40. Playing Dirty

KIARA

Night had fallen and we had just finished a game of monopoly, with Raihana winning.

"Ok, end the game, I"m done." Rayhan said, sitting back with not a single monopoly note to his name.

"You are awful at this." Raven remarked.

"It's a game of luck, what do you mean awful? I was never landing on an unbought property and then I kept landing on all your guys" houses." He complained, running his fingers through his hair.

I faked a yawn, stretching.

"Alright guys, I"m off to bed, I"m tired." I said while massaging my neck.

"Already?" Raven asked. "It's only 9.30."

"Healing takes a toll." I lied. I honestly felt fine, after I was kicked out so rudely!

"Oh yes… That's kind of cool though, that you"ve got that ability." Raihana said.

"Yeah, something we need to keep on the low." Rayhan added. Raihana nodded.

"Alright, well I"m going to go FaceTime Mom and Dad."

"Don't tell them what"s been happening if you ever plan to visit again." Rayhan told her as both of us got up and walked out.

I was glad no one questioned me much, as I silently made my way to my room and changed into some sneakers. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and looked in the mirror, before picking up the staff that I had brought along with me.

Well, here goes nothing…

I snuck out silently through the back door of the mansion, using the light on my phone as a guide. I wasn't even sure where I was meant to meet Carmen so just made my way to the training grounds.

Sure enough, there she stood.

"That's something to see, a wolf using a torch." She chuckled.

"Well, there's a first for everything." I said.

"So, I was thinking the training grounds might be the best option. Or should we go to an indoor hall?" She asked mockingly.

"Up to you. I don't care either way, I've trained to fight without my sight. If you need the advantage of the training grounds, or should I say the darkness, that's fine by me." I said, walking over to the low wall and jumping over. I heard her growl.

"Watch it pup."

"Stating facts, did I hit a nerve?" I asked. I wasn't wrong. If she wanted to use my blindness to her advantage, then fine.

"I think it may be better we go inside then." She muttered.

"Nope, this is what you wanted. Let's carry on. I actually want to see how much of a disadvantage I am at, compared to a warrior female who is trained to fight and kill." I said, now placing my phone down on the wall after switching the light off. I spun my staff and looked at her.

"Are you sure? I don't want you crying later."

"I"m sure." I said confidently. "I'm a Westwood, we don't back down."

She knew I'd agree anyway. I wasn't actually sure how I'd fair against her. After all she had experience on her side, plus extensive training from this pack. I also had no idea about her fighting style.

"I"m using a blunt weapon too. I thought it should be a little fair." She said and I heard her come closer.

"Of course, fair." I said mockingly. Was she for real? Fair? I was blind here? Stupid bitch. "I don't really want to waste time talking, so let's do this."

She didn't reply and I heard her lunge towards me. I blocked her, aiming for a low kick. Spinning around, I swiped my staff, satisfied when I heard the sound of it connecting and a low grunt.

"What the…"

"Don't underestimate me simply because I cannot see." I said quietly. I spun around as I advanced now. I was not going to let her get the upper hand. She definitely had power and probably stamina on her side. She was bigger and stronger, whilst I was probably faster.

What people didn't often realise was the change in their breathing or heartbeat before they made a move. That was what I relied on, not to mention I could roughly smell where they were. Sure, it was still risky not knowing what angle they would hit from, but I had learned how to have complete cover from all attacks.

I sensed her move forward and quickly retreated, backing away slowly. I turned my back towards her as I pretended to keep my defences up, wondering if she'd fall for it. I sensed her approach quietly and pretended to search for her in front of me, although I knew she was right behind me.

She was good at keeping her heartbeat low and steady, but I was better at this game. I timed my attack and when I felt her get ready to pounce, I spun around and felt my staff connect with her stomach, throwing her backwards with a painful thump. She was up in seconds and hit me with the heavy metal weapon she was holding. I bit my lip to stop the hiss that almost left my lips. Whatever she was using contained silver.

"Bitch." She swore, yanking my staff from my hand, surprising me. I then felt a heavy kick to my head and went flying as shooting pain rushed through my skull.

"I never knew you were aiming to disarm." I said. Hadn"t we silently agreed to weapons?

"Well, rules change in seconds in a fight." She said. "You should have known that."

