Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've been in Maritius for two and a half weeks with NO INTERNET ! I have been on my phone all day since I got back. Anyway, enjoy!
"Good morning Azure! How are you feeling today?" My eyes open and Nurse Fonataine is leaning over me.
"Better." I murmur.
"Excellant! You can go back to your room now, they'll be announcing the next matchups for your semi-finals at 9:30." she smiles kindly at me and I nod.
I'm walking through the obelisk blue building, making my way to my dorm room. Luckily it's already 8 so Lisa and Camilla should already be somewhere else. I slip in silently and get a new set of clothes out, a navy t-shirt and some tie-dye black and turquoise skinny jeans. After I head into the bathroom, and this time I get my small almost unused bottle of liquid foundation out, and apply a light coat over my left cheek. The bruise has already died down, but still as that purple murk to it.
"So only now do you take my advice!" I freeze at the sound of the sneering voice. Be calm. She can't hurt you. I turn around and steadily walk towards the door.
"What so I don't exist any more? Don't try and turn the tables, you will always be invisible girl." She remarks angrily.
"I wasn't trying to." I reply calmly. I slip my navy boots on and put my hand on the door nob. I can just walk out of this.
"Where are you going I'm not finished with you!" She says and puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip around at her touch and accidently push her away. My eyes widen at what I did and my hands scramble to open the door and I manage to take a few steps out before a shove into the wall stops me, light pain flowing through my left arm.
"I said I wasn't finished!" She starts but a voice saves me.
"Hey!" Alexis' voice rings through the corridor and soon she's helping me up. "Get away from her, what did she ever do to you?"
I hoped Alexis' presence would put her into happy mode but Lisa was done trying to make friends.
"Why would you care about her, she's worthless. Actually, I can't believe I only just realised you are too." She snaps back angrily.
"Saying that only makes you the worthless one." A calm, sturdy voice graces the hallway with its presence, and I look up in gratitude.
"Zane..." Lisa stutters, and I can see her debating whether or not to add him to her enemies list or try to recover her chances with him, that were to her unknown knowledge, imaginary.
"I guess the words just flew out of my mouth. I'm sorry Zane." She looks up at him in a vulnerable yet flouncy way.
"Why are you apologising to me?" He replies in his cold manor.
"You should be saying sorry to Azure, though if she forgives you I will never understand her." Alexis chimes in with a certain type of sarcasm in her voice. Lisa struggles with any words at all before looking up in frustration.
"Well I guess apologies aren't my thing then." She storms off without looking back.
I breathe a sigh of relief and lean against the wall.
"Honestly Azure, I leave you for what, one night of sleep in the medical wing and when I bring Zane come to check on you you're gone, already getting yourself into trouble." Alexis says jokingly, and I smile.
"Well then I'm lucky I have you to save me!" I reply, joking back. I look to Zane stupidly, and our eyes catch for a bit more than a moment, his stare firm, but not as cold as it usually is. I've been looking for too long. I bring my eyes down to my feet, then up to Alexis, and try to remember what she had been saying.
"I wonder who you'll be up against in the semis!" Alexis wanders as we lounge at the railing in the duel arena.
"Who's left? I didn't watch the last duel." I ask.
"You, Jaden, another guy from duel academy, and... what was her name? Oh Aliyah Llanwelyn from North." Alexis replies.
"I doubt I'll win... I'll probably route for 's a good person, and a great duelist." I murmur thinking the other competitors through.
"Me too, but I'm rooting for you! Jaden would be over the moon boasting with confidence for months." Alexis replies, rolling her eyes at her own sarcasm. I hide a smile when I realise she'd be 100 percent correct. "What about you Zane?"
Zane moves his head in our direction, and teal grazes into my eyes.
"You know I don't take sides." He says gravely, yet I can see the same tug on his lips.
"Of course you don't!" Alexis says sarcastically. I smile.
"So, it's now time for the semis!" The commentator makes me jump but in milliseconds I'm listening close. "What an amazing tournament it has been, so now listen closely to the important matchups of our last four competitors!" I feel like my hearts beating so hard it's coming out of my chest, one pound at a time. I don't even know why I'm nervous, my match=up won't change much.
