Clash of Swords

Lavi’s eyes are closed and he is sitting crossed legged in the middle of the garden. He is concentrating hard, his posture straight. His shirtless torso is visible under the scorching sun. Beads of sweat roll down his skin, his abs glistening in the light. The bulging muscles are tense as if rigid and still.

The breeze slowly swirls around him in a fixed rhythm. He slightly turns his head to the right and the wind blows in that direction. Then he tilts to the left, taking the wind in the opposite route. A gentle whirlwind of wind starts to form in front of him, spinning like a small tornado but fixed to one place.

He is about to multiply the intensity of the win when the familiar scent of cocoa comes his way. Suddenly, the wind stops and vanishes, leaving him there. Even though she is far away, he can still smell her.

That damn smell of hers has been affecting his powers as well.

Lavi waits for a while before opening his eyes. She is standing in front of him, her white pupils staring ahead. The girl cannot see but she has sharp instincts which helps her to navigate even within a vast castle like Lavi’s. Her acute senses are going to be a hindrance if she tries to kill him again.

“Tea,” she simply says. 

Lavi stands up and slowly walks towards her. Anna can feel him getting closer to her. He is circling her like a tiger marking its prey. His presence is close; too close.

She can feel his warm breath on her neck as he leans down to sniff her. Anna goes still but defensive. This nearness is starting to cloud her senses but she keeps a strong grasp on her sanity. He can feel her breaths getting shorter and raspier as if she is also physically tormented by this back and forth.

“Is it poisoned?” He asks in a low tone. His deep baritone is silky and seductive, testing every fiber of her willpower but Anna digs her nail into her skin to keep her senses afloat.

“It is not,” she says out loud.

“Drink it.”

Lavi grins a little, hoping that it will scare her. Anna is still for a while before grabbing the cup and taking a sip. She takes another sip to prove her point.

“It is not poisoned,” she repeats. “Poisons will not work against a Lycan’s healing abilities. Moreover, you are not weak against silver so I doubt any type of poison will help me in killing you.”

“You know way too much,” Lavi murmurs. He picks up the cup and casually throws it away.

“I have no intention of drinking your leftovers,” he says. “You disgust me.”

“Liar!” Thena exclaims in Anna’s mind. “I can smell his arousal! Damn brat!”

She growls inside Anna but the latter says, “Calm down. I know how to teach this brat a lesson.”

Lavi steps back and observes her. A wicked idea is brewing in his head. He walks towards a couple of swords which have been lying next to his shirt and picks them up.

“How good are you with swords?” he asks her.

“Exceptionally good,” Anna boasts with pride. Lavi throws a sword at her which she catches with ease.

In an instant, Lavi lunges forward and Anna blocks his sword with hers. Their hilts are locked together, each testing their opponent’s strength.

“Let’s make a deal!” Lavi growls. “If I win, you will tell me your name!”

CLANK!

Anna attacks him with her sword but Lavi blocks it. “And if I win?” Anna challenges him.

“I will tell you my weakness,” Lavi smirks. Hearing that, Anna renews her attack only to repeatedly assault him with the sword while Lavi dodges every one of them with his quick reflexes. Anna uses all her senses to locate him, his scent giving him away.

She passes back, moving to a rear position. Lavi’s sword misses her by an inch but she holds the blade and slopes forward to attack him in the abdomen. He kicks her in the knee and jumps back.

Blood is flowing from Anna’s palm; Lavi’s blade has cut through her skin and she is in pain but she ignores it. Unbeknownst to her, Lavi’s palm is also bleeding. He clenches his fist, shocked at what happened. 

Damn this girl! He curses inwardly and attacks her again but Anna senses him from afar. In a swift move, she sweeps around to hit his head with the hilt but Lavi grabs her face and shoves her backwards on the ground. He jumps on her, their swords gridlocked in the intense fight.

“Tell me your name!” Lavi demands, his voice almost a growl. Anna feels a strange surge of energy emitting from him, chaotic and disruptive as if he is going to swallow her in a blackhole.

“Never!” She declares and with all her strength, pushes him away. Lavi is thrown across the air, hitting the bark of a tree. He barely has any time to recover as Anna’s crazed attack begins again. Her movements are swifter and harsher, matching him in every step.

Lavi is surprised by her tenacity. Never in his life had he met an equal, someone who can actually keep up with him.

Yet, this girl…this blind girl not only blocks his attack but also manages to keep him on his toes. 

“Who are you?” He roars.

“I am death!” Anna shouts and kicks him hard. Lavi winces and stumbles back but regains his strength and attacks her again. They are gripped in a battle of life and death but somewhere inside, Lavi cannot help admiring this blood crazed girl.

He is used to obedient women who would do anything to get him in bed. Usually, he did not care about his bedwarmers, thinking them of nothing more than pleasure toys.

Now, he found his doomed mate and she turned out to be strong…no. Stronger than him!

Anna manages to hit his wrist and in an instant, disarms him. 

“It is over!” She announces and swings her sword at him.

Lavi is about to block her with his hands when another figure appears and shoots something at them. From the corner of his eye, he sees a small, sharp object flying towards Anna.

Anna freezes as a needle pierces her neck. In slow motion, she falls on the ground as the silver liquid course through her veins and an excruciating pain paralyzes her.

“AHHHHHH!” Lavi screams in agony. He, too, falls on the ground. Anna’s pain is also torturing him. He can feel his insides burning as if he has been set alight and curses out loud. Anna is still, fainting from the shock of the pain but her body is still going through the brutal torture of the silver running thorugh her blood, thereby torturing Lavi as well.

“Lavi!” 

A feminine voice calls out for him but Lavi does not care. He wants the pain to stop.

“TAKE HER TO THE INFIRMARY!” He thunders at the stranger. “NOW!”