

  “Are you going to say sorry now?” Brandon answers.

  She joyfully laughs. “You’re too confident for your own good, Brady.”

  “So you’ve told me before. Now are you going to say sorry?”

  “You’re too impatient as well, but I am sorry Brady, for everything. I know you saved me that night and it was messed up of me to snap at you like that. You’re my best friend. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  “I know. Want me to come over and have a movie night?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’m just tired.”

  “Are you home?”

  “No, I just went out for a walk.” She lies.

  “You’re a bad liar. Where are you?”

  “I’m walking. Actually Brady I need to go.” She quickly says. She hates that he can easily read her even if he’s not physically next to her. That was always one of the disadvantages to their friendship.

  “Alyssa-”

  Alyssa presses the red button, ending the call. “Brandon knows me too well.” She whispers.

  Miranda sighs. “There’s nothing I
can say to stop you from fighting, right?”

  “No, but thanks for caring.”

  “Caring for you is nothing. I grew attached to you like a sister.” The Elim explains. Miranda lays both her hands on either side of her. “I wish you luck. You’re very brave you know that? You might have his hate right now, but you also have his love. Remember that?”

  “Thanks, Miranda.”

  “You both are too touchy.” Caillech walks toward them with impish eyes. “I would have never imaged the day that Julian would wake up and see you fro who you really are. A rat.”

  Alyssa crosses her arms with a wicked smile spreading on her own lips. “If you’re trying to knock me down, save it, Blondie.”

  “Elim, you should teach her how to talk to the higher rankers. If I was not in such a good mood over this fight, I would banish her from life.”

  Miranda laughs rather loudly. “She can’t be killed, goddess Caillech.”

  “We will see about that.”

  Alyssa takes a threatening step forward. “Caillech, you might want to stay away from me.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because I’m afraid when I have my mother’s Katana in hand, I will accidently slip and the blade will tear your beautiful gold dress.”

  “Are you threatening me, Annalisa?”

  “My name is Alyssa, and no I’m not.” She walks pass Caillech. “It’s a warning.”

  “You-”

  Miranda blocks Caillech from going after Alyssa. “You might want to watch your words goddess. Alyssa is the God’s daughter, and you know how protective he is of his daughters.”

  “Let us see how Dias reacts when she is dead and her blood is handed over to me in different vials.” Caillech titters, making her look more sinister than she really is.

  Alyssa leaves the two women behind and analyzes Julian who’s across the room. Julian stands with an unfamiliar man standing off to his side. They seem to be in a deep conversation. He has taken his leather jacket off and now stands with his black tight shirt hugging his almost perfect body. She remembers underneath the thin scars that spread around his ribcage. His hands are on his sides with her mother’s Katana in on his right hand, and his Longsword on his left. She can’t help, but admire his Longsword. The grip of the Longsword has three purple diamonds running in a vertical line. The entire hilt is the color of royal purple. She remembers something in history stating that royal blue wasn’t only the color of royalty. There was also a dark rich purple, and gold. The very detailed scabbard is hiding the blade from view. The Longsword looks fit for a king.

  Her Katana is so much different. The handle of the Katana has silver runes covering the black color on the cord wrap. The guard looks simple from afar, but when inspected closely, you can see the small symbols that cover it. The sheath that covers the blade has three tally marks that are usually covered by the hanging cord. The blade is as silver as the moon’s sky. The Katana looks as deadly as the waves when under a storm. She feels attached to the ancient weapon. It must be because it’s her mother’s.

  Julian’s voice snaps her out of her thoughts. “Are you ready to fight?” He asks her with no amusement in his voice. His eyes are neutral not showing anything. He throws her Katana.

  “I was born ready.” She says as she catches the weapon in her hand.

  He attaches the Longsword on his waist and she does the same with her Katana. “Let the fight begin.”

  “Let the fight begin.” She repeats after him. They move towards each other, only leaving two feet away from each other. Their weapons are in their own scabbards.

  They both stand still with one hand on the handles of their weapons. Their eyes don’t leave each other’s. They are waiting for the other to make the first move. “Ladies first.”

  “You talk too much Julian.” Alyssa lowers herself into a horse stance before she pulls the Katana up, lowering the scabbard, and making a fluid strike in front of her, tearing Julian’s shirt. She jumps back to put distance between them. “How’s that for a lady?” She grins at him. She loves the feel of fighting. She could have cut Julian if she leaned forward on her strike, but she wouldn’t do that unless it’s her last option.

  “You talk too much Alyssa.” Julian releases his Longsword from the scabbard and thrusts it forward and then downward. She misinterprets his move and moves her Katana to block it in front of her, but his Longsword misses the blocking. The point of the Longsword slices through the fabric covering her mid-thigh. He jumps back to put distance between them like she did Moments ago.