"The four left are: Jaden Yuki and Thomas Vinter from duel academy, Aliyah Llanwelyn from North Academy, and Azure Roarke from East Academy! Suprisingly, all the top duelists from each school, with exception from duel academy's Zane Truesdale, has been eliminated from the competition. So folks, look up at the board to see who they'll be duelling up against." The commentator finishes, but my eyes are already trained on the board. I don't even know what I'm hoping for.
The pictures and names go up. Jaden vs Aliyah Llanwelyn, and me against Thomas Vinter... I frown. Thomas Vinter? I haven't watched any of his duels. Or heard of him wining... I had been focussing on his name, and I now look up at his picture to see whether I recognise him... Oh no. No. No it can't be. It can't, it just can't. It's impossible.
"Thomas Vinter. He's an obelisk blue third year here isn't he?!" Alexis exclaims.
"I know him. He's okay." Zane adds to the conversation. But I'm just stuck staring at the board. My hands curl into fists as I remember everything he'd done. Everything he'd done to me. Everything he'd done to my family. I really have a knack for duelling against people I've had problems with. Lisa… and now this? But this is so much worse… on so many levels.
"Azure? What's the matter? Do you know him or something? Are your hand's in fists?" I hear Alexis' voice blurring in the background as I try to clear my head.
"I need to go get ready." I manage to say, trying to hide the determination and anger from my voice. I turn and sprint off. I need to talk to Adynn.
I've ran deep into the island, as far away from anyone as possible.
"Adynn!" I yell in frustration.
"So it is he who is the problem. I see now why it can't be ignored." His mysterious black form appears in front of me, with his bow in hand, twirling it between two fingers.
"How do I ignore this? How do I ignore him? I can't!" I say, putting my head in my hands. "I'll lose control!"
"It's not a question of how but of why you must ignore him. We cannot afford to lose control. You must put what he did behind you. Think of him only as an opponent. Pushing our emotions away was a price we paid in order to duel. To do what we love." He counsels me and I breathe in deeply.
"Of course you are right. I may need you in this one. I don't think I'll be able to do it alone." I reply after a moment of thought.
"Maybe it is best if you try not to. But you can always call on Avis if you need to." He replies. Directly beside him appears my Shadow Queen Avis.
"Azure." Avis murmurs in her ever soft voice. "We are all always here for you and Adynn." Her voice comes up and she fades just as she appeared, and I close my eyes.
"I should get back." I tell him, and he bows his head then shatters. I stand up shakily, and start to make my way back to duel academy. Jaden's duel starts in half an hour. I should at least cheer him on.I go to the duel arena and stand up at the railings, making myself invisible to the eye.
"This duel has been awesome! Seriously, you're good! It's a bummer I have to end it… I activate the field spell Skyscraper! Now every elemental hero on the field gains 1000 points! Go Avion, take out her last life points and attack her directly!" Jaden yells his last command and he's won his match. So the final will be Jaden… against me or Tom. I mean Thomas! I mean… oh forget it. Control is all I need. I don't feel anything for him. No matter what he says, or does, I will remain calm, and poised. I walk down the corridor, with half an hour till my duel, taking deep breathes.
"Azure." I spin my head and I see Zane coming up to me. "Why did you run off earlier?"
"Just needed to do some stuff." I reply quietly, though I'm afraid he sees right through me with his unwavering gaze.
"Azure, you don't have to tell us anything, but we're just worried about you. You don't want to get another attack-" He tells me, his face softening.
"I don't. It's just… complicated." I interrupt, and turn to look towards the duel stage. "You'll probably find out in this duel anyway… I just don't know how to explain it myself."
"Right, it's time to find out who will be facing Jaden Yuki in the final! Everybody get ready, for the last match of the semi-finals!" The voice fills the stadium as usual, but I can't help but feel cold.
"So, it's the young girl with a sound duelling strategy, Azure Roarke from East Academy!" I step up onto the stage, leaving Zane and Alexis on the side.
"And, now for obelisk blue third year at Duel academy, Thomas Vinter!" The boy steps up with his light blue hair rustled, smile on and duel disk at the ready.
"Nice to see you Az! How you doing?" The boy's voice taps into my head like a bell, and memories try to push through my boundaries.
"Let's go." I manage to say, activating my duel disk.
"What? No greetings for your big brother?"
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