Steel Rose

Chapter 32

Ptolemus Pov

The alarms blare all around me, filling my head with a ringing buzz. People move around in a rush, back and forth. All with a hunting purpose. I push past them all, and they push back with equal force. I don't know how many prisioners we've lost, I don't really care. They were only threats to Maven's sick paranoia.

I have one goal. I know she's here. How can she not be? I step over empty eyes and spilled blood of all colors. I hold my breath from the punch of the metallic smell. I try not to look at the faces, no matter if I know them or not. I can't let it get to me, not now. Not ever.

I see them before she sees me. The little lightning girl. And Ara Iral. My instincts work quicker then my brain as I send a flying disk from my armor right for her head. It soars, moving with fatal intention.

I scowl, as Ara Iral moves her out the way with feline grace. She dodges my blade as well, taking it and throwing it right back at me. I continue tossing them towards her, as she dodges each one with advanced agility.

"Didn't your father ever teach you to respect you elders?" she taunts.

Ara toes at the stunned red girl, and she scrambles up to her feet. I send another slicing disk their way, but Ara only catches it and sends it back. I wave it off with a simple wave of my hand.

I find myself grinning at the thought. The pleasure of ending the little lighting girl. "Now to finish what my sister started in the arena,"

"What your sister ran from," she retorts back.

I dodge a bolt, throwing myself against the cold concrete. I hardly have the time to recover before I feel Ara's elbow connect with my jaw, sending a streak of fire in my mouth and a sickening crunch after. A broken jaw. I can still fight.

We continue our dance, which passes me in a blur. She is an aged fighter, an even match for me. She distractes me from the lightening girl. I roar with fustration as I shift my disks into a large sharp needle. It gleams in the grey light, striking Ara right through her neck, shimmering silver blood splattering across the ground.

I aim. I aim for the red girl, who is weak with exhaustion. An easy target. She sees Ara's end, and she sees the end of her would be savior too.

Belle Pov

I was pondering over my choices when Kane and Christian arrived back. I hadn't known when everyone else did, I was stuck in my room staring at the two dress designs mother had gifted me for my birthday. They were both stunning, I could have been there forever.

A knock on my door pulled me from my trance, and Father stood halfway in the doorway. "Come Isabelle," he said a smile tugging at his lips. "Someone wants to see you."

With one last glance at the designs I follow him out and back into the sitting room where all of my family is crowded, my brothers in the center of all the chaos.

I hardly have the momet to glance at their bolder form and rugged apperance when I launch into their arms. Around me I hear my family laugh at the display. An arm from both my brothers wrap around me, as I pull them closer. I feel happiness burst in my gut. My brothers are home. There're alive. They're safe.

"Let the boys breath, Isabelle." Mother playfully scolds and I slowly pull back from them.

Christian grins down at me, "We missed you too," he says ruffling my hair.

The rest of the night is filled with laughter and warmth. My brothers, mostly Christian tell wild stories about their experience, and my family eagerly listens with wide smiles and smart comments and questions. Father sits back and sips at a glass of red wine, as Mother stays close to his side and is the main one to ask the questions. She beams with pride, and her years and her sickness almost seem to fade away. At least for tonight. At least in this moment.