Episode Twenty - Honour (Part 2)

The flicker of muted surprise in his eyes told her she was right. It was strange to know someone else better than she knew herself.

"But don't worry." She wore a heart-breaking smile. "I'm sure you will make it up to me in the future. Won't you, Lars?"

He couldn't respond, watching her step into the cage. What else could he say when he was in the wrong? The lump in his throat wouldn't subside and he knew he would attempt to earn her forgiveness — until she was willing to forgive him.

Eira shoved aside the naked vulnerability of their confrontation, choosing to focus on the battle ahead. She had time to deal with Lars but, this one-time official battle with Kalina wasn't a simple coincidence — it was fate — predestined a long time ago. Eira remembered the last time Kalina had lost to her in the Skothii games. Back then, she didn't understand Kalina's hostility but, now she knew. The Xaosose woman was nothing but a mass of insecurity and hateful jealousy.

Kalina met her in the middle of the arena, her pouty lips twisted in their typical sinister conceit, as if she was privy to a secret Eira wasn't. It made her mad. Jealousy was an angry, dark ember in her gut as she realized Lars had kissed those lips, touched her coffee and cream skin and been inside this woman.

Kalina instinctively felt the adverse change in Eira's demeanour, an odd frisson of fear penetrated her. Those paralysing emerald eyes reminded Kalina of the old era snake paintings she once saw – mesmerizing but deadly. Spurred by fear and pride, she remarked hideously. "If you lose to me then you'll have to give up on Lars."

"Fine by me." Eira switched to their tribal tongue, setting aside the huntress. "You know, I've always been curious about the reason why you hate me. Once, I might have cared to listen but now, you've crossed the line. Izel was right, you're too stubborn for words. If that's the case, then I'll just have to beat some sense into you." Warming up her shoulders in slow rotations, she widened her stance and wielded her blade. "Shall we settle this the old way? The winner takes all."

Kalina had no desire to hash out the past or her reasons for hating Eira. Baring her teeth, she removed her reaper. "As you wish. It doesn't matter because I'll be the winner. I'm no longer that same girl you stepped on, Eira. I'm stronger now."

Watching from their unit pen, Florian realized something was wrong. Eira and Kalina had discarded their reapers. Were they planning to fight without their weapons? His brows scrunched. "What the hell are they doing?"

"Are they fighting for the Captain's affection?" Koga uttered thoughtlessly, earning an elbow jab from Anaelle. "Ow! What the fuck!"

"Shut up, Koga." She nodded at the Captain's cold expression, and he sensibly locked his lips. Lars was obviously not in a good mood, probably worried about the bloodthirsty look on the two women's faces. Anaelle couldn't imagine that a day like this would arrive — women fighting for the Captain's affections. Well, she admitted Lars looked mighty fine but, she would never entrust her life to a man. Anaelle loved her freedom too much to commit to anyone.

Eira and Kalina circled each other, gauging who would make the first move. Taking a quick lunge forward, Eira rotated her wrist and drew first blood, right above Kalina's pulse. It was precise, deliberate — provoking. Her savage smile had the crowd roaring — hungry for more blood, more pain.

Kalina ignored the sting on her neck, keeping her calm. She retaliated with rapidly angled strikes, plunging her blade left and right. Eira nimbly ducked and blocked, reading the slight contractions of Kalina's muscles, adapting what Lars had taught her.

Seeing an opening, Eira thrusted her blade between her teeth and seized Kalina's arm, bodily flipping her across the arena. Barely done, she pinned Kalina's shoulder to the ground and stabbed deeply.

"Arghhhh!" Kalina tried bucking her off.

Eira leaned down until her mouth brushed the other woman's ear, whispering fiercely. "Admit defeat and I'll let you off easy. You claim that you've grown stronger but, you forget that I have too. I've defeated you before, and I can do it again. There's no room for you in Lars's life, Kalina. Accept the truth and there won't be any more problems in the future."

"Never! He is mine!" Kalina spat out, knocking a fist into Eira's temple. Pain burst like fireworks in Eira's brain, and a cry burst from her lips when Kalina seized her braid. "You will not take away what's mine again! Ever since we were young, you had all the boys salivating after you. This time, I won't let you have your way."

