I cross my arms over my chest. "Really? How do you figure?"
"Because he may not like me, but he knows I can fight." He lays his hand on the sword at his hip, a sword that looks way more dangerous than any of the chipped and fading steel on that weapons rack. "If he put you with me, he wants to see you fail. I wonder what you did to anger him."
I shrug, unsure how to respond to that. We've already formed a circle around the first two students set to spar. They each pick a sword from the rack and begin on Master Varian's command. I expect to see fumbling and false starts, but they've both clearly had training. I'm getting a bit nervous. My sword fighting skills are still rudimentary at best. I can do the Way of Nyx like a champ, but since Zorin won't teach me more until he's satisfied, I'm stuck.
And I don't know if Kai's as good as he says, but I'm not keen on losing a duel my first day.
When our names are called I walk over to the rack and look at my options. None look like they will be much of a match against the gleaming, sharpened masterpiece that Kai has. I pull one out and test the weight. Satisfied, I take my place and face Kai. He winks at me, his purple eyes offset by black hair that falls over his forehead each time he moves.
"Ready?" Master Varian asks.
We both nod.
"Begin."
We circle each other, swords held at ready. I grip the hilt, trying to keep the right amount of pressure. Not too tight, not too loose. I keep my body relaxed and focus on Kai's core. I lunge, and he parries. We're not fighting so much as testing. The clang of metal is loud.
Everything in me wants to unleash my Nephilim abilities as I fight, but I know I can't. Not here. It would be suicide.
I rein in my pulsating heart and the heat building in me as our swords continue to clash and we continue to lunge. He's playing with me, like a cat toying with a mouse before dinner. I do my best to keep a handle on my temper. Battles can only be won with cool heads.
When Kai picks up his attack, getting more aggressive with each move, I have to keep up. I twist, move, my feet kicking up dirt as I block and thrust. But he's faster, better, his skill honed since childhood.
He's getting too close. I'm losing balance, losing focus. I'm on the defensive. I can't lunge or attack, I can only keep him from cutting me. First one to draw blood wins.
I will not lose.
I use a move from the Way of Nyx, a move meant to regain the offensive when your opponent has you backed into a corner.
With it I push him forward and knock his sword from his hand. He looks surprised, shocked even, and Master Varian comes over. "Well done, Miss Night."
He looks at Kai. "I'm disappointed, Kai. I expected more from you."
When he looks back at me I can feel Kai's rage as well. "Miss Night, where did you learn that move?"
Oh, no. I think fast and decide the truth is best. "Videos of Nephilim fighting."
There's a gasp in the crowd of students and Kai raises an eyebrow.
I expect rebuke from Master Varian, but he smiles at me. "Good job. Continue."
He turns his back to us, addressing the class. "Miss Night has taught everyone here an important lesson. Learning from the enemy is the most important thing you can do if you want to defeat them."
Kai sneers at me as we begin to spar again. "Looks like being the granddaughter of the great Chancellor Forrester doesn't really translate into actual skills," he mocks, "just tricks learned from videos."
"It worked on you," I remind him. But he's right. I'm a one trick wonder, and I don't have any more up my sleeve.
He lands a hit on my sword so hard that it chips and makes my whole arm feel as if it's been ripped off. His attack is more aggressive as everyone watches to see what will happen next. I try another move from the Way of Nyx, but it's less effective and I'm back to being on the defensive, trying to keep my skin intact.
When he pushes forward again, our bodies close now, our two swords locked together between us, he clenches his teeth. "This school doesn't need any rich spoiled brats who got here on Mommy and Daddy's death card."
And all at once, it's game over. My rage, my pain, the pit of despair I keep buried deep, it all surfaces. I can't control it, not anymore, and with all of my strength, Nephilim and human, I push him forward, slashing so hard my own sword breaks on his and he flies back into the students standing many feet behind him. He knocks two of them down and they cushion his fall.
All eyes are on me now.
Because no human could have done what I just did.
Master Varian grabs the broken sword from my hand and gestures for Jax to come over. "Take her to the Council immediately, and keep her in custody until she's called in."
Jax nods and takes my arm, and I follow him without protest. I'm shaking in terror.
Once we're away from everyone, he stops and faces me. "What was that, Star? What happened?"
My eyes fill with tears. "I don't know. I just… I got so angry. He said something about my parents and something in me broke and… I don't know."
A tear falls down my cheek and he wipes it away with a finger. His face is a mix of emotion. Anger, fear, confusion.
I wish I could tell him the truth, but I can't. And it kills me.
He nods and takes me to what I can only describe as a holding cell. It's basically a tiny room with a door and two Guards placed outside of it. He squeezes my hand before leaving. "I'll do what I can to protect you."