Ethan's return to the waking world was done without much fanfare, yet the man never felt better.
For once in a long time, even before this whole mess started, the nightmares did not plague Ethan's mind during his time of rest. No imaginary lycans or molded chased him through decrepit buildings.
Jack, spade raised in a motion that would see his leg chopped cleanly off, did not stand over him. Cassandra, with a knife poised to carve his feeble man-flesh, did not grin over his downed form. Instead, the lone father dreamed of a certain blonde woman, smiling at him gently as she played with Rose.
Today, Ethan felt rejuvenated and reinvigorated as he woke up - ready to face the whole world, if need be. Gentle sunlight, beating against his still closed eyelids, made the man grin as the pleasant warmth generously poured over his face.
The man smacked his lips, as if savoring the delightful treat, once the memories of the beautiful night came back to him - making his spirit sour in joy. The last thing he could recall was Bela's large blanket extending to cover them both as his own shiver betrayed the fact that the chilly night wind had finally gotten the better of him.
Regardless of what awaited them next, the man's mood was uplifted and he was eager to confront the many challenges ahead. And how could he not, with such a remarkable woman at his side?
Ethan's eyes finally fluttered open, revealing the scenery as somewhat disappointing - his own little room in their cabin; no Bela in sight. He was already aching for her gentle touch; the way their bodies snuggled together in the chill of the night. With some worry, the man realized that he was craving her presence. Her intelligent amber eyes, gazing at him with affection. Her beautiful, melodic laughter. That indescribable comfort and safety he always felt when near her. With a lonely sigh, the man slowly crawled out of his bed, even as he figured out how he got in it in the first place.
Bela must have carried me...again. Another one I owe you, Bells. But don't you worry, I am keeping count.
Checking the clock, Ethan let out a small curse.
11:50 AM
To his own surprise, the man found himself unwilling to miss the spar between Chris and Cassandra. The brunette Dimitrescu was a monster, no mistake about it. Her combination of inhuman strength, speed and endurance - wielded with ruthless skill made her a fearsome and formidable adversary already. Her swarm shapeshifting allowed her to turn around any possible disadvantage in her favor in a heartbeat.
As much as Ethan hated to admit it, he doubted that he saw the extent of her true power in their own spar. It was very likely that Cassandra held back in her insane desire to prolong their little fight. The man wasn't sure that any unarmed human could hope to best her if she went all-out.
That said… if there is any human who could beat our dear Cassie - that would be Chris.
Finishing his preparation for the day, Ethan emerged from his tiny bedroom in a spotless short-sleeved navy blue shirt, as well as a pair of brown shorts. Sun was looking to be oppressively hot today.
Immediately upon taking a step inside their small but pleasant living room, he was greeted by the smile-inducing sight of Rosie, who was sitting on a sofa, playing some kind of verbal game with Eveline.
"I spy with my little eye something… green, soft."
Rose giggled before pointing towards an object Ethan hadn't seen before in their little cabin - a large, plushie dragon. Undeniably cute plushie dragon, with ornate emerald scales and beautiful amber, reptilian eyes.
"That's easy, Evie! Dani's dragon!"
At the motion of turning her tiny head, the tiny Winters noted the figure of her father standing in the doorway. That very instant, Eveline's own eyes - that should've had no problem seeing him from her position - yet did not - focused on his frame. Clearly, despite manifesting a visible avatar for the two of them, the phantasmic girl was still completely reliant on her hosts' sensory input for her own awareness.
"Good morning daddy!" They spoke the greeting in perfect synchronicity, slightly unnerving the man.
"Good morning, girls… is that toy Daniela's?"
The father was still understandably apprehensive about the idea of Daniela approaching his baby girl without supervision. As nice as the redhead was, her occasional episodes of uncontrollable violence was not something he would want to happen in Rosie's proximity, ever. Ethan assumed that he got that point across, but now he felt like he and Daniela needed another talk. Rosie's meek voice took him out of his musings, however.
"No, daddy… uncle Tom passed it along, saying that it was a gift from Dani. I love it so much! But…when can I play with her? She is so pretty and funny…and so nice!"
That played on Ethan's heartstrings more than he'd care to admit. The feeling of shame suddenly ignited in his stomach. The redhead understood and respected his wishes, yet still went out of her way to comfort his baby girl. And he thought the worst of her, again. The gnawing guilt led to a new train of thought.
I really have to make it up to Dani… perhaps, she could play around with Rosie if either myself or Bela was in the room to observe? I think that would be acceptable...
