‘Yes.’
‘Then take it in hand and assume your place on the floor.’
I did as instructed, taking one of the katanas, twisting the handle as I resumed my post. I couldn’t help but notice that Rainer was looking decidedly unhappy.
I waited for the senior Grigori holding the other katana to move in opposite me, but he stayed where he was. My eyes started skirting the area, looking for movement, for any indication of who would be my challenger.
The tension in the room was palpable, everyone wondering the same thing. I darted a look at Josephine, her grin was widening.
Finally, I saw why.
Decima had stood up, letting her overcoat slip to the floor to reveal her all-white fighting wear.
I’m dead.
The room roared with a deafening silence. Decima stalked like a tiger, moving first to take the other Dragonfly katana and then into position opposite me. Suddenly, my clever weapon selection seemed stupid.
Shit.
She didn’t look at me. Her head remained bowed to the ground.
‘First to draw blood three times wins,’ Drenson said, satisfaction sounding in his voice. It was enough to make me stand a little taller. ‘Are you both ready?’
I nodded. Now or later, I didn’t think it would make much difference. Josephine and Drenson had sabotaged my testing.
I felt Lincoln’s power caress me, his way of telling me he was there with me. I let it flow over me for a moment, basking in the strength of our partnership before I pulled back into myself, locking down everything else and focusing on the task at hand.
The task of getting my ass kicked.
Decima answered Drenson by parting her feet, letting her blade hang loosely to her side and finally looking at me. Her eyes were pale gold like those of a cat and showed the enormity of her wisdom, experience and cunning – it was not an encouraging sign. But I dug deep and returned her stare even as she looked right through me.
Something told me Decima’s interpretation of drawing blood would be different from most.
‘Begin,’ Drenson ordered.
I responded quickly, stepping back to increase the distance between us. It was a defensive tactic but also – I’d never seen Decima fight. I needed to see her move before I could know how to engage her – putting space between us was the easiest way.
Decima’s only movement was a slight tilting of her head as if she were listening to something far away.
That’s reassuring.
We stood facing each other, Decima’s expression decidedly bored, mine decidedly freaked out. But she didn’t move.
She’s waiting me out to make me go to her. Fat chance.
I knew enough not to be played this way. If she wanted to wait, I’d wait.
A few minutes passed, both of us simply watching the other, until Decima’s head tilted once more. Then, finally, she moved. If I thought she stalked like a tiger, she struck like a snake. Her feet never seemed to leave the ground and yet her speed was phenomenal. I’d been ready and waiting for her to attack, but nothing could prepare a person for that. Just before reaching me, she leaped into the air, clearing my head and landing behind me. Before I had time to spin, I felt the sting of her katana drawing a line along half the length of my spine.
Decima had just taken first blood, leaving a gash down my back.
I heard the collective gasp of the Grigori spectators, their excitement at watching Decima in action boiling over.
‘One, Decima,’ Drenson said.
He didn’t need to say any more, there was no break. We both knew the rules – the fight continued until one of us won.
I moved back a couple of steps to get myself together and did everything I could to block out the rest of the world.
I can do this.
I had the advantage that they didn’t understand. I was of the Sole. I was the highest-ranking Grigori present, whether I wanted to be or not. Technically, whatever she could do, I should be able to do better.
And maybe in several hundred years that will be true, a taunting voice whispered within.
Right then, if I didn’t find a way to tap into whatever made me powerful, I was going to find myself in a world of pain.
I ignored the warmth spreading out along my back and concentrated on Decima again. She was waiting once more, the snake preparing to strike.
Drawing from my well of power within, I called it forward and out to my fingertips.
I am fast. I am strong. And I will not be bested, or defeated.
The thoughts came to me as if they were not even my own. My warrior instinct was taking over. I felt it like a force anxious to be released and I knew it was important to keep control.
Decima moved suddenly to the side and then back at me. This time, I moved too. And instead of dodging her, I headed right into her path, dropped to my knees and rolled, coming back up as she passed me, just in time to extend my katana and cut into her thigh.
This time when the audience gasped, it was for me.