God, my heart was pumping fast at thethought of finally getting to fight him. Last time had not gone sowell, but this time, I would be in much better shape and I had abetter weapon. Adrenaline and anxiety raced through my veins andmade me feel jumpy. But I was ready. I had so much rage to unleash,and he was going to seriously regret ever taking me from my homeand my family.
Darren smiled and grabbed the straight bostaff, and I suddenly felt my anxiety spike. Great. He then cameback to stand about ten feet away from me.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t wantto, you know. You can back out now before it’s too late.”
A little giggle escaped my mouth as I restedthe bo against my back and pulledmy hair into a tight messy bun, never letting my eyes waver fromDarren. Once my hair was secure, I took the bo in my hand and spun it around my palm, over my head,behind my back, and up around my neck before letting it twirl backinto my hands without missing a beat. I pointed the tip of thebo directly at him.
“I am so gonna fuck you up,” I snarled.
Darren smiled and spun his bo in his hand, flipping it around gracefullyover his head and around his body, stopping it the same way Ihad.
“You had better hope so.”
We then closed the distance between us and Ispun my bo over my head gainingmomentum and went for a sharpstrike at his side. He blocked it easily, deflecting my blow andcountering with a strike at my lower body. I dodged and followedthrough with a pass at his legs, but he blocked that as well.
I could feel each strike and block in mypalms as the bos connected, and even though it hurt like hell I wasused to it, having trained advanced combat style for many yearseven though the practice was pretty much dead. I tried to keep mybreathing even as I maneuvered around him, the two of us swingingour bos and blocking or dodging each attempted strike. We circledeach other now, anticipating the other’s next move.
“Such a little liar,” he tsked.
“Or maybe I'm just a really fast learner,” Icountered.
“Not yet," he said. "But you're gonnabe.”
He charged at me then, and though Ideflected, his force caused me to lose my balance and fall backhard on the floor. He swung hisbo down on me, but I brought mineup across my chest and blocked it, kicking his knee. He took thehit, stumbling only slightly and brought his bo back down, going straight for my ribs, but Irolled out of the way and swung my boat him to gain some distance while I took back mybearings.
“Tired yet?” he mocked.
“I'm just warming up.”
“Good. I would hate for you to disappointme.”
I swung at him this time with so much speedand determination that I actually gave him a good smack on the backand tried to follow through with another blow to his legs, but hemoved out of the way. My strike didn’t appear to have done much, ashe just shook it off and came at me again. The strength in his next attack was enough to send me offbalance a second time, and I could feel myself getting ready tofall, but as I did, I turned, landing on my hands still grippingthe bo. I managed to execute a cartwheel kick, my feet hittingDarren square in the chin and jaw. Absolute perfection.
We bantered back and forth for a few moreminutes, but Darren’s strength and ferocity never faltered. I hadto admit he was good, but so was I. Sweat was pouring down both ofour faces and our breathing had become labored as we refused togive in to each other. Suddenly, I started laughing at the audacityof this situation.
“Something funny?” he asked, amused.
“Oh, it’s just that you talked such a biggame back there, yet I’m still standing.” I smiled.
I was provoking him now, testing him, hopinghe would make an emotional mistake. I found that happened a lotwhen it came to the male ego, but he just slowly shook his head atme.
“It really never occurred to you that I wastaking it easy on you?”
I stopped and stared at him in totaldisbelief. He was bluffing. He had to be.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Watch your fucking mouth, Jaden.” He glaredat me.
“No, fuck you! I think you’re full ofshit. Otherwise, you would haveended this by now.”
“Are we really going to do this again?” hesaid, rolling his eyes. “Did you learn nothing from the last timeyou tried to pick a fight with me?”
“I recall that fight being underunreasonable and unfair circumstances,” I replied, glaring athim.
“I never said it was fair. But thecircumstances are what they are, so get used to them.”
“The only thing I’ll get used to is rammingthis bo down your throat,” Iseethed.
“Good luck.” He laughed wholeheartedly.
“You're so fucking full of yourself, ya knowthat?”
“If you don’t watch your smart mouth, you’regoing to be full of me in a second,” he threatened with thatmenacing glare of his.
“Try it. See what happens to you.”
“Don’t challenge me, Jaden. You’re alreadygoing to lose this one. I’d hate to hurt your pride any more thanI’m already going to.”
“Like you give a shit about my pride,” Icountered.
He laughed at me then. “I suppose that’strue.”
After a moment of silence, I let my words fly. “Just why the fuck am Ihere, huh? I’m sure you have no problem finding women who arewilling to be with you.” I was stalling now, but I wastrying to regulate my oxygen level and regain some energy.
“You want to talk about that here? Now?”
“Why the hell not? I’d like to hear itbefore I end you.”
He laughed hard then, and it was pissing meright the fuck off.
“You know, you’re so adorable.” He chuckled.“Like … a cranky baby tiger, all cute and fierce at the same time …but never a real threat,” he ended darkly.
Now,
