The b***h Mafia:Another Chapter

Chapter 10: Queen vs Queen

10

Third Person P.O.V

Tahimik na pinapanood ni Margaret ang dalawang tao sa gitna ng arena. Kanina pa namamawis ang kanyang palad dahil siya na ang susunod na lalaban. Hindi niya maiwasan na kabahan dahil sa loob ng nagdaang pitong taon, ngayon lamang muli siya sasabak sa ganitong klaseng laban. 

"Calm down, you'll win this." Bulong ni Angel sa likod ng kanyang mask na suot. 

Margaret just nodded and continued watching how Matthew fight back to his opponent. She just couldn't respond to Angel, as she's not sure how she is going to perform. 

She hates to admit, even though she's feeling scared and nervous-- there's a hint in her heart that she's excited.

This was her. 

But hey, this is still her. She's still Margarett Hampshire and nothing would change her identity as an assassin. 

I've been through a lot. This is going to be easy. 

Margarett tried to assure herself. But when she saw Matthew joining the Minotaur and Hera calling the next pair, the tower of courage she built earlier suddenly crumbled right after her number was called.

"You can do this," Jasmine said in a muffled voice. 

Good thing, they are wearing a face mask. Somehow, it can hide her trembling lips. 

Margarett went down feeling anxious of herself. She handed over the card and the invitation with a trembling hand. 

The woman who accepted her card and invitation chuckled when she saw Margarett's hand trembling. Suddenly, Margarett felt insulted. 

She's never been insulted her whole life-- well, except for her husband who liked to tease her.

Margarett exhaled a few hot breath, trying to calm every nerve in her body-- especially, in her mind, 

She saw her opponent and she suddenly felt intimidated. Her opponent looks confident while standing her position. 

"Fair play only," Hera said in between them. The woman nodded and so did Margarett. 

The eyebrow of Margarett arched when she the eyes of her opponent. Even though half of her opponent's face is covered with a black mask, she can tell that the woman is smirking.

Margarett remain emotionless. She doesn't want to show how irritated she is with the opponent. It might be used it against her. 

When they heard the signal, they both positioned themselves. The crowd went quiet waiting for one of them to attack. 

They were walking in circles when the woman faked an attempt to attack. Margaret didn't move an inch. She just remained as she was. 

Her opponent chuckled when she didn't flinch. 

This time, her opponent didn't fake the attempt to attack but really did attack her. Margarett didn't bother to dodge but received her opponent's attack. Slowly, she memorized how her opponent moved. However, memorizing her opponent's move isn't the only key to succeed. It could be a mistake if Margaret would only depend on what she memorized. She still needs to prepare herself. 

By the move of her opponent, she can tell that her opponent is really just a neophyte. 

"Too slow," Margarett muttered to herself. Which made her opponent frown. 

"Are you mocking me?" There's a hint of annoyance in her opponent's voice. Instead of answering, she just shrugged her shoulders which made her opponent boil in madness. 

Her opponent wanted to prove that she's not slow and acted rashly. She attacked and attacked until she could feel her energy slowly losing. 

Margarett's opponent's move surely slowed down with the rushed movement; which made Margarett in advantage. 

Her opponent punched her in the face, Margarett leaned sideward while her hand was gripping on the arm. 

"There's a difference between quick and rush." Margaret whispered. 

Her opponent tried to pull her arm but Margarett tightened her grip. Her opponent used her other hand but Margarett also grabbed her arm, locking her upper body. 

Her opponent tried to use her lower body by kicking Margarett. However, Margarett lowered her crossed arms, blocking her knees. The woman groaned when she felt her knee on her arms. She can feel the force she used with her knee. 

Margarett took that opportunity and suddenly pushed the woman and kicked her knees. The woman was out of control as Margaret suddenly released her. 

"Your time has ended," Hera announced when Margarett's opponent tried to attack again. "If you try to attack more, you'll be forever banned from the island," there's a hint of authority in Hera's voice when Margarett's opponent tries to attack once again. 

A woman from Olympus stopped Margarett's opponent. Hera then announced Margarett as the winner. 

Margarett then announced that she'd like to join the Minotaur. 

"May we call on the next pair?" Hera asked. 

Jasmine stood up while her hand was waving the card and invitation. 

"This is awkward," Angel whispered to Xian. 

