The Fight our of Leis

Chapter Nine

Idoka's Pov.

The keen edge of Tao's blade was inches away from Jacoby's throat when Jinxes blade forced it into Jacoby's flesh. It was as if a billion knives had stabbed me at once. I could handle pain, I could handle torture, but ever since I had lost my family, I had learned to keep all my friends safe. Until now. Tao angerly swiped away her shameful tears. She stared up at me imploringly, but I turned away, knowing she did not commit the crim, but still blaming her. Tao glared at The Games Master, her shoulder blades rising with her animosity.

"JINX!" She howled, taking a step towards him.

"What!" The Games Master replied innocently. Suddenly I was able to speak, and what I had to saw was alarming to say the least.

"Tao! How do you know this man?" I yelled reaching Tao's volume in my fear and rage.

Tao's Pov.

My world... was crumbling. I wish I could close my eyes and not have to tell her the two bitter truths. I hung my head, letting my blood-soaked weapon clatter to the floor.

"Idoka," I started tentatively. "Idoka, The Games Master is my brother, his name is Jinx and he's a vile, lying, scum bag!" I finished glaring furiously at him.

"Enough with the theatrics little one, defeat me and I'll free Idoka and defuse the bombs inside you both. Tao, the life of Idoka is in your quivering hands, prepare to duel and prepare to die."

I had always lost to Jinx in our early fight's every time but this time was different, if I fell down, dis armed, his hand would not reach down to help me to my feat, it would reach down to fallow his blade into my heart. I seized my foil, heart pounding as if it were ticking away the seconds I had to live. Knees bent, hands perspiring with anxiety, I stepped forwards and the fight began. He lunged at me with deadly accuracy. I managed to parry his strike just in time to save my left hand. I added a pierce of my own that he blocked effortlessly, retaliating by cutting my ankle. I executed a few retreats and attempted to swipe is lags out from under him, but only fractured my toe on his boots.

"Oh, you improved, but I have conquered the vary meaning of fighting so give up before you embarrass yourself more." He laughed evilly and sauntered, blade down towards me. I gave a wild lash with my foil, but he easily blocked my attempt, laughing even harder. I tried to back up, but I found a cold stone wall behind me. As Jinx strode towards me, he took off his mask and through it aside so that I could see the full extent of his features. He drew his blade up so it hovered inches away from my neck. We were nose to nose, my green eyes mirroring the hate he had in his. I wrenched my face away from his and stared at Idoka, who had stopped struggling and stood still, watching us with wide eyes and lips parting marginally. If she died, my world died. She was all I had left, and she probably despised every bit of me, but I could not let her demise fall upon my hands. I closed my eyes feeling the blood pump through my veins, and the determination pound in my brain.

"You have gotten better." I stated, staring serenely into his eyes. "You've gotten good." I took a steadying breath. "But not good enough!" I commanded threateningly. Lifting my knee up to my chest, I gave him the hardest push I could muster. He fell onto his back and something cracked sickeningly somewhere on his body. I was back on my feet. Head spinning from blood loss, body pail as a ghost, I ambled towards him. "Oh, brother you don't look so good." I taunted, raising my sword.

"You should see yourself, your white as a swan." Spitting a mouthful of blood out, he scrambled hurriedly to his feet and dashed around a barrier. I took a couple slow strides towards my quarry, then fell over. My lags were failing me, but I had to continue. Every nerve, bone and cell in my body was bellowing for me to halt but I had to prevail. For Idoka and for the world. If I killed Jinx, we would not suffer his tyranny for a second longer, and the world would be safe. I rose to my trembling feet and took three steps forward before I heard the shot fired.