Chapter Twelve
Tori's POV
I stood there with the sword in my hand, my fingers tightening slowly around the grip as the metal caught the sunlight.
The blade shone so brightly it almost hurt my eyes, reflecting the sun in sharp flashes that made my chest tighten.
I didn't need anyone to tell me it was real.
One wrong move and I was done, but he wouldn't want to kill me or probably cause a lot of damage.
Riven stood opposite me, relaxed as always, like this was nothing more than a game to him. His posture was loose, his shoulders at ease, but there was something in his eyes that told me he was watching everything.
"I knew you had another motive the moment you called me here," a familiar voice spoke from behind.
My head turned immediately.
Lincoln. Lincoln was here?
My chest tightened slightly the moment our eyes almost met, but he looked away just as fast, his gaze shifting somewhere else like I wasn't even there.
So this was how it was going to be..Was he avoiding me? Or was I just that irrelevant now like the way I have always been just because of the failed kiss?
"You called her here to spar?" Lincoln continued, his tone calm but laced with something I couldn't fully place. "She can barely stand properly."
Riven didn't even glance at him.
"What I have planned for her tomorrow will stun her," he said instead, rolling his wrist slightly as he adjusted his grip on the sword. "She needs to be ready."
Lincoln let out a quiet breath, stepping further into the shade as he watched us.
"So you're training her?"
"No," Riven replied immediately, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "What's the fun in that? I just want to see her tired. She's our toy for a reason,they should be played with."
Something inside me dropped.
My grip on the sword tightened, my knuckles turning slightly pale as his words settled deep in my chest.
Toys.
That was what we were to them.
I swallowed hard, forcing my expression to remain blank as my eyes flickered toward Lincoln for a second. A smile sat on his face. It was more like he was enjoying the whole thing kind of smile.
No! He wasn't faking that smile for sure.
And just like that, whatever hope I had left shattered completely.
Of course. How could I have forgotten? This wasn't a survival to them! It was more like an entertainment.
And I was nothing more than something to break. Riven finally raised his sword, his stance shifting slightly as his eyes locked onto mine.
"Focus," he muttered.
My body tensed immediately, my feet adjusting against the ground as I tried to mirror his stance even though I had no idea what I was doing.
The silence between us stretched for a second. Then he moved.
He was so fast that I could barely see him. Is that it? Was he using his superpower in a moment like this?
The sound of metal clashing rang sharply in the air as I barely managed to lift my sword in time, the impact sending a vibration straight through my arm.
A sharp gasp escaped my lips as I stumbled back slightly, my grip almost slipping. He didn't give me time to recover. Another strike came, and he kept on striking and striking over and over again.
Each one stronger than the last.
My arms shook as I tried to keep up, my breaths coming out unevenly as I struggled to block him. My body reacted on instinct, stepping back, turning slightly, trying to avoid the full force of his attacks.
He wasn't trying to kill me. He was breaking me down, and having fun as usual. A huge smile spread across his face while all of these was happening by the way.
A sharp pain shot through my wrist as our swords clashed again, the impact forcing my arm downward as my knees bent slightly under the pressure.
My breathing became heavier, sweat beginning to form along my forehead, sliding down the side of my face and stinging my eyes.
I blinked quickly, my vision blurring for a second. That was my mistake. Riven moved instantly.
His sword knocked mine aside with ease, and before I could react, his foot swept against mine.
My body lost balance. I was on the floor.
Pain shot through my ankle the moment I twisted wrong, and I couldn't stop the cry that escaped me as I hit the ground hard.
The impact knocked the air out of my lungs. For a second, I couldn't breathe.
I tried to push myself up, but the sharp pain in my ankle made me wince, my fingers digging into the ground as I struggled.
Riven stepped back, lowering his sword like nothing had just happened.
"You're weak," he said flatly, dropping the sword right in front of me.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat dripping down my face and into my eyes, blurring everything around me.
I could barely see and my entire body felt heavy including my limbs. The way I was taking in breaths was really heavy too.
"Get better," he added coldly. "You'll need it for tomorrow."
Get better in this state? He definitely knew what he was doing.
His footsteps faded as he walked away.
"There will be new faces watching," he continued without turning back. "Make it entertaining. This is the second to the last round."
My fingers curled weakly around the ground as I forced myself to move.
Pain shot through my body the moment I tried to stand, my ankle protesting immediately as I struggled to lift myself up.
I wasn't going to make it like this. A pair of shoes stopped right in front of me. I didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Keep your hands to yourself," I muttered, my voice low but filled with irritation as my eyes flickered toward his hand.
Disgust settled on my face.
"If you wanted to help, you should have stopped your brother."
Lincoln's jaw tightened slightly.
"What? You expect me to argue with my brother because of you?" he asked.
A bitter laugh escaped me as I finally managed to push myself up, my posture uneven as I tried to steady myself.
"Oh right," I said, shaking my head slowly. "I forgot. I'm just a toy to you people."
My lips pressed together as I forced myself to stand straighter despite the pain.
"Stupid me for thinking you were different."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Kind?" he repeated, his voice lower now. "Kindness is weakness." Frustration burned through me.
"What exactly is wrong with being weak?" I snapped, my body swaying slightly before I caught myself. "Why are you all so obsessed with it?"
I took a step forward, my ankle screaming in protest as I forced myself to stay upright.
Before I could lose my balance again, I stumbled.
And then— His arms caught me. My breath hitched for a second as I felt the warmth of his body against mine. But just as quickly, I pulled away, my hands pushing against his chest as I stepped back.
"I don't need your help," I muttered.
His expression tightened, something flickering across his face before he spoke.
"There is a reason all of this is happening," he said, his voice sharper now. "You just don't understand it."
I let out a dry scoff, shaking my head slowly.
"So that makes it okay?" I asked, my eyes locking onto his. "Everything you're doing… you think it's justified?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "It is."
Something inside me snapped.
"All I hear is 'weak' from you people," I said, my voice rising slightly despite the exhaustion weighing me down. "What even is your definition of weak?"
My chest rose as I took a shaky breath.
"You're all just a bunch of confused people who probably hated who you used to be," I continued, my voice steadier now but filled with disgust. "And now that you have power, you're projecting it on everyone else."
Silence. It seemed like I wasn't wrong and I must have hit a nerve right there.
"I hope you all get exactly what you deserve." My fingers curled slowly at my sides as I turned away from him, limping slightly as I forced myself forward.
Because no matter how much they tried to break I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me fall.
Let's see the fun party they all have got me tomorrow.