Jasmine went down staring at Hera. She only left Hera's gaze when she handed over her card and invitation. Jasmine then went closer to Hera and to her opponent.

Jasmine slightly nodded to Hera, showing respect. Hera looks a bit shocked when Jasmine does that. Hera calmed herself and also nodded to Jasmine and looked away. They both know they are trying to hide the awkward feeling between them. 

There are just questions in their mind that they can't answer but Shawn. 

Jasmine also looked away and concentrated on her opponent. But then, her eyes widened a bit. She can't help but to gulp. She looked away and her eyes went to Nicole. 

Nicole seems to know why Jasmine looked at her. Nicole didn't do anything but stare back at Jasmine. 

Jasmine looked again to her opponent, still not believing. 

She turned her head around to look at Angel. But Angel just nodded at her. Enough for Jasmine to take her lost courage. 

Jasmine stared at her opponent with mixed emotions. As if her eyes were a window to a move as there's a hint of sadness, hatred, and longing in Jasmine's eyes. 

However, her opponent looks calm and emotionless. She's just staring back at Jasmine. Her facial expression looks different with her aura. Her blonde hair stood out as the end of it was dyed with a red dye. Her clothes look revealing as her cleavage is a bit exposed with her plunging neckline. 

A tattoo on Jasmine's opponent's collar bone caught her attention. 

Reaper. Jasmine told herself. When they both heard the signal, they focused more. 

"It's not nice to see you again, Erin." Jasmine said as she positioned herself. 

Erin, their former sub-division leader. Erin used to be a Red Mafi Reaper and she's the one leading the whole Red Mafia Reapers.

Aside from being their former colleague, Erin was also her best friend. 

Before Erin left the organization, Jasmine, Nicole, and Erin were best of friends. They are always together, fighting together but one day, she left. 

Remembering the day Erin left makes Jasmine emotional. Any time soon, if she'll continue thinking of Erin and why she left without saying anything, would make her tear up. 

Instead of thinking about Erin, she tried to think of Shawn. He's the reason why she's standing in front of Erin. 

I love you, 

Those were Shawn's words whenever she's feeling sad. Remembering his love for her makes her happy and strong. 

It's not Erin who would stop her eagerness to save the love of her life. Without Shawn in her life, she just didn't know how. 

Erin tried to read Jasmine. The full of emotion suddenly turned into a blank slate. Erin stopped trying to read Jasmine as she just knew Jasmine would not allow her to use emotion as weakness. 

Instead of reading Jasmine's emotion, she started attacking her. Which for a bit, made Jasmine anxious. Erin was not the type of fighter who would always attack first. Erin is more of a defense fighter. 

Jasmine dodged Erin's attack, calculating whether Erin changed her way of fighting. 

Erin is more of a defense as she was trained for long-range combat. Archery was Erin's choice of mastery. But her mastery doesn't end with archery. She's also known for handling long-range guns. She's skillful in long-range which makes Jasmine a bit in advantage. 

"Jasmine can win this," Angel said. Xian just nodded. 

Angel knew that Jasmine is flexible, both long and close-range combat. However, Jasmine isn't that good in long-range combat. Which makes Jasmine and Erin balance, before. 

Angel watched Jasmine keep on dodging Erin's attack. Angel can't help but to worry a bit. She's worried that Jasmine's emotions were taking over her rationality. She trusts her, she just can't help but to worry. 

Jasmine felt more anxious as she saw the time ticked. She can't be passive and so, she started receiving Erin's attack while also trying to attack her. 

Sorry, Jasmine thought at the back of her mind. She doesn't want to hurt Erin as she loved this woman like a sister. Maybe after all those years, she still loves her as her sister. 

Agad nya binigyan ng sunod sunod na suntok si Erin, wala na syang pakialam kung tumama man o hindi. 

Jasmine started attacking, real and fast. She doesn't want to lose time. 

Jasmine used her all might and defeated Erin once. 

00:06

Erin fell down on the ground.

6,

5,

4,

3,

2,

and 1,

Erin knew she could stand and fight back but instead, she remained on the floor. She just doesn't want to fight back. Probably, it's her way of saying how sorry she was. 

"I'd like to belong to Minotaur," Jasmine announced. 

She was welcomed by Ariadne with a hug. 

The Battlefield continued. 

"Aren't you nervous?" Xian asked behind his black mask. 