"I think we can arrange that, dear. I am sure that Dani would love to play with you, but for now, let's make sure Auntie Bela or little old me is in the same room as you two, alright?" The girl just nodded, while Eveline observed him with a cocky grin.
The man nodded himself, before remembering the ordeal that was about to happen. Somehow he was feeling like he was about to miss his favorite team playing baseball, and not a bloody fisticuffs match. Taking a look at the girls - back at their verbal game, the man smiled, before speaking.
"You girls gonna be alright for a while? There is something I'd really like to see, but I can call uncle Tom, if you want."
Eveline was the one who answered that.
"Nah, we are fine. Tom could use a break as well - he has a little bet going with Millie on that fight, by the way. I don't have any money myself - obviously - but I am totally hoping Cassi would kick that angry man's ass to the moon and beyond."
"Language, Eveline!"
"Sorry, daddy!"
Rosie giggled as Ethan scolded Eveline as if she was his own daughter. The father sheepishly ran a hand through his dark blonde hair as he came to the same conclusion. Giving his precious Rose a loving peck and ruffling her hair, eliciting another lovely giggle, the man took his leave.
Walking through the suspiciously empty halls of the yacht, Ethan suddenly realized that he had no idea where the fight was supposed to take place. Momentarily pausing in confusion, the man was about to head to that little exercise room by the armory where he had his own bout with the monstrous woman.
On taking his first step in that direction, Ethan once again got interrupted as a sudden force impacted from behind, making him stagger a few steps forward. A familiar joyful laughter resonated across the halls as a pair of lithe but strong legs crossed over his waistline while slender arms gently wrapped around his neck.
"Hey, Ethan! Fancy meeting you here! Miss me?"
Where did she even come from? I swear she is like a cat - unseen and unheard…
Daniela's cheerful voice made Ethan unable to be truly cross with her invading and shocking presence. He went for a more subdued approach, instead.
"Hey, Daniela… why don't you get off me, please?"
"No way! I am still soooooo sleepy and tired and I've lost my shoes and the floor is so cold! Do you want me to get sick? Don't you love me!?"
Indeed, looking down he could see the dramatic redhead's bare feet - her dainty curled toes having a slight bluish tint to them, implying that she was quite cold. And, truth be told - she was pretty light, so it's not like it was a huge bother for him to carry her around for a while. With a resigned sigh, the man acceded to her demands.
"Of course I don't want you to get sick, Daniela. Fine… where does your highness want to go today?"
"YAY! You're the best, Ethan!" Daniela cleared her throat, before continuing in an overly dramatic, deep voice - making the man she was riding let out a small chuckle of his own. "Onward towards the grand arena, my noble steed! The valiant knight clashes with the fearsome dragon and my heart aches for I am not there to witness it! Such tragedy!" The redhead finished her monologue with a meek and barely audible excuse, going out of character for a second. "I...ehm...overslept a little."
Who exactly is the valiant knight and the fearsome dragon, in her eyes, I wonder? Hope she knows where to go, at least…
"Ugh...Where exactly is the 'grand arena'?"
"Main sundeck, I think... Ahem. Now, Let us not tarry, my devout chariot! The violent spectacle waits for no one! Not even for I, Princess Daniela the Beautiful!"
The man grinned wide as he trudged towards the large sundeck at the front of the ship. It was a good place to hold a fight, and now he was sure that there would be more than a few spectators. Daniela herself giggled in contentment as she held onto him tightly. After a few quiet moments she asked him a surprising question, in her normal, kind voice.
"How's Richard the Wyrm doing?"
Ethan only thought about that for a second, before providing a curious and subdued response. Previous guilt he felt reared its ugly head once again.
"Richard the Wyrm? You mean that green dragon plushie you gave Rosie? She said that she loved it… Thank you a lot for that, by the way, Dani… I am really sorry for keeping her away from you...it's just…"
The blonde man wasn't sure what to even say at this point. The girl continued his unvoiced thought herself, however, in a quiet and sorrowful voice.
"No no… I understand - really, I do…your precious daughter has no business being close to a mons…"
Ethan felt anger igniting within his soul at the very mention of that word. Anger at himself, and at her, for daring to say that. His fists clenched at their own volition even as he interrupted her with his own, suddenly fierce, voice.
