Daring to Dream

Chapter Nine

Right on time, I came to the grounds for the trials. I will not back down. She's not the one who commands me, I repeated like some angry mantra.

Honey still doesn't know about any of this. She thought I'm staying for my after-school studies, which I had to leave today for my trials. She was, anyways, too preoccupied with her Jedi training to investigate, so she just went with a 'don't be late.'

I hoped hard Echo and the judge would come before Lunaris done, but unfortunately, I hadn't hoped harder. Her lekku came swishing into view as she stood in front of me, no cronies in view, hands on her hips.

"Well, well, well, look who's gunning for my spot. Isn't it cute how you think you have a chance?"

I stood with my hands behind my back, ignoring her.

"Did my insult that day render you deaf?"

Until she held my chin and attempted to turn my face, but I jerked her hand away. "Did my response render you mute, that you can't talk without force?"

"The audacity, Zoya. I admire it, but I'm not sure the authorities will."

"It's not like your admiration is worth getting it," I talk back, voice forcibly calm. "And I'm not sure you have any better chances at getting your boy, hmm? On that topic, I don't think he'd approve of your behaviour", remembering her last conversation, telling me to stay away from the 'boy'.

I touched a nerve because she snarled. "Leave him out of this."

"Last time I checked, it's a free planet and I can say what I want, and do what I want." I uttered the last five words to her face, teeth grinding. "It would be best if you took off your entitlement crown, your Rival Highness."

"Back to the point, I thought I warned you not to try out."

"And that's the point: you thought you warned me, when all you did was flaunt your inexistent authority."

"I have hundred times more power than you can ever have, Earthian."

"Hundred times zero is still zero. And I warned you back not to push me. No wonder I didn't see you there behind that massive ego of yours."

"Darling, the ego is all yours. It's not about my ego or authority, dear Zoya. It's about knowing your place. And that place is definitely not as the compere during the tournament."

"Oh, I see. Is it because you're afraid I might steal your thunder? Or is it because you're worried I might become the source of someone else's attention?"

"Aha, I knew it! You had an intention of trying to cozy up to coach, huh? Desperate for love much? Or for being accepted?"

"Oh, Lunaris," I honeyed my tone which my cousins called as 'poison voice.' "I didn't know being confident and capable meant cozying up. It is effective though, you should attempt it. Making up for your lack of confidence."

"Watch your tone, Zoya. This isn't a game. This is serious business. I don't take kindly to threats to my territory. And I won't let you sabotage my chances with him."

"As far as I remember, this tournament is all about games. Then again, I wouldn't expect you to understand fair play. As to sabotage your chances? Darling, he's not your property."

"He's my right. And so is the spot you're so hopelessly fighting for."

How long is Echo going to take? I'm running out of insults.

"Your right? Careful, your entitlement is showing. Newsflash, the world doesn't revolve around you."

"You think you can outshine me? Dream on, Zoya. You don't stand a chance."