"No. Why would I be?" Angel answered with so much ease. 

However, behind her ease, she still felt nervous. There's one even that should not be unfolded. Never.

"Can we call on the next pair?" Xian and Angel heard Hera.

"I guess it's my turn," Xian said. Angel held his hand before she nodded to him. She wanted to kiss his lips but she just can't show her face in the arena. There are too much eyes. 

Xian nodded back and went down with the card and invitation in his hand. He handed him over and started concentrating. 

Suddenly, Angel felt nervous. Watching Xian again facing an opponent makes her nervous. Xian's opponent looks rough. 

Xian's opponent has this buff body and has a huge scar on his right arm. He just looks huge compared to Xian. 

He's not a neophyte. 

Xian can't just help but stare at his opponent's huge scar. He saw it before, that's why he knew that this man in front of him is not a neophyte.

But Xian has no other choice but to take the man down. 

Nang nagsimula na ang laban ay pareho silang nakikiramdam sa galaw ng isa't isa. Pinag-aralan mabuti ni Xian ang bawat galaw ng kalaban niya. Bawat hakbang nito ay pinapanood niya.

Umakto syang sumugod kaya mabilis na depensa ang ginawa ng kaniyang kalaban kaya mabilis niyang inatake ngunit mabilis din itong umatake sa kaniya at naging depensa ang bawat galaw ni Xian. 

The crowd started to cheer because it could no longer hear the ticking of the clock. 

Xian smirked, remembering that it was his fiancee who taught him how to change offense to defense that quickly. Right now, Xian has no problem defending himself. However, while defending himself, he would alternate his move with a sudden attack. 

Five minutes isn't that long but when you are in a sparring like what they are doing, five minutes can be tiring as hell. 

Pagod na si Xian kaya dapat na nyang simulan. Mabilis syang umatake. Suntok sa kaliwa at sa kanan, sipa sa kanan at sa kaliwa.Sa susunod na sipa nya ay nasalo nito ang lalaki.

Kaya ngumiti ang lalaki dahil akala nya katapusan na ni Xian pero nagkakamali sya dahil habang hawak hawak ng lalaki ang paa niya ay tumalon sya. Gamit ang kanan nyang paa ay sinipa nya sa mukha ang lalaki at parehas silang bumagsak pero muling tumayo agad si Xian.

Just like that, the five minutes ended while his opponent was on the floor. 

"Minotaur," Xian announced. 

Angel can't help but to clap and smile widely behind her black mask. She just felt accomplished seeing Xian winning over his non neophyte opponent. 

The Battlefield continued. Angel's palm started to sweat. Her eyes were wandering around the arena, looking for a person with the same number as her. 

"Tonight, we've been all waiting for this." Hera started again. Angel's brows narrowed when Hera didn't immediately call the next pair, which is her. "May we call on the next pair, the lucky person who got the no. 28" 

Ariadne couldn't help but chuckle when she saw Angel stood up and walked down from her seat. 

"Why is she lucky?" Margarett asked curiously. 

"Because she will fight with one of the leaders inside the island," Heracles explained 

"And why is that lucky?" Margarett can't really understand how is Angel lucky when she's not fighting with a neophyte. 

"Because if she wins, she'll be able to replace whomever her opponent will be." Ariadne explained with a smirk in her lips. 

Angel went beside Hera. 

Hera couldn't help but to stare at Angel. It's been ten years since the last time she saw her. Angel has surely matured. 

"Are you going to stare at me the whole night?" Angel asked with annoyance. But that's just the facade of her. She somehow felt happy seeing Hera once again. 

Hera smiled at her. It was a huge smile. Hera just felt comfortable again seeing and hearing Angel bitching around her. She may have matured but she's still the b***h she used to know. 

"U-uhm, do you know that the no. 28 is a special number on this island?" Hera asked.

"No," she simply answered. 

"Every year in the Battlefield, the 28th pair is done traditionally. Instead of fighting against a neophyte you'll draw your opponent from the leaders of the organizations inside the island," 

Angel can't help but to arch her eyebrow. What are the odds of getting the special number? 

A woman holding a fishbowl entered the field. 

"Inside this bowl are the names of the leaders of the organizations," Hera said and motioned that she draw a paper from it. Angel drew a paper and handed it to Hera. "and your opponent will be Queen Pasiphea," 

Great!