𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧

Forty- Six

I should've known.

Her hand rocketed out, a knife spinning towards Allie, a gleaming, deadly flash of silver. It would've hit home, but it stopped at her neck, drawing a single drop of red blood.

Red. Not blue.

Allie smiled as she countered the force emanating from Liana. Allie's power was hers- though Allie had far less training. Liana could feel that her energy was widespread but thin, not concentrated like Liana had learned to make hers. She held the knife there with out breaking a sweat, letting it shiver and twist. She noted that Allie was using a large amount of power very quickly, instead of pacing herself like Liana tried to do. Good. That meant Allie would run out before she did.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance," Allie mused, breaking her force away to spin the knife to the floor. It hit the concrete with a metallic clatter. "Though I'm quite liking this new power. Who knew you had enough of it to supply two people?"

Liana narrowed her eyes, hating that SEAM had taken her force and given it to Allie. "How does it feel having a fake power?" she asked, smirking. The fog curled in her hand, hardening to a cube, and she slipped it into her sleeve. She would use it only as a last resort, and would have to warn Jerik ahead of time so he and the Bluebloods could go back into the safety of the sleeping room before it reached them.

"I'll give you a deal, Kade," Allie said, tilting her head delicately. Her eyes had darkened in the time she had been with SEAM, her face hard and focused. "We duel. No interferences. Whoever loses..." her lips curled into a wicked smile. "Well, you get my drift."

Liana glanced back at her friends, feeling her blood pounding in her ears. Should I? She projected to all of them, her eyes darting back and forth, searching for an answer.

They chimed in with replies of things like No, let's find another way, but one answer stood out.

Jerik stared at her, his dark eyes serious. You can beat her, Liana. Her power is made off of yours. What's your weakness? It will be hers, too.

Instantly, she knew what she had to do.

"I agree to you terms," she said, glaring at Allie. "I lose, and Outcast Island surrenders. You lose, SEAM surrenders."

Allie nodded, and Liana slammed the door shut, leeching the last of the fog into the red cube in her sleeve. She pushed the tables of the mess hall into the walls, clearing a space large enough for them to duel in, as her friends nervously looked on, shaking their heads. Taylor was red- faced, looking about ready to lunge at Allie, but she projected to him, I'll be okay.

Please, he mouthed, staring into her eyes. 

She turned away as the Outcasts formed a circle around them, guns still aimed at Allie's head.

Be careful, Jerik's voice filled her head.

I will. Liana faced her enemy, letting the knife that had clattered to the floor float towards her. As Allie focused on her, she slid the knife into her belt.