"No, Dani! Don't you even say that word. I thought we've been through this already?" The man, calming down, continued in a somber tone. "You have some...issues… true, but we will work through them - together. It's all just so unfair to you… if you want, we can arrange something with Rosie, as well. As long as I am or Bela is with you two, I don't mind you playing with my daughter. I am really sorry...for everything."
"You… mean it?" She was close to tears, if her tone was any indication. Ethan couldn't help his hand from finding its way towards her dainty palm, clutching it tightly.
"Of course, I do, Dani…" Ethan paused for a second, gathering his resolve before mumbling the next words out, knowing that there would be no way to take them back.
"There is also a person I would like for you to meet. All of you - Bela, Cassandra and Chris included. I think you know which one I mean. You all deserve to know the truth. But let's wait just a bit longer with that, since we are almost at our goal now."
Daniela said nothing but cuddled her own body tightly to his; the man could feel the affection radiating from her whole form. Bela's little sister was truly a precious person to him in her own right, at this point. Ethan felt his heart growing warm merely from being able to provide comfort to the poor girl that has been through so much… His second hand clutched her left palm as well, now.
In companionable silence, the awkward-looking duo finally reached their destination - the large sundeck. As they emerged from the bowels of the ship, Daniela was quick to detach herself from the man, her cold feet eager for the warmth the heated deck provided during the summer noon.
Just like Ethan thought - there were quite a few spectators gathered. Around two dozen crewmembers, several armsmen, in addition to other, more colorful personalities. Hound's Wolf Squad - all of them. Millie and Tom, standing by themselves, sipping on some cocktails and having a sibling-like banter.
At a small elevation near the edge of the deck stood Alcina and Bela. Lady Dimitrescu herself appeared remarkably healthier than the last time Ethan saw her. The matriarch was now dressed in a regal white dress, not that dissimilar to the one she wore back in the castle. The cut was noticeably absent, as were the three roses; the sleeves were shorter, to accommodate for the warm weather. The exposed skin of her hands looked like it was improving rapidly, with the previously angry red rashes adopting a more calm pinkish hue. Her posture was straight and regal, showing that she no longer struggled to merely stand upright. A wide-brimmed hat decorated her black locks - naturally a bit smaller than the one she used to wear before.
With some apprehension, Ethan noted that she also stood a couple of inches taller - the man let out a small sigh of relief as he realized that she was merely wearing heels today. Alcina's gaze was firmly locked upon the center of the impromptu arena, disdain plain in it. Clearly the noble lady was above bread and circuses, yet voiced no protest over it, nevertheless.
Ethan found himself content in the knowledge that the vampiric countess was recovering from her treatment at the hands of The Connections. Glancing at her face, he noted that she clearly took pains to make her appearance be presentable, with make up and that blood-red lipstick of hers. The man couldn't deny the fact that the matriarch was a beautiful lady in her own right, with her fair but strong features; even though they were still noticeably gaunt from her harrowing experience.
Glancing towards Alcina's right, the man couldn't help but grin like an idiot. The blonde woman who had stolen his heart was dressed in that radiant golden sundress of hers, now free of the blood smears Ethan could spy on it at their first meeting. Her beauty in that moment was truly overwhelming for the man, who could not help but gape at her sun-soaked and glinting frame. Bela's keen eyes - locked onto him the moment he stepped out of the ship's interior - gave him a playful wink. Amusement and joy still lingered in her gaze, after she beheld her youngest sister dismounting from him.
Love-struck, Ethan barely registered a light peck of affection to his cheek from Daniela, who promptly scurried off towards her family. The redhead herself was dressed in a supremely cute white t-shirt with a gray cat's face on it, as well as a pair of jean shorts, showing her own long legs. The girl waved at him to join them, but at a scalding glare from Alcina, directed his way now, the man decided to play it safe and join Tom and Millie, for now. Bela, grinning in mirth, blew him a kiss.
Lightly blushing, the elder Winters offered a hand in greeting, which Tom promptly shook, smiling mischievously.
"Miss Bela really took a fancy to you, eh Ethan?"
"Lucky guy."
Millie's remark was delivered in a sarcastic tone, making Ethan glance at her curiously. On this hot day, the black-haired woman was dressed in a simple business grey shirt. That funny-looking pen of hers was still clipped to a breast pocket. Somehow, Ethan couldn't help but be unnerved by this innocuous little object of hers. Rationally, it made no sense, yet the hardened survivor's instincts in him murmured that the little writing instrument was as deadly as a gun in the hands of its owner.
