32

It was before 'sunset' as they referred to, and Regan was standing in the 'courtyard' as Althea called it. It was just a space in the garden, where there were no trees. Just the pavement.

She had a knot on her stomach, knowing she had done something foolish. She might have powers, but she had never been in a fight like this.

The courtyard was empty, and the more she waited, the more nervous she became. She had practiced her fire powers but they had appeared weak. She hoped they wouldn't betray her.

And finally she saw Vesper coming with an wicked grin on her face. She was wearing an outfit that had nothing to do with a duel, and everything to do with a fashion parade. It was a blue long tight skirt with a slit up the thigh, that complimented her hair, and a black top that looked almost like a bra.

"Oh God," Regan murmured. She couldn't believe this had been her friend.

"Oh, so you're early, aren't you?" Vesper asked, her eyes glinting with mockery, "Did I tire you with my lateness?"

Her sisters were there too, their expressions a mix of curiosity and irritation. They walked on the side of the courtyard.

"Let's start," Regan said, keeping the tremble out of her voice. Start what? Getting defeated by....by Sirius's lover? No, she couldn't accept that.

Upon noticing her restlessness, Vesper chuckled darkly, "This is going to be your first but not last defeat, Reg," she sneered, her eyes glimmering with evilness, "You'll regret defying me."

"Like hell I will," Regan muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath, her eyes randomly looking at the castle and then suddenly she....she saw....him. He was on a high floor, leaning against a pillar, shrouded in the darkness, his expression unreadable. She could feel his eyes on her and it made her heart race.

She hadn't wanted an audience at all, least of all, him.

Vesper followed her gaze, noticing Sirius. "He's enjoying your defeat," she said with a sinister chuckle.

Regan's fists clenched. She wasn't doing that to prove herself to these....these sadistic people. She was doing it for her own, for her pride.

They began to circle each other. Vesper's hands were glowing with a yellow light, while Regan's....they weren't glowing at all. She felt exposed and wished he would disappear.

The first attack was from Vesper, a hail of energy bolts, that Regan barely dodged. Her fear was rising, but she couldn't afford to back down.

Vesper's laugh filled the air as she continued to shot electricity. Regan couldn't believe it. Did she hate her enough to kill her? She didn't know, but the ferocity of the attack, and the obvious charge were undeniable.

And one of these bolts hit Regan's shoulder, making her wince in pain. At least she was still alive. But she knew she had to attack, not continue like that. 

Vesper grinned cruelly, "Surrender, Reggie. Only if you don't want to die."

Regan clenched her jaw and suddenly, a fiery light glowed from her palms. Before the glow could disappear, she aimed her palms at Vesper's direction, a fireball erupting that caught the witch off guard. But Vesper defended quickly with a cross of her arms.

"Oh you thought that was going to kill me?" Vesper sneered, brushing off the invisible dust from her attire. Regan fought the urge to look at the castle and see if he was looking but she knew she shouldn't care about it at all.

Vesper hit again, this time a vortex of shadows that resembled her first attack at Regan's room. Regan used the defending position like Vesper had done earlier-well, it was a copy but it worked.

Vesper gritted her teeth, "You copycat!" she spat, her voice filled with contempt. "You don't even know how to defend yourself!"

Regan's cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, but she had enough of it. She took a step forward, her hair suddenly glowing with crimson sparks.

"I know how to defend myself," she shot back, the fire in her eyes matching the color of her hair. Vesper grunted and shot her hand forward, unleashing a powerful stream of electricity. Regan responded fiercely that time, a line of fire appearing from her hands, counter-attacking the electric stream. The two forces collided with a deafening sound and a flash of light.

The continued like that, attack and counter attack. Vesper almost shot her in the chest but Regan defended herself. The anger within her grew raw and her fire responded to her emotions, dancing and swirling. She circled Vesper with her fire, trapping her like a spider traps a fly. The air grew hotter, the smoke filled her nostrils, but she was too hurt to stop.

Vesper's expression shifted from arrogance and mockery to panic. The fire licked at her skirt, making her hiss in disgust. "You think you can trap me with your little flames?" she shouted.

He was watching them from his room's balcony, his expression still unreadable. But there was a glint of admiration in his eyes. What if she fought that fiercely against him? Who would win?

The ring of fire around Vesper grew higher and Regan began to regret it. She didn't want to....to kill her perhaps? She didn't know if her fire could kill, but she didn't want to kill anyone. And she didn't want to be like Vesper, cruel and sadistic.

She approached her and got panicked. Was there a way to subside the fire? But it seemed to respond to her will. Vesper stumbled backwards, seemingly weakened. The fire was fading.

Regan didn't turn away, she didn't trust Vesper but she felt something wrap around her leg. It was a vine, stretching from behind her. Vesper took advantage of Regan's distraction and hissed, "You should've known better," she conjured a line of dark light and it struck Regan, sending her sprawling towards a nearby pond.

Vesper laughed in smugness, watching Regan with pity. She turned to her sisters, who were watching with curiosity and surprise.

But Regan wasn't done. The pond where she got thrown at was far from Vesper's sight. She rose from the cold water and weakly stood on her knees. With a grit of her teeth, she shot another line of fire at Vesper, who was still laughing in 'triumph'. She was taken aback herself and landed backwards, wincing loudly in pain. But she managed to stand up, catching Regan on her sight.

"You pathetic wretch!" Vesper yelled, but it was cut off by a deep, commanding voice.

"Enough!" Sirius ordered, appearing from nowhere. "This stupid competition is over! You," he pointed at Vesper, "and you two," at the other two, "in my study. Now."

Regan meanwhile felt her body aching from Vesper's attack. Her knees were weak and the pond was covered with trees. She had to get out of here.

"No! It's not over!" Vesper hissed back, her voice tight.