  Her purple eyes challenge his black ones. They both have their weapons posed in front of them in defense. She swats into a horse stance and begins to move to the side, her body facing his with her every step. He does the same. They circle each other, waiting for one to make another strike. She knows that Julian can play mind tricks now, from the stunt he did with her blocking. She has to be even cleverer than he is. An idea pops into her mind. Alyssa thrusts the Katana forward, aiming for his heart. Julian blocks the strike like she expected. She slides the edge of the Katana down the blade of his Longsword. When her blade collar meets his rain guard she adds her weight by pushing down while she moves to his side. She knows that Julian is stronger than her, so she reacts quickly and kicks his right leg. Then she hits him with her left elbow and moves swiftly behind him. With the curve edge of the Katana she slices through the skin on his back. She sees his blood soak through the long tear on his back before he turns with his Longsword in front of him. The blade slices through the skin just above her left ankle.

  Julian stands and thrusts his Longsword toward her, but she blocks it. The cling of the swords contact is heard like an echo. He pushes his weight to his sword making her take a couple of steps back to keep her balance. He moves as graceful as a snake. He doesn’t give her time to recover when he aims for a next hit. She’s not so lucky to block it this time. The point of his blade pierces into her exposed arm. She can feel the liquid of her blood stream down her arm like water but, with her adrenaline rush, she can’t feel the pain of the puncture. He aims for her torso, but she blocks it.

  Alyssa can feel the tears of sweat move down her face. Her breathing is profound from all the energy she’s depositing into the fight. For mintues they both block each other’s hits until Alyssa slashes her Katana forward and then to the side before he has time to block it. The point of the Katana slices horizontally above his chest, below his neck. Julian strikes back like a reflex. The edge of the blade slices across her cheek, if she didn’t step back and lowered her stance in time, it could have been her neck. When the blade silts through her skin again, this time to her lower arm, she takes the time to thrust her Katana through his side.

  She pants when they both jump away from each other. Her back is facing the weaponry board. She feels like she’s losing her energy. She’s wounded, and although he is too, it appears like he’s not hurt at all. The blood that’s soaking through his shirt seems like a scratch compared to the cuts she wears. She narrows her eyes at Julian as he saunters forward to her. She blocks his strike before it punctures her skin again, but he uses the same technique she did before. He slides his blade down her edge until his rain guard meets her blade collar. His weight is added to his Longsword. She’s pushing her Katana up as much as she can’t but his physical strength is much more than hers. She drops to her knees still trying to fight for control. He moves beside her and takes her Katana from her hand. Before he can claim her death, she surprises him by moving back on her knees and standing straight. She quickly grabs the Shuriken from the weaponry board and begins to throw one at a time when she notices the long distance he’s put between them. With each Shuriken heading his way, he takes a couple of steps forward, slowly closing the distance between them.

  Alyssa tries to grab another weapon, but his speed is too quick for her to beat. Before she has a chance to turn around and get the Battle Axe, Julian has his Longsword pressed against her neck. She tilts her head up so the po
int won’t inject her vein. Her sweat is dripping into her eyes, but she’s too cautious to move her hands. Julian motions her with the point of his blade for her to go down. She slowly moves her body downward until she’s kneeling before him.

  His black eyes show all his hatred. She wants to cry, but she doesn’t plan to. He wants to kill her, she knows it. The hesitation is what’s making her doubt if he will go through with it. “Do you have anything to say before you kill me?” She asks him in a low voice.

  “No.” He answers.

  “Then kill me.” She wraps her fingers around the middle of the fuller. She pulls the blade to have the sharp point sting her skin. “Kill me and get it over with.”

  “You’re impatient.” He comments without thinking.

  “I’ve been too patient. I just want you to claim your prize for winning. Kill me so you can finally be satisfied with your life.”

  “Do you think I will be satisfied when I kill you?”

  The question takes her by surprise. It’s like a piece of the Julian she had fell in love with showed in that question, but she can’t ignore the fact that he will kill her. “I don’t know what to think anymore. All I know is that I’m here on my knees waiting for an execution. I’m waiting for my peace of mine back.”

  “You sound like a victim when you’re not.”

  “I’m not trying to sound like one. All I want is for this to be over so you can move on. So I can move on.”

  “You have a lot of guts. You fought me even though you knew you were going to lose. You bargained for your own death.”

  “Bargain for someone’s biggest desire. You told me that once.”

  “Stop talking.”

  “No. I don’t want to.” She chokes on the knot on her throat. “You also told me once not to ever show weakness to anyone, not even yourself.” Her tears rain down her face with her bloodshot eyes showing every ounce of weakness she has. “You thought I was strong, when I’m not. I can’t handle anymore truths being thrown in my face. I can’t handle the fact that I’m practically dead, or the fact that I killed you. I can’t handle seeing you hate me. I can’t handle being an emotional roller-coaster that won’t stop. I’m weak. I’m in front of you. Kill me. Make everything stop for me.”