Glistening Embers

Chapter 30: Emotionless

Author's Note: This chapter is  slightly shorter than usual, but I think the long epilogue makes up for it. The story is wrapping up and I'm excited to share it on Wattpad! ❤️ Glisteen stepped through the door to see an ornate ballroom. Gold chandeliers hung over her head, stoic. The walls were decorated with portraits of a young girl with dark hair, obviously Showda, and a boy and girl, Sabecary and Aritraya. Showda stood at the back of the room, wearing a long, silk, black dress.

Showda stepped forward. As Glisteen looked at her, she realized something odd about Showda's expression. She was almost... happy. Glisteen realized it was the same smile Sabecary had, only much colder. How had she not noticed that? Sabecary was beside Showda, ramrod straight and stiff. "I hope you enjoyed your stay." Showda said, beckoning Glisteen and Aritraya over.

Glisteen raised an eyebrow, as she walked. "It's a little hard to like something when you don't have a bed, or like someone, for that matter. " Showda gave no sign that she was offended.

"Well, that's okay. It'll all be over soon." Showda said, and smiled wider, now wearing Aritraya's bright beam. Glisteen tried to keep her face unemotional, but was quickly finding that it was hard to remain that way in front of Sabecary. He was staring at her, his eyes full of sadness and regret. Glisteen avoided looking at him. She couldn't bear to see him acting like he still cared. Why, oh why, did he have to act like he still cared?

Glisteen, instead, focused on Showda's eyes. They were cold, dark, and mysterious, like the shadows. "Well, what are you going to do to me?" Glisteen asked.

"Straight to the point, like your father. Always a trait I disliked. Well, I figured, since I couldn't break you two lovebirds up," As she said it, she put her hand on Sabecary's shoulder. "I would wait for one of you to come to your senses, and eventually you did. I'm going to make a big profit out of you two."

Glisteen rolled her eyes. "So, I don't care about him anymore. What are you going to make us do?" It sounded forced, and even though Glisteen denied it inside, she knew, deep down, she had just lied. She wondered if Sabecary knew it, as well, on the inside.

Sabecary's eyes welled with hurt, but his voice and face didn't betray him. "Likewise. We're going to fight. Fire against ice. Former love against former love." he said calmly, and Glisteen felt her heart bleed with pain. "No, it didn't." she chided herself. "You're just confused." Glisteen scowled. "What time? What place? I'll be there," she finally forced herself to say.

"Well, you do have to be there. As for the time... "Showda seemed to check the clock, though, Glisteen thought Showda already looked at it a minute before. "How about as soon as you get to where you'll be fighting?"

"The arena?" Glisteen asked.

Showda smiled, again. "No, actually. This fight will take place in a very special room, one, neither of you have seen before and one, neither of you will ever see again. Aritraya?" Aritraya perked up, like a lost little puppy. A very evil one. "You know the way. Lead our friend there, I'll lead Sabecary."

Aritraya nodded and grabbed hold of Glisteen's arm. "Of course, Mother." "Mother?" Glisteen thought to herself. Wait, it all suddenly made sense!  Aritraya pulled her arm, and Glisteen followed, glad to be out of the room, away from Sabecary, even she knew she would see him very soon. They walked down the twisting corridors in a maze. Glisteen couldn't keep track where they were going. Left, right, left, left, or was it a right?

Then, finally, they came to a grey, metal, reinforced door. Aritraya opened it with a bronze key she pulled from her jacket pocket, and shoved Glisteen inside.

"Goodbye, G!" she called, walking away. Glisteen tumbled forward, and came to a stop. The room was white, completely white, with no windows. Nothing. Just white floor, white walls, and a white ceiling. Just then, Sabecary walked in, looking as confident as ever.

Glisteen jumped when the voice of the announcer came on. "Welcome to the first fight of the final four! Now, as you know, there have been some rule changes. First one, is that the order of the fights is going differently than before. Whoever wins this fight, will go on to fight Aritraya Rosen, and then, of course, Yilasia Evocabeth. "

Glisteen felt her stomach lurch forward as the announcer mentioned her sister. "Sia would never agree to this! What have you done to her?" she yelled at the announcer.

The announcer gave no sign that he could hear her. "The second rule, is the only other rule change, and it only applies to this fight. There are no surrenders. I repeat, there are no surrenders. The only way to win, is for your opponent to die. Goodbye and good luck!"

Glisteen stood stunned. She looked at Sabecary. His eyes were shining with sorrow, sorrow that he knew what she knew.  For one of them to live through this fight, they would have to kill the other.