I stood facing him in the same arena as the day before, holding a drawn sword in my hand. I had taken the sword from a village just a few weeks ago. The weapon glimmered even in the little light there was. It was an unusual blade, steel alternating with a thin ribbon of iron, creating a fascinating wave-like pattern. I could see the admiration in Chase's eyes as he stared at it. He clearly wanted it for himself.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
I chose not to answer, instead, shifting my legs and arms into a defensive stance. That way, I could move in any direction if he suddenly leapt at me.
"Let the battle began," I muttered under my breath. He shifted his stance ever so slightly, and then we were moving, circling each other, feeling the other's defenses.
At the temple, I had sparred with him, but only with wooden staffs and our fists and legs. With the staff, I almost always beat him. But he had gotten better since then. I could sense it.
He swung his sword up and down in an arc, aimed for my right, and dominant wrist, attempting to disarm me. I blocked it easily and felt the shock as steel clashed against steel. Quickly, I changed my grip and tried to twist the weapon out of his hands, but he whipped the sword away, and was facing me as if he'd never moved in the first place.
Again and again, our blades met with a sharp clang as we blocked, parried, evaded and advanced. My breath grew harsh, punctuating the tense silence, while he barely seemed ruffled. Time for an unfair advantage.
As we circled each other once again, Chase's shadow writhed and reached out a huge clawed hand to drag him to the ground.
Caught by surprise, he stumbled and I immediately brought my sword to his throat.
"Dead," I said, prodding the sword to his throat. The metal sliced his flesh and blood oozed out.
"No, not yet," he said, eyes suddenly blazing a fiery red, his reptilian pupils dilating. Instinctively, I stepped away from him.
And just in time.
Fire erupted from his claws and shot towards where I had been standing just a split second before. I fell back and landed on the floor, gasping.
But his element's not Fire! How?!? Hastily, I unfocused my sight and Read him. I was horrified to see that no one colour identified it as a single element. His aura was a chaotic swirling mass, streaked with the diamond brilliance of Air, the red gold blaze of Fire, the scintillating sapphire blue of Water, and – my breath caught in my throat – the jade green of my own element.
"Surprised?" he hissed, advancing towards me. He picked me up from the floor by the front of my shirt.
I kicked him wildly, giving the attack all the strength I had. The impact was so hard he was thrown onto the wall. He slumped down, limp like a rag-doll. I couldn't tell whether he was unconscious or not, but I was i not /i going to take any risks.
Or at least, that was what my brain insisted, but my legs refused to obey.
They stopped when I was right in front of him. I knelt down and reached out for him, feeling i guilty /i (and disgusted that I was feeling guilty) for hurting him –
And his sword shot out towards me.
"No one said the match was over," he grinned. There was a shattering sound and I looked down… To see his sword dug deeply into the black gem I wore around my neck. It must have fallen out of my clothes during the fight. Even as I looked, it shattered into two jagged pieces.
I felt a tingling sensation run down my body and knew my illusion was broken. Glancing up, was surprised to see the mask of indifference on Chase's face fall away.
"Eva…" he murmured softly, disbelief on his face. He reached out a gloved hand to touch my cheek, as if to check if I were real.
"Yes it's me," I snapped, feeling irritated. I pushed away his hand roughly. First he rejected me, now he was acting like I was the best thing that ever happened to him. I felt like I had ever right to be grumpy.
"So what now?" I asked. "You turn me into a tiger, like the rest of them?"
Confusion crossed his face. The sight of it got me even more unhappy.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about!" I growled.
Then he pressed his lips against mine. I struggled and pushed him back, even though a part of me enjoyed it very much.
"Stop that!" I yelled. "I'm sick of this! You keep saying that you love me, and then you drop me in a heartbeat. Not once, but twice! Has it ever occurred to you that I don't like this?!?"
"Eva." There was a slight edge to his voice now. "I don't enjoy being disobeyed – "
"Yeah, like I give a damn about that!" All the hurt and resentment I had spilled out. What was the worst he could do to me, kill me? My past two years had been worse than death! "I didn't care you turned to the Heylin! I am Heylin! Alright, maybe I was wrong to deceive you in the first place, but hell, you didn't give me the chance the second you got your power. And last night – " I ground my teeth. "Last night, I thought I had at least won you over, and in the morning, you try to rearrange my memories so I forget"
"EVA!" he roared and I finally feel silent. He paused as if trying to figure out how to put his thoughts into words. I waited. This better be a good explanation.
Finally, he spoke, his eyes blazing with a mixture of emotions I couldn't identify.
"Two years ago… When I drank the Lao Mang Lon soup, I had no control over the animal's body. You were in danger every time you were near me. I was shifting between my two bodies, and whenever I became half-lizard." He chuckled humorlessly. "I had only one thing in my mind. To destroy everything, everyone, human or not, in my path."
"And why would it bother you?" I demanded, trying to keep the aggression out of my voice, and failing miserably.
Again, he stared at me, searching my eyes, as if trying to figure out what was going on in my mind. Then his face twisted into an incredulous mask.
"You… believed what I said?" he asked haltingly. "Even now?"
I stared at him, confused.
"I had to lie to you," he said. To keep you away, far away from me. Do you know how much it hurt… to realize I'd injured you? I sent Hannibal Bean flying to the YingYang world after he told me to stop moping." His lips twisted into a mocking smile.
"You… lied?" That was the only thing I had comprehended.
"How could you believe me so quickly?" he asked. Then, so softly I couldn't be sure I heard him "It still hurts."
"How could i you /i believe I wanted to…" My voice faltered. "With Guan?" I countered his question.
"That Chase Young is dead." He pulled me close to him. I didn't struggle, but I stiffened. "That Chase died two years ago for doubting your love."
"Even the purest of loves surrendered to shame…" I murmured.
"Then our love must be purer than that." He sighed. "How can I convince you of my sincerity?"
"Last night… with Xi Shi… I mean, me…"
"I did try to wipe your memory of that incident. I felt guilty for betraying you."
I tensed as he pulled me closer, his hands circling my waist tightly.
"Forget it," he growled. "I'll take you, whether you love me or not."
He kissed me and this time, I didn't resist.