Twinned Flame

Disrespectful

Sylvie met Braxton’s eye for what felt like the millionth time that day. It was grating her nerves to the point where she struggled to watch the match between Sally and Elsa. Their interaction kept nagging her too. Braxton had always enjoyed hurting people. He smiled while he did it, and that smile had haunted Sylvie since childhood. It chilled anyone unlucky enough to become his target and she had been his favorite. Sylvie couldn’t understand why now, after all this time, he was so willing to look at her and speak with her.

“Don’t be late, there’s a surprise for you,” Braxton’s slimy words slithered through her memory. She felt herself getting sick again. What could he be planning? A thud on the mat brought her back to the present.

“Give up already you b***h, your Luna won’t take kindly to losing to someone like you,” Sally hissed at Elsa. Sally sat on Elsa’s stomach and tried to repeatedly slap and scratch her face. Elsa was blocking with her arms. Sylvie watched as Sally struggled to pry Elsa’s hands away.

“I’m serious Elsa, give up!” Sally growled. Sylvie rolled her eyes. Sally, a perfect blonde-haired, blue-eyed potential future Luna, sat there struggling to overtake Elsa’s easy defense. Sally was more the cheerleading type than a hands-on fighter, but to be a Luna candidate, one must prove they can defend their pack. Sally leaned in close to Elsa, Sylvie watched as she went slack. Suddenly, Sally was “thrown off” and the two faced off again. Sally threw a single punch and Elsa went down.

“Sally Barker for the win!’ A stunning knock-out.” She obviously threatened Elsa to throw the match. Sylvie couldn't prove it, but the moment Elsa went limp, the answer felt obvious. Sally didn’t even look like she had a scratch on her as she did a little cheer display, causing the crowd to cheer alongside her. She stepped out of the ring, walking over to Sylvie with a grin.

“Did you zone out during my fight?” she asked.

“What if I did?” Sylvie asked, crossing her arms. Sally let out a laugh, covering her mouth.

“Come on little rogue, don’t want to study up on how to defend yourself against a future opponent?” Sally giggled more to herself than anything. Sylvie scoffed at her arrogance.

“Sure, but how do you know we’ll match?” For all anyone knows, I could be out first round,” Sylvie said. Sally rolled her eyes now.

“Oh please, Jakob could never,” She laughed to herself again, walking close to Sylvie and leaning down close to her ear.

“Just finish it quickly, I hate waiting,” she whispered before shoving her shoulder as she walked away. Sylvie sneered in her direction.

“Next match, Rosanna and Wesley!” Hugo announced. The two stepped into the ring and Hugo counted down from three, they readied up and Rosanna was first to swing. Hugo grabbed her attention,

“Sylvie,” Hugo whispered, he was standing at the edge of the podium away from the mic. Sylvie walked over to him, standing in front of him but facing the ring.

“Three out of five assessments, two wins and one pending. How are you feeling?” Sylvie resisted the urge to turn and face him, to see his reaction when she answered.

“Conflicted”, She admitted watching as Rosanna grabbed Wesley’s hair to try and slam his face into her knee. He brings his hands up, deflecting it and causing her to stumble back.

“Why are you so sure I’m going to win?” she asked, stealing a glance up at him. He didn’t look down at her, crossing his arms, she heard him sigh.

“Because it’s you, I trained you myself,” he finally said. Sylvie bit her lip. Why couldn’t he just admit it? It’s not like he didn’t give her the hint earlier in the day.

“Please, you trained every recruit that has stepped foot in this arena for twenty years,” Sylvie said, watching Wesley flip and slam Rosanna into the mat, leaving her dazed as he went for the side-controlled pin. Laying across her torso to control her head and hips, leveraging his body weight against her.

“I hadn’t raised them since infancy,” Hugo mumbled, stepping back over to the microphone, announcing Wesley the winner of the match. Wesley released Rosanna and jumped up howling in victory. Many other wolves in the crowd did the same. Rosanna rolled onto her stomach, lying there for a moment before picking herself up. Her face was red,

“Will Allen and Lawrence, please step onto the mat!” Hugo called, gesturing to the two males who crawled into the ring. They fist bumped each other. Another countdown and the two went at it.

“You’re strong Sylvie” Hugo said walking up to his original position behind her,

“You always have been, you’ve survived things none of these whelps could even imagine. I know it, the Alpha knows it” Sylvie’s breath hitched in her throat,

“By Alpha you mean Braxton. He spoke to me earlier, his refined alpha shtick is sickening to witness, by the way, and he told me something interesting.” Hugo finally looked down at her, eyeing her as he waited for her to finish.

