“Go get ''em chère!” Denaux pumped his fist in the air, but retracted it sheepishly as I flipped onto my back at a failed lunge, while Isaac had effortlessly parried and sent me tumbling with a flick of the wrist and a well placed foot.
The firm blue mat beneath my head was unforgiving, but enough to pad any fall like the softest brick you''d ever met. I saw stars float in the air, with a pristine, equipment filled gym in the massive background of floor 17. The entirety of the floor was a facility that put the Saints to shame, offering every type of workout machine you could desire, along with a training and rehab room, a steam room, cold plunge, and even a hot tub. Whether anyone could get usage out of this room, besides a few people in the Brimstone family, was uncertain to me, until Isaac''s shirtless and glistening body waltzed into my light and cast a shadow over me.
“Do you yield?” Isaac''s brow bounced in chuffed amusement. “So Soon?”
Rolling over and pounding my fists against the mat, I pushed off and attempted to missile myself in his direction, feet first, which he sidestepped easily, while I scrambled back to my feet.
Pouncing forward, I swiped and clawed with every ounce of effort, unable to land even a finger on him, or his smugly handsome face. It enraged me that he saw this a little dalliance in his day.
“Can we keep this brief?” He smirked, “I''m a busy man.”
That set my blood boiling. “Do you even want to beat Perrault?” I barked. “Or is everything just a game to you?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“On the contrary,” Isaac quelled the thought, “I take this endeavor very seriously. You...however...” he grinned, “not so much.”
Fury spiked within me, the blackened blood rapidly coursing through my veins. It felt as though the fluorescents became fuzzier overhead, as if I could see their very particles of light painting the canvas around us, things slowing down...or was I...speeding up?
Turning on the jets, I leaped forward, slashing at him and tearing pieces from loose shorts. Suddenly, his eyes turned serious, as he retreated with haste, all the muscles in his shirtless physique tightening.
“Not laughing now,” I growled, as I began to lose my bearings, finding a voice deepening with guttural inflection.
“Anna!” Denaux shouted, “you''re losing control!”
Whipping around, I glared at Denaux across the way, bearing razor sharp eyes, but clear unwieldy vision. “Wrong! This is control!” I cackled maliciously, as I charged him.
“Not today!” Denaux chided, reaching into his tunic, while mumbling some mantra. “Clear eyes, clear soul,” he eschewed, grabbing a fistful of glimmering beige dust and blowing it in my direction, as I closed on him.
“Agh!” I screeched in a blinded stupor as the singing sandstorm hit my eyes. I swiped with errant disregard, and connecting.
Suddenly, my eyes burst open to find torn flesh and a freed mind.
“Oh god,” I softened, watching blood leak from a chiseled abdomen.
Isaac had jumped in front of Denaux, protecting him, and now had his hands wrapped around my wrists as they held in the air before me.
“Oh god!” I cried softly. “No,” I mouthed. “I''m sorry,” I whispered, black teardrops forming in at the edges of my eyes and trickling down my face.
Isaac fell to one knee and groaned as he toppled over to the side.
“I''m sorry,” I repeated absentmindedly, while I huddled over him. “I didn''t mean to,” I bawled, hyperventilating, “we need help!” I looked at Denaux, who was already on the phone to the desk.
“Congrats,” Isaac coughed up.
“What?” I said, sniffling.
“On your win...” he forced a pained grin, before shutting his eyes. “Anna...”
“Wait...” I grasped his face with my hands. “Help!”