The Alliance

Chapter 5

I had had a feeling initiation would not be a walk in the park.

But now really considering Sahar Gani's warning and the intense training my father had put me through, the thought that it would be harder than I had initially thought wouldn't leave my mind.

The Scorpion House was brutal. That was no secret to anyone that had ever crossed paths with one. I'd learnt how brutal they truly were that day. As they walked past a dying Elijah heartlessly.

They could've saved him. But why would they have? He was nothing to them other than a Phoenix that maybe once could've been a threat. I shook my head harshly.

Get your head in the game, Ariah.

The huge mansion now in sight was another harsh but welcome wake-up call. This was it.

I looked to my father hoping that just once he could look into my eyes and silently encourage me. Hope is a weak thing to have.

His eyes stayed on the road ahead. And my mother's but I'd long since stopped expecting things from her.

There was still a part of me that foolishly expected from my father though. No matter how many times he let me down, I couldn't help but long.
I just wanted to make him proud.

The car came to a steady stop beside numerous other sleek luxurious cars and parked in front of the large doors of the classic house.

Although it wasn't my first time being there- my eyes still widened and my jaw nearly dropped in awe as I took it in.

Until my eyes landed on Ebrahim Gani standing outside with a smile on his face like a good host would and suddenly I suffocating in rage.

My father on the other hand left mother behind and walked towards him and greeted him as if he was greeting an old friend.

My mother made her way towards me and I resisted the urge to follow suit behind my father and embrace the very man I wholeheartedly resented.

"I can't believe we're going to be in-laws soon." Mother smiled, exhaling a wistful smile as she took in the sight.

"I can hardly believe it either." I almost grunted out as she tucked her arm underneath mine, leaving me with no choice but to follow her as she walked towards the two built men.

"Oh please, Ariah Sen Rmah could you at least try and look forward to it?" I nearly rolled my eyes but settled for a smile instead as Ebrahim looked in our direction.

"I mean, it was either an arranged marriage or you would've died alone." She scoffed.

"Would that have been so terrible?" I asked, leaving her to ponder over the question as I went to shake Ebrahim's hand. "Mr. Gani."

"Ariah," he laughed, rows of straight white teeth on display, "please drop the formalities, we're going to be family soon after all. We'll have to working on your greetings as well- you'll come to find out that I'm a hugger."

I mentally furrowed my eyebrows at the complete 360 his personality had taken since the last dinner we'd shared, but nonetheless smiled politely. "I don't think we started off on the right foot."

"Well then let's turn to a clean page. I'd hate to have my daughter-in-law hate me." Too late, I thought.

"For some reason I don't think I could." I expressed and I could see the weakly concealed shock on my parent's faces through my peripherals.

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that." He stepped aside, "well then, considering we're starting on a clean page; I'd like to welcome you all to my humble abode." The doors to hell opened.

And ironically I unwillingly walked in.

"Ariah." My father called me over just as I had finished wrapping my hands with gauze and tape. I walked to where he stood. The room was empty save for the both of us. "I've gotten a look at your opponent. She's good but I know you're better." My heart swelled at the compliment.
"Keep those arms raised and that face out of reach. I trust that you won't disappoint me." I internally made the promise to him. "May the only reason you fall be to rise, Phoenix." He recited the Phoenix house motto, before patting my shoulder and leaving through the door of the changing room.

I watched his back until he was no longer in view and continued getting ready.

I amped myself up. Throwing jabs in the air as my feet moved back and forth until a knock on the door told me it was time.

I walked out into the large empty space. Taking in the black mat with an alert Scorpion on it. My bare feet felt the rubber-like material of it as I took my place.

An audience stood watch behind the windows that spanned around the area of the room.

My opponent walked out moments later. She was muscular, clearly physically stronger than I was. Her stark red hair was tied in a sleek pony behind her head and brown eyes looked me impassively.

I could hear faint whistles and cheers from the audience as she made her entrance- she raised her hand in recognition towards them with a boastful smile on her face.

Eventually she acknowledged me with an unimpressed smirk.

I couldn't blame her. I was short and not as built as compared to her. Sure, my body had a good muscle ratio but it could very easily be overlooked. Until I raised a punch.

It may not be as good as my fingers with a weapon but it was still quite something.

A foreign voice came through the intercom. "Match will commence in three," I blew a strand of hair out of my face, "two," my hands curled into fists as I raised them in front of me, "one." A buzzer sounded as I rolled across the mat, swiping my leg across the floor and easily making the red-head grunt as she unsteadily stumbled.

She didn't waste any time as she came at me. I dodged her jab before she swung again, her fist meeting my stomach. I exhaled, breathlessly chuckling as I took a few steps back regaining my pace of breath.

She wasn't having it. We tumbled across the mat and onto the hard cement floor. The back of my head meeting it.

My vision blurred as I shut my eyes from the pain, only for them to open to a brown fist hitting my cheek. I tried to pry her off of me, but she used her weight to hold me down as she continued to throw punches at me.

There was no getting out of this.

I could taste metal in my mouth as I bit my tongue.

I didn't have time to think, evaluate my predicament and strategize as I normally would. I had to act otherwise the match would be over before it had even began.

With everything I had left in me, I pushed myself up. Using her own body weight against her. As soon as she met the ground I got up- knowing well that I wouldn't be able to keep her down.

I was quick on my feet and I had to work with that.

She took a few seconds before getting up and charging towards me. I easily dodged.

Lifting my leg for a roundhouse kick to meet her face. It dizzied her giving me easy access to the rest of her. I reached for hand twisting it behind her back. She struggled reaching for me helplessly with her other hand.

But I was out of reach. And soon she was on her knees. "Call it." I gritted through clenched teeth.

"No." It came out as a pained grunt.

"It's only going to get more painful for you."

I released her arm as she tapped threw the black handkerchief that was once tucked into her waist and on the floor.

I looked through the quiet audience until my eyes met my father's.

I exhaled.