Chapter Seven


Eric wasn't done with Liv yet. Not by a long shot. She had been sat enjoying dinner with Tori and Mila when the Initiate she had thrown the knives at tapped on her shoulder saying that Eric was waiting for her in the training room. Her time to face Eric in the ring was finally biting at her ankles, Liv had been waiting for the call ever since she had ran from his office that afternoon and in the walk to the training area a new wave of dread settled deep in her stomach.

The training room was empty apart from Eric, who was stood at a table covered in an array of knives, he picked one up and lazily inspected it. Liv refused to greet him, not after the stunt he had pulled in his office, and instead chose to simply remove her jacket and step up to the mat of the fighting ring.

Steely eyes looked Liv up and down. "I assume you know why you're here?" Placing the knife back on the table, Eric sauntered over to join Liv at the mat. "Going off your performance with Four I'll allow conceeding."

His condicending tone resonated around Liv's brain, why she had ever allowed him to touch her was beyond her. Everything about the man before her screamed pain in the ass, from his purposeful march, to the distasteful look he got everytime someone spoke. This was it. After this last little game he'd constructed Eric was all but dead to Liv. "I don't know why you're acting so much better than me, last time I checked Four beat your ass too." It was an unwise choice but either way Liv was beaten, she might aswell have some fun taunting him while she lost.

Eric's face was a picture of unadulterated rage, beside him his fists clenched tightly into balls. It was one of the things he loved and hated about her most of all; her need to push him. But the challenging quirk of Liv's eyebrow was the final straw; not even waiting for Liv to step into the ring, Eric grabbed her left arm with unbelievable speed ripping her forwards and throwing her down onto the mat before pinning the same arm painfully behind her back and trapping her against the cold mat with all his body weight.

Against her own will Liv squeaked when Eric twisted the arm that was behind her back making all the bones and muscles scream in protest to the un-natural movement.

"Hey guys! Eric's beating that stripper!" A boys voice yelled from somewhere over Liv's shoulder, and the patter of feet indicated that he had drawn in his friends.

Summoning all the strength she could muster Liv brought her head up forcefully, successfully cracking Eric square in the face; she was not going to lose again without a fight. The impact seemed to knock Eric slightly, so Liv used that moment to quickly roll out from under Eric's solid body but before she could scrabble to her feet his strong grip latched onto her ankle, bringing her slamming down into the mat for the second time.

"I'm going to give you option to conceed right now, seeing as I'm a nice guy." Eric was on his feet, the right one pushing forcefully down in the centre of Liv's back. A smirk crept onto his lips at just how pathetic she looked literally under his feet.

Liv ground her teeth to stop the words she so desperately wanted to say from escaping. She couldn't see his face but she knew the self-satisfied look well enough and trapped under his foot she had never hated someones facial expression so much in her life and it was about time someone dislodged it. Reaching back at an uncomfortable angle Liv grabbed his calf and pulled on it as hard as she could, he landed heavily beside her on the mat. "You seem to forget I'm Dauntless too."

"And you seem to forget," She had caught him off guard and he was a little impressed, but only a little, there was no way he would ever let her win. Jamming his elbow shatteringly into Liv's rib, Eric took the opportunity to climb an top of her whilst she grabbed at the spot in agony. "I'm better than you Olivia. That's why I have an office and you have a pole."

The shooting pain in Liv's ribs suddenly seemed like a dull ache compared to the venomous words he'd just growled at her. "I conceed." With all her might Liv shoved Eric off of her, relieved when it actually worked. Without so much as a glance Liv hurried from the training room, her coat still on the floor forgotten. Angry tears burned in her eyes and trickled down her pale cheeks; it was always the same with him, it always had to be personal, had to relate to her being a whore which was something she considered herself not to be.

A sterdy body collided with her jolting Liv from her misery briefly. "I'm sorry." She muttered just wanting to get to her apartment as quickly as she could.

"Are you okay?" The voice was full of genuine concern and Liv lifted her gaze to see who she had bumped into. "You don't look okay."

Liv recognised the man she had accidently ran into instantly; his name was Jordan Stilles, he was incharge of the teams that went out patrolling factionless and worked closely with all the Dauntless leaders. If reputation was to be believed he was a kind and brave man who pretty much everyone liked, Liv guessed except for Eric. Jordan was in essense the complete opposite of Eric. Realising she had been staring at him the whole time while she remained silent Liv blushed deeply. "I'm fine...just...nothing. It's nothing." The heat in Liv's cheeks only increased when Jordan's thumb came up and gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I bypassed a distressed woman. Let me buy you a drink, at least get you feeling better before I leave you alone." Jordan gently put his hand on Liv's waist, softly guiding her towards The Pit. "My name is Jordan by the way."

"Liv."

"Oh I know who you are," He chuckled softly, but there was no malice. "I've been wanting to strike up the confidence to speak to you for ages now. It's a running joke among my friends."

Jordan led them into a booth when they reached Max's bar, he smiled warmly at the waitress and ordered he and Liv a drink. Moments later the waitress returned and set their drinks down on the table.

"Why would you be afraid to talk to me?" Sipping at the straw Liv cringed slightly as the red drink slid down her throat with a burn, Dauntless liked their drinks strong.

"Look at you!" Jordan exclaimed gesturing at Liv with a wide smile. "You're beautiful and I didn't want to be another guy who came up and hassled you."

"Hassle me? I don't know if you'd noticed the lack of men around me." Liv laughed taking another sip of her drink adjusting to the burn of alcohol.

