𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 ❀ 𝐂. 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 ➀

XVIII. 𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁

𝐕𝐈𝐀

It came to my attention that the Ninja really knew what they were doing. After Nya, Jay and Zane had done what Lloyd had told them to do, the six fighters now had their weapons. Nya with her spear, Cole with his hammer, Zane with his bow and throwing stars, Jay with his nunchucks, Lloyd and Kai with their swords. The weapons glinted dangerously under the fluorescent lights of the large warehouse. When Pitheco and his companion surged forward, the six of them sprang into action.

For a moment, I stood in shock. I watched my new companions spin and block and throw. They fought so effortlessly, so gracefully, that it almost looked like a dance. Nya, tangoing with the silent assassin, stabbed her spear at him. Lloyd and Kai, performing a contemporary scene with Pitheco, flipped and dodged the large man's attacks and flung their swords at him. Zane, in the middle of a salsa with Halia, battled the girl with simple throwing knives. Cole, waltzing with Harpia, blocked and parried and swung his hammer. Jay, in a ballet performance with the newcomer, was easily winning against the not-so-keen fighter.

Everyone seemed to be accounted for. Except...

I muffled my scream with my hand as I knocked the electrified spear away from my side. There stood Mika, her eyes gleaming and her smile wide. It was sickening-- the woman I used to look up to was now wanting to kill me.

"Mika, spit it out!" I demanded, using my borrowed katana to block her next attack. "Why do you need my power?!"

"That is for me to know," Mika lunged again, swinging the spear in a giant arch over her head, "and for you to find out."

I wasn't tolerating her cryptic bullshiz. "Get over yourself and tell me!" I took on the offensive. I wound my katana's blade around the shaft of the spear and spun it out of her hand; a move Cole had taught me. At the thought of my new friend, I glanced briefly at the battlefield. He was still fighting with Harpia, and seemed to be winning.

Mika reclaimed my attention by reaching for the spear that had fallen to the ground. I stepped on it, and with all my confidence, I managed to kick her straight in the face. She cried out, cradling her bruising cheek.

"Tell me, Mika." I trained a sharp stare on her. "If you ever cared about me at all, tell me."

To my surprise, she hesitated. She let out a short breath and scoffed, "You really are so stubborn." She glowered at me. "You get that from your mother."

I felt a pang in my heart. I felt my throat constrict, and I cleared it, raising the tip of my katana to threaten Mika's neck. "You do not have permission to talk about my family."

Mika laughed maniacally from her position on the ground. "Why?! They gave you away, dear! They sold you to the Institute for money. For fame. Until they were massacred." I grit my teeth and glared at her with the heat of a thousand volcanoes. "At least..." she trailed off, a sly expression taking over her features. She smirked. "That's what your father told you."