Duds

26 Petitioning

"And what do you want Ashla?" he said.

The way he said my name sounded like poison in his mouth, showing me that he really didn't think my name was Ashla. I smiled at him and wiggled my eyebrows, then I winked at him. I turned around to look at the crowd that had gathered behind us and decided to make him wait for an answer. I walked toward a handsome guy at the front, batted my eyes at him and smiled. Then I passed him and rubbed up against another boy, who looked love-struck much to his girlfriend's annoyance. I spun around and landed in someone's arms, smiled at him and moved on. I flirted with all the boys around me until Nick/Noah seemed to lose his patience.

"What do you want?" he asked a little more forcefully than before.

I smiled at him again, but this time it was more seductive, "Well, Noah-" he looked surprised when I called him that, "-can I call you Noah?"

He gritted his teeth, "Nick would suffice."

"Ok then, Nick. I am here to ask to join your group, your gang." I said the last word with as much sarcasm I could muster.

"Why would someone like" he looked at me again, "you want to be in my gang?"

"I've heard things." I said vaguely waving my hand.

He smiled viciously at me as if I fell into his trap, "And what kind of things have you heard?"

I put on an innocent face, "Oh, just that the K9s were the most ruthless and cruel gang around when Richards was in charge, but it became soft when his second-in-command took over."

I heard some growls around me and Ash and Gerry moved a bit closer to me.

I laughed, "You guys don't take well to honest criticism."

"Criticism? Soft? Who do you think you are to say those kind of things?" He said, not even hiding his anger.

"I'm Ashla. Who did you think I was?" I asked feigning confusion.

"If you think you're so high and mighty you wouldn't mind showing us what you can do?" he gave me his vicious smile again.

Everyone looked at me to see my answer. I smiled at him again, "No problem."

Ash grabbed my shoulders, "Rose, don't do this! We were only supposed to distract, not engage in combat," he hissed at me.

I looked at him lazily, "Don't worry. I got this." I winked at him and walked toward Nick. "Bring it on. Who's your best?"

"I'm the best, obviously, but I want to see your skills, so let's get...Jeremiah! Come on!"

I heard snickers go around in the crowd and narrowed my eyes. Usually that kind of response bodes an easy take down. What I really wanted was a hard fight, but I guess I'll just have to work to it. I sighed when I saw the kid they called. He was not only an easy take down, but he had no coordination at all.

He got into a fighting stance and before he knew it, he was on the ground with me standing over him. He blinked, trying to process what just happened and I smiled down at him.

"Stay down, kid." I told him then turned to the deathly quiet crowd. "Who's next?"

This went on for a while with me easily winning each match. When they got to the point of multiple attackers I had a harder time, but I easily dispatched them one by one. When I had gone through all his fighters I turned back to face Nick.

He started clapping slowly, mocking me, but he couldn't hide the greed and lust in his eyes. I had definitely impressed him.

"Congratulations, you have beat almost all of my best fighters, but can you take my two best at the same time?"

"Sure, who is it?"

One girl uncurled herself from Nick's side and they both stood up.

"Me," she said and I got the first look at her face clearly.

It was Jacq.

"Hello, Rosemary," she purred.

I snapped out of my shock and glared at her. "Jacq. I knew there was something off about you, but I couldn't figure it out. I didn't say anything because Gerry seemed to trust you. I should've listened to my instincts," I growled at her.

My comment seemed to change the whole atmosphere and soon you could taste the hostility in the air.

"Me and Nicky here are the best fighters in this gang and we will be taking you down," she replied.

"Idiot, 'Nicky' and I." I said, only Gerry and Ash heard. They burst out laughing and everyone looked at us like we were crazy.

"I-I'm sorry," Ash said tears of laughter streaming down his eyes, "Only you, Rosy, would spend time on a matter like that."

"Yeah," Gerry agreed, guffawing.

"Hey," I said a little offended, "It's a horrible threat if the grammar's wrong." I pouted.

They both smiled at me, which made me smile back. I turned back to Nick and saw that he was studying the exchange that went between us. I could actually see the wheels turning in his perverted brain.

"Hey Nicky," Jacq said, "Did you also know she's a magic? And I think the other one in the black, Ash was his name I think, is one as well. They could come in handy. Don't you think?"

When she said that Nick looked at her. He didn't seem surprised by that revelation though which confused me. Should he be surprised? Something tickled at the back of my brain a mempry forgotten, but being stirred. I dismissed it as paranoia.

"Well, then let's strick a deal. Rosemary verses me and Jacq. If we win, you join the group. If you win, I'll have someone show you to the dump. Kapesh?"

I nodded, that sounded like a fair deal. I knew I could beat these two easily. They decended from where they were perched and I backed up a bit into the middle of the lot. I sunk into a defensive position. The minute they sunk into their positions though alarm bells went off in my head. They both sunk down into positions similar to mine and they held themselves with grace. I had only seen this in the Orphanage. Regular street fighters didn't have that refined edge to their stances.

Suddenly a memory came forward. It was night and I couldn't sleep so I decided to go and sit on the ledge in our tree house. I was listening to the night sounds when they suddenly fell silent. I looked up and didn't see anything. It was too dark to se very far and the silence was making me nervous. I got up and made my way to the Common Room. That was when I saw him. He was shorter, younger, but had the same black hair and piercing green eyes. He turned suddenly and saw me watching him. His eyes widened and he said something under his breath that I recognized as a memory wipe spell. I was too late to stop him though and my memory faded into black.

"Lucas," I whispered, "Lucas Noah Cassell."

"What?" Ash said.

"Lucas Noah Cassell," I said a bit louder, so everyone could hear.

He smiled crookedly, "You finally figured it out, Princess. Or should I say Queenling?" My eyes widened, "Oh yes I know about that. I make it my business to know everything." He put emphasis on the last word.

My eyes narrowed, "Are we gonna get on with the fight or not?"

His eyes narrowed, "Sure let's start."

They made the first move, both moving at the same time.

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Ok. I know it's a cliffhanger, don't "hang" me Ok? ; ) I am writing th next chapter ASAP. Today is Labor Day, so I may get some done, but I also have HW that I've been putting off this whole weekend. Also, my fam is trying to get me to let them read my book. What should I do?

How did you like this chapter by the way? Did it have you at the edge of your seat? Do you want MORE??? Plz tell. If you have any questions then shoot. You know the drill:

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