Page 13 of Shadow's Chosen

She was only a few steps away from grabbing it when she was promptly pulled backward and dropped to the ground, landing square on her back. The alien leader stood above her like a tall, ominous shadow. Elise rolled back onto her feet as he circled her. He laughed again.

"Clever little thing too. I like that."

Elise growled and moved again, this time toward him. She swung out one fist then the other, but he blocked both with ease. He was shockingly quick, dodging her strikes with little effort. Elise had always prided herself on her swiftness, but he was undoubtedly faster, more agile. Frustration rose in her, and she pushed herself, attempting to land a punch or kick any way she could but was unsuccessful. And all he did was laugh.

Crying out in anger, Elise swung her leg up high, hoping to catch him in the head. Not only did he block that too, he also caught her leg and swung her around. Elise went flying, yelping in surprise as she fell on her hands and knees. She fumbled back onto her feet, and he was right on her. Only by sheer luck did she block his first blow but not the second which caught her in the stomach. Even with the pads, it knocked the wind out of her. She stumbled back as she choked for air and tried to take a defensive stance, backing away quickly from his attacks. She swiped at him like a damn cat as he came at her, and in turn, he caught her wrist, swinging her around until her back was against his chest.

Elise felt her heart jolt as his arm came around her in a steel grip, crushing her close to him.

"You’re fun to fight, I'll give you that." His other hand came around and gripped her hip. "Though you could learn a thing or two."

Elise clawed at his arm, but he didn't budge. "Screw you," she hissed.

She felt his breath on her neck and could practically hear him grin. "That can be arranged," he said, gripping her harder, making her gasp. A sharpness, like a blade, grazed her ear, and Elise panicked. She simultaneously dropped her weight and elbowed him hard in the lower stomach. He let her go, causing her to nearly fall forward. She swerved on him, fists at the ready, when she felt something wet trickle down her ear. She touched at the spot and found blood on her fingers. The bastard had bitten her.

"You are a fucking fiend," she spat.

The alien eyed the blood on her fingers. He took a step toward her, and she instantly stepped back. The amusement in him was gone now. His eyes darkened, and he came at her once more.

Elise tried to back up, but he seemed finished with this game. When she thought for sure he was going to knock her out and end it, he went around her instead and picked up the key.

"I'm not finished," Elise said as he gripped the ball tight. "Hey! Do you hear me?"

He began to press a button along the ball's top, but before he could activate it completely and end the match, Elise lunged forward and gripped his arm. She swung a leg at him again, and he took her blow. The spot where she hit his armor glowed red. With the key still in hand, he turned on her and this time blocked her punch. His eyes glowed bright with fire, but Elise refused to be burned.

A few more blows were thrown until she was once again swept onto her back. She started to get back up when he pushed her down and started to straddle her. Elise cried out in surprise as she struggled to get out from under him, but he pinned her hard and fast.

"Stubborn too." He glared down at her, and she thought he looked rather pissed off. Until his lips curled ever so slightly. "I like that." His fist came down, and Elise felt the strike to her chest, not as hard as the last but hard enough to make her armor glow red and make everything go dark.

Five

The last of the sun's light fell over the city. Nezka watched the night come, slowly but surely, swallowing everything into darkness. The city's lights glowed ever more bright, in all manner of colors. He watched them with ease as he sat along the top of a twisted statue, made to look like an odd growth, like some tree carved out of metal. The garden was empty now and quiet save for the trickle of water nearby. The plants glowed too with a yellow light. It was beautiful in its way. At least to those who could appreciate its beauty. But Nezka did not look to them, only to the city beyond the garden's balcony and what waited below.

He would see little rest tonight. He rarely slept before a mission. Most would say that was foolish but not to him. It morphed him somehow, made him sharper, more in tune. More aggressive. And that, in turn, made him more prepared.

Not that he felt he needed much prepping. The mission was simple, more so than many of the missions Vesra had put him on in the past. There would be a few deaths, he was sure of that. Maybe even one of his own. But that was always the risk—the price sometimes to be paid—and he wasn't worried for them. They would either hold their own or perish. This was the law of all hunters.

Yes, with so many aiding him, the mission would be small compared to others. And when it was done, he would succeed as he always did. Dozens of worlds, unforgiving in both their nature and people, had yet to ever stop him. To see him fail. And few ever surprised him. This city was no different. Its people, as new as they were, did not impress him. As advanced as they were, they were docile, submissive. Weak. They occupied little of his thoughts, and come tomorrow, he would feel very little when he was forced to take out those who stood in his way.

The humans, on the other hand...

They stirred in his mind if not for the fact that they were his target. One, in particular, stirred more than the rest, and if he had any thought to notice or wonder about it, he remained unconcerned. They still had their orders. A brief meeting not even an hour ago reaffirmed to his team what they were set out to do; no matter if some had a new urge to take a few of the humans out just for challenging them. The humans were not to be harmed. When the first initial group was found, he would set into motion their capture along with the human soldiers. They would be his. Until given to Vesra.

And perhaps as a reward his master would allow him to keep one...one with a fiery spirit brighter than all the rest. With lovely dark eyes and long silky hair.

Nezka closed his eyes. He still could taste the blood on his tongue from where he had bitten her. An accident, really. He had only meant to graze. Not to break skin. Only to see what she would do. Well, she certainly hadn't disappointed. Though her little freak out had caused the bite in the end.

He laughed softly at the thought. Ah, but she had been such a joy to watch. He had followed her through the arena, if only for the mere entertainment of seeing her in action. She was certainly a spry little thing. A passionate fighter. But with an embarrassing disregard for her surroundings. Several times, he could have knocked her out easily. Especially when she thought it wise to pause for a quick rest in one of the buildings and didn't so much as look around to see him crouching right nearby. Perhaps it was a human trait, a lack of awareness.

But she had been entertaining, nonetheless. It was really too bad...

Nezka frowned. He opened his eyes to see the city once again below him.

It was really too bad he would have to take her to Vesra.

He sat for a long while just looking at the city when he heard the soft patter of feet nearby. Someone had come into the garden. He did not move nor make a sound as the person in question walked close to where he sat, and when he saw who it was, he became even more still.

As if summoned by his thoughts, the human woman he had played with in the arena came into view just below where he sat atop the statue. She was alone and considerably more calm as she walked a lighted path over to the front of the balcony only a few paces away.

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