"Maybe it's because I fought them all off?" Jordan's dark eyebrows raised, a mock expression of devience, making Liv laugh again. He didn't think he'd ever tire of the sound. "Seriously though, what chance does a guy like me have with a girl like you?"

Liv's brain quickly scanned for any nod to the fact she was a dancer but there was nothing. This handsome, genuine man actually liked her, if Liv was reading him right and she was sure she was. A fluttering started in her stomach at the thought; it was the first time a man had been interested in her but not because she was a dancer. Eric was a category all of his own, Liv quickly shook the asshole from her mind focusing solely on Jordan.


Liv wasn't sure how long they'd been sat talking but by how empty the bar was getting she guessed nearly all night. Everything was so easy, like they'd known each other years and were just catching up on things, there was no nastiness or cruelty unlike someone Liv knew. Possibly one of the worst days she'd had since joining Dauntless had done a dramatic one-eighty. "What's it like in the other factions? I mean I've seen Erudite and obviously Dauntless but I always wished I could visit Amity, see the animals."

"I'll take you." Jordan said simply. "Next time I'm heading out to do a quick factionless check I'll take you with me."

Liv almost pinched herself to check she wasn't actually dreaming, perhaps Eric had knocked her out and she was still unconcious on the mat dreaming all of it up.

"There's one small condition, the Council is holding a dinner this week. All the important people from each faction are invited, including me. Will you be my plus one?"

Not needing more than a second to think her answer over Liv replied gleefully. "I'd love to." She wanted nothing more than to sit there talking with Jordan till the sun rose but her body was tired and she couldn't stiffle the yawn that escaped her plump lips.

"I'll get you home."

It's wasn't a long walk to Liv's apartment and Jordan talked animatedly the entire way, reciting a story that involved him being charged by an angry bull in Amity. Even in the few hours she'd spent with Jordan she couldn't help but compare it to all the time she's spent with Eric; it was so different, so easy, Jordan is nothing but a gentleman and isn't constantly trying to get the upper had on her. This is the type of relationship Liv had wanted since she was a little girl. The same relationship her parents had. Growing up she had watched them both always be so loving towards each other, unlike a great portion of Erudite, even when Liv had questioned everything about her own life in Erudite one fact had always remained true, her parents loved each other deeply.

"So this is you?" Jordan asked tapping lightly on the grey door, shuffling nervously on his feet. "Are you working tomorrow?"

Liv found herself feeling quite nervous also, she jangled the keys to her apartment in her hand trying to ebb the feeling. "I am, but I don't start till late and you could always come and visit me at work?"

"I don't want to give you the wrong impression. I don't want you to think that's why I'm interested in you."

Stretching up onto her tip toes, Liv placed a chaste kiss on Jordan's lips. She could feel him instantly relax at the small action. "I don't think that, so come by tomorrow." Why had she kissed him? It wasn't a roaring passionate kiss but it was still something that Liv never did, it had just felt right. "Goodnight." Not wanting to give Jordan any ideads about the type of girl she was, Liv turned her keys in the lock and gave him a coy wave goodbye before shutting the door behind her. Leaning back on the door she couldn't stop a girlish grin from creeping up, she felt like a ten year old with her first crush, stepping further into her small apartment Liv clicked the main light on but something quickly shut it back off.

A scream died on Liv's lips as a strong hand covered her mouth roughly. "Shh..." She didn't know whether to be relieved it was Eric and not some unknown assailant or outraged he's broken into her apartment. "What were you doing with that fucking amature?"

After Liv had stormed away from him in the training room Eric had decided to follow her and had continued to do so for most the night, unable to draw himself away from the comfortable way she and Jordan interacted. He was jealous. Maddingly so.

"I saw the pathetic way you lapped up his words. He wanted to fuck you..." Keeping the hand over Liv's mouth in place, Eric toyed with the hem of her top with the other. She was still wearing the same clothes from when she'd been in his office and suddenly images of her bent over his desk clouded his mind. "I know because he had the same desperate look that you give me." The hand moved up to Liv's chest and firmly cupped her breasts. "You think he will make you forget me?" Liv's warm breath come out from her nose rapidly, tickling Eric's hand, she's scared and he loved it but under that he could almost feel the sexual pulse between them. She wanted him.

"Please leave." Liv can bearly understand her own muffled words through Eric's hand and when he doesn't let her go Liv brings her elbow back sharply jabbing him in the ribs, like he had done to her hours earlier.

"Bitch!" Eric roars, quickly recovering from the painful shot.

Free from Eric's restrictive hold Liv feels a hot rage bubbling up inside her; how dare he break into her home? How dare he touch her after the cruel things he'd done to her? "GET OUT! I don't want to be anywhere near you! You make me sick!" The room was still dark, neither bothering to turn the light on, too consumed by the brewing argument.

"Watch your fucking mouth! I'm still your fucking leader Olivia!" Eric shot back, his voice matching Liv's volume. "It's laughable really, I don't make you sick, I make you wet! Fuck that boy, be my fucking guest because guess what? You'll still come running back begging me to fuck you!"

"GET OUT!" Liv's voice cracked she screamed so loud, no doubt her neighbours were wondering what the hell was going on but she didn't care all she wanted was to never see Eric again.

With lightening speed Eric latched onto Liv by her throat, squeezing painfully tight and brought his mouth crashing down onto hers. Snorting, he discarded her onto her couch and left.


A/N/ Thank you to NiNa5 for another review and also to LaurenB16. I'm trying to keep Eric's behaviour/personality true to him and I think I'm getting it as right as possible. I should update again tomorrow or maybe even today. Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)