Confusion muddled her head in the midst of pain. Eira had never stolen Kalina's lover or had anything to do with those boys she claimed to pine for her. The only boy that ever existed in Eira's center of attention was Lars.

Kalina was so lost in her jealous tirade, words no longer registered. There was only one way to end this. Like hell Eira was going down over something so stupid as a green-eyed monster. Releasing a deep roar, she bashed the back of her head into Kalina's face, dislodging the tight grip on her hair. Spinning around, she wrapped both hands around Kalina's throat – choking the air out of her lungs before executing a roundhouse kick to deliver the final blow.

Blood spurted from Kalina's mouth as she landed in a painful sprawl, her head spinning from the severe blow.

Swiping her blade off the ground, Eira stalked Kalina but the bothersome woman wouldn't stay down. Kalina released the tiny switchblade in her wrist sheathe and slashed Eira's calves the moment she came within reach.

With a painful yell, Eira buckled at the knees, feeling the weapon serrating flesh and muscle, possibly severing an artery.

"You forget," Kalina reminded in a contemptuous snarl. "There's a reason why I am assigned to unit two and you're in unit six. You are underestimating me, Eira."

"Vi. No." Emerald fire blazed, making the fine hairs on Kalina's arms stand on end. "You have forgotten what it means to be a warrior. I have never forgotten my roots — where I came from. You dishonour the Xaosose tribe, Kalina. Izel told me that you abandoned your family."

"I was meant for more than a measly tribe! It was suffocating to adhere to all their stupid rules and customs. Here in Ataxia," Kalina spread her arms wide. "Uma libezari! I am free!"

Eira willed herself to stand, ignoring her pouring wound. She was starting to feel lightheaded, a clear sign that she was losing too much blood. There was no time to waste. She attacked without pause, her movements were a blur to the untrained eye, each stab scoring a hit. Kalina's skin was a canvas she wielded her blade upon, drenching her in crimson.

Florian and Koga stared agog at Eira's insane dexterity, watching her deliver one final stab in between Kalina's chest, an angled slide of the knife between the ribs, nicking the heart. That decisive finale sent Kalina falling onto her back, cradling her literally bleeding heart.

With soulless eyes, Eira watched Kalina struggle for her life, pressing her blade against the woman's stuttering pulse. The sharp edge sliced deep enough for Kalina to flinch. "Give up, Kalina. I can go all day and you will never win. It's a pity that we have come to this. I never willingly gave you a reason to hate me, and your reason for loathing me all these years...I cannot accept them. If you wish to continue hating me, then think of this moment. Think of how helpless you are beneath my weapon, accepting your lost because of your foolish ego. Zazaq. Weak."

Bloodstained teeth flashed. "Vinik! Never! You're the last person that I'll ever step down for. You don't know what it's like to be me!"

Before Eira could register Kalina's intent, razor-like sharpness pinched her side, followed by a wildfire of pain streaking throughout her flesh…a persistent, harrowing pain that left her weak and breathless. Clutching her wound, Eira breathed raggedly. "Y-you never did…f-fight fair." With a horizontal snatch of her blade, she vengefully slashed Kalina's throat, watching the blood spew.

Unit two's Captain was already rushing into the arena with the emergency medic on his tail. The fight had escalated to a dangerous turn of events. No one had expected the two to actually kill each other. It seemed that answered one of Eira's previous concern.

Sinking on hands and knees, Eira caught the blurry figures of Lars and Anaelle vaulting over the pen's enclosure towards her. Their faces were...twisted with fear and devastation. Perhaps she was seeing things, because those two were the most unshakeable members on the team.

Her blade fell listlessly to her side. I won! She wanted to yell but all she could do was sway like a reed in the wind.

Just then, an ominous loud crack thundered from high above. Head jerking up, Eira's eyes widened in horror as the light riggings dangled and snapped, falling in slow motion. She realized it would crush Kalina and dove forward to shove the unconscious woman to safety, leaving herself vulnerable and —

"Ah…is this how I die?" she whispered to herself and then total darkness.