Maybe it's just Bela's mistrust of her rubbing off on me or something…
Shaking the dark thoughts off, he merely grinned at the shorter woman.
"Meeting Bela was a stroke of luck on a road full of misfortune, that's for sure."
Millie just gaped at him with a bewildered expression full of disbelief while Tom gave him a friendly chuckle and a thumbs up. The man clearly knew how to focus on the brighter aspects of life.
Ethan admired such an attitude. Looking at the assembled faces all around - joyful during this unexpected yet intriguing event, made him believe that everything could get better. Even if this world of theirs was bleak and full of misery, as long as they could find happiness in each other, there was hope for a better tomorrow. Sometimes, all it took to dismiss the darkness was a single flashlight...
Lastly, Ethan focused his gaze upon the stars of the show: Chris and Cassandra - standing in the middle of the gathering, opposing each other. Both combatants were dressed in simple exercising outfits, showing plenty of skin. Chris was doing some warm-ups while Cassandra simply observed him, hands on her hips and a wicked grin on her black lips. The hunger was unmistakable in her wide amber orbs.
Cassandra being eager for violence was nothing new or surprising, yet Chris' own eyes glinting with certain excitement and even savagery was an usual sight for Ethan, who knew the large captain as a calm and composed individual.
A valiant knight versus a fearsome dragon, indeed...which is which, though?
Their little makeshift arena simply consisted of four small flagpoles, marking the edges of a square. Ethan doubted that they served any real purpose, however, but it looked nice enough.
Ethan couldn't miss the absence of their gracious host himself, however. Perhaps the large merchant was simply uninterested in fisticuffs or too busy to attend. Tom was in charge in his place, apparently, as the moment his expensive-looking watch ticked 12.00 PM, he stepped forward.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! The moment we've all been waiting for! In one corner we have the legend of the War on Bioterror! Bane of Umbrella, B.S.A.A. founding member and the Puncher of Boulders - Chris Redfield!" Everyone among the Hound's Wolf squad bursted with mirthful laughter at that, while Chris himself groaned in frustration and embarrassment. Numerous other crew members who knew about Chris' many deeds but had no idea about that last part simply cheered for the brave man.
"Oooh, I sense there is quite a story behind that last title of yours, oh brave captain!" Cassandra was quick to pounce upon the discomfort-evoking tidbit - ever the predator. Before Chris could reply with his own snarky wit, Tom pointed a hand towards Cassandra as he introduced her as the second fighter.
"And in the other corner we have the infamous Cassandra Dimitrescu! The self-proclaimed hunter of beast and men! The very thing that goes bump in the night! Supposedly, never bested in combat in over sixty years of her life!" Gasps of astonishment at that part made Tom grin as he continued.
"I know what you're thinking - 'I wish 'I' could look that good at that age!' But don't let her gorgeous appearance deceive you! This fearsome woman is a deadly weapon, begging to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting mortals! The only question - is Chris Redfield ready to face this most dangerous of foes?"
The small crowd was more subdued this time - her dark reputation was well-known on the ship. Most let out a half-hearted cheer or simply mumbled among each other. The armory master with a broken arm in a splint let out a 'boo', which was caught by several others. They were easily muffled by the overwhelmingly loud cheer, courtesy of Daniela.
"WHOOOHOOOO! CASSANDRA!"
Alcina herself gazed at her daughter with pride and joy plain in her amber orbs. Bela simply gave a thumb-up and a smile.
Cassandra's wicked, toothy grin sent shivers running through everyone's sane present, as she gave her family a thumb-up of her own.
Ethan himself couldn't help but look at Tom with newfound respect. The man's loud voice and entertainer's abilities turned out to be quite impressive - the Duke's lieutenant clearly knew how to work the crowd. The father briefly wondered what other hidden talents that man possessed. Tom's booming voice interrupted his current train of thought, however.
"Combatants - you are free to start!"
Cassandra didn't waste a single breath as she leapt upon Chris - a devastating spinning roundhouse kick aimed right his way. The inhuman power in these killer legs of her, combined with her body's weight and velocity could shatter bones and pulverize organs. With the lightning-fast execution of the attack compounding the threat, Cassandra clearly aimed to end the fight before it even began.
Chris' response to the sudden assault showcased his own barely human combat prowess and reaction speed. With dexterity that bellied his large frame, the man avoided the powerful blow only to catch her extended leg with both hands. In a single, barely perceptible motion, the captain used Cassandra's own momentum to throw her overhead, slamming her savagely into the deck's floor behind him.
