The Eyes of the Dark

Fourteen.

I watch Ava as she smirks at me from across the sand. Joanna could have picked anyone else. My ears are drowned out by the roar from the crowd. I watch Joanna as she silences them.

"Octavia Copeland has been lying and scheming about her real identity as a Black." Gasps shoot up from the crowd. I clench my sword tighter. "She and my son have conspired against me and my husband. They are responsible for the murder of the King." Cries erupt from the crowd. My face twists in shock at Cedric. I expect to see him reflecting the same expression, but he seems like he was expecting it.

"She's pinning it on us." Cedric grinds together.

"We're the bad guys," I say realizing what this means. Joanna is getting all the credit for being a hero.

"Silence!" Joanna orders. The crowd goes quiet. "My husband will be missed, but today is a day for justice. The criminals will fight our best fighters in weapon combat!" Cheers rise from the crowd. "Take your places." Cedric and I move to the center of the sand field facing Ava and Jeremy. Ava takes her place in front of me.

"This is going to be fun," she grins. All I can think about is getting out of here. One of us may have a chance and if we do, we have to take it. I glance at Cedric and we make an understanding eye contact that we might die, but at least we will die trying. I look back at Ava and focus. You can do this. Remember your training. Fight through the pain. I clench my sword tighter as the crowd grows restless.

"Let the duel begin!" The Queen's words slice through the air. Ava gives out a battle cry and raises her sword. I raise mine as they clang together. Ava moves quick and spins underneath her sword to get me off. I take a step backwards and swing my sword towards her oncoming attack. My stomach tightens as she moves her sword to slice at my arm, but I move my feet through the sand and hit her sword again. She grunts in annoyance. I make the next move and swing mine towards her head. She ducks and uses her elbow to hit my leg. I catch myself before falling, but I pause from the pain, giving her the chance to shove me over into the sand.

Get up! Before she can come towards me Cedric blocks her sword using his. I grin and look for Jeremy who is running towards me. I shoot my hand out and use my sword to knock him over. He hits the sand and I quickly get up. Cedric ducks from Ava's swing and I take my place in front of her and crash our swords together. She pulls them down to our eye level. Neither of us break. Her face closes into mine, only inches from my face.

"I should have known you were hiding something," she hisses. I give her a hard look. "You're a traitorous bitch!" She yells in my face.

"No, you are!" I use all my strength to push her away from me. She stumbles back but quickly recovers. I swing my sword in the air towards her. The medal clangs together every few swings. We move back and forth on the sand. I glance out of the corner of my eye and see Cedric and Jeremy are doing the same. Ava cuts are harsh and fiery. I do my best to block them, but I'm not sure how long I can keep going.

"You don't have to do this!" I do my best to distract her. She sneers and shake her head. "I know you hate me, but I didn't do anything wrong!" She barks out a laugh as she swings towards me. This time I stop backing up and press further towards her.

"You killed the King!" Sweat tears in my eyes.

"No, I didn't and neither did Cedric!" I watch her eyes, but they are too full of rage and revenge.

"Liar!" She spins in a 180-degree circle with her sword. I stop and see the blade coming down on my arm before I can move. I scream in pain as blood gushes from the cut my arm.