I Refuse to be a Named Character

Part 3

I found myself smiling as I drew my sword and walked into the ring.

"How did you escape?" He circled around me.

"I could ask you the same question." Didn't Luke say that everyone had been arrested?

"He bribed a guard, ran to the Northern Desert." Blade laughed. "Luckily right into my crew."

"Did that bastard let you out?" Bale sneered, ignoring the older woman's words. "Is that little weakling dead yet?"

"..." I followed his movements with my eyes, my sword ready.

"If he is still alive, I'll make sure to send him your head." Bale grinned. "Wouldn't that be a lovely reunion?"

"Funny," I laughed. "I was thinking the same thing."

With a scream of rage Bale charged in, sword raised. I sidestepped his charge, flipping my blade and striking his knee with the back of it. His leg collapsed under him, and his face hit the bloody dirt.

"Try harder." I sneered, meaning it. I had a lot of rage built up from his torture of Luke and I during our time in that household. I meant to make this fight last.

And it did.

He charged over and over. At first, I contented myself with striking him bluntly, weakening his joints, bruising him in painful areas. As that grew old I started using the blade itself, soaking the ground with his blood.

Eventually his anger burned out, replaced by fear. He no longer ran towards me, retreating to the edge of the fighting ring. I smiled at him, moving closer at a leisurely pace.

"Weren't you going to take my head?"

"..." He shook with fear, his face pale from terror and blood loss.

"The funny thing is, he probably would have forgiven you." My smile widened, as I moved closer. "He's trying his best to be a good person. Now, out of the two of us... I think I might be more of a villain."

"Please... " He started to beg, but seeing no sign of forgiveness in my eyes, suddenly launched himself towards me, blade raised.

"DIE YOU BITCH!"

"You shouldn't have hurt him." I swung the sword, and he fell to the ground in pieces.

"..." Silence reigned over the area. I stared down at the body, feeling faint. How much had I changed from a girl who couldn't even read descriptions of violence in books, to someone who could kill another person? I thought of the terrible things he had done, of the times he had hurt Luke, nearly killing him on multiple occasions... and found I couldn't bring myself to feel too sorry about it.

Clap. Clap.

Blade walked forward, a grim smile on her face. "Good to see you haven't forgotten what I've taught you."

I forced a grin, still feeling slightly sick. "Couldn't forget it even if I wanted to."

"Then make sure you protect that foolish boy of yours." She clapped my shoulder, handing me the Tarif. "He's too much like his mother sometimes. Better to have someone tough by his side."

"..." She's worried about Lucien? The strongest villain in Deadly Crown?

Then again, maybe she had a point... I was worried too.

"I will."

"Oh, and little prince?" Blade looked over at Graham. "I realize the girl will give you the Tarif so you can compete for your pretty little crown, but just know that she's the one who earned it. The Tarif is a sign of loyalty. You will not be able to use it to command me or my men." She patted my head. "Only she can."