THE SIGMA'S MATE

CHAPTER 14 - SINISTER SMILES

I make the lap around the field with stone cold determination. I decide that running should be on my list of things to get better at. I stop in front of Alaric and Kaye, my hands resting on my knees as I pant. I feel an outrageous urge to lie flat on my back and just stare out through the glass ceiling at the sky while forcing air in and out of my burning lungs. I can feel Alaric's honey coloured eyes traveling over my reddened cheeks and sweaty forehead. I just know if I look up that I will find his cold, harsh gaze. I'd rather not see the disapproval there. So instead, I catch my breath long enough to lift my head and face the instructor, Kaye. I don't mind her judgment which is plain and on the negative side. Let her think whatever she would like, I can only improve from here. This is my rock bottom.

"Hand to hand combat now, on the field." She says with hardly any emotion in her voice. "Salya!" She calls and a pretty blonde bounces towards us with more energy than I'd like to see at this moment.

Weren't they just training? Shouldn't she at least be a bit tired?

I have an awful feeling that I'm going to enjoy this even less than the running.

Salya gives me a venomous once over as she nears and then turns her gaze towards the instructor, "Yes general?"

"Spar with Layla." Kaye commands, leaving no room for negotiations.

I face Sayla with a weak smile playing on my lips. "I don't suppose you'll go easy on a beginner."

"Perhaps, if the beginner wasn't a Agron." She says sweetly, a cruel smile curving the corner of her lips.

"Ah! Did one of my brothers anger you?" I ask the blonde warrior girl.

I'm sure I have one or both of them to thank for her hostility. Although I could not find it in my heart to feel mad at Callan. I would do anything just to hear his bossy voice again or see his rare smile. I slice off the memories before they take me to a place I'd rather not go. Not here anyway.

"Anger is too simple a word. Your family is responsible for my friend's death - you are responsible for his death." Of course someone died.

She does not give me a moment for apologies or the likes as suddenly she's moving towards me. Stalking me. As if in a dance, I retreat. For every step she takes to get closer, I take one to get away. This is her opportunity to gain some sort of revenge and I'm confident that she's going to enjoy every moment of it while this becomes a new kind of nightmare for me. And I've been plagued by so many nightmares of late. What's one more, I suppose. Her fists are clenched at her sides as she makes her first move. She's a bender thankfully and her movements are slower than mine. Still, I'm ducking and leaping to avoid her clever fists and elbows. She's relentless. I have to give her that. She smiles in delight, coming faster and faster at me with a rage that puts fear right into my heart. It's beating quicker now too. I force myself to block, taking the brunt of her attacks on my forearms. I just know that they are going to be bruised for my efforts. She suddenly sinks low, catching me by surprise and sweeping my legs out from under me. My backside hurts as I land ungracefully on the solid ground with a grunt. I cast an uneasy look towards Alaric, my gaze narrowed. He is suddenly much further away. His expression is hard to distinguish from this great distance and from such a quick glance. I cannot see whether his eyes are narrowed or his jaw is clenched and the mask hides any other telltale sign of what he might be thinking. Does he want to scare me into changing my mind? Does he want me to quit? I cast those unwanted thoughts from my mind. He never wanted me here in the first place. Of course I should have been expecting something like this. I grit my teeth at the grinning blonde. I thought this was hand to hand combat but clearly anything goes. I'm staggering to my feet when her fist catches my cheek. She didn't even wait for me to straighten. I gasp from the pain, tasting blood in my mouth. I drop back immediately, followed closely as she throws her weight onto me and slams another fist into my jaw. I grit my teeth against the flash behind my eyes and the spots that blur my vision as finally Kaye halts Sayla's next punch. She's breathing close to my face, a snarl curling her lips. I hold my breath. The relief is immense when Sayla rises to her feet and twirls away.

I drop my head, closing my eyes. I hear footsteps and my eyes fly open to see Alaric hovering. "I think I'm done." I say miserably as I notice the growing crowd of spectators.

I try my best not to cry. I won't do it here. Not in front of these people who want to see me bleed and especially not in front of Alaric.

"So soon?" Alaric asks mockingly.

"I happen to like my face the way it is." I say, wiping blood from my lips. "If you aren't going to bother to teach me how to defend myself before throwing me into a brawl I might as well just assume that you want me to get beaten up."

I see his lips turn into an arrogant smirk as he squats down beside me. "There is a reason for everything I do and there is most certainly a lesson here for you." He says.

My traitorous thoughts focus on his pants, stretching over his muscular thighs. He balances so perfectly as his hands hang between his legs. I swallow hard. I should be in too much pain to let my mind wander to such scandalous thoughts.

He tilts his head, the black mask molded perfectly to his face. "You have to keep going even if it's painful because in a real fight there is nobody to halt your opponent. There's only death to ease your suffering. Now, get up." He says the last part more gently.

Every single part of me protects. I don't want to but I force myself. I force myself for him but most importantly, I force myself for me. Sayla is waiting patiently as a smile plays on her lips. Sinister b***h. I at least want to get one punch in. I will be happy with only one, just one. She starts for me almost at once and I immediately go into defense remembering well how hard her punches are. She's overly confident and doesn't bother to protect her face as she nears. I surprise her. I surprised myself with a punch straight to her narrow little nose. Her features twist in rage and my moment of excitement is fleeting. She doesn't bother with another throw of her fist. Instead, she calls her element with a flick of her hand. I hear Alaric's voice. A command for her to stop. But the shard of ice has already begun its flight. Straight for my heart. I wonder if this person that she loved is worth killing me and suffering the consequences. I wonder if she honestly lays blame down at my feet and if she thinks herself justified. Then I don't have to wonder any longer as I feel the impact of her element. It sends me flying through the air. I gasp for air as I land in a heap of spiraling limbs. Alaric is immediately at my side, searching my body for the wound. I watch as his gaze meets mine and then goes over his shoulder. Kaye has a hand covering her mouth with an equally shocked Sayla next to her.

"Do you know what this means?" He demands and Kaye composes her features.

"I think we need to have a little chat." She says.

Alaric helps me to my feet. His arm supports me as I accompany him off the field. No blood stains my clothes. The shard of ice never penetrated my flesh.