The Blackthorn Elite Series: Rumors & Rivals

Chapter 8: Crossing Blades

The fencing hall at Blackthorn smelled of polished wood, metal, and chalk. Pale morning light streamed through tall windows, casting students in white uniforms across the strip courts like moving chess pieces.

I adjusted my glove, tightening the strap around my wrist.

“So what’s on the drama menu today?” Tessa said.

I exhaled.

“I just need to clear my head.” Finally, I was in my element—and it showed.

Coach Alder blew his whistle sharply.

“Pair up!” Walking past me “ Good to see you again Vale”

“Coach” I respond.

Students quickly moved into position along the strips.

I stepped forward…

And froze.

Across from me, Torin stood with his mask tucked under one arm, a smug smile already tugging at his lips.

Of course.

He twirled his foil lazily between his fingers.

“Well,” he said lightly, “this should be fun.”

My eyes narrowed.

“I’d rather fence someone who actually deserves the practice.”

Torin laughed

“You wound me.” Hand over his heart with a sarcastic saddened expression.

Coach Alder pointed at us and nodded his head.

“On guard!”

We stepped into position.

Blades lifted.

The room quieted as students around us began their own matches, but we both knew eyes were specifically drawn to us.

“Ready?” Coach Alder asked nodding his head once.

I breathed out through my mouth

“Fence.”

Torin lunged first.

Too fast.

I barely parried the strike, the sharp clang of metal echoing through the hall.

He pressed forward again immediately, aggressive and careless.

I step back, blocking another strike.

“You’re awfully tense darling,” he said behind his mask. “Late night ride keeping you up?”

My grip tightening.

“Focus on your footwork.”I said through gritted teeth.

Torin suddenly twisted his blade, deliberately knocking my weapon aside harder than necessary.

The tip of his foil striking my ribs with a sharp jab.

Too hard.

I stumbled slightly placing my hand on my side.

“Are you okay?

I couldn’t see his face but I could practically smell the smugness dripping off of him.

Coach Alder frowned from across the strip.

“Control your strikes, Mr. Harrington.”

“Sorry,” Torin said casually.

But I knew he wasn’t sorry at all.

We reset.

“On guard.”

I inhaled slowly. “Focus” I said to myself

“Don’t let him get to you.”

“Fence.”

Torin attacked again, more aggressively this time.

But I anticipated the movement.

I stepped aside..

Parried..

Then lunged forward cleanly.

TAP.

My blade struck his chest.

“s**t!” He glanced down.

“Language Torin” Coach Alder said.

The scoring light blinked.

Point.

Tessa clapped her hands, bouncing up and down screeching from excitement.

Several students along the sidelines murmured no longer hiding their attention, most completely stopping their matches.

Torin froze for half a second. His smug attitude swiftly dissipated. Anger clearly rising over his face.

I lifted my mask just enough for him to see my expression.

“Watch it,” I said softly. “You’re not exactly helping your reputation.”

Turning my back to swish my hips back to my place

Torin’s jaw tightened.

Coach Alder called the next round.

But before we could start

The doors to the fencing hall opened.

Ryker comes strolling in.

He wasn’t in full uniform yet, clearly late to class, his jacket still slung over one shoulder. And mask held under his arm.

But his eyes immediately found the strip where I and Torin stood.

And the tension rose.

“Fine time for you to join us Mr Kane” Coach Adler said from across the room. “Sideline”

Julian Ravenscroft followed behind him, observing the match with interest.

Neither of them said a word.

“Oh, this,” Julian muttered quietly, “I’m going to enjoy.”

Torin noticed Ryker watching.

And instantly his expression changed.

“Guess your boyfriend showed up,” he said under his breath.

I roll my eyes.

“Still obsessed with him, are we? I don’t like sharing Torin”.

Coach Alder blew the whistle again.

“Fence!”

Torin lunged hard.

Too hard.

But I stepped back and countered perfectly.

TAP.

Another point.

The scoring light flashed again.

This time the murmurs grew louder, and Torin snatched off his mask throwing it to the floor.

Julian leaned casually against the wall.

“Two-zero,” he said. “Harrington’s having a rough morning.” Loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Mask on Torin!” Coach Adler yelled walking closer. Torin paid him no mind.

Ryker said nothing at first. Hands resting in his pockets.

But his eyes never left Torin.

“If he touches her, I’m gonna kill him” Ryker said calmly.

Lunging wildly again, Torin let his emotions get the best of him.

TAP.

Throwing his blade across the floor, Torin began stalking toward me.

Ryker stepped onto the strip, but before he could do anything Coach Adler grabbed him by his jacket

“ Off the strip! Now!”

Torin stormed off, clearly furious.

“Well Done Miss Vale” Coach Adler congratulated. “He’ll get over it,

“Not so sure about that coach” I responded.

“Well nevertheless, I hope to see you soon” as he walked away.

I pulled off my glove slowly, heart still racing.

Across the room..

Ryker watched me.. a faint, impressed smile across his face.

The room slowly emptied as the last of the students filtered out, their voices echoing excitedly through the tall glass corridors.

Everyone had seen it.