The brutal impact would've knocked most humans out of the fight, yet the decidedly inhuman brunette merely leapt back onto her feet; an open palmed strike of considerable power against Chris' chest forcing the larger man to stumble back a few steps, winning her some breathing room.
Not missing a beat, the vicious Dimitrescu daughter was upon him - unleashing a flurry of blows that would've reduced an average man to a bloody and tangled mess of limbs on the ground in seconds.
The veteran B.S.A.A. captain was ready for them all, however. With a grin on his face and his suddenly alight eyes narrowed in focus, Chris met the barrage head-on. Dodging one strike just to block another; only to redirect the third and shooting with a jab of his own in the process - Chris demonstrated the combat prowess one could develop only from long years of both practice and experience.
In a twist that was more than a little surprising to her, Cassandra suddenly found herself in a stalemate as the flurry of blows that nearly brought Ethan to his knees was almost perfectly countered. Redirecting another jab that nearly connected to her midsection, the brunette had to suppress a deranged howl of laughter that begged to be let loose. Her own flowing combat style was matched perfectly by Chris'. She was somewhat stronger and a bit faster than the captain, yet he more than made up for it with his keen eyes and keener yet mind - reading her motions to a frightening degree, almost predicting her next attacks before she even thought of them.
Exhilarated like never before, the grinning maniac continued her vicious and relentless assault, enjoying every single moment of the beautiful dance they were having. For it was a dance, full of graceful motions that would make any choreographer green with envy at their flawless execution. No jab or strike was wasted. Everything either served to probe for weakness or flow into the next blow. And how happy she was that her dance partner shared her passion - if his suddenly bright eyes were any indication.
Caught up in his living ocean blue orbs for just an instant of time, the brunette overextended her arm for just a moment too long. Chris did not miss a beat in capitalizing on the mistake, slapping the appendage away and delivering another lightning-fast jab right against her temple.
The Dimitrescu warrior saw stars flashing in her eyes from the sheer power of that blow, impressing her even further. Yet now it was Chris' time to truly get a feel for her power, since even without her senses active, her arms shot to grasp his still extended own one - shocking the man at her insanely fast reaction - in spite of just taking a blow to the head.
Twisting his arm - fully intending to break it - the woman purred in wicked delight as Chris rolled with the force, instead; his foot kicking at her knee to aid the man in breaking from her grip.
The pain from his repeated blows on her form finally forced her to take a step back, allowing the man to regain his footing and stance; just as she regained full control over her own senses.
The combatants took a moment to observe each other, neither of them willing to make the next move - not yet.
Cassandra could stare at this handsome man all day. His powerful muscles, soaked in sweat already - glinting in sunlight; his chiseled face with these enchanting, depthless eyes of his - so alive now; the determined, passionate grin he was giving her.
The brunette daughter couldn't help herself but make a mental resolution.
I will fuck him up. Then I will fuck his brains out.
As if reading her mind and deciding to not give her the chance, the captain made the next move. With a flurry of blows of his own, Chris was done with merely responding to her motions. She was strong and fast, true, but it was plain to his sharp eyes that she never truly fought anyone on even remotely fair ground. How could one truly perfect themself without walking on the edge?
For all her strength and skill, Cassandra's only true experience was born from putting down malnourished Dimitrescu's prisoners, occasional combative villagers, unprepared treasure hunters and delusional glory seekers - all hopelessly out of their depths. To make these fights even remotely interesting, she had to hold back.
Meanwhile, Chris himself had frequently sparred with many great and accomplished fighters in their own rights, from many different parts of the world. The amount of combat techniques the captain had memorized would simply baffle the mind of any amateurish fighter.
Moreover, Chris had decades of real-life combat experience - where a single mistake could cost him his life. Cassandra was hardly his most challenging foe so far. For all her speed and power, the brunette would barely hold a candle to Albert Wesker. True, the majority of fights against the sun-glass loving freak were horribly one-sided in Wesker's favor, yet Chris emerged stronger from each and every single one of them.
From each humiliating defeat he learned his lessons. From each hard-earned victory he noted things he could've done better. And now, he wagered everything against this newest vampiric challenger of his. All his knowledge and experience, wielded by his body, honed to its very peak by countless trials and endless training sessions.
The barrage of strikes the captain unleashed took the brunette sibling by complete surprise.
