Page 34 of Dark Angel

“Just get on with it.” Daisy’s mouth curls as she flicks a brow in amusement.

Kora grins, raising her golden blade, legs positioning into her fighting stance. Daisy copies her, extending out the knife in front of her protectively. Kora then waits for Daisy to make the first move.

They both stand in silence, waiting for one of them to flinch when Daisy strikes out her hand.

Kora manages to avoid her by spinning and twirls her blade around, the tip constantly pointed at Daisy’s chest.

Daisy growls and jumps towards her, jabbing towards her stomach. Kora dodges, moving backwards onto one of the wooden crates. The creaking sound of the timber beneath her causes Kora to pause for a moment, expecting it to fall apart, but it stays standing.

She jumps off again, this time advancing towards Daisy, who holds out her knife defensively. Kora brings her blade up, colliding with Daisy’s knife. The two of them throw their forces into their weapons. Daisy is taller and broader, pushing Kora backwards, her boots dragging against the floor.

Kora reaches out, swiping at Daisy’s midsection when Daisy jumps backwards, almost tripping over the crates on the ground. Swearing at herself under her breath, Daisy swings her knife haphazardly in the air, hoping to cut, scratch or wound Kora in someway. Kora just stands at arm’s length, smiling as her friend attempts to hit her.

Positioning herself for another attack, Kora goes to hit her when she sees Daisy peering out of the glass wall. Something has grabbed her attention. Garnet eyes flaring and fear settling in on her face, Kora can tell from the expression Daisy’s wearing that this is not a rouse-something has legitimately frightened her.

Looking out herself, there’s nothing on the other side. Nobody is watching them train.What is she staring at?

Daisy’s arm drops to her side, her dagger pointing towards the floor, away from Kora. Her throat gulps as her gaze remains fixed on the glass.

She doesn’t even flinch as Kora approaches her. “Daisy?”

She doesn’t move at the sound of her name. It’s as though she’s utterly entranced at nothing.

“Daisy.” Kora says louder this time in a sterner tone.

Daisy blinks, as if waking up from a dream and shaking her head lightly. She looks sideways at Kora, her brows pinching with concern.

“Sorry.” Her voice is barely audible.

Kora stares into her eyes, which look glassier than before. Her lips are tight, and forehead is creased. “Are you all right?”

Daisy nods, swallowing and rubbing the back of her neck with her fingers nervously, trying to hide the vibrations running along her skin. His face continues to haunt her mind even after the vision disappears. “I’m fine. It’s fine. It’s nothing.”

She walks back into the middle of the room, hoping that Kora will drop the conversation, but that hope dies instantly. “What was that then? What, did you see something that I couldn’t?”

Daisy’s eyes close as she fights off the image of the man behind her eyelids. She could have sworn he was there, watching her with dark hawk eyes before vanishing into thin air. “Nothing. It-it wasn’t anything. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

Kora grabs her arm, drawing all of Daisy’s attention. Worry etched into Kora’s features. She doesn’t even know why she can’t tell her closest friend about her nightmare. About the vision now haunting her while being awake. Maybe because she can’t even convince herself that it doesn’t mean anything. It can’t mean anything. It must just be her mind playing tricks on her. Maybe she just needs more sleep.

“You’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?”

Daisy takes a second to register Kora’s words before nodding hurriedly, “Of course I would. Why would I keep anything from you, Kora?”

“Good. Because if there’s something wrong, you can always tell me, Daisy. I’ll always listen and support you.”

Daisy wishes that were true. But how does she even begin to tell Kora what she saw? How will she be able to explain it when her own mind can’t even determine what’s real or not?

*?*?*

Charles is used to being in his father’s study. It has a very dark, studious feeling to it. It seems to be his favourite room of their manor. Robert spends more time in here alone than in any other room with him or his mother.

He sometimes feels sorry for this mother, Lucy. She does everything for his father, but outside of Ascendancy events, he barely gives her any attention.

Lucy’s never said anything to his father, but Charles can see the sadness behind those large eyes of hers. She hides her unhappiness underneath her lashes, feigning smiles and laughter in front of others for the sake of her husband’s position.

The fireplace is lit beside his chair, blowing warmth into the room. A large oil painting of the Bladesmith manor hangs proudlyabove in a thick golden frame with cursive lines and swirls. A dark stained desk sits off to the side with three plush chairs surrounding it. Robert has neatly placed coins, notes, and feather pens in particular spots atop the desk. The green reading lamp burns softly on the end, being the only other light source in the room.

Charles’ eyes stare into the dancing flames burning in the hearth. Embers burst from the heat like tiny exploding stars.

---