Vale defeating Harrington.

The whispers followed me all the way down the locker hallway.

“Did you see that final strike?”

“She humiliated him.”

“Torin looked furious.”

I sat on the wooden bench inside the changing room, pulling off my fencing glove. My pulse still raced from the adrenaline of the match.

I hadn’t expected the entire academy to show up.

Or for the tension between Torin and I to feel so… Personal. How could I have been so blind.

I heard a knock, I permitted them to com in.

The door creaked open behind me.

I didn’t even need to look up.

“Did you come to congratulate me,” I said, “or to tell me my form needs improvement?”

Ryker’s voice came from the doorway.

“Both.”

I glanced over my shoulder.

Ryker leaned casually against the frame, arms crossed, watching with an expression that was somewhere between impressed and amused. Not bothering to look away as I changed.

“You stayed,”

“Of course I stayed.”

I smirked slightly.

“You looked pretty entertained when I nearly knocked Torin off the platform.”

Ryker pushed off the doorframe and walked inside.

“I was impressed.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Impressed?”

“Your form is fine.”

I leaned back slightly on the bench.

“That almost sounded like a compliment.”

“It was.”

Ryker sat next to me, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Torin didn’t expect you to fight back.”

My voice cooing slightly.

“He expected me to behave.”

Ryker nodded.

“That used to work on people.”

I slid my fencing mask onto the bench.

“Not anymore.”

Ryker glanced at me.

“You didn’t just beat him.”

tilting my head.

“What do you mean?”

“You got into his head.”

I smiled faintly.

“That part was intentional.”

Ryker laughed quietly.

“You’ve picked up a few things along the way”

He leaned back against the lockers, studying me.

“You’ve changed since you came back to Blackthorn.. a lot”

I shrug.

“Maybe I just started fighting differently, some battles can’t be won with my fists.”

Ryker shook his head slightly. Well. Maybe a blade..

“But. No.”

I looked at him.

“No?”

“That’s not it.”

His voice softened.

“You just remembered who you were.”

I blinked.

Not something I expected.

I looked down at my hands for a moment.

“Torin’s not gonna let this go.”

Ryker let out a quiet breath.

“He hates losing.”

“Especially to me.”

“Especially to you?”

The room grew quiet.

After a moment, I glanced sideways at him.

“You didn’t seem surprised.”

Ryker smirked.

“I’ve known you long enough to know you don’t lose fights easily even if it takes you a while.

I nudged his arm slightly.

“You could have warned me about that last move he tried.”

“You seemed to be able to handle yourself.”

“Barely.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly.

“I knew you’d be fine.”

Looking up at him. Our faces were closer now.

“You’re staring again,” I said softly.

Ryker didn’t look away.

“You’re glowing.”

I laughed quietly.

“What?”

His eyes softened slightly.

“I’m positive that’s sweat”.

“It’s confidence.”

My heart did that floppy thing again, betraying me.

I stood, trying to break the moment.

Hissing clenching my side. I had completely forgotten about the first strike.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Quickly dropping my hand

“It doesn’t look like nothing”

“Torin struck me. In the ribs. During the ma-“

“He f*****g struck you!?” Staring up at me.

“I’m fine”

“Said every woman who wasn’t fine”

I roll my eyes.

Show me..”

“What?”

“Let me see it” He was dead serious.

“That’s not necessary”

“Can you even lift your arm?” Tilting his head.

Lifting my arm slowly, there was some pain but it was manageable. I’d be fine after a couple pain pills, and a warm bath, but I’d definitely have to take a day tomorrow.

His hands reached upwards to grab the edge of my shirt.

My breath caught and his eyes quickly moved to mine, slightly lifting my shirt.

There was a thick red line across the left side of my torso, thinning out as it traveled upward.

He placed one hand on my hip grazing his thumb across the mark, the other held up my shirt.

His touch made me shudder. Closing my eyes for a moment and then opening them..

And he just stared at it, his expression getting more intense by the second.

“Ryker” I said softly.

He didn’t budge.

“Ryker” placing my hand down on his cheek then quickly pulling back, remembering he didn’t really let people touch him.

Blinking then breathing through his nose.

He dropped his hands.

“It’s gonna bruise. Probably should take a couple days” avoiding eye contact… not like before.

“I know, I told you I’ll be fine”.

“Well… I should probably shower before the next class.”

Ryker stood too.

“Probably.”

But neither of them moved toward the door yet.

I glanced up at him again, I smiled.

“You looked a little too happy when I won”

He shrugged “I like seeing Torin loose”

“That’s not the only reason though.”

“It’s not?”

Ryker hesitated for a moment before answering.

“No.”

His voice lowered slightly,

“I just like seeing you prove everyone wrong.”

I felt warmth spread through my chest.

Then Ryker tilted his head toward the exit.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

He smirked.

“To celebrate.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“How exactly?”

Ryker opened the door placing both hands on the frame of the door.

“You’ll see… Meet me on the side in a hour”.

As we stepped out into the hallway, the last of the students were still talking about the match.

But this time,

The whispers about Zaria Vale sounded a little different.

Not like gossip.

More like respect.