“He told me he’d call for me from the winner’s podium. That he has a surprise for me,” Hugo turned back to the match, watching as Lawrence sat on Allen’s stomach like Jessica. Instead of weakly slapping and scratching at his arms, he was ruthlessly slamming his fist into the sides of his head and stomach.

“He wants you for the secret detail he’s cooking up,” Hugo said,

“Ok and?” Sylvie pressed, Hugo sighed with so much exhaustion in his voice.

“I don’t know anything else about it. He told me that he plans on using the assessment to find someone for this political position. I assumed a guard of some sort,” Hugo explained, rubbing his tired eyes.

“He then made the comment on how perfect you were for it, and how the assessment would show the rest of the pack that you are too. He wanted me to cheat your scores for you,” Hugo finished; he stepped away as Sylvie turned to face him. Cheat? The word hit harder than any punch. Had every compliment today been manufactured?

“Lawrence for the win! Brutal Match!” Hugo said, Sylvie looked at the ring, Lawrence stood with his foot on Allen’s back. They locked eyes and Lawrence did the classic finer sliding across neck in a ‘you’re dead’ motion. When he hopped out of the ring, two field hands rushed to drag Allen out. A third came up to wipe the blood he had left behind.

Lawrence walked over to Sylvie with a smile. She was starting to hate the act.

“I hope you took notes” Lawrence said, Sylvie gritted her teeth.

“Why is everyone so interested in me today?” She questioned exasperated, Lawrence let out a laugh

“Everyone wants a chance to bead down the nobody who thinks she’s somebody,” Sylvie scoffed at him, and he couldn’t help but laugh in her face.

“It’s actually kind of cute when you try and act intimidating” Lawrence said moving closer to her, his eyes flashed yellow as he called forth his wolf. He grabbed a strand of hair that had fallen loose from her ponytail,

“But you’ll still be a wolf-less little nobody with a pack who can’t wait to watch you lose” Lawrence whispered to her; he flicked the strand into her face before shoving her shoulder as he walks past her. Sylvie tried to breathe through the anger bubbling up inside her,

When Hugo called her and Jakob into the ring, her breathing was ragged, the whispering crowd is getting louder.

“Worthless,” “Nobody,” “Little rogue,” “Disgusting,” insult after insult overtook her mind. She raised her fist, vision blurring as she tried to focus on Jakob.

“Begin!” Hugo shouts, Jakob raises his fist and Sylvie launches herself forward. Before Jakob could block properly, Sylvie’s fist connected with his cheek, sending him stumbling back.

“I have a surprise for you,” Braxton voice slithered through the noise and his smiling face flashed over Jakobs. Her breathing quickens, she feels herself slipping.

“Wa-wait!” Jakob stutters and Sylvie closed the gap again, going in for another swing. Jakob drops to the floor causing her swing to miss. She stumbles forward into the rope, He crawls away from her,

“Sylvie… stop… please!” Jakob whines, Sylvie sees only red. She had taken the discomfort of today long enough. The staring, the murmurs, the disgusted looks. She faces Jakob standing straight and glaring down at him.

“I’m not your enemy” Jakob whispers. She can’t hear it. It’s like there’s water rushing in her ears, his mouth moved, words came out, she couldn't hear any of them.

“All the shoving, all the accusations. All of it!” She thinks her own thoughts becoming the only noise she hears.

“Why can’t I just be apart of this pack? Why do I have to always watch from the sidelines?” Sylvie kicked Jakob’s side, and he slides, grabbing his stomach as he retches at the force.

“S-Sylvie” he chokes out, A mother covers her child’s eyes,

“Stand!” She barks at him, Jakob as tears in his eyes as he stumbled to his feet.

She demands, “Raise your hands.” Jakob is sobbing now as he raises his fists in a futile attempt to block. An older warrior stands calling out “She’s going to kill him!”

Sylvie throws a punch and it connected with his arm and Jakob yelled out in pain. Someone from the crowd is yelling “Stop!” the guests in the spectator’s box watch on as Braxton is trying to stifle a giggle beside them. Aelis is gripping the railing watching Sylvie, his phone forgotten.

“Again!” Sylvie hisses, Jakob is shaking snot running from his nose. The crowd is silent, like they’re watching an execution not a sparring match.