Bela's eyes widened in shock as she beheld the spectacle unfolding before her. Unlike her more brutish sister, the blonde was well-read and different unarmed combat styles was an interesting reading material in its own right. She immediately recognized moves from four different martial arts that she saw illustrations for - executed with master-like skill and almost inhuman swiftness. Several more moves Chris performed left nothing but question marks in her bright mind, as she never saw anything like them.
The elder sister could do nothing but gape in wonderment as this man combined so many different styles together into a single relentless chain of devastation - now unleashed against her sister.
Perhaps you've bitten more than you could chew for once, dear sister? Is it time for you to get serious?
Somehow, Cassandra found herself unable to keep up with this man now. This human. A form of life that was beneath her, or so she was taught from birth.
His movements were erratic now - seemingly - without a pattern her experienced eyes could discern, yet they all flowed seamlessly together. Fully on the defensive now, with barely any opportunity for a counterattack, the brunette struggled to hold back the large captain.
No human she ever fought showed such relentless strength combined with utterly baffling finesse. Her normally impervious defenses were shattered by his onslaught of exotic moves. Numerous jabs bypassed her arms, only to land on her vulnerable body, making the woman hiss in pain and anger.
As she fell for a feint - stupid! - a quick jab split her lip, allowing her to taste her own black blood. Yuck. Mere moments later, as her clumsy attempt to swipe his leg failed spectacularly, Cassandra found herself on a collision course with the ground - again. She was not having that much fun anymore...
I suppose I can't hold back any longer; let's see how the brave captain handles my true form…
There was a certain finesse to swarm-combat that was unique to Dimitrescu siblings. Something the girls would get up to train together, on occasion. Controlling the whole swarm to execute her will perfectly was a bit tricky, since despite the overall hivemind-like connection, their individual positioning, directions and velocities were all unique. Among the three of them, Bela had the highest level of proficiency with the micromanagement part of their shapeshifting ability, yet Cassandra was not that far behind, either.
Chris found that much for himself, as a millisecond before Cassandra impacted the solid flooring her whole form shifted into the plague of black insects - only to reverse direction and shoot up towards the sky. Looking up to follow the swarm's movements, the captain was momentarily blinded by the sun's uncaring glare. A mere instant later, the once again solid form of the middle Dimitrescu child fell down upon him; an elbow strike of considerable power against his solar plexus stealing his breath as well as radiating unspeakable agony throughout his whole frame.
Gracefully finding her footing, the most brutal Dimitrescu was back on the offensive - her next roundhouse kick missing its mark by less than a hair length. Several of the follow-up jabs finally connected with his own vulnerable flesh, eliciting grunts of pain that did nothing but invigorate the sadistic woman, making her grin as she let out a playful taunt.
"Oh, getting a little out of breath, are we? How sad - for you!"
The captain was not out of the fight, just yet, however, as he bull-rushed her - much like Ethan did before. With his considerable mass and prodigious velocity, that particular move stood a decent chance at taking even Cassandra out of the fight for good - if it connected.
With a nasty smirk, Cassandra opened her arms wide, as if inviting him for a hug. The instant later, as the captain reached the spot she occupied - all he could hear was buzzing, as her ravenous blowflies circled around him - only to coalesce together above and behind him, taking the shape of the vicious brunette - her fingers interlocked as her fists, held tightly together, were poised to deliver a devastating overhead smash - right at the back of his skull.
Chris, feeling the presence, leapt forward and away from the deadly threat, but he could not completely avoid that attack in time. The man felt something akin to a sledgehammer hitting him in the back. The force of the colossal blow was so great that only his finely-honed instincts allowed him to roll with the strike, instead of letting his body and face impact the rapidly-approaching ground; the latter scenario would, no doubt, be enough to knock him out.
Seeing his momentarily prone form, stilling after the violent roll he performed, the sadistic woman briefly considered shoving one of the little flags down his rear - in a display of both dominance and ownership. Mom wouldn't approve. A playful taunt was an inferior alternative Cassandra decided to employ, instead.
"How does that feel?"
Her mocking voice made him grit his teeth as Chris did his best to regain his footing once again. It was a miracle that nothing inside of him broke from the sheer savagery of that last blow. The power in her lean arms was truly inhuman.
Not waiting for an answer, the brunette rushed the captain, her amber orbs once again glinting in mirth and malice. She was not happy about the fact that her human shape alone was insufficient to defeat the man, and her anger found its outlet.