Sirius's eyes narrowed and he grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip, "When I say it's over, it is," he said in a low, threatening tone, "You will obey, or face consequences far worse than a mere competition."

Vesper looked at her sisters, whose expressions were unreadable and reluctantly nodded.

The sorcerer released her harshly, while the other two were already going inside.

Regan, on the other hand, hid behind the tree, not wanting him to see her. She wanted to get away from here as far as possible.

But it was late.

"Stop there," Sirius called, his voice stern.

Regan turned around awkwardly, hating herself for how bad she looked. She was shivering, the red strands clinging on her face, along with her clothes on her body.

"Well, well, well, seems like the tigress has had a rough day," Sirius said, his lips curving into a smug smirk as he looked at her.

"Are you here to gloat?" Regan spat, her voice trembling from the shivers, "What were you looking at? Your mistress failing to kill me?"

Sirius's expression hardened, "She's not my mistress," he corrected, his eyes flashing with something Regan couldn't quite read. "And even if she is, it's none of your concern."

Regan felt a pang of hurt. Hurt at what? His words?

"So she's more than a mistress," Regan muttered to herself.

Sirius's eyes narrowed, "What did you say?"

Regan stood up, her legs wobbly, "Nothing," she said, trying to sound indifferent.

She walked past him-or thought she could, because her legs were so wobbly she lost her footing. She waited for the fall that never came. His arms wrapped around her and held her in place.

"Easy easy," Sirius said, sitting her on down on a bench that Regan hadn't even noticed. She felt his warmth had seeped through her when he held her but she also felt repulsion at it.

"Get away from me," she snapped, moving away from him.

"You wanted to fall on your face?" Sirius retorted, his smirk not wavering. "You're having trouble walking now, let me carry you."

Regan's cheeks blushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. How could he say such thing? She wanted to beat him up about it. But the position she was in...."I'd rather fall on my face," she hissed.

That time, she stood up and could walk better. She didn't look at him at all but could feel his eyes on her.

"Change your clothes," Sirius said with a grin. Despite the coldness, there was amusement in his voice.

Regan shot him a glare over her shoulder, but didn't engage further. She was so infuriated with him that she forgot about her shivers and the cold water of the pond. Stepping inside the castle, she practically rushed to her chamber.

Her body trembled uncomfortably, and her hands felt numb as she opened the door. Clumsily, she searched the wardrobe for clothes to change with. She didn't know what to wear. 

There were so many clothes that it was like a fancy maze. She couldn't find any pants so she decided to wear a simple long green dress with a belt and squared neckline. The sleeves were ruffled. Her boots were damp, so she removed them.

As she changed, she could feel her throat sore. She sneezed four times in a row.

After that, she sank on the bed and buried her face on the pillow. She couldn't believe he had suggested to carry her. Maybe it had been just mockery. But what if....what if he would really carry her? Her heart raced at the thought.

And about Vesper, she knew she hadn't won, but Vesper hadn't won either. So she wasn't the loser completely.

Meanwhile, the sorcerer had gotten inside his study, where the witches were standing. Allegra and Circe's expression were a mix of anticipation and smugness. Vesper on the other hand was seething with anger.

"Why did you stop it?" she demanded, glaring at him.

"Because I wanted to," Sirius retorted bluntly, "because I don't have time for your petty games."

"You didn't have to interrupt," Vesper shot back, "It was a duel, and it wasn't over."

"Come on, Ves, we know you were about to lose," Allegra said with a smirk, the satisfaction in her eyes evident.

Vesper gritted her teeth, ignoring Allegra, "If you wouldn't have interrupted, I would've finished her off!" she snapped, her voice shaking with anger. "You didn't-"

"Enough," Sirius ordered coldly, "If I wouldn't have interrupted, you'd have collapsed already." His words stung but Vesper wasn't willing to accept them.

"But now," he continued as he grabbed a bottle of white wine and poured himself a glass, "at least you know what threat she possesses."

Vesper's fists clenched and her anger intensified. Since her magic was drained, her hands glowed in tiny, weak bolts. She couldn't express her powers, they'd end up coming as a weak blow and he'd mock her around even more.

"Just let them be, my lord," Allegra said, crossing her arms, "If you don't know already, they're fighting about something personal. Or rather....someone."

The last word struck Vesper's nerve, "And who's that, my dear Allegra?" she asked, faking a sweet voice that was shaking from restrained anger.

"I don't care about personal vendettas," Sirius said calmly, taking a sip of his wine, "We don't need unimportant distractions. The same serves for both you two as well. You wouldn't have scored any better," he said, now his gaze turned to Allegra and Circe, who frowned in response.

"And why don't you have a fight yourself then?" Vesper retorted, "What are you waiting for?"

Sirius's expression darkened, "You're making excuses, Vesper. She's my enemy and I decide how I deal with her."

"More like your lo-" Allegra muttered but Circe nudged her harshly, making her stop.

"She's my enemy too," Vesper retorted, ignoring Allegra's mutterings, "And I'm going to fight her. I'll crush her. And there'll be no interruptions, no excuses, no mercy."

Sirius's eyes narrowed and he spoke in his usual cryptic words, "You better save your anger. You might use it when your face turns pale."

Ignoring his words, Vesper scoffed and turned away. Sirius coldly dismissed them all, and they left heading to their owns.

As they walked down the corridor, Allegra mocked, "So where's the, 'I'll crush you under my magic' line?"

Vesper's anger took place again and this time she glared at her sister, "Shut up, Allegra! She's nothing compared to me! And you, you wouldn't have done any better," she spat, "you would have cried like the fool you are."

Allegra

only chuckled, "I can handle a little fire. But you know, seems like you're no longer his favorite."

Vesper gritted her teeth and left, her hair flying behind her.