“I concede” He whimpers dropping his hands. Sylvie swings her fist and it meets his jaw with a sickening crunch that causes his head to snap to the side. He’s on the floor with a thud and the audience gasps. Braxton from the spectator’s box is grinning wickedly, he stomps his feet almost excitedly and the three Alpha’s in the box all exchange concerning looks.

Sylvie spins to the other recruits who are staring at her.

“Always staring” Sylvie scowled. She points to Sally

“What are you waiting for?” Sylvie calls, Sally turns to Hugo, her bravado gone. Hugo looks down at Jakob with a frown, his jaw tightened.

“Match...Sylvie” Hugo says into the mic. She frowns as his earlier enthusiasm is gone.

“We shall take a short recess before we conclude with the final three matches” Hugo announces, he turns to leave the podium

“NO!” Sylvie shouts at him, “I’m ready now” Hugo looks at her with a disapproving father look that makes Sylvie even more angry.

“Alpha Jackson” She turns to the Alpha’s box, his grin is wide as he chuckles at her,

“Honored Alpha and his guests, why waste anymore of your time” Sylvie says, there is malice in her voice. The three Alpha’s standing all exchange curious looks with the other and Braxton happily claps his hands together. He stands himself addressing the silence crowd.

“Yes! Let’s move ahead! Who shall challenge this winner?” He questions. Hugo nods to Sally with a soft ‘go’, she nods and walks up to the ring. Two field hands have carried Jakob away and Sylvie stands in the center waiting. Sally steps up to her and tosses her hair off her shoulder, she’s putting on a brave act. Sylvie can see the slight tremor in her hand,

“Told you Jakob was easy” Sally forced a laugh, but there is no humor or earlier confidence. Sylvie ignores her and readies herself. Sally scoffs and does the same, Hugo counts down and when Sylvie hears ‘begin’ she swings, catching Sally off guard. Sally stumbles back at bit, dodging the onslaught before she catches herself and tried to get her own blows to connect.

“You know” Sally breaths hearing the ‘whoosh’ of air from Sylvie’s fist as it flies by her ear.

“Sometimes I admire you” Sally admits Sylvie isn’t paying attention, she’s can no longer play to calm side character anymore.

“You’re strong, but you’re still a ro- “Sally’s head snaps back as Sylvie’s fist connects with her nose, she stumbles back holding her face.

“Cheap shot!” someone shouts from the crowd, and the grating whispers are there again, Sylvie’s eye twitches at the noise moving towards Sally

“What the f**k Sylvie!” Sally screams, “You broke my f*****g nose!” Sylvie rolls her eyes, going in for another swing

“You’re not supposed to actually hit me!” Sally yells, raising her hand up in defense. Sylvie stops and looks at her confused,

“Braxton!” Sally cries, turning to face the spectator’s box she stomps her foot.

“Miss Barker, this is hand to hand combat. Broken bones are almost a guarantee” Braxton calls, causing the others in the box to chuckle awkwardly.

“But I’m your future Luna! Everyone is expecting me to win!” Sally screams, climbing out of the ring with a ‘f**k you!’ at Sylvie. Sylvie turns to Hugo, who looked just as confused as the crowd. Theres an awkward cough,

“Match Sylvie” Hugo says after a pause, “Please step away from the ring for the next match”

“Get off the stage!” Is heard shouted from the crowd, “Someone end this rogue!” comes another. Sylvie looks around the arena; there are angry pack members booing at her from the stands. The guest packs aren’t sure what to make of her either

“How about this?” Sylvie calls refusing to move, “I take on both remaining winners” There’s silence when Sylvie turns to address the crowd.

“Allow me to prove myself to you, let me show you I am a warrior of Bloody Dagger!” Sylvie shouts, she looks towards Braxton who is positively giddy. His grin stretched so wide it looked like it would split his face.

“Will you deny me Alpha Jackon?” Sylvie asks,

“I would never” Braxton announces with a grin. Hugo watches as Sylvie straightens her back meetings his eyes. He can see the determination hiding behind the hurt in her eyes, he glances and Lawrence and Wesley

"Wesley, Lawrence. What do you say?" he asked. Lawrence, instead of answering verbally, hops into the ring.

"I'm ready and willing," he calls. Wesley looks between Lawrence and Sylvie, then backs up at Hugo. He sighs before trudging over to the ring and climbing in.

"I'm willing." There's applause,

"Finish this, Lawrence!" "Come on Wesley!" before a chant of "beat the rogue" starts from the pack members. Sylvie shakes it off, takes a deep even breath and faces her opponents.