UNTIL TOMORROW | D. MALFOY

𝟏. 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

"Oh you will pay for that Benjamin! How dare you!" I'm nearly out of breath, my morning dress flowing behind me and catching the light breeze. I lunge forward, épée in hand, aiming towards my brothers head. He quickly blocks my advance with a parry.

"Arabella, you should know by now," he advances towards me with a lunge, his épée making way for my hand, "your fencing skills are subpar, at best, compared to mine." Benjamin quickly disarms me. I fall to my knees, feeling utterly exhausted and defeated.

"You are well trained Benjamin, I will give you that," I pause, attempting to catch my breath, "but, you are no match for me." I roll forward to grab my weapon, jumping back to my feet in the blink of an eye, "en guarde!"

I go for a high inside, aiming for the middle of his chest. My épée makes contact with his chest and a smug smile falls across my face. Benjamin retaliates quickly, stepping forward with intent.

"Allez! Come on brother, put some heart into those advances, mother's lady maid would prove to be a better opponent!" I know I've done it then, I've pushed a button that ignites a rage within him. I stamp my foot to the ground, using an appel to distract him and throw him off center.

"I know we are simply playing an assault, but sister, this is no cat and mouse game." He uses an advance-lunge, his weapon quickly making contact with my hip. There is sweat dripping from my brow. A loose tendril of hair falls from my chignon, tickling the back of my neck.

I shuffle backwards, my back foot moving first, followed by my front, my stance heavily guarded.

"Silly brother, everything in life comes as a cat and mouse game. It's important to determine which you are." I stamp my foot to the ground once more.

"The cat," I lunge forward and make contact with his hand, ultimately forcing him to drop the weapon, "or the mouse."

"Arabella, I do not understand," I hear his breath come out in short gasps, "how you are so good." I watch as he wipes the sweat from his face with the back of his hand. He sits on the gravel, and leans backwards on his palms.

"Let us recall thirty seconds ago, what did you say? Ah, the memory evades me." I circle around him, épée still balanced in my right hand, almost as if I am watching my prey. I bring my left hand up to my chin, pretending to be lost in thought.

"Oh yes! My fencing skills are subpar," I drop my hand and allow my weapon to drag across the gravel, tracing a circle around him as I walk, "at best."

"I am your older brother. It was simply in the contract I signed at your birth to torment you." His breathing is still ragged as he says this to me.

I roll my eyes as a smile forms on my face, "you are only older by two minutes brother, must I remind you." Benjamin rolls over and pushes in the back of my knee.

"You absolute git! That is very rude! You are lucky that you are my brother, I would not have taken it as easy as I did on you if you were a pointless stranger with no meaning." I push him over and shift to sit next to him, adjusting my dress so that it sits nicely behind me.

My eyes scan the garden, admiring the blossoming snowdrops and pansies. A slight breeze rustles the hedges, blowing over benjamin and I.

"You smell rancid." I look over as Benjamin scrunches his nose and wafts his face with his hand in mock disgust.

"It is most definitely you who smells rancid. It is as bad as the stables, I believe the horses smell like daffodils in comparison to you. Mother would faint if she caught a whiff of your stench." I snicker as he blows a puff of air from his mouth, watching as it rolls over a stray strand of hair that falls on his forehead.