The captain was already prepared to deflect the incoming telegraphed attack, only to realize at the last second that it was a feint. Her whole body was a feint. The moment her frame reached Chris - it dispersed into these accursed bugs of hers, which somehow regained the momentum of her previously human shape. Before he could even blink, she was already behind him - solid flesh and bone once again.
A quick stomp to the back of his knee forced him to the ground; the brunette easily avoided his retaliating backhand by performing an incredible feat of acrobatic agility - leaping up and using his lowered shoulders as platforms to get right back to his front. Nothing in this jaw-dropping maneuver was wasted as Cassandra spun 450 degrees in the air, before landing on her palms and delivering a solid, mule-like double kick to his midsection.
The force of that inhumanly powerful blow sent the captain's body reeling through the air, until he collapsed in a heap a dozen feet from where he was. The gasps of horror and disbelief among the crowd met his attempt to stand up again, choking out dark red blood, all the while.
"Like that? Harder?"
She was smirking down on him, clearly reassured of her superiority - once again. Her cocky grin implied that she had already crowned herself the victor and was merely thinking of ways she could make his inevitable downfall more dramatic and theatrical.
That same overconfidence brought so many of his enemies down already; the captain couldn't help but smirk in return. Making a taunting gesture with his index and middle fingers, Chris was rewarded by a confused frown directed his way. It quickly shifted back into a maniacal grin, as the brunette advanced towards him, once more.
Just like before, the vampiric bug-woman shifted around and above him, preparing to put some more pain on the arrogant little man-thing that dared to taunt her. What greeted her was a haymaker of incredible power, right at her abdominal area. Screaming out in pain, the woman once again returned to her swarm shape to avoid impacting the ground.
Chris' grin as he watched her reform some distance away could challenge her own in both intensity and savagery visible in it.
With some distress, the Dimitrescu sibling noted that she was breathing hard and her muscles were growing stiff. What the middle child didn't realize was how obvious her pattern of attacks has been to the captain. Now out of breath herself, Cassandra felt annoyance and hatred rising inside of her. Amber orbs were glinting with nothing but malice in them as they locked onto the deep blue ones.
She expected him to put up a fight, but she never even entertained the idea that he might be able to best her. The whole concept was simply inconceivable to Cassandra's mind. No human ever came close… Ethan might've been challenging to put down, yet there was still plenty of breathing room for her...now however… the possibility of defeat reared its ugly head, evoking the worst of her dark character.
Chris himself made the next move, as his fist clearly aimed to make acquaintance with her nose. Scoffing at the presumptuous man, Cassandra once again shifted her form - now aiming to strike at him from the side. Nothing but air greeted her own fist as she completed her transformation. Her surprise didn't last long, however, as Chris - who, predicting her move, had dropped to the ground only to jump right back - using her own momentum, the man threw her body over himself, making her strike the harsh surface hard. The final move mirrored the initial one almost perfectly.
Somehow, the breath was not coming back to Cassandra's lungs fast enough anymore. She was tired. Tears of indignation were threatening to spill forth from her mascara-smeared eyes. Black blood was running down her nose and lips.
The middle child was being humiliated by this man. Everyone was watching. Her sisters were watching. Her mother was watching! The rage of her wounded pride was almost overwhelming.
I can't possibly lose… not to a human… not like this...
Everything hurt. She was tough, but her own human body was far from invincible, and the amount of damage she took was proving to be crippling. Cassandra felt like she only had enough energy left for one more full-body transformation. But the captain had proven himself capable enough to discern her shapeshifting as well…
She could still win, of course. Her most lethal attack - the same one that brought the Dire Wolf commander down - was still her ace in the hole. No matter how skilled or experienced Chris was, he would not be able to defend himself against her shapeless, ravenous swarm. She would find her way inside him. Mutilate his innards until he begged for her to stop. The arrogant man would yield to her, making her the victor - once again. But then - everyone would call her a monster, once again. Chris himself would likely never forgive her. The Dimitrescu pride was on the line… but was the victory at any cost worth it?
Still prone, the middle sibling took a moment to appreciate the faces surrounding her.
Cassandra tear-stained eyes chanced upon Ethan first. She could vividly recall how that defiant little man put up quite a fight against her. But more than that, she could never forget how graceful he was in defeat. How he praised and complimented her. How he offered her a hand to shake, in a motion for peace and friendship. The darkness inside of her started to recede.
The brunette sibling turned her head to glance at her family next. Her beautiful sisters looked down at her with tense faces. Would they hate her if she lost?
