Shadows and Steel | ✓

chapter five

-5-

Without waiting for Pik's signal, Jax was already charging. She threw up her forearms and spun away from his hurtling body, shoving him from behind onto the ground. Elle bared her teeth, letting him rise. Like an aggravated asp she darted forward.

Blood dripped from his freshly broken nose as he staggered back. Take that bitch. Jax's answering kick swung into her gut, causing her to drop to the floor with a groan.

Soon both of their faces became bloody as he pummelled her. Disorientated, Elle didn't know which was his or hers anymore. With every blow she hissed through her teeth. Her head slammed against the ground, she covered her vulnerable areas as best as she could.

Elle detected a blind spot on his left side, jabbing him there and rolling out from his grasp. Turning around just in time to dodge his punch to her vocal cords. Another strike to her jaw landed. A sickening crack before faint pain laced through her face, her teeth sang in agony.

While gasping obnoxiously, she let the ache sink into her skin and fuel her returning blows. Her knuckles bled as she flexed her fists, and with a final surge of energy, Elle knocked him to the ground and straddled his waist. Successfully pinning the man she became a whirlwind of unchecked anger and blows.

Through his laboured breathing and injuries, Jax still managed to wheeze hoarsely, "I rather like this position, sweetheart."

Elle slammed his head into the sand floor. Scrambling to lock him in a stranglehold, her entire body shook with the effort. "I like this one more."

The pit smelt of sweat and rusty blood. She wrinkled her nose, a mistake as the immense pain made her see stars. In that second Jax came roaring back and pushed her off him. Spitting blood, Elle stepped backwards and with a cry, leapt into the air.

Cutting through the air like a ruhn knife, she placed her hands on Jax's shoulders and vaulted over him. Using her momentum, she shoved him down to the ground.

Jax spat at her, hissing as she pressed her knee to his bruised stomach. He wasn't yielding. She sighed sharply through her nose—another painful reminder, and produced the thin dagger she had strapped up her sleeve. The metal bit her wrist as she unsheathed it.

A squeaky exclamation sounded from above the pit. By the flurried comments following, it was probably Baldy. To him, she was a loose cannon. Seemingly about to kill another agent...well, she hadn't decided yet. "Yield."

Jax's face blanched, eyes flickering between her and stone-faced Pik. "Yield." She repeated, applying more pressure to where she held it at his neck.

"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that, would you like to share your thoughts with the class?"

With an animalistic growl, "I yield!" Elle released her hold, both their chests rising and falling. He opened his mouth to complain to Pik but she tutted, holding a finger up.

"You yielded, don't pull a tantrum."

With that, a pair of hands firmly gripped her wrists and lifted her out. Elle took a deep breath. It hurt her ribcage. She exhaled, inhaled again, inched her arms under her and pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her head swam from the blows.

Everything blurred for a minute, then came back into focus. Inhaling once more, she felt a little steadier. Sipping on a flask of water eased her sandpaper tongue. Tristan crouched next to her, she flinched back at his closeness.

"Stop. I need to readjust your nose." Oh. Elle stopped leaning away.

He held her nose on either side and pushed hard. A distinct crack as it was put back into place. Gingerly touching the tender area, she nodded her gratitude. Blood had dried on her cheek and Elle could feel bruises flowering already. As she stood to walk it off Jax blocked her path.

"No weapons allowed, you dirty cheat."

"There's no such thing as cheating in a fight," she retorted. Weighing her little dagger in her hand, a wicked smile crept across her face.

"If you actually obey the rules—" Jax growled.

She cocked her head. "You miss all the fun." 

(edited)