Call Out My Name

EPISODE 19

By the time Laraeya and I returned inside, Sarani had gathered the women in the cafeteria and was dishing out food. Laraeya and I took plates and went straight for the food. We sat in a corner far away from the others.

From where I sat, I could see Aysa and Maya sitting with the other half-bloods they came with. Aysa kept feeding Maya. He was so attentive and loving to her that it made my face burn with irritation. That should have been and it could still be me. All I had to do was win the duel in the morning and Aysa would be mine. After I won the duel, I would use Maya's blood to cast the spell and open the portal that would send every Valrokian back.

If only it were that simple. As much as I wanted to win, I had to prepare myself for when I didn't. If I didn't win, I would have to fight Aysa for Maya.

Maya laughed out loud at something Aysa said and he nuzzled her neck.

Ouch.

All the witches stared at me with pity in their eyes, even the children. I was sick of their pity stares. I shovelled the rest of my food into my mouth and stormed out of the room. Laraeya came after me.

"I just want to be alone," I told her, quickening my pace.

"No. You don't," she shot back, grabbing me by the elbow and spinning me around to face her.

"Okay maybe I don't but I don't want to talk about it either," I sniffled as tears filled my eyes again. Goddess! Enough with the tears already.

"Then don't talk. Let's go train a little in the gym," Laraeya offered.

I nodded and allowed her to drag me down the stairs and into the gym. The gym was empty except for a few tattered dummies. I wasn't in the mood to train either. Instead, I opted to talk. I knew nothing about Laraeya but I was sure she knew a lot about me. I was popular.

"Tell me about you," I said, sitting on an old foam in the middle of the gym room. Laraeya smiled and joined me on the foam.

"There's nothing much really. I was born after we left Valrok. My mother was a normal witch. I was born into s*****y until you came along. The women always spoke about your mother with so much admiration and hope. I couldn't wait for you to come and rescue us. Now it breaks my heart to see you hurting," she breathed.

"I'll win the duel tomorrow and then Aysa will fall in love with me again. I'll be happy soon," I forced a smile so she would know that I was fine.

Laraeya shook her head "What if he never loves you again,"

I didn't want to think about that fact. It had crossed my mind a few times but I didn't want to believe it.

"He will. You'll see. This is Aysa we're talking about. You might not know much but back in Valrok, he couldn't do anything without me. He once told me that I was the air he breathed. I will win and then it will be just like old times," I explained, shoving Laraeya playfully.

I hoped it would be like old times but deep down, I knew the truth. Things would never be the same again. Ever.

After some time, Laraeya left me in the gym to go to bed but I stayed behind. I doubted I would be able to fall asleep at all tonight. I couldn't believe I challenged Maya to a duel over a man. But Aysa wasn't just a man. He was everything to me.

I laughed out loud. If my mother could see me now, she would rip my ears out and call me a fool for fighting over a man but she wasn't here anymore and maybe, she would never be.

"You still laugh to yourself, I see," a familiar voice said.

I stared at the source of the voice as Aysa emerged from the shadows.

"Shouldn't you be with Maya?" I sneered. I hated that girl.

"She's asleep and you should be too,"

"Are you worried?" I asked excitedly as I stared into his purple eyes.

"No. Maya will win," Aysa responded confidently.

I stood up and walked closer to him. I wanted to hold him, I wanted to kiss him. With the speed of lightning, I grabbed the corner of his lips and smashed my mouth against his. He moaned and wrapped his arm around my waist.

Then, Aysa ripped me away from him and stumbled back. His purple eyes were glowing so bright, they frightened me.

"Even if Maya doesn't win, I will always love her not you"

My heart broke at his words. Aysa paused and turned to glance at me.

"You will never do that again," he warned, referring to the kiss.

When he left me alone, I let out a loud scream of frustration. That kiss was proof enough. Aysa had kissed me back even if it was a brief moment which meant that he still loved me and I would make him see it.

Early the next morning, I said a prayer to the goddess, begging her to let me win and let Aysa love me beg. Hopefully, she listened. Laraeya and Sarani helped me get dressed in leather pants and a t-shirt. Everyone is in the backyard. Aysa had made a makeshift fence with pieces of wood that formed a circle. He kissed Maya and ruffled her hair before she took her place in the circular fence.

"If I lose, please take me far away," I mumbled to Laraeya.

Sarani and Laraeya engulfed me in a hug before taking a few steps back to join the crowd watching.

"This is a Valrokian duel. You can use magic. There are no rules except that none of the fighters will get any outside help. The winner becomes my queen. You have my word. " Aysa's voice boomed sending chills up my spine.

"Start!" Sarani yelled.

Maya and I circled each other, waiting for the right moment to attack. I rushed towards her and swept her off her feet. She landed in the snow with a loud yelp. I backed away so she could stand on her feet. The whole crowd seemed to fade away and it was just me and her fighting for the man I loved.

She threw a punch but I dodged it and landed a punch on her side. She winced and backed away from me before landing a spinning kick on my jaw. It hurt like a son of a b***h.

I blinked as my vision swayed and I spat out blood. That was only one kick. I needed to get my s**t together. Maya's eyes burned with unhidden fury and resentment. With a loud scream, she charged at me and I did the same.

Punches and kicks flew everywhere as we tore each other apart. I pinned Maya down, landing blow after blow. I was winning.

Then, a strong gust of wind threw me away from Maya and I flew smack into one of the thick wooden sticks Aysa had used to make the fence.

I looked up through the blood dripping from a fresh cut on my forehead. Maya was on her feet now, her eyes were glowing a bright blue colour as the snow swirled around her to form a circle shield around her.

This was why they had agreed to the duel and why Aysa had asked us to duel in the snow. Maya could control the ice just like her mother, Damarys. I had fallen right into their trap. My fire powers were useless in this cold.

I looked at Aysa with wide eyes but he was staring at Maya with so much pride, it killed me. My eyes landed on Laraeya's and she nodded her head firmly as if to say 'you can do this'. Laraeya gave me all the courage I needed and I focused my attention on my opponent.

A shard of ice flew my way. I barely made it to the side when it whizzed past my ear, cutting my cheek. Maya levitated a few feet above the ground as she sent a strong wind my way. I was knocked off my feet and hurled back onto my feet. Ice surrounded me and froze me from my toes to my neck. The ice kept getting tighter and tighter until I couldn't breathe.

She was going to kill me.

A tear fell from my eye as I heard Laraeya screaming. Sarani too. Then the witches started wailing as if I was dead. If I died, they were f****d.

With that thought in mind, I reached deep for my bond with my dragons. heat flooded me, pushing away the cold. I inhaled and exhaled and steam escaped my nose and mouth. I was my mother's daughter, I would not go down so easily. I burst into flames, melting the ice and freeing myself.

Maya just woke a b***h up.