A Spark Against the Shadows (Book Two) Fully Released

Chapter XXVII - The Winter Gem and the Red Thief: Part II

Alexis dropped her gauntlets onto the stone below as she cracked her knuckles before bringing her hands over her face and into her brown hair. She stared at her brother across the small courtyard surrounded by greenery and the blooming of fresh flowers. Moving her fingers to the knot holding her ponytail, she pulled the knot tight. "I looked up to you once, but you are not part of this family anymore."

Alexis as she quickly pulled out the short sword on her left hip, gripping it within her two hands. Michael smiled as he glanced at the two soldiers next to his sister. "Our blood would say otherwise. No matter what, we always be siblings, but..." responded Michael quickly as he widened his stance, holding his halberd across his body with the blade hovering just above the ground. "I will end you tonight and make sure those friends and Kota suffer the same fate."

"You will not live to see the sunrise with threats like that."

Alexis took a stride forward as she held her sword tight as Michael matched her step for step. She stared into his gaze, stopping about ten feet away from her brother. The two stared for a second before Michael lunged forward, bringing his halberd down to her left shoulder. She quickly deflected the attack as she moved to her right as his weapon collided with the ground. Raising her sword, she swiped at his head before he ducked and brought the pole of his halberd into stomach.

She lurched to her side as she kept her balance and turned to see her brother bringing his halberd down at her. Alexis raised her sword and blocked the attack before placing one hand on the side of the blade to keep him from pushing it down on her. "I wonder if Cordelia even cares about you?"

"I do not care what that woman wants from me after tonight. I am getting my throne and will live the rest of my life as a King," Michael replied as he smiled and gave a small laugh. "And you will be dead!"

Alexis gritted her teeth as she concentrated her calling on the two weapons as Ice formed around her hand while she grasped the blade. She raised her leg as she kicked his side before pushing his halberd upwards. Alexis focused her calling on the sword itself as Ice spread rapidly to the handle of the weapon, creating a scythe like sickle out of ice.

She lunged forward, bringing the ice blade across his left side as it ripped through his cloth and light armor. Michael yelled as she readied another attack before he twirled his halberd up as the handle connected with her chin. Alexis took a step back to regain her balance before she refocused on Michael as his blade connected with the ice while it shattered, loosening her grip on her weapon.

Alexis watched as her sword fell to the stone before she braced herself against the short wall next to her. She turned towards her brother when the blade of his halberd split into her right shoulder piece. The blade pierced what armor the shoulder piece and moved down her side, slicing through her skin. She lifted her leg, and with her rage, kicked him away as he fell backward.

"Damn you," Alexis gasped as she reached up and ripped her breastplate off herself with her left hand, revealing her the broken chain mail and torn cloth of her side.

She quickly ripped off her split shoulder piece and grabbed her right side where her arm met her torso and froze the wound. Alexis grasped it tight as blood flowed down her side and onto the cloth around her waist before she looked up at Michael. He started to his feet as he gripped his side while she saw blood form onto his hand.

Michael stood and gained his balance as the two met eyes. Alexis stared at him when out of the corner of her eye she watched Lucinda jump over the wall next to him and slashed at his chest. He jumped back, dodging the charge when Lucinda continued her attack, when he spun around swiftly. The handle of his halberd connected with the side of her face as she stumbled away before falling into the wall on the other side of garden, away from Alexis.