No…
Bela's words to her jumped to the forefront of her mind. How they would love her, regardless if she was strong or weak. That she always had a place in their hearts.
And Cassandra could see that very notion plainly in their amber orbs right now. Bela, Daniela and even Alcina looked at her with nothing but fondness, hope and love. Even if, for once in her long life, she would lose to a human, they would still love her.
Perhaps… it's not too bad, to not be the strongest in every waking moment.
Somehow, at that sudden realization, Cassandra felt unburdened, even as she lay on the ground, with Chris' form approaching her own, slowly. The man was running ragged himself, barely able to stand from all the effort he put up against her. Sweat mixed with blood was running down his whole frame.
Chris was smiling down on her as well, but it was not a gloating smirk she expected of someone in his position. It was a warm smile of a man who truly enjoyed sparring against her. No...not against her - With her. A kindred soul. Suddenly, Cassandra realized that she didn't want to have her swarm ravage him until he begged for mercy. She didn't want to hear his anguished cries. She didn't want to hurt him.
Every single remaining mote of spite had left her body in a heartbeat the moment her keen eyes noted his hand in a motion to help her stand up, as he was finally upon her. Instead, playful mischief took its place. As well as a different kind of craving. She found her lust for passionate violence satisfied for the day… but her violent passion burned with a fire that could not be quenched by thoughts alone.
As the large man came within striking distance, the brunette daughter collected the rest of her strength to deliver one last precisely aimed kick, making the man stumble and fall, right on top of her. Cassandra's husky voice betrayed her current mood, as did her wide open, passionate eyes and hungry mouth.
"How about a draw?"
Suspending himself over her with his palms on the flooring, Chris' face was mere inches from her own. The hunger in his own deep blue orbs was unmistakable, even as he answered in a breathless, yet similarly passionate voice.
"I think I can live with that."
Their hungry lips slammed against each other at the same time, eliciting gasps of shock from most of those present at the sundeck.
Alcina, red in the face, appeared inclined to interfere, yet a gentle whisper into her ear, courtesy of Bela, calmed the noble lady down somewhat, though she still huffed in indignation. Daniela, meanwhile, was cheering and clapping loudly, as if she just watched a satisfying conclusion to a romantic movie.
The Hound Wolf's Squad mirrored the Dimitrescu family to a frightening degree. Red-faced Rolando Elba attempted to move towards the newfound lovers only to be stopped by a firm hand of Emily Berkoff on his shoulder. The woman calmly reminded him that he should mind his own business and that their captain was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. Meanwhile, Dion Wilson's own cheering rivaled Daniela's in their intensity. John Perlman and Charlie Graham merely observed the scene with calm interest.
The rest of the spectators, Ethan included, simply gaped at the increasingly passionate embrace with bewildered expressions. If either Cassandra or Chris were bothered that their starved make-out session was as much of a spectacle as their previous fighting was, they gave no sign of it.
Before too long, however, Chris stood up - along with Cassandra in his powerful arms. Ignoring every cry of disbelief and Alcina's indignant protests, the B.S.A.A. captain carried the middle sibling away into the depths of the ship, away from the prying eyes.
Everyone was left simply speechless at this most unexpected of outcomes. Of course, Tom's and Bela's light snickers implied that they considered it a likely possibility all along.
Finally, the awkward silence was broken by the Duke's right-hand man himself.
"So...that's that, dear spectators...now… we also have a chess tournament planned for today, anyone cares to join?"
A beat of silence passed as no one appeared overly enthusiastic about the idea, especially after all the excitement of the fight and its conclusion.
"Oh, I'll be happy to join that! Wanted to practice my French Defense for a while now!" Bela's chirpy voice betrayed her elated mood. Millie scoffed as she folded her arms and mumbled out a half-hearted agreement. Ethan didn't miss how the shorter woman passed Tom a small stack of bills with a grumble.
Guess someone lost the bet.
"I guess I'll join as well. Let's see what Bela got."
Ethan just grinned as he himself wasn't much of a chess player, but would certainly love to watch Bela play. Somehow, that whole fight between Chris and Cassandra uplifted his mood way more than he'd expected it to. Truly, love can bloom in the most unexpected of places; among the most unexpected of people...
Author's Note:
I just can't have enough of cute Daniela moments :/
Hope the long-teased Chris/Cassandra fight didn't disappoint :D
Ethan/Bela took a break from each other this chapter, but hopefully the next chapter will make up for it :P