I frowned but said nothing, trying to hear her make her next move. It was hit after hit, she was strong and resilient. I blocked some, some I didn't. I did get a few in too, but without my staff I was losing, not to mention she still had the weapon that I had no idea of what it was.

She charged at me and I raised my arm to block her attack. Hearing the swing of her weapon I dived and pushed myself forward, hitting her hard with my shoulder as I felt my foot give way, making me stumble. I heard her chuckle as she brought the weapon she was holding down on the back of my head.

I twisted around, grabbing the silver blade of what was definitely a sword, and yanked it from her grasp. I felt the silver burn my hands and cut into my palms.

I could smell her growing anger and frustration. The slight smell of sweat and my blood hung in the air, mixing with the fresh smell of the crisp night air.

She growled as I kicked her in the stomach and finally managed to tear the weapon from her grip.

"If I"m not using a weapon, then neither are you!" I said, putting space between us. Without my staff for support, I had a higher disadvantage.

"Fair enough." She scoffed. I heard the scuff of her foot as she ran at me but this time I was prepared. "Gotta admit, you lasted a lot longer than I thought you would." I could hear the clear anger she was trying to hide.

"Yeah? Well, I guess I'm the queen my mother taught me to be." I said breathlessly. I blocked her kick and twisted her foot whilst she punched me in the shoulder, I felt something crack painfully in it, making me wince. The moment we both moved away, I snapped it back into place. I was adamant on ignoring the excruciating pain that was now shooting up my ankle.

"Hmph, we will see."

"The Blood Moon pack is second to none, although we are a pack of not just warriors, it seems we are still pretty impressive." I said. I was proud of my pack and I would make that clear.

She came at me again, her anger and annoyance clear in her aggressive attacks. At the last moment, I ducked and tackled her to the ground. We both hit the floor, knocking the wind out of her. I went for her throat, squeezing hard. Pressing my knee over one of her arms and stomach.

"Tap the ground in defeat or I will give you up to 10 to get free." I said, tightening my grip. She grunted, trying to wrench free.

"Not happening." She wheezed.

She let out a choking growl and I felt her claws elongate before they dug into the back of my neck, making me gasp in pain.

"What a disappointment. You broke literally every general rule of a match." I said in disgust, punching her across the face. "Yet I'll still win this without doing so."

I squeezed her neck before lifting her head off the ground by her hair and slamming it back down on to it, hearing a sickening crunch. She groaned in pain, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"Ten…. nine…. eight…" I began counting slowly, unbothered by her venomous gaze. I could feel she was going to black out soon enough, so I eased up a little. "Five... four.... three... two..."

She raked her claws down my back, slicing through my top and bra strap as pain seared across my back. What a fucking cheater. Was this what they were taught?

She chuckled, but I shook my head.

"One." I let go of her roughly and stepped away from her.

I wished I could see her facial expression, but I couldn"t.

"It disgusts me that this is the level you lowered yourself to, just to win a simple match to check someone"s level. I may be a handicapped wolf, or a defective wolf to you, but I worked hard to be the very best version of myself that I"m capable of being. It's disappointing that such a proclaimed warrior, who is complimented in most packs, would resort to such tricks. The rules of a sparring match are common knowledge, but for you to break them, it's pathetic." I turned away.

My entire body ached and I still would have to feel for my phone along the wall. I just want a long shower and then my bed.

I heard her scoff.

"You're still a fucking defect, everyone knows that."

I decided to ignore her. I wasn't sure why she was so hateful towards me, if it was because of the small issue over dinner that day then she really had some shit to deal with. I heard her get up as I reached the wall and began feeling along it, hoping I wasn't too far from my phone.

What I wasn't expecting was something to ram into my already painful right foot, making me scream in agony. The sound pierced the air as I fell to my knees, clutching it as the pain took over. My eyes sting with tears of pure anguish. I heard her chuckle.

"In real life, you'd be dead. There's no such thing as a friendly match. If you duel, you duel to win."

"You lost, whether you think so or not." I said coldly. "Unless you want me to humiliate you further, go."

She scoffed.

"Whatever, loser." She spat before walking off.

I stayed on the ground, praying the pain eased up. Couldn"t I heal myself? The sudden thought made a ripple of curiosity run through me and I closed my eyes in determination, taking a deep breath as I focused…