The soundwave created by the collision of weapons made some people cover their ears in pain. Gabrielle's lance pasted past Dean's defense with sheer grit and a deep cut appeared on his cheek. He raised his other fist to her unguarded stomach.
Gabrielle twisted her body out of the way, pulled her weapon with her and the blunt area slammed into the back of his head. He pushed back and touched the wound created that was bleeding slightly.
"DEAN!!" Xavier yelled "WE'LL FORFEIT!!"
No one paid attention to his screams watching and as he tried to intervene guards came. They restrained him and Dean looked back briefly at his kind superior and a good friend to him.
Dean muscled bulged again and Gabrielle felt something shift as she prepared herself for his attack. Her sparkled travelled through her body and reinforced her skin making it shimmer slightly as her lance dimmed.
"I can't afford to lose as well." Dean said calmly
Gabrielle snarled, "But I will win."
He advanced and she raised her arm. Dean felt like he hit a rock and increased the strength which made the young blonde haired girl wince. Gabrielle raised her weapon, releasing the sparkles and the axe cut into his thigh.
Dean didn't retreat, his thigh muscles tighten around the steel and Gabrielle made a sound of astonishment. The man brought his fists down onto her like beating up a helpless dog and pain made her eyes blurry as tears fell involuntarily.
"Get up Gabby....Get up...." She told herself and blood pooled around
Blake's blades crept out of his skin and he gripped his seat as he tried to restrain himself. Killing intent was oozing out of his body as he remembered how the young girl forced herself to be his subordinate.
"Don't worry. That man won't return even if he wins this match." Elsbeth growled
An explosion of shimmering light pushed Dean away and he quickly shifted his head to avoid an axe aimed for his neck. Gabrielle's pink eyes were slightly unfocused as he attacks became more focused on ending his life.
Dean punched into her gut again with a plea, "Please, stay down!"
"Never." She spat out holding his arm tightly "I won't go down."
The sparkles around them shot forward like needles and she used her remaining sparkles to fill up her body to make it heavier. Dean tried to retreat but she wouldn't let go and every shimmer in the arena hit them with vicious intent.
"NO!" Xavier yelled
Blake let out a sigh of relief, who ability hurt them. Answer: None! His blade could never cut him no matter how much he tried so how could those sparkles injury the tiny girl. He heard sighs around him as well and the other family members began to relax.
"These things aren't good for my heart." A man sighed
Gabrielle stood victorious above Dean and a wave of cheers erupted as the commentator called Nox's first victory since the brothers' reign began. Blake dashed into the arena and picked Gabrielle up.
"You were amazing, Gabby." he praised as he poured all his health potion on her and called for a healer
Gabrielle smiled brightly, "I told you. You won't regret having me as a subordinate, sir."
"I'll admit I was wrong." Blake told
Doctors from with the family badge came with a stretcher and took her away. Blake returned to where the rest of the family were and everyone congratulate him on his and Gabrielle's victory.
"BLAKE!" Xavier's voice yelled
He stomped toward them with a mixture of emotions: rage, sadness, betrayal and so many. Then something pushed him aside onto the floor, he looked up at the familiar big bellied man with a kind faced smile and frowned. He was Jerome Nox and he didn't let his soft energy with approaching expression deceive him.
"Oh, my. Sorry about that, I should really watch where I'm going." Jerome said with worry
Xavier looked at Blake, "How could you? He was your friend too, Blake."
Elsbeth came into view with an angry expression, "Don't you dare! When you ambushed him at that port how did you think it would end?"
"I was there to stop the ambush it was unauthorized and I came to put a stop to it. There was no investigation planned for Nightfall port, everything was simply a trap and if you had listened I would have said so." Xavier told
Jerome nodded in understanding, "I understand so why didn't you reject Gabb-I mean Gabrielle's match?"
"I am the heir to my father, refusing would have-" he began with a sigh remembering his father's ironclad rules he set
Something dark and nasty twisted in Blake's heart and bitterness burst out in his mouth. He sneered at his brother and felt terrible for the slight happiness he felt when he came thinking 'at least his still cared and worried' at the end of the day but won't he become the second Dean if father said so.
"That's the weight of your crown, your highness." Blake interrupted "Wear it."
"Oh my." Elsbeth gasped "Go away, you're ruining our youngest mood."
They dragged Blake away prevent even a glimpse of his hair to be seen by Xavier and a small seed of something warm sprouted in Blake's heart at their action.
"You're oddly comfortable."
He looked to the right side and met Valentine's smiling eyes as he leaned on his shoulder. To his left was Vladimir's neutral expression leaning in with his hand in his pockets.
"Must be nice, having family that accepts you for your obvious flaws." Valentine smiled
Vladimir disagreed, "But you can't forget you aim, right? What was in even?"
"It doesn't matter. Let yourself sink in all these warm fuzzy feelings and forget about it."
Blake's blood ran cold as their words slipped into his ears. He had almost forgotten that he was aiming for his father's secret and was easing into this life when did it start?! The brother's frosty blue eyes stared at him and hidden within was mischievous enjoyment.
"You're slipping." they smiled
Valentine as though reading his mind spoke, "We didn't tell them anything. No scheming was down in the process of this bonding, cross Vladimir's heart."
"I'm stab you but he's right." Vladimir agreed "Contrary to what you may think, we too buy to be focused on you."
Blake spoke even as sweat flowed down his back, "You're lying....if you can't have it, you'll break it."
The brothers smiled before leaving toward portals their secretaries opened.
"Night, Vlad." Valentine smiled
Vladimir frowned, "Leave."
Blake let out the breathe he was holding and everyone turned their gaze toward him
Elsbeth asked, " Should we congratulate you for gaining their attention or pity you?"
"Pity, please." Blake spoke
Everyone took out handkerchief and tear even slipped out of Elsbeth's eyes which made Blake laughed unknowing.
"I saw all of you bet on Gabby that means you owe me drinks." Blake said without thinking
A middle aged man grabbed his shoulders, "Drinking at dawn? I knew I like you."
Blake hated his traitorous heart that bloomed in happiness at the acceptance of his odd new family members. Was his father's secret really worth losing a place he felt like he belonged?